I never know how to review these sneak peeks. Is it intriguing? You bet. But all we have here is a few chapters. we've barely met characters much less gotten to know them or the plot at all. I'm certainly interested but I can't hardly rate a sample this small.

I am waiting for the full book now. I was literary hooked to story and the characters.

What a fun beginning to the story! I was immediately thrown to summer of '76. Intrigued to find out where the story goes next!

I loved these sneak peeks! It gives me a feel of the novel and makes me see if this is something I would like to potentially review or not. This is definitely a novel I want to fully read.

I received a copy of this sneak peek from Algonquin Young Readers through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I really need to start reading book blurbs before I start reading books I think. There were some details of this book that had me seriously questioning things, like $10 covering the cost of two hamburgers at a bar/restaurant in NYC. That's so not realistic in 2017 (but if you read the blurb unlike me, you'll see this book is set WAY before 2017.) The thing is, the characters behavior and actions for the most part felt pretty modern (granted 1976 wasn't THAT long ago, although I hadn't yet set foot on this planet), so I didn't have a lot of context clues to tell me that this was historical fiction. The biggest one was probably that a 17 year old girl took a guy to a bar and no one batted an eye, but I've seen Gossip Girl; underage children from the upper East side of NYC have no problem getting into bars and drinking. So don't do what I did and forget that this book is set in the 70s. Those details make way more sense when you know in which period the book is set.

Now I only had a sneak peek of this book, so I only got to read the first few chapters, which means I'm not feeling a particular connection to either of the two main characters (I assume Jean and Fritz are the main characters since the book alternates between their POVs). That being said, at the moment, I love Jean and kind of loathe Fritz, but not just because of how Jean feels about her. Her attitude in her first chapter got on my nerves something fierce.

It was pretty obvious to me that Jean and Fritz would both be into Gil, even before I got to the chapter where Fritz meets Gil, and I have a feeling that Gil is going to play that for all it's worth (which is sad because I really liked him in the first chapter, but I would quickly lose respect for him if he leads both girls on).

I felt like this book had a bit of a Dirty Dancing vibe to it (which really should have clued me in to the fact that it's not set in the present, but again, Gossip Girl taught me that rich New Yorkers summer outside of the city). So if you liked Dirty Dancing, there's a chance you may like this as well. Just remember, I only had a sneak peek, so I don't know what the whole book is like.

While I typically enjoy historical fiction, this is a bit too recent for my tastes, and I don't feel any strong urge to continue the story myself. I'm only a little bit curious how things play out between Jean, Fritz, and Gil, and I imagine I can appease that curiosity with some spoiler filled reviews in a few weeks. So I will very likely not be buying a copy of this book any time soon.

Thank you for the sneak peak, excited to read the whole novel!!

The sneak peak is not enough! I need more! Just when I started to get drawn in it cuts off.

3.5/5 stars
I received this sneak peek from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This review is for an excerpt of this book only. I was happy to be able to read the first few chapters of this book provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Story

This story This story takes place over the summer of ‘76 and follows the lives of two rival girls (Jean and Fritz) who spend their summers in the upper class exclusive beach town of Sunken Haven on Fire Island.

What I like

Quite honestly, I already feel like I have been tossed into this world I want to know more about! Unfortunately, the first few chapters I was able to read have not given me enough of the story to really know exactly what will be happening in this book, but I suppose that is a good thing. I feel like I might know where this book is going, but I'm not sure, which only makes me want to read the rest of this story even more.

Both Jean and Fritz have already been painted as interesting complex and, right now, likeable characters.

I am very excited to eventually get my hands on this book and continue the intriguing journey that Adele Griffin has already been able to paint in my mind.

What I did not like

The beginning of this book had a few little quirks that did not sit perfectly well with me. Nothing huge, just a couple of oddly formed sentences and scenes. Jean and Daphne’s sisterly rivalry led to a slightly weird confrontation about earrings and I was less than pleased about the chapter 1 instalove (gag). But as the story progressed these things bothered me much less.

In Conclusion

I will absolutely be adding this book to my tbr. I must know what becomes of Jean and Fritz and all the characters I have now had a taste of and need more!

I was very unsure about the first POV in this preview, but upon reaching the second I started to enjoy this more. I liked the switch between both voices, and though I'm wary about where the story is headed, I can definitely see potential. The small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch to match the author's consistent tone and style.

Although I wasn't entirely won over by the preview, I'd still like to pick up a copy at some point when the full book is published and see where the story goes from here.

Be True to Me drew me in for the banter. This excerpt was very dialogue heavy, and has multi POVs. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Jean and Daphne, the sisters... possibly because I do not have a sister and feel like the relationship on the whole is filled with natural rivalry, much like brothers. As a younger sister of two brothers, it wasn't something I experienced, so it is fun to read the complexity of it. I think this book will be great to read for those who love a good contemporary and are looking for a summer read. Interested to see more when it releases in June!

This story is a good telling of the 70s, and seems like your typical two-girls-fighting-over-one-boy story. The only thing that stands out about it for me is the decade

This story is a good telling of the 70s, and seems like your typical two-girls-fighting-over-one-boy story. The only thing that stands out about it for me is the decade

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the Sneek Peek of, Be True to Me by Adele Griffin. I read the few chapters provided and was completely hooked by the premise of this historical fiction summer beach read. Two teens, Jean Custis and Fritz O’Neill approach another Fire Island summer with excitement and a little dread as they vie for a guy, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There are social classes, resentments, and other drama going on in this delicious read. I have pre-ordered my copy of the book as soon as it comes out in June and I can’t wait to read it!!!

Only the first few chapters, but already so hard to reach the end and put away. I can feel the anticipation of heading to a favored summer getaway, and my belly tingles with the memories of those first love butterflies this story evokes. I can't wait to read the rest of it!

Single-Minded by Lisa Daily is scheduled to release on June 27, 2017 by St. Martin’s Press and is a women’s fiction novel. I found this to be a romance novel with a lot of twists. Daily is an amazing writer and has created an outstanding novel about first love, hope, loss, and fear of the future. Alex is very driven and plans for things to go in a certain way so that she can meet success. The writer tells of all the ups and downs of a newly single women as she is entering the dating world after many years of being married. Overall, I found this to be a very fun, romantic novel.

Great excerpt of Be True to Me. The story is sweet and compelling. I look forward to seeing where the story goes next.

While I appreciate the unique twist that alternating perspectives between two love rivals offers, what I've read of this book so far didn't particularly interest me.

Jean is a compelling but confusing and unpleasant character, and despite it being told in first person, I haven't had any engagement or understanding of her actions at all. Her relationship with Gil seems like an instalove sort of thing, although things might seem different further into the book. I'm sure the bulk of the story is in the romantic drama part, but considering I have zero interest in the first loveline, I doubt that I'll be particularly torn apart with the introduction of the second.

The dialogue is choppy and awkward (a pity - I love old-timey dialogue, when done right). I got about 70% through the sneak peak when I gave up, and needless to say, I don't feel any desire to read the rest of the book.

An admirable effort, but not one that worked for me.

Ok, so I saw the author of Be True To Me was Adele Griffin, and snatched it up. I didn’t even read what it was about.

After I had started it, I read the description on Goodreads, and realized it took place in the ‘70s. I just thought that the characters were into classic rock. Oops. It’s a good thing I figured out the time frame, because it became important later. Everything in the plot builds up to a terrifying incident at the end of the book. It kept me turning the pages, but I wasn’t super happy with how the incident turned out. Overall, I enjoyed the backstabbing and suspense throughout the book.

I think fans of Gossip Girl or We Were Liars would enjoy Be True To Me.