When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington is the perfect YA contemporary to kick off your spring reading. The Michigan beach town setting is the perfect backdrop for this sweet coming of age story. Also, the strong theme of family makes this book a really enjoyable read.

❀ BEACH TOWN SETTING

Jessica Pennington seems to have a knack for writing stories that feature settings that are perfect for a summer romance. The characters work at a popular tourist spot in Michigan, and it is really enjoyable to read about their boating and camping adventures. It definitely sets the stage for some romantic drama.

This coming of age story is told from the perspectives of Olivia and her boyfriend, Aiden. Olivia is a perfectly flawed character and it is quite relatable reading about her struggles. She has to make some tough choices as well as come to grips that some things in life are not within our control. I really love how much Olivia’s character grows in When Summer Ends.

❀ STRONG FAMILY THEME

Books that feature families are always my favourites. However the family theme in this story is not in the traditional sense. It is so refreshing to read about a family that is comprised of a girl and her aunt. Also, Olivia’s relationship with her mother is another interesting layer to the plot.

Fans of the YA contemporary genre will love this new novel from Jessica Pennington. When Summer Ends has the perfect setting for a summer beach romance, interesting characters, and a wonderful family theme. Definitely one to add to your beach bag this year.

This was definitely one of my absolute favorite reads of the year! It was a perfect read when you want to feel good. It was cute, and had a lot of summery feels. It was written from two point of views, Olivia, and Aiden. Jessica did a great job getting differing perspectives. This book just totally touched my heart. It was a perfect pick-me-up. I recommend it to everyone who could use good a book hug!

When Summer Ends is a story about living summer by chance and falling in love. As soon as I read the synopsis I fell in love with the idea of letting fate decide for you. It really made me want to read the book even more, mostly because I don’t think I have read a book like this one before! I was excited to meet Aiden and Olivia (the MC’s of this story) to know about their lives and the roles they played in the story as well.


This story is about Olivia & Aiden. They both struggled with difficult, personal things. Zander, Olivia’s best friend broke up with her and her mother is back in her life after being absent for a very long time & Olivia is finding it difficult to be around her. And Aiden is struggling with his sight and is now trying to discover who he is without having baseball in his life, which used to be something he loved.

One of the things I liked as soon as I started to read the book was the fact that there are two POV’s! I LOVE when a book has multiple POV’s, it helps me to understand the story and the characters in a better way. Plus, I just love to know what they are thinking and planning to do before the other characters know!

I enjoyed the fact that, while both characters were struggling with things on their own, they were a better version of themselves when they were around each other. They helped themselves without even realizing it and eventually, fell in love ❤️

There were some pretty amazing characters like Ellis and Emma! Ellis made me laugh so many times, he is incredible and I just love the fact that he and Aiden are cousins and best friends! It was fun to read about them and also about the pranks he made. He is a character that I definitely won’t be forgetting any time soon, I loved his personality! And Emma (Olivia’s best friend) was an amazing character too! She was a very good friend to Olivia and made her and I laugh a lot!

There was a lot of art! After reading the book I found myself wanting to draw, even tough I’m not very good at it😆

While there were things that I enjoyed about the story, there were other things that I didn’t. One of them is that I think things happened too fast between Aiden and Olivia, maybe it’s just me, but I would have liked for them to take things slowly. However I did enjoy the moments they spent being together!

I would have liked to read more about Olivia’s relationship with her mother. While it’s clear her mother made a mistake in the past, she came back and was trying to mend things with her even when it wasn’t very clear at the beginning. I enjoyed to read when they went out together, it was fun, but still, I would have like to read more about what happened in those years they didn’t see each other.

Emma, as I mentioned before, is an amazing character! But there were only a few times when she and Olivia hang out together. There was also a certain scene that just didn’t work for me and made me feel less enthusiastic about the book which made me feel sad. I didn’t keep reading the same way, I wasn’t eager to know what would happen next.

