Kasie West has done it again with Sunkissed! It is a sweet, contemporary ya romance with great characters that develop over the course of the book. It has a Dirty Dancing vibe that is just what I needed to get me ready for summer.

3/25/2021 - I just realized a send to kindle option was added to this book. RTC!

Unfortunately I am not able to access the download for this book (I probably should have double checked that before requesting). The book sounds adorable, and I have loved this author in the past! I can't wait to check it out after it releases!

Review will be posted on Goodreads and TheStoryGraph on April 20, 2021!

Thank you NetGalley, and Caitlin at RHCB for the e-arc for review!

“Sometimes staying in the box we’ve made for ourselves is so easy. It’s comfortable and familiar in there. And a lot of times, the people around us want us to stay in there, too, because that’s how they’ve always known us: in that box.”

Sunkissed follows Avery Young as she spends her summer before senior year at an activity camp with her family, flirts with a (very cute) off-limits staff member, and makes it her summer goal to get out of her comfort zone.

West has a way with cute teen romance. Her novels always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. I think my reading experience of Sunkissed, however, might be a little coloured because, y'all, I LOVED Kasie's last book, Moment of Truth. I'm a sucker for romance with history behind it (whether it be childhood rivals, falling-for-your-best-friend, secret pen-pals, boy-next-door...) so it has been a long while since I've read a YA romance that just... happens.

Avery meets Brooks, the lead guitarist of the dinner band who performs every night at camp, and they arrange a deal: Avery will help Brooks with lyrics for his music, and he will help her find new experiences. Seems pretty straight forward, and it was. It was cute. The tension and conflicts were quickly resolved, the stakes never felt too high, and the pair just sort of fell together over the summer. The quick pace of the novel made the relationship feel a bit fast, but I think an entire summer in reality is a fair amount of time for a romance to bloom.

Still, everything just felt a little surface level to me. And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with that. I've read many YA novels that are pure fluff, no stakes, and sometimes, it works. I think I just expected something a little deeper from West after Moment of Truth (which, if you haven't read it, READ IT!!)

Personally, I would have liked to see a bit more inner dialogue from Avery, to really show her struggling with coming out of her shell, meeting new people, trying new things. We got a taste of it, and then the story shifted almost entirely to the music contest plot, and we lost all the other exciting things Avery could have tried. And I know that stage-fright was a massive hurdle to overcome, but with the laser focus on the band (and her budding romance), everything else that I was enjoying about the novel sort of fell away.

The characters were cute. I would have liked to see Avery spend some time with some of the other people at camp, whether it be some other staff, her sister, or her parents. Most of the chapters we did get with her family were sped through for the sake of pacing, but I think there were moments we could have lingered a bit more on, particularly in regards to Avery and her dad.

Still, West always manages to paint a pretty picture. I loved the atmosphere of the camp. It made me nostalgic for summer and sun and lake-views and everything that was so wonderful about those glorious months off from school. Sunkissed is probably a great novel to get you out of reading slump, and is the perfect length to boost your number on your Goodreads challenge. Not my favourite from West (from whom, obviously, I will STILL read ANYTHING), but about as inoffensive and breezy as you can get!

I didn't always love the love story between Brooks and Avery (sometimes it seemed like he didn't like her very much at all) and like others have mentioned, I had a few questions about the camp itself and the cost, but neither of those things detracted from this being a quick, light, fun YA read. It did feel a little Dirty Dancing to me, but I think it added to the charm of the story. I also very much enjoyed the sisterly bond that Avery and Lauren shared and watched them grow closer as the summer progressed. I hope that there is a follow up to this one, because the worst part of summer stories is not knowing how things will shake out when it's not summer anymore.

This is another Kasie West book that I felt was just okay. The beginning felt really slow, but it did pick up once they were at the camp after a while. Some of the logistics that were never answered bothered me-- how did her parents afford this apparently verrrrry expensive camp for all summer on their salaries? I loved most of the side characters a lot and wish we had seen a bit more about those relationships, especially the dynamic with her sister and parents. For as much as this was supposed to be a family camp experience, we don't get much family time (except as part of grounding, and even then it's only vaguely mentioned). We really see Avery let people kind of walk all over her for most of the book so although it was nice to see her take a stand there at the end, I wish there had been more small steps she was taking to show her building that confidence instead of doormat to kind of immediate I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR. While this was cute, it wasn't quite fleshed out enough for me.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“Sometimes staying in the box we’ve made for ourselves is so easy. It’s comfortable and familiar in there. And a lot of times, the people around us want us to stay in there, too, because that’s how they’ve always known us: in that box. But sometimes we start to change, grow, and the box begins to get small and cramped. And yet we fight to stay inside because the walls are high and climbing out seems harder than staying.”
— 𝒮𝓊𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈𝑒𝒹, Kasie West

