Tuesday, May 21, 2013

ALL THE SUMMER GIRLS by Meg Donohue

Congrats to Christi aka monsterhead ... you have won All The Summer Girls. Please email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com with your full name and address and I'll send you the book!


Before I share about All the Summer Girls, congrats to  LeslieGC who is the winner of When She Was Gone! Please send me your full name and address and I'll get the book to you. Leslie, email me at stephanieelliot@gmail.com! And now, here's today's book... 

I loved All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue.

When I first started reading it, I must admit I was a bit scared since there are three main characters I thought I would get tangled up with so many to remember, but each character is so distinct and believable I fell into each story easily. The story is about three best friends since childhood, one who is a twin.

They summer in Avalon every year and when they are in college, Kate's twin brother dies. Each girl blames themselves for the death of Colin and although their lives continue, there is a rift in their relationship. Now, eight years later, they reunite at the beach for what will turn out to be a reconciliation and confrontation of sorts.

I loved this book -- it was one of those that I couldn't put down -- one that I had to jump into bed to read every chance I could get. Very satisfying, compelling. LOVED the ending. It left you with a feeling of SIGH, OK, that … that was good.

The book didn't wrap up in a happy bow, but didn't end cheesy... it had the perfect ending.

Meg Donohue may be the new Emily Giffin, and you all know how much I ADORE Emily! 

Here's the official back-of-the-book synop:

Set among the sunsets and dunes, All the Summer Girls is the story of how three former best friends, their lives rapidly unraveling, are reunited at the beach town of their past--where the ambience of summer encourages them to explore new experiences they would never otherwise attempt.

When dark secrets threaten to surface, Kate, Vanessa, and Dani begin to realize just how much their lives--and friendships--have been shaped by the choices they made one fateful summer night years ago. In the hope of finally moving forward, the women turn to one another for forgiveness--but how can they forgive each other when they can't forgive themselves? 

If you'd like to win a copy of All the Summer Girls, leave a comment about a long-ago favorite summer memory of yours. Some of my favorite memories are from the beach with distant cousins in Scituate, Mass. I don't know how many summers we went there, but I have such vivid memories from time spent there when I was young -- like probably ten or so. Share your fave memory to enter to win a copy now in the comments! You know what to do -- if not, read the fine print!

If you're new here, you should probably read this:
If you're new to Booking with Manic, thank you for stopping by! We love new readers! Some notes - If you're entering to win a book, please leave a comment on this post and use an identifying name when commenting. It's usually a great idea to include an email, which I will never give out to anyone else. You can only enter once please. You'll need to check back here in a few days to see if you've won the book -- I will either list the winner in a new post OR highlight the winner's name at the top of this post, or tell you where you can find the winner's name at the top of this post. I do NOT personally contact the winners. It is YOUR responsibility to come back to see if you've won. Most books are supplied directly through publishers, publicists and the authors. Winners will receive books directly from the publisher or author within 3 weeks from the time you provide me with your address, unless I send you the book (sometimes I will). Sorry, but we can only ship to U.S. and Canada so if you're from another country, thank you for coming by to read and discover new authors, but we can't send you a book. Any questions on how I run the blog or suggestions on who you would like to see featured, please email me at stephanieelliot[at]gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

48 comments:

Tami said...

My favorite memory is when I was 14 years old and spending the summer with my friends at the pool and mall. Doesnt get any better for a 14 year old!!

rhonda said...

Favorite memory sleep away camping no parents lazy days great friends

Tiffany Drew said...

My favorite memories are those spent with my friends just sitting on the front steps talking about those things teenagers can't get enough of :)

Melissa said...

When I was a kid, our street had a block party every summer. One time, some friends (including Melissa P)and I planned a talent show for the block party. It was a lot of fun!

Melissa said...

Forgot to add...Melissa A from CLC

Kelleyc said...

I spent a summer with my aunt and uncle in Daytona wheni was 13. Made friends with the mate of a deep sea fishing boat and he took me out on a deep sea fishing trip and we swam in the middle of the ocean!! It was a great summer!

slm8803 said...

My girlfriend and I used to sit out back on her deck by the pool and hang out all night and write poems. Ahhh...the teen years. Lol

jdstec said...

So many great summer memories in the Florida panhandle or the "redneck riveria". I am so excited about this book. Can't wait to read it.

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

My favorite memory is the summer after my best friend moved two hours away to a small town. Her family lived on a farm and I went to stay with them several times. We had so much fun exploring that farm and small town!

Ally said...

Constant sleepovers all summer long.

ncsuloges said...

Working for a baseball team for the summer of 2005. So much fun! Free baseball every night, pulling tarp in the rain, drinking too much beer in the beer garden, fireworks...soooo much fun!

Emma S. said...

When I was a kid, we went to the Outer Banks for a week every summer. It wasn't as touristy as other beaches like Ocean City, so it was a very relaxing time.

absolutahnie said...

glad to see you back, hope you're well!

crane's beach & plum island with my best friend every summer weekend. we were so tanned (& lazy...) those summers. i miss them!

CAnative said...

Since I have either lived on the West Coast of the East Coast I have several fave memories at the beach. At a young age learning to navigate the waves at a beach in NC (Surf & Sand. Being a teen and hitting the beach after school at Laguna Beach with friends. As an adult back on the East Coast taking my own children to the Jersey Shore and then as my kids got older going to the Jersey Shore with a few other moms for a weekend get away and much needed girl time. Sweet memories.

