Sunkissed

The Ladybirds #3

by Jenny McLachlan

Following on from Flirty Dancing and Love Bomb, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect summer holiday reading for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.

Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?

In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?

Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love . Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, Travel, Young Adult Contemporary, Teen, Summer

302 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

About the author

I have always loved reading and I studied English at university just so that I could read a bit more. Next I found my way into secondary teaching and discovered that I loved it too: I got to read more books, show off and hang out with very funny teenagers. What a great job!

Teaching English also encouraged me to write. Soon I had planned and started lots of different stories, but they were all abandoned and shoved to the back of a drawer. Then, one day, the plot for Flirty Dancing came together; Bea’s story was so alive it was like a film running in my head and I knew it was a story I would finish.

Over the next few years, various exciting events distracted me from Flirty Dancing: I got married, travelled the world, was chased by an angry elephant (and a pack of dogs) and I had two babies. While I was sitting on trains, swimming in the Outback and raising two crazy girls, I kept thinking about Bea, and her friends, Betty, Kat and Pearl, until I realised I had planned three more books.

In 2013, after attending the Winchester Writers’ Festival, I plucked up the courage to send Flirty Dancing to Julia Churchill, a brilliant children’s fiction agent at A.M. Heath. With dazzling speed I was then signed by Bloomsbury to write the four books in the series.

Reviews

[Stacey | prettybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In May, I took the plunge and flew off on my first solo trip to Stockholm, Sweden. I adored this beautiful, watery country so much that I couldn't wait to pick up Jenny McLachlan's summery read, set on the fictional island of Stråla in Sweden's archipelago. It is simultaneously Kat's worst nightmare and my absolute dream. Best. Punishment. Ever. But I admit that no hot showers, no wifi, and no friends would be a shock to the system – and it certainly is for Kat!

And then Kat meets Leo. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't a "girl meets boy and everything is right in the world" kind of story – Kat's just happy to meet someone her own age. She's stranded on the most boring island ever for the entire summer, missing her friends back home and her creature comforts. She's little superficial, immature and petulant... but I couldn't help but fall in love with her in Sunkissed. Kat meets a whole host of quirky characters so different to everyone back home, from her carefree aunt Frida to a confident young girl called Nanna. Leo also plays his part in showing Kat that she can do more – and enjoy more – than she thought she could...

Jenny McLachlan's novels are so breezy and fun – I'll be picking up Love Bomb and Stargazing as soon as I can.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!

I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Sunkissed just may be my favourite book in this series so far. For some reason, up until now, I wasn't a fan of Kat, but that opinion totally changed whilst reading this. With each instalment of The Ladybirds, we fall even more in love with the characters, and I absolutely can't wait to read Pearl's books now that I've realised how fab she can be.

In Sunkissed, Kat is sent to stay with an auntie in Sweden during the summer as punishment for hiding in a cupboard with her sister's ex-boyfriend. Even when she thought she'd be spending a month in Stockholm, where she could shop, use her phone, and have electricity, Kat was not happy. Now imagine how even less happy she was to discover her month in Sweden would be spent on an isolated island, with one shop, one cafe, and not many more people. And, to top it all off, the cabin she was staying in had no electricity, and there was no phone service across the island. Whilst there, and struggling to deal with all these issues, Kat soon makes friends with the local hottie, Leo, and discovers her love of sport, at the same time.

As with the other books in this series, romance is not the sole plot point; each of the Ladybird girls discovers themselves and blossom into wonderful teenagers, though sometimes wacky and weird, that today's teenagers should aspire to be. Here, Kat discovers that she is not as different from her family as she expected, and that she actually enjoys sports/exercise as much as her family do. She also becomes a lot closer to her Swedish aunt, Frida, and embraces her Swedish heritage. BTW, how did I not know her mother was Swedish - I was completely shocked by that.

Another surprising part of this book was just how much I loved Pearl, after not being a fan in Flirty Dancing and Love Bomb. She was a true friend to Kat when she needed one, and her time away from her other British friends, helped her become a truly loveable character. I can't believe how McLachlan has changed my opinion of a character so much. I was upset that Bea and Betty, and their BFs Ollie and Bill, weren't a larger part of this book, but that was understandable, what with the majority of the story taking place in a foreign country.

Though romance wasn't the main part of this story, the relationship between Leo and Kat was adorable from the very first moment. They start from being only civil to the cutest couple ever, though not without their angst, as is the norm with most contemporary novels. The very last chapter of this book had me smiling uncontrollably, for numerous reasons, not least of which was Kat and Leo.

