I was not a fan of this book, the premise makes you think that you’re reading a coming of age family story but as I was reading I had a hard time even getting through it. The family was cold and rude the entire time. It wasn’t a enjoyable read.

This was definitely a heavier book. Its a heartbreaking story that brings to life the struggles and danger of becoming a woman. This was a story of growing up and finding a way to love yourself when no one else seems to. You hardly ever see these types of novels and I am glad that I got to read this one because it was so beautifully written that I could not put it down. Society as a whole seems to put a lot o restraints on women, particularly women of color and this book really brings these issues to light. I think that this novel is a good bridge way to use to have these discussions and also a good way to broach these topics with younger readers so that they know that they are not alone in their feelings.

The main character, Tilla, really annoyed me because she was so naive and she never spoke up for herself. I hated how everyone was so mean to her and I really didn't like the ending. I just feel like no one got the ending they deserved? Another issue I have is that the description makes it seem like this book is going to be deep but also happy and it really isn’t. I spent most of this book feeling really sad and tearing up a lot and honestly i suggest not reading this unless you are in the mood to cry. I’m giving it 3 stars I did enjoy how beautifully Jamaica was described but also discussed the poverty.

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

i love that this is an own voices novel and i understand the amount of heart the author put into this story, but that is unfortunately where my appreciation for this book ends.

this is such a negative story. i understand that the aim of this novel is to handle heavy topics, but wow. this is just too much of a downer.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a digital galley of Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield. The novel was published May 4, 2021, and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

The book is dedicated, in part, to Ms. Bromfield herself, as “Little Asha,” who spent several summers during her childhood in Jamaica. The novel encompasses one momentous summer in the life Tilla, who seems to me to be young Asha’s alter ego. During this summer 18 year old Tilla survives a devastating hurricane that hits the island and wreaks havoc on the people and place that she loves. She also survives and becomes stronger from the hurricane inside herself. She is a whirlwind of emotions and learns who she is deep inside after her internal hurricane finally subsides.

Ms. Bromfield’s descriptive prose paints beautiful pictures of the island, her extended family’s home, and the people with whom she interacts during this fateful summer. Although I found some of the allusions between Tilla’s experiences and the actual hurricane overly dramatic and repetitive, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel and cared deeply for some of the characters, including Tilla herself, her sister Mia, and especially her cousin Andre. The majority of the other characters in the book are either despicable people or people who are terribly disappointing human beings. All of them make for an interesting, evocative read.

I. Am. A. Wreck! This was such a beautiful, powerful story. All of the characters are flawed and complex, even the setting of Jamaica - the paradox of cruel things happening in paradise was beautifully portrayed. Tilla is a fierce, powerhouse of a heroine and I think whether or not you’ve been through the kinds of experiences she encounters on her journey, readers will feel everything right along with her, because honestly the writing is just that good. The symbolism between Tilla’s summer and the hurricane is not subtle but it doesn’t need to be and your emotions will feel like they are getting swept up in the hurricane with the rest of the debris. This was a poignant, brilliantly written story and I highly recommend it. It’s not a light read but you’ll be glad you read it. And that cover! Perfection.

I could not connect with this book and ended up DNF'ing it. I will NOT be posting a review on Goodreads since I did not read the entire book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC. I have decided will not be requesting YA books; MG books yes, but YA no.

Gorgeously written, Asha Bromfield’s Hurricane Summer is a very heavy read. It delves into so many difficult subjects, all happening on our main character during the span of two months—the metaphorical hurricane met with a real one pummeling her parents’ native Jamaica.

This book can serve two audiences very well. Readers who have been through the things the main character has gone through might appreciate knowing that they are not alone and that there is a way out. Readers who have not been through these things can gain a glimpse into what someone around them might be going into.

The main topic that came to mind are the difficulties related to intra-family relationships when jealousy sets in, and the effect of perceived advantages on feeding said jealousy. The main character lives in Canada, which means that, to her family still in Jamaica, her life seems lavish and luxurious. Of course those of us who live in Canada know that life in Canada is luxurious and lavish only for a select number, and recently arrived immigrants can have a very hard time financially, living lives that are well below “luxurious”.

Ultimately, any book that offers insight into another person’s suffering can lead to a better world, where action and policy center around the common good and the betterment of our communities, rather than money and power. Perhaps readers of Hurricane Summer will be inspired to arise and ensure that wealth is shared more equally both within the country they reside in, and between all the countries in the world.

this is a gorgeous book. Well written and I couldn't put it down. heartbreaking then heartfelt. Overall a very good story@

This book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside (I mean, that cover is gorgeous). Asha Bromfield is so freaking talented it's hard to believe this is a debut. The story centers on Tilla as she spends the summer with her sister Mia visiting their father who left them a year ago to return to his home in Jamaica. This book is so excellent at interrogating complicated family dynamics and your heart just breaks over and over again for Tilla -- it's an emotional rollercoaster but this book is so worth the ride.

