Name: The Summer of Us
ISBN: 9781510200791

Cecilia Vinesse

Best friends Aubrey and Rae have been planning their European tour since the moment they met. It was meant to be the perfect way to spend their last summer together before university, but now it's not just the two of them ... There's Jonah, Aubrey's seemingly perfect boyfriend, and Gabe, who Aubrey may have accidentally kissed. Then there's Clara, the friend Rae is crushing on, hard, even though there's no hope because Clara is into guys, not girls. And on top of all that Aubrey and Rae's friendship appears to be falling apart. Things are a lot more complicated at eighteen than they were at ten ...

The Summer of Us

Nagore J

Grace O'Callaghan

*3.5 ⭐️

You know those books that just come to you at just the perfect time? This was that book. I know it’s seems like I gave it a low rating considering it came at the perfect time but let me explain.

I’ve always wanted to go on an epic tour of Europe and that’s exactly what these five characters do. I loved all the references to famous European architecture and just the whole relaxed feeling that came with this book. I would’ve loved to have had more descriptions of Europe. The travel is more of a minor thing as the main focus are the relationships between the characters.

These were such fun characters. I’m so glad that it was only in the perspective of two of them because I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with them. Rae was my favourite and I related to her so much. It was like she was speaking to my soul. Aubrey was okay. Not my favourite, but I understand why it was in her perspective.
Clara was also the sweetest bean in the whole world. Can she be my girlfriend? Please?

There isn’t much of a plot to this book besides the travel. It’s more about the relationships between the characters and the secrets they keep. It is a bit over dramatic at times, but I didn’t mind too much. 
The characters have all left high school and are going off to college and this left some great discussion. The characters were having existential crisises about what they’re going to do with their lives, and that’s kind of me right now.

Rae is a lesbian, but she still assumes that some people are straight which I thought was a really good thing to bring up. I think it shows that we still consider straight the default as people have to ‘come out’ as anything that isn’t heteronormative.

Whilst this is most certainly not the best book in the world, it was a highly entertaining travel story with two adorable romances. Wouldn’t recommend if you don’t like romance and want a travel novel, this isn’t it. I’d recommend if you’re looking for an adorable f/f romance that isn’t angsty and ends in disaster.

laura

*I got this book for review from the publisher for my honest thoughts*
This book was the prefect book to start my summer reading adventures. This book follows a group of five friends on a epic road trip in europe the summer before the venture off to college. I loved the duel POV and how focused on friendship this book was. Also the lead girls were such different type of characters it made the book even more compelling and enjoyable. I def saw myself in the character of aubury. I loved the LGBTQ romance that developed but also the focus on friendship, changing and especially travel and romance. It was a great summer adventure story. I just really enjoyed this book. It would prefect to read on your own summer vacations! If you like the geography of you and me or Isla and the happily ever after you should pick up this book!

Kate

A lovely story of growing up, growing apart and the discovery that those things don’t necessarily mean leaving everything behind. 

Although this didn’t entirely meet my expectations, the brilliant European/train setting, adorable f/f romance and exploration of friendship, made this an overall enjoyable read.

A swoon-worthy story about five best friends on a whirlwind trip through Europe, perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Stephanie Perkins, and Jennifer E. Smith. American expat Aubrey has only two weeks left in Europe before she leaves for college, and she's nowhere near ready. Good thing she and her best friend, Rae, have planned one last group trip across the continent. From Paris to Prague, they're going to explore famous museums, sip champagne in fancy restaurants, and eat as many croissants as possible with their friends Clara, Jonah, and Gabe. But when old secrets come to light, Aubrey and Rae's trip goes from a carefree adventure to a complete disaster. For starters, there's Aubrey and Gabe's unresolved history, complicated by the fact that Aubrey is dating Jonah, Gabe's best friend. And then there's Rae's hopeless crush on the effortlessly cool Clara. How is Rae supposed to admit her feelings to someone so perfect when they're moving to different sides of the world in just a few weeks? Author Cecilia Vinesse delivers a romantic European adventure that embraces the magic of warm summer nights, the thrill of first kisses, and the bittersweet ache of learning to say goodbye to the past while embracing the future.

The Summer of Us

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