I was so excited about this book, but it just didn’t click for me. I think it may have been the narration. Maybe the physical book would have been better. Overall I just couldn’t get into it.

Oh wow! I loved this book so much!
I loved Joe and Amy!
This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time. As I sit here writing this review, I may have a tear or two because, it's over.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and of course Kerry Wilkinson for writing such a marvelous story.
5 stars!
The narrator was PERFECT for this book!
I look forward to more from both!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.
Synopsis
We all remember that one magical summer that changed our lives.

For Joe, it’s 1999. School is over, and with zero idea of what he’s meant to do for the rest of his life, he’s reluctantly accepted a job at the local summer camp. Anything to drown out the sharp grief of missing his dad and move on from what school calls his ‘anger problems’. But getting screamed at by hyperactive ten-year-olds is almost enough to make him quit on day one.

Almost.

Then he sees Amy Ashworth for the very first time, her black hair shining in the sun – and learns that nothing hits harder than first love.

She’s the only person he knows who reads for fun, or who’s seen Titanic fourteen times. But there’s another side to Amy. Soon, she’s the only person he’s ever been to a wild house party with, or kissed under the twinkling stars. It’s the happiest Joe has ever been… until the terrible day when what’s left of his family fractures into a million pieces.

Caught up in Amy’s whirlwind, Joe can’t bring himself to tell the truth about his life. Would his dad have wanted him to fight for the girl he loves, or protect his family, no matter what?

Only one thing is certain: this is the summer Joe will grow up. But when he looks back decades later, will he be ashamed of his choices? And will Amy still be by his side?

Heart-warming, hilarious, nostalgic, and bittersweet, Truly, Madly, Amy explores first loves, last chances, and the summers that shape us. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls, Mike Gayle, and anyone who remembers the carefree days of being just sixteen, when the world was full of possibility.

If you are familiar with Kerry Wilkinson, you’ll expect a thriller type author going “off point” as some may put it. However I’m so pleased to say this is so on point you’d perhaps completely unrelate with the writing style (this I’m aware hasn’t been described very well but is genuinely meant as a compliment, a fine example of a great flexible talent) this is a lovely nostalgic coming of age novel, it’s written so beautifully and tentatively. I see it in film mode to be really honest, I loved it.

Unfortunately the story did not live up to my expectations. I expected a lot of nostalgia as the main character was close to my age, so reliving his youth in 1999 should have inspired a trip down memory lane and I was expecting more romance.

Perhaps it was the narration and I would have been better off reading this story as I have liked other books by Kerry Wilkinson. The way this story was narrated it simply did not keep me interested. After listening to nearly half the book I did not really care which way the story would go, which is a shame as other reviewers had compared it to John Green YA books which I have loved.

I unfortunately had to DNF this book as I found it very juvenile and hard to follow. I could truly see the potential in the story but unfortunatly it didn't live up to it for me. DNF @ 30%

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Audiobook Arc of Truly, Madly, Amy by Kerry Wilkinson. This is a Young Adult romance set at a summer camp, but it was also so much more than that. The deeper topics, especially learning about both Joe’s mother and father added to the story and made it feel so much more read. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story develop and I loved Joe and Amy’s relationship - both their friendship and their more-than friendship!
The ending of this one was unexpectedly emotional and really reminded me of Normal People. 3⭐️

This is not what I expected. I was drawn to this mainly for nostalgic purposes- I was in high school in 1999, basically the same age as the characters. That is what intrigued me the most. However, that part fell flat- it was basically non-existent. Except for a few minor references to music or cell phones, you'd never know the book wasn't set in 2022. I have a hard time discerning if my feelings towards the book are driven by it being not what I expected or the actual book.

The story moved painfully slow for me. I considered DNFing it many times- even as far as 2/3 through.

I listened to the audio version. The narrator was fine. Unremarkable, but nothing really to complain about. I sped it to 1.75 to get through the book. I tried 2.0 but it was too fast. (I listen to most books at 1.25). I do have a complaint about the editing- there is a long pause between each chapter. Annoying.

