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liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Still on my quest to find an adequately hippie-dippy historical-fiction 60s/70s YA book. This one features Woodstock, suggesting that I might be heading in the general right direction.
Three Day Summer is told in alternating voices: We have Michael, who has driven to Bethel from Boston for Woodstock—he's a music-lover, unenthusiastic about college (but even more unenthusiastic about the possibility of being drafted), interested in hippie culture but (when push comes to shove) more or less on the outskirts of it. And then we have Cora, who lives in Bethel but has only a secondary interest in Woodstock; her real interest lies in medicine, and consequently in volunteering in the medical tent.
They meet, and because it's YA fiction, sparks fly. There's an impediment, of course; in this case, it's the fact that Michael has a girlfriend...who happens to be at Woodstock with him. I was not too thrilled with this part of the book. Not the fact that there's ultimately cheating involved—I actually found it more realistic that Michael didn't break up with Amanda right away, and that Cora was aware that he was attached and got to make her decisions more or less fully informed. But Amanda's a pretty boring character; she's written to be unsympathetic (to make it easier to root for Cora + Michael, I suppose) but ends up being quite flat. Her only redeeming qualities seem to be that she's pretty and knows her music. Would definitely have liked to see more complexity there.
Would also have liked some more complexity to Michael. Cora has more of a character-development arc than he does, I think—she's trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants, a task made more difficult by the fact that she's pretty sure she wants things that are outside the norm for both her town and the era (read: farm girl in the late 60s wants to be a doctor). Michael is also uncertain about his future, but he has, well, teenage-boy confidence that things will work out.
Vietnam is present in the book, but since the plot really only does cover three days, there's a limit to how much influence it can have on the plot or characters here, which seems about right. Seems like there could be more to be said about Cora's older brother, though.
So...enjoyable, and with a nice sense of Woodstock (brown tabs and all). Not the book to satisfy my hippie-dippy book leanings, but..something to tide me over until then?
Three Day Summer is told in alternating voices: We have Michael, who has driven to Bethel from Boston for Woodstock—he's a music-lover, unenthusiastic about college (but even more unenthusiastic about the possibility of being drafted), interested in hippie culture but (when push comes to shove) more or less on the outskirts of it. And then we have Cora, who lives in Bethel but has only a secondary interest in Woodstock; her real interest lies in medicine, and consequently in volunteering in the medical tent.
They meet, and because it's YA fiction, sparks fly. There's an impediment, of course; in this case, it's the fact that Michael has a girlfriend...who happens to be at Woodstock with him. I was not too thrilled with this part of the book. Not the fact that there's ultimately cheating involved—I actually found it more realistic that Michael didn't break up with Amanda right away, and that Cora was aware that he was attached and got to make her decisions more or less fully informed. But Amanda's a pretty boring character; she's written to be unsympathetic (to make it easier to root for Cora + Michael, I suppose) but ends up being quite flat. Her only redeeming qualities seem to be that she's pretty and knows her music. Would definitely have liked to see more complexity there.
Would also have liked some more complexity to Michael. Cora has more of a character-development arc than he does, I think—she's trying to figure out who she is and what she really wants, a task made more difficult by the fact that she's pretty sure she wants things that are outside the norm for both her town and the era (read: farm girl in the late 60s wants to be a doctor). Michael is also uncertain about his future, but he has, well, teenage-boy confidence that things will work out.
Vietnam is present in the book, but since the plot really only does cover three days, there's a limit to how much influence it can have on the plot or characters here, which seems about right. Seems like there could be more to be said about Cora's older brother, though.
So...enjoyable, and with a nice sense of Woodstock (brown tabs and all). Not the book to satisfy my hippie-dippy book leanings, but..something to tide me over until then?
hazelstaybookish's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5
- Fabulous writing
- Michael and Cora had really distinctive POVs and personalities
- Cool to learn about what goes on at three day concert events
- Cute romance
- Fabulous writing
- Michael and Cora had really distinctive POVs and personalities
- Cool to learn about what goes on at three day concert events
- Cute romance
bookmarklit's review against another edition
4.0
The things I would DO to go back in time for Woodstock. Good lord. This book was really cute and fun! I looooved the music and references to that time period. Cora and Michael were cute but I found myself distracted and kind of bored at times. Overall super glad I read it! Peace and music.
asealey925's review
5.0
4.5 stars. I flew this one with a smile on my face -- I just loved it! The author nailed the Woodstock vibe and created a completely delightful reading experience.
missredreads20's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
foreveryoungadult's review
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Groovy
Drinking Buddy: Free Water
Testosterone Level: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll!
Talky Talk: An Aquarian Exposition
Bonus Factors: Historical Accuracy
Bromance Status: Far Out, Brother
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Groovy
Drinking Buddy: Free Water
Testosterone Level: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll!
Talky Talk: An Aquarian Exposition
Bonus Factors: Historical Accuracy
Bromance Status: Far Out, Brother
Read the full book report here.
andiabcs's review
4.0
This review was originally posted on Andi's ABCs
When I first heard about Three Day Summer I won’t lie, the cover is what intrigued me. I mean would you look at that thing? It screams 60s with those colors. And then I did some investigation and saw it took place at Woodstock. I knew I needed to read it after that. I have always been fascinated by Woodstock and what it would have been like to be there. And the good news after all that…the book lived up to the cover and my expectations.