Wow this book is heartbreaking and stunningly beautiful. It made me weep several times and also made my angry. So many thoughts and emotions.

LOVED! Loved the main character, felt like she jumped off the page. I felt her every emotion. I hated her family so much I caught myself physically tense through a lot of this. What a beautiful book.

Tilla and her sister Mia are going to Jamaica for the summer to visit their father. The girls live in Canada, but every six months their father leaves Canada to go home to Jamaica. Tilla is not excited about going to Jamaica, but hopes this will be a chance to connect with her father, and get a feel for why he always leaves. Constantly facing disappointment from her father Tilla, is hoping for the best once and for all. Upon Tilla’s arrival in Jamaica she is met with disdain from her other family members who have very negative thoughts about being from “foreign” as they call her. Tilla is subjected to constant verbal abuse from her family and takes a lot.Tilla meets Hassan who she instantly feels an attraction to, but the relationship comes with complications. Tilla also develops a close bond with her cousin Andre who is also sort of an outcast within the family due to his dark skinned complexion. On her journey Tilla finds out a lot of family secrets, and endures a lot of pain. A hurricane is set to it Jamaica which will change Tilla’s life forever.
I really struggled not only with how Tilla was treated, but also how she just took abuse and was so naive. I literally wanted to scream at how Tilla was just so gullible. There were times Tilla literally could not see the forest for the trees. I wanted to give up a few times because it was infuriating reading this and the character kept putting herself in situations that she could clearly see and feel were not safe! It also felt a little unbelievable that Tilla went from someone who seemed clueless to someone who was such a deep thinker with so much insight at the end. It was made to seem as if the hurricane had such a profound effect on her, but no hurricane is going to take you from clueless to deep thinker in a matter of days. Other then those two things this was a touching coming of age story and I really enjoyed the love and friendship between Tilla and Andre.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins press for this ARC.

Wow...it's hard to believe this was a debut. The book was beautifully written, and heartbreakingly emotional. This coming of age story is one of my favorites of 2021 thus far. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy!

When she was a young girl, Tilla, her mother and sister lost her father to the draw of his native Jamaica. Now at 17, she is sent to spend the summer with him on the island. Tilla hopes this summer will be a turning point in her relationship with her father, but is saddened by the secrets she discovers on the island instead.

Hurricane Summer is a scary, emotional, coming of age young adult novel that is beautiful and heartbreaking. Exposed and awakened, Tilla learns the weight of secrets and the risks of love and jealousy. In the end, she also realizes the beauty in the aftermath of a storm.

This coming of age story about a Canadian girl spending the summer with her Jamaican father in his home town has a lot going for it. The dynamics between Tilla and her family and the other people in the country are well thought out and feel authentic. There are the family secrets she discovers and rumors that swirl around her, which all make up for an unforgettable summer.

Ms. Bromfield presents a side of Jamaica that vacationers don't see. Tilla's father comes from the countryside where people are money poor, resources can be unpredictable, and everyone knows everyone else's business. She explores the colorism, sexism, and slut-shaming that are a very real part of life. I wish there had been some kind of a warning about assault, but there wasn't, so I'm telling you now.

The fault I found was the extensive glossary at the beginning and the language switching sometimes by the same character during the same conversation. Jamaican patois was used throughout the book, along with terms and words that don't translate directly. If you are not familiar with it, this could be a hindrance to the flow of the book.

I would have preferred there to be more consistency in language and maybe footnotes or some other way of defining a word or term on the same page it occurs. It would have helped me to learn the words in context rather than flipping between the glossary and the story.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so very beautifully written. Besides having one of the most gorgeous covers I’ve ever laid my eyes on, the narrative was poetic & soothing even when I was balling my eyes out. It is so vivid and I felt like I was there in Jamaica with Tilla though I have never set foot on Jamaican soil before. I don’t share in Asha’s Jamaican heritage but as a fellow descendant of the Caribbean, I could relate to so much of this story.

There is more about how I felt/was triggered in the link posted.

Wow, wow, wow. This book took me through all of the emotions. It isn't an easy book to read, but I was absolutely impressed by Bromfield's handling of the many issues she tackles. The people in the book felt like people Bromfield actually knew, they popped off the page for better and for worse.

Hauntingly beautiful is right. This was a stunning read that I would love to be able to incorporate into my classroom. This story hits all of the notes - coming of age, identity, culture, colonialism, love, relationships, racism, sexism… there are so many ways that this could be brought into the classroom. I feel very lucky to have read this story and I look forward to figuring out how I CAN bring it into my classroom in the upcoming years.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I didn't connect with the characters even after several attempts.