If you are looking for a coming of age story about a boy who is struggling to cope with the bad hand he has been dealt, then this is for you. If you are looking for a romance, it could be for you as long as you know the romance is secondary. If you are looking for 90s nostalgia, keep looking.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for this arc, unfortunately I just didn’t click with the narrator and found it difficult to get into. I enjoyed the premise and the setting and would look to read a copy of this rather than listening.

4 Nostalgic Summer Stars! ☀️

Title: Truely Madly Amy
Author: Kerry Wilkinson
Narrator: Joe Jameson
Story Rating: 4/5
Audio Rating: 4/5

📖 why you need to read this book!

• The book is jammed packed with nostalgic summer vibes.
• The summer camp setting was great.
• there really is nothing sweeter than first love!
• Joe and Amy are likable relatable characters.


🎧 why you need to listen to this book!
• I just love when a book set in the UK is told to me in an English accent.


This was a fun feel good coming of age summer read. I would say it is more of a book about Joe finding himself than a romance, but The innocence of first love is definitely present. I’ve seen other reviews that mention that there was “excessive teenage drinking“ in the story. I have no idea what the drinking age is in the UK, but as an American I didn’t find it excessive, just realistic. This is a very sweet summer story that will make you smile and want to fall in love for the first time again!💜

*** Big thank you to Bookouture & Bookouture Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This book was more like a change of scenery to me, but not exactly what I was looking for.

This is a YA romance, but it's told by an older version of Joe, the MMC.
The majority of the story is told in the 6 weeks of his sixteen years, at a summer camp, and everything that was happening with his family, friends, and personal life.

The beginning dragged too much in my honest opinion.
The book is settled in UK so there's a lot of things that will definitely sound weird for anyone used to american habits and writing.
I don't have an issue with the large amount of drinking those sixteen years kids were having, cause just like the author, I'm in a country were the legal age of drinking is 18, and so drinking at 16 is quite common, but it's so highlighted here, that even being a YA story, with just the mention of sex, I wouldn't feel comfortable with my teenager daughter reading it.

Back to the story, aside from how it ended, i really liked Joe's development as character. How he learned from his circumstances, and how he was able to make a change in his own life, after so many downs.

I think this book is way more about family and friendship than it is about romance.
If i was to rate this book based on the romance, my rating would be really bad.
21 years apart after a summer camp, and a shortly lived relationship, is too much to be considered a romance.

But again, as a book about friendship and family, it's worth the time

The narration was a bit boring and the narrator couldn't show emotions or difference between characters to save his life!
You also get used to him after awhile.

3.75⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for providing the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review

I really liked this book and enjoyed it more than I expected I would.
If you love John Green books you’d love this one !
the book follows Joe, a 16 year old who starts working in a summer camp and meets Amy and we see the development of their love story while also discussing topics such as family issues, grief and mental health.

my issues with it was the narrator and it took me a while to get into the story other than that it was a good read.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Truly, Madly, Amy by Kerry Wilkinson.

It's 1999 (shoutout to my graduating class!), and Joe is in desperate need of something to do this summer. His sister has, against his will, volunteered him to work at the nearby summer camp. Not thrilled, but also needing to escape the piercing grief from losing his dad, he begrudgingly relents.

But then meets Amy, who fascinates and frightens him. Amy is the first person that Joe has ever felt anything for and he finds it overwhelming. But then his family experiences more blows, and he's not sure that the relationship will survive it.

Okay, and maybe this is where it's important that we are reviewing audio books, I think this book would have been better narrated by someone else. Whenever the narrator spoke for either of the protagonists he either made them sound dumb or whiny, and I don't think they were either. It stole a lot from my interest in the story, and it is a good story. Who doesn't love a good summer camp, coming of age, romance.

