"S"ometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of look... read full description
reviews
Jun 02, 2010
john
rated it: 
For anyone ages 9-16, "The Summer Of Skinny Dipping" is a perfect preface to their summer vacation. Seriously, start this book with about two weeks left in school and follow the very sound protagonist (Mia Gordon) as she struggles to understand her relationship to her cousin and best friend as it, and they, move from childhood into young adulthood, as she works out her feelings about herself, her body, her family, her fervent effort at shaping her own identity, and as she traces her ex
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Dec 27, 2010
Melannie :)
rated it:
It's 2:54 am
I shouldn't be up since I'm waking up in just a few hours.
I'm still sobbing.
You know how sometimes you start a book with high expectations
and then as you slowly sink into the first chapters, you just have
the feeling it's just not gonna be as good?
That's what happened to me.
Although I was completely blown away by how much alike Mia and I were,
I just wasn't thrilled, I was just bored for the first 50, maybe 60 pages.
More...
I shouldn't be up since I'm waking up in just a few hours.
I'm still sobbing.
You know how sometimes you start a book with high expectations
and then as you slowly sink into the first chapters, you just have
the feeling it's just not gonna be as good?
That's what happened to me.
Although I was completely blown away by how much alike Mia and I were,
I just wasn't thrilled, I was just bored for the first 50, maybe 60 pages.
More...
9 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Apr 18, 2010
Amanda
rated it: 
I am afraid the goodreads establishment will come and spank me for giving my own book 5 stars...but as the author, I have to give it a shout-out! I'm going to take a page from the book of another author, Heidi Kling who wrote Sea and gave herself 5 stars. Following Heidi, I'm going to tell you why I'm giving my book 5 stars:
1 star goes to me for for waking up one day with this title in my head: The Summer of Skinny Dipping
2. another star for writing it down.
3. another title for More...
1 star goes to me for for waking up one day with this title in my head: The Summer of Skinny Dipping
2. another star for writing it down.
3. another title for More...
7 comments
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(25 people liked it)
Jan 19, 2012
Emily
rated it:
***SPOILERS****
Lets start with the very intreging begginning, I liked the whole consept of the story. A niave girl sets of for a summer of fun with a great cousin.
The first few chapters were hard to get into. I found myself reading one chapter a night - and that meant I was totally uniterested. I wanted a book that kept me reading at school, under the table. Reading at dinner and god forbid, reading on the toilet.
Mia's character was someone I could relate too, ver More...
Lets start with the very intreging begginning, I liked the whole consept of the story. A niave girl sets of for a summer of fun with a great cousin.
The first few chapters were hard to get into. I found myself reading one chapter a night - and that meant I was totally uniterested. I wanted a book that kept me reading at school, under the table. Reading at dinner and god forbid, reading on the toilet.
Mia's character was someone I could relate too, ver More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 12, 2011
Zohall
rated it:
If you are looking for a wonderful summer read look no further. It was a heartwarming, heartbreaking, amazing book about one girls summer that changed her life.
The books starts of with 16 year old Mia Gordon, relieved to be finally leaving behind her home in Athens, Georgia after her first heart break. Glad that Mia can push that behind her, and finally enjoy her summer at her cousins beach house in South Hampton. Though it turns out not everything was like how it was left off 3 year More...
The books starts of with 16 year old Mia Gordon, relieved to be finally leaving behind her home in Athens, Georgia after her first heart break. Glad that Mia can push that behind her, and finally enjoy her summer at her cousins beach house in South Hampton. Though it turns out not everything was like how it was left off 3 year More...
Jan 30, 2012
Rowena
rated it:
This is going to be a really hard review for me to write because this book was a very hard book to put down. When I first read the blurb and then saw the cover, I thought the story would be a light and fluffy read but it was everything but light and fluffy. This book was a lot deeper than I was expecting.
This book follows Mia Gordon on vacation to the Hamptons over the summer to spend time with her family. Mia and her cousin Corrine used to be tight and Mia cannot wait to see her again More...
This book follows Mia Gordon on vacation to the Hamptons over the summer to spend time with her family. Mia and her cousin Corrine used to be tight and Mia cannot wait to see her again More...
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Sep 14, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
Bottom Line – a book that changed the way I look at the world, that's for sure! The Summer of Skinny Dipping is one I will be recommending over and over again – to every teen I know. It's got it all, relate-able characters, a story line that keeps you turning pages until the very last chapter, and a beautiful love story, that's rich as well as heartbreaking. Beautiful, in each and every way. I give The Summer of Skinny Dipping a 5++ Mushrooms and I can't wait to have my very own copy of this one
More...
