Cool for the Summer
Ratings6
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings6
Average rating3.5
"Witty, wise, and disarmingly tender. I am hopelessly devoted to this summer dream of a book." —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda The guy of her dreams... or the girl in her heart? Lara's had eyes for exactly one person throughout her three years of high school: Chase Harding. He's tall, strong, sweet, a football star, and frankly, stupid hot. Oh, and he's talking to her now. On purpose and everything. Maybe...flirting, even? No, wait, he's definitely flirting, which is pretty much the sum of everything Lara's wanted out of life. Except she’s haunted by a memory. A memory of a confusing, romantic, strangely perfect summer spent with a girl named Jasmine. A memory that becomes a confusing, disorienting present when Jasmine herself walks through the front doors of the school to see Lara and Chase chatting it up in front of the lockers. Lara has everything she ever wanted: a tight-knit group of friends, a job that borders on cool, and Chase, the boy of her literal dreams. But if she's finally got the guy, why can't she stop thinking about the girl? Dahlia Adler's Cool for the Summer is a story of self-discovery and new love. It’s about the things we want and the things we need. And it’s about the people who will let us be who we are.
Reviews with the most likes.
This was great! I read it less then a day. Now I have Daya's The Difference on repeat,
a 3 star book, but a 4 star read. exactly what i needed right now. short, simple, straightforward. very predictable, but i've never complained about eating some vanilla ice cream. the one thing about this book i question though, as a non YA reader, is how surprisingly horny this one was. it didn't go full smut like some adult romances do, but it teetered into areas that i was surprised to see it go.
03.03.2024 — 31.03.2024
3.5/5
I'm gonna begin by saying I enter college, which is why I took so long to finish the book. I almost have no time to read anymore.
Now, to the review.
I was pretty pleased with it.
At first I was worried the endgame would be the man (like it happens on perfect on paper) and I had to look for spoilers to put myself at ease.
Though I wished through the book they would show us more about the queer relationship that the straight one.
Many people mentioned it was a bit weird how sudden Chase became obsessed with Larissa. It was, a bit, but they explained Larissa had this big change, so I can understand it.
At some point, I loved how Chase treated Larissa and they showed Jasmine as having no feeling for Larissa so I thought it would be okay for Chase to get the girl.
(I'm having my bi discovering too ajjej)
He did, though.
When Jasmine explained everything, it made things clear and I began rooting for her again. But, if we see Larissa perspective, Jasmine wasn't showing or doing anything to prove her feelings. Like I said before I even thought Jasmine had no feeling at all.
I think the author did a good job with that.
Honorific mention for Kiki, I like her, she's a good friend (side eye to Shannon.)
I just really wished there were more moments with Jasmine and Larissa but it seems sapphic books aren't build like that.
Overall, it was a quick, easy and entertaining read.
I would recommend it as to have something to enjoy reading.
This is a sweet teen romcom. I have a weird fondness for YA books from the POV of Popular Girls so I enjoyed that aspect of it, and understood how that played into the love triangle. I also thought Lara questioning her sexuality and temporarily deciding she's straight because her experience didn't perfectly line up with some of her queer peers is something that felt realistic and that I think will be valuable for a lot of teens (and beyond) to read. (Also brief but explicit canon aro-ace representation which again, is validating to see.)
Ultimately it did feel a bit like the main romance here was between Lara and her own self-discovery as opposed to between Lara and Chase or Lara and Jasmine, but honestly that's fine with me. I think a lot of teen readers will be cool with this.
