The Summer of No Regrets

Sep 21, 2012 Ivana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: barfing-chunks, arrrggghhhh, bore-me-to-death, cough, gouge-my-eyes-out, good-for-masochists, major-letdown, smells-like-s, terrible, what-the-hell-just-happened, ummm-yeah, uh-huh

This book was horrible.
The girl was boring.
Her dude friend was boring.
I can't even say that I fully read this book. I pretty sure my mind wandered a couple of times to think about things that are far more interesting.
Like the precise shade of Emma Stone's hair in Zombieland.
Or the reason why there are various types of water underwater on Spongebob.
Hmmmm.... What was I saying?
Oh, yeah. So this author tried to paint Luke and Brigitta as these two people who had sooooo many hardships. And they di...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Janet rated it 5 of 5 stars

I give The Summer of No Regrets five stars. I loved the main character, Brigitta, from her wonderfully witty dialogue with friends and family, to her secret blog (Seeing Starzz: Celebrities Find Their Deep Space, Hollywood’s Hidden Spiritual Quest), a blog that had me laughing out loud. I also loved Brigitta’s quieter side, the part of her that’s seeking her own spiritual answers and closer, more authentic relationships. Brigitta has been in hiding. Enter Luke, the mysterious new boy next door w...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Lyra Gill rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review can also be found here.

I tried liking this book, mainly because it was set during summer (you guys ought to know by now how much I love YA books set during summer) and the blurb intrigued me, but when you have to try to like a book, you just know for a fact that you won't like it no matter what you do. It's not that the book is badly written, or the plot is nonsensical and boring - rather, I just didn't feel anything while reading it. It just didn't have that zing I've come to expect...more This review can also be found here.

I tried liking this book, mainly because it was set during summer (you guys ought to know by now how much I love YA books set during summer) and the blurb intrigued me, but when you have to try to like a book, you just know for a fact that you won't like it no matter what you do. It's not that the book is badly written, or the plot is nonsensical and boring - rather, I just didn't feel anything while reading it. It just didn't have that zing I've come to expect when reading books I know I won't be able to stop thinking about well after I've finished reading them. The story just didn't hook me in and I just couldn't fully connect with the characters, though they were definitely interesting in their own little ways. I just wasn't tearing through the pages of the book, eagerly anticipating what came next. As a matter of fact, the only reasons I finished this book were because I was eager to find out whether or not Luke really was Trent Yves, and also because I was torn whether or not I liked Brigitta as a character.

We've all gone through moments wherein we feel like Brigitta - socially awkward, ashamed of our families for how they act, and just intent on bottling everything in. As much as I relate to her at times, I couldn't possibly fathom just why she was so intent on pushing everyone away, and then later on lament on the fact that she had no nobody to talk to or that nobody was there for her. It was all very... confusing, and it got really tiring to read about as the novel progressed. However, I really liked Brigitta throughout the course of her relationship with Luke - she always let him know how she felt, and she never let him walk all over her. I can't help but laud book heroines who never fail to stand up for themselves against guys (especially ones they like) - reading about them is so refreshing!

This book deals with a lot of aspects other than your typical summer love (though I never got the impression that it was summer while reading the book) - filial relationships, the search for one's identity, and religion amongst others. The book has a lot going on, and I'm sure that most of you will like it - it just wasn't my cup of tea. (less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Since summer started, I was looking for a fun, summery book with beach, sun, and awesome girly friends and all. The Summer of No Regrets was nothing like I expected it to be. Unfortunately, there was no beach or sun or friends. At some points, I even forgot it was a summer book. The main protagonist, Brigitta, is just a normal girl with no religion. Her dad, who suddenly chooses to be a Shaman, does some awkward stuff that embarrass her at some points. She has a sister, and a mother as well. The...more Since summer started, I was looking for a fun, summery book with beach, sun, and awesome girly friends and all. The Summer of No Regrets was nothing like I expected it to be. Unfortunately, there was no beach or sun or friends. At some points, I even forgot it was a summer book. The main protagonist, Brigitta, is just a normal girl with no religion. Her dad, who suddenly chooses to be a Shaman, does some awkward stuff that embarrass her at some points. She has a sister, and a mother as well. They live in this place, that I still don't get what it is. Basically a house that's all eco-friendly, all part of her father's shaman rituals I guess. Brigitta has a Jewish friend, Natalie, who really cracked me up sometimes. As well, she has a guy friend, Devon, who she had a little thing for. Apart from that, Brigitta's life was pretty normal until she met Luke.
As soon as the girls bump into Luke at the library, Natalie insists that he's a look-alike of superstar Trent Yves. While Brigitta denies it, she still does think that he's a look-alike. One day, Brigitta sits in her tree house, and see's Luke in the forest sitting on a rock. She also see's a cougar a little further away from him, that's making it's way towards Luke. She shouts a warning at Luke, and the rest is history. They try attacking the cougar until it runs away. You're probably wondering why I'm saying this, but because of that cougar, the next day when her parents find out, this "animal wildlife" place shoots it. I liked that it felt realistic, because even though it's really sad, that's what they'll do to a wild animal that might hurt humans. The next day, Brigitta takes a walk in the forest with Luke, and they find two baby cougars. That's when they both decide to take care of them in return for their mother's death. It was so cute to read about something new. I also liked how their relationship developed because of something more important they're working towards.
Even though it was a cute idea, I still felt that something was missing. I didn't have that feeling where I just wanted to turn from page to page. It was hard finishing the book, because there just wasn't something exciting to make me want to read more. I also wish the author didn't concentrate on Brigitta's father, or his weird rituals that I didn't understand at all, that much either. I didn't really care what religion he was or what he wanted to be, but I just felt like it was concentrated on it way more that it should have been. I also hoped that it would have that awesome jealousy between Devon and Luke like most contemporary books, but Devon just disappeared throughout the whole book, except the very end.
Overall, I guess it just wasn't the book for me. It was a good contemporary book, but I just felt like it was too... blunt. I wanted more excitement, more fun, just more. It felt like it needed more spicing up. Though, like I always say, that's just my personal opinion so don't just assume that you'll feel the same way. While The Summer of No Regrets wasn't that great for me, you might love it. Give it a try, and happy reading!(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I bought this about a month ago at Barnes & Noble. I was simply looking for a summer book that was prone to be filled with romance. I only just got around to reading it a few days ago and finished this 285-page book in about a day and a half. I really enjoyed this novel, even though it was not quite what I had been expecting.