While there were things that I didn’t enjoy I think this was a quick read about friendship, love and finding yourself along the way. Olivia and Aiden are a cute couple and I’m glad how things turned out for them at the end.

I really enjoyed this book.I liked how Jessica books focused on different forms of art and I loved how this book focused on art and also finding new passions in life and also focused on kids dealing with so many changes in their life. I really loved the duel POV in this novel and was equally invested in both storylines. I also really liked the romance as well. I really had a hard time putting this book done and really enjoyed it. This book was such a fun read and can't wait to read more by this author in the future.

To start, this book is the epitome of why I read classic and wholesome YA. I love reading stories with innocent kisses and coming-of-age realizations. I love the simple romantic gestures and the “on top of the world” mentality that comes with the character’s ages. I live for their problems as they are real world with a young person’s perspective. You get all of this and so much more in Jessica Pennington’s newest novel, When Summer Ends. A classic YA novel has a good and typically deep message to convey, but we will get to that later.

Olivia has tried to make as many aspects of her life as perfect as she can while trying to forget the problems she can’t control. She ignores them to a fault though, as it gets her into a pickle twice early on, sparking the changes she makes for the summer. She has a good heart with a timid sense of adventure and the unknown, but she grows throughout her summer by leaving things up to chance. It was satisfying when she started letting fate decide as she made the best memories by throwing caution to the wind. It also leads her to the relationship she needs rather than the one that fits into her perfect bubble.

Aiden speaks directly to my heart as a guy who loves sports and the arts. He may not have chosen to walk away from one, but I know the sting of leaving the people behind as well as the activity. He goes through some pretty hefty issues throughout, but I love that Pennington doesn’t focus on it and instead shows us how Aiden has actively chosen to deal with it by living life and trying new things. He is tender, and although I wouldn’t usually find that believable for a guy his age, it just makes sense with him. He also has a contagious adventure-loving spirit that constantly left a smile on my face.

This book is also set in Michigan, making it that much more my cup of tea. Life in the Midwest, especially a tourist town in the Midwest, is just a bit different than anywhere else, and that made this book even better. This book is about taking chances with fate and growing into the best you. This book is about feeling free and finding who and what makes life’s experiences deeper and meaningful. This book is a beautiful, thoughtful, and perfect example of a classic YA novel.

When Summer Ends was a quick and easy read. The story follows Aiden and Olivia, each struggling to find a new direction and deal with change.

Aiden is the starting pitcher for the town varsity baseball team but with vision problems he makes the difficult decision to leave the team without providing an explanation. Olivia lives with her aunt, who has received a job opportunity in Arizona but when her estranged mother agrees to stay with her; much to her an annoyance it allows her to stay in Michigan, work at River Depot and pursue an opportunity to get to know the town golden boy, Aiden.

Both of the characters were dealing with their own personal struggles but working together at River Depot bought them closer and enabled them to build a friendship and support each other through difficult times.

When Summer Ends was without unneccessary drama (thank goodness) the problems they did face were dealt with well and not dragged on.

The romance was slow to build and one that I enjoyed, all of the secondary characters were likeable and I was eager to see Olivia build a relationship with her mother.

This book was written well, it flowed at an even pace and kept me entertained throughout. I will definitley be reading more books by this author.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review When Summer Ends.

This precious book absolutely warmed my heart and left such a big smile on my face! When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington was the perfect cozy beach read and I was smitten with writing, the adorable characters, and the beautiful sceneries.

Here’s a little confession – I was approved for Love Song and Other Lies through Netgalley when I first started writing reviews and got a little carried away requesting for all the books I wanted to read. I never expected to get approved for so many and then BAM!! I had way more ARCS than I ever expected and I was overwhelmed. I’m still quite behind, but I’m slowly making progress. Anyway, I mentioning this because I LOVED When Summer Ends and Pennington’s writing is utterly beautiful and so wonderfully touching. I have a new to me author to add to my favorite list and I’m so excited to read whatever else she writes and to FINALLY read her debut novel this summer… which is when I’m planning on tackling my Netgalley TBR.

