SOS: Summer of St. George

I picked it because of the cover and the interesting synopsis but didn’t know just how much I would end up liking it. It’s a nice, easy read that made it quick to get through. However, it’s the kind of story that will tug at your heartstrings and get you invested in the characters hence haunting you long after the final page. I really liked this book and highly recommend it. It is the perfect summer read. If you like romantic suspense, YA Mystery then you may also enjoy reading SOS: The Summer of St. George by Briana Gaitan.

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book was a powerful and intense examination of grief, loss and war. The book was intriguing and shocking as the reader is led to believe one thing and all that is shattered within the last few chapters of the book. There were a few things I had guessed but some of the revelations were truly shocking and hard to come to terms with. One of the things I love about books is when they have a profound impact on me and this book definitely did; it has left me reeling and feeling saddened. I really liked the main character Murphy and especially enjoyed the chapters from her viewpoint. The flashbacks throughout the book were interesting and were well-spaced so that they didn't interrupt the flow of the present so much that the book seemed jarring. The emotional roller coaster this book took me on was intense and dark, however this was a great read by a promising author. I recommend this to anyone who likes dark suspense novels with a little contemporary romance.

Wow, okay. This is an excellent book that's going to be really hard to review, because I don't want to give anything away. I can't even say which other book it reminds me of without giving something away. Am I giving something away by saying I don't want to give anything away? Argh! Right, let's concentrate on the technicalities. The writing - superb. A perfect combination of character and plot-driven, realism and emotion. Caught between Murphy in the present and Poppy in the past, something that's not easy to pull off but Gaitan somehow gets it exactly right. This is a frustrating review to write, because there's so much I want to say but can't. I'm going to have to settle for saying it's an intelligent and moving story, as well as a beautiful romance. Yes, I figured it out part way through, but I think by that point I was meant to. If you're puzzled by this review, just go and read the book.

This book is full of flashbacks, twists and turns, and suspense that will keep you wondering what is going on until the very end. I was surprised by how many issues this book dealt with including suicide, depression, PTSD, family breakups and tragedies. I expected this book to end completely differently than it did. I also felt there were elements of Romeo and Juliet and Pride & Prejudice throughout this book. I also really enjoyed the way Liam and Murphy slowly fell in love with each other and the fact that he loved her for who she was. The story also portrayed first love in just the right light, all-consuming and overwhelming. Overall, a good, frothy end of summer beach read.