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Sixteenth Summer

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 2,384 ratings · 225 reviews

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love. But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach,...more

Paperback, 283 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Simon Pulse

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Jun 28, 2011 Lyndsey rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teeny boppers looking for a summer romance without the fairytale or fairy tails.

Shelves: reviewed-2011, 1st-person, pov-primarily-female, about-summertime, reviewed-3-stars, genre-chick-lit, genre-young-adult, galley-grab

Summer . It doesn't always have to be about mermaids and unicorns.

Sometimes, it just about a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him not to smash her sandcastle. And sometimes, that boy smashes it anyway.

But not in this book - in this one, they frikkin build sandcastles. One of them: a replica of the Sydney Opera House. Damn right.

In her small beach town, Anna meets and falls fast head over heels for Will, the boy from the city. She gets wrapped up in the magic of spending summer with her n...more

50 likes · like · see review

Apr 25, 2012 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ariana by: Racquel

Shelves: favorites, sweet-romance

Oh boy, this book was really charming.

It was like a spell taking me back in time, remembering how it felt to be in love for the very first time. But more than that it reminded me of the last time I fell in love, and it was both scary and exciting to see my memories brought somehow back to life.

You see, I believe in love at first sight.. Off course it takes a lot more than that to get to the point of actually being in love, but that journey is the one that counts, that makes your heart flutter,...more

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May 18, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Anna and the French Kiss

Shelves: realistic-fiction, young-adult, read-2011, favorite-ya, sweet-old-fashioned, brain-candy, 2011-favorites, summery, 2011-publication

There's something about rhythm of summer that slows down time and makes every moment especially delicious. Summer's fleeting season means that its moments are also bittersweet, however, and no one knows this better than beach-town girl Anna Patrick. She's falling head over heels in love with Will...but knows that he'll soon have to go back to New York where he belongs.

I'm not much of a contemporary YA romance person, but found myself thoroughly charmed by this book, which is the perfect lighthea...more There's something about rhythm of summer that slows down time and makes every moment especially delicious. Summer's fleeting season means that its moments are also bittersweet, however, and no one knows this better than beach-town girl Anna Patrick. She's falling head over heels in love with Will...but knows that he'll soon have to go back to New York where he belongs.

I'm not much of a contemporary YA romance person, but found myself thoroughly charmed by this book, which is the perfect lighthearted beach read but is also filled with unexpected layers. After reading so many paranormal or dystopian novels with complicated set-ups or books that put you through the emotional wringer, it's so nice to relax with a book that doesn't have a typical love triangle, bad boy posturing, or some sort of looming imminent danger. It's also a pleasure to read about teens who are actually nice to each other and do normal things like going on cute dates and talking on the phone, and who have good relationships with the adults in their lives.

Anna and Will's summer is filled with ice cream and curly fries and bike rides and barbecues and long walks in the moonlight...and kissing. Lots of kissing. Anna is a relatable, likable girl who has normal insecurities but doesn't let them spin out of control--and she takes the time to be a good friend even as she's learning what it's like to be a girlfriend for the first time. It's easy to see why Will falls for Anna and for this comfortable and amazing town, which is almost like a character of its very own, because I'd sure like to visit! You can practically feel the sand between your toes and the warmth of the sun on your arms and the coldness of Anna's Pineapple Ginger Ale ice cream melting in your mouth. There are also lovely moments with luxurious swims, encounters with crabs on the beach at night, a bittersweet baby sea turtle rescue, and a beautiful early morning moment that Anna shares with Will that I won't spoil with details, but will be familiar to anyone who's ever lived near a beach.

I'm mostly glad, however, that although this is a romance book and it's all about Anna's relationship with Will, she lives a rich and bustling life outside of him. He enriches her interactions with her friends and her family and her job and her pursuits, but he doesn't define them. Even as summer draws to a close, Anna agonizes over the upcoming heartache of their separation, since she knows that losing her first love will hurt badly. But she's smart enough enough to know that no matter what happens, she is strong enough to handle it--which is a great message for women everywhere, no matter what her age.

I loved being so consumed by Will. Adored it. But I kind of hated it too, because I felt like a huge part of myself had been wrested from my control. I mean, sometimes you just want to make a peanut butter sandwich without being overcome by your own passion, you know?

I don't normally gush over books like this, but I found this book to be full of sweet, sweet moments, believable conflicts, smart, funny characters, and a surprisingly nuanced narrative underneath its romantic YA surface. It's a perfect summer read that will take you back to those heady days of falling in love for the first time...with the added bonus of leaving you with a big goofy smile on your face.

