This one came recommended by a friend, and I thought it was pretty fantastic. I loved the unconventional family set-up, and the budding romance was sweet and different and rather mysterious. Gotta give major credit to an author who writes a romantic interest who might be lying about everything, but charms you into loving him anyway. Summer is set in the Pacific Northwest where I grew up (automatic bonus points), and there’s this whole subplot involving cougars (yep) that I found particularly unique and heartbreaking. This one’s a recommend if you’re looking for an under-the-radar summer romance. I remember seeing a lot about this book last summer when it was released, but I never got a chance to get it and read it. I was happy to see a tour for it this summer to give it a new life! I jumped at the opportunity.Brigitta is our main character. She lives in the middle of nowhere on the west coast. She doesn't attend school, as she is "homeschooled" by her mother. She tried her local high school for one year, but did not like it. At all! She is a very different girl. With her parents and their free-spirited ways, she really has no other choice. They've let her and her sister, Mallory, live their lives how they've wanted. They could attend public school if they wished. They had the right to choose their own religion and more along these lines.Brigitta's best friend, Natalie, has Hollywood fever! She thinks she sees stars all of the time in their sleepy little town. Brigitta plays clueless and acts as if she has no idea who these people are, all while hiding her gossip magazines and running a gossip blog.Brigitta has a sort-of-kind-of boyfriend/ex-boyfriend/best friend with a boy named Devon. Devon's a dufus! I'll just leave it at that. :) The highlight of their relationship for me was that they participated in NaNoWriMo! That's a fun shout-out to the writing world.In walks the new neighbor, Luke. Luke has an uncanny resemblance to the movie star, Trent Yves (pronounced Eve). They bond after a cougar nearly ate Luke. After word got out about the cougar, it was hunted and killed. Come to find out, the cougar had a couple of cubs close by. Brigitta and Luke decided to take care of them since they felt responsible for their mother being killed.Luke pulls a lot of vanishing acts and they frustrate Brigitta. Essentially, that's what the whole book is: Brigitta and Luke hanging out and then Luke disappearing and Brigitta trying to figure out where he's going and if he's really Trent Yves. I couldn't decide if I liked Luke or not! Alas, I will let you read and find out on your own about Luke and Trent and what happens with Brigitta.I felt that I understood Brigitta, Mallory, Natalie, and even Brigitta's parents. These characters were written really well and given their own identities that were easily distinguished. Overall, Katherine told a good story.
What do You think about The Summer Of No Regrets (2012)?
Review to come in June during YA Contemporary Month!
—soccergirl
