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Open Road Summer
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Debut Goodreads Author (2014)After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own.
Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.
This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.
Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence.
This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2014
About the author
Emery Lord
9 books3,401 followersI'm Emery, and I write books about flawed girls who are really trying, complicated families, friends who show up even when everything's going down in flames, and the moments that change everything.
I don't check my GR inbox, but feel free to get in touch via ways listed on my website!
http://www.emerylord.com/p/site-qs.html
I don't check my GR inbox, but feel free to get in touch via ways listed on my website!
http://www.emerylord.com/p/site-qs.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,777 reviews
July 26, 2016
3.5 stars, which would have been 4 stars full of praise were it not for one crucial point.
I almost never read books involving Hollywood/star types, because I worked in entertainment for a long time and most stories include cringe-worthy misconceptions or shallow portrayals of both the industry and the people involved. So how awesome it is to find a book that avoids the usual cliches and forges characters and relationships that feel like real ones--and it also takes the unusual position of the BFF to the famous person rather than the POV of the shiny star herself. Reagan and Dee's friendship feels incredibly close and mutually loving and supportive, and I loved how both of them were at their best with each other.
Beyond that, this book also humanizes celebrities in a way that's very rare--to the point that, combined with the many spot-on details about day to day life and career/image decisions, it made me wonder if the author had actually had some first hand knowledge of this type of relationship. Turns out, she's just done her homework, and is just very observant. The touring music star thing is really well done, and there's enough detail there that it feels grounded/real in a way that most books involving stars do not.
I'm surprised, however, that a story that is so clear-eyed about that the difficulties of a friend/celeb dynamic gave us a heroine with such an unfortunate lack of empathy for every single other teenage girl who is not her BFF. I'm not someone who's always especially sensitive to slut-shaming in the instances where it's called out in other books, but with this one I was pretty turned off by the behavior. It happened so often---really, it happened without fail whenever any other girl showed up--and was not balanced by positive peer to peer interaction (other than with Dee), so it became extremely difficult to look past it. And really, we shouldn't. We shouldn't be "othering" other girls to this extent, certainly not based on first glance and no other evidence. Sure, we've all had knee-jerk unkind thoughts, especially if we're feeling insecure or our backgrounds contribute to that. But if this ugliness colors every single interaction and a person/character never grows out of blaming/denigrating other girls, it's not excusable.
(And while I understand the portrayals of Dee's publicist, grooming, and management team for the most part, particularly filtered through a rebellious BFF's eyes, I do wish we'd also seen more positive interactions on that front.)
Obviously the Dee team is not the focus of the book, however, and Matt Finch also makes up for some of that--he's pretty darned cute, and I was on board with his romance with Reagan. I was even okay with the drama that pops up later, although you could see it coming from a mile away. I also loved the Dee/Jimmy back story and how that ended up. This is such a strong contemporary in so many exceptional ways, and had it not been for the character's inexplicable and disproportionate attitude towards other girls, I would have rated this higher without any other reservations. (I had zero problems with any other aspects of Reagan's character, including her history or other behaviors that might generally be considered "unlikeable." I get her.)
Still, this is an author to watch and Open Road Summer is a very strong debut. The writing is evocative and sets the right mood for each scene, and I found myself eager to return to it whenever I had to set it down. I just want to see more stories that empower girls without feeling the need to constantly disparage others.
I almost never read books involving Hollywood/star types, because I worked in entertainment for a long time and most stories include cringe-worthy misconceptions or shallow portrayals of both the industry and the people involved. So how awesome it is to find a book that avoids the usual cliches and forges characters and relationships that feel like real ones--and it also takes the unusual position of the BFF to the famous person rather than the POV of the shiny star herself. Reagan and Dee's friendship feels incredibly close and mutually loving and supportive, and I loved how both of them were at their best with each other.
Beyond that, this book also humanizes celebrities in a way that's very rare--to the point that, combined with the many spot-on details about day to day life and career/image decisions, it made me wonder if the author had actually had some first hand knowledge of this type of relationship. Turns out, she's just done her homework, and is just very observant. The touring music star thing is really well done, and there's enough detail there that it feels grounded/real in a way that most books involving stars do not.
I'm surprised, however, that a story that is so clear-eyed about that the difficulties of a friend/celeb dynamic gave us a heroine with such an unfortunate lack of empathy for every single other teenage girl who is not her BFF. I'm not someone who's always especially sensitive to slut-shaming in the instances where it's called out in other books, but with this one I was pretty turned off by the behavior. It happened so often---really, it happened without fail whenever any other girl showed up--and was not balanced by positive peer to peer interaction (other than with Dee), so it became extremely difficult to look past it. And really, we shouldn't. We shouldn't be "othering" other girls to this extent, certainly not based on first glance and no other evidence. Sure, we've all had knee-jerk unkind thoughts, especially if we're feeling insecure or our backgrounds contribute to that. But if this ugliness colors every single interaction and a person/character never grows out of blaming/denigrating other girls, it's not excusable.
(And while I understand the portrayals of Dee's publicist, grooming, and management team for the most part, particularly filtered through a rebellious BFF's eyes, I do wish we'd also seen more positive interactions on that front.)
Obviously the Dee team is not the focus of the book, however, and Matt Finch also makes up for some of that--he's pretty darned cute, and I was on board with his romance with Reagan. I was even okay with the drama that pops up later, although you could see it coming from a mile away. I also loved the Dee/Jimmy back story and how that ended up. This is such a strong contemporary in so many exceptional ways, and had it not been for the character's inexplicable and disproportionate attitude towards other girls, I would have rated this higher without any other reservations. (I had zero problems with any other aspects of Reagan's character, including her history or other behaviors that might generally be considered "unlikeable." I get her.)
Still, this is an author to watch and Open Road Summer is a very strong debut. The writing is evocative and sets the right mood for each scene, and I found myself eager to return to it whenever I had to set it down. I just want to see more stories that empower girls without feeling the need to constantly disparage others.
June 25, 2014
We're giving away a copy of this on Leafmarks :). Enter here for a chance to win: https://www.leafmarks.com/lm/#/giveaways
____________________________
“God,” he mutters. “Most girls love it when I write them a song.”
“Well, I’m not most girls,” I snap at him.
*eye roll* Oh yeah, this is one of those.
The more I consider every note I made for this book, the more I wonder if three stars is too generous. But I will stick to my initial instinct because there were things to really LOVE about this book. In fact, I was completely falling in love for at least the first quarter and I kept making excuses for it in my head even when everything started to go downhill. This was *almost* the wonderful Summer read I've been seeking, complete with friendship, romance and humour. Almost, though, doesn't quite cut it.
What are your reading pet peeves? You know what I mean - I think we all have them. Maybe it's love triangles. Maybe it's cliffhangers. Maybe it's instalove. For me, though, my number one hate is girls slut-shaming other girls. Girls who insult other women for having a sexuality, for liking the boys that they also like, for dressing in a provocative way or for just being physically attractive. It's so backward, unnecessary and often hypocritical (as is the case in this novel). It turns me off the protagonist - or whoever's doing it - almost instantly. And there's only so much bitchiness I can attribute to the perpetrator's personal issues before I just start to hate them.
This book started so well I thought it might get five stars. That's how strongly the opening chapters lured me in. The key things I liked about this book were: the central friendship between Reagan and Dee, the romantic interest - Matt, and the multitude of beautiful settings in this road trip. I felt like I could hear the opening chords of Keith Urban's Long Hot Summer as Reagan and Dee set out on the road after being introduced to the reader in a way that made me curious and instantly sympathetic towards the narrator. This book would have hardly revolutionized the YA Contemporary market, but it did seem to promise an enjoyable and memorable read.
As you might have predicted, my dislike of girl/girl hate is interlinked with the complete opposite - my absolute love for close female friendships. Which is what Reagan and Dee have. Dee is a rising star on the Country music scene, writing music to deal with her emotions whilst simultaneously smiling for the crowds and cameras. She's hurting inside and Reagan may be the only one who truly understands:
It takes a really skilled author to make you feel sympathetic towards a rich, successful and beautiful starlet from a loving family, but somehow I felt totally caught up in the claustrophobia of Dee's life. I felt the pain she experienced at having her personal life publicly dissected. And I liked her character a lot.
I also liked Matt - the love interest of this novel. He was balanced between realistic, sweet and sexy. The author could have made him a douchey bad boy - something which is so typical of this genre - but she instead gave me a character I could love. Despite my criticisms of this novel, I understand where the blogger hype stems from. But I could not like Reagan and, after a while, I didn't even have the energy to care about her. And no matter how good a book is, if you don't care about the protagonist, it will never be a complete hit.
