Review: The Summer Remains

Twenty-four-year-old Summer Johnson knows two things. The first is that due to a quickly worsening medical condition, she faces a risky surgery in three months’ time that may or may not end in her death. The second is that she would like to fall in love before then.

As spring sinks into her namesake season on the Florida coastline, Summer plays the odds and downloads a new dating app - and after one intriguing message from a beautiful surfer named Cooper Nichols, it becomes clear that the story of what may be her last few months under the sun is about to be completely revised. All she has to do now is write something worth reading.

Tender, honest, devastating and triumphant, The Summer Remains explores a very human battle being waged in a very digital age: the search for a love that will outlast this temporary borrowing of bones. In an era when many feel compelled to share and re-share anything about everything, prepare to feel a love so special, you will want to hug it close and make it yours forever.


5 Fantastic Stars!

Review by Allison East 

This book had all the feels. ALL THE DAMN FEELS. I was smiling, and crying- sometimes at the same time. I knew it was going to be an emotional roller coaster from the blurb- but I didn't know how much I would feel for these characters. And Seth King being a new author to me, I will have to add him to my auto author list for sure- because he has a magnificent way with words- that's for sure. This story is not just your typical every day romance- and no one should go into it thinking that way. It is so much MORE than that, so much MORE than I ever expected.

Summer and Cooper's story had me in complete knots from the beginning to the end. I just knew something was going to happen and every page I turned was like waiting for that other shoe to drop and for me to be a sniveling mess over in the corner of my room- with red rimmed eyes, snotty nose, and bits of tissue all around me. Book hangovers come and go. I have them sometimes with the truly exceptional books- and this was one of those for sure.

"Dying was easy, but living was the most challenging adventure of all." 

I was obsessed with Summer from the get go. I saw her power and tenacity even when she was at her worst- one of my favorite heroines so far this year- and its going to be hard to top- that's for sure. As far as females in books go- it can go one of two ways, I hate them and they are whiny emotional babies- or they are sassy, fierce, and snarky- like I try to be. And Summer was all that and more. I wanted to hurry and finish the story so I could find out the ending, but then I wanted it to drag on because I felt such a connection with Summer and her story.

And the love story between Summer and Cooper- is tragically beautiful. I realize that's an oxymoron, but it is the only way to describe it. It is fantastic in every way, and I do mean every way. Its gritty, it's raw, and sometimes downright dirty- but it's also the antithesis of that. Its romantical, lovely, and absolutely freaking astonishing.

You gave me a roaring July in the winter of my life. And I'm grateful. No matter what happens now, this is my vow: I will take this summer with me forever.

Seth King's brilliant writing brought his characters to life, I felt like I knew them- or I wanted to be best friends with them. I wanted to crawl into the pages, seep into the words, and live them right along with the cast of characters. This is unlike anything I have read, this year- maybe ever. And I am so thankful to have been able to experience it from page one, until the very last page. There is absolutely no way I can pick a favorite part from this book, or a favorite line- I highlighted so much, I think I broke that function on my kindle. It's amazing what happens when you branch outside of my normal sappy romance novels that  I usually read- I found something amazing, and I found Summer.

Loving your daughter was easy Ms. Johnson. I was so lucky to get wrecked by that girl, let me tell you.