Review: LOVE this series!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 3, 2014
It’s official: I want to marry an Onslow boy. I discovered the Summer series this past summer and fell instantly in love with Tess and Toby. I was as fascinated with the Onslow boys as Tess and Ellie were, and I enjoyed watching their story continue in Amy and Sean’s book, and now Tammy and Chris’s book.It was easy to love Toby and Sean - they were pretty much the epitome of swoonworthy. I was intrigued with Chris from the beginning and hoped he’d get his own story so we’d learn more about him, so I was psyched when I found out That One Summer was his story. He’s an example of ‘still waters run deep’ - he’s bossy, sullen, broody, and seems like a buzzkill, but there’s so much more to him than that. He’s a loyal friend, a dedicated and hardworking businessman, and he has this unexpected side to him that’s sweet, tender, and funny. CJ Duggan has a knack for writing boys that are easy to fall in love with, and Chris was no exception.My only issue with this book was, funnily enough, Tammy. There were times when she drove me absolutely batty. She let her insecurities get the better of her time and time again, and it caused her to jump to conclusions, overreact, feel sorry for herself, and get mad over little things. I wanted to wring her neck so many times, but I appreciated that she finally started to grow and open up her eyes and her heart, and not just to Chris, but to the others as well. At the beginning she didn’t feel like she fit in - the others were ‘Amy’s friends’ - but when she stopped feeling sorry for herself, she saw that the others cared about her and wanted her to be part of their group.I loved the road trip aspect of the book. It was nice to get away from Onslow and see something completely different, plus I love a good road trip story. Let's just say I wouldn’t mind being stuck in a car with Chris for a few days! As with any good road trip story, it was as much an emotional journey as a physical one, and I enjoyed watching Tammy and Chris get to know each other, and the lessons Tammy learned. There were some really sweet moments between the two, and there were also moments that were so sexy I practically needed a cold shower. Besides having a knack for writing swoonworthy boys, Duggan also has a knack for writing scorching sexytimes!As much as I love the romance in CJ’s books - and I do love the romance - I also love the friendship aspect of the book. I’d love to be part of the Onslow gang. They have a really special friendship, and unlike a lot of close-knit groups, they’re willing to open their arms and hearts to new people.That One Summer is sweet, funny, sexy, and romantic. The Summer series is incredibly addictive, and a definite favourite of mine. It’s one of the series I recommend most, and I’m going to do it again - if you enjoy contemporary upper YA/NA with great friendships, swoonworthy and memorable romances, and fun storylines, the Summer series is a must read. I can’t wait for Forever Summer to be reunited with these wonderful characters!