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 28, 2011
Lena ♫ ♪
rated it: 
Don't let the title fool you. This is not the light read it seems to be. Sure there are cute summer moments that make you go "awww," but it also deals with serious issues. Lots of disfunctional family issues in this read.
The Summer of Skinny Dipping is about finding yourself, even when you're not comfortable in your own skin. While it's about summer love, it's also about loving yourself. The real you, not the one you portray to others. It reminds you that it doesn't More...
The Summer of Skinny Dipping is about finding yourself, even when you're not comfortable in your own skin. While it's about summer love, it's also about loving yourself. The real you, not the one you portray to others. It reminds you that it doesn't More...
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Jun 24, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
Read my full review.
Bottom Line – a book that changed the way I look at the world, that's for sure! The Summer of Skinny Dipping is one I will be recommending over and over again – to every teen I know. It's got it all, relate-able characters, a story line that keeps you turning pages until the very last chapter, and a beautiful love story, that's rich as well as heartbreaking. Beautiful, in each and every way. I give The Summer of Skinny Dipping a 5++ Mushrooms and I can't wait to h More...
Bottom Line – a book that changed the way I look at the world, that's for sure! The Summer of Skinny Dipping is one I will be recommending over and over again – to every teen I know. It's got it all, relate-able characters, a story line that keeps you turning pages until the very last chapter, and a beautiful love story, that's rich as well as heartbreaking. Beautiful, in each and every way. I give The Summer of Skinny Dipping a 5++ Mushrooms and I can't wait to h More...
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 02, 2012
Alexa
rated it: 
Mia is turning 16 years old. She recently broke up with her boyfriend. But that doesn’t really surprise her since she never believed a guy like him would go out with a guy like her. But, he was her first boyfriend, so it was something special to her. Mia and her family are now going to her cousins’ beach house for summer vacation, which is a good distraction for her. When Mia gets there, it doesn’t seem to be a distraction for her. Mia’s cousin, Corrine isn’t really herself to Mia. Mia and Corri
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Jan 30, 2012
In the book "The Summer of Skinny Dipping" by Amanda Howells the main character Mia Gordon spends her summer in the Hamptons living every teenage girls dream. She thinks that spending the summer with her cousin will be just how it was when they used to hang out, but things have changed. Her cousin is obsessed with fitting in and being "cool" to her new found friends but Mia just wants to be Mia. One night at a party she meets an interesting boy named Simon who is so different
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Jan 19, 2012
Karilyne
rated it:
"The Summer of Skinny Dipping" was such a heart wrenching read for me! It started off pretty boring gettig into the home life of Mia..
It is a bit unbelievable that you can misunderstand your own parents for I don't know how many years like that.. THEIR YOUR PARENTS FOR COOKIES' SAKE.
and so I skimmed about fifty pages..
then.
Simon!
He was the epic character. He's unique with his ways of coping and hilarious with his talent to make More...
It is a bit unbelievable that you can misunderstand your own parents for I don't know how many years like that.. THEIR YOUR PARENTS FOR COOKIES' SAKE.
and so I skimmed about fifty pages..
then.
Simon!
He was the epic character. He's unique with his ways of coping and hilarious with his talent to make More...
Aug 13, 2011
Jenna
rated it:
I don't like the cover. It's a skinny girl (showing a body from shoulders down) running on the sand. Mia struggles with having a bigger body in the book. It's like someone heard the word beach and picked out a random picture to put with the book. Of course they didn't have time to read it first or consult with the author.
This was worth the read because it made me emotional. I couldn't put it down.
But that only happened after about 50-60 pages. This was the most disappointing More...
This was worth the read because it made me emotional. I couldn't put it down.
But that only happened after about 50-60 pages. This was the most disappointing More...
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Aug 11, 2011
Asmaa
rated it:
"The rest of the girls out here are just shooting stars,"Simon whispered into my ear. "They're on a crash course to nowhere. But you, my lady friend, you're a black hole. You've sucked me in, and now there's no escape..."
Okay, so i was told that this one's gonna be a real heartbreaking read but i didn't expext to fall for it.
The Summer of Skinny Dipping was a sweet, heart-wrenching book, that will keep you hooked once you get to the romance between Mia our 1 More...
Okay, so i was told that this one's gonna be a real heartbreaking read but i didn't expext to fall for it.
