Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of this story had me hook, line and sinker. Stories based around family and family drama typically get moved to the top of my TBR pile. Not to mention, the fact that I love #ownvoice stories. So this book from the outside had everything I could ever want in a story. And it started off very promising. However, as much as I hate to say it, the need to somewhat understand the Jamaican language was a large distraction for me. I found myself going back and forth to understand terms and words that were being said. This really broke up the flow of the story for me. So at 24% I finally called it quits and DNF the book.

I plan to try to read it again in hardback format in hopes that that will make for a better reading experience for me.

🌀Heavy content
🌀Character growth
🌀Mature YA

This is a coming of age story that shows a side of Jamaica we don’t often hear about; the country. The writing pulled me into the setting in the story and gave me a lot to think about while reading. This is a hard book to read at times; Tilla’s family and peers treated her harshly while visiting and there are some serious trigger warnings in this. I loved the parallels to the hurricane and to Tilla’s emotions and character growth. I was fascinated with this beautifully written, heartbreaking story and will definitely keep an eye out for future books from this author. Wonderful debut.

Hurricane Summer is a YA contemporary following Tilla, who along with her sister Mia, go to Jamaica to spend the summer with their father. Tilla and her father’s relationship is complicated due to her father spending more time in Jamaica then in Toronto with Tilla and Mia. This novel follows Tilla’s whole summer in Jamaica as she reunites with her family, gets used to life in the Jamaican countryside, meets a boy, and prepares for an expected hurricane.

Hurricane Summer gives a real, but beautiful depiction of life in Jamaica from the point of view of someone who has roots in Jamaica but was not born there. Bromfield’s writing is so elaborate and lush, it instantly makes you feel like you're right there beside Tilla experiencing everything. While this story has its moments of happiness, celebration, and love, this book is also extremely hard hitting. It covers topics from colorism, classism, sexism, and fraught relationships between family members. Tilla deals with a lot of hardship and uncomfortable truths relating to how her life in Canada differs from the lives of her Jamaican family. She also has to confront the difference between the way she sees her father and how he's seen by his family and friends.

Before anyone picks this up, I would warn that Tilla and some of her family members go through some really terrible, and graphic things. I was not expecting this book to go as far as it did in many instances. While Bromfield does depict difficult or outright terrible moments, I think everything was done in a responsible way. We read everything from Tilla’s point of view, but Bromfield is able to show the complexities of every character on the page through dialogue and discussions of different characters' pasts. Tilla and her various family members do things that hurt others, and Bromfield reveals how these characters are also being hurt, or have been hurt in the past. Bromfield conveys that it's more complex than someone saying or doing a bad thing. All of these characters have been shaped by their experiences, traumatic or otherwise, and while it doesn't excuse their actions, it reflects the harsh realities of being human and being connected to others.

Bromfield tackles serious topics in this novel, but she also fills the novel with love and allows Tilla to react, mourn, and forgive in ways that give her peace. There are also so many wonderful characters in this book. Tilla has heart to heart's and various blissful moments that gave me a wide arrange of emotions. This book can be sad, but Bromfield offers light too.

Bromfield’s debut is impressive in its complexity and its ability to discuss large societal issues. Hurricane Summer gives an important and thought-provoking look into familial relationships. I would recommend this to anyone who likes hard-hitting contemporary.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book that was given in exchange for my honest review.*

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday books for the eARC of Hurricane Summer.

In this coming-of-age YA contemporary, Tilla wrestles with cultural identity, family, and abuse. The close-POV writing style helps the reader process the emotions along with her, even the push-and-pull she experiences from her father’s gaslighting. It was easy to read... and yet it was not a easy read due to the subject matter, if that makes sense.

Disclaimer: I was unfamiliar with the author’s celebrity/actress status and that in no way influenced my review.

This is the debut novel by Asha Bromfield and it deals with realism, page turner, tear jerker, action packed, abandonment issues, physical abuse, verbal abuse, infidelity and bullying.

Tilla is a 17 and she and her sister Mia are visiting their father in his native Jamaica for the summer and Tilla is not too happy about. Tilla has spent a deal of life trying to get her father to love her.

Tilla’s parent’s stormy marriage forced her father to move back to his native home of Jamacia. My heart went out to Tilla she has so much going on and feels rejected by her father’s family.