Upon picking it up and reading the back cover, I didn't expect this to feature a plot deeper than dating a Hollywood bad boy. I also hadn't expected that the plot would...more

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May 07, 2012 Dorian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't read a lot of contemporary fiction,(as you can probably gather from all of my reviews) so I am far from being an expert. I have read some though, and out of all of them, this novel I'd have to say is the most memorable. With a really unique protagonist, and situation, I think that this book is definitely worth checking out.

Reasons to Read:
1.Brigitta as a character:
I think that we've all read about that girl who thinks that she's so socially awkward and weird, but she's actually really p...more I don't read a lot of contemporary fiction,(as you can probably gather from all of my reviews) so I am far from being an expert. I have read some though, and out of all of them, this novel I'd have to say is the most memorable. With a really unique protagonist, and situation, I think that this book is definitely worth checking out.

Reasons to Read:
1.Brigitta as a character:
I think that we've all read about that girl who thinks that she's so socially awkward and weird, but she's actually really popular and everyone is just charmed by her. Brigitta is not that girl. She actually is just a painfully socially awkward girl, and while it can come off as cute sometimes, it is usually just embarrassing. She has little to no friends, just because of how weird she is. I found that this made her easier to relate to as a character, because she was very isolated people her age. She's been through a lot in her life, and after a point in this novel, you just want to give her a hug. While she did seem to get very swept away by Luke really quickly, I could kind of understand where she was coming from. I mean, a little attention from a boy after hardly having any friends? I would probably be swept away too. She's fascinated by religion, which I found to be really unique too. I tend to find that in most YA, the main characters are either all the way for it, or completely against it. Brigitta was trying to figure it all out, which religion seemed to fit her the best.
2.The Role of Religion:
I really liked the way that the religion was handled in this novel. None of it was really preachy, or was forced upon the reader. While Christianity was the main religion that was pushed a bit more than the other beliefs, that was really only because Brigitta had a nostalgic, emotional tie to it because her grandparents had followed Christianity. There were so many other beliefs brought up too, other than the more mainstream religions. I found it really interesting to meet different side characters that came from different backgrounds. This book really handled religion well.
3.Luke:
As soon as Luke enters the scene in this book, I was so fascinated by him. He's every other girls dream; tall, mysterious, incredibly good looking, smart. I really didn't judge Brigitta too much for getting so caught up in their relationship, because I loved Luke! I didn't mind the whole "Is-he-Trent-or-Luke" thing, either. It brought about some twists that left me guessing until the truth is finally revealed at the end. Even his character, I found to be really great, though he could be incredibly confusing at times. Overall though, Luke was amazing.

I really, really liked this book. My only complaint was the whole situation with the cougar cubs. That was the only part that seemed a bit preachy to me, but it only came across that way a little bit. This book is fairly unique, is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a good contemporary novel, or if you're just stuck on what to read next.

4/5 Stars

E-galley received from publisher via Net Galley for blog tour.

(Reviewed for Esther's Ever After)(less)

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May 01, 2012 cupcake rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've never been to the Seattle area, nor have I lived on a commune. My father isn't a shaman, my parents didn't build an "Earthship" that functions as a center where people can spiritually enhance themselves. I'm also not a vegetarian.

But yet I related to sweet Brigitta Schopenhauer in Katherine Grace Bond's The Summer of No Regrets. This is an utterly sweet, captivating book that will charm you, make you think, and maybe even make you shed a tear.

Sixteen-year-old Brigitta has been homeschooled...more I've never been to the Seattle area, nor have I lived on a commune. My father isn't a shaman, my parents didn't build an "Earthship" that functions as a center where people can spiritually enhance themselves. I'm also not a vegetarian.

But yet I related to sweet Brigitta Schopenhauer in Katherine Grace Bond's The Summer of No Regrets. This is an utterly sweet, captivating book that will charm you, make you think, and maybe even make you shed a tear.

Sixteen-year-old Brigitta has been homeschooled for all but one year of her life, and between the shaman father and hippie-type existence, she hasn't gotten out much. She only watches television shows when her best friend, Natalie, shows them on a computer. Yet for a girl who appears to be so innocent and untouched, she is, as her older sister Mallory observes, one who hides a lot of herself. For instance, Brigitta has a blog about celebrities, and she is addicted to the National Enquirer.

So when Luke Geoffrey, a doppelganger for hot young star Trent Yves, come to town, Brigitta isn't sure what to make of him. Is he Luke? Is he Trent? Who is he? The two quickly bond over orphaned cougar cubs, and their friendship takes off. Brigitta finds herself contemplating just where this relationship might lead.

I thought of his lips on me, his hands under my shirt. My insides felt strange. Mallory wouldn't have thought twice about going farther. Had I stopped him because I was too immature? Mom had always said that I should wait until I was eighteen, but I didn't know if she'd have been that shocked - just freaked out that I didn't have condoms like Mallory insisted.

I'd have been freaked out, too. Getting pregnant would be a definite glitch in my plans. But it wasn't just that. In the back of my mind, I could hear Nonni's voice. "Treasure your virginity, Brigitta. It's a gift you can only give once."

