(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Anna's always idolized her older sister, Storm. So when Storm dies in a tragic car accident on the night of her high school graduation, Anna is completely lost and her family is torn apart. That is, until she finds Storm's summer bucket list and decides to honor her sister by having the best summer ever—which includes taking an epic road trip to the coast from her sleepy Iowa town. Setting out to do everything on Storm's list along with her sisters best friend Cameron—the boy next door—who knew that Storm's dream summer would eventually lead to Anna's own self-discovery?

Well, this was a mismatch of good and bad. There were times when I felt this was going to be one of the better YA books I had read for a while...and then it seemed to deliberately go out of its way to not be that. Frustrating doesn't cover it.

See, the idea of this story was cool - best friends go on a road trip to do a bucket list that a dead sibling had written. Felt like this was something that could be sentimental without being sickly, a story that would be the perfect summer read - not too heavy but enough story to carry you through to the end. And, to some degree, it achieved those things...

...what it also did, though, was made it far too bland and predictable. Every single thing Anna and Cameron do is made so easy for them. There were no confrontations, no limits on what they could do...all just so far away from being even remotely believable, I ended up just praying for the end. And even that was a letdown. I didn't expect some huge revelation, but what we got was dull and unimaginative.


Paul
ARH

This is a really good example of how a book can give you nearly everything you thought you could want, all at once, and that doesn't make it instantly amazing. This book had so many tropes that I loved - road trip and adventuresome to-do list are the first that come to mind - but I just didn't love this. The beginning was especially tough to get through. It was a really long setup, a lot of which was completely unnecessary for the rest of the book. I think the problem was that I never really got attached to the characters, and I never had a great sense of their personalities. I could tell you a few random facts about each one, but they didn't seem like whole people to me at all, and so it was harder for me to care about what they were going through. The good news is once I got past the beginning, I didn't have any strong negative feelings about the book. I guess it just wasn't really for me.

3.5 stars.

Someone Else's Summer is a quick read. I love road trip books, so I was eager to read this one when I found out it contained a road trip. However, having just had my oldest daughter graduate from high school a week ago, I was afraid the premise of this book would be too depressing. But, thankfully, this is Anna's story, not her sister, Storm's. Even though the story revolves around a sad situation, there are plenty of good summer feels. And while I enjoyed the road trip aspect of the story, some of the situations were too contrived and made to fit the story. Much of the book didn't feel organic, but the bit of a twist at the ending was a nice change, although, not completely unexpected. A nice read to get me in the mood for summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anna's older sister Storm is killed in a car accident the night of her high school graduation, leaving Anna lost without her. Soon after Storm's death, Anna finds a list Storm made, a bucket list of sorts, detailing her perfect summer. As kids, Storm was always making them lists each summer for the two to complete along with Storm's best friend Cameron, the boy next door. Anna eventually moved on from being their tag-a-long, making her own friends and running with a different, more popular crowd, but missing out on parts of her sister's life in the process. Now, after finding the list, she and Cameron set out on a roadtrip to check the items off the list, as Storm will never get to herself. This is a great coming-of-age contemporary that explores the sisterly bond, families, friendship, grief, love, and living life bravely. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

3.5 Stars
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. It managed to deal with heavy issues with a gentle touch, neither glossing over nor dwelling. I realize this is a YA read, and that Anna was only 17, but at times her reactions seemed simplistic. And I really didn't get her relationship with Piper at all. She can't tell Piper no ever? She doesn't want to go to all the parties but Piper tells her too so she does. 3 weeks after Storm dies Piper says she doesn't understand why she's not herself and Anna says nothing? This is not the kind of friend you need. So overall cute, but I wanted a little more from Anna.

I immediately fell in love with Someone Else's Summer and how it is so much more than a light and airy summer story about a road trip. Anna's goes through some major character development and progression, while she deals with her grief for her sister. She spends a lot of time trying to find herself over the course of the novel, while also struggling to come to terms with living her life without her sister.

One thing I loved is how there is a bit of a plot twist at the end, which ties everything together in a way. It such a pivotal moment, that is filled with so much emotion and lingers long after it happens. I also love then ending, and how while it is not quite a happily ever after. There is a bit of uncertainty, which makes it that much more real. It's a great summer beach read that I'd strongly recommend.

***3.5 ‘It’s All About the Journey’ Stars***

I’ve waffled over this one a bit because while I really did enjoy the journey that Anna went on, it didn’t give me the emotional gut punch I was expecting. It’s not a bad thing in anyway, in fact I’m quite happy with how the every thing in the book played out and the tone of it, I just feel like there should have been a little more to it. Since this is a debate that I don’t see winning any time soon I’m simply going to go with it being a “It’s not you, it’s me’ sitch and call it a day because it was a good story in the end.