Rating: 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀/5

When Avery Young finds out that her best friend and boyfriend kissed, she couldn’t be happier than her parents are taking her and her younger sister away to a campground in the mountains for two months. Because that’s what Avery is good at: running from her problems. Hiding. Keeping the peace. On her first day there, though, Avery meets Brooks. Brooks is a camp staff member, a shaggy-haired guitarist in a band with his friends, and completely off limits to Avery. But Avery needs his help to break out of her shell, and Brooks needs her help writing songs. The more time they spend together, the more Avery finds herself wanting all sorts of things she never wanted before. The only question now is whether she’s brave enough to go after them.

This was such a perfect, sweet, light-hearted YA romance. Then again, it’s Kasie West, so I really shouldn’t be surprised. Both Avery and Brooks are wonderfully written characters. Avery has spent her entire life keeping the peace and staying in her own lane, trying to make things easier for everyone else. Brooks has a difficult family life and he’s doing everything he can to take some of the pressure off. Both of them are so good at running away, but they can’t run from each other. My only wish is that it had an epilogue of some sorts so I could see how everything shakes out when they aren’t in the summer bubble.

This one comes out May 4th, and it’s going to be the perfect addition to any collection for all my YA readers out there 😍

𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕣, 𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 ℕ𝕖𝕥𝕘𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕪 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔸ℝℂ 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕡𝕦𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟!

This is another great Kasie West book. She is amazing. I loved the camp setting and the sweet, slow burn romance. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and over come their fears.

Kasie West is very good at what she writes: coming of age stories with a sweet romance. And this one is no exception. I liked the characters, and I thought they were well developed. Avery is a great main character, but I also really liked all the minor characters and wouldn't mind a follow-up novel featuring Lauren, Avery's younger sister, or even new characters set at Bear Meadow Camp.
The plot is steady, and there's a satisfying ending.

Fans of Kasie West will love this new book, and those looking for a sweet summer read will enjoy it too!

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

I have been a fan of Kasie West every since her debut novel and Sunkissed was no exception. This book was a fast read and a sweet summer romance. Avery was my opposite in many ways but she was easy to relate too especially when it came to the awkward where do I fit in vibes. So I loved watching her come into her own and really find the thing that she cares about. I loved watching her relationship with her sister deepend as they bonded over the utter cruel-ness of their parents sequestering them at a resort for most of the summer with no wifi or connection to the outside world (the horrors!!). I loved the friendships that Avery made at this resort even those they were technically forbidden as they were with staff members. And I was so so mad at her BFF from home and thought she forgave too easily. Unlike Avery, this reviewer can hold a grudge! lol

My biggest disappointment with Sunkissed was that it was over too soon. I didn't savor it enough but once I started to read it I couldn't put it down. I needed to see how it would all turn out. The cast of characters is top notch and the romance is totally swoon worthy. If you like Dirty Dancing and other camp-style movies they you will definitely enjoy Sunkissed. Definitely recommend this one to all. Perfect summertime read.

I read my first Kasie West book a couple years ago and instantly fell in love with her lighthearted and fast-paced writing style. Sunkissed, much like all of her other books, did not disappoint.

For me, the summer camp setting made this book the perfect spring/summer read and the characters in the book all brought something special to the table. Avery was a very relatable character, she talked about some of the things that stressed her out, things that most teens feel the same way about. For example, she often felt like she wasn’t seen by her family or her peers. She always felt outshone. Brooks on the other hand, showed us some of the struggles in many people’s lives, like his father being sick.

I think that it is safe to say that this was a very well-written and enjoyable book!

Why has it taken me so long to read a Kasie West book?! I’m only reading her books from here on out 😂

Sunkissed was freaking adorable and the perfect YA summer book. The summer camp setting was what initially drew me in because who doesn’t love that?!

This story was so sweet and ugh PERFECT. How many times am I allowed to say that?

I loved the relationship between Avery and Lauren. I could totally relate with that constant sisterly bickering. I also really liked their parents involvement in the story. YA books can often mention adults and move on but I really enjoyed how Avery and Lauren’s parents were present throughout the story.

Naturally, Brooks was everything. The brooding, long-haired rockstar with a stressful home life. Quintessential book boyfriend material.

The supporting characters were also fun and really present. The other band members had great chemistry and so did the whole camp staff.

This book really put me in the summer mood and I loved that it was able to pull at my heartstrings.