Nicole

Tanya Quilts in Co said...

I spent the summer after my freshman year of college at going to summer school...Why go to summer school? Because I went to school in Santa Barbara! It was an amazing summer on my own.

Kimmi said...

Throughout my childhood, my father would sometimes work away. One summer, mom and I packed up the camper and followed him. It was an entire summer spent in a camper, with my parents and a TV that got 2 channels. I thought I was miserable, but looking back, I was very wrong.

Juliet Farmer said...

i worked at a summer camp the year after high school. it was such fun. fake ids, older guys, etc. ;)

Melissa said...

Favorite summer memory was the summer before my Senior year in high school. That entire summer was so amazing.

-tmd636

Unknown said...

My most favorite summer memories are when I was small. We lived in an apartment complex. And we would just swim and play on the playground all day long! It was AMAZING!! :)

jpetroroy said...

I love the memory of my husband's and my honeymoon on Cape Cod.

jpetroroy@gmail dot com

Jennifer Huelsebusch said...

Going to Branson every summer with extended family!

your invisible pixie said...

i used to go to a summer house with my friend's family where there was a big lake. we would play bingo and swim, and it was really fun!

Jessica said...

I still remember going to Pawley's Island with my friend and her family. Good times!

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

Book Mama said...

My favorite memory is when we would go on vacation as a family. My parents always made it so fun and something we'd always remember.

mengel2@nycap.rr.com

Mary Jo Burke said...

Going to the beach with my grandmother.

Bev V said...

Having to come home when the street lights went on. I was supposed to be home at "dark", but I had a different definition of "dark" than my mom did. The compromise was when the street lights came on. Didn't always make it, too many things to do.

Caroline N said...

Camp! It was the best.ever.

betsy_blixt said...

The summer my sisters finally thought I was cool enough to hangout with them and their friends.

EKB said...

One of my favorites is when I was 7 and my dad and his best friend taught me how to water ski. It was such a massive accomplishment...not to mention that it started to rain but my dad wouldnt give up until I stood up and it finally happened...before the thunder rolled in!! Great memory of my dad!

Terri said...

My family always used to go to my uncle's cabin on the lake in upstate New York. Every 4th of July, we'd light candles and float them on the water, then there'd be fireworks. Great memories!!

Terri M.

Nanette said...

I can't pick just one. ;)

Hugs, Nan

buttah said...

Some of my favorite high school summer memories are of me and my best friend hiking through the woods to get to the best sand bar on the river to lay out and talk about boys!

LeslieGC said...

My favorite summer memories are of running the neighborhood with my friends, going to 2 week summer overnight camp, and spending several weeks with my Grandma on the farm. Life was so simple. LeslieGC

Jeffie T said...

Family road trips. We visited the most RANDOM 'attractions'.

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

My favorite summer memory was the summer after high school before we all went off to college, or where ever. It was carefree (for the most part) and we spent a lot of time at the lake and just hanging out. Ahhhh, good times!

Anonymous said...

My three best friends from high school and I lived at the beach right after graduation. It was the perfect way to set our friendship in stone before we all went our separate ways with college and the Navy. I worked crazy hours as a housekeeper at a large resort and selling swimwear on the boardwalk at night but loved my first adventure of being out on my own.

Christi and my email is:
monsterhead01(at)comcast(dot)net

Unknown said...

I have wonderful childhood memories from when I was a child playing outside all day then playing flashlight tag at night.

Summer Grinstead
sumsum085@aol.com

faithspage said...

I spent my summer before my senior year in the city with a cousin. We stayed at her pool and I found my first boyfriend

kyfaithw at aol dot com

Mrs Mommy Booknerd said...

I will always remember playing kick the can with the neighbors as well as ghost int eh graveyard!!!

mrsmommybooknerdsbookreviews@gmail.com

Bridget T. said...

Hanging out with my best friend. Shopping, tanning, swimming.

Iambtinrb

Hailey Fish said...

My favorite summer memory when I was younger was just being a kid, staying out till really dark, playing man hunt (hide and seek for older kids) and hanging out with my friends.

fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

Reese78 said...

My favorite memories are lazy days and fun nights by the pool with my friends. So much fun...but looking back I'm sure we drove the neighbors crazy being so loud at all hours of the night. :)

karenk said...

favourite memory...being a kid/playing all day/bike riding til dark.

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

My favorite summer memory is of camping across the US for two weeks with my famliy the summer before 8th grade. My parents took us to the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, Colorado and more. It was, hands-down, the best family vacation we took!

Colbey J

Krystal said...

We went to the beach in North Carolina with my mom's whole family for 3 summers. They were all such great vacations and all let to lots of good memories!

kndyer

Luvschocolate said...

Favorite summer was 25 years ago when I Was 16, I had friends with cars, first boyfriend, great weather that year . First real summer of independance . I can still remember recruiting and listening to Banana Rama and the Go-go's . I had a killer tan that year too, before we knew tanning was bad.

Jencey Gortney said...

My favorite summer memory is the trip I took with friends to San Diego. I got to spend quality time with my friends as we visited the various sites in summer of 2008.

Bridget T. said...

My friend and I lived about an hour away from each other and we would each spend a week at each others homes during the summers.

Iambtnrb