To start with, I did like Reagan. Or I felt sympathy towards her situation. Her mum left her when she was really young, her dad turned to alcohol to comfort himself, she was bullied in school, and she ended up going further and further down a path to destruction. I get why she has issues and I used them to excuse a lot of her actions and thoughts for the first half of the book. I just don't think those issues justified her hating every single girl except Dee. Some of her inner dialogue really pissed me off:
Each time she would say/think something like this, I would try and play it down as being because her mum left or because she's had a tough time. The truth: Reagan became just like the majority of Contemporary Romance MCs - a girl with issues hates all other girls because she's so superior. And she almost always hates them for doing the stuff she also did, like obsessing over Matt and wearing revealing shirts.
But it is true that this book was a compelling, well-written read that I devoured in no time at all, so I cannot be wholly negative. In short: I feel majorly conflicted.
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____________________________
“God,” he mutters. “Most girls love it when I write them a song.”
“Well, I’m not most girls,” I snap at him.
*eye roll* Oh yeah, this is one of those.
The more I consider every note I made for this book, the more I wonder if three stars is too generous. But I will stick to my initial instinct because there were things to really LOVE about this book. In fact, I was completely falling in love for at least the first quarter and I kept making excuses for it in my head even when everything started to go downhill. This was *almost* the wonderful Summer read I've been seeking, complete with friendship, romance and humour. Almost, though, doesn't quite cut it.
What are your reading pet peeves? You know what I mean - I think we all have them. Maybe it's love triangles. Maybe it's cliffhangers. Maybe it's instalove. For me, though, my number one hate is girls slut-shaming other girls. Girls who insult other women for having a sexuality, for liking the boys that they also like, for dressing in a provocative way or for just being physically attractive. It's so backward, unnecessary and often hypocritical (as is the case in this novel). It turns me off the protagonist - or whoever's doing it - almost instantly. And there's only so much bitchiness I can attribute to the perpetrator's personal issues before I just start to hate them.
This book started so well I thought it might get five stars. That's how strongly the opening chapters lured me in. The key things I liked about this book were: the central friendship between Reagan and Dee, the romantic interest - Matt, and the multitude of beautiful settings in this road trip. I felt like I could hear the opening chords of Keith Urban's Long Hot Summer as Reagan and Dee set out on the road after being introduced to the reader in a way that made me curious and instantly sympathetic towards the narrator. This book would have hardly revolutionized the YA Contemporary market, but it did seem to promise an enjoyable and memorable read.
As you might have predicted, my dislike of girl/girl hate is interlinked with the complete opposite - my absolute love for close female friendships. Which is what Reagan and Dee have. Dee is a rising star on the Country music scene, writing music to deal with her emotions whilst simultaneously smiling for the crowds and cameras. She's hurting inside and Reagan may be the only one who truly understands:
The fans scream for her, but they don’t really know the girl on the magazine covers - the girl with the guitar and the easy smile. Her given name is Delilah, and they think she goes by Lilah. But anyone who really knows my best friend calls her Dee. They think she’s seventeen, and she is. But she never acts seventeen. She acts either thirty years old, like a composed professional, in record-label meetings and interviews, or twelve years old, with me - giggling like we did back when she still had braces, back when our summer plans were nothing more than sleepovers and swimming at the pool. They think she wrote the songs on this album while getting over a breakup. But they’re wrong. She’s not over it. Not even close.
It takes a really skilled author to make you feel sympathetic towards a rich, successful and beautiful starlet from a loving family, but somehow I felt totally caught up in the claustrophobia of Dee's life. I felt the pain she experienced at having her personal life publicly dissected. And I liked her character a lot.
I also liked Matt - the love interest of this novel. He was balanced between realistic, sweet and sexy. The author could have made him a douchey bad boy - something which is so typical of this genre - but she instead gave me a character I could love. Despite my criticisms of this novel, I understand where the blogger hype stems from. But I could not like Reagan and, after a while, I didn't even have the energy to care about her. And no matter how good a book is, if you don't care about the protagonist, it will never be a complete hit.
To start with, I did like Reagan. Or I felt sympathy towards her situation. Her mum left her when she was really young, her dad turned to alcohol to comfort himself, she was bullied in school, and she ended up going further and further down a path to destruction. I get why she has issues and I used them to excuse a lot of her actions and thoughts for the first half of the book. I just don't think those issues justified her hating every single girl except Dee. Some of her inner dialogue really pissed me off:
I can’t deny that she’s beautiful—but it’s such an uninteresting beautiful. Medium height, slender, with no features that particularly stand out. Beautiful but forgettable. Besides, based on the fact that she sold their breakup story to the tabloids, I assume she has the personality of a trash bag.
Each time she would say/think something like this, I would try and play it down as being because her mum left or because she's had a tough time. The truth: Reagan became just like the majority of Contemporary Romance MCs - a girl with issues hates all other girls because she's so superior. And she almost always hates them for doing the stuff she also did, like obsessing over Matt and wearing revealing shirts.
But it is true that this book was a compelling, well-written read that I devoured in no time at all, so I cannot be wholly negative. In short: I feel majorly conflicted.
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May 11, 2017
Storytime!
When I was in middle school, I had a massive Justin Bieber phase immediately followed by a quick but passionate love of One Direction. Since I was on a reading sabbatical and was in middle school, I fangirled like it was my job. I’m talking 40 hours a week. Full time career. You’ve gotta be prepared at all times when you’re a huge fan - HEAVEN forbid another fan challenge you to name Bieber’s birthday and you don’t have it down to the second. And thank God I’ve forgotten it by now. Oh, wait, I should say:
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Anyway. When I wasn’t, like, making flashcards with Zayn Malik’s birthday on them, I was reading fanfiction. And the best ones were always the ones that took place on tour. Ahhh. I remember them so fondly. The main girl is the opener, or the makeup artist, or the manager’s second cousin’s best friend or whatever. SO GOOD.
So. Why am I talking about this, you ask? Well, that’s because the only difference between this book and something I could dig up on OneDirectionFanFiction.com is that I’m not 13 anymore. And this doesn’t have any of the charm.
Our guy in this book, Matt, could never face off with a fictionalized version of the Biebs (is that a thing?), or Harry Styles, or a massively upcycled version of one of the guys from One Direction who isn’t Harry or Zayn. He’s boring. (Matt, I mean. Not one of the One Direction guys. Although them too, to be honest.) I’m not a fan. I really don’t know what to say beyond that.
Even the storyline of this is IDENTICAL to the fanfiction I would read. Boy and girl (Matt and Reagan, respectively) are on tour, girl pretends to hate boy while he “““jokingly””” hits on her, they kiss, they start dating, there’s a grand romantic gesture on the tour’s off day, things seem perfect, and absolutely everything ends happily forever. And don’t forget the inevitable best friend fight (in this case between Reagan and the famous one, Delilah/Dee/Lilah.) There’s even a moment where Matt applies to a college and gets in within the span of two weeks. IT’S LIKE A FAIRYTALE. Oh, fanfiction.
But unfortunately, those similarities are far from the worst part of this book. If only that were the case, I could’ve written “Justin” wherever it said Matt and given this three, three and a half stars on nostalgia alone. Unfortunately I’M NEVER ALLOWED TO LIKE ANYTHING. Gods of Goodreads, please amend this.
The girl on girl hate in this book is so damaging. I couldn’t even keep track of it at a certain point. Up until page 80 or so, I was having a great time with this...and then suddenly: SLUT SHAMING. FULL FORCE. ALL HANDS ON DECK. Then that expanded into general girls hating each other. Maybe one of the worst contemporary tropes.
I was caught off guard. Especially because this book advertises itself as centering on girl on girl friendship, which usually ensures a book that doesn’t involve BLATANT ANTIFEMINISM. But alas, I was not safe. Here, I brought quotes.
Like, seriously. Once I started collecting them, I couldn’t stop. A girl can’t make eye contact with our ever-so-lovely protagonist without Reagan’s infuriating internal monologue commenting on her clothes, or insulting her appearance. Or, above all, slut shaming her. I can’t remember if my fanfiction days were like this, because I was IGNORANT then. But bad news for this book:
I’m just going to quote dump. Here we go. Don’t say I didn’t warn you:
1. When an innocent girl is innocently dancing with Matt while, God forbid, Reagan has an unspoken crush on him: "I survey her appearance, which is so obvious—long hair in full curls, skintight dress, and stacked heels. This look is amateur, the one I'd resort to if I was feeling lazy. I thought Matt had better taste than that." The best part is that our Reagan literally wears shorts and a tank top every day. Did someone say fashion icon???
2. After Reagan cyberstalks and shit talks Matt’s past girlfriends: "Basically what I'm saying is I think I could give either of those girls a run for their money."
3. In which a fan approaches Matt politely and Reagan tears her a new one: "The band is winding down when a girl zeroes in on us—or, more specifically, Matt. She's compact and curvy, topped with round curls that must have taken some serious hot rollers. Her hair dye is probably called Goldenrod or Honeysuckle, but it's actually the color of Aging Butter or Dry Cornbread."