Anna was an interesting character in that I felt she was an amalgamation of your typical 17 year old. She was head strong and insecure in equal measure. It wasn’t easy for her to open up about her feelings, but when she did it was like a tsunami coming at you. She was selfish and generous and couldn’t always see past her own nose, but she was at heart, a good person and I enjoyed watching her take on the list, with the help of Cameron, and how her perception of the world shifted just a little.

As I said, I liked the tone of the story and it’s because the author could have most definitely made it more melancholy and focused on what Anna and her family lost, but instead she made it more of a celebration of Storm’s life and I found that to be quite refreshing. This isn’t to say that there weren’t moments where you felt the pain of losing a child, sister and friend, because there were, but it wasn’t the focus, healing from the loss was. I liked how Cameron and Anna’s relationship evolved and while the twist in the story didn’t surprise me all that much, it still worked for me in the end.

Heartbreaking...loss, love and undying friendships.

Anna and Cameron's summer, bucket list, adventure and then, then the secret.... Holy cow I did not see that coming. I was speechless.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel that 25 years old may be a bit early to say, "Oh, to be young and in love!" when discussing a bunch of high schoolers, yet here I am. Someone Else's Summer is about two teenagers, Anna and Cameron, who embark on a summer road trip to fulfill Anna's late sister's bucket list. It's the type of book that you bring to the beach, or that you flip through while sipping a cold drink on a lounge chair on a patio. Although it deals with the dark reality of death, the bulk of the book is a fun, light read.

It isn't hard to see how "Someone Else's Summer" could easily become a teenager's favourite book, which is why I would first and foremost recommend it to high school librarians. I do have to warn that it has some mature themes throughout (it is a love story through and through), but it's the perfect YA love story. The story goes much further than the cutesy instant love affair, however - you get to see Anna, a young teenage girl, slowly grow into a brave young woman. She discovers so much about herself that I see her as the completely relatable character. We follow her summer through the good and the ugly, her excitement and her despair, and I dare you not to love her.




I can feel some of you start to roll your eyes, so let me tell you what differentiates this book, in my opinion, from the other books tackling the "summer bucket list" trope. It starts with a funeral. Storm, Anna's sister, is always omnipresent through the book. She is never forgotten. Anna and Cameron learn to heal, but never forget. The tone of the book is bittersweet throughout, which stops it from being a suffocating type of "cute", which could have been its downfall. Thankfully, it wasn't. It reads as a real story, at times, which is why I believe this will become someone's favourite book.

I'd like to thank Running Press, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is being published May 9th (that's next week!) so keep an eye out for it!

Such a beautiful, heartfelt , road trip story. Loved the writing and was really rooting for the main character all the way through. I've put up a full review on my blog here http://www.isthisreallife.co.uk/2017/05/book-round-up-5.html

This book... I had a bit of a book hangover after finishing it. It is a beautifully written story with amazing characters and all the feels.

Anna's older sister Storm is killed on the night of her high school graduation. Their parents fall apart, turning to each other in their grief. Anna is left to work through her pain on her own. Until she discovers her sister's bucket list. That list becomes both a gift and a curse as she works her way through it in honor of her sister. But she doesn't do it alone. She does it with Storm's best friend Cameron, the boy who lives next door that she's known for most of her life.

The story is emotionally charged as it explores the journey of grief, self-discovery, change, friendship, acceptance, and secrets that can be devastating to learn. This is a story that will, at times, leave your heart shredded. But before your tears dry, there will be a funny moment that will bring a smile to your face.

At first, her mother's total lack of compassion for Anna's grief was horrifying to me. I just didn't understand how a mother could be that blind to the grief of her child that she would go so far as to send her to her room for expressing it. But as we learn more, it becomes easier to understand. Her mother is broken, shut down. She has nothing to give her daughter in the way of support. Everyone reacts differently to grief... that is a reality. And what was initially hard for me to accept became something I truly applaud. The author showed grief in its raw reality... messy, painful, hurtful, and impossible to navigate cleanly.

Anna has just lost her sister Storm, and everything else feels lost together with her. Until she finds a list of things Storm wanted to do that summer. Now Anna and the sisters' best friend Cameron go off on a road trip to tick every item and live the summer Storm couldn't have.

The beginning of this book kind of made me think of To All the Boys I Loved Before, in which two sisters have a thing for the long time male friend—I simplified this so much but what I mean is that Storm and Anna's relationship between each other and with Cameron were very similar to the one in the aforementioned book. But it really is different.

Another comparison made, and this not by only me, was to Morgan Matson, probably because of Since You've Been Gone. Indeed, there is a list to follow, and some items are similar, if not the same. However, the tone it takes also differs.

