Review: Cruel Summer

 

Their freshman year of high school is over and big summer plans are in the works:

TS is going to London with her posh girlfriend Gemma. Only, she doesn't realize just how posh Gemma really is or how rude her family can be.

Tay is performing with her band and hopefully getting an opening spot, if everyone in the band can agree on their set list.

Teffy is happy with her boyfriend, but once she tells her parents, the secret will be out. Is she ready for more people to know about them?

Taylor is heading to summer camp, but unfortunately so is her ex-boyfriend. What goes from a happy summer quickly becomes horrific....

My Thoughts: The sequel to Love Stories is just as drama filled as the first book. There is plenty of love for Taylor Swift, friendship drama, and romance. I love how these friends support each other through thick and thin. I didn't want to put this book down. I hope there are more in the works about this friend group.

And Easter Egg: Whispering Pines camp in from Jen Calonita's (The Taylor's 0.5) book:

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Must have books for your school and public library for your Taylor Swift fans.

Book List: Cruel Summer

I just finished the second season of Cruel Summer (recap of the first season).

If you also enjoyed the show, here are some YA book recommendations. 

Girl Forgotten by April Henry

Liar's Beach by Katie Cotugo

Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban (on my shelf to read)

The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst

Live Your Best Lie by Jessie Weaver

The Headmaster's List by Melissa de la Cruz 

 

Review: Liar's Beach

 

Linden's the scholarship kid at school, but he tries to hide his lack of wealth. His roommate's family owns a house on the vineyard. He's invited for a week during the summer.

First, it's not a house, it's mansion. Second, everyone is wealthy. Third, there's LOTS of drama. Friendship drama, family drama, and romantic drama spill out all over the place. 

But it all blows up when the morning after the teens throw a house party, someone's found in the pool. He's unconscious.  Linden's not sure who to trust. Everyone seems to have a motive. Secrets start coming out and Linden wonders if he should even be there...

My Thoughts: This was a good thriller. From the cover and the title, I was excepting something different. Also, I'm not an Agatha Christie fan, so I didn't realize this was a modern retelling. It's hard to like any of the characters and I didn't empathize with any of them, but I had to keep turning the page to uncover the truth about that night.

Cover Thoughts: Cute, but doesn't match the book

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A fun summer thriller - hand this to folks who love Cruel Summer. 

TV Review: Cruel Summer

We just watched the first season of this show - and it was really interesting.

It is disturbing - on many levels.

There's drama - so much drama

friendship

family

relationship

There are some sweet moments

There are disturbing moments

There are plot twists and turns

I didn't like most of the characters and wasn't sure if you were supposed to root for any of them

I did like how it took place in three different timelines and how they went back and forth - especially the lighting in each

I love that it took place in the 90s 

If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it.

And the second season just dropped earlier this week.