I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that element that I wanted from the genre and how the characters were portrayed. It was so well done and had that character development that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. I was invested in what was happening with Ginny and how everything worked in this universe. Tamar Anolic has a strong writing style and hope to read more from them.

A Summer Lasts Forever by Tamar Anolic had a premise that immediately intrigued me—a summer of transformation, relationships, and reflection that promised to blend nostalgia with emotional depth. The idea was strong, and there were moments when the story truly captured the fleeting, bittersweet nature of summer.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully deliver for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with stretches that felt overly drawn out contrasted by parts that rushed through pivotal events. This made it difficult to stay fully invested in the characters or their journeys. While I appreciated the attempt at layered character development, the dialogue often came across as stiff, which created a barrier to connecting emotionally with the story.
That said, there were bright moments that stood out—the setting was beautifully painted, and Anolic’s descriptive writing managed to evoke the summer atmosphere vividly. Those glimpses kept me turning pages, even when the narrative lost momentum.
Overall, while A Summer Lasts Forever had a compelling concept and moments of promise, it didn’t quite reach its full potential for me. Readers who enjoy slower-paced, reflective stories may find more here to appreciate.

this is the first book I have read by this author, and I can tell you it will not be the last.
I was intrigued from the first chapter, I found this to be a easy read a true teenage era book
I did resonate with Ginny because let’s face it who at that age wants to be ripped away from their friends.
I found same story to be very layered, but I enjoyed both of these characters!

the feelings depicted in this book to do with those of our younger selves felt so true. there so all those horrid feeling, all those vulnerable feelings. and in that moment you can see no difference. dare anyone that says your thoughts are young,immature, irrational. dare anyone to say your feelings feeling too huge is not going to last forever. you wont see it,. and you wont know it. not until you are old like me. and i think many of us older ones need to keep reminding ourselves of just how big everything feels when you are young. because even im guilty of not being always kind to immaturity.
this book and following Ginny was so good at telling those times, feeling etc. i mean who likes leaving the home and friends they know. so what if you are young, changing, becoming a woman, finding firm friends and boys. and then you have to move?? erm!!!?
for Ginny she then has to start all over. all those new feelings in a new place. but then she meets a boy. and things sparkle. but they dont always.
the setting in Tamar;s book truly came alive. almost like you could feel the weather, see what we weren't meant to in every seen. that summer feeling felt a whole lot better than living in our current humid one lol. there was that level of fleetingness to it too. and we all knew it, our characters didn't always though.
the characters kept me pulled into wanting to know there stories. and what might happen at the end of our time with them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Summer Lasts Forever is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that beautifully captures the uncertainty, excitement, and bittersweetness of being a teenager in transition. Tamar Anolic transports readers to small-town Vermont, where Ginny Edmunds spends a summer she never expected—and one that changes her perspective on friendship, family, and first love.

Ginny’s voice feels authentic and relatable, especially as she grapples with being pulled away from her familiar world and finding herself in a new one. The introduction of Sam and Ben Morton adds depth and contrast—two brothers rooted in family expectations, one of whom connects with Ginny in a way that feels both sweet and genuine. The story does a lovely job balancing lighthearted summer fun with the deeper questions of identity, responsibility, and dreams for the future.

While the pacing felt a little slow at times, the themes of growth, young love, and learning to navigate family dynamics more than made up for it. It’s a reflective, tender read that lingers long after the last page.

I’d recommend this book to teens who enjoy contemporary YA with a nostalgic summer feel, as well as adults who like revisiting the turbulence and joy of first love and self-discovery.

This coming-of-age romance centers on Ginny Edmunds, who reluctantly moves to the small town of Bennington for the summer. There, she meets the Morton brothers, particularly Sam, who struggles with family expectations while yearning to pursue his passion for art. Their growing connection explores themes of identity, responsibility, and self-discovery amid new surroundings. The story offers a heartfelt portrayal of young love and finding one’s place, set against the charm of a small Vermont town.

📚A Summer Lasts Forever
✍🏻Tamar Anolic
Blurb:
When sixteen-year-old Ginny Edmunds’ father uproots her family for a summer to take a fellowship at Bennington College, Ginny isn’t happy. She’s never heard of Bennington, and she’s never been to Vermont. She just wishes she could stay at home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she has her own friends and even a new boyfriend she’s been interested in for years. But at a family-owned store in Bennington, Ginny meets Sam and Ben Morton, the cute teenaged brothers that are being raised to take over the store one day. Immediately, Ginny is intrigued by them and their world. As she also makes other friends, Ginny finds her place in Bennington.

Eighteen-year-old Sam Morton hates working at the store. It’s been in his family for six generations, and as the oldest son, he’s expected to subvert his life to keep the place running. He would rather lose himself in his artwork, but his strict father makes that impossible. When Sam sees Ginny shopping in the store, he notices her immediately.

Can Ginny and Sam overcome their differences and their insecurities to move forward with their lives?
My Thoughts:
A Summer Lasts Forever by Tamar Anolic is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel told through alternating perspectives that capture the emotions of a teen uprooted from her familiar life into a very different one in a small Vermont town. Readers meet Ginny and Sam as they embark on a summer of discovery. Ginny clings to the ties of her Pennsylvania world. At the same time, Sam struggles with the weight of family expectations and his own artistic ambitions. Through everyday adventures and disappointments, they confront the complexities of growing up. Hints of young romance add another layer of emotion to their journeys without overshadowing the themes of family and becoming grown-ups. The story seamlessly blends humor, honesty, and gentle lessons about resilience and the importance of finding connection. In the end, the book shows how the experiences of one summer can shape who we are in ways that truly last forever.

In A Summer Lasts Forever by Tamar Anolic, themes of self-discovery, fitting in, and the awkwardness of first meetings are highlighted and woven into the narrative in a way that feels both fresh and nostalgic at the same time. I loved the pop culture references that gave it a throwback feel to my own young adult years, such as the mentions of tape players, CDs, and attending a Hanson concert or seeing Spiderman in the movie theater. I also found the cover intriguing. I wanted to know about the young woman there. I also wanted to know why she was alone, which to me suggested both vulnerability and independence. I kept that in mind as I read, seeing it reflected in the story’s exploration of adolescence and the search for connection. The writing captures the intensity of being on the cusp of adulthood in a way that is engaging and completely relatable. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks NetGalley, Author Tamar Anolic for the complimentary copy of "A Summer Lasts Forever" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#TamarAnolic
#ASummerLastsForever
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️