The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls - Jessica Spotswood (ARC Kindle Edition)

Wedding planning, festivities, and honeymoon are over. Everything was great, but it left basically NO time to read, which is a nightmare when May was so packed full of releases I've been anticipating for months. My ARC pile is also ...11 books deep... so I am very thankful to be able to finally breathe and take me time.

I received a Netgalley of The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls. I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting myself into with this one. It was enjoyable. I laughed out loud a few times, found myself on the verge of crying a few times. It was heartfelt, all-encompassing, and fun to read. There's plenty of pop culture and YA shoutouts (Riverdale and Reign of the Fallen, what up?!) which when done in the right way, can be a lot of fun. TLSOTGG bordered on reference overkill, but it wasn't so much that it became annoying.

I love a book based in MD, especially when they mention things near and dear to my heart - Jessica hit both MICA (where I graduated college) and Fells Point (where I've spent more time drinking than I'd like to admit). Plus, anyone who's ever been to those small Bay towns knows the type of charm they hold, and she did a good job painting the picture for those who haven't experienced them.

The story follows four sisters, all different ages, living with their grandmother, and all going through big changes. All four girls tell their story as well as their sisters through alternating perspectives, which is something I LOVE. Four seems like a lot, and I was worried at first that the actual story would become murky in the midst of trying to keep everyone straight, but it was very easy to follow. And also easy to be invested in and care about each girl's story. Lots of romance, lots of friendships, lots of mischief, lots of secrets, lots of LGBTQIA, lots of puppies and kittens!

The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls was released on June 5, 2018.