Review: The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt

Title: The Last Summer of Us
Author: Maggie Harcourt
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Usbourne
Published: May 1st 2015
Page Number: 304
Rating: 4/5

Summary:

Limpet, Steffan and Jared. Three best friends crammed into a clapped-out rust bucket of a car on a whirlwind road trip to forget their troubles and see out the end of the summer. But no matter how far they drive, they can’t escape the hidden secrets and slow-burning romance that could upset the balance of their friendship – perhaps forever.

REVIEW

The Last Summer of Us was one of the books I was extremely excited to read because the characters take a road trip around Wales, which I don't think anyone has ever written before. I also happen to live in Wales and while I usually prefer books set in the US, I can't deny that Maggie Harcourt didn't make me want to travel my homeland.

I felt everything these characters felt, I didn't see them as characters written onto a page I saw them as fully fleshed out people, the kind of people I grew up with. And that's something I wasn't expecting. Maggie Harcourt (who's also Welsh) did the Welshism's so well and despite it still being a super fun summer contemporary read the book also deals with heavy topics of death, alcoholism and grief. It's presented in a way that you feel so much for these characters. You're rooting for them in some way or another, and more than anything else I was rooting for their friendship because it's the type of friendship that you know will last a lifetime.

And you know what makes a book good? When you finished the book almost 9 weeks ago but its still very much present in your mind. When I see the book on my shelf, I find myself smiling and remember the journey all three characters went on. And I know for a fact that I will also be rereading this book when summer comes around because it's the type of book that can consume you. And you never know, I may also take my own road trip this year with my friends visiting the places Limpet, Steffan and Jared visited.

But honestly: if you're after a well written YA novel that's a super quick, fun read then this is it. But be prepared to get withdrawal symptoms.

Buy the book (Waterstones) | Buy the book (Amazon)

 

 

🎧: Coming Home by Rita Ora ft Sigma

Favourite Summer Covers | Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday was created by GingerReadsLainey

 

 

Second Chance Summer & Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

 

If sunbathing on decking and ice cream don't scream Summer, then I'd find you incredibly weird. The only thing more summery than those is the beach, which I happen to dislike. Both covers are absolutely beautiful, and I'm looking forward to reading them in the next 2/3 months!

 

 

 

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

 

Do I really need to say anything? The cover is bright yellow and has a painting of the sun. How much brighter could it get?

 

 

 

The Last Summer of Us by Maggie Harcourt

 

This cover is easily one of my favourites of 2015. It's beautiful, and the tone is so perfect for a summer in Wales. I literally cannot wait to read this book soon, hopefully I can read it while I'm on a little road trip myself.

 

 

 

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

 

A guy kissing a girl on a bike in an open field? Perfect summery cover. The way it's been edited portrays it as a very happy summer book, but with that little touch of home comfort.

 

 

 

What are your favourite summer covers?

Let me know in the comments.

Book Review: Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

 
  Book Name: Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children
  Author: Ransom Riggs
  UK Release Date: Published in 2011
  UK Publishers: Quirk Books
  Summary:

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

 

Praise for Ransom Riggs:

 

'Readers searching for the next Harry Potter may want to visit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.' CNN

 

'Peculiar' Doesn't even begin to cover it. A chilling, wondrous novel.' People 

 

'His premise is clever, and Jacob and the children are intriguing characters.' Booklist

 

Review:

 

When I first heard from JesseTheReader (Booktuber) that Miss Peregrine's was based on vintage photographs that Ransom loved to collect I was immediately intrigued. There's been nothing unique in the Fantasy genre for a while now, and so I took the plunge and bought the book.

 

I absolutely loved the beginning. It was slow paced, but then immediately it went very fast paced, and action packed with her grand father being killed by Hallowglass (Although we're told they're just weird monsters at first.) I also thought the fact that Jacobs friend denied it was interesting because he saw the monster and yet claimed that Jacob was going out of his mind. Surely he must've been freaked out? He was all calm and I'm still considering if his "friend" could be a enemy.

 

What I loved most about the book was the world building. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is set in Cairnholm, Wales (A fictional island.) And as soon as Jacob and his father landed there I was kind of skittish about what would lie ahead. The town was ancient. Old fashioned even. And just the fact that they lived there for a few days surprised me. But if anything, the pictures really made everything a lot worse.

 

Some characters were just...... indescribable.

 



 

These pair had me creeped out! Look at them! Just look at them. They're covered in white. Masks over their faces. All I knew they could've been clown china dolls, but alive.

Overall, this book was brilliant. But due to the romance between Jacob and Emma - Which I think was NOT needed. I gave this a 4/5 Stars!