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dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I would like to thank NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Andrea Williams is determined to have the best summer ever. Only thing she needs to worry about is how to get over her long-time crush on her best friend Hailee. Though, after getting the attention of star athlete George, Hailee immediately disapproves and Andrea has to decide on whether to go for what she really wants.
I liked The Secret Summer Promise, but I don’t know if this was the book for me. Specifically, I feel like this might be on the younger side of YA for several reasons. For example, the writing style sounds a lot like a teenager wrote it. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing and it does provide authenticity to Andrea’s story, but I felt like the way some of the dialogue was worded as well as how conflicts resolved in the book were never really addressed shows some of the immaturity one can find in teenagers nowadays. You also get some filler parts that don’t necessarily need to be there, which I wasn’t a fan of. Plus, all the “needing to post every five minutes” trope got old fast.
Brown’s The Secret Summer Promise has great messaging about being disabled and living confidently as yourself. As an #ActuallyAutistic book reviewer, I’m all for more books featuring disabled leads from disabled authors. Though, at times I felt like you only get the superficial aspects about Andrea’s life and I wished that Brown could maybe expand upon the lead’s identity as a disabled person in future books.
Overall, I think this is a good debut from Brown, but I don’t think I’m in the age demographics she’s trying to aim towards. Though, younger YA readers might get more out of it than I did.
Andrea Williams is determined to have the best summer ever. Only thing she needs to worry about is how to get over her long-time crush on her best friend Hailee. Though, after getting the attention of star athlete George, Hailee immediately disapproves and Andrea has to decide on whether to go for what she really wants.
I liked The Secret Summer Promise, but I don’t know if this was the book for me. Specifically, I feel like this might be on the younger side of YA for several reasons. For example, the writing style sounds a lot like a teenager wrote it. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing and it does provide authenticity to Andrea’s story, but I felt like the way some of the dialogue was worded as well as how conflicts resolved in the book were never really addressed shows some of the immaturity one can find in teenagers nowadays. You also get some filler parts that don’t necessarily need to be there, which I wasn’t a fan of. Plus, all the “needing to post every five minutes” trope got old fast.
Brown’s The Secret Summer Promise has great messaging about being disabled and living confidently as yourself. As an #ActuallyAutistic book reviewer, I’m all for more books featuring disabled leads from disabled authors. Though, at times I felt like you only get the superficial aspects about Andrea’s life and I wished that Brown could maybe expand upon the lead’s identity as a disabled person in future books.
Overall, I think this is a good debut from Brown, but I don’t think I’m in the age demographics she’s trying to aim towards. Though, younger YA readers might get more out of it than I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent
kharlan3's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Andrea Williams is 17, has cerebral palsy, and realized she’s bisexual (and in love with her best friend Hailee) just in time for her last summer break of high school.
This book is a delight! I especially love Andrea’s family and community. I’m especially excited that the book allows Andrea to have both queer and disabled communities around her and that that community is made up of characters that feel fleshed out and lived in. This story and its telling feel geared towards young adults but without talking down to readers or trying to sound too “hip”. Even when the decisions the characters make are frustrating, they feel realistic and relatable, and the story balances romance and coming-of-age nicely. The audio narration by Tamika Katon-Donegal is also excellent, giving life to Andrea.
I would recommend this book to diverse readers of young adult fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an eARC in return for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism, Biphobia, and Toxic friendship
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