Summer's List {Quick Review}

Summer's List by Anita Higman

Visit the Author's website HERE

Publisher: River North

Publishing Date: June 1, 2015

Goodreads Summary: 

A dying wish alters the course of a young woman’s life.

Life hadn’t been easy for Summer Snow. In acts of selflessness—caring for her ailing parents and running her grandmother’s bookstore—she had forfeited her youth and dreams for the needs of others. And the only tries she had at love… didn’t turn out. She had the bookstore, she had her beloved granny, but she was missing something—or someone.  

Opportunity strikes when Granny sends Summer on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree, a kind but gangly young man from Summer’s past. A childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

With lovable characters and surprising twists, Summer’s List is a simple delight.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Buy a copy today! 

My Thoughts:
I've put off reviewing this one for a long time, but I think I just need to get it done and over with. It is a book I was supposed to do a blog tour for this past summer, but as I (spoiler) didn't like it much, I decided to forgo the post until a later date. 

The idea of the book is inspiring and adorable. Summer's overly wise grandmother is dying and has comprised a list of things for Summer to accomplish over the summer. It is like a bucket list of life lessons her grandmother wants to teach her before she dies. Of course one of the items is reconnecting with a childhood friend, Martin, that Summer used to crush on.

My problem? I just couldn't connect. On paper, Summer really is a great character. She is selfless, caring, kind. Martin is geeky, smart and caring. But they just didn't come up off the paper or me. I didn't feel there was an effort to connect the reader to the characters. The dialogue was probably what 'ruined' it the most for me. The way the book was written, and the way the characters speak and interact with each other, felt so formal, jilted, cold. Summer was constantly apologizing for the most ridiculous things. Some of the phrases felt Victorian even, very odd for a present day setting.

Martin's relationship with his (super creepy) brother was strained and uncomfortable. However, those two stole the show for me. The adorable reconciliation was possibly the most real feeling thing in the whole book. It didn't feel forced, but rather adorable and honest. It was also the first time (super creepy) brother, Desmond, didn't seem super creepy. 

I feel largely sure that this book just wasn't for me, but perhaps it is for you. It is a cute enough story for a quick read featuring a far too wisdomly grandmother, childhood reconnections, and brotherly reconciliations. I can only rate it with 2 stars but perhaps you want to check the Goodreads page for a second opinion.