All Last Summer (Love on Summer Break Book 1)
Author Profile
Stephanie J. Scott writes light-hearted, quirky romance and young adult. She enjoys dance fitness, everything cats, and has a slight obsession with Instagram. A Midwest girl at heart, she resides outside of Chicago with her tech-of-all-trades husband and fuzzy furbabies.
All Last Summer: A Heartfelt Journey through Love and Chaos
Non-review Rant
This one is the book #2 in October 2023. I know, crazy schedule, right?
Recap
Lila likes to plan, and she has lists for everything. Except… Life doesn’t really go per the plan. We see her dealing with a heartbreak, monumental pressure to get a job to repay her parents’ debt and to prove that she can do a job of scrubbing toilets if that is what it takes to quiet a few douches.
But… it turns out that she had the wrong impression of those douches, one particularly sweet and charming; and they had a wrong impression of Lila.
Thus begins a love story.
Review
Things I liked: The Joy of Lists and Slow-Burning Relationships
Let’s make a list as Lila does, shall we?
- The cover is so apt for the story. You’ve to read the book to know it.
- The list-making is really fun, and I like that in a narrative. Makes it very personal.
- The pace… It takes time for Aidan and Lila to be friendly towards each other.
Alright, now, let’s dive in.
When you pick up a book, and its cover perfectly encapsulates the essence of the story within, you know you’re in for a treat. “All Last Summer” by Stephanie J. Scott does exactly that. But the beauty of this novel isn’t just skin-deep. It’s a narrative that weaves its charm through the art of list-making, slow-burning relationships, and an exploration of the chaos that life can sometimes become.
Lila, our protagonist, has a penchant for making lists, and it’s one of the many endearing qualities that drew me into the story. As a reader, you can’t help but be charmed by her approach to life. The act of making lists, which seems so simple on the surface, becomes a window into her world, offering a glimpse into her thoughts, dreams, and insecurities. It’s a personal touch that invites you to see the story from her perspective.
What adds to the appeal of this narrative is the delightful pace of the budding relationship between Aidan and Lila. Their journey from strangers to friends is a slow, winding path. It’s a refreshing change from the whirlwind romances often found in fiction. The gradual build-up allows you to savor the moments, share in their awkwardness, and relish the anticipation of what might come next. The author’s skill lies in making you root for these characters, making their connection all the more rewarding.
Things I Didn’t Care For: When Chaos Overwhelms
While the book’s pacing is a strong suit, towards the end, when the narrative takes a turn and events start spiraling into chaos, it can feel a bit overwhelming. It’s like a rollercoaster careening out of control, and the feeling is both thrilling and disorienting.
Without giving away spoilers, it’s fair to say that the story’s climax is a whirlwind of emotions and events, and it’s here that the narrative takes a bold, almost reckless, turn. This could be seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it keeps you engaged, flipping the pages frantically to find out what happens next. On the other, it feels like there’s a point where the narrative lets go of your hand, leaving you to navigate the turmoil independently. While some readers might relish this free fall into chaos, others may find it a tad too unrestrained.
To sum up, “All Last Summer” is a captivating exploration of love and human connection, beautifully framed by the art of list-making and the excitement of slowly unfolding relationships. It’s a journey that takes you through the joy of personal discovery and the whirlwind of life’s unpredictability.
Some Lines I Liked
And maybe some mistakes I noted.
Chapter Three – Page 25
Aidan Pemberton. The third element of the crony trifecta
Chapter Three – Page 27
Not my problem. My problem concerned a bill with a number and several zeroes after it.
Chapter Four – Page 28
Aid an Pemberton: proof-reading oversight
Chapter Four – Page 30
For two years she’d been losing strength and pounds, the pink in her cheeks dulling to colors not found in my old crayon box.
Chapter Four – Page 31
Matt hadn’t been over to my house much. Too risky bringing him to home base where my lack-of-actual coolness could be exposed.
Note: I love the dry, wry, self deprecating sense of humour
Chapter Five – Page 37
My eyes pricked hot and wet. I wasn’t prone to crying on demand, but these were not normal operating procedures.
Note – Page 37
I’m beginning to like her. In last paragraph, she was beinf sarcastic and snide and now she’s vulnerable and weepy. Just the human kinda main character I like.
Chapter Five- Page 38
If there was anyone who could scare the smarm off the face of a self-important teenager, it was my dad. – Page 38
all leading to Natalie’s pout face, her classic I feel so bad for you expression which should have elicited major eye rolls,
Note: I don’t like Natalie.