While this genre isn't necessarily for me, fans of romance and YA should run to get Hurricane Summer. With an absolutely amazing sense of place this is an incredible coming of age tale set amidst a disaster. I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Before I start this review, I thought I should provide a trigger warning: ⚠️ Don’t read this book if the topic of rape triggers you. ⚠️

For the most part, I loved Hurricane Summer. It was beautiful, powerful, and drew many emotions from me. Tilla’s summer in Jamaica was so heartbreaking, and I feared for her every moment. I can’t imagine how horrible it is to have a family that doesn’t believe in you or love you. I was scared of what would happen next every moment.

My favorite characters were Dane, Mia, and Andre. I loved Dane and he always made me laugh. The best scene was when he ran his courtroom. Something about it just struck me as the epitome of being a kid and being with friends in the summertime. Mia was fantastic with all her sass and she reminded me of a few people I know in real life. Finally, there was Andre. What can I say about him? He was the perfect friend and an amazing human. He faced so much hate, and still found the power to forgive and forget.

The end was harsh and devastating, but it didn’t leave me unsatisfied. I quite enjoyed this book and the way it made me sad, and joyous, and angry for and with Tilla all at once.

I hope that Asha Bromfield writes again. I know that as an actress she’s probably very busy, but I loved this book by her, and I’d most definitely read another book by her. I hope you found this review helpful!

Trigger Warnings
https://booktriggerwarnings.com/index.php?title=Hurricane_Summer_by_Asha_Bromfield

Hurricane Summer is definitely titled well because the emotional ride through the book.

I really liked Tilla and also felt for her. I think it’s easy to judge her relationship with her dad and wonder why she doesn’t stand up for herself more with him. But she’s also just a girl who wants a relationship with her dad because she’s missing that part of her life. I could understand why she didn’t want to spend her time fighting with him but it was hard to read the way he treated her. How the whole family treated her. I thought Tilla was pretty amazing the way she pushed through things.She really struggles to find her voice but when she does, she becomes unstoppable. It gives you chills to see her progress and take back her power over her life, her body and everything in between.

The plot itself is a lot about family dynamics but also the treatment of women and how you sexually can be used against you. How to find your strength through all of that. There is lots of this story that is difficult to read but I also liked how it also showed us why the people in it are the way they are. We got some backstory into people’s lives and even though it doesn’t make the way they act right. I liked that it showed understanding. I had an Ex who had a stepmom who acted like Aunt Herma acts and his dad always believed her over him. Even when I would be witness to her lying. So that just gave me the chills. I wanted to crawl into the book and yell at her. There was another part of the plot that bothered me a little because I was concerned it wasn’t dealt with totally. It’s not something I have experienced so I’m also not one to be the judge of that but I worried for the character.

I would consider Hurricane Summer a hard read but also a good read. It’s not meant to be a happy ending but more of a beginning for the character.

This book is about a girl named Tilla who spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, her dad decides to leave their family and return to his home: the island of Jamaica.

When Tilla’s mom tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but is really excited to see what life in Jamaica is like.

In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise—all in the midst of an impending hurricane.

My review:
This story was so beautiful yet so sad. It was full of emotions. I really enjoyed this story. The details were amazing you really felt like you were on the island of Jamaica with Tilla. Tilla is so awesome, She is one strong young woman and so beautiful and a warrior. The only thing I didn't like was when the characters from Jamaica would use their patois/slang. Yes at the starting of the book there was a list of the words and what they meant but I didn't feel like going back and forth checking on what the words meant. It's not easy on an e-reader. But other than that I LOVED it. The author did an amazing job. Oh, and you can't forget the cover. It's soo beautiful and portrays Tilla so amazingly well. Some parts of this book were hard to read because of the racism/sexual assault/violent/family trouble. But it's an amazing book. You won't regret reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley,Wednesday book and St Martins press for providing me with a advanced copy.

Great use of patois (one of the few novels I've read that reads authentically) and an important topic. Unfortunately, the writing is not up to scratch: overwrought and overlong.

Hurricane Summer is a coming of age book set mainly in Jamaica. Tilla and her family live in Canada but every year her father spends part of his time in his native Jamaica. When Tilla finally gets to go to Jamaica it's not exactly what she thought it would be. It really shows what it means to be privledged and have everything you really need when others do not even have basic necessities. There are a lot of heavier topics in this story that will really stay with you. Not an easy read at times but worth the time to read.

An own voices debut that shows the racism and classism that can arise when a girl and her sister travel from Canada to Jamaica to spend the summer with their father and his family.

This book was rough. Incredibly well-written, but rough. Sexual assault, bullying, rape, racism are just some of the horrific subject matter that Tilla experiences over her summer on the island. The trauma that she goes through in such a short period of time was unbelievable. Tilla felt a little young and naive, placing her trust in people that were obviously shady and leading to some awful situations. Having that familial connection, why should these people want to care for you? Through the trauma Tilla endured, she learned the hard way not to put your faith and trust in people just because they're your family.