Brigitta still feels a strong bond with her deceased grandmother, Nonni, and grandfather, Opa. They gave her unconditional, spiritual love, and visiting them may have been the only carefree, happy times of Brigitta's life.

For, you see, The Summer of No Regrets is not just a YA novel about a girl meeting a boy - possibly a Hollywood superstar boy - but it's also a book about spirituality. What causes us to need a higher power? How do we know what we believe in?

When you read this book, you undoubtedly will fall in love with Brigitta. She is, as Luke tells her, a very unique girl. She is true to herself, yet has normal teenaged insecurities. She is impetuous and overwhelmed. She is lovely and wonderful, and she deserves for you to read her story.

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Jul 05, 2012 Cathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was not exactly what I expected to be, but was pleasantly surprised when halfway through my heart strings were being pulled and clarity started seeping through. This book turned out to be a little sweet and very much a way for a girl to get over some things she has been holding back.

We meet Brigitta, whose family is anything but normal. They live at a Center which houses random people from nuns, Buddhists to gifted people. It’s a retreat for people to get away where her father is a Sha...more This book was not exactly what I expected to be, but was pleasantly surprised when halfway through my heart strings were being pulled and clarity started seeping through. This book turned out to be a little sweet and very much a way for a girl to get over some things she has been holding back.

We meet Brigitta, whose family is anything but normal. They live at a Center which houses random people from nuns, Buddhists to gifted people. It’s a retreat for people to get away where her father is a Shaman. It’s all very strange and I will have to admit reading those scenes I was a little more like where is this book going but it gets tied together and the circle is completed by the end of the book as more understanding was dawned on me. She recently loss her grandparents which she cared for deeply and is simply trying to get through the normal things she’s used to in her life.

One day she runs into a guy at the mall, who her friends swears is a movie star, but then again her friend thinks she’s always seeing movie stars in the most random places. Well turns out the same guy from the mall also happen to be her new neighbor. They had a chance encounter with a cougar and soon became friends and then some. But Brigitta being the closet gossip lover of celebrities was still in doubt if he was a movie star or just Luke the new boy next door. In all honestly she was just in denial because she didn’t want it to be true.

Well turns out the cougar had cubs and they tried to take care of them but eventually they had to be taken away, but throughout the whole thing Luke was always disappearing for days at a time. Again, Brigitta wondered who he really was and on top of that who she really was.

Overall this was a good book, not what I expected from by looking at the cover. I was hoping for a complete beach scene and secret romance, although there was one scene and a secret romance it’s not played out the way I thought it would have been. This book went deeper than that by exploring the different ways of grieving when loved ones were lost and how it silently really pulls family members in different directions. It was a good story.
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May 17, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-romance

Wow, this book was definitely not what I was expecting. After looking at the cover and reading the description, I expected a book about your typical girl falling for a guy, then figuring out he was famous, getting mad, then they made up and lived happily ever after. Haha, now that sounds like a joke compared to what actually happened. And I'm so happy this didn't follow the same cliche path many books are following these days.

What makes this book so unique would definitely be the main character...more Wow, this book was definitely not what I was expecting. After looking at the cover and reading the description, I expected a book about your typical girl falling for a guy, then figuring out he was famous, getting mad, then they made up and lived happily ever after. Haha, now that sounds like a joke compared to what actually happened. And I'm so happy this didn't follow the same cliche path many books are following these days.

What makes this book so unique would definitely be the main character Brigitta. She's been home schooled all her life expect for the one year she attended public high school. Her dad is into strange, drum playing meditation and opened a Center for spiritual gatherings. To escape everything, Brigitta likes to hide out in her tree house,secretly read her tabloids, or write on her blog that no one knows about. Yeah, she's definitely not like any character I've ever read about.

When she meets Luke, the nagging suspicion that he looks EXACTLY like the Hollywood Hottie Trent Yves is always in the back of her mind. But the more she hangs out with Luke, the more she forgets his movie star look alike. Brigitta is more comfortable being herself around Luke, but she still doesn't know if she can trust him or not, especially when he disappears for days at a time on supposed "getaways" with his mom.

I loved following Brigitta's story and how she got closer to Luke, but the best part was when Brigitta was finally figuring out who she was as a person. The only thing that bugged me, though, was how weird her Dad was. He used to be Christian, then became an Atheist, and now plays his drums to the Gods and has spiritual gatherings? I didn't even completely understand what he believes in now. Aside from her dad, though, this was a pretty good read. My favorite part was when Luke and Brigitta find two Cougar cubs, but I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just let you see for yourselves what that's about!

Overall, this was a nice summer read that had really unique, interesting characters. They all have so much depth and personal issues to them that it's really easy to relate to at least one aspect of their characters. As a debut novel, I'd say this one was really good and definitely a book to pick up this summer!
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May 11, 2012 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond is a story about a girl named Brigitta or as her family calls her, Gitta , that lives in a small town in the state of Washington. Her world gets turned upside down when the hottie, Luke, moves next store, who also happens to loos like a famous actor Trent Yves. Gitta's family is also very unique. Gitta is home schooled and lives in a spiritual retreat with her mom and dad. Gitta's sister has just come home from university where she is a psychology...more The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond is a story about a girl named Brigitta or as her family calls her, Gitta , that lives in a small town in the state of Washington. Her world gets turned upside down when the hottie, Luke, moves next store, who also happens to loos like a famous actor Trent Yves. Gitta's family is also very unique. Gitta is home schooled and lives in a spiritual retreat with her mom and dad. Gitta's sister has just come home from university where she is a psychology major.
Gitta's life is anything but ordinary. After her grandparents passed away things have been strained between Gitta and her father. They used to be really close but now there's a wall between them. The loss of her grandmother has especially left a hole in Gitta. She is experiencing a spiritual crises of sorts. Her grandmother was a Christian who was very strong in her faith while her parents are more spiritualists and look to nature to find their faith. Gitta feels trapped in the middle not sure where she belongs or what to believe.
Gitta is also attracted to Luke who everyone believes is Trent Yves in hiding. He's mysterious and unpredictable. Gitta writes about her encounters with Luke on her blog. She has a secret obsession with celebrities. After a cougar is killed, Gitta and Luke do their best to try and take care of the cubs the cougar left behind. Spending time together forces the two to face the truth about themselves. It also forces Gitta out of her shell. She starts to do things she normally wouldn't do.
This story has a few complex issues in it. Gitta was frustrating at times. I thought she was a little naive as well but she did lead a sheltered life so it's understandable. Luke was really hot and cold for me. Gitta only liked him in the beginning because of his resemblance to Trent Yves. Other than that he didn't have a lot going on for him. He acted pleasant toward Gitta but evasive as well. It wasn't until the middle of the book until I actually started to like him. However the two didn't really spend a lot of time together. Gitta mostly had a relationship with her day dreams of Trent aka Luke. However their relationship is only a small part of the story. The story is about Gitta and dealing with her life, her loss, and the consequences that go with her actions.
The Summer of No Regrets is a good book to read. It's has many layers of depth to the story. Gitta's journey throughout the book is entertaining as well as emotional.(less)

