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Girls of July by Alex Flinn (from a Two Thumbs Up reviewer)

Sunday, Jun 23, 2019 at 3:43pm

Girls of July is that fun and addictive summer read that will serve you ice cream, splash you at the beach and beat away the stubborn heat that you’ve been complaining about. As for me, it also gets bonus points for the equally sweet and heartfelt portrayal of female friendship between our four narrators.

Judging from the synopsis, I went into this book expecting in depth exploration of each girl’s struggle, but I feel what Flinn did was more dancing and occasionally poking the elephant(s) in the room rather than fully submerging in its presence. The writing style also paints a lighter, even childlike tone for the girls... which initially irked me because they feel like middle-graders instead of high school seniors. Like I said before though, this book is meant to be a fun summer read and should be treated a such, where it lacks in seriousness it makes up for in its addictive quality. The characters may be cardboard cutouts of their perspective archetype but that didn’t stop me from liking and cheering them on. As a girl (born in) July myself, I am all for the joy that is this book.

-Phuong, a Two Thumbs Up reviewer

Categories: Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Two Thumbs Up

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Girls of July

- Alex Flinn

Young adult hardcover $21.99
Reader Reward Price: $19.79

Perfect for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, this compelling contemporary novel is from Alex Flinn, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beastly.

"Infectiously lovely" --Entertainment Weekly, 15 Biggest (and Best) YA Books of the Summer

"Reminiscent of The Breakfast Club" --Publishers Weekly

"A satisfying slice-of-life story that honors friendship and self-love." --Booklist

"This story will resonate with teens ... Flinn tackles tough subjects that elevate this beach read." --School Library Journal

Four girls. One unforgettable July.

Britta is the bubbly drama queen. She needs to get away--and a peaceful cabin in the woods sounds like the perfect escape.

Meredith is the overachiever. She's spent her entire life preparing for college, but at what cost? Now she's wondering if that's all there is.

Kate is the reluctant socialite. She's searching for a reason to begin again after fleeing her small Georgia town--and a shameful family secret.

Spider is the quiet intellectual. She's struggling with pain that has isolated her from her peers for much of her life.

When these four very different young women stay together for a month in the mountains, they discover that sometimes getting away from it all can only bring you back to who you really are.