4. When Reagan hits a new low - I gasped aloud - and equates anything that isn’t colonial America style modesty with self-hatred: "There are a few girls in the front with shirts cut so low that they make my neckline look modest. Like, honestly — if Matt so much as glanced down he could probably see all the way to their belly buttons. Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see me, I make a face of disgust. Case in point: if Matt and I were together, I'd have to put those girls in their places. And I really can't afford another misdemeanor." Yes, please fight girls because they’re wearing shirts that aren’t turtlenecks and managed to get good seats to see their favorite performer! America thanks you! Hero’s work!
5. The gorgeous, elegant, late-in-the-game appearance of America’s least favorite trope: "God," he mutters. "Most girls love it when I write them a song."
"Well, I am not most girls," I snap at him.
6. Looking at a picture of her boyfriend’s best friend: "She looks… Wholesome. And friendly. Like a Muppet." Girlfriend GOALS, am I right?
7. In case we didn’t have enough sweeping generalizations: "When a baby starts screaming in public, most women jut out their lower lips and say "Aww, somebody's sad."" I LOVE when people tell me about most women!
8. "I'd be pissed, too, if I was caught standing next to Alexis Henderson, who is a cheerleader but also a goody goody." Now this is just unnecessary. Like, what does this mean? What does that have to do with it? Can anyone explain this to me? I’m still confused.
9. "But, of course, it's easy to like any girl who's not part of your world. The moment she slides into an ex-boyfriend's orbit, we all have the same instinct: destroy." Oh right, of course! Because hating other women is NORMAL!
10. In which she makes fun of Matt’s best friend because he is TOTALLY off limits to any girl’s prying, slutty eyes, even his heartbroken BFF’s: "I close my eyes, almost a wince. Yeah, poor girl, breakups are rough, boo-hoo. But this is the same girl Matt said he loves. Used to love. Whatever."
11. "I'm not jealous. I'm… Annoyed. I know girls like her. As soon as Matt's not around, the gloves will come off." Yay! Because girls come in kinds!
But we’re not done. No, the characters suck. CLEARLY, Reagan is a tumor upon humanity, and we’re stuck inside her head for 350 pages. Kill. Me. How did I finish this book? Anyway, that’s not the only reason she sucks. (Although it’s the biggest, obviously. How much worse can you get? She didn’t murder anyone...that I’m aware of. *insert Law & Order dun-dun here*)
She’s also super vain. (There is a difference between vain and confident. One is good and one is bad. For this review, at least, the difference is whether you try to build others up or just yourself.) There’s a moment where she refuses to laugh at her best friend’s joke because she wants to look prettyyyyy on national TV. COME ON.
Alright, I’m done with the Law & Order-themed gifs. I don’t even watch that show. Beyond that moment of vanity, Reagan talks about how she’s pretty all the time. But I like when girls compliment themselves (ain’t it tough, ladies? #society) so I’m not going to press it. She is also a straight up bad friend to Dee. Despite her attempts to tell the reader otherwise, there’s a weird anger toward Dee’s fame going on throughout the whole thing. I’m not a fan. SUPPORT. OTHER. GIRLS. REAGAN.
I already talked about how boring Matt is. Beyond that...Dee is bubblegum sweet. Nothing else to her. And there are literally no other characters. This book made me stir crazy. Props to Emery Lord for making me really feel like I was trapped on tour with the same unchanging people and COULD NOT ESCAPE NO MATTER WHAT. Wait, what? That’s not the point of the book?
Otherwise...there’s a weird thing where people call Dee “little lady” all the time. Didn’t like that. Is that a thing, people who may be reading this who are from the Southern United States?
Aw! I googled little lady and Shirley Temple came up! Cute! Okay I need to be done now.
Bottom line: It all comes down to how vicious the girl hating is in this book. Emery Lord, I’m giving you one more try, since I already own The Start of Me and You. BUT I’M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
When I was in middle school, I had a massive Justin Bieber phase immediately followed by a quick but passionate love of One Direction. Since I was on a reading sabbatical and was in middle school, I fangirled like it was my job. I’m talking 40 hours a week. Full time career. You’ve gotta be prepared at all times when you’re a huge fan - HEAVEN forbid another fan challenge you to name Bieber’s birthday and you don’t have it down to the second. And thank God I’ve forgotten it by now. Oh, wait, I should say:
https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
Anyway. When I wasn’t, like, making flashcards with Zayn Malik’s birthday on them, I was reading fanfiction. And the best ones were always the ones that took place on tour. Ahhh. I remember them so fondly. The main girl is the opener, or the makeup artist, or the manager’s second cousin’s best friend or whatever. SO GOOD.
So. Why am I talking about this, you ask? Well, that’s because the only difference between this book and something I could dig up on OneDirectionFanFiction.com is that I’m not 13 anymore. And this doesn’t have any of the charm.
Our guy in this book, Matt, could never face off with a fictionalized version of the Biebs (is that a thing?), or Harry Styles, or a massively upcycled version of one of the guys from One Direction who isn’t Harry or Zayn. He’s boring. (Matt, I mean. Not one of the One Direction guys. Although them too, to be honest.) I’m not a fan. I really don’t know what to say beyond that.
Even the storyline of this is IDENTICAL to the fanfiction I would read. Boy and girl (Matt and Reagan, respectively) are on tour, girl pretends to hate boy while he “““jokingly””” hits on her, they kiss, they start dating, there’s a grand romantic gesture on the tour’s off day, things seem perfect, and absolutely everything ends happily forever. And don’t forget the inevitable best friend fight (in this case between Reagan and the famous one, Delilah/Dee/Lilah.) There’s even a moment where Matt applies to a college and gets in within the span of two weeks. IT’S LIKE A FAIRYTALE. Oh, fanfiction.
But unfortunately, those similarities are far from the worst part of this book. If only that were the case, I could’ve written “Justin” wherever it said Matt and given this three, three and a half stars on nostalgia alone. Unfortunately I’M NEVER ALLOWED TO LIKE ANYTHING. Gods of Goodreads, please amend this.
The girl on girl hate in this book is so damaging. I couldn’t even keep track of it at a certain point. Up until page 80 or so, I was having a great time with this...and then suddenly: SLUT SHAMING. FULL FORCE. ALL HANDS ON DECK. Then that expanded into general girls hating each other. Maybe one of the worst contemporary tropes.
I was caught off guard. Especially because this book advertises itself as centering on girl on girl friendship, which usually ensures a book that doesn’t involve BLATANT ANTIFEMINISM. But alas, I was not safe. Here, I brought quotes.
Like, seriously. Once I started collecting them, I couldn’t stop. A girl can’t make eye contact with our ever-so-lovely protagonist without Reagan’s infuriating internal monologue commenting on her clothes, or insulting her appearance. Or, above all, slut shaming her. I can’t remember if my fanfiction days were like this, because I was IGNORANT then. But bad news for this book:
I’m just going to quote dump. Here we go. Don’t say I didn’t warn you:
1. When an innocent girl is innocently dancing with Matt while, God forbid, Reagan has an unspoken crush on him: "I survey her appearance, which is so obvious—long hair in full curls, skintight dress, and stacked heels. This look is amateur, the one I'd resort to if I was feeling lazy. I thought Matt had better taste than that." The best part is that our Reagan literally wears shorts and a tank top every day. Did someone say fashion icon???
2. After Reagan cyberstalks and shit talks Matt’s past girlfriends: "Basically what I'm saying is I think I could give either of those girls a run for their money."
3. In which a fan approaches Matt politely and Reagan tears her a new one: "The band is winding down when a girl zeroes in on us—or, more specifically, Matt. She's compact and curvy, topped with round curls that must have taken some serious hot rollers. Her hair dye is probably called Goldenrod or Honeysuckle, but it's actually the color of Aging Butter or Dry Cornbread."
4. When Reagan hits a new low - I gasped aloud - and equates anything that isn’t colonial America style modesty with self-hatred: "There are a few girls in the front with shirts cut so low that they make my neckline look modest. Like, honestly — if Matt so much as glanced down he could probably see all the way to their belly buttons. Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see me, I make a face of disgust. Case in point: if Matt and I were together, I'd have to put those girls in their places. And I really can't afford another misdemeanor." Yes, please fight girls because they’re wearing shirts that aren’t turtlenecks and managed to get good seats to see their favorite performer! America thanks you! Hero’s work!
5. The gorgeous, elegant, late-in-the-game appearance of America’s least favorite trope: "God," he mutters. "Most girls love it when I write them a song."
"Well, I am not most girls," I snap at him.
6. Looking at a picture of her boyfriend’s best friend: "She looks… Wholesome. And friendly. Like a Muppet." Girlfriend GOALS, am I right?
