I had such a good time reading this book! I don't read that much contemporary YA and wasn't sure it was what I was in the mood for, but the characters and story sucked me right in. Larissa is a very relatable narrator and her voice felt completely natural and realistic to me. I loved the chemistry between Lara and Jasmine and the realistic portrayal of that gray area in their relationship. I especially liked that "The Boy" was nice and that lara didn't need to be provoked or have external justification for breaking up with him when she knew she had feelings for Jasmine. Highly recommend!

There was a lot to like about this book from the characters to the plot to the execution. I just really enjoyed this whole story overall. The exploration of bisexuality paired with the love triangle was really well done.
If I had to complain about anything it would be the way the relationship between Chase and Laura. I felt like it was pushed and we didn't get a very good explanation as to what drew Chase to Laura. That is really my only complaint and it could just be a misunderstanding on my part.
Overall this was a solid read and a great addition to the queer ya genre. I felt overall this book makes a great summer read. This book also did a great job with its bisexual rep. I will definitely be recommending this book!

This book took a little for me to get into - at the beginning, Larissa and her friends felt very surface (typical high school girl friend group), but don't let that fool you! I got hooked around the 15% mark and then just didn't put it down until I finished a couple hours later.

Pros:
BISEXUAL CHARACTERS EXPLORING THEIR SEXUALITY!!! INTIMATE SCENES BETWEEN TWO WOMEN! ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS RESPECTFULLY DISCUSSING SEXUALITY! So good. So so good. We need more of this! Another big pro was there was a ton of growth with Larissa, as well as some of the side characters.

My cons contain plot spoilers, so I'm hiding them!

Cons:
I feel like this book could've been even better if we had abbreviated time spent with the misunderstanding-that-only-continues-because-characters-refuse-to-communicate trope, and instead let Larissa and Jasmine work it out sooner and spend more time developing their new relationship! I would love to see more of what happens as they decide to begin a real, out relationship and how that all develops. The time spent in the weird tension was important, as that gave Larissa more time to sort out what it was that she actually wanted, but I still think it could've been abbreviated for the same outcome. Of course, the author knows the characters best, so who knows! Just my two cents. :)

I also wasn't a huge fan of the back and forth timeline - I think I would've rather had a story told in two parts so we could develop that same bond to Jasmine and be equally distressed when she arrived to Larissa's school. Having her appear without the backstory felt like just another character to learn, rather than already having that connection and emotional response.

I'll be recommending this simply because I want more WLW stories in the world! Give me moooore! An easy, one sitting read - perfect to cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

Cool for the Summer is a rom-com following Lara. Lara has had a crush on a football player at her school for the past three years, Chase Harding. When she starts a new school year, it seems like he has finally taken an interest in her. Over the summer; however, Lara has a fling with a girl who she just can’t get out of her head. When Jasmine turns up at Lara’s school for the new school year, Lara has to figure things out.

I loved the uniqueness of this story. I wasn’t too fond of Lara and Jasmine’s characters at first. It seemed like they were both shallow and in the popular group. I just couldn’t relate to them at all. This book was quick, one-sitting read. The love-triangle didn’t feel genuine to me, and the relationships seemed a little bit rushed. I had some trouble staying connected to each story as the chapters alternate between past and present, but it wasn’t a difficult read otherwise.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars.
This book follows a girl figuring out her sexuality while maneuvering through a relationship with a longtime crush. I think a lot of aspects of this book where really well done, but wasn't necessarily for me personally. If you're a fan of YA contemporary then I highly suggest picking this up, because you'll be sure to love it. I found some parts a little cheesy, but nothing too bad. Overall, a really great book, the rating just reflects my growing out of the YA contemporary genre.

Lara has had a crush on the same boy for years. But this last summer, everything she thought she knew threatened to change when she became friends—and maybe more? definitely more—with an extremely charismatic girl. The book switches between "Now" and "Then" segments as Lara flashes back to a summer she's trying to forget, some of the most effective use of split timelines I've seen in recent years. Of course, it's pretty difficult to forget the girl from last summer when she shows up at your school.

Lara's doubts and feelings and fears about her sexuality are incredibly poignant and relatable. Though she doesn't come to a specific label by the end of the book, her period of questioning (and her reasoning for how she *must* be straight) was deeply resonant with me, having recently come out to some as bisexual, and having used my own very similar reasoning.

