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The Summer My Life Began Shannon Greenland Books

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The Summer My Life Began Shannon Greenland Books

I love this book. It is how learned that I wanted to be a cook and a baker. My sister gave me this book.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Summer My Life Began (9780142413470): Shannon Greenland: Books,Shannon Greenland,The Summer My Life Began,Speak,014241347X,Romance - General,Social Themes - General,Family secrets,Family secrets;Fiction.,Interpersonal relations,Interpersonal relations;Fiction.,Islands,Islands;Fiction.,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fiction,Love & Romance,Romance & relationships stories (Children's Teenage),YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Young Adult Fiction Family General (see also headings under Social Themes),Young Adult Fiction Romance Contemporary,Young Adult Fiction Romance General,Young Adult Fiction Social Themes General (see also headings under Family),Young Adult Fiction Social Themes New Experience,Young Adult FictionFamily - General (see also headings under Social Themes),Young Adult FictionSocial Themes - New Experience

The Summer My Life Began Shannon Greenland Books Reviews

The Summer My Life Began is a fast, light read that's perfect for a day of relaxing in the summer sun!

Elizabeth Margaret, or Em as she's referred to in most of the story, and her sister are born into a world of prestige. As they grow, they must learn to meet their family's expectations perfect grades, ivy league education and a high-standing job like a lawyer or a doctor. All Em wants is to be a chef and get away from the high stress of her family's expectations. So she decides to go to an aunt's Bed and Breakfast. She's never heard of this aunt, but receives an invite as a high school graduation present.

The way that Em's life is depicted really annoyed me, but based on television shows, movies and other books, the way she grew up seems normal for a upper class citizen. For me, it was hard to believe and actually a bit frightening. My parents want me to be the best I can be, but they want me to do what I want to do. To see someone's parents so prejudice to people who aren't rich, or careers that aren't high end, is very unnerving to me. I wanted Em to immediately get out of that house and find her own way.

As soon as Em makes her way to her aunt's home in North Carolina, I wanted to visit my own family there. The way Ms. Greenland writes the scenery really makes you want to go to the Outer Banks. And eat a lot of food. Reading Em's descriptions of the food she's cooking made me literally drool. I'll admit to having to have food around as I read this one. That's how delicious the meals sounded! Ms. Greenland has a way with descriptions!

I had a few issues with this book, but overall, I enjoyed it. There are a lot of cheesy aspects in this book. Rich girl falls for the poor, mysterious boy. It's almost insta-love. He knows the real secret about her and this causes drama. Much of the drama is needless. Em's voice is a bit younger than I picture for a legal adult. She doesn't always seem like someone who just graduated as a valedictorian. It's not a very unique character set-up or plot, but the author really makes it her own.

I don't know how, but the twist in this book really blew me away. I think it was my favorite part of the book - besides the romance. I mean, I'm a total romance junkie. And the romance in this story is very realistic and sweet. I love Cade. He's a great guy. The word that comes to mind when I think of him is actually "summer" because not only does Em meet him in the summertime, but he himself almost embodies it. Cade is a good match for a character like Em. Em is sweet, but she lets people rule her life and that bugged me. She's a sweet girl who didn't deserve to be controlled, but loved for being her own person.

This book is a very light read. Perfect for sitting out in the sun and relaxing. It's got its own drama, sure, but it isn't drama that is going to make you need tissues. That's why it's so good for summer! It's refreshing to read something so carefree after the dark books that I've been reading lately! The Summer My Life Began is a recommended book for all-age teens who need an easy summer read!
**Originally reviewed at my blog, That Artsy Reader Girl. The copy I received was complimentary, in exchange for an honest review.**

I am on a major contemporary romance kick these days, not to mention book that take place in amazing locations (which is why I asked the author to talk about it in her guest post below my review!). I am SO ready for summer, and traveling, and sitting outside reading in the sun. I'm tired of being cold! This book warmed me inside and out, and had me smiling like an idiot while I read it.

1. Let me live in this novel. Seriously. Most of it takes place in and around an adorable, picturesque B&B in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. I loved it. Pepper House has a very tropical feel with lots of flowers and warm breezes blowing through the open shutters to ruffle the bed canopies. Sandy beaches, mysterious caves to explore, a quaint little town where everyone knows who you are and what you're up to, mopeds, waves crashing against craggy cliffs, expensive yachts tied to the dock, and yummy aromas flowing throughout it all, of food and the ocean and the flowers and the soap Mr. Sexy used after his day of surfing. Can I please go!?!

