My Bittersweet Summer by Starla Huchton
A New Adult/Contemporary Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (05/07/15)
Summary:
Margie was bullied relentlessly as a child. It was only when her family moved that she was able to slowly recover and become a stronger and more put together person. It took her six years to gain back her confidence and decrease her panic attacks, but it takes all of one look at the boys who were her biggest tormentors to tear down all the defenses she’d built up. She needs a letter of recommendation from the new chef at the restaurant her parents work at, so she can’t just leave. One boy in particular, Zack, keeps bothering her. He isn’t the bully she used to know, but can she get over the fear she still has of him and the others and of getting hurt again?
Keywords:
Bullying, Strength, Panic Attacks, Restaurants, Chef, Cooking, Summer, Summer Job, Promise of Paris, New England, Romance, Perseverance, Victim, Second Chances, Becoming a Better Person
My Review:
Starla Huchton has done it again. I couldn’t put down My Bittersweet Summer. The book flowed from beginning to end and held its tension and my attention throughout the entirety of the story.
I always love Huchton’s characters. Margie has so much personality and her past, though only told in bits and pieces throughout her present day life, is so alive for the reader. The events in Margie’s past made her who she is and shaped who she has become. Present Margie is a product of Past Margie, but she has worked hard to become a new Margie. Going back to the place where her bullies tormented her would break anyone. Margie is not a super human, she is susceptible to bouts of panic and emotion when she has to confront the same bullies all grown up. She reacts with words and even her fist at one point, but there are other factors that keep her from losing all control. She can’t beat up the restaurant owner’s son. She can’t kill her chance to get that recommendation. She can’t let her parents down. She’s forced to confront her fears and her tormenters and to rise to the challenge Zack presents.
Zack. I love a person who is trying to be a better person. He has a lot of past to overcome as one of those that stood by and let Margie get bullied. The ones who do nothing are just as guilty as those who are at the front of the assault. Zack has a lot to make up for and the way he tries is super sweet. I loved all his gestures and how hard he tried.
I absolutely love Starla’s style and the story of My Bittersweet Summer.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on May 7th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00
Links for more information:
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