Review + Guest Post: The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland (Blog Tour Stop)

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
Publisher: Speak (Penguin)
First published: May 10th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 250

Goodreads Summary:

Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time.

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Dealing with the importance of following your own dreams and being the person you want to be, The Summer My Life Began is an eye-opening and surprising novel as much as a cute beach read. If you want to be taken away from your life to a summer paradise for a while, you should definitely pick this up and let Em's quest for freedom distract you.

More detailed:

The Summer My Life Began focuses on Elizabeth Margaret, Em, and the summer that changed her life. Growing up with parents who planned her whole life for her, Em is in the desperate need for some change - even if it's just for a month before getting back to life as she knew it to become a lawyer like her father.

Especially towards the end The Summer My Life Began is full of intriguing surprises that I definitely didn't expect. The secrets her family has kept from her turn Em's life upside down and force her to question many things and therefore play an important part in her way to freedom. 

While I really liked the setting and the plot, I had some problems connecting with the characters. Sometimes Em's attitude towards certain things changed too fast for me, making her a bit unpredictable. I also felt that the (very little) love triangle seemed a bit forced and at the same time I couldn't really feel the chemistry between Em and Cade. Nonetheless I liked witnessing how they become closer with every chapter.

All in all, The Summer My Life Began is a wonderful summer read with elements that are supposed and actually will make you think about how important it is to be the person you want to be instead of following other people's dreams and opinions. While it might not be one of my favorite books, I really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to more novels by Shannon Greenland.

Challenge(s):

YA Contemporary Challenge 2012

This review is part of The Summer My Life Began's blog tour,

hosted by JKS Communications.

Guest Post: Growing Up

by Shannon Greenland

I am the first one to say I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up. A gunslinger? A meteorologist? A chef? A spy? An accountant? A mechanic?
Hey, I applaud those of you out there who know/knew what you wanted and went after it. All I’m saying is I wasn’t one of you.
Heck, I didn’t even read my first book for enjoyment until I was in my late 20’s. I was never one of those kids hunkered down in a library gobbling up words. And now I find I am. It’s funny how things change.
I can think of no better afternoon than a good book, a great cozy chair, a cup of coffee, and some yummy snacks. Ooh, and rain, too. That would be a perfect afternoon.
I’ll tell you this much, though, once I did start reading, I couldn’t stop. My mind was suddenly filled with places and people and adventure. It was soon after I started devouring books that I began writing my teen spy series, The Specialists, filled with adventure, suspense, and romance. And now a few years later I’m trying my hand at my first teen non-spy book, The Summer My Life Began, filled with adventure, suspense, and romance (hm, do we see a trend here?).
So for those of you out there who have no clue what you want to do. No pressure! You may be 20 or 30 or 40 when you figure it out. But when you do, you’ll have the biggest grin on your face. Eureka, I know what I want to be when I grow up!

What do you think? Is The Summer My Life Began on your to-read list?
If you've already read it, what did you think about it?

What's your biggest dream?
Carina

Fictional Distractions of the Week #28

Welcome to Fictional Distractions of the Week. It is inspired by Book Journey's It's Monday! What are you reading? and Fiktshun's My Reading Pile and it will show you what I'm planning to read during the next week.

The books I plan to read this week:

My first aim for this week is finishing Until I Die by Amy Plum. I absolutely loved the first book and even though I wish that its sequel's pace would pick up soon, I'm enjoying it nonetheless.

Goodreads Summary:
Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Once finished with Until I Die, I'm planning to pick up The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland which sounds like such a fun summer contemporary read - can't wait to get to it!

Goodreads Summary:
Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time.

And I'm also going to start reading Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy, which I've heard good things about and will read for its upcoming blog tour. Can't wait to see whether it's as awesome as it sounds!

Goodreads Summary:
As Charlotte steps through the gate, she has a strong feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.

Moving back to South Carolina after three years away, Charlotte knows she's going to have to face people from her past and adjust to a new high school, but she's completely unprepared for what else waits for her in Charleston.

Drawn through an old garden gate, Charlotte discovers a hidden world where she meets Calvin, a boy to whom she is inexplicably attracted. As Charlotte is pulled deeper into this hidden world, it's up to her older brother Kevin to rescue her. No matter how hard Kevin tries, the rescue depends upon Charlotte fighting her intense feelings for Calvin while mastering a set of abilities that she has only just discovered she possesses.

What are your Fictional Distractions of the Week?

 

In My Mailbox #44

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives bloggers the chance to appreciate the books they got last week and to meet new people.

Last week's reviews:

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

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The books I bought:

Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler (my review)

Evernight by Claudia Gray (for Kindle)

The books I received for review:

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Perilous Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis

Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis

Clockwise by Elle Strauss

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin + Penguin, Alyssa Rose Ivy, Quinn Loftis and Elle Strauss.

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Again, this week was really awesome! So happy about these books that I can't wait to start reading. I already read Where It Began and absolutely loved it. Clockwise actually had been in my mailbox a week earlier, but somehow I forgot to include it last week - sorry about that! 

What did you get in your mailbox?

Carina