Jane Green: Summer Secrets Book Review

Summer Secrets by Jane Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Weaving my way out of the room, one sober and sobering thought makes its way into my head: Nothing is as perfect as it seems."

I'm a fan of Jane Green because she covers women's issues in a realistic way--but infuses her writing with a sense of humor. This book was no exception.

The book follows Cat throughout her life as she struggles with more issues than most of us could ever dream of. Alcoholism is one major focus in the book as Cat feels the pull of the booze haunting her best years of life. I liked that Jane Green covered the issue in a realistic, eye-opening way without going over the top. She shows you that alcohol can sabotage your life even if you never end up in jail or doing something truly horrific. I found Cat's struggles to be genuine, honest, and probably very true to what many women face.

Cat also deals with secrets, as you could guess from the title. One major secret leaves Cat spiraling, trying to grasp her new identity. She also struggles with being honest with herself throughout the book, something she works on and overcomes.

I liked how Cat develops as a character throughout the book. Even though she makes so many mistakes, I was rooting for her the whole book. She really tries to do the right thing, to be a better person. I think we can all relate with her struggle; so many of us want to be a better version of ourselves but don't know where to start.

The writing style was also perfect. It's descriptive and poetic at times, but humorous and quirky at other times. I like how she makes light of things all women can relate to, from skinny jeans to muffin tops.

The book covers a huge span of time. Initially, I felt like the book had too fast of a pace. Some aspects seemed skipped over quickly. By the end, however, I realized the book wasn't really focused on what I thought it would be at the beginning--there was so much more to the story. I came to realize the pace was just right.

This book was never dull or boring. The plot is complex, and there are so many twists and turns, true to real life. Jane Green does a great job at developing real characters who are flawed but lovable. This book is a fabulous summer read, beach read, or weekend read.

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