I love books set at summer camp! And this is a great one. Avery is on a relatable teenage journey -- trying to figure out who she is, what she is passionate about, and what she wants to pursue in life. Her parents have taken their teenage daughters to an off-the-grid family camp for two months, which stretches both sisters in different ways. Through new friendships and trials, Avery learns how to speak up for herself. I am not sure if the author intended this, but I enjoyed reading it through the lens of the Enneagram personality types. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC -- I can't wait until this book's publish date!

Received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion.

I cannot wait to get this book into my students hands. Like all other Kasie West books, this one does not disappoint teen readers and is a great summer read.

I gave this book to my 14 year old daughter & she gave it two thumbs up. Will look for more by this author .

Kasie West is one of my favorite YA authors, and I was so excited to receive the advanced copy of her newest book! In "Sunkissed" Avery and Lauren are on a summer-long family vacation at a campsite set in the mountains, Thanks to the lack of WiFi, the girls are forced to spend time with their families and discover new skills they didn't know they had. Along the way, they learn that they're stronger and braver than they ever imagined they could be. And the cute guys at camp don't hurt either! This was a quick, enjoyable read and I really liked it! I also appreciated that the author showed a good relationship between the girls and their parents, rather than the usual teen angst that YA authors like to use in their books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a perfect read for a fun, summer romance with a twist of self-discovery. I enjoyed the building of Avery and Brooks's relationship. It felt genuine and authentic. I do wish that her relationship with Shay was developed more and had a clearer resolution. It didn't feel like Shay needed to attend the festival and didn't really resolve anything.

After spending a few days deep, deep in the depths of esoteric non-fiction, I decided to treat myself to the new Kasie West YA romance, and I was not disappointed. I ended up reading this sweet summer read all in one day, and it made me miss camp and flirting and human contact.

As I have mentioned before, I once made it a point to read every Kasie West book–yes, including the weird duology. Her books are a bit cheesy, always adorable, and just easy reads in the BEST way–sometimes they do touch on tough topics, family health crises, divorce, mental illness–but the book reads quickly! You’re drawn in, her chapters are short and poignant, and we always get the swoony HS romance we all only read about in books.

Avery Young loves music and hates conflict, so when she ends up for two months at a family summer camp with her mom, dad, and sister, she’s mostly upset that she doesn’t have access to all her playlists. But when she meets the camp’s dinner band, and it’s leader, Brooks, things start to get a little more interesting for Avery. Thanks to her Dad’s badly phrased explanation of her future, she decides to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, and Brooks is willing to help….as long as she helps him finish a song he’s working on for an upcoming band competition that he views as a “sign.” It’s a journey of self-discovery, summer camp shenanigans, sweet romances, and sisterhood. There’s music, there’s campfires, there’s band tension. It’s adorable, because Kasie West wrote it, obviously.

I found this book just…exactly what I needed. A little Kasie West, a little Erin Hahn, a little Camp Rock. I loved summer camp stories, so this was an interesting take on it–having the whole family there! And No Wifi of course. Brooks is swoony, the sun is hot, the parents are REASONABLE (my favorite! Don’t like ship your kid off to Germany because they broke curfew…) and overall, it was a solid 4 star read for me!

Sunkissed by Kasie West was a sweet, light hearted YA summer romance about a girl finding her way.

I am way behind on the Kasie West train. I haven’t read any of her books though they’re on my TBR. And have been for a while. But Sunkissed is motivating me to read her other books. I loved this book.

I really liked Avery. She was timid yet strong and I loved that combination. I loved watching her start to live, and her journey of finding herself, and what she wanted to do, not just what others wanted her to do. It was, honestly, inspiring and I really enjoyed it. I also liked the imperfect relationship between her and her younger sister, Lauren. I found it really relatable, because me and my sister are total opposites, her being the obedient, quieter one, while I’m . . . not. Avery and Lauren had their differences and their fights, but ultimately they cared about each other, which was understandable and a lot of people can relate.

My first impression of Brooks wasn’t that great. I mean, I thought he warmed up to Avery a little too quickly, as I’d been expecting an enemies to lovers romance, but instead Avery and Brooks were somewhere in friends to lovers. And I wished Brooks was more broody. He wasn’t nearly up to his potential. But as the book went on, I grew to love him, and I found his backstory sad but yet I was happy that he was opening up to Avery and that they were growing closer.

The side characters were so well done. I think a lot of authors focus on other things, but the side characters are the ones who show you more about the protagonist(s), and how they interact with others. And I was obsessed with the side characters, and their dynamic was amazing. I loved Maricela, Kai, Ian, Levi and Lauren, and I wish there was more of them, but I savored the parts we had. Their dynamic was so perfect, and I loved that. You could see their friendships and relationships were meaningful, and the banter was the best. Because, obviously, banter is the superior trope. You know that’s the truth.