All in all, each instalment of The Ladybirds is even better than the last. I am in awe of McLachlan's ability to write such loveable characters, and such an enjoyable book that it took me less than four hours to read from cover to cover. This series is quickly becoming an all time favourite of mine, and a wonderful addition to the UKYA contemporary genre. I would definitely recommend this, though these books do fall in the lower range of the YA spectrum.

[Kelly (Diva Booknerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/08/s...
Like previous books in the Ladybirds series, Sunkissed follows the story of Kat, one part of the group of once best friends and now fumbling through adolescence with each other for support. Kat is fashion conscious and can't live without best friends Bea and Betty, even resident mean girl Pearl. So when she's caught hidden in her wardrobe with her sister's former boyfriend, she knows she's pushed her parents too far. She's on her way to Sweden, spending the next few weeks of summer with her eccentric aunt Frida, but little does Kat realise that her aunt has other plans. Kat is staying in a ramshackle hut on the island of Strala, with no phone coverage, no electricity and no cute boy prospects. Then Leo arrives.

As a character, Leo wasn't the summer romance I had assumed he would be. He was lovely enough, but lacked a backbone as readers will discover. New friend Nanna more than made up for Leo's lack of likability, with her loud obnoxious shirts which are at odds with her personality. She's such a breath of fresh air.

Unlike previous series installments, Sunkissed isn't as comical, but more about the power of believing in yourself. There are still moments of laughter thanks to Nanna, but I felt Kat was much more serious than both Bea and Betty and it took me longer to warm to her personality. Regardless, it was wonderfully entertaining and I absolutely adore this series for it's fun and lighthearted take on four teens who are rekindling their childhood friendships.

A brilliant series for fans of fluffy, coming of age romances. Jenny McLachlan is the ultimate crafter of quirky characters, entertaining and feel good storylines that stay with you long after the final page is turned.

[Charnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think this might be my favourite book in the series so far! :)

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

[rosie king · Rating 3 out of 5]

yippeeee yippeeee!!!

man i long to be baking in swedish sunshine on a tiny island alone with a handsome man. man i wish i was brave enough to cliff jump. reading this actually made me want to go on a run GROSS!!!

but hooray kat yay! shoutout pearl i love you. kat and leo's chemistry didn't scream at me but they're cute enough who cares! good for you bitch!

read this in literally 4 hours whoopsies

50/50 books DONE baby!

3/5💫

[Chelsea Baute · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the stupidest book I have ever read. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Posted in full http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2015...

Sunkissed is book three in Jenny McLachlan’s The Ladybirds series which I have loved right from the beginning. They make perfect reading for all young teenagers but you know, I think they’re perfect reading for anyone looking for some warm and witty escapism. Flirty Dancing was Bea’s story, Love Bomb (my personal favourite) was Betty’s and now Sunkissed tells the story of Kat. Throughout the previous two books, I’ve probably had the most hit-and-miss feelings about Kat. In Flirty Dancing, I wasn’t sure about her character as I really wanted her to stick up for her friends more instead of letting them get picked on. But in Love Bomb, I found her to be a really sweet, funny character and so I was interested to see which Kat would turn up in Sunkissed.

What I loved about Sunkissed was how wonderfully Jenny McLachlan shows Kat’s growth as a character. She goes from whining and complaining about almost everything to being more active in embracing life and the quirks that come with it. The beginning of this book sees Kat, found by her family, hiding in her wardrobe with her sister’s ex-boyfriend (far more innocently than it sounds…). After skiving PE a few times and a bit of accidental shoplifting, Kat’s parents are not impressed with her and send her to go spend the summer holidays in Sweden with her aunt Frida. As much as Kat doesn’t want to go, she soon comes round to the idea that maybe a holiday in Stockholm isn’t too bad. Think of all the shopping… But then Frida tells her they’ll actually be staying in a cabin on the isolated island of Strala which means one shop, one café, little electricity, few people and most importantly, NO reception. I don’t know who was more bothered about the lack of phone signal, me or Kat. I didn’t want to go the rest of this book without hearing from The Ladybirds, Bea, Betty and Pearl and I wondered how this story would play out, if I’d enjoy it as much without having Bea and Betty light up every page. But there was this little thing called Reception Rock which saved the day!

