That Summer - Sarah Dessen

That Summer - Sarah Dessen

Pages: 212
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: 2nd July 2009

Other Titles by This Author: Dreamland (my review), Someone Like You, Last Chance, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Lock and Key (my review), Along for the Ride

For fifteen-year-old Haven this is the summer where everything changes.

Dad is remarrying. Her sister Ashley is planning a wedding of her own. They’re both moving on, but Haven is lost in memories of a time when her life was happy and her family was whole.

And then Ashley’s ex, the charming and funny Sumner Lee, arrives in town. He reminds Haven of carefree days gone by, and she can’t help but wonder - has fate brought this person back from her past to change her future?

That Summer is another fantastic book from Sarah Dessen. In my eyes, she can do no wrong.

The style of her writing is familiar and comfortable. There are no sharp twists or turns, only subtle surprises. But despite this, they never get boring and her formula of a lost girl finding her way with good friends and a boy, always works. And there is always a boy. But in That Summer the boy, Sumner, isn’t what I expected him to be. I really liked that; it was very different to her usual MO.

Another thing about Sarah Dessen’s books that are likely to make them among the favourites of teen girls everywhere are her protagonists. Each of her girls has a part of every girl in them. Readers can relate to their problems and emotions and forge a very connection with them. I especially related to That Summer’s Haven. Her feelings about her parents divorce and the way that she felt the need to remain loyal to mum and not really mention her dad’s new wife resonated with me. Sadly, I think this is likely to be true for lots of teens.

I also understand Haven’s need to be wild and destructive. Years of pressure, stress and unspoken thoughts building up until she’s ready to burst. And then when she does, she’s told that she’s selfish and being awkward. She’s a fabulous character and one of my favourites.

Sarah Dessen is one of my all time favourite authors and I literally count the days until I can devour her latest offering. I can’t wait until Along for the Ride is released in the UK. Does anyone know when that will be?

Sophie