7. In case we didn’t have enough sweeping generalizations: "When a baby starts screaming in public, most women jut out their lower lips and say "Aww, somebody's sad."" I LOVE when people tell me about most women!
8. "I'd be pissed, too, if I was caught standing next to Alexis Henderson, who is a cheerleader but also a goody goody." Now this is just unnecessary. Like, what does this mean? What does that have to do with it? Can anyone explain this to me? I’m still confused.
9. "But, of course, it's easy to like any girl who's not part of your world. The moment she slides into an ex-boyfriend's orbit, we all have the same instinct: destroy." Oh right, of course! Because hating other women is NORMAL!
10. In which she makes fun of Matt’s best friend because he is TOTALLY off limits to any girl’s prying, slutty eyes, even his heartbroken BFF’s: "I close my eyes, almost a wince. Yeah, poor girl, breakups are rough, boo-hoo. But this is the same girl Matt said he loves. Used to love. Whatever."
11. "I'm not jealous. I'm… Annoyed. I know girls like her. As soon as Matt's not around, the gloves will come off." Yay! Because girls come in kinds!
But we’re not done. No, the characters suck. CLEARLY, Reagan is a tumor upon humanity, and we’re stuck inside her head for 350 pages. Kill. Me. How did I finish this book? Anyway, that’s not the only reason she sucks. (Although it’s the biggest, obviously. How much worse can you get? She didn’t murder anyone...that I’m aware of. *insert Law & Order dun-dun here*)
She’s also super vain. (There is a difference between vain and confident. One is good and one is bad. For this review, at least, the difference is whether you try to build others up or just yourself.) There’s a moment where she refuses to laugh at her best friend’s joke because she wants to look prettyyyyy on national TV. COME ON.
Alright, I’m done with the Law & Order-themed gifs. I don’t even watch that show. Beyond that moment of vanity, Reagan talks about how she’s pretty all the time. But I like when girls compliment themselves (ain’t it tough, ladies? #society) so I’m not going to press it. She is also a straight up bad friend to Dee. Despite her attempts to tell the reader otherwise, there’s a weird anger toward Dee’s fame going on throughout the whole thing. I’m not a fan. SUPPORT. OTHER. GIRLS. REAGAN.
I already talked about how boring Matt is. Beyond that...Dee is bubblegum sweet. Nothing else to her. And there are literally no other characters. This book made me stir crazy. Props to Emery Lord for making me really feel like I was trapped on tour with the same unchanging people and COULD NOT ESCAPE NO MATTER WHAT. Wait, what? That’s not the point of the book?
Otherwise...there’s a weird thing where people call Dee “little lady” all the time. Didn’t like that. Is that a thing, people who may be reading this who are from the Southern United States?
Aw! I googled little lady and Shirley Temple came up! Cute! Okay I need to be done now.
Bottom line: It all comes down to how vicious the girl hating is in this book. Emery Lord, I’m giving you one more try, since I already own The Start of Me and You. BUT I’M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
February 13, 2017
Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge Notes:
- 2. A book set on a different continent
- 2. A book set on a different continent
June 23, 2016
4/5 stars
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O'Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. Her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah's 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of healing hearts and break-up ballads.
But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O'Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. Her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah's 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of healing hearts and break-up ballads.
But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking.
“I want to reach back into my history with a grade-school pink eraser, scrubbing away my decisions like mistakes on a math test. To bad I drew my mistakes in ink.”I went into this book expecting a lovey dovey, easy to read, contemporary. I was in a reading slump and just needed something to pick me up, even if it didn’t have a sound plot or well developed characters. But, by the end of the book I was pleasantly surprised. This book had sustenance. The plot was thought out, characters flushed out, relationships well developed over time, and above all there wasn’t an insta-love relationship. So, basically this book blew my expectations out of the water.
“Dee penned my name into the lyrics of her first single, “Open Road Summer.”I am a huge, die hard, music person. With that being said the only genre I never listen to and ultimately have grown to dislike is country. Don’t get me wrong I respect the genre and the artists that contribute to it, along with their fans. But, you will not find me listening to country anytime soon, and I try to avoid it at all costs. That’s why I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. Why would someone who dislikes country read a book surrounding the genre? Well I asked myself that multiple times. I was, however, surprised how much I enjoyed the music aspect of the story. Granted, I altered all of the songs, lyrics, and concerts so they looked/sounded like rock or other genres. But, in my head it all sounded amazing and kept me intrigued to read more.
“Strawberry milk,” I say, eyeing him as we head toward the counter. “Really.”I have a huge weak spot of funny books. If a book has no plot, flat characters, and no story arc, but is hilarious it will get at least 1-2 stars. For me humor is a huge part of a story. I love to laugh and Open Road Summer did not disappoint. If you are looking for the love-hate relationship, chock full with quips, poking fun, and overall amazing comebacks you should pick this book up right now. Reagan has a really strong personality that buts up against Matt’s perfectly. They dislike each other enough to get under each other's skin but like each other, and Dee, enough to respect each other. It’s a perfect match.
He turns to me. “Do you have something to say about my snack selections?”
“Nope.” I fall into line behind him. “I just didn’t realize you were a middle-school girl going to a slumber party.”
“And I,” he says, plunking his strawberry-fest down on the counter, “didn’t realize you were a soccer mom justifying her chocolate craving with the fact that raisins are a fruit.”
“You are the only person who can build emotional barriers, but you're also the only person who can topple them. Other people can't knock down the walls you've built, no matter how much they love you. You have to tear them down yourself because there's something worth seeing on the other side.”This book wasn’t all sunshine and smiles, it delved into many hardships. One of the huge aspect of this book was Reagan’s relationship with her stepmom. Reagan remembers her mom as a perfect person, and when her dad decides to re-marry, Reagan is far from happy. She doesn’t approve of their relationship and it’s one of the reasons why she decides to go on tour with Dee.
“But my mom says the best revenge is living well, and I believe her.”The biggest factor in Reagan's decision to go on tour with Dee, was her ex-boyfriend. The way the relationship ended wasn’t healthy and Reagan needed to get away. She didn’t want to be reminded by all of the relationships crumbling around her so she took shelter in her relationship with Dee. She thought going on tour would give her time to sort through all of her feelings, and maybe help her move on.
“I swear his looks are pure Darwinism. If he wasn't so cute, someone would have killed him for being annoying by now.”The relationships in this book were so cute, and realistic. There was a wide variety of relationships represented in this book. Reagan is a very spontaneous person, many of her relationships are quick and short. While, Dee falls for people and stays in love for a very long time. Then there is Matt, he takes a while to warm up to people but when he gets to know you, he won’t let you go. They represented a lot of different types of relationships, not just the stereotypical “I’ll be with you forever” ya relationship which I loved.
“Stop documenting the moment for a second, he told me. Just be in it.”The plot of the book revolved around Dee’s tour, and country music. Most of the chapters were set in different cities around the country. This helped move the story along. There weren’t many slow scenes that bored me. But, there were a good amount of scenes where Reagan made stupid and rash decisions without thinking through all of her options. Because of this, her character came off as a bit bratty and full of herself.
“I'm a taped-together girl, but I can carry my own baggage.”Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Since I am not a fan of country music I was a bit apprehensive because I knew the book was centered around that genre. But the main characters were unique and well developed, the plot was well thought out with no breaks or spots that were slow, and best of all there were conflicts that weren't petty or cliché. I loved watching the relationships, platonic and romantic, grow throughout the story. All in all this book was definitely worth the read.
July 29, 2015
Review originally posted at Mostly YA Lit
Open Road Summer was a library read right before BEA14 for me. It stuck with me totally - it was one of those books I just didn't want to end, where every page there was a moment that made me suck in my breath because it was so perfect. Interestingly, I remember chatting in a line with another blogger, and discussing how she couldn't deal with the slut-shaming. So when I came home, I started writing this review, and I realized that I needed to address this. Because while the character Reagan does slut-shame girls, there is never an instance where the book or the author condones her actions. In fact, I think that Emery Lord has taken great pains to show how much Reagan’s slut-shaming is really an instance of her own insecurities - and in her slut-shaming, she is really just beating up on herself.
Firstly, the plot. Lilah Montgomery is a household name in country music now, a singer-songwriter who is headlining her first big tour this summer. Reagan, her best friend, is coming along because she needs a break from the bad decisions that she's made in the past few years, including getting arrested, and being with a really terrible dude. Dee (as Lilah is known to her friends) and Reagan are both suffering from broken hearts: Dee and her high school sweetheart Jimmy broke up awhile ago because he just wants to live a normal life, and she obviously doesn't have that. Reagan is a mess but not as much because of romance - more because she knows that a lot of what she's dealing with is from bad decisions, one of which was her ex-boyfriend.
Throughout the story, you get glimpses at what has made Reagan such a mess. The girl is hardened, someone who is deeply suspicious of people around her. Dee is probably the only person she trusts at the beginning.