The Summer of Skinny Dipping was a sweet, heart-wrenching book, that will keep you hooked once you get to the romance between Mia our 1 More...
Jul 07, 2011
Michelle (FabbityFabBookReviews)
rated it:
The cover and blurb don't really do justice to this book in my opinion. I was actually slightly turned off from this book because I thought the cover was a bit too typical: too beach-y, light...another boring-summer-romance-yawn. But it is not at all!
I don't want to give too much away here in this review. I am glad I knew hardly anything about this novel- other than it being recommended for fans of Sarah Dessen- when I started reading it.
Mia Gordon is sixteen and looking forw More...
I don't want to give too much away here in this review. I am glad I knew hardly anything about this novel- other than it being recommended for fans of Sarah Dessen- when I started reading it.
Mia Gordon is sixteen and looking forw More...
Jul 02, 2011
Sami
rated it:
I don't remember signing up for this book at all. I've been trying to keep a record of all the books I'm signing up for so I can keep up with them, but I obviously didn't do a good enough job. As a result I ended up not realizing I had this book on the way, and it was nice change from all the paranormal I've been reading to read a fairly normal romantic YA.
Mia is normal teenage girl who thought she was in love with her boyfriend, until, that is, he dumped her for a girl that was sticki More...
Mia is normal teenage girl who thought she was in love with her boyfriend, until, that is, he dumped her for a girl that was sticki More...
Feb 15, 2011
Novel
rated it:
Based on the title, The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells sounds like a light, fluffy summer read. And while it is the perfect book to read this summer, it is hardly light and fluffy. In fact, the novel delves into some deep issues and takes several dramatic twists that will keep you turning the pages and mulling over the book long after you’ve finished reading it.
What grabbed me first when I started reading The Summer of Skinny Dipping was the writing itself. Howells has many More...
What grabbed me first when I started reading The Summer of Skinny Dipping was the writing itself. Howells has many More...
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 26, 2010
The Rusty Key
rated it: 
Reviewed by Rusty Key Writer: Jordan B. Nielsen
Recommended for: Frankly, no one, but if you must, 13 and Up
One Word Summary: False
Nothing can save a book whose characters don’t ring true, and that’s sadly the fate of ‘The Summer of Skinny Dipping.’ Not a glossy location like The Hamptons, not a frighteningly accelerated summer romance, not a bunch of ‘cool’ kids raiding the liquor cabinet and posing as cardboard cutouts of every parent and After School Special’s More...
Recommended for: Frankly, no one, but if you must, 13 and Up
One Word Summary: False
Nothing can save a book whose characters don’t ring true, and that’s sadly the fate of ‘The Summer of Skinny Dipping.’ Not a glossy location like The Hamptons, not a frighteningly accelerated summer romance, not a bunch of ‘cool’ kids raiding the liquor cabinet and posing as cardboard cutouts of every parent and After School Special’s More...
Aug 11, 2010
Candace
rated it:
Glancing over reviews I see most everyone else has said the same thing as I was planning on saying. This book is not the fluff you expect. Although at times it's carefree and fun it's really a coming of age story and self discovery. There's a lot of talk about feelings and being yourself, who you REALLY are and not just being who everyone else wants you to be. At times I was almost a little tired of all the talk but other times I just really felt a connection, like I really understood Mia an
More...
Jul 24, 2010
Peep (Pop! Pop!)
rated it:
My ratings were all over the board with this book. I finally settled with two, even though I wanted to just give it one a few times. It's funny, because for a while there I briefly tried to decide between 4 or 5 stars.
In the first half Mia tries to fit in with her beautiful and rich cousins but doesn't do a good job. She tries to understand why she even cares about what they think. This part of the book was ok. Nothing really happens, but I'd rather be in Mia's head, than Beth's. I More...
In the first half Mia tries to fit in with her beautiful and rich cousins but doesn't do a good job. She tries to understand why she even cares about what they think. This part of the book was ok. Nothing really happens, but I'd rather be in Mia's head, than Beth's. I More...
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(2 people liked it)
Jul 19, 2010
Literary Cravings
rated it:
In Amanda Howells debut novel she writes a telling story of Mia Gordon journey to finding her self and true love all in the space of one incredible summer. The story had a nice flow starting soft and light in the beginning then building in suspense and surprise that had me turning pages to figure out what troubles Mia and her cousins get into in the Hampton and whether the feelings she and Simon had would grow into something more. The characters felt real and interesting. The interaction within
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Jul 13, 2010
Krista
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Jul 07, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
Sixteen year old, Mia Gordon and her family head to the Southampton’s for the summer. They are staying with Mia’s Aunt Kathleen, Uncle Rufus and their daughter Corinne.