Honestly, I'm conflicted on how I feel about this book. I appreciate the writing—a story that is obviously very close to the author—but I wouldn't say I enjoyed myself when reading.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hurricane Summer is essentially a book about awakening and being true to yourself. First, let me say hat the cover is very beautiful. The author did such a great job with this story and it definitely gave me some Clap When You Land vibes but based in Jamaica. I thought the author's inclusion of local speech or dialect was perfect for this story and it was easier to read the more you read it. The language definitely made the characters and the overall story feel even more real and relatable. The pacing was done well throughout the book, so the story kept my interest the entire time which made the reading even better because I was able to enjoy the story.

As if coming of age isn't already one of the toughest transitions a girl has to make, Tilla's experiencing it in a far off country, under threat of a hurricane. Tilla and her little sister are spending the summer with their father in Jamaica. Tilla's hoping to forge a closer relationship with him during her stay, but she's got a lot to learn about a man who regularly leaves behind the family who loves him.

To her confusion, the locals speak a heavy Patois, a language she can barely understand. And, she’s exhilarated by her feelings for the local boys, but her inexperience is causing her to make mistakes. Her body is changing and her emotions are overwhelming. Rather than having trusted female friends and family she can turn to for help with what she’s going through, Tilla's constantly at odds with nearly every woman around her. Over and over, she careens headlong into destructive situations, frequently resulting in angry confrontations.

The author calls Hurricane Summer "my love letter to the island of Jamaica". Indeed, there’s a lot to love about the island country, from its exotic fruits and coffees growing right at one’s fingertips, to breathtaking waterfalls and wild forests filled with mystery and excitement. But, Jamaica is also a troubled soul, regularly battered by storms, unable to truly nurture its people. Through Tilla’s eyes, we see the pain of friends and family turning against her with displays of vindictiveness, judgment, sexism, and even racism.

The story moves quickly, leaving the reader breathless and constantly hungry to learn more. As secrets are revealed, the action rushes forward nearly as fast as Gustav, the hurricane that’s heading right towards Jamaica.

This debut novel by Asha Bromfield clearly comes from the heart. While the writing is rather gushy in places, that's not a true hindrance to an emotional adventure. I did find the repetitive use of the phrase "kissing her/his teeth" a bit annoying after a while, but I reminded myself that the characters would probably use this facial expression often in their culture.

My thanks to author Asha Bromfeld, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

All Tilla wanted was to be loved, to be given a chance to be seen, guided and accepted as any young adult should. She got anything but. This book left me with a mix of emotions as I followed Tilla's journey from Canada to Jamaica. While on a summer vacation meant to reconcile her relationship with her father who's minimally involved in her life, Tilla learns some valuable life lessons. One thing leads to another and Tilla is forming relationships with neighborhood friends, some of which earn her a reputation as she tries to find her place among people who thinks she's not good enough. Or maybe too good?

Here is where things got tricky for me. I understand the father daughter disconnect that can influence misguided decisions as a young woman. But there's also common sense and I think Tilla could've been developed with more of that. How many times did I find myself screaming, pickney just stop! Often times I had to remind myself that she's a teenager going through the cycle of making mistakes and learning. We get tragedy building up on tragedy and a big revelation in the end, which in and of itself was a good lesson on forgiveness, self love and resiliency but what I didn't get was how this process evolved throughout Tilla's experiences.

What I appreciated was that Bromfield gives the reader the opportunity to find something of themselves from each character in the book. There's alot to explore from the strong complex characters, the vivid imagery, experiences and spirit across the island. The way poverty, colorism, sexuality and bullying is depicted is not so far fetched and shows a realistic perspective of the other side of paradise. The toxic relationship with family members seemed a little extreme at times but I get it, badmind is alive and well and often times we don't have to look to far to see it. That being said, I was completely immersed in the areas that I could personally identify with, especially with the setting taking place in the Parish that I will always call home, Manchester represent!

Hellshire, Blue Lagoon, the experience of living through a hurricane (if you lived through hurricane Gilbert we're dating ourselves!) the simplicity of walking to "shop" are the scenes in the story that truly captured my heart. Surprisingly, the most memorable moments for me were with Tilla and Andre, where I'm able to see more of Tilla's growth.