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May 10, 2012 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, contemporary, ya

If anyone thinks their family is a little odd, I respectfully suggest they compare themselves to the Schopenhauers. Mom believes in fairies and Dad is a shaman, education courtesy of a fine mail-order institution, who paints his face, takes off his shirt and dances like an animal while playing the drums. Older sister Mallory is studying psychology at college and when she’s home she analyzes everyone, when she’s away she’s in a relationship with a smarmy professor old enough to be her father. The...more If anyone thinks their family is a little odd, I respectfully suggest they compare themselves to the Schopenhauers. Mom believes in fairies and Dad is a shaman, education courtesy of a fine mail-order institution, who paints his face, takes off his shirt and dances like an animal while playing the drums. Older sister Mallory is studying psychology at college and when she’s home she analyzes everyone, when she’s away she’s in a relationship with a smarmy professor old enough to be her father. The family lives in a giant ecologically-friendly house made out of tires, soda cans and adobe and they welcome traveling groups of nuns, Buddhists, etc. The family is atheist but studies all religion. Then there’s Brigitta.

Brigitta has felt distanced from her father since he started with his whole anti-established religion thing years ago, disagreeing sharply with his parents, her Nonni and Opa who were Charismatic Christians. Opa died and one year ago, Nonni, and Brigitta hasn’t been able to finish grieving. The boy who’d always been her best friend who she’d thought had been more had even moved on, leaving her with just her celebrity-loving friend Natalie for the summer.

Josh Hutcherson (no, not really) is currently scooping ice cream and Natalie finds the hot (and kind of a jerk) actor Trent Yves in the local arcade after Brigitta tumbles into him. Trent isn’t really Trent of course, he’s Luke and he’s moved into the mansion next door to Brigitta’s family’s property. The two of them bond over a pair of cougar cubs and even though she can’t get it out of her head that he really might be Trent and his life is almost as complicated as hers, Brigitta and Luke keep finding excuses to see each other.

I like a complex, rich plot as much as anyone, but there was simply too much going on here for a long time. There were metaphors, red herrings, some clichés, lessons about environmentalism, conservationism and religion and a deus ex machina or two. Sometimes things made sense or fit in with the very weird backdrop of Brigitta’s family and sometimes, usually when it had to do with Luke, it was frustrating. The final third of the book mostly made up for the first two-thirds as things started to come together and most of the extraneous plot craziness fell off or was explained.

The maybe-romance between Brigitta and Luke plays more of secondary role in the story. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a sweet little thing happening between them but on balance, this is about Brigitta coming to terms with her Nonni’s death, what’s happened to her family and growing up enough to make her own path.

I’m going to make my stand and take the tomatoes that will get thrown at me – I didn’t like Luke very much. Part of the problem was that Brigitta was narrating and she kept up with the is-he-Trent thing most of the time, never really letting him be Luke without all that baggage. The rest of the time he operated on three levels – sweet and romantic, emo and mopey or closed off and brusque. Under certain circumstances in a YA romance, that could actually work for a romantic hero but there wasn’t enough time to get to know Luke as Brigitta’s friend or boyfriend and I had a hard time relating to him that way for most of the story. Commence with the launching of the rotten fruit!

I liked Brigitta as a character but I don’t know if you need to like her to appreciate this book. At its most basic level, this is a “who am I, what do I believe, what do I want to be when I grow up,” story and everyone can relate to at least some part of that. She’s a very authentic narrator, speaking with all of that unrestrained passion and making all those familiar social goofs that any 16 year-old would. There are sections of the book taken from a fictional blog that include comment sections that are pretty funny and also pretty alarmingly accurate.

I can’t say I relate to any of the specifics of this story at all but I still got Brigitta, knew what she was struggling with and yep, even shed a few tears for her near the end, softie that I am. I wish the author had turned down the background noise in the story because there were a lot of things in it that didn’t need to be that just made me dizzy. When the plot finally reached the point where it was all about the main characters it became more enjoyable and I was happy to keep reading. The romance was a little weak in my opinion but I think it will appeal to the younger end of the YA audience. I struggled with assigning a grade to this – it was very close to being a little higher but due to some of the cluttered plot issues, I just couldn’t give it anything other than what I did.

eGalley courtesy of Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire(less)

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May 01, 2012 Ambur rated it 4 of 5 stars

