It's a great time for a breezy summer read before going back to school. I found it interesting that several of the young adult romances I found on NetGalley employed a "To Do List" structure that was entertaining to follow. In K.L. Walther's The Summer of Second Chances, Olivia Lupo decides to postpone going to college to be with her grandmother who has dementia. When Olivia's stepmother invites her to spend a month on Martha's Vineyard, Olivia realizes she has an opportunity to follow her grandmother's book of memories from the time she spent there. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson introduces the main character, Emily, who is looking forward to spending the summer with her best friend Sloane. But Sloane disappears, leaving Emily a letter with 13 tasks for her to complete. An Introvert's Guide to Kissing In Europe by Brenda Janowitz focuses on a bereaved teen struggling with her sister's death. Her grandmother, a former member of the singing duo "The Flower Sisters," suggests she go to Europe and replicate the tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966. In each book the main character meets a love interest who is more than willing to help her check off each item on her "To Do" list.
The Summer of Second Chances finds a recent high school graduate, Olivia, choosing to postpone going to college to stay home with her beloved grandmother, Annie, who has dementia. When her stepmother invites Olivia to spend time with the family on Martha’s Vineyard, she’s reluctant to go. Then she finds a box of pictures and memories from Annie’s time there and decides to go and visit all the places Annie describes as magical. Olivia plans to get pictures of herself in all of the same places to make a photo album with their pictures side by side. When she arrives in the Vineyard, Olivia reconnects with Connor, whom she has met previously. He offers to help her reconstruct her grandmother's memories with the hope of becoming part of Olivia's future.
In Since You've Been Gone Emily’s best friend Sloane disappears without a word, and Emily is devastated. Sloane has always called the shots, with Emily tagging along. Then a letter arrives from Sloane outlining 13 tasks for Emily to complete. Thinking they will lead her to Sloane, she begins completing the tasks with the help of new friends Frank, Emily and Collins. As they work together on the to-do list, Emily and Frank grow closer despite his having a long-time girlfriend who is out of town. Emily gains self-confidence as she “Hugs a Jamie,” Steals something,” Goes skinny dipping” and more. This engaging story about a side kick who becomes the star of her own life will delight readers.
An Introvert’s Guide to Kissing in Europe introduces Emily Tannenbaum, whose sister recently died. Emily vows to be the safe girl that her parents don’t have to worry about. But as she is graduating from high school as valedictorian, she realizes she needs an adventure before heading off to Dartmouth. Her grandmother, a former member of the famous Flower Sisters music duo, proposes that Emily take time off to follow the European tour the Flower Sisters took in 1966. Emily is befriended by a variety of traveling teens, and hits it off with Penny, who agrees to join her on her European tour. They meet Nick and Alfie and travel with them until the boys have to return to London to see their sick grandmother. Of course, Emily and Nick reconnect, and as her European trip draws to a close, Emily realizes that Nick could be “The One.”