This review may also be found in The Midnight Garden.(less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, young-adult, animals, depressing, favorites, i-cried, review-sent-to-author, galley-grab

Oh God this book is so cute and sweet and it just gushes and oozes teenage romance. It's the kind of love all us girls wanted when we were teenagers. This was our fantasy when boys were pulling our hair, and being pigs, and beating each other up. I almost had something like this once, but I was fourteen and it only lasted a week.

Sixteenth Summer is set on a fictional island off the coast of Georgia called Dune Island. But really it isn't fictional. Because I did my research and the fictional Dun...more
Oh God this book is so cute and sweet and it just gushes and oozes teenage romance. It's the kind of love all us girls wanted when we were teenagers. This was our fantasy when boys were pulling our hair, and being pigs, and beating each other up. I almost had something like this once, but I was fourteen and it only lasted a week.

Sixteenth Summer is set on a fictional island off the coast of Georgia called Dune Island. But really it isn't fictional. Because I did my research and the fictional Dune Island is really Tybee Island, which truly exists. Highway 80, which is featured in the book, ends there. It was also where The Last Song with Miley Cyrus was filmed. Another great romance. If you can get past the Miley Cyrus part. I'm not sure if all the places are real, but who cares?

The main characters are Anna and Will. They spend the entire summer together getting to know each other. Will is from New York City and his parents have just split up. He comes down to the island with his mom and brother Owen for summer vacation. Anna is hesitant to get to know him at first, because the townies and summer-vacationers don't usually mix or get along well. But it all sounds like a bunch of stupid prejudice mumbo-jumbo to me anyway.

There are many times while reading this book where I found myself laughing out loud. So I'm going to quote it here.

"When my mom talked about her near miss with the legal profession, she always made it sound like she'd caught the last lifeboat off the Titanic." LOL! It's funnier in context. But there were plenty of one-liners like this that made me giggle.

Anna and Will end up falling in love and it's bittersweet because at the end of the summer Will has to leave to go back to New York. Anna can't help thinking about this all the time. And it bothers her a lot, but Will tried to convince her to live in the moment and just enjoy being together. She eventually ends up finding a happy medium of sorts, but when Will really does have to leave it is oh so sad and ridiculously depressing. I cried. I sobbed. I'm a stupid girl I know, but if you don't at least tear up then you are a heartless person.

Anyway, this book was really touching. It was simple, but the atmosphere the author created and the imagery were great. Sometimes it was like I could almost taste the salty Tybee Island air on my tongue. Gorgeous book and so romantic. Totally a book for girls by the way. But I'm pretty sure you knew that already.(less)

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Apr 19, 2011 Nic rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone looking for the perfect summer love story

Shelves: 2011, summertime-fun, cover-crazy, romance-awww, arc, sweet-as-candy, read-in-2011

Rating 4.5 stars

Wow! What an awesome debut. This book if full of things I love - ice cream, sweet yet delicious kisses, hot summer days, ice cream, the beach and did I mention ice cream!

Sixteenth Summer is a feel good read from start to finish. The kind of book you devour in a couple of hours and grin the whole way through. The writing is a style that makes for an effortless read. Dalton also had great eye for detail when it came to describing the beautiful beach side setting and obviously the...more

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May 02, 2011 Princess Bookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2011

My Thoughts: I was very very excited to read this one! We are introduced to Anna who lives on Dune Island with her family. She spends most of her time with her best friends Sam and Caroline. They have recently became a couple. Anna isn't interested in any of the local boys. How can she be, when she has seen them during their most embarrassing moments as children? She is independent and pretty much brushes any guys advances off.

Than comes along Will. Gorgeous and sweet Will. He isn't a local boy....more My Thoughts: I was very very excited to read this one! We are introduced to Anna who lives on Dune Island with her family. She spends most of her time with her best friends Sam and Caroline. They have recently became a couple. Anna isn't interested in any of the local boys. How can she be, when she has seen them during their most embarrassing moments as children? She is independent and pretty much brushes any guys advances off.

Than comes along Will. Gorgeous and sweet Will. He isn't a local boy. He is from New York. His brother and mom came to the island for summer vacation. Anna catches his eye on the beach one day and he ends up asking her out a few days later. They start dating, and she starts to fall in love with him. The problem? He's leaving at the end of summer.

I enjoyed the dates they went on, the events they attended. I loved hearing about their time on the beach, seeing turtles, dolphins, etc. I also loved how she worked at her families ice cream shop so we got to experience ice cream flavors (made me hungry and craving ice cream during the book). I also enjoyed meeting Will's family and I adored his mom and his brother.