Every review that I've read thus far has talked about Reagan and Dee's relationship, and mine is not any different. This is female friendship done right, guys. Dee and Reagan together are hilarious and kind of unstoppable. They have adorable antics (see: zipping Reagan into a suitcase), they are kind to one another, they always know what's going on in each other's lives, and they pick each other up when they fall. It's the kind of friendship that I've always wished I had - girls who are there for each other in an instant, and support each other even when one of them has stupid ideas.
Because their friendship is so strong, in some ways, Reagan relies on it almost too much. She doesn't feel like she needs to branch out and have more friends. She's got the perfect friend, why try for something else? So Reagan is hostile to other girls. She's not someone who trusts easily.
“Ugh,” Dee groans, beating her palms against the coffee table. “She knows I wanted Matt to open for me anyway but he was dealing with some family stuff, so I didn’t want to ask. It would be so fun to have him along, but not like this—not with the pretend-boyfriend strings attached.”
I stare down at the criss-crossed leather straps of my favorite wedge sandals. We were supposed to have so much fun. Well, maybe not fun fun, but we were at least supposed to stay together the way the two weeping willows in her parents’ backyard do—standing their ground side by side, even if they’re both drooping.
Reagan is feeling a bit possessive of Dee - she’s not completely interdependent, but there is definitely some jealousy at the thought of anyone invading her friendship. And I think because it’s so great, it’s really made her distrustful of other girls, particularly because other girls don’t really treat her that well.
I sighed, shaking my head at the counselor. “Look, Mia Graziani started that rumor to deflect attention from her own problems. I don’t want to gossip, but . . . frankly, I’ve seen her throwing up in the bathroom twice this past month, so . . . either pregnancy or bulimia. Poor girl.”
It was a total lie, and I almost felt bad about it. But I hated Mia. I hated her for choosing me as the subject of her cruelty. I hated her more for bringing out the viciousness in me. This wasn’t who I wanted to be, but how many times can a dog get kicked before she bares her teeth in return?
Here we see the first--and I believe the only--instance of Reagan’s slut-shaming - which happened in the past and precisely stems from other girls bullying her. I’m not saying it’s right - in fact, Reagan KNOWS it’s not right, and she “almost felt bad about it...I hated her more for bringing out the viciousness in me. This wasn’t who I wanted to be.” And to reinforce the wrongness of her actions, right after this, Dee comes in and surveys her “vandalism.” The fact that the book is calling it that is indicative of how the author - and the book - feel about what Reagan has done. And to add to that, we hear that Dee herself has been bullied - but instead of doing what Reagan does, she is “strong...in a quiet, but irrepressible way.” It’s obvious who the book agrees with here.
Does this make Reagan unlikeable? Maybe. For me, it made her all the more understandable, though. Because I'm not someone who trusts easily. I've been bullied in the past. And I used to manifest that bullying by lashing out at my friends and family, testing them to make sure that they really loved me. I got suspicious of any cool girl who looked too perfect, and yes, I acted out and did some things that were maybe a little dumb and a little wild.
This is what Reagan does. She is such a mess, and such a contrast of someone who hates everyone around her and someone who is so down on herself.
I was mad at my mom for abandoning us and mad at him for abandoning me emotionally. Not even Dee’s good influence could keep me from trying to hurt my parents the way they hurt me. At least that’s what my court-appointed therapist thinks, and I hate to admit that she’s probably right. I also hate to admit that she’s court-appointed.
My track record started with mouthing off in seventh grade and skipping a few study halls in eighth grade. Freshman year of high school, I flirted with senior boys and made out with them in their cars, just to feel that rush of it all. I snuck out of the house to parties, where I smoked, drank bad beer, and needed Dee to help me home. After Dee left on her first tour, I lost my virginity to a guy I barely knew, which was an experience that’s barely worth remembering.
An underage-drinking charge sent me to court last fall…My list of offenses runs long, and I’m not proud of any of them—except maybe the time I outran a cop while wearing stilettos. But things changed in April, and so did I. I’m trying to get my act together, but I can’t be someone I’m not. I still flirt with boys to get what I want, and I still crave the occasional cigarette. I’m just not as bad as I used to be.
I turn another corner, only to find even screechier girls at a merchandise counter.
“Gotta go,” the girl says, turning back to us. “Don’t wanna miss Matt Finch! Yum.”
As she walks away, I sneer at her. Idiot. Matt’s a human being, not an apple pie….There’s a group of girls already camped out in front of the small stage space, and more girls are gravitating toward it by the minute. They all look like they’ve tried extra hard tonight, like they’re desperate to get with Matt Finch for One Night Only. Best of luck, bitches….
The squeals rise up while girls push to find a spot near the stage. They’re clapping as best they can with drinks in hand, and Matt ducks onstage from behind the thick navy curtain. Dee lets out an impressive wolf whistle, which sets off the whole crowd even louder. I wish all these skanks would just sit down so I could see. Repositioning my chair, I nearly strain my back trying to see past a tall blond in unnecessarily high heels….
I’m not putting in the entire scene, but rest assured, there’s more of Reagan’s attitude. And more of her distancing herself from those girls, not only because she doesn’t want to admit to liking Matt, but also because Reagan sees herself as Other to the girls here. She places herself in a position where she is different from other girls, and thus, she is alone, separate, but also safe from any position where she might end up with her heart on her sleeve.
But note her behavior after the show:
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him ducking back into the bar, trying to make his way toward us. A group of doting bimbos sidelines him immediately, asking for pictures with cell phones and crappy point-and-shoot cameras. He smiles gamely as the flashes go off, girls wrapping their arms around him, and my gag reflex trills in my throat. Glancing around to make sure no one’s watching, I lean over toward the table, subtly adjusting my push-up bra.
“Hey, guys.” He looks relieved, his whole body relaxing once he’s in our presence. Up close, his shirt looks damp with sweat, and, on anyone else, this would be disgusting. Instead, on Matt, I find it inexplicably sexy, and I force my eyes away.
“You were wonderful,” Dee says, and my brain races to find a compliment. I mean, what am I supposed to say? That song makes me feel like I already know you completely, like we existed together in a former life. Like you get me, without even knowing me. Like maybe I need to get you alone to find out how many other ways you can make me feel.
“It was good.” I flash him the hint of a smile. The more I see girls fawning over him, the less I want to be one of them.
Despite the fact that Reagan sees herself as Other to the girls at the bar, her actions speak louder than her words. She is adjusting her push-up bra so that she can get an edge over the other girls, thus, placing herself squarely in the group of girls trying to impress Matt. The more she slut-shames other girls, the more she acts like one of those girls.
“I don’t like any girl who bites her lip in an attempt to look cute and innocent," she narrates. And yet, earlier on in the book, as they are getting ready to go to the very same show, Reagan also discusses her own attempts to look a certain way for Matt:
And isn’t that eerily similar to what she’s internally shaming the other girl for? Moreover, the fact that Reagan doesn't often voice her slut-shaming thoughts out loud also proves how timid Reagan's slut-shaming is. She's internalized an idea of What Sluts Wear and What Sluts Do. And when she goes on to mention her own skimpy clothing, her own actions to become the very girls she is shaming.
Her choice of clothing is not her "owning" that persona. It's a way of reminding herself that she should be shamed as well. She's broken, she's a mess, and her outward appearance and her hostile thoughts reflect that.
I've gone on a long time about this, but I want to be clear. I think the author was deliberately showing us how girls run themselves down, how low self-esteem happens, and how bad decisions come from those negative thought patterns. We are ABSOLUTELY supposed to think that Reagan’s slut-shaming is not okay, and that her opinions about people are not always correct, and tinged by her own bad experiences. And that’s why, when she meets Matt Finch, she is terrified. He sees right through her, he’s a good boy, he’s everything that she’s not supposed to deserve as a “slut.”
“Besides, Matt Finch, classifiable good boy, would never go for a girl like me. Of course he wouldn’t," Reagan says. And yet he wants her. And the things he likes about her are all the things that she’s tried to bury within herself - the vulnerable parts that make her a great photographer and a great friend and a girl who is way more hurt and broken that she wants to admit.
Open Road Summer was a library read right before BEA14 for me. It stuck with me totally - it was one of those books I just didn't want to end, where every page there was a moment that made me suck in my breath because it was so perfect. Interestingly, I remember chatting in a line with another blogger, and discussing how she couldn't deal with the slut-shaming. So when I came home, I started writing this review, and I realized that I needed to address this. Because while the character Reagan does slut-shame girls, there is never an instance where the book or the author condones her actions. In fact, I think that Emery Lord has taken great pains to show how much Reagan’s slut-shaming is really an instance of her own insecurities - and in her slut-shaming, she is really just beating up on herself.