Cool for the Summer is everything fun and clever, with snappy dialogue and both characters and emotions that feel incredibly real. Lara and Jasmine are both fully developed, and even side characters like Lara's friends and her longtime crush Chase get the attention they deserve and feel like they have a valid place in the story. Absolutely charming—already one of my favorite books of 2021, and I am now devoted to Dahlia Adler's writing for life.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was cute and fun and is begging to be a Netflix movie, and honestly if we had a million other bisexual girl YA romcoms it might be a solid 3.5, but I'm rounding up because we need more books like this (and also, you know, 2020).

This YA romance captured really well and honestly a sometimes painful and bewildering phase of confusion and turmoil that a lot of young queer people go through. A lot of queer stories focus on people who already know exactly who they are and what they want, which is also great, but this different take was really refreshing.

I am living for the influx of new YA with bisexual protagonists, and Adler's Cool for the Summer is a perfect addition. Lara's struggle to identify her own sexuality will be important and relatable to many teens, and the supporting cast are a joy. I also appreciated seeing a YA book where a character had a crush on the popular, homecoming king boy and it wasn't dismissed in some sort of "not like other girls" way.

3/5

***Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of Cool for the Summer in exchange for an honest review***

In case you can't tell from the title this is definitely a fun summer/beach read. The focus is on Lara, a pretty, well-liked girl. She is living her "all American" life.. but why can't she stop thinking about her summer with Jasmine?

Negatives: The writing felt kind of juvenile to me, I would consider it to be more of a middle-grade style writing, but there were a few steamier scenes that I would just be ready for. Another problem that I had was that I felt like the characters were not as well-formed as they could be. I personally like characters over plot, but in this case, I just was not close to any of them.

Positive: THE PORTRAYAL OF BISEXUALITY!!!! This book did it right and I was so happy to see her coming to terms with her sexuality.

I would recommend this book, it was super fun.

Lara has spent her first three years of high school crushing on handsome football player, Chase Harding. When she returns from a summer in the Outer Banks for her senior year, it seems like he’s finally crushing back. It’s everything Lara has ever wanted, but she can’t stop thinking about the girl she spent the summer with. She and Jasmine didn’t make any promises to each other, which is made all too clear when Jasmine strolls into Lara’s high school on the first day of school. Lara finally has the guy of her dreams, so why can’t she let go of Jasmine? I received an invitation to read a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: biphobia (countered). Some NSFW content.

It took a while for me to get invested in this, but I ultimately liked the direction it took. It’s a little difficult to like Lara and her friends at first. They’re gorgeous, popular, and kind of shallow, and those just aren’t my people–I’m over in the awkward nerd section, rambling about books (obviously). Lara’s high school dream is to date the most popular guy in school, and like you do you girl, but #dontrelate. However, I think this is partly necessary in order for us to see how far she’s come by the end of the book. Lara and Jasmine’s relationship provides necessary individual growth for both of them, and it’s a satisfying arc even if it starts out rocky. There is so much more to Lara than some silly crush, even more than she realizes.

While I enjoyed the flashbacks of Lara and Jasmine’s summer together more than the present-day scenes of her dating Chase, I’m not sure the back and forth timeline totally works. It slows down the pace of the novel and makes it difficult to stay involved in either story. (Also, I already suffered through a season of Outer Banks because it’s one of my niece’s favorite shows, and I really didn’t need more of it.) The summer timeline is more diverse and has better character development though, at least until the end of the novel. I didn’t really enjoy Lara and Jasmine’s mutual antagonism in the present timeline, and the angst is a little much for me (but I’m not seventeen, so take that with a grain of salt). I like the frank conversations Lara has with her mother, her friends, and Chase about her confusion and her sexuality, and I think they’re well-handled. It’s a fun, summery romp with nice LGBTQ+ rep.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

For a book I requested on a whim, I am so delighted by how much I enjoyed Cool for the Summer. The story follows Lara a high school senior who finally catches the eye of the guy she's been gushing over for years. The only problem is that Jasmine, the girl she spent the summer with, has transferred to her school and Lara can't get her out of her head.

I had to wait to stop squealing long enough to start putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys, rather) because it was just such a deliciously fun and light romance! It was a super easy read and a really excellent palate cleanser, it really put me into the reading zone and renewed my enthusiasm to blast through all of the books I've still got on my tbr!

I loved the dual timelines of Now vs Then, you really get to slowly learn about Lara and Jasmine's summer and how it changed Lara. The timing also kept up very nicely which can often be a problem with shifting timelines.

