Sixteenth Summer

"A perfect person is easy to love. But when somebody likes all your imperfections, well, that's when you know they really mean it." Somehow, after finishing the school year and starting summer, Anna Patrick has become a third wheel. Last year's trio of friends hanging out is no more, as two of said friends are now dating. Anna's best friends Caroline and Sam are... A Couple. And now going out to The Swamp restaurant, ghost crab hunting, or even just hanging out on the beach suddenly becomes a Date. A Date with a tag-a-long who everyone tries to make sure she feels included. So Anna's not really looking forward to her summer... ...That is until she sees a good looking guy she's never seen before at a beginning of the summer campfire. Will Cooper is here for the summer and will be gone August 29th. After showing up at her family's ice cream shop The Scoop, she falls head over heels for this vacationing boy. Can Anna handle loving someone, a shoebee no less, who is only going to end up leaving her at the end of the summer, with no guarantee of ever coming back? This book was as easy to gobble up as Pineapple Ginger Ale ice cream. *wink* The endearing romance in this novel had a few pineapple-y bumps in it, just like any relationship. Will and Anna's relationship had the exciting ginger ale pops and fizzes in their snatched moments together. And like any good ice cream, their love for each other was super sweet. While I absolutely loved the cute little romance that Anna and Will had going on in this book, I also really appreciate how rather than becoming a central focus for her life, Will becomes a highlight, a bonus. Even though Anna is upset about the fact that Will is going to leave at the end of the summer, and struggles to decide how to deal with it, she knows that she'll be strong enough to handle it no matter what happens. She doesn't have a horrible, angsty attitude or a carefree floaty one, she has a normal, realistic attitude about her life and her relationship with Will. (Okay, so maybe she does eat a lot of ice cream after a bump in her relationship but seriously, who doesn't?) I really liked the writing style in this book. It was smooth and didn't leave me hanging or wondering when it was going to get interesting again. It was so consistent, I had trouble putting the book down! A super fun and clean romance, perfect for all ages 12+ looking for a delightfully sweet summer romance read! Another book by this author: Pulled Under (Sixteenth Summer #2) by Michelle Dalton If you liked this book, then you'll love: Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson