Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland (Review)

Title: Nantucket Blue
Author: Leila Howland
Pages: 304
Publisher: Disney Hyperion/Hatchette Book Group Canada
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Received for Review

Buy: AmazonCA| Chapters Indigo| Book Depository| Barnes & Noble| Kobo

Summary: (Goodreads)

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

*e-ARC provided by Disney Hyperion/Hatchette Book Group Canada for honest review*

Review: 

In Leila Howlands, debut novel Nantucket Blue was really well written. I was hooked from the very first page! It really reminded me of The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han, which is one of my favorite series because of the romance, and the love of the beach which is also in this novel. Like any contemporary YA novel it was romantic, real, had good humor, friendship. You can really relate to the characters.

Cricket is our main character who is determined, strong and is able to hold her own. Her friendship with Jules was great at first but later in the novel after a tragedy  that hits Jules family, she tries to be with her friend (Clayton Family) Cricket was very close with the family and felt the grief as well. This friendship did feel like a friendship, Jules was changing into another person and I felt that Cricket did try to reconnect with her, but she always kept her distance while losing her best friend.

Nantucket Blue was a great book to read as showing readers how described the novel is about Nantucket, which I heard is beautiful.  Cricket starts working at a hotel, who she meets new friends and even a customer who tries to help achieve her goals. Liz was a great character as well as supporting Cricket through her problems who was more of a best friend that Jules. I loved the plot and felt that these characters who go through a lot of changing during one summer. With her mother's journal by her side Cricket discovers this new side of her to become her own.

Another thing I liked was the romance created in Nantucket Blue. Cricket does fall in love with the most unexpected male lead that your would suspect it a bit but at the same time root for him and this forbidden romance. Leila Howland is definitely another author to add to your list! If you loved the Summer I Turned Pretty Series, you will definitely love this new book who sets to navigate her own life, fall in love with a forbidden boy (who you will love). I will be looking forward to the next book by Leila. Also its a great summer read!! Also the cover is awesome!!

5/5