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Strawberry Summer

Melissa Brayden

Start date: April 4, 2017

Finish date: April 30, 2017

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Mar 02, 2017 Jem rated it really liked it

In her last five books, Melissa Brayden's pretty much mastered the art of intricately balancing smart, vivacious women, sparkling banter, and delicious sexual tension, sprinkled with a manageable dash of heart-tugging angst, to kind of produce a perfect blend of lesbian romance that just... entertains...without being overly serious or campy. Okay, I'm sure every other contemporary lesbian romance writer is doing a variation of that, or is trying to, but Ms. Brayden seems to have perfected that f In her last five books, Melissa Brayden's pretty much mastered the art of intricately balancing smart, vivacious women, sparkling banter, and delicious sexual tension, sprinkled with a manageable dash of heart-tugging angst, to kind of produce a perfect blend of lesbian romance that just... entertains...without being overly serious or campy. Okay, I'm sure every other contemporary lesbian romance writer is doing a variation of that, or is trying to, but Ms. Brayden seems to have perfected that formula.

Strawberry Summer is a bit of a departure from that formula in that for a good 70% of the time, its a lengthy flashback to the past--to a time when the protagonists were in their teens, making this primarily a YA book. Which is perfectly fine for readers who love YA (unfortunately, not me). Completely missing from that part is the author’s trademark wit and sass. I'm sure she was trying for earnestness and innocence, the leads being teenagers, but it doesn't make very engaging reading. :). Okay, It might have been more interesting if there was tension or conflict somewhere...anywhere… (lol, do I sound desperate?) And one more thing, this is told from a first person point of view, so we're stuck with the voice of a character who, to me, was the less interesting of the two. And on more than one occasion, she came across as self-absorbed and downright selfish. And more than once, I (not knowing Courtney’s background then) wondered what Courtney saw in her. I realize I'm being too harsh, but this part of the book doesn't approach the charm and appeal of a typical Brayden book. It's nice enough, I guess, if you haven't tried her other work. On the other hand, I'll have to admit it's an honest portrayal. But if she's going for serious (and that's not her style), it doesn't go deep enough.

The surprising thing (which is really unsurprising if you know the author’s strength) is that things take a complete u-turn when the timeline reverts back to the present. Everything about the last 30% of the book is vintage Brayden. Every. Little. Thing. And it totally saves the book. If you're a Brayden fan, don't let my review discourage you. Even 30% of Brayden is better than a 100% of many other writers, at least, when it comes to entertainment value. ;)

Hmm, I can't help but wonder if the narrative had been structured in such a way that the timelines go back and forth, instead of being stuck for so long in the past, the book might have been less dragging. But I'd much rather have the book end on a high note, in typical Brayden style, than if it had taken a nosedive at the end.

Special mention needs to be made for a bunch of amazing side characters like Travis and Maggie’s parents (are they for real?), and even the dog! I also feel that Courtney would have been a much more nuanced and sympathetic character than Maggie (am I being too obvious Im in love with Courtney?;)), if her pov had been explored. Especially her self-identification as bi-sexual (she isn't, even if she thinks she is). And really, does she have to be absolutely movie-star beautiful? (I know, I know..that's typical Brayden :)… But that's one thing that won't hurt the book one bit, you know, if the author ever decides to depart from her formula again. ;)

3.5 for the first 65%
5 for the remainder

ARC from Netgalley / BSB ...more

50 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2017 Danni Mladenovic rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

*The copy provided by NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. in exchange for an honest review*

There are authors you wish them to have 100 books already published, so you can read them and only them in the following year or so. Melissa Brayden is that author for me. No matter of the plot, of the book, of the characters, whenever I read one of her books, there is that warm, fuzzy feeling it causes inside of me. Something just melts inside, and you can't do anything but live through and feel with ...more

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Apr 09, 2017 A.W. rated it it was amazing

Margaret Beringer and Courtney Carrington met while they were in high school and eventually became lovers. In the present, they are no longer together but the death of Courtney's father brings her back to Tanner Peak.

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Wow. I felt so many different emotions while reading Strawberry Summer. I believe I felt the emotions that Melissa wanted to evoke of her readers.

I rather enjoyed reading the YA/New Adult for the first half of the book as much as the latter half when they were adults. ...more

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