Title: Cool for the Summer
Author: Dahlia Adler
Release Date: May 11th, 2021
Page Count: 262
Format: Netgalley/Audiobook
Start Date: January 29th, 2023
Finish Date: January 29th, 2023

Rating: 5 Star

Review:

Going to start this off by saying that I couldn't read this book without the song by Demi Lovato popping into my head. In retrospect, I should have played it on loop when I read it. I'd probably drive everybody around me crazy though. I don't wear headphones unless I absolutely have to. Anyway, onto my actual thoughts on the book. Lara finally gets the boy she's been crushing on for so long. She'd be happy about it if it weren't for the fact that her summer fling didn't show up at her school and turn her entire world upside down. This is a sapphic story, but I really love the bisexual representation in it. I haven't read many that have that. Also, isn't this cover so adorable? This will absolutely be a reread for me one day.

I found the main character extremely hard to connect with even from the first few pages, the plot was lacking, and I got bored. I did manage to finish it but by the end I didn’t care about the story at all. This is my second attempt with this author and I accept that her books are not for me.

I really liked this one. I think the character development was really solid. I greatly appreciated the lack of labels, even at the end, as sexuality is very fluid, and I think it's brilliant to stress this amongst YA readers by not using labels.

I also loved how quickly Bi stereotypes were quickly corrected, and the lack of angst amongst the characters during the 3rd act breakup. sometimes, I feel authors pander to teens by writing younger, and Dahlia treated them as equals.

Real Rating: 3.5 stars

This is definitely one of those books I wish I'd read earlier. I got the eARC for goodness sakes and yet here we are.

I enjoyed this story immensely. It's messy and full of teen drama - worries over friendships, family, love, identity - but that's part of its charm. So often we get LGBTQ+ books where the character is so sure of who they are. Established, in a sense. This truly felt like a seeking, curious, exploratory story about a girl who was unsure about her identity. I don't LOVE how she treated people as part of that exploration process, but, being honest with myself, this is kind of the way teens figure things out.

Lara is great, she's a bit lost, especially when she sees her summer fling appear at her school right when her dream boy starts paying attention to her. Understandable whiplash. I enjoyed seeing her discover a different side of herself in the THEN chapters, while she struggles with her own benchmarks she set for herself and everyone's expectations in the NOW chapters. Lara is very much in her head for most of the book. She gets caught up in thought, even burning time in the real world as people catch her zoning out. So if you're looking for something that's full of self-discovery and self-reflection, this is the book for you!

I felt like Jasmine was a full fledged human, and even some of the summer friends had substance, but I was surprised how little development there was for Lara's NOW life - her "reality," where summer was away from all that. She doesn't seem to be present with her friends much and Chase is a caracature of "nice." I wish there had been more development there, as her independence and individuality also stems from those relationships.

Last thing I want to touch on was a weird comment or two when it came to a non-binary character. There were a few lines that made me uncomfortable, though I don't know what kind of phobia it'd be classed under. Just a heads up for that.

This book is messy, full of should-I-shouldn't-I's, and a lot of unknowns and unsures. Definitely a book of exploration, curiosity, and fear of the unknown. It was great seeing Lara break out of herself over time and learning that her growth can't fit back into the space she left behind before the summer. All in all, I enjoyed this and will definitely be checking out Adler's other books!

TW: biphobia, underage drinking, parental divorce, toxic friendship

Rep: Ashkenazi Jewish MC, Sephardi (Syrian) Jewish bisexual MC, aroace secondary character

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Wednesday Books via St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t have time for this book when I was approved. I plan to read it in the future though. Looks fun!

<i>Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

2.5 stars

I was expecting to love this but unfortunately I just…didn’t. The main problem was that I was just bored. I love YA because it’s usually easy to breeze through and although this was fast-paced and dramatic, it wasn’t capturing my attention. This book was simultaneously exactly what I was expecting, and not at all. I think plot-wise, it followed through with its description, but I was expecting something different from the characters. I suppose I don’t have to relate to every single book I read, but there was something quite frankly annoying about the characters’ personalities and the way they interacted. It was very high school-y but not in the down-to-earth, awkward, and painful way that I love in YA, but in the way I imagined high school to be like before I had started high school—cool kids and Adult experiences and all that glam. I wished I liked this more, and I do think it would be suitable for someone with slightly different reading tastes than mine, but unfortunately I was disappointed.

If the Demi Lovato song gets stuck in your head when you see the cover of this book, I 100% feel the same. But setting aside the catchy title and the pretty cover, Cool for the Summer is the perfect read for the season—especially if you're looking for a coming of age story.

