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natcarraher's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
bethalyea's review against another edition
4.0
this is a great book, so glad I read it. Once I got into it ( which didn't take too long)...I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next with J. Norm & Epiphany. Urban, surburban, racial tension and family secrets follow the characters as we travel with them looking for answers.
donnareadathon2021's review
5.0
This is book #4 in Lisa Wingate’s Blue Sky Hill series and it was a stunning read.
J Norm is cantankerous. He recently lost his beloved wife and is struggling to come to terms with this while dealing with heart problems.
His daughter Deborah is so much like him, a strong willed and intelligent PhD scientist but now that’s it’s just her and her dad, they clash and J. Norm struggles to tell her how he really feels and how much love he has for her.
Deborah hires a new cleaning lady who brings her daughter to come to J. Norm in the afternoons. At first mixed race Epiphany stays away from J. Norm but later they start to share their thoughts with each other.
Being with Epiphany helps J. Norm deal with his feelings for his daughter.
But at the same time, a dark and secret past is coming back to him and the reality of his early days are revealed.
Such an excellent story - the plot, the emotions intermingled with relevant contemporary issues make this a stunningly beautiful read. Absolutely deserving of a 5⭐️ rating!
J Norm is cantankerous. He recently lost his beloved wife and is struggling to come to terms with this while dealing with heart problems.
His daughter Deborah is so much like him, a strong willed and intelligent PhD scientist but now that’s it’s just her and her dad, they clash and J. Norm struggles to tell her how he really feels and how much love he has for her.
Deborah hires a new cleaning lady who brings her daughter to come to J. Norm in the afternoons. At first mixed race Epiphany stays away from J. Norm but later they start to share their thoughts with each other.
Being with Epiphany helps J. Norm deal with his feelings for his daughter.
But at the same time, a dark and secret past is coming back to him and the reality of his early days are revealed.
Such an excellent story - the plot, the emotions intermingled with relevant contemporary issues make this a stunningly beautiful read. Absolutely deserving of a 5⭐️ rating!
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting story about an old white man who had been involved in the space race and a young mixed girl having trouble fitting in to her new school. They meet by chance and become something resembling both friends and family as they embark on an adventure to uncover their separately mysterious pasts. The concept was interesting and the writing was well-done, but the story ran a little long and fell apart in the last few chapters.
allisonbsk's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful book! The kind of book to just sink into and curl up with. The kind of book that makes one feel at home, makes reading it feel like coming home. I love this author's books and will read just about anything she writes. Just a lovely story with lovely characters and messages.
ceruleanjen's review
5.0
Many thanks to Penguin Group for giving me the chance to read and review this from the Goodreads First Reads program.
Dandelion Summer is filled with beautiful writing, intriguing characters, and a neat story that made putting it down very difficult. This story is told from two very different points-of-view. One is an elderly man trying to solve a mystery that he believes only exists within his mind at first and the other is a struggling, mixed teenager. Two very unlikely characters make a surprisingly good team.
The author did a terrific job with the point-of-views. Half of the time I didn't even glance to see whose POV I was on because I could tell just from reading it. Both J. Norman and Epiphany are endearing characters, but it's even more so when they are together.
The other characters were also well portrayed, but I am still in awe of how powerful the two main characters and their relationship to one another was and how well developed they were. If either of the characters had been taken from me, I honestly would have probably put the book down. They felt like real people.
I could have loved this just for the characters, but the author has also crafted a very intriguing story that is part drama, part mystery. It also seemed fairly realistic. My only faults with the book is that I didn't care too much for Epiphany's name and sometimes I felt like the characters used one another's names a lot more than people seem to do in real life. However, I adored how Epiphany called her elder "J. Norm" throughout the entire book instead of "Mr. Alvord", like he originally wanted.
Reading Dandelion Summer was an beautiful adventure that I will never forget. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy books that fill you with hope and characters that you can't help but root for.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Penguin Group) for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.
Dandelion Summer is filled with beautiful writing, intriguing characters, and a neat story that made putting it down very difficult. This story is told from two very different points-of-view. One is an elderly man trying to solve a mystery that he believes only exists within his mind at first and the other is a struggling, mixed teenager. Two very unlikely characters make a surprisingly good team.
The author did a terrific job with the point-of-views. Half of the time I didn't even glance to see whose POV I was on because I could tell just from reading it. Both J. Norman and Epiphany are endearing characters, but it's even more so when they are together.
The other characters were also well portrayed, but I am still in awe of how powerful the two main characters and their relationship to one another was and how well developed they were. If either of the characters had been taken from me, I honestly would have probably put the book down. They felt like real people.
I could have loved this just for the characters, but the author has also crafted a very intriguing story that is part drama, part mystery. It also seemed fairly realistic. My only faults with the book is that I didn't care too much for Epiphany's name and sometimes I felt like the characters used one another's names a lot more than people seem to do in real life. However, I adored how Epiphany called her elder "J. Norm" throughout the entire book instead of "Mr. Alvord", like he originally wanted.
Reading Dandelion Summer was an beautiful adventure that I will never forget. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you enjoy books that fill you with hope and characters that you can't help but root for.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Penguin Group) for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.
audreylee's review
4.0
A young woman, old before her time, meets an old man trying to solve a mystery from his youth. Together, they form a formidable team against an indifferent mother, an over protective daughter, and a young thug.
bethalyea's review
4.0
this is a great book, so glad I read it. Once I got into it ( which didn't take too long)...I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next with J. Norm & Epiphany. Urban, surburban, racial tension and family secrets follow the characters as we travel with them looking for answers.
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