Chapter Six – Page 51
And now my clean field was full of golf balls again.
Note – Page 51
All of this sounds brutal. I am hyperventilating just thinking about it
Chapter Seven – Page 55
My blush game came on so strong my mom probably sensed it at work two zip codes away.
Chapter Seven – Page 59
I wasn’t done making lists forever or anything, but the ones with meticulous notes about popularity had to go.
Note – Page 60
I know. Lists work. Not for getting a boyfriend or becoming popular but in general to “get things done”. Sharing a picture of my notebook stash here, only the unused ones because…it makes to a pretty picture.
Also, if you like Lila and like making lists, you might love Zoya Sehgal in Once Upon a Contract.
Chapter Eight – Page 61
Weekly Goal:
- Make friends at work
- Lay off on making so many goals
Note: This is gold.
Chapter Eight – Page 63
I’ll show you how to operate the service elevator.”
Note: This reminds me of Elevator Girl By Stephanie Bond. where elevator was a time-travel portal. While reading this chapter, I kinda waited for Lila to be ported back in time. Thank goodness she didn’t.
Chapter Ten – Page 76
“I found these animatronics from the old mini-golf in the basement of the range. They’re sitting there collecting dust. I thought it would be cool to fix them up. Then, I thought maybe it’d be even cooler to bring back the whole miniature golf course as a way to bring in more families to the business.”
Note: Telling Natalie about her plan to win the bonus is a bad idea
Chapter Eleven – Page 87
“I don’t like how Matt acts when he has a girlfriend,” Dan answered in a clipped tone. “It seriously has nothing to do with you. It’s about him.”
Note: Look at that. Lila befriending Dan and Mason. Nice chaps they are.
Chapter Eleven- Page 87
Even though his friends were into geeky stuff, Matt always played down the geekery in front of me or at school. Matt had been trying to change his image, same as me. An unsettled feeling washed over me. If Matt betrayed his friends in favor of cooler friends, of popularity, of acceptance, who had I betrayed?
Chapter Twelve – Page 101
He led us to an open space by portable metal gates separating the carnival rides from the food trucks. He guided me with a light touch to my back, steering me toward the gate and putting himself nearer to the crowd. I found myself leaning into his hand at my back. I imagined him encircling his arms around me. Protecting me…
Chapter Sixteen – Page 147
Analyzing was my DNA.
Note: Mine too, and freaking out.
Chapter Twelve – Page 152
“Well, thanks for thinking of me.”“Kind of a trend lately.”“Oh?” I managed in a nonchalant tone. He grinned. “Yeah. I think about you a lot.”
Note: Yowza! That’s sweet and kinda hot
Chapter Seventeen – Page 166
He was teasing me with that grin. I loved it. I hated it. I hated that I loved it.
Chapter Seventeen – Page 174
His face further shadowed. “Look, I don’t want to get in the way of your idea and would expect the same for me. You’re right, we’re still competing.”
Note: And that would be the final conflict.
Chapter Nineteen – Page 196
Natalie: You’re really hanging out with your ex’s friends over me?
Note: And there it is. I told you. I don’t like her.
Chapter Nineteen – Page 198
Each choice had negatives in some way. At least choosing the lake, I wouldn’t disappoint my best friend. Instead, I’d only disappointed myself.
Chapter Twenty – Page 210
“Can I come in?” Natalie.
Chapter Twenty – Page 214
“Well, if I’m so difficult to be around, maybe you should go and hang out with Aidan.” She pivoted toward the kitchen.
Note:Told ya.
Chapter Twenty-one – Page 220
Brandon opened the door to the garage. “This is my house. My rules. I think you need to go.”
Note: Brandon, Grace, Manny; all sound like nice people.
Chapter Twenty-three – Page 240
“The trunk is empty.”
Note: Too many conflicts: Matt coming back, cops, missing car, lack of cash, and now missing robot that was stolen. Talk about “all hell breaks loose”.
Chapter Twenty-four – Page 244
“You’ve got to me kidding me.”
Chapter Twenty-seven – Page 273
“Dude.” Matt backed up, laughing. “You both are out of control. You’re jealous. Look, I get it. I took off and—”
Note: Why is nobody punching him?
Chapter Twenty-seven – Page 274
That’s what mature people do. They call each other out when they’ve done wrong. They listen to each other. And then they change.
And that’s all.
Stay tuned for more book reviews in my “one book review per month” series. This month, I have published two. Isn’t that nice?
Until next time, happy reading!
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Shabana Mukhtar