Firstly, the plot. Lilah Montgomery is a household name in country music now, a singer-songwriter who is headlining her first big tour this summer. Reagan, her best friend, is coming along because she needs a break from the bad decisions that she's made in the past few years, including getting arrested, and being with a really terrible dude. Dee (as Lilah is known to her friends) and Reagan are both suffering from broken hearts: Dee and her high school sweetheart Jimmy broke up awhile ago because he just wants to live a normal life, and she obviously doesn't have that. Reagan is a mess but not as much because of romance - more because she knows that a lot of what she's dealing with is from bad decisions, one of which was her ex-boyfriend.
Throughout the story, you get glimpses at what has made Reagan such a mess. The girl is hardened, someone who is deeply suspicious of people around her. Dee is probably the only person she trusts at the beginning.
Every review that I've read thus far has talked about Reagan and Dee's relationship, and mine is not any different. This is female friendship done right, guys. Dee and Reagan together are hilarious and kind of unstoppable. They have adorable antics (see: zipping Reagan into a suitcase), they are kind to one another, they always know what's going on in each other's lives, and they pick each other up when they fall. It's the kind of friendship that I've always wished I had - girls who are there for each other in an instant, and support each other even when one of them has stupid ideas.
Because their friendship is so strong, in some ways, Reagan relies on it almost too much. She doesn't feel like she needs to branch out and have more friends. She's got the perfect friend, why try for something else? So Reagan is hostile to other girls. She's not someone who trusts easily.
“Ugh,” Dee groans, beating her palms against the coffee table. “She knows I wanted Matt to open for me anyway but he was dealing with some family stuff, so I didn’t want to ask. It would be so fun to have him along, but not like this—not with the pretend-boyfriend strings attached.”
I stare down at the criss-crossed leather straps of my favorite wedge sandals. We were supposed to have so much fun. Well, maybe not fun fun, but we were at least supposed to stay together the way the two weeping willows in her parents’ backyard do—standing their ground side by side, even if they’re both drooping.
Reagan is feeling a bit possessive of Dee - she’s not completely interdependent, but there is definitely some jealousy at the thought of anyone invading her friendship. And I think because it’s so great, it’s really made her distrustful of other girls, particularly because other girls don’t really treat her that well.
The memory comes barreling back to me, from three years ago. I wasn’t surprised that the school counselor called me down to her office to “check in” only a few days into freshman year. Gossip had been following me around since I was in middle school, when a gaggle of mean girls started a rumor that I was anorexic. By the time I hit a C-cup in eighth grade, they were saying that I’d gotten implants, that I was an aspiring porn star, that I was a slut. Any time I missed school for a dentist appointment, I returned to rumors that I was cutting class to fool around with a senior. I was the girl who had no mom, the girl whose dad was not so anonymously in Alcoholics Anonymous. Even the school counselor believed the rumors about me might be true. I could tell she was fishing around for information about the gossip du jour—that I’d hooked up with a teacher. I was fourteen and had only kissed two boys ever. Plus: ew. A teacher?
I sighed, shaking my head at the counselor. “Look, Mia Graziani started that rumor to deflect attention from her own problems. I don’t want to gossip, but . . . frankly, I’ve seen her throwing up in the bathroom twice this past month, so . . . either pregnancy or bulimia. Poor girl.”
It was a total lie, and I almost felt bad about it. But I hated Mia. I hated her for choosing me as the subject of her cruelty. I hated her more for bringing out the viciousness in me. This wasn’t who I wanted to be, but how many times can a dog get kicked before she bares her teeth in return?
I retreated to the girl’s bathroom as the bell rang. I went into the stall where “Reagan O’Neill is a whore” was written on the back of the door. In black Sharpie, I spelled out exactly where Mia Graziani could shove it. It wasn’t long before I heard the creak of the door and soft footsteps.
“Reagan . . .” Dee always sounds like her mom when she uses her calm voice. “C’mon. Come out.”
I complied by kicking the stall door with all my might. Dee winced at the sound of the metal door slamming against the wall and then surveyed my vandalism. She was holding the bathroom pass from the class we were both supposed to be in.
“They’re just jealous.”
“Why would they be jealous?”
“Because you’re beautiful and smart. They know it. You make them insecure.”
“Yeah, right.” I scowled, kicking the door again, though with less force this time.
Dee caught the door with one hand before it could hit the wall.
“They’re mean to you, too, you know,” I said. They called Dee “Frizz” behind her back and talked about her songwriting contract with air quotes, like they didn’t believe it was real. But it was still unkind of me—attempting to drag Dee along the low road with me. Her cheeks flinched, trying to frown, but she wouldn’t let them. Even then, Dee was strong. Not in the loud, brassy, I-am-woman way that some girls are. She was strong then the way she’s strong now, in a quiet but irrepressible way.
“Yeah, I know,” she said finally. “But my mom says the best revenge is living well, and I believe her.”
Here we see the first--and I believe the only--instance of Reagan’s slut-shaming - which happened in the past and precisely stems from other girls bullying her. I’m not saying it’s right - in fact, Reagan KNOWS it’s not right, and she “almost felt bad about it...I hated her more for bringing out the viciousness in me. This wasn’t who I wanted to be.” And to reinforce the wrongness of her actions, right after this, Dee comes in and surveys her “vandalism.” The fact that the book is calling it that is indicative of how the author - and the book - feel about what Reagan has done. And to add to that, we hear that Dee herself has been bullied - but instead of doing what Reagan does, she is “strong...in a quiet, but irrepressible way.” It’s obvious who the book agrees with here.
Does this make Reagan unlikeable? Maybe. For me, it made her all the more understandable, though. Because I'm not someone who trusts easily. I've been bullied in the past. And I used to manifest that bullying by lashing out at my friends and family, testing them to make sure that they really loved me. I got suspicious of any cool girl who looked too perfect, and yes, I acted out and did some things that were maybe a little dumb and a little wild.
This is what Reagan does. She is such a mess, and such a contrast of someone who hates everyone around her and someone who is so down on herself.
I was mad at my mom for abandoning us and mad at him for abandoning me emotionally. Not even Dee’s good influence could keep me from trying to hurt my parents the way they hurt me. At least that’s what my court-appointed therapist thinks, and I hate to admit that she’s probably right. I also hate to admit that she’s court-appointed.
My track record started with mouthing off in seventh grade and skipping a few study halls in eighth grade. Freshman year of high school, I flirted with senior boys and made out with them in their cars, just to feel that rush of it all. I snuck out of the house to parties, where I smoked, drank bad beer, and needed Dee to help me home. After Dee left on her first tour, I lost my virginity to a guy I barely knew, which was an experience that’s barely worth remembering.
An underage-drinking charge sent me to court last fall…My list of offenses runs long, and I’m not proud of any of them—except maybe the time I outran a cop while wearing stilettos. But things changed in April, and so did I. I’m trying to get my act together, but I can’t be someone I’m not. I still flirt with boys to get what I want, and I still crave the occasional cigarette. I’m just not as bad as I used to be.
I turn another corner, only to find even screechier girls at a merchandise counter.
Immediately after talking about her own offenses and her actions - obviously those of a girl who doesn’t have much self-esteem and is acting out, Reagan insecurely calls the girls at Dee’s concert “screechy.” This is Reagan’s defense mechanism, her way of telling herself that she is different from other girls - while they are screechy and fangirl-ish, she is different. In fact, Reagan has been told of her differences and excluded so many times that she now automatically puts herself there. She hates herself for doing things “just to feel the rush of it all," including losing her virginity "to a guy [I] barely knew, which was an experience that’s barely worth remembering.” And yet, she is the one putting herself in the very position that other girls assigned to her - she perpetuates the same behaviors that she now slut-shames other girls for.
To me, this is a clear indicator that the thought-hatred she has throughout the narrative really stems from her hatred of herself. In the scene that most other reviews I’ve read take as the biggest example of Reagan’s slut-shaming, we see Reagan trying to fight off her own attraction to Matt Finch while seeing several girls in a bar drawn to him:
“Gotta go,” the girl says, turning back to us. “Don’t wanna miss Matt Finch! Yum.”
As she walks away, I sneer at her. Idiot. Matt’s a human being, not an apple pie….There’s a group of girls already camped out in front of the small stage space, and more girls are gravitating toward it by the minute. They all look like they’ve tried extra hard tonight, like they’re desperate to get with Matt Finch for One Night Only. Best of luck, bitches….
The squeals rise up while girls push to find a spot near the stage. They’re clapping as best they can with drinks in hand, and Matt ducks onstage from behind the thick navy curtain. Dee lets out an impressive wolf whistle, which sets off the whole crowd even louder. I wish all these skanks would just sit down so I could see. Repositioning my chair, I nearly strain my back trying to see past a tall blond in unnecessarily high heels….