I loved Sunkissed. Truly, Jenny has written one of my favourite series ever. I really grew to like Kat here as she really changes as a character, but naturally, and realistically. On the island of Strala, she meets people unlike anyone she’s ever met before. She’s a bit unsure of the people who are trying to befriend her and she judges them at first, but then she gives it time and puts a bit of effort in and makes some pretty solid friendships. I loved the character of Nanna, who is quite different to your typical teenage girl but a fun character with a really positive personality which is uplifting and refreshing to read. At thirteen years old, she’s a couple of years younger than Kat but that makes her even better at showing Kat that life on Strala is to be enjoyed, not scoffed at. Another character I liked was Leo, who Kat spent a fair bit of time with. There was a really sweet friendship developed between Kat and Leo as they shared stories about their lives and I really enjoyed reading the moments they shared with each other.

What I’ve liked the most about this series is that although romance does feature in every story, each book is more about the girls growing in character, finding their place and having fun with life. I think it’s accurate to real life in that aspect because although your average teenage girl is taking an interest in boys, they also just want to find something that they enjoy and have a good time with their friends. I loved how The Ladybirds are each growing to not be afraid to show who they truly are. They’re individual characters, a little silly, a little cheeky and no longer afraid to show it. Sunkissed was total joy to read. I thought the writing of the setting was really vivid and interesting and it became the kind of place I’d like to visit myself. I also adored the ending, it was just so fitting and perfect and the kind that has you smiling hugely without even realising it. I’m even more excited to read Pearl’s story in the next book, having caught glimpses of her character in this book that dare I say I actually liked! Sunkissed was another great book in this brilliant series.

(review copy)

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered this series thanks to Bloomsbury India. I have already read Love Bomb (The Ladybird #2) which was my first experience of Jenny McLachlan’s writing style and so, this time around I was a bit prepared about what to expect within the pages of this book. As a result, I found myself enjoying this book a bit more than Love Bomb. The books in this series can be treated and read as standalones even though it centers around a group of friends with each book concentrating on one of the girls. However, I would suggest you to read it in order as it certainly gives you a better experience with the series.

It is time to meet Kat, whose parents are tired of her tomfoolery and decide to send her off to Sweden for the summer to live with her Aunt. What she thought would be a difficult time away from friends takes a turn for the worse, or so she thinks; till she realizes that she will be living in a cabin without electricity or call phone coverage on some remote island and not in Stockholm. What starts off like a nightmare of a trip soon starts to change into something else. Kat meets and befriends new people and gets another perspective at life. And then there’s the matter of Leo, the resident hottie. Will Kat make it through her stay? Will she experience summer romance? What will she learn and discover?

I like this book much more than Love Bomb. It may be because in some ways Kat and her experience reached out to me more than Betty did. Also, this installment had some really beautiful characters like Aunt Frida and Nanna. I loved and adored Nanna – she is such a darling of a character that it cannot be helped. The character of Kat surprised me quite a bit too with the way she developed through the book. However, Leo’s character was probably the only disappointment I faced. I liked the way the author has captured the modern generation of teenagers with their dramatics and their attention span. The story flow was done nicely that also complemented the simple language that the author has used.

With the characters as its stars, the book is a nice, light and fun read.

[Jennopenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This summer I'm abroad (I'm Swedish) and we got this book in the book shop where I work. Feeling a bit homesick, reading at the back that Kat (our main character) gets banished to Sweden for the summer. "The land of saunas, nudity" oh my! I thought this could be a fun read.
I didn't realize that this was in a series but it didn't really matter.

I read this literally in two hours. That's not saying that I enjoyed it that much but the font is huge and the story is predictable.

Vane girl gets sent to Sweden for behaving badly. She gets to an island in the archipelago outside of Stockholm to stay with her aunt. She hates it. She can't even get a signal on her phone. How will she survive?
Enter boy. They fall for each other but of course there are problems.
Kat needs to show that she's not "blåst" (an airhead) by getting fit and compete in a race around the island.
Have you guessed how this will end yet?

I wanted this to be cute, a light read that would make me, for a moment, be in the Swedish summer.
It had all the Swedish elements but I wasn't really drawn in by the story. Also it's only cute in the last like two pages.
The cover also has a quote from the Sunday Times saying it's hilarious.
Trust me, it isn't.

A thing that bothered me the most, which is because I'm Swedish, is the mistakes in Swedish this book has. Some words and sentences are written in Swedish, being set in Sweden and Kat being half Swedish BUT THEY ARE WRONG!
I marked all the wrongs with exclamation marks, writing how it should be in the margins. It really annoyed me.
Not all them are wrong, but many of them. As someone who doesn't speak Swedish you wouldn't noticed, I guess. But it would have been pretty easy to fix, before the book was published.

