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85th out of 131 books
—
42 voters
My Summer of Love
by
Helen Cross
It's 1984 and one of the hottest summers Yorkshire's seen. It's the kind of woozy heat you lose your mind in. Mona is 15 years old. She's a drinker, a thief, and a fruit machine addict. Things are already going badly in the pub where she lives with her obese step-brother PorkChop, but when Mona meets posh Tamsin Fakenham, a sassy girl with beautiful breasts, an actress mot...more
Paperback, 248 pages
Published
October 18th 2005
by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
(first published 2001)
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409)
Apr 25, 2013
Serena
added it
La mia estate d’amore” l’ho scoperto per caso.
Avevo guardato su Ibs.it quanto costava il DVD di ” Viola di mare”, che era un film che mi era piaciuto parecchio. Ibs.it mi suggerii alcuni DVD che trattavano del medesimo argomento, così mi consigliarono ” My Summer of Love” dove recita Emily Blunt ( aveva fatto Il Diavolo veste Prada). Scoprii poi che il film era stato tratto da un romanzo, appunto ” La mia estate d’amore” di Helen Cross. Curiosa, lo ordinai e l’ho letto.
La protagonista, nonché v...more
Avevo guardato su Ibs.it quanto costava il DVD di ” Viola di mare”, che era un film che mi era piaciuto parecchio. Ibs.it mi suggerii alcuni DVD che trattavano del medesimo argomento, così mi consigliarono ” My Summer of Love” dove recita Emily Blunt ( aveva fatto Il Diavolo veste Prada). Scoprii poi che il film era stato tratto da un romanzo, appunto ” La mia estate d’amore” di Helen Cross. Curiosa, lo ordinai e l’ho letto.
La protagonista, nonché v...more
Jan 27, 2011
Sarah
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
If you've seen the film and liked it, don't read this
Really, I wanted to give this 2.5 stars--I liked some of it, but was irritated by the rest. Mona's voice is really outstanding--her idiosyncrasies and trains of thought and memories make her a very real character. I enjoyed her narration, but once Tamsin enters the stage, the book starts to lag. Tamsin is basically a one-dimensionally bitchy rich girl. There's really nothing likable about her, except maybe "her beautiful breasts." Her entire family is false and obnoxious--nearly every scene with...more
I saw the movie first, which was truly great. It's different from the book. And better and I think that most people who love the movie, will hate the book. Well, I didn't hate it, because it was easy to read and at some points really funny, even though it's a bit dark sometimes. Cross found a good balance between shocking drama and humor. I didn't like Mona at all and I didn't understand her actions. I have more sympathy for Tamsin, however I would never befriend her in real life. She lies about...more
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May 20, 2012
Tara Calaby
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
glbtq-focus,
class-war,
coming-of-age,
crime,
adult-fiction,
used-to-own,
weight,
eating-disorders
(3.5 stars)
I watched the film of My Summer of Love earlier this year. It was one I'd picked up super cheap at some point in time, completely unaware that it was related to the novel I'd had sitting in my bookshelves for years, waiting to be read. I didn't like the movie at all, so I had very low expectations for the book it had been based upon. Luckily, I enjoyed it a lot more than I had been expecting.
My Summer of Love is tightly written with a very strong voice. The protagonist is fifteen-year...more
I watched the film of My Summer of Love earlier this year. It was one I'd picked up super cheap at some point in time, completely unaware that it was related to the novel I'd had sitting in my bookshelves for years, waiting to be read. I didn't like the movie at all, so I had very low expectations for the book it had been based upon. Luckily, I enjoyed it a lot more than I had been expecting.
My Summer of Love is tightly written with a very strong voice. The protagonist is fifteen-year...more
Helen Cross was a guest speaker at our library in September and following a reading from this, her début novel, I elected to check out a copy. It was a much rawer book than I expected though a compelling drama.
Set in the summer of 1984 the story is told in retrospect by Mona, who at the time of these events is 15-years old. Mona is a drinker, a thief and is addicted to fruit machines. Her father runs a pub in Whitehorse, Yorkshire and living with them is Mona's step-mother, Cleo, and step-brothe...more
Sep 05, 2009
Pardis Parto
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
no one
Recommended to Pardis by:
no one
In the Yorkshire countryside, working-class tomboy Mona (Press) meets the exotic, pampered Tasmin (Blunt). Over the summer season, the two young women discover they have much to teach one another, and much to explore together.
Definitely one of my favorite books. I saw the movie before I read the book and I honestly enjoy both. I feel like I overdose on girls every time I read it. I love the twist in the story; I didn't see it coming.
I re-read this recently and although i like it still find the ending a bit ridiculous. The book in general is funny, an easy read and i like the story, but there's just something slightly 'off' about it.
Read it when I was part of a book club in 2005, after seeing the wonderful movie starring Emily Blunt. Nobody in the group liked the book. My advice is to see/buy the movie and avoid the book.
grisly and sad. nothing AT ALL like the brilliant and lovely movie of the same name. sort of like lord of the flies but with girls in a deserted mansion.
thought this would be a nice, simple chick flick of a book but was pleasantly surprised by a disturbing and beautiful foray into young womanhood. gorgeous.
Reminded me of being a teenager and of people I knew back then, even down to the manner of speaking. And not in an entirely pleasant way.
A hauntingly impressive read - very dark & often a bit depressing but still worth it - stays with you long after you put it down!
<3 incredible...
I found this darkly funny, with enough slightly unpredictable and perhaps far-fetched happenings to keep it interesting but grounded. Its Northern setting and style kept it real. I like how it really downplayed the sexual side of the two main characters' relationship rather than basing the whole book around it. However, the ending - while it left enough unanswered questions to make you think - seemed a little rushed.
Dec 15, 2010
Alyssa Rennie
added it
It was interesting but not something i would normally read.
Dec 27, 2008
Saman
added it
در صورت تمایل، جهت مشخصات فیلمی که بر اساس این کتاب ساخته شده است؛ میتوانید از لینک زیر استفاده بفرمایید
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382189
Jan 29, 2008
Lord Beardsley
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
dilusional anorexics
Recommended to Lord by:
my foolish brain
Shelves:
books-read-2005
This is one of the worst books I ever read in my entire life. How they managed to come up with that fantastic film out of this utter tripe, I have no idea.
i think they made a movie out of this. rebellious, coming of age kind of story. there was a little twist to it though...
Slightly reminiscent of The Virgin Suicides & Mean Girls; if they were combined. However, the ending wasn't great.
well never has a book made me feel so ridiculously empty
thanks helen cross
good job though
thanks helen cross
good job though
This movie was so well done (thank you Focus Features) but the book just doesn't go anywhere.
I prefer the film. That's just reminded me of Deep Blue Something for some reason.
Delicious, heady stuff with exuberant writing. Good film too.
May 15, 2013
Issy
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Jasmine Silver
marked it as to-read
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Sep 18, 2009 04:32pm