When Summer Ends is a great summer beach read! I read this book practically in one sitting and loved it. It was a really sweet romance, but it also had a good story and plot too.

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for something simple, light, generic and without drama this is it for you. It’s a short read and pretty straight forward. Sadly I had a hard time feeling connected with the main characters and it felt somewhat boring. The book was somepose to span over 3 months and it felt like a week, it was very fast paced with nothing actually happening. . There felt like there was no chemistry between the main characters. I almost didn’t finish this but kept reading since it was so short.

When Summer Ends is such a fun YA contemporary that will be the perfect summer read! It follows two characters Olivia and Aiden as they experience a summer different than they originally planned.This was such a cute story, and super quick to get through as well. As I was reading I got some Morgan Matson vibes because of the summer setting and the characterization. One thing I loved about the novel is that it's set at a lake with lots of summer activities. It was super fun to read about and picture the water and the hiking. "Being outside makes me think, but it also helps me forget. It tricks me, with its colors and textures and sounds, into forgetting everything that I'm missing."Even though overall the book was light and summery, both Olivia and Aiden are going through some major changes. Olivia is having to move right before her senior year, she breaks up with her long term boyfriend, and her mother is trying to come back into her life. Aiden is slowly losing his sight, and had to quit the baseball team ,which was a huge part of his life for so long. I liked that both characters were able to lean on each other and help with the changes, but they weren't dependent on one another.Since Olivia is experiencing so many changes over the summer, she decides to embrace it and start taking more chances. She decides the best way to do this is by flipping coins when she has the opportunity to do something she normally wouldn't. I thought this would be a cute thing, and it was, but it didn't come up as often as I thought it would and I would have enjoyed seeing this more often in the story."No-strings is so not my style. It's my antithesis. I am basically one giant ball of strings and exposed nerves."One critique I have is that even though Aiden is going blind, it didn't feature as much in the story as I thought it would. Also, it's something that is reversible, so even though he's experiencing this huge change, it doesn't have as much weight since he's going to get better and he knows it.Overall I think this is a fun book to read, especially by the pool or at the beach this summer!

When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington is the perfect YA contemporary to kick off your spring reading. The Michigan beach town setting is the perfect backdrop for this sweet coming of age story. Also, the strong theme of family makes this book a really enjoyable read.

❀ BEACH TOWN SETTING

Jessica Pennington seems to have a knack for writing stories that feature settings that are perfect for a summer romance. The characters work at a popular tourist spot in Michigan, and it is really enjoyable to read about their boating and camping adventures. It definitely sets the stage for some romantic drama.

This coming of age story is told from the perspectives of Olivia and her boyfriend, Aiden. Olivia is a perfectly flawed character and it is quite relatable reading about her struggles. She has to make some tough choices as well as come to grips that some things in life are not within our control. I really love how much Olivia’s character grows in When Summer Ends.

❀ STRONG FAMILY THEME

Books that feature families are always my favourites. However the family theme in this story is not in the traditional sense. It is so refreshing to read about a family that is comprised of a girl and her aunt. Also, Olivia’s relationship with her mother is another interesting layer to the plot.

Fans of the YA contemporary genre will love this new novel from Jessica Pennington. When Summer Ends has the perfect setting for a summer beach romance, interesting characters, and a wonderful family theme. Definitely one to add to your beach bag this year.

This was definitely one of my absolute favorite reads of the year! It was a perfect read when you want to feel good. It was cute, and had a lot of summery feels. It was written from two point of views, Olivia, and Aiden. Jessica did a great job getting differing perspectives. This book just totally touched my heart. It was a perfect pick-me-up. I recommend it to everyone who could use good a book hug!

When Summer Ends is a story about living summer by chance and falling in love. As soon as I read the synopsis I fell in love with the idea of letting fate decide for you. It really made me want to read the book even more, mostly because I don’t think I have read a book like this one before! I was excited to meet Aiden and Olivia (the MC’s of this story) to know about their lives and the roles they played in the story as well.