I really liked Will. I liked the way they were together, however I felt like I needed more depth. More depth to their relationship. I just felt like it was missing something. Yes, their was romance and sticky sweet moments but I knew deep down their relationship couldn't last past the summer and that made me sad.

I enjoyed reading Sixteenth Summer but it wasn't everything I wanted it to be. I would have liked to learn more about Will's life in New York. Who were his friends there, what did he do, did he have a lot of ex-girlfriends, etc? I felt like I knew lots about Anna but nothing about Will.

Overall: I liked Sixteenth Summer but I expected a little more out of it. I'd recommend reading this when your in the mood for sweet romance but not a lot of deep thinking.

Cover: Love the cover! Its pretty. The colors go together and I love the sand on the bottom of her feet. Definitely a summer book.

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
_____________________________________

Review Based On Softcover Edition

Taken From Princess Bookie (blog)
www.princessbookie.com (less)

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Jul 03, 2011 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Originally Posted on Strawberry Splash Book Reviews

Sixteenth Summer was a book that I had been planning to read ever since it came out but I had never gotten around to doing so. After reading it, I don't know why I waited so long to read it.

The protagonist, Anna, lives on Dune Island which, as far as settings go, seems like a gorgeous place. I don't believe that any character in the book that I didn't enjoy as a character.

Her relationship with Will, even though it seemed almost fairytale-esque,...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Patricia (Patricia's Particularity) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, wishlist

Awww to have the life such a Anna's, living on the beach where your main concern over the summer is bypassing the tourists to spend time in the water. But this isn't enough for Anna - she longs for adventure in her life. Don't get her wrong, she loves her life but she wants something more than Dune Island has to offer her. Once her two best friends find themselves in their own consuming romance, Anna can't help but feel left out. In her hum-drum life on the beach in the summer, Anna is bored......more

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Jun 21, 2011 Aleeeeeza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-netgalley-galleygrab, 2011-read

Three-and-a-half months into 2011, I’d already read nine summers books. (All right, so not nine exactly, seeing as I didn’t finish one, and I’m not sure Stay by Deb Caletti, 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson and The Sky is Everywhere Jandy Nelson count, even if they all take place at least partially during summer.) Out of those, I can safely say the only one I’ve REALLY enjoyed (not counting the ones listed above) only one, and that’d be Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler. So I can’t reall...more

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May 18, 2011 Morgan F rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, romance, galleygrab, young-adult, summer, e-book, contemporary, realistic, its-a-girl, medium-sized, dating, fiction, read-2011

Are you surprised by the three-star rating? Are you that amazed that I actually enjoyed a summer romance book? Well, I kind of surprised myself.

I am not a sappy-sap type. Saccharine romances annoy me to no end. And trust me, this book had some gag-me-with-a-spoon moments. And it was certainly frilly. Nothing too deep or controversial. No excessive cussing, no sex, just kissing and hurt feelings. It should have been quite boring actually, added on to the fact that there were no surprises in this...more Are you surprised by the three-star rating? Are you that amazed that I actually enjoyed a summer romance book? Well, I kind of surprised myself.

I am not a sappy-sap type. Saccharine romances annoy me to no end. And trust me, this book had some gag-me-with-a-spoon moments. And it was certainly frilly. Nothing too deep or controversial. No excessive cussing, no sex, just kissing and hurt feelings. It should have been quite boring actually, added on to the fact that there were no surprises in this book. It was simple and predictable.

So what made me enjoy this book? The atmosphere, mostly. Dalton did an excellent job in creating the feel of a small beach town. The town was close-knit, with everyone knowing everyone else's business. Anna had an expected feeling of claustrophobia in her desire to leave her town and build a new life for herself in a bustling city like New York. Yet, she never was bitter about it. She understood that despite small annoyances and gripes, her town was her family. She loved her life, and she made the reader love it too. Anna appreciated the quirkiness of her town and knew it was special. I loved the setting, from the sticky counters of the icecream shop to the feeling of cool sand on a summer night. Dalton truly invoked the experience of summer.

Also, I did not mind the characters. While they were not particularly memorable, they acted like teenagers. When realistic fiction books portray teenagers, they usually go for the edgier stuff like drinking and sex. Dalton portrays the opposing side, the side that is still awkward and childlike in so many ways. Not all teenagers are jaded and miserable, and Dalton's characters are refreshingly sweet. Anna and Will are cute, to say the least. Their first date was so painfully realistic from every misplaced phrase and awkward silence. Most dates in generally are not suave and sexy, they take a whole lotta work and a whole lotta fretting (at least from my experience). Anna was in puppy love, and understandably so. Will was an attractive, nice guy. The perfect first boyfriend. And their relationship was a healthy one, and even though it seemed doomed, I thought the ending captured the feeling of summer perfectly. Kind of like icecream, it's delicious, but can't last forever. That what makes it so special and bittersweet.