This might look like an angry review, and it isn't. I just thought that this book didn't deliver on what the back of it made me think. And what the cover suggests.
I know that I'm way older then the target group of this, but still I'm just disappointed in this.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being caught by her parents in a situation with her older sister's ex boyfriend, she finds herself sent away for the summer to stay with her aunt Frida in Sweden only it turns out, her aunt is to stay on a secluded island!



Goodbye shopping and relaxing hello houseboat and naked skinny dipping in the sea. The only thing to make the trip bearable is making friends with a girl also staying there called Nanna and her growing crush on the guy her age there, Leo. Only when Peta arrives, Leo and her get close instead as Kat discovers that they're a couple!



Hurt and broken whilst missing her friends, she writes to them about everything including about the upcoming race round the island and so she wants Bea, Betty or Pearl to join her to get one over on team Leo and Peta.



So when the most unexpected person turns up, she's shocked but happy and they wind up having a crazy time full of laughs, discovery and competitiveness!



But will Kat and Leo ever work out their relationship deal and will Kats family finally see her as more a part of them after showing a sportier edge alike them?



This book focuses on how parents can make their children as siblings feel more or less loved and appreciated as many siblings often think their parent favours one more than the other and this is key to Kat's life as she wants to make them happy and proud. We also see how bad situations can be turned around happily and you can always be pleasantly surprised by places and people despite your expectations.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh man I love The Ladybirds. We've met Bea, Betty and now Kat and I cannot wait to meet Pearl too. This book arrived at the perfect time. When I first started reading I thought uh-oh, Kat doesn't seem like my kind of gal. That quickly changed as I got to know her better. Sunkissed is packed full of of laugh out loud, feel-good moments and I devoured it. Kat is hysterical and I loved watching her transformation throughout the novel.

Jenny McLachlan writes teenagers SO well. Reading through these books reminds me of my teen years; how the smallest things can make such a huge difference, how having NO signal on your phone means game over, how important your friends are and how being sent off to a glorious island in Sweden can seem like an absolute nightmare. I loved it. I loved seeing the friendships develop on this little island and I find myself with a huge urge to go and visit Sweden right now!

Sunkissed is the perfect summer read. It's guaranteed to give you many laughs and leave you with the warm fuzzies. I can't wait for Pearl's story next year!

[Vibha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was going to be very predictable but it surprised me so I've bumped it up to 5 stars.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because of her history of behaving badly and making some questionable decisions, Kat is shipped off to stay with her aunt in Sweden while her parents are in the United States. She's not thrilled about it, especially since she will be separated from her three friends, but she figures she'll make do with shopping and hanging out in Stockholm. But upon her arrival, her aunt, Frida, a free spirit, informs her that they're heading to Strala, and there is no reception on the remote island. Although this is territory that has been explored before, readers will enjoy watching Kat change from a spoiled, self-indulgent, clothing-obsessed teen to one that takes risks and realizes that what others think isn't as important as she once thought it was. Of course, there is boy drama surrounding Leo, an outdoors type who charms her and makes her think that they have something special only to break her heart, but he isn't the key to her changes. Those come from within as she trains and pushes herself to compete in a race, an annual event, on the island. The fact that one of her friends, the one least likely to do so, joins her will surprise readers. My final thoughts are that there's nothing too deep explored here, but it was fun to read and a gentle reminder to worry less about others and embrace the magic around and within you. Getting out of one's comfort zone may not be easy, but there are new pleasures awaiting if someone is willing to do just that. Teen readers will love the ending and definitely be inspired to plan a trip abroad. This author from England certainly knows teen girls and her intended audience quite well.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. Kat's a little exhausting sometimes, but I was really happy to find a bit of YA fiction taking place in Sweden...I think the only other book I've found in that vein is Swede Dreams (and I cannot tell you how much I wish that particular series had kept going on and on and on).

Kat spends pretty much her entire time in Sweden on an island, but she manages to have quite a few experiences that seem Sweden-specific, which is nice. I suppose her being away from the city spares us much of the shopping and obsessing over her appearance that it sounds like we would have gotten otherwise. I just wish she'd spoken more Swedish...that is, she's described as having decent Swedish, but then the Swedish characters her age are forever apologising and switching into English. I suppose it's because the author (presumably) doesn't speak Swedish, but it's kind of a shame nonetheless.

