HNS Blog Tour: Summer Days & Summer Nights by Stephanie Perkins

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Summer Days & Summer Nights

Title: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 400
Year:  2016
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: Netgalley
Amazon l B & N  l Book Depository l Goodreads

Synopsis:

Maybe it’s the long, lazy days, or maybe it’s the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Summer Days & Summer Nights is the first anthology I’ve ever read. I didn’t know what to expect, all I know is I’m not a short-story person. Fortunately, it turned out better than what I anticipated it to be. For me, it’s split into three categories. There are four stories that struck me, and gripped me, followed by four stories that are ordinary, but doable, while the remaining four stories doesn’t belong to this collection.

  1. Head, Scales, Tongue, Tale by Leigh Bardugo – 3 stars

This has the same story telling as The Summer of Chasing Mermaids, except I like the former much better. It’s a combination of contemporary mythology in a small country town.

  1. The End of Love by Nina Lacour – 4 stars

This is where the pace of the anthology picks up. It tackles family drama, making friends, and a cute f/f pairing. I felt like I was reading a Hayley Kiyoko book.

  1. Last Night at the Cinegore by Libba Bray – 2 stars

After reading Bardugo’s story, I finally grasp this is not a realistic-contemporary anthology. However, it’s a mixture of the former, and modern paranormal. I read some of Bray’s books, and I like how she crafts her plot, but I find myself sordidly disappointed with this. It’s an odd story trying to pass as Night Film by Marisha Pessl.

  1. Sick Pleasures: For A and U by Francesca Lia Block – 1 star

What derailed me from liking this story is how the narrator called herself and her friends on a first initial basis. J, M, N, it confuses me. Frankly, it’s annoying. Do people really call themselves like that in real life? Overall, this imparts a great message to its readers. I just felt disconnected to it.

  1. In Ninety Minutes, Turn North by Stephanie Perkins – 4 stars

I love, love, second chance romance. Perkins perfectly captured that vibe. This is such a swoon-filled story, perfect for romance contemporary readers.

  1. Souvenirs by Tim Federle – 4 stars

The concept of this story is so cute and endearing. I love the “fun” tone of it. I’d say, this is the most entertaining read of the bunch.

  1. Inertia by Veronica Roth – 3 stars

The introduction of this short story was boring, but it got better in the end. I’m not a futuristic person, so I’m not surprised by my verdict.

  1. Love Is The Last Resort by Jon Skovron – 3 stars

This started on a hopeful note. I love the characterization, and the quirky narration. However, the build-up for the characters’ get together was anticlimactic.

  1. Good Luck and Farewell by Brandy Colbert – 4.5 stars

Brandy Colbert’s story easily becomes one of my favorites. With very limited page count, the story managed to carve a depth for the characters. It tackles hard-hitting topics as well. This stands out from the rest.

  1. Brand New Attraction by Cassandra Clare – 2 stars

This is another odd story of the bunch. I guess, I expected much better than that from Clare. Fighting demons + love potions + family’s betrayal + falling in love. I suppose, that’s a trademark Clare stamp, one that I didn’t like at all.

  1. A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith – 3 stars

I like this story. It’s cute, but I wasn’t invested with it at all.

  1. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman– 1 star

This is the most boring story from this anthology. I don’t have any positive things to say about it.

Over all, I really like Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories. It’s noted Perkins and her contributing authors made it as diverse as it could be. There’s LGBT characters & pairings, mental health issues, racial diversity, and more. The only thing, I could complain is out of the twelve stories, five of them have characters color on it, but only one of them are written by an author of color. If publishing industry wants to thrive for inclusivity, especially for racial diversity, my advice: include more authors of color.

This book is highly recommended to fans of anthologies, especially My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories.

Review is also posted at Goodreads.

Stephanie Perkins CREDIT Destinee Blau

About the Editor

Stephanie Perkins has always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. She’s the author of the international bestsellers Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, as well as Isla and the Happily Ever After. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories is her first anthology. Stephanie and her husband live in the mountains of North Carolina.

About the Author

7dVr3HIhSue discovered the magical world filled with words at a young age. They have been her constant companion ever since. In addition to being a full time bookworm, and a dessert enthusiastic, she also runs the first fansite for Vampire Academy’s Lucy Fry called Lucy Fry Source. When she’s not tucked between the pages of her books, you can find her at her personal blog. You can also follow Sue on instagram and goodreads.

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