Overall, a cute summer-y read that has me wishing I was out on a beach somewhere. God, I miss summer. (less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Alexa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-2013-advisory

It’s the last day of school and Anna is at the beach, celebrating with all of her friends. At the party, she sees this boy, but like any other story, they never actually get a chance to meet. Until, one day where the boy, Will and his brother walk into the ice cream store that Anna and her family owns. They eventually go on a date, but that’s when Anna starts to over analyze things. She isn’t sure if will likes her the way she does, and it starts to scare her. Especially since he didn’t call, an...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Louisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was just what I needed: a light, cute, surprisingly introspective and summery read to tide me through this last weekend of academic frenzy. Oh, how sweet the sound of first love can be.

Anna is a Dune Island beach-town girl and an extremely relatable, likable protagonist. On the start of her sixteenth summer, she wishes there was something different about this summer. Up pops Will, a New Yorker 'shoobee' and all-round charming, awkward, handsome, and owner of some damned fine T-shirts....more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 28, 2012 Aimee (Coffee Table Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya

This was one of those bittersweet books. I really enjoyed the story, I was hooked as soon as I started reading. I really enjoyed reading about Anna and Will. When I first picked this up, I had an idea that the ending might leave me in tears. And it did. But I was grateful I got to share in Anna and Will's story.

The setting of this was perfect. Summer, lazy days in a tourist town. No school setting, since school is out for the summer. Nothing to get in the way of the relationship that is budding...more

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Nov 23, 2011 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: friendship, romance, young-adult

Anna has lived on Dune Island all her life, working in her parents’ ice cream shop, hanging out at the beach, and making fun of the “shoobies” (tourists) that come to spend every summer on the island. But the summer of her 16th year, things change dramatically – her two best friends suddenly become boyfriend & girlfriend and Anna meets and falls for Will, one of the tourists from New York City, of all places. Anna knows it must come to an end in August, but she just can’t resist. This is a...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Dana JH added it

to see the full review and others like it go to my website danadoesread.com

Sixteenth Summer was super cute. Sweet as the ice cream that Anna is constantly around, and the perfect book to read directly after I read the bloodbath that was the last chapter of The Tower of Parlen Min. I read this on my laptop during the 2 day drive from Marco Island to Chicago and with sixteenth summer, the time went by fast. I smiled from ear to ear the whole time. It was great beach read and I'm glad that i read i...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. It is probably the most genuine and true-to-life summer first love stories. It was simple and fun. Anna, the protagonist, is discovering her own beauty through her first relationship. Dialogue is hilarious and made me laugh out loud. On top of the romance aspect, Anna has a family and those dynamics along with her old friends, Caroline and Sam who are discovering romance themselves. The setting is unique - Georgia beach. The quandary is broached - what if it's only for the su...more I loved this story. It is probably the most genuine and true-to-life summer first love stories. It was simple and fun. Anna, the protagonist, is discovering her own beauty through her first relationship. Dialogue is hilarious and made me laugh out loud. On top of the romance aspect, Anna has a family and those dynamics along with her old friends, Caroline and Sam who are discovering romance themselves. The setting is unique - Georgia beach. The quandary is broached - what if it's only for the summer and not forever?

The story is much like my own story of summer love. There was no bodice ripping or sex or anything I'm embarrassed about years later. It was, like Sixteenth Summer, the summer someone I liked - really, really liked, liked me back. He told me I was beautiful. We had a lot of fun together. And the relationship changed me permanently and for the good. Like Anna and Will.

I loved the book because it reminded me of such a pivotal moment in my life. Like Anna and Will, I wondered what would happen after the summer. Would we still know each other? Would we keep in contact? Would we see each other again? Unlike Anna and Will, I found out the answers to these questions. Turns out, My Will (not his real name) became a good friend after proving to me that I was beautiful and interesting that summer. We were never close friends but I still love him for being where he was and who he was that summer.

We crossed paths every so often for the next 10 years. I went to his wedding reception. I'd run into his mother and keep up on the news. He went to Stanford and joined a prestigious law firm. He had three children then nearing his 40th birthday, had a fourth child at the same time as he was diagnosed with a rare cancer. I found his wife's blog and found her to be completely engaging and articulate. I stalked her blog whenever I could. I went to his funeral and grieved for myself and for his family.