I don't know about all of you, but I've had daydreams where I've met celebrities, so I could definitely understand the whole celebrity appeal that is woven throughout The Summer of No Regrets. I really enjoyed this story, and I loved the whole celebrity aspect. I also really liked the main character, Brigitta, she was incredibly unique, but she also had aspects of her that were really easy to relate to...like her whole celebrity obsession, and the fact that she's embarrassed by her parents...I'm...more I don't know about all of you, but I've had daydreams where I've met celebrities, so I could definitely understand the whole celebrity appeal that is woven throughout The Summer of No Regrets. I really enjoyed this story, and I loved the whole celebrity aspect. I also really liked the main character, Brigitta, she was incredibly unique, but she also had aspects of her that were really easy to relate to...like her whole celebrity obsession, and the fact that she's embarrassed by her parents...I'm pretty sure that's something we can all relate to at least once! haha

I'm not going to tell you if Luke is Trent Yves, but I'm not going to tell you that he isn't either. Instead I'm going to tell you that you need to read the book to find out. Throughout the story, Brigitta is on the fence about Luke. One second she's convinced he is Trent, the next she's convinced that they're completely different people and that she's being absurd. It was confusing at times, but I think that confusion improved the story because it helped put you in Brigitta's shoes. She's confused, so you are, too. I liked Luke, a lot. I thought that he was a fantastic guy...he definitely needed to be more honest some of the time, but I really liked him when he let Brigitta see who he really was. It was fantastic.

Another detail that I wasn't expecting, but really enjoyed, was Brigitta's blog. She has an obsession with trying to find the right religion for herself, so that's what he previous posts were about. However, once Natalie insists that Luke is Trent Yves, she begins to blog about Trent...and I think that her blog posts share the truest representation of how she's feeling about the whole situation with Luke, and with her confusion about his identity. I also loved that the blog comments were shown, so you'd see some serious ones, then you had Trentsbabe, who was always hilarious and pretty much embodies that poster who never spells anything correctly and goes on and on about how someone is so seksi. It was such a small detail, but added a lot. :)

The cougar cubs were another great aspect. They helped Luke and Brigitta bond, but they also did so much more than that. They allowed Brigitta to process things, and to finally allow herself to come to terms with the deaths of her grandparents. Through that, it also allowed Brigitta and her father to finally repair their relationship, which I was really happy to see.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I loved that while celebrity and Luke played large roles, they weren't all that the book was about. This isn't a typical light summer read, it opened up a bunch of questions and went a lot deeper than just summer flings. I found it refreshing to have such a great summer read, and I loved that while it went deeper than I thought, it was still a fun and quick read. I definitely recommend this one if you want a fun read with some substance. :D(less)

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Jun 06, 2012 Farah Jay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Since summer started, I was looking for a fun, summery book with beach, sun, and awesome girly friends and all. The Summer of No Regrets was nothing like I expected it to be. Unfortunately, there was no beach or sun or friends. At some points, I even forgot it was a summer book. The main protagonist, Brigitta, is just a normal girl with no religion. Her dad, who suddenly chooses to be a Shaman, does some awkward stuff that embarrass her at some points. She has a sister, and a mother as well. The...more Since summer started, I was looking for a fun, summery book with beach, sun, and awesome girly friends and all. The Summer of No Regrets was nothing like I expected it to be. Unfortunately, there was no beach or sun or friends. At some points, I even forgot it was a summer book. The main protagonist, Brigitta, is just a normal girl with no religion. Her dad, who suddenly chooses to be a Shaman, does some awkward stuff that embarrass her at some points. She has a sister, and a mother as well. They live in this place, that I still don't get what it is. Basically a house that's all eco-friendly, all part of her father's shaman rituals I guess. Brigitta has a Jewish friend, Natalie, who really cracked me up sometimes. As well, she has a guy friend, Devon, who she had a little thing for. Apart from that, Brigitta's life was pretty normal until she met Luke.
As soon as the girls bump into Luke at the library, Natalie insists that he's a look-alike of superstar Trent Yves. While Brigitta denies it, she still does think that he's a look-alike. One day, Brigitta sits in her tree house, and see's Luke in the forest sitting on a rock. She also see's a cougar a little further away from him, that's making it's way towards Luke. She shouts a warning at Luke, and the rest is history. They try attacking the cougar until it runs away. You're probably wondering why I'm saying this, but because of that cougar, the next day when her parents find out, this "animal wildlife" place shoots it. I liked that it felt realistic, because even though it's really sad, that's what they'll do to a wild animal that might hurt humans. The next day, Brigitta takes a walk in the forest with Luke, and they find two baby cougars. That's when they both decide to take care of them in return for their mother's death. It was so cute to read about something new. I also liked how their relationship developed because of something more important they're working towards.
Even though it was a cute idea, I still felt that something was missing. I didn't have that feeling where I just wanted to turn from page to page. It was hard finishing the book, because there just wasn't something exciting to make me want to read more. I also wish the author didn't concentrate on Brigitta's father, or his weird rituals that I didn't understand at all, that much either. I didn't really care what religion he was or what he wanted to be, but I just felt like it was concentrated on it way more that it should have been. I also hoped that it would have that awesome jealousy between Devon and Luke like most contemporary books, but Devon just disappeared throughout the whole book, except the very end.
Overall, I guess it just wasn't the book for me. It was a good contemporary book, but I just felt like it was too... blunt. I wanted more excitement, more fun, just more. It felt like it needed more spicing up. Though, like I always say, that's just my personal opinion so don't just assume that you'll feel the same way. While The Summer of No Regrets wasn't that great for me, you might love it. Give it a try, and happy reading!(less)

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Jan 05, 2013 Haley Burke rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was the WORST book I have ever read. I could barely get through the first 3 chapters without my mind wondering. I couldn't focus on any part of the book and eventually had to give up reading this book. I easily read the first 100 pages of a book within an hour, but with this book it took me the entire day just to get to the 80th page. If anyone is thinking about reading this, do not even waste your time. I will definitely not be purchasing another book by this author. Horrible story li...more

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May 24, 2012 Tiffany (For Those About to Read...) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Summer of No Regrets is about a girl, Brigitta, who is kind of strange and comes from an even stranger family. One summer Brigitta gets a new next store neighbor, Luke, who looks exactly like movie-star Trent Yves, and the two start to develop feelings for each other.