Okay, so now back to my review. You already know I loved the writing which was also really easy to read and had a lovely effortless flow. I thought the imagery, setting, and all the descriptions of the places were amazingly detailed and very fascinating. I felt like I was going on an adventure and exploring with Aiden and Olivia. From paddling down the river, swimming in the dark, and hiking to Aiden’s favorite places – I enjoyed every moment and had so much fun! The plot was a bit slow at times, but definitely not dull and never uninteresting. It was filled with fun lighthearted drama, adorably funny scenes, and sweet tender moments. I actually thought this would be emotionally heavy, but even though it wasn’t, it still made me cry. I liked and did not like the ending. Something happened that just made me feel like it was too convenient and I was hoping for a different, but still a HEA conclusion. Overall, I did think it wrapped up nicely and I was happy for the characters.

I LOVED Aiden and Olivia as individuals and as a couple. I really enjoyed their friendship and romance. I loved seeing them do new things and take chances. It was really nice to see how their relationship grew into something more. It was perfectly slow burn and the FEELS were totally amazing! They were so wonderful, intriguing, and likable. I loved their chemistry, their bantering, their playful flirtations, their swoony scenes, and all their adorable moments together. I thought they were so cute together and it was positively endearing to watch them not only learn from each other but also challenge each other to be better.

I love books that can make me feel connected to the characters and experience all their emotions. When Summer Ends did not disappoint and filled my heart with so much happy I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it. It was a beautiful story about moving on, taking chances, chasing new dreams, and falling in love. When you think everything seems to be falling apart, just remember that there might be something better -- an unexpected new beginning or a wonderful surprise waiting for you. I really loved this book and Jessica Pennington is without a doubt an amazing storyteller that needs to be added on your TBR list!

This was a fun and sweet summer romance story with plenty of swoons that I think many contemporary romance fans will enjoy. It was heartfelt, absolutely charming, and a delightfully affecting read.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can see this being a good summer/beach read, but I didn't find anything about it to be particularly interesting or unique. It felt like instead of building true conflict for the characters to overcome, there were just a lot of little misunderstandings or overreactions that caused problems which were quickly resolved. I didn't love that the point of view switched back and forth between main characters, because it felt like instead of having one solid point of view, the story had two mediocre point of views. Neither of the characters felt that well developed, and I didn't like the storyline with Olivia's mother because it felt very unnatural. I think the best part of the story was the relationship that eventually developed between the two characters, and especially the way Olivia learned more about herself through her experiences with Aiden, but I wish that it had happened with more flow to it, instead of the stop-and-go feeling that both of the characters instigated in different ways.

When Summer Ends was such a cute read! It was a nice dose of summer in the middle of winter (when I read it). I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a lighthearted contemporary novel, or if you're a fan of Morgan Matson or Emery Lord.

I actually wasn't too into the author's debut, which was just a personal choice, but I liked this book so much better. The writing, to me, improved, and I was less annoyed by the characters. I'm excited for her future books now!

The couple had such great chemistry! I liked that this was Aiden's first relationship but not Olivia's; that was a nice role reversal. Their relationship development was so great too. I liked the pacing, especially because Olivia had just broken up with her boyfriend.

This book was told in dual perspectives, but the two characters' voices were distinctive. Also, they help each other deal with their problems. Aiden is losing his vision and has to quit the baseball team, of which he's the star player. Olivia has to deal with possibly moving away at the start of senior year and the return of her unreliable mom.

If you're looking for a cute, light, summer-y book, I totally recommend When Summer Ends!

**This post will be up on my blog, Magical Reads, on April 3.**

I really loved reading this book! I read it in one day and enjoyed every moment of reading this novel. We follow Olivia and Aiden who are both going into the summer with different things in their lives. I felt like Olivia’s struggles were handled very well and in a way that felt very realistic. However, Aiden’s problems where glossed over for much of the book even though it is a very major event in is life. This is the main reason that I felt like I couldn’t give this book a full five stars.