I keep a copy of his obituary in my night stand and I still see what a gift he was to me - not only that one summer but years later when his widow became a very dear friend.

But before the grief and tragedy, there is the summer of sweet, innocent love. And that's what this book reminds me.

Loved it.
(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Marie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 10, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Life on Dune Island is always the same. For Anna, that means summer after summer of hanging out at the beach, scooping ice cream, and seeing friends. Anna can’t really complain, though, because it’s not too bad a way to spend summers, but ever since her best friends Sam and Caroline realized that they were more than just friends, Anna has just felt like a third wheel. And though she wishes them every happiness, she’s sick of it. But then she meets Will, a sweet guy from New York who’s here on va...more Life on Dune Island is always the same. For Anna, that means summer after summer of hanging out at the beach, scooping ice cream, and seeing friends. Anna can’t really complain, though, because it’s not too bad a way to spend summers, but ever since her best friends Sam and Caroline realized that they were more than just friends, Anna has just felt like a third wheel. And though she wishes them every happiness, she’s sick of it. But then she meets Will, a sweet guy from New York who’s here on vacation with his family. Anna knows Will’s just a tourist and that he’ll be leaving at the end of the summer, but she falls for him anyway. Anna has never felt about anyone the way she feels about Will, but as the summer winds down, she’ll face one of the hardest decisions of her life. Will their separation be too much to bear and should she just get it over with, or should she make the most of what little time they have left?

Sixteenth Summer is a sweet and innocent read perfect for the summer season. Sometimes I actually avoid books that are advertised as summer reads because while they are lots of fun, they’re usually without much substance. Sixteenth Summer, however, isn’t quite typical. Yes, there is the nearly all consuming romantic relationship between Anna and Will that drives much of the story. However, this book is also about family, belonging, and learning to love oneself; these other aspects are worth noting even though the emphasis of the story is mainly on Anna’s relationship with Will. What I really appreciated about this central romance was its innocence; I feel like many other romantic beach reads are much more mature in their content, so it’s nice to see the other side of the coin. Dalton has done a spectacular job in portraying Anna and Will’s relationship; the difficulties that they deal with are complex yet easy to understand, and Anna’s corresponding indecision over how to deal with their relationship makes her feel even more realistic rather than wishy-washy. With vivid characters and, of course, the perfect summery backdrop, Dalton’s young adult debut is a fun, quick, and meaningful read.

Sixteenth Summer will be enjoyed by readers who also liked The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Cruel Summer by Alyson Noël, and Sea Change by Aimee Friedman.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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May 06, 2011 Melanie Goodman added it

Anna expects her 16th summer to be like every other. She lives on an island off the Georgia coast; every summer tourists flock to the beach locale and Anna helps her family serve them ice cream by day and then hangs out with her friends by night. While she enjoys her work creating and dishing up new ice cream flavors, Anna has little interest in doing anything with the “shoebees” outside of the ice cream shop. That is, until her 16th summer, which turns out to be unlike anything she could have i...more Anna expects her 16th summer to be like every other. She lives on an island off the Georgia coast; every summer tourists flock to the beach locale and Anna helps her family serve them ice cream by day and then hangs out with her friends by night. While she enjoys her work creating and dishing up new ice cream flavors, Anna has little interest in doing anything with the “shoebees” outside of the ice cream shop. That is, until her 16th summer, which turns out to be unlike anything she could have imagined.

When Anna meets Will, a shoebee from New York City, she is forced to change her perspective on tourists. A relationship that turns from lust to love takes over Anna’s life. But Anna is only 16 and her life is on the island, so with the end of the summer must come the end of the relationship, right? Anna begins to wonder whether the inevitable heartbreak is worth it. What is the cost of a summer romance? Michelle Dalton’s Sixteenth Summer asks that age-old question: Is it better to have loved and lost or never to have loved at all?

Sixteenth Summer is the perfect escapist beach read. Like a summer romance, you expect it to be ephemeral, but enjoy it while it lasts. The characters are charming and lovable, as is the local culture. Offering sea turtle watching, ghost crab catching, competitive sand castle building, quirky 4th of July parties and more, this book is the perfect light, fun read to get lost in for a few hours. Dalton had me longing for sunshine and sandy beaches

This novel may be a beach read, but Anna’s inner turmoil offers unexpected depth. She not only reshapes her perspective on what it means to be an outsider, but in choosing a romantic partner she must also choose the kind of life she wants for herself. Sixteenth Summer is full of first love as sweet as Anna’s endless ice cream concoctions, but that sweetness is occasionally soured by its transience. It captures both the joy and heartache of being 16 and in love. There are no false promises, and sometimes you simply have to embrace living in the moment. At the end of the summer, Anna must return to being an islander and Will a New Yorker, but perhaps those are not roles that have to last forever. Anna’s dating life forces her to grapple with her feelings about whether she wants to be an islander for life or flee her home in favor of adventure in a big city. After all, if Anna can fall in love with Will, perhaps she can fall for life away from the island.

