Because spooky vibes just as summer is ending is the perfect mood to channel.
Song Vibe Check:
"Boyfriend" By: Dove Cameron
"Ghost Town" By: Layto and Neoni
"All the Things She Said" By: Poppy
When it comes to reading, I can and will likely read almost any genre out there for reading but horror stories, or stories that tend to deal with ghosts tend to not be my vibe. It's not because I get scared of reading horror stories, it's just that like the films, they don't appeal to me or they end up being predictable.
But Christine Lynn Herman changed my mind. AND I AM OBSESSED WITH HOW GREAT THIS BOOK IS. The Drowning Summer alludes to it being a perfect summer read, but I think the prime time for reading this book is NOW, when it's September and the last bit of summer is slowly fading into the beginnings of fall, curling up with coffee and this book.
Now, I have read her work with Amanda Foody and The All of Us Villains duology has me on a chokehold (Book 2 has been put on hold since I'll be buddy reading this one with a friend as fall fully takes over!) but I have not gotten to exploring Christine's work individually and now, I'm so glad I have. (Because now that means I am gonna read all her other work!)
Onto the rant now.
Short Summary? Mina, a medium and her partner in crime, Evelyn team up to lay The Drowning Summer spirits who aren't able to rest before it's too late all while denying the growing connection between the two.
Longer Summary: Mina Zanetti has always wanted to communicate with spirits, but when she gets shut out from the family business, her paths collides with Evelyn Mackenzie, the former best friend with whom she summoned a spirit once, six years ago to help clear Evelyn's father's name of the Drowning Summer murders.
A promise was made to never summon a spirit again. But Evelyn lied.
And when the attempt goes horribly wrong, the girls must work together to uncover who was really behind the drowning summer murders, and to put the three teenage spirits to rest just as the world of the dead is becoming more dangerous, and may threaten to destroy their sleepy town. Also, both will have to confront their growing feelings towards each other that may just be the death of them.
In other words, it starts out as a sleepy town contemporary YA with the twist of mediums that get to speak to the dead along with the elements of a murder mystery, a former friends to lovers plot which makes this one of the best sapphic love stories I've read out there and characters that are definitely bound to stay with you long after the book finishes. I do appreciate the fact that it does make commentary about the stigma that surrounds people who come out as bisexual and that both of our main characters are bi because it's not often we get to see commentary made about the stigma that surrounds people who are bisexual. Also, while I wish that there would have been more diverse characters, I do think it was a bit repetitive to keep saying "white guy/girl" like yes, we get it.
You're in a white town. But that's beside the point.
Honestly, I am glad to have read this and while I am sad it is just a standalone, it made for a spooky edge of summer/fall read that is spooky and romantic all at once all while dealing with solving crimes. So, as the old adage goes.... "Be gay do crime" is one way to pitch this book.
But seriously, add this one to your shelves :)
Overall: 4/5 stars
Comments