This said, I was a little disappointed when both comparisons fell through.

Now let me say what I liked. Anna. She's not your out-of-the-mold YA heroine. She's more outgoing, and also a cheerleader. Her personality reminded me a little of the Before I Fall main character's. I'm not saying those are my favorites, but it was refreshing that this wasn't the cliche of the popular big sister that died and the nerdy little sister that was left behind.

The text is well written but the main events are predictable. I did like that there were some plot twists, and yet even those weren't that surprising. Still, this is very easy to read and to enjoy, even if it's so bland. Definitely, not a bad pick. Also, what a fitting cover! I loved the idea and how it relates to the plot.

(Lately, hasn't there been too many YA's about dead sisters?)

Interesting premise - will recommend to a few students.

A sweet story with likable characters. Everything is very "convenient" but that doesn't distract from the story. The twist was a heartbreaking surprise, especially as other bits were a little more predictable.

A really engaging read. I'm a bit of a sucker for a road trip story. The author did a good job dealing with difficult issues.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Anna lost her sister and she decides to live the summer like her sister would've. While some might find this odd....living your life for someone else I found this understandable. By doing this Anna found out things about her sister but most importantly she found out a lot about herself and she also did things she normally wouldn't. This was an enjoyable read and one that I found refreshing.

I loved every second of this adventure. Anna relationships with her friends, parents, and Cameron seemed quite realistic and relatable. There was plenty of adventure, romance and a very intriguing plot-twist that kept me interested and on my toes.

A book with the title Someone Else's Summer is something you automatically know is probably going to be a little bit sad. Rachel Bateman hit that nail on the head, but did it in a way that shows the true struggle of losing someone close to you and how everyone reacts differently.

Someone Else's Summer follow the story of Anna and her journey as she deals with the sudden tragic loss of her sister, growing emotional feelings for another person, and the reality that nothing is what it seems.

Anna's emotions in this book are so raw and real. She has real reactions as her mind and surroundings go through the motions of change after her sister Storm dies. Her family is falling apart around her, which is something very common when a family member is lost, and she is trying to cope with that. Being in normal teenage hormones and emotions and you get a roller coaster of ups and downs. Some of my favorite characters in this book were the supporting roles. The aunt reminds me of my aunts. I love the familial bonding you get as Anna and her aunt talk through her issues. Bateman hit all the emotions in this book spot on.

My only issue was some parts seemed to drag out a little and there were moments when I felt the behaviors of Anna and her friends were a little more grown than what I would imagine for individuals her age. While this might be my own naivety at teenagers behaviors, but I felt it was a bit much and not really needed.

However, these minor issues were not enough to bring the rating down too much. Someone Else's Summer was a great coming of age story that included heartache, pain, growth, and coming of age. A great spring read for anyone of any age.

It took me awhile to actually get into this, because the first quarter of the book was pretty much showing how losing Storm affected Anna, and how Anna found herself drawing closer to Cam (and apart from other friends), since he was the one who really knew what it meant to lose Storm, as her best friend.

I felt a bit detached when it came to Storm, because we’re told how unique and special she was, but her character never really was a presence in this book, so she never felt real to me. Maybe if we had had flashbacks that could have fleshed Storm out some, it might have helped with making her absence feel more real, leading to genuinely missing her character.

Now, when it came to Anna and Cam, I’ll admit that I found it a bit ridiculous how quickly she fell into this easy companionship with him, mostly because she had gone through high school having only really spoken to him in pass, when he and Storm were hanging out together. I know they grew up being close, mostly due to Storm being their glue, but high school found them drifting apart, so it just came across as a little too easy…but then again, people think differently from me, so whatever works for them.
Either way, the fact that they found themselves gravitating towards each other helped to get the road trip off the ground, so that they could complete Storm’s list.

Of course, you could only assume that close quarters – as well as working together to complete the tasks on the list – would draw Anna and Cam closer, eventually leading to romantic feelings for each other. I liked Cam and his “geeky” personality, it’s endearing, as well as the way he really tried to help Anna with the list, considering he didn’t really owe her anything, he was just a good guy.

I feel like this book seriously had all the makings of a Nicholas Sparks novel: a tragic death, a bucket list that needs completion, and the romance that develops between the two people most affected by the aforementioned death…
But I can’t say that I hated the stereotypical Sparks-esque tropes that are the hallmarks of his stories, no, I liked them here. I liked how sappy this was at times, and I liked how everything wrapped up into a non-cliffhanger ending. Having read so many series in recent times, it was almost strange reading a book that actually ended.
Such a lovely feeling that is. *sighs*

So, in conclusion, I enjoyed Someone Else’s Summer, and it reminded me that I can like contemporaries in a dystopian-filled world!