This is a must-read beach book for the year. Anna, Will, and their families are delightful company for a few hours of reading. If you enjoy romance, ice cream, and southern charm, be sure to pick up Sixteenth Summer.(less)

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May 03, 2011 Rachel Harris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: made-me-laugh, fun-summer-reads

Tis the season of books about summer romances and adventures, and every year shelves are flooded with stories about sand, surf, and tan lines. I’m a sucker for books about summer love, letting me experience the joy and wistfulness of it all without the sunburn, and SIXTEENTH SUMMER by Michelle Dalton is the latest addition to my growing collection.

I must confess that as the remaining pages of this book grew smaller and smaller, my nerves skyrocketed. Anna and Will needed to have a happy ending....more Tis the season of books about summer romances and adventures, and every year shelves are flooded with stories about sand, surf, and tan lines. I’m a sucker for books about summer love, letting me experience the joy and wistfulness of it all without the sunburn, and SIXTEENTH SUMMER by Michelle Dalton is the latest addition to my growing collection.

I must confess that as the remaining pages of this book grew smaller and smaller, my nerves skyrocketed. Anna and Will needed to have a happy ending. They had to. But how would Ms. Dalton swing that? It isn’t like Will could stay in Georgia—he had to return home to New York. Right? Well, without giving any spoilers, let me just say that the ending is perfect. Exactly what it needed to be, sweet and authentic, showing the tremendous growth both characters experienced through the journey.

My favorite thing about this book is also the most frustrating—the chapter breaks. This book doesn’t have them! It is divided into months, June, July, and August, with scene breaks within each one but no real easy place to set the book down. Each scene flows beautifully into the next . . . and on the same page! Let me just warn you now that you will want to block a whole day out to read this in one big gulp.

The setting of this book is beautiful. I have a confession: I hate the beach. I adore lakes, and boats, and mountains, and even pools. But itchy sand, stinging salt, blinding sun, heat stroke, and sharks? No thank you. But SIXTEENTH SUMMER made me want to be Anna, living on Dune Island, scooping ice cream, going to her family’s crazy Fourth of July throw downs, and picking blueberries off the bush in my backyard. I wanted to learn how to make a sandcastle and ride a bike in lazy circles near sand dunes. And Ms. Dalton perfectly captures the personalities, culture, and tastes of the South. Born in New Orleans and living in Houston, I adore everything about the South and appreciate when someone can recreate a slice of our life, hold it up to the world, and say “Here, this is what it is like.”

The romance between Anna and Will is sweet, raw, and poignant. Will is swoon-worthy with just the right mix of flaws and endearing qualities, and Anna’s struggle to live in the moment, casting aside worry of the future, was spot on. The family dynamic is wonderful. The parents are fun and three-dimensional, the siblings not content to merely round out the background but illuminating nuances of Anna and Will’s relationship. Anna’s best friends Sam and Caroline provided comedic relief as well as facilitators for Anna’s self-discovery.

SIXTEENTH SUMMER is definitely a must-have beach read . . . of if you are like me, a bubble bath read or even a swinging on your back porch swing read. You’ll be instantly swept up in first love, shrimp po-boys, crazy ice cream flavors, and Southern hospitality. And, like me, you will anxiously await Ms. Dalton’s next book.

SIXTEENTH SUMMER hits shelves May 3rd.
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May 01, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Review here.

I’ve never really been in love before. But if you count the many hot fictional characters I’ve fallen in like and lust with… er, no. I don’t think you’d count that. So I’ve never really been in love before. But reading Anna’s narrative about how she fell in love with Will; from the first awkward moments up to the time they really fell for each other and the time when they finally had to part... I don't know why, but I really felt like I was an old woman whose reliving the moments of...more Review here.

I’ve never really been in love before. But if you count the many hot fictional characters I’ve fallen in like and lust with… er, no. I don’t think you’d count that. So I’ve never really been in love before. But reading Anna’s narrative about how she fell in love with Will; from the first awkward moments up to the time they really fell for each other and the time when they finally had to part... I don't know why, but I really felt like I was an old woman whose reliving the moments of her first love. And mind you, I'm only a teenager. While Anna's describing the emotions Will's making her feel, I swear I keep nodding my head like I know exactly what she's talking about. I'm not saying that this book makes readers feel like old people though.

