A review by paper_queen
Cold Summer by Gwen Cole

dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Initial Response
Aww, that was kinda cute. ^_^

High Lights
- Harper and Kale are just the cutest couple. I ship them so hard. <3
I love how they could just relate to each other, both 'losing' a parent, both going through a rough time, their relationship was basically squishy and adorable.

- I love how the author can make the mundane tasks of everyday life entertaining to read. Even just reading about Harper having breakfast with her Uncle, I was still so enthralled.
- KALE IS PRECIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. O_O His sad eyes, cold skin, MY HEART. *clutches chest*
- I liked how Harper was clearly more introverted, but she still loved going out and doing things with her friends. I feel like introverts are so misrepresented in fiction, as these shy, antisocial people. The author portrayed this very well.

Low Lights
- It wasn't very fast-paced. I kept waiting for something big and shocking to happen and I had to wait until a ways in before anything really exciting happened. That's not to say I didn't like the chill-ness of the book, I just prefer a lot of action.
- Okay, so this is going to sound so horrible...
I almost...kind of wanted Kale to die. PLEASE HEAR ME OUT. O_O The reason I say this, is because I felt like that's what the story was building up to. You this impending feeling of doom, and you were just waiting to be hit really hard in the feels...but then it never came. And I literally almost felt disappointed. I mean, I'm glad as anyone he's alive and well, but...I don't know, it felt wrapped up really easily, I guess. *shrug*

- There was a lot of swearing, and a few suggestive parts, which I didn't appreciate.

Conclusion
This was a cute, semi-contemporary, semi-time-travel-esque novel about a boy with PTSD and a sad girl. If you're looking for something relatively light, maybe a nice summer read for the beach, I would recommend this. (With caution, since, there are some swears and risqué parts.)

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