Truly, Madly, Amy is a poignant coming-of-age love story about Joe and Amy who meet when they both take jobs working at a local summer camp; Joe in facilities and Amy as a counselor. Both main characters carry the baggage of their families and spend the summer learning to own their identities while also separating themselves from their complicated family lives. Told over the course of six weeks, the two main characters develop a level of trust that doesn't exist in other facets of their lives. But as the end of the summer draws near, they'll have to decide what comes next: in life and in love.

What I loved: Most romances I read are written in either 3rd person or told from the female perspective and it was refreshing to read a teenage love story told exclusively from the point of view of a guy. The perspective reminds me a bit of Sally Rooney's Normal People if Connell had narrated the book.

Though the love story between Joe and Amy is what really threaded everything together, so much of this story is about Joe's experience at camp contributing to his evolution as a person and his realizations as he transitions into adulthood, all of which were communicated in a way that seemed completely authentic to his character. The supporting cast of characters were diverse, quirky and felt genuinely relatable in their flaws, support and humor. The authenticity of the people and true to the times references made it feel as though every situation in this book really could have happened.

I also really liked that the final chapters took place in the present and we get an opportunity to follow up with how the camp experience ultimately shaped the lives and relationships of each person in the story.

What I didn't: Like I mentioned above, most of the book felt like it was written from a personal experience. There were a few exceptions to this. Namely that the book was as a set of day by day experiences. I know very few people that can recall the mundane details of every day of a summer that happened 20 years ago so the daily accounts of camp happenings were a little intense. It also slowed the pacing of the book and there were a few sections that felt as if they really dragged for a bit.

Read if you love:
*summer camp love stories
*coming of age experiences
*dysfunctional family drama

TW: sexual assault, depression

See also: Normal People, Without Merit

Please note: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and Bookouture.

#bookouture #trulymadlyamy #netgalley #summerlove #camplove #comingofage #younglove

I loved this. It did take me a while to get into it but I think that was mainly because I am not used listening to fiction books, I usually prefer to read a hard copy. Once I got used to this and the accent of the narrator, I was hooked and felt connected to the characters. The storyline kept me intrigued and wanting to know what the outcome would be. Would recommend

This book started slow but I grew to love it so much.

Joe has both a magical and difficult summer. His mother, struggling with mental health battles, causes tension and turmoil in his life. He takes a “job” at a camp, though, and his life is never the same.

The description of this book is so true- we all have that one summer. That’s also what made this book so relatable. In Joe’s story, I found my own.
The changes in friendship.
The odd feelings of school being over.
The trouble with parents.
The person who, without knowing it, saved you.

Very tactfully written, too. Yes, there is underage drinking and sex but it’s nothing that isn’t truly happening out there in the world, and I still thought it was presented very well.

I don’t want to give it all away but the ending…it was the ending we all dreamed of for that summer. It was perfect.

Heartwarming, Coming Of Age novel. I have only read Kerry Wilkinsons thriller books which are fantastic, but I also hope she writes more YA romance.

I really loved this the character development was great and made you root for them even when they make mistakes,, this is a good mix of romance and great friendships. I also loved the family dynamic through this too, I hope to this so we can hear more about Joe's family life/friendships

I enjoyed this audiobook, but it was a little hard to understand the narrator. Not the narrator’s fault, it was the quality of the sound.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an advanced audio book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Lovely coming of age story. Joe is 16 and ends up volunteering at a local camp where he meets Amy. Joe has had a tough couple of years since his dad passed away and his mom is depressed. Joe learns a lot about himself while his relationship with Amy blooms. Highly recommend the book.


Excellent narration by Joe Jameson.

I could not get into this book. It was extremely slow moving and by the time it got somewhat interesting I was already spent with this book.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this alc. I really enjoyed the falling in love for the first time and all that surronds that. The book was special, I rarely read a romance by an male author and I liked it. It has something that make you go on and see what will happen to main characters. I was really happy about the ending bit I have to tell you nothing was easy. Like nothing is easy in this life, most of the time we lost each other and we find new purpose in life and sometimes we met us in our past and we learn from that. True friendship is something we all need in our life