In terms of plot, the book didn’t really have much of it. A lot of time was spent just developing the relationships and friendships between Avery and the others, which, I obviously can’t fault, because I really enjoyed those scenes. But despite that, the book was still wildly entertaining, and I don’t think the lack of plot really hurt the book.

It’s a strange thing to talk about setting in a book that’s not fantasy or science fiction but still set in the real world. But still, I really loved the camp, it was such a warm and welcoming place to read about. I really loved the way it was explored, which again is a strange thing but something I loved nonetheless. The vibe of the camp was so perfect, and I loved getting summer camp nostalgia while in Quarantine.

How does a book be this light hearted and sweet while still being able to tug at your heartstrings? Hearing about Brooks’ life at home broke my heart and I wanted to jump through the page and give him a hug, which was also what I was telling Avery to do in my head. And, despite a lot of people liking the drama with Avery’s best friend, Shay, I just thought it was used as a plot device and I never really felt sympathetic for Avery, or sad about the whole thing. I feel like it was just too teen-drama-esque and that’s not always a bad thing but I didn’t really enjoy it in this book.

Despite the things I didn’t like about this book, it was so sweet and it was great for entertainment. I loved reading about Avery and her summer, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great summer read!

Every time I read a new Katie West book I wonder how she’ll out do herself, because she always does. This was no exception. I grew up going to a summer camp similar to Bear Meadow so the nostalgia was strong. The characters were great; Brooks is my new favorite book boyfriend. Such a great read!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Avery Young always thought the summer before senior year would be fantastic, but after her best friend kisses her newly ex-boyfriend, and she's dragged to a family camp in the forest for two months, she's thinking it can't get any worse. With no signal, her and younger sister, Lauren, are completely cut off, and the drama from the fall out isn't worth it. It also doesn't help that there's a really cute boy on the staff, who is off limits, and seems to think she's a snobby rich girl and they get off on the wrong foot. However, when Avery realises that her whole family think of her as being static and so laid back she's uncomplicated, she decides to try out new things, including singing in Brooks' band at the end of the summer. But, will she manage to keep it a secret, and for her and Brooks to be together without it all backfiring?

I signed up for the blog tour for Sunkissed for three reasons. 1) it's a new contemporary by one of my favourite authors, 2) the synopsis and cover drew me in, and 3) I saw links being made between this and Dirty Dancing, and I was down for that. First of all, this is definitely a modern day retelling of Dirty Dancing, just up to date, and not in your face either. Unless you knew about the film, you wouldn't immediately think of it, but the similarities were definitely there. Avery is quiet, and wants to have an easy summer, with no issues, but soon finds herself intrigued by the handsome guitar player, and after the lead singer of the band is injured, steps in to sing in an important competition. Her sister (younger in this case) is in your face, extremely outgoing, and is horrified to discover there's no signal, because just how is she meant to keep on top of her channel if she can't upload her videos? The way Kasie managed to show off all of the characters as real people, with real issues, but also a proper family feel, was fantastic. I've had some difficulties with her most recent books, but this one has definitely made me remember just why she is a favourite author of mine. Her characters are so realistic, and the story lines utterly engaging, I don't understand it when I see people have never read any of her books.

Avery and Brooks romance was lovely to read, and though it seemed as though it was only a summer fling, when they discover how close to each other they live, and grow even closer together, you can see it lasting. But, it was their friendship that cemented it for me. Both of them got off on the wrong foot, but soon became friends, and were able to speak about difficult issues - like his father's illness, and her friendship dramas - because of how close they became. The romance played second fiddle, to be honest. There's also the friendship Avery and Lauren made with the other members of the band, and with the other camp staff - especially Maricela and Avery. I honestly can not wait for Kasie's next book, and hope it's as good as this one!

Another Kasie West book means another teen romance for me to dive into! Meet Avery, an always-go-with-the-flow girl, who is finding that going with the flow isn’t actually working out. With some significant drama happening at home, Avery checks into Bear Meadow, a mountain resort, with her parents and sister Lauren, for the next two summer months. Within minutes, Avery finds herself already at odds with someone: Brooks.

Avery, Brooks, Lauren, and a whole other cast of characters band together, despite strict no-fraternizing rules, as Avery goes on a quest to figure out who she really is since going along to get along is no longer working out. Of course, as any Kasie West fans already know, there’s plenty of romance to go around, too!