Even though I had some laugh out loud moments at the patois "bumba, cockfoot", please do not let that deter you from reading this book. This will be one of my favorites this year.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books for inviting me to review this novel of beautiful destruction and to participate on the blog tour celebrating its release! When I read the synopsis, I knew this was going to be a book that ripped me apart. I couldn't have been more right. As a young woman who has also been chasing her father her whole life; Tilla's story found all my scars, wounds, and broken pieces. I can happily report, however, that though it touched these painful bits of me-- it also helped heal them through her journey to find herself. It is something that I am struggling with still at 29, but Asha's insight of her own experiences melded with the fictional characters she created filled me with new hope for my own personal growth.

We meet Tilla and her sister Mia as they are embarking for Jamaica. Their father had immigrated from the island, and had since returned because no other place felt like home for him-- not even his own family. So, the girls are to spend two months with him, experiencing the land of their ancestors. What seems to be a dream summer vacation from the outside is full of abandonment, resentment, and outright bullying. Now, to be fair, there are a lot of happy moments in the country of this beautiful setting. Tilla and Mia grow closer with their cousins. Tilla finds a possible summer love with a church boy. The sprawling landscape of the farmland, the hills, the rivers-- all of it is there for them to explore and enjoy. However, Tilla begins to notice people in her extended family whispering about her and it makes her faith in herself waver.

I think what I loved most about this book is just how incredibly focused it is on Tilla. Yes, this is a story about family. This is a story about love. This is a story about a lot of things-- but at its core-- it shows us a gorgeous human being before and after the greatest storm of her life; both a catastrophic hurricane, but also growing pains that could be better likened to being drawn and quartered. Tilla is the picture of resilience, and she is all at once inside the hurricane and IS the hurricane itself. She rips through Jamaica and takes the lessons she needs in order to rebuild herself AROUND herself. She mentions not knowing the sound of her own voice, the beat of her own heart, or the call of her own spirit. That is something I am currently working on in therapy-- and it took my breath away to see it written in these pages. I felt like Tilla was easy to relate to, and to know her was to love her.

Honestly, I think Asha has crafted a stunning debut novel. It is equal parts sad and hopeful, fantastical and raw, kind and unforgiving. It has a wonderful message about being careful what you build your life around. It's like the three little pigs, when you think about it. If you build your house around your parents-- you will surely be disappointed. If you build your house around your romantic partner-- you will surely be led astray. But, if you build your house around YOU-- then you will have the strongest foundation that no wind will be able to shake. You can let these people into your house, but only you have the keys. I hope beyond hope that I can use these things I learned from Hurricane Summer to help in my healing process, and I have no doubt that countless others will be able to do the same. This book is life-changing, and that's the highest compliment I can think to give.

This book was, unfortunately, not for me. I did really like the writing style, but I was not aware of the trigger warnings before I went into this. I hope many people will find themselves represented in this book, it is so important.

A majestic novel filled with angst, hope, reflection and understanding oneself. The realization of who your parents are as people and who you are on the cusp of adulthood is prevalent in this story. Trying to make sense of love, life and your place in it are the themes that propel this story forward and make you truly care about the characters. Going back to one’s “roots” and discovering all the ways you don’t belong as well as the ways you do was one of the very best parts of this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield is a beautifully written own voices novel that is gripping from the beginning. It is one of those works that shreds your heart into pieces then masterfully pieces it back together by the end. Brilliantly crafted characters who address a number of topics such as the father-daughter dynamic, abandonment, young love, classism, and colorism to name a few. Bromfield's use of patois adds a level of authentic nature to the characters, themes, and setting. I highly recommend this read.

The author warned us at the beginning in her author’s note/intro that the story might break our hearts. I... did not heed that warning enough.

This book WRECKED me. I saw a lot of myself in Tilla—her conflicting feelings about her absent father, and trying to find love and comfort in people who didn’t really deserve it, because she did not receive the love she deserved from her father. I’m so proud of her for standing up for herself to many of the people who abused her or broke her heart.

Aside from my personal attachment, I honestly can’t say enough about what this story encompasses. Tilla finds her roots in Jamaica, as well as examines her privilege as someone living in Canada. She faces the internalized racism and colorism of those living on the island, as well as the sexism and slut shaming of a small community. She sees the beauty and devastation of a hurricane as it rips through the island, and feels guilt about never knowing what it’s truly like to have your home destroyed and having to rebuild it. She experiences the wrath of bitter adults, as well as that of the children who grow up feeding off their poison. She finds a best friend in her cousin Andre, who is abused for the darkness of his skin and denied an education, yet manages to find joy in every day.

I’m going to be crying over this book for a long time—whether it’s from sadness or from finding such a treasure will depend on my mood!

CW: sexual assault, physical abuse, verbal abuse, death of a family member