Review: A Long Way From Where We Started...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2013
Ah the Donovan boys.  I have not so patiently waited on each instalment of their adventures. I've loved seeing them grow up over the course of the Loving Summer novels. Each has their own swoon worthy qualities, Nat's rock star looks, maturity and responsibility, Drew's athleticism, and personality that draws people in like a magnet. No wonder Summer had such a hard time reconciling her feelings for each.In this instalment, Summer is having a difficult time overcoming her feelings towards Nat's disappearing, and leaving her alone. Drew has also been thrust into a world that is far from familiar, and is struggling to be both what he needs to be and what he desperately wants to be.As someone who has been on Team Drew from the first book, this should have been the one for me.  Drew and Summer are left alone in a world where not much is at it seems, and the secrets and lies come thick and fast. They finally get the time and space to explore the attraction between them, and initially, it seems like this might be the one relationship that will stick around.I wanted to love this instalment. There are some scenes in the book that had the potential to rip my heart out and strengthen my investment in the characters and the story.  The scene at the beginning between Drew and Summer could have been one of the strongest in the whole series.  Yet most of it just seemed too hurried. There are so many new parts to the story that each one didn't get the time or attention it deserved to make it the knockout it should have been.I am so firmly entrenched in this story now that I have no choice but to see it through. I can't imagine not knowing what happens to them all at this point.  But I am vaguely disappointed that the initial characters and story of the two families converging at Aunt Sookie's beach condo each year seems like a long distant memory with so many layers of plot over the top that some of what initially attracted me to the story had now gone.  Plus the plot line involving Nat's background threw me for a loop, and I don't know yet how much it will colour my perception of the story so far.I'd love to see some further character development in terms of Astor ( who I think got a really raw deal with Summer, and I hope he finds the happiness he deserves), Rachel, and Drew.  I know Drew got a lot of attention in this novel, but it seems to me that beyond the physical, he still has a bit of growing up to do, and that would be great to see in future books.I'd give this one 3.5 to 4 stars - and recommend readers read the other novels in order before getting to this one.