2. The writing is my favorite. I loved the descriptions of everything. Shannon's writing drapes you in a flowy gauze dress and sits you on a beach towel in the sand, rocking big sunglasses and a smile. If only I could live in this world!

3. I fell in love with the characters. Elizabeth Margaret (or Em) is so much fun. She's feeling stifled by her parents and her rich life. She has to wear polos and plaid shirts, always act ladylike, and never do anything fun. Does she want to go to Harvard to be a lawyer? No. She secretly wants to be a chef, but she could never tell her parents that. Cooking is not the kind of life Em is to have. Em jumps at the chance to go stay with her aunt Tilly, who I love. I want a cool aunt like her! She's so sweet, caring, loving, funny and cool to be around. She owns the B&B Em heads off to, which is like a dream of mine. Tilly's cook, Domino, is the coolest fatherly guy ever. He takes Em under his wing and gives her advice on life, as well as cooking. Frederick, Tilly's son, is the kind of guy you can confide in without feeling like you need to hide anything. Beth, the "domestic engineer" (maid) is like the big sister you've always wanted. And, of course, we have Cade. Ahh... Cade *swoons*. He's a sexy, slightly broken jack-of-all-trades with a smart, sensitive side and great abs. Oh man. Totally love this guy.

4. The family environment at the B&B is amazing. Everyone loves each other, even though they all carry scars from difficult pasts. Their trials brought them together, though, into this tight make-shift family. I loved reading all their conversations, their silly jabs at each other, their "family" outings, and their past lives. I'd love to insert them into my own family. I can just picture holiday dinners laughing around the table with them. I also like Em's sister, Gwenny, who stayed back home while Em went off for the summer. You can tell how much she loves her sister. Em's lucky to have her for support.

5. The story flows naturally from one thing to the other. As we learn more about each person, we figure out exactly how they fit into each other's lives. I love Em's character development. She grows so much over her month at Pepper House, and learns about who she is and what she wants with her life. It truly is the summer of a new beginning for her, as well as many of the other characters. The romance is totally believable, and happens naturally. I loved the tension between Cade and Em. And oh my. Their first date is straight out of a fairytale.

6. This book kept me guessing! I had no idea all the cool twists and turns it would take, but I loved every minute of the ride.

7. I love the message of this book. Stepping away from your current life allows you to evaluate and see where you're headed. It gives you a chance to stop focusing on the mundane events of life and focus only on yourself. Em had a lot of time to think and ponder. She got to taste a new side of her life. She got to cook and play and learn and fall in love. This book teaches us that we can always change. Nothing is ever set in stone. It also reminds us to have fun, which I know I need to be reminded of sometimes.

I can't stop thinking about how perfect this book was! It was like a much needed vacation. I placed myself right in the middle of it, grabbed the bedroom next to Em's, and made myself a home in this book. I never liked coming of age novels, but I'm starting to discover the messages you can learn from them. I'd definitely recommend this to people who love contemporary stories, coming of age moments, sweet romance, and trips to gorgeous tropical islands.
The first couple of chapters had me a little worried. It starts off a little slow and I wasn't sure Greenland would be able to pull the story together and make something memorable. Thankfully, I was wrong.

This is a sweet coming of age story that deals with a lot of things teens have to face parent expectations versus teen desires, first love, and family dynamics. Greenland managed to tackle each of these topics in a way that left everything tied up in a wonderful bow, and yet it wasn't overly perfect. I do wish this book had gone a little deeper in exploring these topics instead of just the surface skim. The topics are addressed, but I felt like there was so much more there that could have been explored. The book was good, but if it had explored this a little bit more, it could have been great.

The characters were likable and very relatable. It was easy to see a piece of myself in Em, a bit of my high school crush in Cade, and my family members sprinkled somewhere in the book. It brought me back to the summer after I graduated and when I was thinking about taking the next step towards my future.

It's a lighthearted read that made me feel good about life. It was a quick read for me, but sometimes, those are the books you want and need to read. It's a wonderful, beachy summer read.

I was given the opportunity to read this through JKS Communications.
i loved it super sweet and good characters, the mother daughter surprise was a fun twist. very good read i needed it for the plane ride.
I love this book. It is how learned that I wanted to be a cook and a baker. My sister gave me this book.