This book tells the story surrounding the character's sexuality with Grease vibes and LGBT representation. I have to admit, there are times when this main character's decisions frustrated me and I was reminded how frustrating it was to read about love triangles—and a part of me still bleeds for the person she didn't end up with.

From summer lovin' to living the life during senior year, this book is a throwback to those high school years and the feeling of being surrounded by hope and potential.

Overall, I really enjoyed everything. It's a quick read and the writing style of the author makes it easier to turn the pages. Would love to read more of this author's works in the future!

This was my first Dahlia Adler book but it definitely won’t be my last! I adored this book and all its chaotic messiness. Its one I definitely will be holding close and I can’t wait to pick up another one of her books.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an amazing plot, but I felt the characters were a bit hard to connect to.

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

Um dos melhores livros young adult que já li! Fofo e leve na medida certa. Realmente uma leitura para o verão!

This review is very lateee... but I loved the way the author represents bisexuality in the main character and the development of the love triangle, this last thing put me in edge in the whole book. Even if I didn't like it very much, the message of the book was important for everyone who still not knowing themselves...

I will admit that when I read the synopsis for this novel, my first thought was Grease. I even described it to my kids and one of them thought the same thing. Luckily, I'm a fan of that musical, so it didn't faze me. However, the story went above and beyond the charm of Grease.

I really enjoyed getting to know Larissa and Jasmine throughout this novel and seeing their story unfold in the recent past and in the present. The descriptions, dialogue, and characters really brought the story to life. There was a steamy element, but it left a lot to the imagination instead of going into detail. I especially loved the flashback scenes, as they made me feel like I was vicariously enjoying Larissa's summer in the Outer Banks.

I wish Larissa hadn't been popular as it's hard to feel sympathy for someone who has the attention of the hottest guy in school and doesn't have trouble making friends. However, I appreciated that she did have to struggle in some ways. Also, in this day and age, it seems like more people are accepting of LGBTQ+ and I didn't see why Larissa had to hide that part of herself. It seemed like she lived in a place where people were open-minded, especially given that there was a nonbinary student and no one gave them any problems.

Overall, this was a fun and sweet page-turner that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA LGBTQ+ novels!

This was a fun, messy love triangle about a girl learning more about her own sexuality. What a good time!

Sapphic Grease! Demi Lovato Music! Two great love interests! Oh my!

I loved this! Home Field Advantage remains my favorite, but this was enjoyable! Since I read HFA first, it was interesting to see the similar bits and pieces; or what I’ve come to think of as ideas Adler came up with while writing Cool for the Summer but couldn’t use until HFA.

I’ve seen mixed reactions to the flashback portions. I, personally, enjoyed them. I feel like Adler interwove them smoothly into the narrative. The past experiences add to the present and vice versa. But I didn’t enjoy how that meant Lara and Jasmine had next to no positive interactions in the present.

I meant to write this review sooner after I read it so I don't remember everything I wanted to mention or all of the side characters, like Lara's friend group. But I do remember that Kiki is the best and I want a whole book focused on her please and thank you.

the book had a cute cover and a fun description so i was excited to read but it was kind of disappointing. their wasn't much plot and it felt a bit messy at times.

Can a book be a bi-icon? Because if so, Cool For The Summer is one. Lara’s senior year is upended by an unexpected love-triangle between Chase, the guy of her dreams, and Jasmine, the best friend/summer fling she thought she’d never connect with again. Just have “Betty” by Taylor Swift along with Demi Lovato’s titular anthem on repeat and maybe queue up Grease for when you’re done?

Another hit from Dahlia Adler! This was an awesome book and I can't wait to read all of her future books!

A cute and fun YA that's perfect for Spring/Summer. A wonderful read to take with you on a weekend getaway or to the beach for the day.

This was SO CUTE. I loved every character, and the shifting timeline/perspective kept the story moving quickly. I don't read a lot of YA these days, but I'm extremely glad I picked this one up.

Dahlia Adler is a gift for queer audiences. Cool For The Summer rings the familiar bell of contemporary romance effortlessly, but in a honest and natural modern voice. Lara’s bisexuality feels so genuine to me as a fellow bisexual. I was surprised to enjoy both of her love interests, which isn’t usual for me. It does suffer from the inevitable love triangle syndrome though, in that it becomes clear early on who the character is destined to end up with. However, it’s still very very enjoyable and a great recommendation for teens.