This story is about Olivia & Aiden. They both struggled with difficult, personal things. Zander, Olivia’s best friend broke up with her and her mother is back in her life after being absent for a very long time & Olivia is finding it difficult to be around her. And Aiden is struggling with his sight and is now trying to discover who he is without having baseball in his life, which used to be something he loved.

One of the things I liked as soon as I started to read the book was the fact that there are two POV’s! I LOVE when a book has multiple POV’s, it helps me to understand the story and the characters in a better way. Plus, I just love to know what they are thinking and planning to do before the other characters know!

I enjoyed the fact that, while both characters were struggling with things on their own, they were a better version of themselves when they were around each other. They helped themselves without even realizing it and eventually, fell in love ❤️

There were some pretty amazing characters like Ellis and Emma! Ellis made me laugh so many times, he is incredible and I just love the fact that he and Aiden are cousins and best friends! It was fun to read about them and also about the pranks he made. He is a character that I definitely won’t be forgetting any time soon, I loved his personality! And Emma (Olivia’s best friend) was an amazing character too! She was a very good friend to Olivia and made her and I laugh a lot!

There was a lot of art! After reading the book I found myself wanting to draw, even tough I’m not very good at it😆

While there were things that I enjoyed about the story, there were other things that I didn’t. One of them is that I think things happened too fast between Aiden and Olivia, maybe it’s just me, but I would have liked for them to take things slowly. However I did enjoy the moments they spent being together!

I would have liked to read more about Olivia’s relationship with her mother. While it’s clear her mother made a mistake in the past, she came back and was trying to mend things with her even when it wasn’t very clear at the beginning. I enjoyed to read when they went out together, it was fun, but still, I would have like to read more about what happened in those years they didn’t see each other.

Emma, as I mentioned before, is an amazing character! But there were only a few times when she and Olivia hang out together. There was also a certain scene that just didn’t work for me and made me feel less enthusiastic about the book which made me feel sad. I didn’t keep reading the same way, I wasn’t eager to know what would happen next.

While there were things that I didn’t enjoy I think this was a quick read about friendship, love and finding yourself along the way. Olivia and Aiden are a cute couple and I’m glad how things turned out for them at the end.

I really enjoyed this book.I liked how Jessica books focused on different forms of art and I loved how this book focused on art and also finding new passions in life and also focused on kids dealing with so many changes in their life. I really loved the duel POV in this novel and was equally invested in both storylines. I also really liked the romance as well. I really had a hard time putting this book done and really enjoyed it. This book was such a fun read and can't wait to read more by this author in the future.

Even though I don’t usually read romance novels, the synopsis of this one immediately caught my eye for dealing with themes like parental neglect and vision loss. It also looked like the perfect book for one of those times when I want a lighter and happier read that’ll leave me with a good feeling, so as soon as that time came, I started to read it very excited. Unfortunately, When Summer Ends only accomplished half of my expectations.

Let’s start with the positive part: it’s a light novel, perfect for when you need to disconnect or get out of a reading slump. The romance between the main characters is pretty healthy in general, there’s not a lot of unnecessary drama and the scenarios described make you feel as if you were spending your summer canoeing in the lakes of Michigan. I also liked the artistic element in all its forms, from Aiden’s drawings to Liv’s stories, and the fact that they let fate decide for them by coin flips. Another small detail I appreciated was the fact that Aiden’s cousin was gay without falling into the “gay best friend” cliché. All in all, if you’re into novels that heavily focus in the romantic aspect, you might enjoy this story.

However, I prefer other themes aside from the romance to be explored, and here’s where my first and biggest problem with this book arises: they barely give importance to Liv and Aiden’s problems. Liv’s subplot with her mother isn’t explored at all and the “resolution” is way too easy and, in my opinion, not really believable. In fact, it could be completely erased and the story would barely change. While it’s true the story goes a bit more in depth in Aiden’s vision loss, it doesn’t give it the importance I would’ve liked either and it ends up being temporary. Another thing I was a bit disappointed by was that, despite having other interesting elements like writing or the relationship with her aunt, Liv’s story seemed to revolve only around her love live – we only know about her past relationship, her best friend and her seem to talk just about that… We’re barely told the rest, but we never get to see it, which makes Liv a pretty flat character. Had I connected more with the main characters and gotten more involved in their relationship, I would’ve given the book a higher rating, but… to be honest, they were really boring to me. I couldn’t be interested in their relationship because they weren’t interesting enough as individuals.