Overall, the thing that I love the most was that this story really took me back to being a young queer person still figuring things out. I think lots of people experience that situation of thinking "is this just a one-time thing for fun? or could it be something more?" and I think that Dahlia Adler really does an excellent job of capturing what it feels like to be discovering your sexuality. Oh goodness, it has been a long time since I thought about been young and buzzed on a beach burning with the desire to kiss a pretty girl. Cool for the Summer brought back so many warm and fun memories of what it was like to have the opportunity to discover myself.

Cool for the Summer definitely slid right onto my most anticipated releases for 2021.

the writing was juvenile, the characters were bland and the storyline didn't seem original AT ALL. I'm sad because a lot of people really enjoyed this! i just wasn't able to get past the awkward beginning.

so if the book does intrigue you I suggest reading it.

Cool for the Summer is such a fun, quick read! That's not to say it doesn't take itself seriously because it does. It's affirming to lots of identities, the characters have such great chemistry, and its a lovely exploration of sexuality and friendship.

This book was wonderful! I absolutely loved the two main characters - the author did a great job of fleshing out their relationship and making me root for them. I also liked her writing style and the juxtaposition between the summer timeline and present timeline. Dahlia Adler has gained a new reader in me!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

OMG, this book was everything my little bi heart could have asked for. I have not read any of the author's works but will be remedying that shortly. I loved the two timelines and the journey Lara takes along the way. Watching her grown into herself in the short time we are together is a chef's kiss. I will be buying a physical copy to add to my library so I can read it over and over again like Lara reads her favorite author.

Cool for the Summer is Dahlia Adler's spin on (idk if I can say this bc I haven't seen Adler herself say this I don't think, but oh well) a loose Grease retelling -- "summer fling transfers to my school" and all the chaos that ensues. There are obvious differences to the musical which I couldn't be happier about but mostly it doesn't matter that much, so I'm just going to move on.

I loved this book.

It spoke in no uncertain terms about a lot of the same thoughts I've had in my own journey of self-identity with regards to sexuality and reading them is always so validating. Larissa struggles with the idea that perhaps she's just had a girl crush and sometimes that's just something girls do -- that constant effort (because it takes effort) to convince herself of her own straightness reminded me so achingly of my own high school years.

Larissa herself was just such a fun interesting character -- I loved how at first she seemed like a vapid popular girl just as she seems to everyone else at her school but that as the book goes on we understand her more and more as she shows more of herself to her friends and her peers. I loved how much she loved Demi Lovato and how the song Cool for the Summer isn't just the namesake for this book but an actual plot point.

I've only read two of Adler's books so far but I fully intend to increase that number because both have been such delightful engaging reads! I highly recommend them to any who are interested.

This story was very well-done. Tender and detailed, without getting bogged down in sentiment. And even after it became obvious which way the plot was blowing, it was still an enjoyable ride to get there.

I would like to thank Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honorable review.

Larissa Bogdan has had the best summer of her life, spending every single second of it in the Outer Banks with her new friend, Jasmine. Then, the end of summer comes, and Larissa must return home to Stratford, New York. Only when she gets home, Larissa finds out that Chase Harding, the boy she's been crushing on for six years, is finally interested in her, and her new friend, Jasmine, is coming to school in Stratford. This becomes a problem for Larissa, having to choose between the guy that she liked forever and the girl that has become a newfound interest. Larissa can only choose one, so who will it be: Chase or Jasmine?

After reading and reflecting on Cool for the Summer, I would have to say that it would be a pretty good beach read. It's an easy read, though it does discuss some tough topics. I liked that it was an LGBTQA+ book, dealing with different sexuality, like bisexual, pansexual, aromantic, and asexual. Now, I'm nowhere near proficient in understanding what any of those terms mean, besides for bisexuall, and I did have to look up what they mean. Do I still understand what they mean? No, because my brain just can't grasp the concept, but if that's how you identify as, then great. I'm still going to need an explanation of what it means.

Personally, I didn't enjoy Cool for the Summer as much as I enjoyed Dahlia Adler's Just Visiting. I loved Just Visiting and the fun characters and the interesting plot line. I still think about that book! Cool for the Summer just wasn't hitting it for me. I liked most of the characters, except for Larissa. I found her annoying, spoiled, bratty, and way too whiny for my taste. I just couldn't stand her, which made reading the novel that much harder. I feel like if I had read the novel from Jasmine's perspective, I would've liked it so much more. Other than Larissa, I enjoyed the novel as much as I could without the main character. Cool for the Summer just wasn't hitting it for me, but I genuinely do think a lot of young adults, and maybe even some new adults, will really enjoy this novel.

*I really do appreciate the title and the semblance behind it. Once I understood why it was named what it was, I thought that Dahlia Adler was a genius. I hope more people pick it up easier than I did.*