Anyway, it was a little hard to connect with the characters at first. Anna and Will's blooming relationship seemed plenty awkward and forced. I couldn't feel the spark between them. But as the story moved forward and they grew more familiar with each other, the connection became more and more apparent as well. This is where I started feeling like a nostalgic old woman. I love Anna and Will's moments together. They are so adorable and sweet. I liked that both of them seemed like ordinary people. They are not popular or outcasts. They don't have mysterious past. Both are not over the top gorgeous. They are plain, ordinary, uninteresting. But throw them together and you get a sweet and special summer love story.

Sixteenth Summer is very light without family and peer drama. Unlike other contemps that never fail to sport those kinds of drama. This is a pure summer love story that involves heat, beach, ice cream, ghost crabbing, sand castle making, baby turtles and love, love, love! I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially like the different activities Will and Anna did on the island. Dalton's description of the bits and parts of the island were vivid enough I felt like I could see what the characters were seeing.

My only complaint in this is the ending. At the beginning of the book, Anna tells about how she knows the feeling of being in love. Which gave me the impression that she's telling her story as it happened in the past and not as it happens in the present. So the abrupt ending didn't make a lot of sense to me.

Disclosure: This e-ARC was received from the publisher (Simon & Schuster via S&S Galley Grab)in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Apr 14, 2011 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars

Anna Patrick is not looking forward to summer this year. Her two best friends, Caroline and Sam are now a couple and she feels like a third wheel. Though plenty of the other boys on the island have shown an interest in Anna, she isn’t interested in them. She wants to get away and longs for some time away from the tourists on Dune Island. Every summer it’s the same: the beach, hang out with friends, then go to work at her parents ice-cream shop. Not to mention having to deal with all of the “shoo...more

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Mar 25, 2011 Becca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, books-read-in-2011, contemporary-ya, arc-s

Anna is a native Dune Islander and she is just starting summer when she catches the eye of a new boy. Anna is tired and bored of the life she leads in Dune Island, everything is always the same and there isn't anything new to look forward to. That is until she meets Will. Will's from New York and he and his brother and mother are at Dune Island for the summer. Instantly Will and Anna have a connection, they were both so painfully awkward but earnest with each other that they were adorable. They...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Cecile rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ice-cream-and-sunsets

I think it’s become clear that I love books which happen during the summer. Which is why, from the title alone, I wanted to try this one (yes, even though it had a less than 4.0 rating, which usually means that I won’t give it a chance. I know it’s stupid because some of my favorite books have a 3.7ish rating but there you go. I’m a ratings snob and I don’t care).

However, having read it now, I can safely say it’s a easy book, but a little too “teen” for my taste. And although there were some bi...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Jessica Cohn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sixteenth summer was an amazing book. There was not one point in the book where i wanted to put it down. The minute i started reading, the book instantly hooked me in. I love romantic stories and this was a book that was really romantic. Sixteenth summer is a very touching story. This book at some parts made me smile,frown, and throughout the whole book i was curious what was going to happen next. The book had an incredible amount of vocabulary and word choice. It was also very descriptive. The...more

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May 03, 2011 The Book Mystress rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review originally from WWW.THEBOOKMYSTRESS.BLOGSPOT.COM

So a summer romance, it has nothing to do with Vampires or paranormal, I was going out on a whim with this one.
I have never been one for books like this but Sixteenth Summer was great, it was the quick read that I liked.
It is the middle of winter here in Australia so it was great to have a novel warm me up so well.
it was easy to travel in side Anna’s head she was real and had a great personality, she put her foot in her mouth like ever on...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay this book is quite amazing. Its about a girl and a boy who met during Summer. Its entitled Sixteenth Summer because the girl, Anna is sixteen years old. Anna lives in Dune Island and Will is from New York having a vacation where her mother use to spend summer before. Anna's Sixteenth Summer became different when she met Will, who became her first kiss, first boyfriend,and fall in love for the first time.