Olivia and Aiden’s relationship was very sweet and I loved the way that it built throughout the story. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recomend it so anyone interested in a sweet summer reads.

I loved this book so much. It was a quick read and It was well written. I am a huge fan of Jessica Pennington's writing. She writes fun, easy, meaningful novels. More to come in my review on my blog.

When I first started this book I thought it would be your typical YA summer romance but I was pleasantly surprised! It has all the aspects of a sweet summer romance but it also covers much deeper topics.

I loved the main characters; Aiden & Olivia. They had such a sweet relationship and really brought out the best in each other. Especially Olivia, her character developed so much throughout the story.

The chapters alternate between the two characters POV but it was really easy to follow and it flowed nicely.

If you after a easy, sweet, summer romance book then I’d highly recommend this!

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for approving my request and sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.


Real rating: 4,5 stars

What a sweet and cute read!
YA novels should be written more often like this: it was sweet and tender without giving me a toothache, with a female character that didn't make me want to roll my eyes and a male character that wasn't an alpha man for once.
And can we talk about their dynamic? So on time, with the right amount of slow-burn and knowledge of each other - no amount of instalove whatsoever.
That's the way I want my books.

When nothing Olivia has planned goes the way it should've been, she's forced to reconsider her entire summer - and part of her future. So, with a little push from her best friend Emma, she's going to let fate decide for her.
Aiden also has to find a new path after the loss of his vision brought him to quit baseball, losing a great part of himself. He thinks art is the solution, but he needs to find his spark.

They know each other the way everyone knows people when living in a small town. But they're not friends - they're from different crowds, Zander being the only point in common.
Working together is a little awkward at first, but I loved how they slowly start to get closer. They also bring the best out of the other: Aiden finds someone who can see something else in him outside of the baseball player, Olivia understands what was missing in her relationship with Zander - and what she was missing in life.
They're so cute together and they actually talk when a problem arises - the build up of their relationship is slow and perfect.

I could relate so much with Olivia since I too live in a touristic place - I know what an "invasion" feels like.
I liked how she came to accept the ending of her relationship with Zander and to finally admit what got on her nerves and I mostly liked how she showed maturity when it came to her mother - I'm glad she didn't throw a fit.

Aiden was amazing - cute, sweet, funny and just because is a jock it doesn't mean he's an idiot.
He's gentle and respectful, but also determined to find something he could look forward to now that baseball isn't on the table anymore. He's also the example that guys can have their heart broken, too.

The writing style is easy and it flows without a problem - also the double point of view was a great choice.

I obviously recommend it and I think I'm gonna buy a physical copy of this book for when I need a moment of sweetness in my life.

This is a sweet summer romance that’s a super quick read. If you’re a fan of authors Jessica Brody or Kasie West, you will enjoy this story of a summer romance between a girl who recently broke up with her long time boyfriend and a boy whose family owns a company where she gets asummer job, but what happens to romance when summer ends? Read the book to find out!

Excellent YA Romance with perfect ratio of issues and kisses. Really enjoyed the banter between the main characters and the expected but not didactic growth of the teen leads.

The very moment I finished When Summer Ends, I whipped out my cellphone, opened the Goodreads app, and scanned Pennington’s author profile, hoping that she had another book in the works. Meet Me At Midnight is slated to be released in 2020 and has no description – which doesn’t matter – because I know I’ll be reading it regardless. After two back-to-back, fabulous books, Pennington is now officially an auto-read author of mine.

The thing I love most about Pennington’s books is the characters. Her main characters especially, are always complex and intriguing.

Aiden is trying to discover himself throughout When Summer Ends. The “baseball star” has been his identifier for so many years, but now that he can’t physically play anymore, he’s having an identity crisis. He’s trying to find his new “thing” that which will drive him and give him purpose, and maybe even take his mind off of his new handicap.

