“This is my first summer in Cottonwood Creek, and our last summer in high school. We’re going to soar from the depths of anonymity to the peak of notoriety. By September, Aspen Parks and Laurel Piedmont will own this town.†p. 17
Growing up in a small country town, I remember all about being a teenager and feeling the occasional need to break free or change my social status. I think this is why A&L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin appealed so much to me when I first picked it up at the E. Lockhart event that was held at Oblong Books (LOVE Oblong Books!) last year. From the moment I read the back cover, I was intrigued by the premise of the story, and immediately decided that A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin was the book that I was going to take as my ‘free gift’.
A & L Do Summer
The two main characters, Laurel and Aspen, are best friends who are as opposite as can be. Laurel is originally a city girl who is not sure how to take living in a small country space where the cars are pick-up trucks, the parties are held in smelly barns, and her level on the social scale is pretty much non-existent. In contrast, Aspen has lived in rural Cottonwood Creek her entire life, and she is pretty much used to being non-existent on the social scale. However, once summer rolls around, and Laurel becomes determined to change her social status, what else is a best friend to do except go along for the ride?
A&L Do Summer was a really quick read for me. It had me laughing and shaking my head as Laurel and Aspen create a memorable summer for themselves filled with several misunderstandings and dealings with parents, siblings, neighbors, bullies, crushes, bosses, and law enforcement. I found myself easily being able to relate to Aspen as she is pulled into each new scheme that Laurel thought up, and also found myself laughing and feeling for Laurel as each of her schemes unraveled and she was forced to deal with the consequences of her actions. While the plot of A & L Do Summer might not be too original, Jan Blazanin made her two main characters fun and quirky which made it a worthwhile and enjoyable read for me.
Disclosure: Free Gift
Other reviews of A & L Do Summer by Jan Blazanin:
The Allure Of Books
Ten Cent Notes
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I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while, too! It sounds so much like something I would enjoy, because I also grew up in a small nowhere town (I still actually live there because I’m a country mouse). But this book sounds cute and endearing, and I’m even more confident that I’ll enjoy it now! 🙂
It is really cute, and I was really able to relate to it as a small country ‘middle of nowhere’ town native, so I imagine that you will be able to as well. Or at least I hope you do. Us ‘small town kids’ have to stick together! 😉
Yay! So glad to hear you liked this book, Allison! I’ve been wanting to read it for a while but I’ve heard essentially almost nothing about it until now! Thanks for the review, I’m going to see if my library will order a copy! 🙂
Yay! I’m glad I pushed your interest up some more with my review! I really do hope you’re able to get a copy from your library, and that you enjoy it when you read it. 🙂
This one has been on my radar for awhile. It sounds like an adorable teenage shenanigans movie in book form. Obviously, that sounds rad to me.
“It sounds like an adorable teenage shenanigans movie in book form.”
Yes! That’s exactly it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂
Ohhh is it anything like E. Lockhart’s novels because she is basically up there in my favourite author’s ever after reading The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.