I had a really hard time relating to Briggita. She is nothing like me—she just seems so lost and unsure of herself, and she also comes across as having a low self-esteem. I also don’t understand why Briggita’s movie-star hot nei...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, female-narrator, contemp, young-adult, read-2012

Read this review on my blog! Plus! A chance to WIN yourself a copy! --> The Summer of No Regrets by Katherine Grace Bond

Brigitta is a girl who is at a point in her life where she’s trying to find where she fits or belongs in this world. Her family is very eccentric and she’s had a different kind of childhood. Brigitta’s very religious grandparents died a couple of years before and she was extremely close to her grandmother, so she’s taken up studying various religions in what seems an attempt...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

4.5 stars. Would have been 5 stars, but I found the end to be a bit melodramatic.

However, I ended up loving this book more than I thought I would. At first glance it I thought this was going to be a fluffy summer romance novel. But there was an unexpected--and much appreciated--depth to the story and the characters.

So, if you're looking for fluff, you're not going to get it here. But you will get a romance that captures intense longing, truth, and real emotions.

Recommended for readers looking...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Jena rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first read the synopsis of this story, I expected some huge love story but you should always expect the unexpected. And unexpected is a good thing in The Summer Of No Regrets. Brigitta's story is about figuring out who she is, dealing with the awkwardness of her life, and finally learning what means to truly care about something and someone.

We start off with Brigitta and her life of home school, her blog, parents who run "a center", a father who believes he is a shaman, and overall a girl...more

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May 04, 2012 Britta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Baby cougars! That is really all I have to say about this book... Okay, not really, but those cubs melted my heart and were way more prominent than I expected. Which was a good thing.

Brigitta lives in an... unconventional family. Her parents drink weird tea and talk to fairies and while she accepted it at first, she's really starting to resent it. Then the boy comes into the picture. But where does he keep running off too? Does she even want to know?

More than anything, I would say The Summer of...more

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May 17, 2012 Chelsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading so many reviews of this book online I had to tear into the pages myself and see what all the fuss was about over the baby cougars! I found it. The story line immediately captured my heart and all day today, I literally DID NOT put the book down. I was so wrapped up in this story that is unlike any other young adult romance novel that I have read thus far. The lines, characters, and plot were not predictable and with the turn of each page I was sitting on the edge of my seat dying t...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Janel Rodriguez rated it 3 of 5 stars

I choose this book Because I love romances and this story line related to me because it was a teenage love story type scene.

Brigitta Schopenhauer was a socially awkward girl who was isolated most of her life. She was a highly intelligent young women who secretly writes about Celebrities in her sap blog.She has two main friends in her life Natalie and use to be crush/boyfriend Devon ; she has her older sister but she is vividly in the story line.With a lot on her mind she comes across a stranger...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted this book because everyone has already it. And its sequel. And the third book. I also wanted it because I really liked the summary on the back which promised a contemporary featuring a girl that seemed so much like me. And of course, I wanted a nice summer read.

What do they always tell you? The first impression someone has of you matters? So true! I found this book was very easy to get into, the first scene (brother and sister teasing each other) sooo familiar! My reviews most of the ti...more I wanted this book because everyone has already it. And its sequel. And the third book. I also wanted it because I really liked the summary on the back which promised a contemporary featuring a girl that seemed so much like me. And of course, I wanted a nice summer read.

What do they always tell you? The first impression someone has of you matters? So true! I found this book was very easy to get into, the first scene (brother and sister teasing each other) sooo familiar! My reviews most of the time turn out a lot better when I feel like home in the story during the first few pages. So yes, it was easy to get into The Summer I Turned Pretty and that I liked a lot.
Other than that, the setting, a beach house in a cute little beach town, was wonderful. I wanted to be there! So badly! I was so jealous of Belly! You do get into that summer-y feeling (that also makes you stop doing your homework although you're not out of school for summer yet...) .
The way the story was told with the flashbacks to past summers and the fact that there always seemed to be something happening kept it interesting and made it fluent, so that you could just go along with it.
I especially liked Susannah, Belly's mom's best friend, who was such a nice and caring person that I wished I knew her personally. The rest of the characters were very cool, too. Jeremiah, one of Bailey's friends is such a funny and cute guy! I also liked that - although she didn't appear - in this exact summer we got to know Belly's best friend Taylor through the flashbacks.
The way family was brought into the book was a plus for me, as well. I like when it's not always about love and crushes but also the problems you face at home with your parents as you're growing up.

The only thing that bothered me a little bit was the main character herself, Belly. She not only whines about how she is treated like a baby a lot throughout the book - more often than not she also acts like a baby. Sometimes I just wanted to roll my eyes at her for her noisyness and the way she would listen to adults' conversations that really weren't any of her business. All in all she was likeable, but there were times when I thought her behaviour was much more childish than most people act when they pass the age of three. So, yes, that was a bit too much, I believe.

It's mostly just the whole of the story that made me enjoy it. I could name detail after detail that made this book perfect for summer, but I will just leave you with the statement that it is - in my opinion.

What bothered me a little bit was the sometimes rather stiff dialogue and some scenes that appeared forced, as though the author wanted that scene to happen so badly that she just threw it in there without thinking twice about the question if it'd fit the characters.

All in all, this book is great if you want something light for summer that won't make you think much, but that will make you feel a nice mix of summer-y emotions(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-ya

A similar review can be found here: http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/201...