All in all: if you’re looking for a light summer romance with just the right amount of drama, check this out. But if you’re looking for good representation of vision loss and parental neglect, you’ll be disappointed by this.

To start, this book is the epitome of why I read classic and wholesome YA. I love reading stories with innocent kisses and coming-of-age realizations. I love the simple romantic gestures and the “on top of the world” mentality that comes with the character’s ages. I live for their problems as they are real world with a young person’s perspective. You get all of this and so much more in Jessica Pennington’s newest novel, When Summer Ends. A classic YA novel has a good and typically deep message to convey, but we will get to that later.

Olivia has tried to make as many aspects of her life as perfect as she can while trying to forget the problems she can’t control. She ignores them to a fault though, as it gets her into a pickle twice early on, sparking the changes she makes for the summer. She has a good heart with a timid sense of adventure and the unknown, but she grows throughout her summer by leaving things up to chance. It was satisfying when she started letting fate decide as she made the best memories by throwing caution to the wind. It also leads her to the relationship she needs rather than the one that fits into her perfect bubble.

Aiden speaks directly to my heart as a guy who loves sports and the arts. He may not have chosen to walk away from one, but I know the sting of leaving the people behind as well as the activity. He goes through some pretty hefty issues throughout, but I love that Pennington doesn’t focus on it and instead shows us how Aiden has actively chosen to deal with it by living life and trying new things. He is tender, and although I wouldn’t usually find that believable for a guy his age, it just makes sense with him. He also has a contagious adventure-loving spirit that constantly left a smile on my face.

This book is also set in Michigan, making it that much more my cup of tea. Life in the Midwest, especially a tourist town in the Midwest, is just a bit different than anywhere else, and that made this book even better. This book is about taking chances with fate and growing into the best you. This book is about feeling free and finding who and what makes life’s experiences deeper and meaningful. This book is a beautiful, thoughtful, and perfect example of a classic YA novel.

When Summer Ends was a quick and easy read. The story follows Aiden and Olivia, each struggling to find a new direction and deal with change.

Aiden is the starting pitcher for the town varsity baseball team but with vision problems he makes the difficult decision to leave the team without providing an explanation. Olivia lives with her aunt, who has received a job opportunity in Arizona but when her estranged mother agrees to stay with her; much to her an annoyance it allows her to stay in Michigan, work at River Depot and pursue an opportunity to get to know the town golden boy, Aiden.

Both of the characters were dealing with their own personal struggles but working together at River Depot bought them closer and enabled them to build a friendship and support each other through difficult times.

When Summer Ends was without unneccessary drama (thank goodness) the problems they did face were dealt with well and not dragged on.

The romance was slow to build and one that I enjoyed, all of the secondary characters were likeable and I was eager to see Olivia build a relationship with her mother.

This book was written well, it flowed at an even pace and kept me entertained throughout. I will definitley be reading more books by this author.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review When Summer Ends.

This precious book absolutely warmed my heart and left such a big smile on my face! When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington was the perfect cozy beach read and I was smitten with writing, the adorable characters, and the beautiful sceneries.

Here’s a little confession – I was approved for Love Song and Other Lies through Netgalley when I first started writing reviews and got a little carried away requesting for all the books I wanted to read. I never expected to get approved for so many and then BAM!! I had way more ARCS than I ever expected and I was overwhelmed. I’m still quite behind, but I’m slowly making progress. Anyway, I mentioning this because I LOVED When Summer Ends and Pennington’s writing is utterly beautiful and so wonderfully touching. I have a new to me author to add to my favorite list and I’m so excited to read whatever else she writes and to FINALLY read her debut novel this summer… which is when I’m planning on tackling my Netgalley TBR.