If there's one thing I never get sick of, it's Dirty Dancing inspired stories and retellings. There's just something I love about falling in love at summer camp even though everything's against it, and then coming out the other side. This book gives you everything, it has music and family and drama, but it also has a love story that you watch unfold and fall apart and then fix itself. The start dragged on a bit for me and some of the decisions just felt flat and unrealistic, but overall it was a really good read!

Love love love the camp setting in this!!! The camp atmosphere was my favorite park of the book (though the friendships and the battle of the bands competition were close seconds!). I’m honestly so sad that it’s winter right now, because Sunkissed made me desperate to go to a really cool summer camp in California, ugh. All of the hiking, outdoor painting, kayaking, swimming, and cafeteria style dinners in Sunkissed drew me in and set a really good backdrop for the family growth, friendships, and romances that formed at the camp.

I wasn’t always feeling the Brooks/Avery connection, but overall it worked. It took a while to be sure that they were both into each other, but once they were it developed pretty quickly, They had to sneak around a lot because the camp doesn’t allow staff to date guests, so the secrecy added to the slow burn.

All of the side characters, especially Lauren, Mari, and the band were WONDERFUL! I love the side plot of Lauren’s vlogging and how her talent and passion grew over the summer. Mari’s sweetness and sass were perfect; she is the perfect summer camp best friend! And the band... oh how I loved the band’s dynamic. I love how they kind of new each other ahead of time, but that music really brought them together, even though they were just covering cookie cutter songs. The band mates made me laugh a lot, and I love seeing the relationships grow between all the camp staff.

Overall I think this is one of Kasie West’s best books! There was more intellectual depth and self exploration, and the camp setting was fleshed out really well. I just love Kasie’s books — they’re the perfect books when you need a quick and fluffy fun read.

I've read plenty of Kasie West books over the years, so I was really excited to check this one out. I really enjoyed the summer camp vibes, even though it was different with the entire family there (vs. kid sleepaway camp). I related with Avery's character in how she was happy sticking to her routine and not going outside her comfort zone, and appreciated that she pushed herself to try something new. Of course it didn't hurt she had the help of a super cute musician! Overall, I enjoyed this cute, YA romance and think it would be a great summer read.

Kasie West is an automatic purchase for both my middle school and high school library. I love being able to put her swoon worthy books into the hands of my students who love a good love story! Sunkissed does not disappoint! Relatable characters, summer fun, and a boys in a band.....what's not to love!

I took a bit of a break from Kasie West's books because her latest ones just weren't really for me but I decided to give this one a try since the synopsis sounded good. The first half I really enjoyed and thought that Avery was a pretty relatable main character but I didn't really like all the drama that was in the second half and it kinda fell flat for me, hence the three stars. Overall, it was a good read but I like a bit more depth in my contemporaries to keep me more interested in them and this one was mainly just drama.

Kasie West is an automatic buy and read author. She always writes the most relatable and charming stories and the romances are always so cute. Sunkissed is no different. I read this in one sitting. Avery and Brooks each have things they are working through and I appreciated how much I could relate to Avery's people pleasing and her journey to recognize and work on it.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another Kasie West book that did not disappoint! I was a little nervous because the last one I read was not very good but I absolutely loved this one! I felt like I could relate to this one, and I’m sure so many other people can too. I loved how the main character went from being easygoing and not sure about things to knowing what she wanted to do and actually taking charge. It was a good progression that took the right amount of time. The characters were also great. I liked the connection between Avery and her sister. At first it seemed like they did not have much of one, but throughout the book it got stronger. The chemistry between Avery and her love interest was amazing too.

Overall I’d highly recommend this book to fellow Kasie West fans and Young Adult contemporary lovers.

#Sunkissed
#YARead2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the E-arc copy of Sunkissed. It has a sweet romance and is a great coming of age story.

Plot: I love books that take place in summer, so the moment I saw that Kasie West's (One of my all-time favorite authors!) new book was a summer book, I was so excited to read it! And it not only met my high expectations, but exceeded them. Reading about Avery finding her voice, and finding love was such an enjoyable read!

Characters: Avery was a fantastic main character! I loved that her family played such a big role in the book. Brooks was a great love interest, and when I was a teen, he would have definitely been added to my list of book boyfriends. I liked how friendship played a large role in the book, too!

The Cover: I think it's really cute! (Also, I had never read someone call having a sunburn being sunkissed before reading this book, I like that phrase!)

Overall: Because it's a Kasie West book, I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't expect how much! This is now one of my favorites by her! If you're looking for a fantastic YA read, I highly recommend this book!

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher.