Summer of Supernovas

SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS is a book that must find its way to your TBR soon. It's full of heart as it stunningly navigates the stars of fate, love, friendship, and long made promises.

To begin with, the characters are relatable and downright unique, especially the main character, Wilamena. She has this incredible personality that makes you warm up to her real fast and forgive any missteps she takes. Not only that, but she also has the craziest thoughts or happens to experience the most embarrassing moments, so you are bound to have fun with her at all times.

The same goes for the rest of the characters. There isn't a single one who I did not like. It's rare for YA books to not have antagonists, sometimes they are necessary for a plot to work, yet this book did well without. Everyone is genuine and friendly, some with spines of steel like Wil's amazing grandma and best friend, Irina. I loved them the best!

The author's writing style is my favorite aspect of the book. I love how it is light and full of witty banter, every page is a complete joy to read over since there are many funny lines that will make anyone giggle. Even when things get a bit serious, this book makes it hard to feel down since it is brimming with positiveness, and I loved that. The characters couldn't have been written by a better hand.

This book is a YA contemporary romance, and while it does give plenty of butterflies, I felt that the romantic aspect moves a bit too fast for the reader to properly appreciate the special moments. Sometimes slower is better when it comes to falling in love.

With that said, there are two love interests that are well worthy of your swoons. Grant and Seth, both sweet and charming, both from the same family. Between you and me, I'm Team Seth all the way, although I might be on the minority. There's nothing wrong with Grant, he is great, but I feel that I got to learn more about Seth than Grant, so that highly tipped the scales for me. Either way, if you love well-done love triangles, then you are in for a treat with this one!

Final Verdict:

SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS is the right kind of story to fall in love with. Be it its romance, characters, setting, or humor, every reader will find something in it that will make his/her heart soar, look up at the stars, and possibly say, "this is so me".

YA Contemporary, Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods, is a wonderfully fresh take on the tried and true plot line, girl who has been unlucky in love is suddenly the sun and moon to a very cool and unattainable guy, or in this case, guys. Brothers, in fact. By creating this painful and disastrous love triangle, Woods breathes life into this structure while leaving the protagonist, Wilamena Carlisle, floundering as she attempts to navigate the right course with her beloved astrological charts. The question remains though, will Wilamena continue to be bound to what the stars tell her or will she ever learn to follow her heart?

What is especially great about this novel is that I felt all the confusion and angst that Wilamena did as she experienced it. Woods sets up both of Wilamena’s love interests, Seth and Grant, with ideal qualities. Seth is a sweet, considerate boy, a fan of grand romantic gestures, and hopelessly in love with Wilamena. Grant, on the other hand, is incredibly down to earth, always happy to lend a hand, and fiercely protective of women. However, with that being said, Seth and Grant are not perfect and each have their own faults; though none of them are bad enough to make Wilamena’s choice any easier.

While this book may be specifically targeted to young girls who enjoy romantic stories, women of all ages will respond to this material. Firstly, it is a sweet reminder of what falling in love for the first time is like. The way Woods describes Wilamena’s internal thoughts in the moments of sheer thrill and panic as she is talking to her crushes is spot on. Not only that, but anyone at war with the head and heart over an important decision will understand Wilamena’s search for enlightenment through outside sources. Also, for someone unfamiliar with astrology, I learned quite a bit!

However, having finished the book, I still am craving to know more about the dynamic in Seth and Grant’s family. Have the two of them ever liked the same girl before? What specific conversations have Seth and Grant had with one another about Wilamena? How will it all work out once Wilamena has made her final decision? While Woods does touch lightly on some of these questions, it is not in depth enough to give the full picture, making it harder to accept without a slight suspension of disbelief. Had Woods perhaps developed the brothers’ relationship more, it would have strengthened the story on a whole.

Despite this, Summer of Supernovas is a great coming of age tale that deals with love and loss in a clever and humorous way as the lead character learns the answer to all her reservations is happiness.

Rating: Four out of Five.