That Summer by Sarah Dessen

My second Sarah Dessen’s novel ”That summer”, first was ”Lock and key”. I have been reading a lot of YA lately, kind of taking a break from supernatural novels. 

That summer is about 15 year old Heaven and her life changing summer. She has many things going on in her life that summer. Her dad is getting married again, her sister is getting married to her new boyfriend, her mother is planing for Europe tour leaving her behind. It is too much to handle at once. Heaven always thought that her sister’s ex boyfriend Sumner was the best among all guys, her sister dated till now, because when he was there their family was in good terms, everyone was happy and laughing when he was around. This summer she meets Sumner and thinks that he can get back her life into shape. Can Heaven get her happiness back? Will this summer change her life or teach her a lesson?  It is all about Heaven’s life in that summer.

A couple of intriguing characters are introduced but never really developed

1) Gwendolyn, the town’s celebrity, who became a model, and turns up back in town one day looking washed up. Heaven kept comparing herself with this model. Even though there are no striking similarities.

2)Casey, Haven’s rebellious best friend who experiments with smoking and dreams of running off with a boy she met at 4-H camp. She was very lively because all other characters seemed little dull to me.

I noticed something similar in both the books I have read by Sarah Dessen, both are about a young teenage girl who wants to find happiness in her life. Like she is beaten up by bad family problems. Its an average time pass book I found little dry and dull. My ratings are- 2 out of 5

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

I didn’t read any of Sarah Dessen’s books, so this is the first book I  have read. Its little different kind of story about family. When Ruby’s depressed and alcoholic mother abandons her, Ruby thinks that she can do just fine on her own. But when things start breaking  she is sent to live with the older sister she hasn’t seen in ten years. Cora  left Ruby and their mother behind when she left for college, or just that’s what Ruby thinks. Now Ruby is living with Cora and Cora’s husband, Jamie, in their big house and their neighbor, Nate, is trying to be her friend. But she thinks all these as temporary and she just wants to go away from there. What happens to Ruby? Where is her mother? Why exactly Cora stopped keeping in touch with her?

Jamie is so sweet and kind. I wished to have a  family member like him. Roscoe is cute dog who will make you laugh by his actions. I don’t know about other books but this one didn’t impress me much. But I like the writing style and I will surely pick some more Sarah Dessen’s books.