Summer I Found You

by Jolene Perry

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

The Summer I Found You is a very sweet romance, and I liked how it dealt with more "normal" problems rather than the over-the-top dramafests that tend to dominate YA and NA contemporaries these days. Although, I do have an issue with the title. The entire story is set in the Spring. No mentions of Summer at all. But, I suppose, The Spring I Found You doesn't have the same ring to it.

Kate was just dumped by her long-time boyfriend for another girl. She's upset, mostly because it was a shock, rather than being truly heartbroken. Kate also has diabetes. She was just diagnosed a year ago and still can't believe it. Much of the plot of The Summer I Found You is focused on Kate's health and how she isn't taking her disease as serious as she should be. She doesn't like having everyone around her constantly fretting over her blood sugar levels, so when she starts seeing Adrian (her BFF's cousin), she keeps it to herself. She likes how he treats her, and her problem kind of pales in comparison to his.

Adrian is nineteen and living with his aunt and uncle after an accident in Afghanistan killed his lieutenant and left him without a right arm. He's had to learn how to do everything one handed and without his dominant hand. He's also lost his direction in life since he wanted to stay in the Army for a long while. Needless to say, he's also depressed, but meeting Kate pulls him out of it. She doesn't look at him with pity, and she doesn't try to ignore the fact that he's missing a body part. He can be himself with her and talk about things.

Of course, there does have to be a big blow out in The Summer I Found You. It just wouldn't be a romance without it. However, it's not over something stupid or trivial. It's actually quite major, and Adrian had every right to freak the heck out over it. I was a little annoyed with Kate, since she brought it upon herself, but then again she's still new to her medical situation and hasn't learned what she can and cannot do. It was a learning experience for everyone.

There was a happy ending, of course, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The Summer I Found You was a super quick read, and it managed to avoid a lot of YA romance cliches. I loved how Kate and Adrian came together based on navigating their new "forevers" and were able to help each other.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.