Okay, so now back to my review. You already know I loved the writing which was also really easy to read and had a lovely effortless flow. I thought the imagery, setting, and all the descriptions of the places were amazingly detailed and very fascinating. I felt like I was going on an adventure and exploring with Aiden and Olivia. From paddling down the river, swimming in the dark, and hiking to Aiden’s favorite places – I enjoyed every moment and had so much fun! The plot was a bit slow at times, but definitely not dull and never uninteresting. It was filled with fun lighthearted drama, adorably funny scenes, and sweet tender moments. I actually thought this would be emotionally heavy, but even though it wasn’t, it still made me cry. I liked and did not like the ending. Something happened that just made me feel like it was too convenient and I was hoping for a different, but still a HEA conclusion. Overall, I did think it wrapped up nicely and I was happy for the characters.

I LOVED Aiden and Olivia as individuals and as a couple. I really enjoyed their friendship and romance. I loved seeing them do new things and take chances. It was really nice to see how their relationship grew into something more. It was perfectly slow burn and the FEELS were totally amazing! They were so wonderful, intriguing, and likable. I loved their chemistry, their bantering, their playful flirtations, their swoony scenes, and all their adorable moments together. I thought they were so cute together and it was positively endearing to watch them not only learn from each other but also challenge each other to be better.

I love books that can make me feel connected to the characters and experience all their emotions. When Summer Ends did not disappoint and filled my heart with so much happy I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it. It was a beautiful story about moving on, taking chances, chasing new dreams, and falling in love. When you think everything seems to be falling apart, just remember that there might be something better -- an unexpected new beginning or a wonderful surprise waiting for you. I really loved this book and Jessica Pennington is without a doubt an amazing storyteller that needs to be added on your TBR list!

This was a fun and sweet summer romance story with plenty of swoons that I think many contemporary romance fans will enjoy. It was heartfelt, absolutely charming, and a delightfully affecting read.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can see this being a good summer/beach read, but I didn't find anything about it to be particularly interesting or unique. It felt like instead of building true conflict for the characters to overcome, there were just a lot of little misunderstandings or overreactions that caused problems which were quickly resolved. I didn't love that the point of view switched back and forth between main characters, because it felt like instead of having one solid point of view, the story had two mediocre point of views. Neither of the characters felt that well developed, and I didn't like the storyline with Olivia's mother because it felt very unnatural. I think the best part of the story was the relationship that eventually developed between the two characters, and especially the way Olivia learned more about herself through her experiences with Aiden, but I wish that it had happened with more flow to it, instead of the stop-and-go feeling that both of the characters instigated in different ways.

When Summer Ends was such a cute read! It was a nice dose of summer in the middle of winter (when I read it). I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a lighthearted contemporary novel, or if you're a fan of Morgan Matson or Emery Lord.

I actually wasn't too into the author's debut, which was just a personal choice, but I liked this book so much better. The writing, to me, improved, and I was less annoyed by the characters. I'm excited for her future books now!

The couple had such great chemistry! I liked that this was Aiden's first relationship but not Olivia's; that was a nice role reversal. Their relationship development was so great too. I liked the pacing, especially because Olivia had just broken up with her boyfriend.

This book was told in dual perspectives, but the two characters' voices were distinctive. Also, they help each other deal with their problems. Aiden is losing his vision and has to quit the baseball team, of which he's the star player. Olivia has to deal with possibly moving away at the start of senior year and the return of her unreliable mom.

If you're looking for a cute, light, summer-y book, I totally recommend When Summer Ends!

**This post will be up on my blog, Magical Reads, on April 3.**

I really loved reading this book! I read it in one day and enjoyed every moment of reading this novel. We follow Olivia and Aiden who are both going into the summer with different things in their lives. I felt like Olivia’s struggles were handled very well and in a way that felt very realistic. However, Aiden’s problems where glossed over for much of the book even though it is a very major event in is life. This is the main reason that I felt like I couldn’t give this book a full five stars.

Olivia and Aiden’s relationship was very sweet and I loved the way that it built throughout the story. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recomend it so anyone interested in a sweet summer reads.

I loved this book so much. It was a quick read and It was well written. I am a huge fan of Jessica Pennington's writing. She writes fun, easy, meaningful novels. More to come in my review on my blog.

When I first started this book I thought it would be your typical YA summer romance but I was pleasantly surprised! It has all the aspects of a sweet summer romance but it also covers much deeper topics.