This is a story of the typical boy-meets-girl. I love the fact that they both see spark...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Brandi Kosiner added it

Sixteenth Summer is a perfect beach read. It has fun and easy to relate to characters and it perfectly sums up a summer love.
Anna is a good main character, she had her own quirks that made her unique, but her voice is good. Ms. Dalton is able to remind me of those feelings as Anna is experiencing them.
Caroline is a great best friend, and I love the bond and history that they have as well as the addition of Sam, as a good example of how boys and girls can actually be just friends (Sam and An...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Bobs (Reader Unbound) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read-list, a-bit-romance-never-hurts, beautiful-cover, fave-ya, first-time-i-read-this-author, gonna-reread-it, made-me-cry, romance-sooo-cute, the-cutest-thing-ever, totally-love-it, young-adult

Which girl does not remember her first love?
And I not talking about that time in kindergarden when the boy you liked gave you a stick with a caterpillar on it (true story!) and you officially became a couple.
I am talking about that exact moment when you are sixteen or seventeen,
struggling between being the child you still are and the adult you are supposed to become. Between the person that your parents expect you to be and the fact that you yourself do not know what to do with your life. And...more

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May 21, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog

When I picked up Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton, I was actually expecting something light, fluffy and romantic. I wanted it to have a cute tone that would have be smiling throughout the book. I mean look at the cover! Instead, the book was a little morose and so, I ended up being slightly disappointed.

Anna lives on Dune Island, a region that is basically a tourist attraction during summer. She's dreading her sixteenth summer since it has always bee...more
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog

When I picked up Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton, I was actually expecting something light, fluffy and romantic. I wanted it to have a cute tone that would have be smiling throughout the book. I mean look at the cover! Instead, the book was a little morose and so, I ended up being slightly disappointed.

Anna lives on Dune Island, a region that is basically a tourist attraction during summer. She's dreading her sixteenth summer since it has always been rather monotone. On top of that, her two best friends are dating and she feels left out and like the third wheel. However, she realizes that this summer is different when she meets Will, the tourist from New York. Her summer with Will is going really well until it dawns on her that at the end of the summer, he is going back to New York while she's left behind.

Anna was a character that I liked, but could not connect with. She was a sweet and very down-to-earth girl. Like most teenagers, she had her fears and her expectations. She wanted a boyfriend, but none of the boys that go to school with her appeal to her. It's easy to understand why she wants this because I'm sure most of us have wanted a cute romance that sweeps us off our feet. However, at times her tone was very depressive for some reason. It was almost like she had lost someone dear to her or was going through some really tough times. Yet, that was odd since she had a clearly happy and peaceful family who loved her dearly. When she met Will, her wishes pretty much came true. Will was good-looking, sweet, kind, caring and everything you look for in a boy. Towards the middle of the book, when Anna realizes that Will is leaving in less than 2 months, she starts to act a little too depressive for my liking. Instead of appreciating what's going on in her life, she started to over think everything and she started to act like everything in her life was going wrong. She even decided to break it off with Will. Eventually, she comes to the conclusion that she should enjoy the present and not think too much about the future. One of my complaints with this book is the secondary characters. Somehow, I felt that they were not very well developed and I would have loved to get to know them better since they all seemed truly interesting.

The romance was definitely the focus of the story and I was satisfied. You guys, it was so cute. If I could melt from all the sweetness, I would have turned it a puddle while reading. Will and Anna had some really adorable moments throughout the book. I loved how much they talked and got to know each other. The story did have the element of love at first sight, but the characters spent so much time getting to know each other that it's easy to forget it. I adored every single moment that they spent together, especially all the island-related activities. Honestly, it was great and I'm sure lovers of YA contemporary romances will devour this one !

Michelle Dalton is a very good writer. Her writing is smooth and flows beautifully. Although I had some issues with her main character, I did enjoy the story itself, but I felt unsatisfied with the ending. It's probably because when I started the book I was expecting a happily ever after kind of book, but Sixteenth Summer just ends without really giving me any closure. I suppose I would have liked the book a lot better if things had really ended.

Sixteenth Summer is the kind of book you would want to read if you're looking for something light after some heavy YA paranormal books. It had a cute story and I'm sure everyone will love Will's and Anna's relationship.
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Quotes from Sixteenth Summer

“A perfect person is easy to love. But when somebody likes all your imperfections, well, that's when you know they really mean it.” — 61 people liked it

“Sometimes I wanted to dance and laugh with my friends until midnight, and sometimes I wanted to screen all calls and hide away with a tragic novel and a bag of candy. Sometimes I spend an hour trying to pretty myself up, and sometimes I could barely be bothered to comb the knots out of my hair before I left the house.
Sometimes I wanted to know what it felt like to tell a boy all my secrets. Other times, that seemed as impossible as waking up one morning to find myself fluent in a foreign language.
Sometimes I felt better alone that I did with people. And sometimes that just felt lonely.” — 34 people liked it

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