Olivia has held on to feelings of resentment and abandonment her whole life, because of a flighty mother who was never around. Being dumped by Zander, her best-friend-turned-boyfriend of two years, affected her deep at first because he was a type of security blanket. As the story progressed, Olivia started to realize that she was never truly happy with Zander. Their relationship lacked passion and excitement, and Zander was also kind of a sh*tty boyfriend. Like Aiden, Olivia is on a journey of self-discovery in this book. She spends a lot of time digging deep to uncover the fears and insecurities that have been dictating her life and keeping her from being truly happy.

When Summer Ends was sweet, funny, and sometimes a little sad (in a good bittersweet way). Aiden and Olivia both grew so much as people, and I loved following along as they did.

I absolutely adored Jessica Pennington’s debut Love Songs & Other Lies and I was so excited about having the chance to read her sophomore novel, When Summer Ends, early! I’ve been having the hardest time writing this review because I honestly loved When Summer Ends so much and don’t know how to put my thoughts into words. Anyway, I’m saying all of that because this review has turned into more of a love letter.

Olivia has everything figured out, but that all changes when her aunt announces that she got a new job in Arizona and that Liv will have to move before her senior year begins. All of a sudden everything else changes—her summer internship falls apart and her long-term boyfriend doesn’t see the point in continuing their relationship since she’s moving away. With no other summer job options, Liv turns to the River Depot where all the tourists hang out…and where the school’s golden boy, Aiden, works. Aiden’s the star pitcher of their high school baseball team. That is until an eye disease messes with his vision causing him to lose the playoff game and then quit the team on the last day of school. With a summer free of baseball, Aiden is excited about working on his art portfolio and at his family’s rental business.

Liv and Aiden’s POVs were fantastic! Both of their voices and struggles felt so realistic. It was so easy to get inside their heads and relate to them. I really liked how they knew of each other since they went to school together but never knew each other before this summer job. It was so fun seeing Olivia try new things with Aiden as he pushed her outside of her comfort zone. Also, I really loved how Aiden was this all-star athlete, but also that he is talented artist too! Yay for multiple interests! Yay for loving both sports and art!

The small-town setting and River Depot added the perfect backdrop to Liv and Aiden’s budding relationship. I loved all of the fun activities they did—the whole book just screams summer with all of the canoeing, exploring, late nights, and bonfires! Like Olivia, I’m not a huge outdoors person (although I was when I was little), but I would hike a sand dune any day if that meant I got to meet a guy like Aiden.

Another big part in the book was watching Liv slowly reconnect with her mother, who has been absent most of her life. The way their relationship progresses felt so natural and I really liked that they found something small (drinking tea in the morning) to bond over and how that helped jumpstart their living together. I’m glad that everything wasn’t 100% okay between them at the end because Olivia’s hurt feelings are valid, but I’m glad they are trying to move forward and mend their relationship.

Overall, you are going to want to add When Summer Ends to your summer reading list this year! Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson better make room for a new YA summer romance queen!

Review:
4.75 Stars

I’m so ready for summer and all of the endless possibilities. This book gave me all of the warm fuzzies and almost made me wish that I was back in high school. When Summer Ends is a light-hearted book about learning how to take chances in life and to embrace the little things that life can throw at you.

I can relate to both Olivia and Aiden which is always a plus when reading a contemporary book. Oliva is one of those people who likes to have every detail planned out and hates when things cause her plan to get off track. She basically has her life mapped out after high school and is very determined to make it happen. Aiden, on the other hand, has these expectations to live up too because of his baseball abilities. Let it be known that I do not play sports, but I understand the pressure of being the best and always worrying about messing up.

When I got a little way into the story, I had to put my phone down because so many of the little details reflect my life. I understand the struggles of living in a small town and making sure everything is perfect because gossip can spread like wildfire. Then when I learned that Aiden and his baseball team were playing for their third baseball championship, I literally said “No flipping way” because when I was a senior in high school last year, my school’s team was in this same position, and I’m telling you, I felt the pressure for the team, so I could only imagine how they felt. Then I got to the part where the monkey wrench was thrown into Oliva’s summer plans and had to find the alternative job and let me tell you, my heart went out for her. I live about 20 minutes from this huge lake, and I’ve never been canoeing in it, nor have I been camping or hiking, but I have gone fishing (so I have that much going for me!).

