Review: Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez

Burnout Summer with Topo Chico and a planner

Alexis:

Happy pub day! Okay, so I’m actually a day late, but close enough!

Burnout Summer follows Camille during her, you guessed it, burnout summer.

The thing I really enjoyed about this book was how Ramirez explores the years following college. She digs in deep in her exploration of life after graduation and how corporate life in the US changes you and your relationships.

I also enjoyed learning more about Camille’s identity as a half Jewish and half Mexican woman and how she relates to Danny for being half Jewish and half Catholic.

Danny’s character is also a breath of fresh air. He isn’t brooding. He’s kind, funny, charismatic and I found him to be very refreshing.

Camille also struggles with credit card debt and student loan debt, and I really appreciated Ramirez’s realistic depiction of it.

My biggest criticism is that I honestly struggled to see why Danny loved Camille. And while that sounds harsh, what I mean is we were told that they were best friends and they always knew each other the best, but I never fully understood his relationship with Camille on page. I often felt like Camille used him as a punching bag and was constantly crying at him but then got a free pass because she was burnt out.

There was also a spicy scene that just gave me the ick, but I won’t go into details about that here.

Overall, there was still a lot that resonated with me, but I wish the romance aspect was just a little stronger, and that I was as compelled by Camille’s character as I was by Danny’s.

VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Thanks so much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s for the ARC in exchange for a review!

The Summers Between Us by Noreen Nanja

Coffee shop with an iced London Fog and a Kindle with The Summers Between Us

Alexis:

I’ve been in the mood to read my ARCs lately!

Happy publication day to The Summers Between Us! This is the perfect romance read for this summer if you’re looking for:

  • Childhood friends to lovers
  • Second chance romance
  • Dual timelines 
  • Summer romance 

The Summers Between Us follows Lia. As a teenager, her family vacations in a cabin on a lake, where Lia meets Wes, the next-door neighbor. Over several summers, Lia and Wes grow closer and fall in love. Meanwhile, in the present timeline, 28-year-old Lia is a workaholic lawyer determined to fix her family and live up to her dad’s expectations, even after his death. But when she finds herself back in the cabin of her teenage years, she’s forced to face Wes and her past once more.

Nanja’s writing style is lovely, and it really put me in the mood for summer! The lakeside cabin was a great setting, and it contrasted well with Toronto. I also appreciated how the main characters are both likeable yet realistically flawed. 

This was the perfect blend of a sweet, first love romance with more serious themes. Lia struggles with the cultural differences between her parents and Wes, and the theme of self-identity plays a big role. Family, friendship, and the idea of the perfect daughter all come into play in the story. 

This was a great read, and I definitely recommend it! Just be sure to check out the author’s note below for any trigger warnings. 

VERDICT: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️/5

Thanks to Random House Canada for providing me a copy for review! 

Author’s Note:

The Summers Between Us is a story that aims to represent the messiness of life. This book contains discussion of divorce, homophobia, pregnancy loss, grief over the loss of a parent as an adult and coping with family illness.