I don't like the way the situation with Peeta is treated (yet another The Other Girl Is Evil situation, with a small bone thrown to her at the end), but Pearl is pretty great. I get the sense that she's been the Not Nice One in the other books in the series (which I see no particular reason to read), but she's easily the most complex (and often, surprisingly, sympathetic) character of Sunkissed.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kat is found in the closet with her sister's ex-boyfriend, her parents decide that she is not to be trusted while her parents are on holiday. Kat is sent to her crazy Aunt Frida's house for the summer. Her Aunt Frida loves being one with nature and not wearing shoes (or clothes for that matter). When Kat arrives she realizes that Frida has booked them a place on an isolated island where only the natives live. Kat is appalled that she didn't know about these plans and even more appalled to realize that she cannot use her phone or even her hair straightener on this island. Everything changes when she meets Leo. The local boy who lives in a tent and loves nature. The story takes its normal twists and turns and you find Kat learning more about herself and growing up. I loved the characters and the author's humorous writing. I found myself reading quotes to my coworkers while reading this book. Hilarious and so much fun. Minimal Language. Grade 7+. Recommended Purchase.

[Morgan]

Full review on thegraduatedbookworm.com

I'm pretty sure I did a book swap with one of my fellow book bloggers which is why I received this book as an ARC. I also wasn't sure if I needed to read the other two books in the series before this to begin reading, but I decided to read it anyway!

This was definitely a cute story for the summer time, although I can't say I really loved it. I felt like there wasn't much happening with the story, and everything just seemed like it was rushed.

I felt like for most of the book, Kat was just a whiny girl who couldn't believe her parents shipped her off to live with her "crazy" Aunt, but of course, bring in a boy and things begin to change.

Overall, it was a quirky book that definitely was a quick read. There were some good moments, but I felt like maybe you had to read book one in order to get a bit more of an understanding before diving into the second one. Even though they're standalones, I think it would've helped.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overview: The style conscious, Kat is down to spending her whole summer break on an island which has just two roads, which she believes will be be boy-free. Worse still, it is soon apparent there's no phone reception  and that her cabin has no electricity! She meets Leo, and despite the furor attached to him, she's a little underwhelmed...at first. This is a perfect summer tale of days spent in the countryside, with friends, and, once she settles, you get no more pooh-poohing from 'Wild Kat'  about the kind of lifestyle and activities she may, at one time, been rather sniffy about.

Comment and Guide: This is the third book from a series which is proving to be really popular. The book's release date coincides with the middle of the summer break; a time when a young person can take a step back from the studying and dream a little. Recommended!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

British teen, Kat, is caught hiding in the closet with her sister’s ex-boyfriend. Since this isn’t the first infraction to cause her parents not to trust her, they pack her off to spend the summer with Aunt Frida on a small island in Sweden where there is no cell phone service & everyone is on island time. Kat learns a lot about herself & others during the summer, making new friends & trying new things. Of course, there’s a slight romance & some teenage angst, but all in all this is a quick, light, humorous read.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute teenage story. It’s an easy read as well, so it’s nice and fun if you just wanna read something with summertime feelings. However, the book has got plot issues. Nothing too major, but they’re there. Also I don’t speak Swedish (Norwegian, but not Swedish), but I’ve seen that some of the speech in Swedish is literally wrong??? Like I get that this isn’t for a Swedish audience, but it can’t be that hard to get someone who speaks Swedish to help you out. It’s cute, but not real serious.

[dervla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started read this a while ago. I can’t remember the day but when I started reading it I thought it was okay but not the best book I’ve ever read. However, about halfway through I thought it got a bit more interesting and I read the rest very quickly. I do like how the romance is more realistic and Leo and Kat have a few bumps a long the way with their romance relationship and friendship. I really enjoy ‘Sunkissed’ in the end and especially the ending. I intend on reading the other books about Bea, Betty and Pearl.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, fun, read reminiscent of Louise Rennison's writing. I haven't read the other books in the series, not knowing it was part of a series, but it made no difference in my understanding/enjoyment of this one. The fun runs actually did sound fun - especially the Creepy Elf run. I'm going to have to try it out, sometime!

[Hayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely adorable and fun! Kat was such a wonderful narrator and she went through great growth. Learning more about Pearl was fun and unexpected. The Ladybird books are always fun and quick to read, with a cute romance and funny characters as well as shenanigans.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this on my shelf since I was a teenager and thought I’d better read it because I can’t just donate books I haven’t read. Although I’m not a teen anymore I did enjoy reading this. It was a sweet and refreshing read. Think we should all go to a remote island for the summer!

[Raphaela Coelho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for people who loves drama.

[Pat Cavill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, fun, young read. Very light, but interesting take on the subjects.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was good book but not entirely my kind of book but had elements of things I love in a book though

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lary Meca · Rating 5 out of 5]

De briebdraw

[Beatrix Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable! Needs more hype. A very beach side read that is funny and wholesome. Good book. Would definitely recommend for a sunny day.