Review: Cool for the Summer

Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



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Publication Date: 11 May 2021

Publisher's Description

Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life.

Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers.

Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl?

Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are.

My Thoughts

 
I received an eARC courtesy of Wednesday Books/St. Martins' Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I love the themes of self-discovery in this book, but it took me a VERY LONG TIME to get into the flow of the writing style. I also still just question the abruptness of Chase's sudden attraction to her. It was like "oh, she's blonde, that's more like it."

I felt like most of the characters were under-developed, with the exception of Lara. I think I just wanted more from this one. But, all of that being said, I can already think of teens that will love this book and I can't wait to add it to my book talking list for my high school's GSA teens.

For Libraries: If you have fans of awesome LGBT+ romances, look no further!
For RA purposes: LGBT+, masturbation, oral sex, sex, underage drinking