Mia is hoping this is just the thing to get her mind off her break up with her boyfriend. At first Mia is taken back by how much things have changed. Mia remembers how close Corinne and her mother were and all the good times she and Corinne shared together. Now, Corinne and her mother argue all the time and Corinne and More...
Mia is hoping this is just the thing to get her mind off her break up with her boyfriend. At first Mia is taken back by how much things have changed. Mia remembers how close Corinne and her mother were and all the good times she and Corinne shared together. Now, Corinne and her mother argue all the time and Corinne and More...
Jun 16, 2010
Katie(babs)
rated it:
Sixteen-year old Mia cannot wait for the summer to start. She's very excited to be spending her summer with her cousin Corinne, the older and somewhat aloof Beth, her Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Rufus Drexel. The Drexel family seems to have the perfect life Mia only wished for. She feels hers is less than ideal because her mother gets on her case about her weight and looks, and is very concerned with money and appearances. Mia can only take so much of her younger sister Eva, who is an American Idol
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Jun 08, 2010
Cinnamon
rated it:
THE SUMMER OF SKINNY DIPPING by Amanda Howells is another great summer romance following in the footsteps of 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. If you could only take a handful of books with you to the beach, this is definitely one that I would choose to take.
This is a story of self discovery and learning to love who you are. Mia, our heroine, is struggling to get over her ex and reform some old familial ties. She's excited about getting to spend time with her family, but disappoint More...
This is a story of self discovery and learning to love who you are. Mia, our heroine, is struggling to get over her ex and reform some old familial ties. She's excited about getting to spend time with her family, but disappoint More...
Jun 08, 2010
Lexie
rated it:
This novel is exactly the kind of book I want to read, but my sister never picks up. Romance, friendship, coming of age...however you want to categorize this book, its my kind of book. I used to devour the teen romance novels my sister picked up in the mid to late 90's, Lurlene McDaniel, "Teen Romance Stories" series, Cameron Dokey...I read them all and was always ready for more. In a lot of ways The Summer of Skinny Dipping reminds me of those novels. Except where those were prett
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Jun 02, 2010
Danielle
rated it:
If you follow me on Twitter or have seen my contest page you know I’m in love with this book. I read the whole thing in one day, never being able to put it down. The Summer of Skinny Dipping was amazing from start to finish.
I’m a huge fan of summer romance novels, there one of my favorite things to read, particularly in the summer. So when I saw the cover, which sets the perfect outlook tone for summer, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Then once I started reading I re More...
I’m a huge fan of summer romance novels, there one of my favorite things to read, particularly in the summer. So when I saw the cover, which sets the perfect outlook tone for summer, I was eager to get my hands on this book. Then once I started reading I re More...
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May 31, 2010
Kerleisha
rated it:
This novel is one of those summer reads that you turn to when you're looking for more than the typical summer romance. Though this is Howells' first novel (correct me if I'm wrong), her writing is spectacular. I found it to be a really original storyline, which was a really pleasant surprise since the summary was a little vague. The relationship between Mia and Simon took the forefront of course, but Howells did a really great job of intertwining the side stories in a way that at some point or a
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Apr 20, 2010
Morgan
rated it:
The Summer of Skinny Dipping started off with Mia going to her cousins house (in the Hamptons) for the summer. But everything she remembered about them has changed and they don't even seem like they want to spend time with her anymore. Then one night at a party, she meets Simon and starts hanging out with him at night. He tries to get her to go swimming and skinny dipping and it turns out to be a fun little romance.
I expected more from this book, because I loved the summary but I wa More...
I expected more from this book, because I loved the summary but I wa More...
Jul 22, 2010
Trisha
rated it:
This was such a fun book to read. I really liked the characters in the book, and this being Amanda Howells debut novel is amazing, I can not wait to read what she writes next.
I really enjoyed the character of Mia. She is very laid back, doesn't do anything to get in trouble and thinks that when she comes back to her Aunt and Uncle's that everything is going to be the same as it was the summers before with her cousin. But when she arrives she realizes they are not. But that is okay with Mia More...
I really enjoyed the character of Mia. She is very laid back, doesn't do anything to get in trouble and thinks that when she comes back to her Aunt and Uncle's that everything is going to be the same as it was the summers before with her cousin. But when she arrives she realizes they are not. But that is okay with Mia More...
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