Three Day Summer is about Michael and Cora, two very different people that find themselves both at the historic Woodstock festival. Michael is there trying to figure out what he wants out of life while Cora is there to further what she wants out of life. When the two of them have a chance encounter their days at Woodstock bring them on an expected adventure and to something they both really can’t fight, romance.
Action:
Much like the movie Titanic Tash did something that is difficult to do with the story. She took a real life event and based a fictional love story around it. It was a risk working with such a well-known place but it worked. Michael and Cora's stories fit right in with the Woodstock vibe and with hippie culture in general. Was there a thing or two that may have been a little farfetched? Sure. But for the most part the plot moved as naturally as it could for something that happened over just three days.
Backdrop:
Three Day Summer has probably one of the most well-known settings (at least I hope it still is) in music history, Woodstock. The three days of Woodstock are memorable for so many reasons. Whether it was the music, the weather, the lack of food, or the sex and drugs, Woodstock tells a story. Tash incorporated her two main characters, Michael and Cora, into this setting flawlessly. Reading the pages I felt like I was in Woodstock. She nailed what I imagined it to be like from the sound of the music to the chill atmosphere to the party vibe. It was so vividly described I couldn't help but wish I was born when Woodstock happened and would have been cool enough to go.
Charcaters:
I really liked the difference in Michael and Cora's personalities. First you have Cora, headstrong female that doesn't dream about being a nurse or housewife. She wants to be a doctor and won't let stereotypes or her nasty father stop her. She has dreams and goal and want let sexism stand in her way. And then you have Michael, typical hippie. Drugs, apathy, laid back thoughts in life. War is in the forefront of his mind yet he doesn't know if he is made out for the service or for school. He has no idea who he wants to be so he stays stagnant with the wrong people. When Cora and Michael meet you know it is going to be epic and Tash does not disappoint.
Final Thoughts:
I loved this book. There was one tiny part that I found farfetched and why it isn't a perfect 5 rating wise, but everything else was so spot on. After reading it I immersed myself in 60s music and live recordings from Woodstock. I wanted to break out my wide leg jeans and pretend they were bell bottoms. I wanted to sit outside at a concert and get lost in music. Three Day Summer hit all the right notes for me and in the end I was just so happy to have found it. If you love romance and the history of Woodstock then you can't miss reading this fabulous book.
When I first heard about Three Day Summer I won’t lie, the cover is what intrigued me. I mean would you look at that thing? It screams 60s with those colors. And then I did some investigation and saw it took place at Woodstock. I knew I needed to read it after that. I have always been fascinated by Woodstock and what it would have been like to be there. And the good news after all that…the book lived up to the cover and my expectations.
Three Day Summer is about Michael and Cora, two very different people that find themselves both at the historic Woodstock festival. Michael is there trying to figure out what he wants out of life while Cora is there to further what she wants out of life. When the two of them have a chance encounter their days at Woodstock bring them on an expected adventure and to something they both really can’t fight, romance.
Action:
Much like the movie Titanic Tash did something that is difficult to do with the story. She took a real life event and based a fictional love story around it. It was a risk working with such a well-known place but it worked. Michael and Cora's stories fit right in with the Woodstock vibe and with hippie culture in general. Was there a thing or two that may have been a little farfetched? Sure. But for the most part the plot moved as naturally as it could for something that happened over just three days.
Backdrop:
Three Day Summer has probably one of the most well-known settings (at least I hope it still is) in music history, Woodstock. The three days of Woodstock are memorable for so many reasons. Whether it was the music, the weather, the lack of food, or the sex and drugs, Woodstock tells a story. Tash incorporated her two main characters, Michael and Cora, into this setting flawlessly. Reading the pages I felt like I was in Woodstock. She nailed what I imagined it to be like from the sound of the music to the chill atmosphere to the party vibe. It was so vividly described I couldn't help but wish I was born when Woodstock happened and would have been cool enough to go.
Charcaters:
I really liked the difference in Michael and Cora's personalities. First you have Cora, headstrong female that doesn't dream about being a nurse or housewife. She wants to be a doctor and won't let stereotypes or her nasty father stop her. She has dreams and goal and want let sexism stand in her way. And then you have Michael, typical hippie. Drugs, apathy, laid back thoughts in life. War is in the forefront of his mind yet he doesn't know if he is made out for the service or for school. He has no idea who he wants to be so he stays stagnant with the wrong people. When Cora and Michael meet you know it is going to be epic and Tash does not disappoint.
Final Thoughts:
I loved this book. There was one tiny part that I found farfetched and why it isn't a perfect 5 rating wise, but everything else was so spot on. After reading it I immersed myself in 60s music and live recordings from Woodstock. I wanted to break out my wide leg jeans and pretend they were bell bottoms. I wanted to sit outside at a concert and get lost in music. Three Day Summer hit all the right notes for me and in the end I was just so happy to have found it. If you love romance and the history of Woodstock then you can't miss reading this fabulous book.
amypalo330's review against another edition
4.0
Easy, breezy, and the perfect book to read poolside. It was a fast and fun summer read with a gorgeous cover.