I think I like this book so much because it wasn’t a sad love story where the girl breaks up with her boyfriend and spends 200 pages wallowing in a self-made pity party or living life in this fog. Also, it’s not a story when the person is suddenly lost and has to go on this great trip to discover himself, but it’s a story about learning to take what life gives you and make the best out of it. After Oliva’s break-up with her boyfriend in the beginning and Aiden giving up baseball for reasons, you’ll have to find out about, they both take some time to deal with it, and then they learned how to use that difficult situation to grow into better people.

Honestly, if I was Oliva and my boyfriend called it off, and my summer job was ripped away from me, and then I found out I would have to start senior year in a different state, I don’t think I would have handled it nearly as well as she did. I have to applaud her for keep moving forward and finding a job outdoors during the hot summer because tbh I would die.

Throughout this story, relationships are built and even worked on (which is always a good thing!). Olivia learns that life is more than plans and having every little detail go as plan, and Aiden learns who he is without baseball.

I highly recommend that you go out and preorder this book because it is not only a fun read, but it’ll teach you to appreciate the little things and not to worry as much when things don’t go as plan. This is the perfect book to read when you just need some time to relax because even though there are some serious things like having an absent parent and certain health issues, it really has an upbeat tone.

Playlist:
Change My Mind by One Direction
If It Means a Lot to You by A Day to Remember
Honey Bee by Blake Shelton
Same Mistakes by One Direction
Kiss Me Kiss Me by 5 Seconds of Summer
More by Hunter Hayes
Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendes
Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers
I Mean You by Hunter Hayes
Worry by The Vamps
Everything about You by One Direction
When Did You Stop Loving Me by Hunter Hayes
Same to You by The Vamps
Amen by Hunter Hayes
The Middle by Zedd and Maren Morris
*note that these songs are in no particular order*

And I’m just going to leave this here if you need another reason:

“He walks past me and bends down to get the next section of the tent. I reach out to smack his back as he walks by, but he moves and I hit his butt.”


Trust me there are more LOL moments like this, but I thought y’all would get a kick out this.

When summer ends by Jessica Pennington

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an E- Arc in exchange for an honest review.
4⭐️ (May contain spoilers)

Love, family, forgiveness, breathtakingly adorable!

From the very beginning I was hooked, we get introduced to Olivia; who may seem to have a perfect life until you step back and look more closely. Perfect boyfriend, yes. Perfect supporting aunt, yes. Perfect supporting mother? No. For as long as Olivia can remember her mother hasn’t truly been around, until her aunt gets offered a job in Arizona thousands of miles away from beautiful Michigan.

Olivia’s perfect summer before senior year has started off completely wrong, her aunts job offer; which means Olivia will be moving right before senior year, her perfect baseball playing boyfriend breaking up with her on the first day of summer because he doesn’t think a long distance relationship will work and her mother just surprisingly showing back up one day.

Aiden, legally blind in on eye has just quit the baseball team after years of being the golden star pitcher. When his entire future is gone as quickly as it came, he throws himself into his art and also working at his fathers business for the first time ever. Little did he know working at the business would turn out to be one of the best summers yet and that all changed for him when Olivia gets a summer job at the River Depot; who did not expect that she could be possibly falling in love over the summer.

I was smiling almost the whole book, it’s written so adorably that the entirety of the story is perfect. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be taken into a story of summer love, family forgiveness.

When Summer Ends is a lovely sweet romance about to almost seniors. Aiden and Olivia know each other for years, because Olivia's boyfriend is a part of the same baseball team as Austin. Each struggling with their own problems they decide the live the summer by chance.

I loved this book. It was sweet and I loved Aiden and Olivia. The writing was also very good. This was my first Jessica Peddington book but after this one it certainly won't be my last.