Allison: Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories | Stephanie Perkins | Anthology Review

The Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories anthology edited by Stephanie Perkins was the perfect way to kick off summer. Some of the short stories held the promise of happiness, love, and sunshine while others were a more realistic reminder of the fact that not every summer day was going to have sunshine and that there was a possibility that one day it might all end. It was a good mixture of both of these kinds of stories while also including an array of other characteristics including sexuality, social class, and location. I enjoyed how diverse it was and how each author brought their own blend to the anthology.

The fun thing about anthologies is that I’m able to both discover and rediscover authors. It is like a fun little treasure hunt because each time I read a story by an author I’m not familiar with I often look up to see what other things the author has written. It is a fantastic way to discover new authors while also falling in love once again with the author who has always been right there for you.

If I had to pick the story that touched me the most in Summer Days and Summer Nights:Twelve Love Stories, I would have to go with Inertia by Veronica Roth. The whole concept is about memories and the human connection within them. It is beautiful crafter and really makes you think. I read this particular story on a bus traveling back from NYC, and I admit I had to fight back tears a couple of times. Especially at that ending – wonderfully done!

This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the other stories because I did. Like I said, they were all different and enjoyable in their own way. I really liked how each story had its own voice – and that there were no carbon copies. But it is human nature and my personal preference to like certain ones more. Regardless of this though, I’m still excited that Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories brought so many new authors into my life. Who knows, maybe it will be a case of true love!