I’m not putting in the entire scene, but rest assured, there’s more of Reagan’s attitude. And more of her distancing herself from those girls, not only because she doesn’t want to admit to liking Matt, but also because Reagan sees herself as Other to the girls here. She places herself in a position where she is different from other girls, and thus, she is alone, separate, but also safe from any position where she might end up with her heart on her sleeve.
But note her behavior after the show:
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him ducking back into the bar, trying to make his way toward us. A group of doting bimbos sidelines him immediately, asking for pictures with cell phones and crappy point-and-shoot cameras. He smiles gamely as the flashes go off, girls wrapping their arms around him, and my gag reflex trills in my throat. Glancing around to make sure no one’s watching, I lean over toward the table, subtly adjusting my push-up bra.
“Hey, guys.” He looks relieved, his whole body relaxing once he’s in our presence. Up close, his shirt looks damp with sweat, and, on anyone else, this would be disgusting. Instead, on Matt, I find it inexplicably sexy, and I force my eyes away.
“You were wonderful,” Dee says, and my brain races to find a compliment. I mean, what am I supposed to say? That song makes me feel like I already know you completely, like we existed together in a former life. Like you get me, without even knowing me. Like maybe I need to get you alone to find out how many other ways you can make me feel.
“It was good.” I flash him the hint of a smile. The more I see girls fawning over him, the less I want to be one of them.
Despite the fact that Reagan sees herself as Other to the girls at the bar, her actions speak louder than her words. She is adjusting her push-up bra so that she can get an edge over the other girls, thus, placing herself squarely in the group of girls trying to impress Matt. The more she slut-shames other girls, the more she acts like one of those girls.
“I don’t like any girl who bites her lip in an attempt to look cute and innocent," she narrates. And yet, earlier on in the book, as they are getting ready to go to the very same show, Reagan also discusses her own attempts to look a certain way for Matt:
I feel almost nervous, not quite as in control as I’d like to be. Something about Matt puts me off guard, and I don’t like it. As I was picking out something to wear, I caught myself worrying that I’d look like I tried too hard. I decided on a black tank-top dress, which is tight and cotton and simple, very I-just-threw-this-on. The necklace gives it a more feminine touch. Still, I lean forward in the mirror, adjusting my bra for maximum cleavage.
And isn’t that eerily similar to what she’s internally shaming the other girl for? Moreover, the fact that Reagan doesn't often voice her slut-shaming thoughts out loud also proves how timid Reagan's slut-shaming is. She's internalized an idea of What Sluts Wear and What Sluts Do. And when she goes on to mention her own skimpy clothing, her own actions to become the very girls she is shaming.
Her choice of clothing is not her "owning" that persona. It's a way of reminding herself that she should be shamed as well. She's broken, she's a mess, and her outward appearance and her hostile thoughts reflect that.
I've gone on a long time about this, but I want to be clear. I think the author was deliberately showing us how girls run themselves down, how low self-esteem happens, and how bad decisions come from those negative thought patterns. We are ABSOLUTELY supposed to think that Reagan’s slut-shaming is not okay, and that her opinions about people are not always correct, and tinged by her own bad experiences. And that’s why, when she meets Matt Finch, she is terrified. He sees right through her, he’s a good boy, he’s everything that she’s not supposed to deserve as a “slut.”
“Besides, Matt Finch, classifiable good boy, would never go for a girl like me. Of course he wouldn’t," Reagan says. And yet he wants her. And the things he likes about her are all the things that she’s tried to bury within herself - the vulnerable parts that make her a great photographer and a great friend and a girl who is way more hurt and broken that she wants to admit.
October 8, 2017
*4 FEELGOOD STARS*
"I think it's the bravest thing in the world - to run straight at love, even knowing how badly you could get hurt.”
Well, what more can I say other than 'I loved this!'.
I'm really into summery reads these days, probably because summer is over and I'm missing it already lol.
Review coming soon!
"I think it's the bravest thing in the world - to run straight at love, even knowing how badly you could get hurt.”
Well, what more can I say other than 'I loved this!'.
I'm really into summery reads these days, probably because summer is over and I'm missing it already lol.
Review coming soon!
December 11, 2020
Kidding. A singer I am not.
BUT there are definitely some talented singers in Open Road Summer. Reagan O’Neill is ready to spend the summer with her best friend, leaving the last tumultuous year behind her. Her best friend Dee, is none other than country superstar Lilah Montgomery which means they will be touring the country by bus as Lilah puts on concert after concert. Lilah herself is nursing a broken heart so their girls only tour is needed by both.
But ‘girls only’ is put on hold when Matt Finch joins the tour to deflect some bad press. Reagan certainly didn’t expect to have a boy on the tour, much less one that she is having a hard time pretending she doesn’t want to get to know better.
Let me just start off by saying that I almost bumped Jase Garrett from my top two list for Matt Finch.
Go ahead and let that sink in for a moment.
This book was one of my most anticipated for this year and I sat by jealously as blogger after blogger received an ARC of this book. I cried bitter tears of sadness each time I saw someone say how amazing it was.
And then.
Then I found it on Netgalley and I stared at my email waiting for the approval I hoped would come, and it finally did!
First and foremost what I loved about this story was that it focused on friendship. Not just the superficial friendship of a couple of girls. I’m talking, deep down, life long, “I’d take a bullet for you” friendship and it’s done so amazingly well.
Looking at Lilah from the outside you would think she has everything… fame and fortune doing something she loves. But we get to see a bit of the dirty side of fame in this story. It’s not all parties and fun. The press is trying to destroy her image with no thought to the consequences to her life. She's also had to give up some very important things in order to pursue this dream so coming to terms with it has been a struggle, and one that Lord portrays wonderfully.
Raegan herself has had a rough year, but she’s taking the summer to turn everything around. She doesn’t like who she was for several reasons and she’s prepared to make the changes necessary to start turning things around.
I’m a taped-together girl, but I can carry my own baggage. What I can’t do is pretend that I’m weightless, unburdened. Dee never hides her heartache from me, and that makes it okay to feel alongside her – no censoring, no embarrassment.
I really loved her love for her friendship with Dee. Their relationship wasn’t complicated and I think that’s how the best friendships endure. It was a wonderful thing to read. But I also love that she didn’t lose herself over the incredible Matt Finch.
His eyes are somewhere between gray and blue, and his hair somewhere between brown and blond, and I am somewhere between hostile and attracted.
She makes no attempt to hide that hostility and she makes her stance very clear from the get-go with him about her trust… or lack of it until he earns it.
Matt Finch
That is totally a lie… he’s not perfect, but that’s what makes him perfect. I’m sorry if you don’t get that. LOL
Matt grew up in the limelight – part of a family band he knows how tours work and he knows how the press is, and his squeaky clean image is exactly what is needed on the Lilah Montgomery tour. At the ripe old age of 19 he’s attempting a solo career, but his past year hasn’t been all that great either and going on tour might be just what he needs too.
Matt is the quintessential boy next door - he’s sweet and he’s charming and he knows just how to make a girl swoon even if it wasn’t what he intended. He tells stories though his music and what girl doesn’t want to know a boy like that in real life? Plus… he totally knows when ice cream is appropriate and I swear I highlighted a ton of quotes but the following might be my favorite:
“I really like you,” Matt announces, which somehow makes me feel more embarrassed. “You’re unpredictable and smart, and I basically want to spend all of my time with you.”
I know what I said up there about this book being about friendship, but there is definitely a romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The build of the relationship between Raegan and Matt was so well done. She didn’t just fall at his feet and I loved that he worked to get to know her, and omg all the fluttery butterflies were present during reading…
It’s not the first time he’s run his hands through my hair, almost absentmindedly. Normally I’d pull away from being petted like a house cat, but it isn’t like that. His fingers weave through my hair the way he touches his guitar strings, as if I’m something cherished, something he’s connected to. Instead, I stare back at him, at his salt lake eyes and the strong lines of his face. In coming on tour, I had hoped to find escape – enough distance to figure out how to start over. I still don’t know the whens and hows of repairing my own life. But I know that Matt Finch makes me want to feel everything. Instead of numbing myself in any variety of ways, I want each sensation; I want to feel the way they pool together – his touch and smell, the sound of his voice. I want the tipsiness, the giddy ache that comes as he slides his thumb across my lower lip, as his eyes fixate on my mouth.
Characters aren’t the only thing I loved about this. Emery Lord’s writing is beautiful and captivating, her storytelling wonderfully done and once you start reading this, you won’t want to put it down. Lord hits all the right notes in this story about friendship, family, and love… pursuing your dreams and realizing your past is just your past and it doesn’t have to define your future.
This will definitely be on my top of 2014 list and fans of contemporary YA absolutely need to put this on your ‘read immediately’ shelf so you grab it when it arrives. I will definitely be waiting as patiently as possible for more from Emery Lord!
#sorrynotsorry for all the gifs
THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH to Bloomsbury for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 16, 2017
There were so many SO MANY things I loved about this book and one main thing I didn't which knocked it down to a 3.
