Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various Authors

Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various Authors (edited by Stephanie Perkins)

Maybe it’s the long, lazy days, or maybe it’s the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

SOURCE:  audio provided by Recorded Books for review (also various finished copies for reference)

Since this is an anthology of short stories I thought I’d give you a line or two about each book.  Either a mini review, how the narrator might have influenced my opinion, etc.  Whatever comes to mind first!

Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail by Leigh Bardugo – I love that no matter if it contemporary or fantasy (maybe a little of both) Leigh’s stories have the same effect on me.  Interesting, quirky, and magical as always. 5/5

The End of Love by Nina Lacour – The story was ok but the voice given to Mimi bothered me. She sounded like a stoner and it threw me off. I also felt the story ended a little too abruptly for my tastes. 3/5

Last Stand at the Cinegore Libba Bray – I’ve only ever read/listened to one of her books so far and I can see the same weird, dark humor in this story and I loved it.  This story escalated quickly was well narrated. 4/5

Sick Pleasure by Francesca Lia Block – First – full disclosure I don’t care for this author’s writing style. I know she has a cult following but she just isn’t for me.  Adding the fact I didn’t care for the narrator’s voice this story was a DNF for me. 2/5

In Ninety Minutes Turn North by Stephanie Perkins –  Classic Stephanie.  Adored this look at her uniquely named (as always) characters.  4/5

Souvenirs by Tim Federle – This was my first story by this author. Very cute and the narrator brought so much personality to it.  I would love to read more by this author STAT.  3/5

Inertia by Veronica Roth –I felt there could be a bit more back story (I realize this is a very short story but STILL) because based on a few things it seemed futuristic but not confirmed.  3/5

Love is the Last Resort  by Jon Skovron –Hands down one of the cheesiest stories I’ve ever read.  I loved every second of it. 4/5

Good Luck and Farewell by Brandy Colbert –I wasn’t completely sold on the narrator for this one but the story was great.  Two people finding common ground through loss and helping hold each other up through another.  3/5

Brand New Attraction by Cassandra Clare –I gave up on Clare awhile back so this was another story I was leery to read.  Though I did finish it (I liked the narration) I didn’t like the story at all. 2/5

A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E Smith – I LOVED this story. The narrator was entertaining and Ms Smith wows me again with a contemporary tale I’m vested in. 4/5

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman –My first story by Lev, and it won’t be my last.  Great narrator and I felt out of the entire book this was by far the most complete story.  5/5

I think overall this was a great Summer story anthology, though as a whole much darker than you would assume.  Fun reading!!

4/5