Review: The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry

The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry

Published: March 1, 2014

Format: via NetGalley

Challenge: 2014 NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

A teenage girl trying to cope with her new diagnosis of type one diabetes and a teenage male veteran who is learning how to embrace his new life after losing an arm, who come together by using each other as an escape, only to discover through love and struggle that your life is what you make of it.

My Thoughts

The Summer I Found You is a story about two individuals who are trying to live their lives as “normal” as possible after both are dealt circumstances bigger than both can manage.

Kate is trying to deal with a break up after her first boyfriend dumps her for someone else all while trying to deal with her recent discovery that she has diabetes. Kate isn’t very concern with her illness seeing it as something that is a nuisance. She doesn’t take it seriously and gets an attitude with everyone around her who is on her back about it. She seems more concern about her ex and his new girlfriend rather than taking care of herself.

Aidan is Kate’s best friends cousin and he has a whole set of issues that he is trying to handle. He is recently out of service after an explosion caused him to lose his arm. He is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life now that his career has come to an end all while still doing therapy for his arm.

I like this story and how while both are coping with their problems those things while major can’t stop love from happening. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, you can just feel it. Kate’s character rang very true to me because I know some people who are diabetic they act somewhat the same as Kate did. She didn’t take her illness seriously; some people don’t realize how bad the illness can affect you until it’s too late. Just as with Kate it takes a serious scare to knock some sense into them.

I also loved how Aidan missing an arm isn’t that big of an issue. He is a very independent person he doesn’t want anyone’s pity. It isn’t the main focus with Aidan. It’s about functioning in the real world again, about falling in love and just dealing with the everyday things in life.

The love story was my favorite, it showed that we can find love when you least expect it and we can all find someone who will love us for ourselves. Sometimes love can conquer all and sometimes we all need a little help from others.