Meg Rosoff

Everyone talks about falling in love like it's the most miraculous, life-changing thing in the world. Something happens, they say, and you know ...That's what happened when I met Kit Godden.I looked into his eyes and I knew.Only everyone else knew too. Everyone else felt exactly the same way.This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer - the summer when everything changes. In a holiday house by the sea, our watchful narrator sees everything, including many things they shouldn't, as their brother and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding. Enter two brothers - irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there's a serpent in this paradise - and the consequences will be devastating. From Meg Rosoff, bestselling author of the iconic novel How I Live Now, comes a lyrical and quintessential coming-of-age tale - a summer book that's as heady, timeless and irresistible as Bonjour Tristesse and The Greengage Summer.

The Great Godden

We Were Liars meets Call Me By Your Name in this lyrical and quintessential coming-of-age tale about a summer when everything changes, from Meg Rosoff, bestselling author of the iconic novel How I Live Now. This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer. . . . In a holiday house by the sea, our watchful narrator sees everything, including many things they shouldn't, as their brother and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding. Enter two brothers: irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there's a serpent in this paradise -- and the consequences will be devastating.

caitlin watt

I wish we saw more of Hugo, he was such a complex character!!

I picked up this book after reading the blurb on the back. I was expecting it to be somewhat of a crossover between The Summer I Turned Pretty series and We Were Liars. I ended up finding this book to be super confusing and almost dropped it completely. Overall, it was a light, easy summer read. It just wasn’t for me. 

sarina

ghost girl in satin

It felt like the world was ending. I loved it. I can still feel the salt and the sun on my skin. And the yearning which doesn't stop. It's both lyrically and harshly written. I loved that the main character's gender is unclear. I loved Hugo most of all.

Jasmin

If I am being honest i give it a 2.5 for me it was really boring,it was a fast read though???

sophia roberts 

This book wasn't as exciting as I was expecting...

When reading the blurb I expected this book to be similar to 'We were liars' and it was in some ways. It had the similar theme of a family in their summerhouse on an island. It had the similar aspect of love but not really any mystery. It had no plot line except from the main characters feelings for her sister's 'boyfriend' you could say.

The ending was quite disappointing but I won't spoil it.

Despite this, I found it quite interesting that we never found out the name of the main character and that we could interpret them in any which way!

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

This was mostly kind of confusing/unimpressive and I hate Kit Godden with every fibre of my being.

Beth Bartholomew

SHORTLISTED for the Costa Children's Book Award 2020. This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer – the summer when everything changes. In a holiday house by the sea, in a big, messy family, one teenager watches as brothers and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding. Enter the Goddens – irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there's a serpent in this paradise – and the consequences will be devastating. From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a lyrical and quintessential coming-of-age tale – a summer book that's as heady, timeless and irresistible as Bonjour Tristesse and I Capture the Castle but as sharp and fresh as Normal People.

Jess Griffin

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BOOK AWARD 2020 'Brilliant and impactful' - Pandora Sykes This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer – the summer when everything changes. In a holiday house by the sea, in a big, messy family, one teenager watches as brothers and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding. Enter the Goddens – irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there's a serpent in this paradise – and the consequences will be devastating. From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a lyrical and quintessential coming-of-age tale – a summer book that's as heady, timeless and irresistible as Bonjour Tristesse and I Capture the Castle but as sharp and fresh as Normal People. Featuring a bonus essay from Meg Rosoff on her experiences of summer, this is THE unmissable book of the summer.

Jess Grossmith

Ian Brakspear

Catalina Petre

italy.

Addy

From National Book Award Finalist Meg Rosoff comes a lyrical, compulsively readable coming-of-age tale that is heady, irresistible, and timeless. Everyone talks about falling in love like it's the most miraculous, life-changing thing in the world. Something happens, they say, and you know . . . I looked into his eyes and I knew. Only, everyone else knew too. Everyone else felt exactly the same way. This is the story of one family during one dreamy summer—the summer when everything changes. In an eccentric, turreted vacation house by the sea, our watchful narrator sees everything, including many things that shouldn’t be seen, while brothers and sisters, parents and theatrical older cousins fill the hot days with wine and tennis and sailing and planning a wedding. Enter two brothers, the sons of a fading film actress—irresistibly charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there’s a serpent in this paradise, and the consequences will be devastating. In a propulsive narrative carrying intrigue and a growing sense of unease, Meg Rosoff, best-selling author of the iconic How I Live Now, offers a summer tale of innocence lost that will find its place among the classics of young adult literature.

The Great Godden

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