I loved the main characters; Aiden & Olivia. They had such a sweet relationship and really brought out the best in each other. Especially Olivia, her character developed so much throughout the story.

The chapters alternate between the two characters POV but it was really easy to follow and it flowed nicely.

If you after a easy, sweet, summer romance book then I’d highly recommend this!

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for approving my request and sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.


Real rating: 4,5 stars

What a sweet and cute read!
YA novels should be written more often like this: it was sweet and tender without giving me a toothache, with a female character that didn't make me want to roll my eyes and a male character that wasn't an alpha man for once.
And can we talk about their dynamic? So on time, with the right amount of slow-burn and knowledge of each other - no amount of instalove whatsoever.
That's the way I want my books.

When nothing Olivia has planned goes the way it should've been, she's forced to reconsider her entire summer - and part of her future. So, with a little push from her best friend Emma, she's going to let fate decide for her.
Aiden also has to find a new path after the loss of his vision brought him to quit baseball, losing a great part of himself. He thinks art is the solution, but he needs to find his spark.

They know each other the way everyone knows people when living in a small town. But they're not friends - they're from different crowds, Zander being the only point in common.
Working together is a little awkward at first, but I loved how they slowly start to get closer. They also bring the best out of the other: Aiden finds someone who can see something else in him outside of the baseball player, Olivia understands what was missing in her relationship with Zander - and what she was missing in life.
They're so cute together and they actually talk when a problem arises - the build up of their relationship is slow and perfect.

I could relate so much with Olivia since I too live in a touristic place - I know what an "invasion" feels like.
I liked how she came to accept the ending of her relationship with Zander and to finally admit what got on her nerves and I mostly liked how she showed maturity when it came to her mother - I'm glad she didn't throw a fit.

Aiden was amazing - cute, sweet, funny and just because is a jock it doesn't mean he's an idiot.
He's gentle and respectful, but also determined to find something he could look forward to now that baseball isn't on the table anymore. He's also the example that guys can have their heart broken, too.

The writing style is easy and it flows without a problem - also the double point of view was a great choice.

I obviously recommend it and I think I'm gonna buy a physical copy of this book for when I need a moment of sweetness in my life.

This is a sweet summer romance that’s a super quick read. If you’re a fan of authors Jessica Brody or Kasie West, you will enjoy this story of a summer romance between a girl who recently broke up with her long time boyfriend and a boy whose family owns a company where she gets asummer job, but what happens to romance when summer ends? Read the book to find out!

Excellent YA Romance with perfect ratio of issues and kisses. Really enjoyed the banter between the main characters and the expected but not didactic growth of the teen leads.

The very moment I finished When Summer Ends, I whipped out my cellphone, opened the Goodreads app, and scanned Pennington’s author profile, hoping that she had another book in the works. Meet Me At Midnight is slated to be released in 2020 and has no description – which doesn’t matter – because I know I’ll be reading it regardless. After two back-to-back, fabulous books, Pennington is now officially an auto-read author of mine.

The thing I love most about Pennington’s books is the characters. Her main characters especially, are always complex and intriguing.

Aiden is trying to discover himself throughout When Summer Ends. The “baseball star” has been his identifier for so many years, but now that he can’t physically play anymore, he’s having an identity crisis. He’s trying to find his new “thing” that which will drive him and give him purpose, and maybe even take his mind off of his new handicap.

Olivia has held on to feelings of resentment and abandonment her whole life, because of a flighty mother who was never around. Being dumped by Zander, her best-friend-turned-boyfriend of two years, affected her deep at first because he was a type of security blanket. As the story progressed, Olivia started to realize that she was never truly happy with Zander. Their relationship lacked passion and excitement, and Zander was also kind of a sh*tty boyfriend. Like Aiden, Olivia is on a journey of self-discovery in this book. She spends a lot of time digging deep to uncover the fears and insecurities that have been dictating her life and keeping her from being truly happy.

When Summer Ends was sweet, funny, and sometimes a little sad (in a good bittersweet way). Aiden and Olivia both grew so much as people, and I loved following along as they did.