Brigitta lives with her hippie parents in the woods of the North West in a spiritual retreat center that caters to everyone from nuns to children with psychic abilities. The Center, or Earthship, is made out of materials such as tires and soda cans. Brigitta is surrounded by people of varying faiths and belief systems. Her grandparents were Christians, her mom believes in fairies, her father is a former atheist turned sh...more A similar review can be found here: http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/201...

Brigitta lives with her hippie parents in the woods of the North West in a spiritual retreat center that caters to everyone from nuns to children with psychic abilities. The Center, or Earthship, is made out of materials such as tires and soda cans. Brigitta is surrounded by people of varying faiths and belief systems. Her grandparents were Christians, her mom believes in fairies, her father is a former atheist turned shaman, and her sister Mallory has put her hopes in psychology. Not surprisingly, Brigitta’s not sure what to believe. She’s also still dealing with grief from the death of her grandparents – Nonni and Opa – that she doesn’t know how to handle.

While in town one day with her celebrity obsessed friend Natalie, Brigitta literally runs into a boy named Luke. Her friend immediately suspects he is the actor Trent Yves. Brigitta rolls her eyes at this, but secretly also thinks he looks a lot like Trent.

It turns out that Luke has moved into the mansion next door, and Brigitta starts to get to know him with him after they share an encounter with a cougar. The problem is that Luke keeps disappearing for days on end, with no explanation. And he still looks suspiciously like Trent. But Trent the celebrity is a jerk and Luke seems like a really great guy. So who is he? And where does he go when he disappears?

The cast of characters in The Summer of No Regrets are quite eclectic. And with so many different messages coming at her, I can definitely understand why Brigitta is trying to figure out who she is and what she believes. She also wants other people to know the real her. I really enjoyed these coming of age themes. It also makes Brigitta's relationship with Luke all the more interesting, because as she begins to feel like he knows and gets her – she starts to more fully question whether she knows him at all.

Amidst Brigitta's quest to figure out who Luke is, silly blog posts and some cute baby animals too, this story asks some really great life questions that many teens (and adults) ask themselves.
How do you go on after the death of a loved one who knew you as no one else does?
When everyone around you believes something different, how do you decide what you believe? How do you make your faith your own?
What does it mean to be a good friend?
What happens when you realize that some things can't be saved?
How do you decide how far to go in a relationship? (I really appreciate what Nonni told Brigitta: "Treasure your virginity, Brigitta. It's a gift you can only give once." So few YA novels have any sort of message like that)
How do you relate to your parents when you realize they're not perfect, and you're not sure they Know you? Or you them?
How do you know whether to trust someone's telling you the truth about themselves?

This story isn't always realistic, and I think its scope may have been a tad large (a bit ambitious in the number of questions it asks). Also, Brigitta "could" have figured out who Luke was earlier in the book - but perhaps she didn't want to know. Because it might have changed everything - I get that fear.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:
There's a scene in the book during the time that Brigitta doesn't know whether Luke is Trent or not, when she has access to his wallet. She has to decide whether to look and see for herself who he is, or trust that he's telling her the truth. What do you think you'd do in the same situation?(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 LaQuita (Just Us Girls) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was nothing like I thought it would be. From the cover and the title it left me with the impression that this was going to be the average girl meets boy, they fall in love and determines what will happen with their relationship once the Summer was over. This was nothing like that at all and although I was expecting something else I did end up liking this story.

Throughout the entire story the main character, Brigitta, is just really trying to figure out who she is. When she meets Luke and h...more

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Jun 20, 2012 CαthεεBooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, beautiful-covers, books-i-own, books-received-to-review, dac2012

Title : The Summer of No Regrets
Series : -
Author : Katherine Grace Bond
Pages : 290
Release Date : May 1st 2012
Publisher : Sourcebooks Fire / Raincoast Books
Format : ARC
Source :
**An ARC was provided by Raincoast Books in exchange of an honest review**

My Opinion :

I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn't for me.

The Summer of No Regrets is a debut novel, so yeah about that!, but I didn't really enjoyed reading it.

I got my copy the day BEFORE it got out, and so I decided to read it then,...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Loretta rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, arc, young-adult, ya-contemp-challenge, review-book, netgalley-arc, tour, ebook

I really wanted to love this book more then I did. Although for me it was not an amazing read, it had it's moments that kept me reading and in the end this was an OK read.
Seeing as how the book is called The Summer of No Regrets, I figured this book would be about a light summery read. Hanging out with your friends on the beach, falling in love and watching the sun set, you know.. doing all of that mushy stuff, that makes summer cheesy reads so addicting. But what I read was way different, in f...more I really wanted to love this book more then I did. Although for me it was not an amazing read, it had it's moments that kept me reading and in the end this was an OK read.
Seeing as how the book is called The Summer of No Regrets, I figured this book would be about a light summery read. Hanging out with your friends on the beach, falling in love and watching the sun set, you know.. doing all of that mushy stuff, that makes summer cheesy reads so addicting. But what I read was way different, in fact there was no beach fun.
Brigitta had the most strangest parents. Really. Brigitta really had no religion. So when her father decides to be Shaman (in case you was wondering, this is like a magic religion, ummm.. here is the Wikipedia link). He does somethings that are so embarrassing for her, as well as for me as a reader, I would have literally died.
Brigitta is just your average normal girl, with this normal life shared with her crazy family who live in this kind of house that I still am trying to picture. Their house fits the ways of the Shaman, and i just didn't get the mental image. At all. Her family was just really odd. And no I am not just saying that. The one that seemed to be a little normal was her mother. The father & sister just really, wow. No words besides. Embarrassing.