Overall, I enjoyed this read. It was quick, lighthearted, and cute. It also definitely had summer camp vibes, and after a pandemic year, those feelings were appreciated. I didn’t think this was West’s strongest novel—we barely get a physical description of anyone, and there are a few random/unnecessary plot points. But did I still have fun reading? Absolutely. That’s why West is one of my favorites; I can always count on her to give me the warm fuzzies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

When Avery Young finds out that her best friend and boyfriend kissed, she’s more than happy to escape on a family vacation with her parents and younger sister, Lauren, to a remote campsite in the mountains. Running, hiding and just trying to keep the peace has always been Avery’s way of keeping herself safe. But this summer, she’s ready for a change. She’s looking to branch out and break out of her shell, which she works to accomplish with the help of Brooks, an attractive bass player in the camp’s band. The two make a deal that Brooks will help Avery explore more around the camp, and Avery will help Brooks with his song writing. The more time they spend together, the more Avery’s dreams grow. The only question now is whether she’s brave enough to go after them.
Kasie West never fails to write the sweetest YA romance that bring an extra layer of depth. Being an older sister myself, I really enjoyed the storyline that focused on the sibling relationship between Avery and Lauren. They didn’t alway see eye to eye, but they grew so much as people and sisters by the end of the book.
This story focused a lot on music and that’s one of my personal favorite topics to read about in books! Following Avery and Brooks as they bonded over the song writing process was adorable. They were a super cute couple and I loved seeing them open up to each other more and more throughout the book. They learned important life lessons from each other and I think that’s what takes this beyond just a surface-level romance.
I think some twists were kind of predictable but it was still really fun and cute. It was a fast and easy-breezy read that will be perfect to pick up this summer!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of theirs book in exchange for an honest review!

I am obsessed with anything Kasie West writes. This book did not disappoint. I stayed up way past my bedtime to pretty much finish this book in one sitting. Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read it early. This book gave me all the feels. I absolutely adore Avery, Lauren and Brooks.

Avery and Lauren are sisters. Avery going to be a senior and Lauren 15 years old. Avery feels lost in who she is and is jealous of her younger sister being able to know what she wants to do with her life. Lauren is obsessed with video photography and has to document everything. Brooks is the sexy off limits camp employee that has a talent with the guitar, in a band, and has rock star hair. What could go wrong?

This story had me swooning and crying and flailing all at once. I devoured it and loved every moment. Thank you for always writing such swoon worthy reads. I cannot wait for the next one. Avery and Brooks will continue to consume my soul.

Amazing book and it is perfect for readers who require layered emotions while still in a backdrop of light-hearted fun. This is a great addition to anyone’s library -both young and old.

Probably more like 3.5 stars. I liked this, nice simple fluffy romance and such a cute summer camp love story. I thought the main character was likeable and relatable and I enjoyed the main relationship in here. I felt like the characters (I guess besides Avery) didn't progress enough through the story. I wish the backstory with the friend/ex-bf was explained a bit clearer. The camp atmosphere was fun and enjoyable, I think it would make a great summer read.

I have never seen the Disney movie Camp Rock, but I feel confident that if you liked that movie, you will like this book haha.

Avery and her family go to a family camp, where she meets a boy on staff. Avery is used to going with the flow, but this summer she's going to take some risks.

There's some discussion about class differences, which is always interesting in a YA romance.

I would say the sister plotline and the romance get equal weight, which is a nice balance. Sun, summery, musical read!

What a cute story about a girl who betrayed to find a way to move on at a summer camp. I absolutely love camp books. There’s even an adorable romance included. I highly recommend this book.

Avery goes away to summer camp with her family after being betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend. With no internet and no way to download her favorite playlist, Avery expects to be bored out of her mind. What she finds instead is a new group of friends, a potential love interest, and ultimately, herself.

This is perhaps one of Kasie West's best books to date. I love the self discovery Avery goes through and how the other characters develop as well. This is a great book for teens who may need help getting over fear or who need a little boost with self-confidence. I absolutely loved this book and will be purchasing it.

This is the perfect read for young adults about the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone and reaching for the stars! A light-hearted read in which almost any teen will be able to relate.

Got the ARC, read it in one night, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Although her stories are a bit predictable, they also allow me to escape and feel the warm fuzzies and miss those high school days. Not that mine were like her characters. But I was a bit like Avery in those days: bookish and predictable and reliable. No surprises. But I was also like her sister: involved in things and making friends wherever I went. So it was a nice revisiting of that life. I also REALLY dug the music focus in this book. That’s me now. So I got a taste of lots of things I love. 💜📚

This book was a fun and lighthearted read. Kasie West does not disappoint! This was a great story with enjoyable characters and a fun storyline. It was an easy and enjoyable read! I liked the family ties and the summer camp with no wifi. The characters grew throughout the story and the story was just nice. The author does a great job of keeping the story moving and keeping your interest. A great read for anyone!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!