What saved this book for me was the second half of this book. Even though it still was still not mind blowing, it saved the book and kept me reading. Even though it was still a bit slow, and a tad boring.
Brigitta meets Luke, and that is when for me the story took a whole new turn. If the first half was maybe erased, and added something a little different then yes. But for me the first part was just not needed.
After a close encounter with a being attacked by Cougar, and then trying to capture & save the Cougar, is is shot, so after going on a walk and finding the cougars babies, they decide to take care of them. Together. But because of their love for animals they bonded more. That was a really great part of the story, and it was nice to see Brigitta and Luke become closer and closer.
Natalie, Brigitta's friend, really thinks that Luke looks like the movie-star Trent Yves. While plays coy and says no, in the back of her mind she cannot help by thinking that yes, he does look like Trent. The story turned fun being filled with the mystery of "is Luke Trent or Not?"
So then you get to follow along with the mystery there.
Near the end of the book I really started enjoying it. I really didn't like the talk about religion. I am not against it, no. But it seemed that the whole beginning had to deal with it, and the weirdness of her father. I mean, really. The talk that filled a lot of the book about her Grandparent who died a year go. I mean I HAVE lost 3 grandparents. I know it's very sad. But to make this character seem as though she had had such a hard life, is rather NOT good with me. Because that does not make you have such a horrible life or whatever... Even though I really liked Luke, as a character, I did not buy their relationship. I just didn't connect to them like that, or Brigitti as a character. I knew nothing about her really after reading this book.
This just was not the perfect book for me. But do not let me be the judge for you. I just really could not connect. I really liked Luke, and the baby cougars... but that is about it. (less)

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Jun 29, 2012 Eileen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, gift, owned, romance, young-adult

Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

I've recently been on a really huge contemporary kick, but that contemporary kick hasn't turned out for the better. I haven't been very impressed very recently with all the contemporaries I've been reading, and The Summer of No Regrets is no exception. I really enjoyed the book, but it didn't leave a permanent mark in my brain as one of my most-cherished contemporary romance novels. What first turns me off is the cover. For s...more Check out more of my reviews at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***!

I've recently been on a really huge contemporary kick, but that contemporary kick hasn't turned out for the better. I haven't been very impressed very recently with all the contemporaries I've been reading, and The Summer of No Regrets is no exception. I really enjoyed the book, but it didn't leave a permanent mark in my brain as one of my most-cherished contemporary romance novels. What first turns me off is the cover. For some reason—and this probably sounds really childish—is the fact that the guy's wearing sweatpants and the girl looks like she's in her bare butt, which looks so crazy at first. I thought the girl would at least wear jean shorts and the guy regular jeans. That's just be being nit-picky, but I do love that pretty background with all those amazing colors.

The Summer of No Regrets begins with Brigitta, a religious teenage girl, with her fun, carefree best friend Natalie. Brigitta runs into Luke that day, who Natalie, who always claims to see superstars in their small town in California. Luke looks exactly like Trent Yves (pronounced Eve, apparently) who is reckless, arrogant, and totally egotistical. However, Luke isn't any of those things. He's sweet, sensitive, and unlike anything Trent Yves is, and Brigitta can't help but fall for him, no matter what she does to warn herself.

The Summer of No Regrets was extremely religious and spiritual. During the first half of the book, when I wanted more romance, I got religious interpretations and spiritual sessions. I am not a very religious person. Yes, I have those basic beliefs, but I don't let it consume me to the point that it's a daily thing for me. I really didn't find all of the religion to be very enthralling and something that made me want to read on and continue The Summer of No Regrets. Since I also found the beginning slightly sluggish, I didn't fully absorb a lot of the novel, which led to many questions later on.

However, when Luke made a reappearance in the novel, I was hooked again and I devoured every second of it. The romance between Brigitta and Luke budded when Brigitta and Luke attracted the attention of a cougar, and when the cougar was killed by the police, Brigitta and Luke found a litter of cougar kittens that they started to take care of together, and by doing that, most of the romance kindled from that. It was really sweet how they bonded over something like that and then found to feel strong emotions for each other.

The Summer of No Regrets was extremely predictable, because most contemporaries are, but it was really easy to predict what would happen as the conclusion to the main plot. However, I did not expect the ending to that subplot that happened in The Summer of No Regrets. Like every good contemporary novel, The Summer of No Regrets had many layers and underlying conflicts that needed to be solved, and for one of those underlying conflicts, I did not expect for that to happen. I was so heartbroken over it and it was so depressing, but I won't go into that for fear of a spoiler.

The Summer of No Regrets is a great summer contemporary read for those who are also religious. Many people who are deeply immersed in their religion will enjoy how Katherine weaved a religious aspect into a regular contemporary romance that also includes the main character finding happiness in her life when she thought she couldn't have it anymore. However, if you are not a big fan of religion and aren't too immersed in it, I wouldn't recommend you buy this book, maybe borrow it from the library or get it from a friend, because you might find it too much, like I did.

(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

The title and cover may scream "YA romance", and it is that, but it is in no way typical of the genre. Parts of Brigitta's life reminded me of mine, and not just because the story is set in the Pacific Northwest. Her parents own a center for gatherings and frequently host groups of people practicing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Native American Spirituality, even things a bit more out there. She feels frequently embarrassed by her parents. She has a blog, and a best friend who loves celebrity...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Shannon (aka Readergirl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such a cute, relaxing read. I picked it up at Barnes and Noble and read half of it while sitting in the store before I finally took it home. It was a bit different from what I was expecting. With the "is he a celebrity in hiding" aspect, I thought I was going to get a cute little story about a girl dating a Hollywood hunk, but I got more than that. There was some surprising depth to the story, and some lessons to be learned.

Brigitta's family and their belief system is pretty wide-open w...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Avon Bernabe rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.8 stars!

I really really really liked this book. Honestly. I love Brigitta's character. I love her personalities. She's indeed very unique. She's sensitive, passionate, loving, a little bit weird, and many more, and I understand why a guy as hot as Luke will fall for her. She's not perfect. She's flawed. The same as Luke, no matter how hot he is.
This book showed different aspects of life. I love how it presented religion, even though I'm a Catholic. I like how it showed the different sides of a...more

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