Let's start with what I loved - I really really loved Reagan's development as a character and how she grew into herself. I loved the relationship in this book and how they FOUGHT for it and really took things (kind of) slow. I loved the snarky dialogue. I loved that this is a girl on tour with her best friend who is a better version of Taylor Swift? Can I say that? Or maybe just an earlier version of TS. I also loved that it's about her FRIEND not the starlet herself. The whole premise was adorable and amazing and fantastic for a contemporary book.
What I DIDN'T love was part or Reagan's personality and mannerisms that manifested in her slut shaming and talking down about basically any female who wasn't Dee. She did this SO OFTEN. It wasn't just one or two offhand comments, which still isn't acceptable but is more bearable, but it was many MANY moments sprinkled throughout the book. Reagan also never adjusted or changed this behavior and was never called out for it. It was pretty bold and awful and really took the book down a lot of notches for me. I'm not here for girl hate and plot points revolving around jealousy over a guy. Nope. Not for it.
Besides that this book was really everything I could've asked for, I'm just sad that Reagan's slut shaming was such a big part of the book.
Let's start with what I loved - I really really loved Reagan's development as a character and how she grew into herself. I loved the relationship in this book and how they FOUGHT for it and really took things (kind of) slow. I loved the snarky dialogue. I loved that this is a girl on tour with her best friend who is a better version of Taylor Swift? Can I say that? Or maybe just an earlier version of TS. I also loved that it's about her FRIEND not the starlet herself. The whole premise was adorable and amazing and fantastic for a contemporary book.
What I DIDN'T love was part or Reagan's personality and mannerisms that manifested in her slut shaming and talking down about basically any female who wasn't Dee. She did this SO OFTEN. It wasn't just one or two offhand comments, which still isn't acceptable but is more bearable, but it was many MANY moments sprinkled throughout the book. Reagan also never adjusted or changed this behavior and was never called out for it. It was pretty bold and awful and really took the book down a lot of notches for me. I'm not here for girl hate and plot points revolving around jealousy over a guy. Nope. Not for it.
Besides that this book was really everything I could've asked for, I'm just sad that Reagan's slut shaming was such a big part of the book.
May 29, 2016
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
I heard good things about Emery Lord’s books
What I thought
I absolutely adored this book! It was fun and at times meaningful. The dynamic of the Reagan, Matt and Dee is fun to read. I loved the characters and I loved that each character had their own story of heartbreak to tell. The romance was sweet even though Reagan almost ruined it? How many people need to tell you it was a misunderstanding? The whole situation made me want to pull my hair out I was so frustrated. With that said this was a story of friendship, self discovery, accepting you flaws and finding love.
Why this book?
I heard good things about Emery Lord’s books
What I thought
I absolutely adored this book! It was fun and at times meaningful. The dynamic of the Reagan, Matt and Dee is fun to read. I loved the characters and I loved that each character had their own story of heartbreak to tell. The romance was sweet even though Reagan almost ruined it? How many people need to tell you it was a misunderstanding? The whole situation made me want to pull my hair out I was so frustrated. With that said this was a story of friendship, self discovery, accepting you flaws and finding love.
April 29, 2014
Absolutely adored it.
September 22, 2021
I was quite skeptic to start this one as I have more or less left YA romance behind but to my luck or not I still have many YA romances left on my shelves that I have bought impulsively. As this year I am trying to finish at least 1/4th of my tbr list, I knew I’ll have to brave up and read them. Thus I literally just ran my finger through the books and picked one blind.
I have to say, in a way I was actually pleasantly surprised by the book. I am not that heavy with the Hollywood trope especially with YA involved. The only one I could like was “Between the Lines” by Tamara Webber (Pretty sure I got the title and the spelling of the author wrong there). But as I mentioned before, this surprised me and I actually ended up managing to get through this. For anyone who read this, the characters gives off a very Taylor Swift and Jonas Brothers vibe but in my teen years I liked neither of them so I was more than bland about that. But what really got me liking this to a certain extent was the switch of personalities. Compared to the cliche bad boy and good girl we have the bad girl and good boy trope. I won’t say it did wonders( this is the author’s debut novel after all) but it was good to see the interchange. The story felt cute, the climax slightly predictable but in the end it was an ok read. As always with many books I flash read through the last bit. The climax didn’t exactly hook me in. I knew as anyone else that something ‘drastic’ would happen to break them apart and it did as I predicted. Thus I wasn’t too moved or heartbroken with tears about it.
In the end it was an enjoyable read and nothing more but it still was an ok start for reading YA novels again. Maybe finally I can finish all of those collecting dust on my shelves (I had to literally wipe the dust from the top). Hopefully this will help. Now I shall take a break till tomorrow evening till I start a new one but knowing me I might cave in and start at least a manga.
I have to say, in a way I was actually pleasantly surprised by the book. I am not that heavy with the Hollywood trope especially with YA involved. The only one I could like was “Between the Lines” by Tamara Webber (Pretty sure I got the title and the spelling of the author wrong there). But as I mentioned before, this surprised me and I actually ended up managing to get through this. For anyone who read this, the characters gives off a very Taylor Swift and Jonas Brothers vibe but in my teen years I liked neither of them so I was more than bland about that. But what really got me liking this to a certain extent was the switch of personalities. Compared to the cliche bad boy and good girl we have the bad girl and good boy trope. I won’t say it did wonders( this is the author’s debut novel after all) but it was good to see the interchange. The story felt cute, the climax slightly predictable but in the end it was an ok read. As always with many books I flash read through the last bit. The climax didn’t exactly hook me in. I knew as anyone else that something ‘drastic’ would happen to break them apart and it did as I predicted. Thus I wasn’t too moved or heartbroken with tears about it.
In the end it was an enjoyable read and nothing more but it still was an ok start for reading YA novels again. Maybe finally I can finish all of those collecting dust on my shelves (I had to literally wipe the dust from the top). Hopefully this will help. Now I shall take a break till tomorrow evening till I start a new one but knowing me I might cave in and start at least a manga.
December 20, 2014
A special thanks to Lauren over @ Love is Not a Triangle for lending me her ARC copy!
Look. Three stars does not = bad for me. I LIKE my three-star books. I have mostly fond memories of them. But rating Open Road Summer three stars? Like a punch to the gut. In this case, three stars means disappointing. It means in no way did this live up to my five-star expectations. I don't think there was anyone who was looking forward to Open Road Summer more than me. I felt like I was practically begging Lauren to hurry up and read it so she could send it to me. And now I'm having to write a very painful review, because this was not the feel good YA summer romance I was hoping for. I've found myself alone in a sea of four and five star reviews from friends and other bloggers. Which is odd, because I'm hardly ever the black sheep. Le sigh.
Open Road Summer is about Reagan O’Neill and the summer she spends on tour with her best friend Lilah "Dee" Montgomery, who happens to be a famous singer a la Taylor Swift. Reagan recently broke up with a boyfriend who not only cheated on her but hit her as well. She wants to escape this bad girl image she's carved for herself and start over. As she and Dee go from city to city, they experience the ups and downs of fame and friendship and what it means to take risks. Matt Finch, a cute boy-next-door type who joins the tour as the opening act, poses the greatest risk of all to Reagan's heart...
Someone on Twitter (I can't remember who) recently asked if it was necessary for us to like the main character in the book we're reading. My first instinct was to say no, that sometimes having more complex characters means not always being overly fond of them. But I don't think that's true for me. If I don't like the main character then I usually grow frustrated and annoyed and ultimately feel disconnected from the story. If I were to go back through my four and five star books, I doubt I'd find one that had a main character I didn't like. This is the reason - the only reason - for my three star review of Open Road Summer. I could not stand Reagan. She's dealing with some abandonment issues because her mom left her and her dad when she was young, and for the last few years she hasn't been on her best behavior. She sneaks out, she flirts obnoxiously with boys, she's promiscuous, she parties. None of those are necessarily bad things, but dressed on her they are not at all appealing. It's all in her attitude. I don't think I've ever met a more judgmental character, especially toward girls that she is exactly like. At first I thought it might be some sort of defense mechanism, but it happens repeatedly, over and over again, that I could no longer make excuses for her. And she never changes. I wish I had had the presence of mind to count how many times Reagan points out other girls' behavior or what other girls are wearing. For example, there's this one scene she's judging these girls for being all over Matt, and literally the next second she's adjusting her push up bra right before he walks over. And she hates a nurse for checking Matt out indiscreetly, but when a male nurse walks over she immediately starts hitting on him. She wears outfits that are, shall we say, revealing, but then she comments on a group of girls whose tank tops are "even lower" than hers. I just couldn't take it anymore! She made it so difficult for me to like her. She's prickly, judgmental, selfish, immature, and stubborn. How she treats Matt at the end is ridiculous. I CAN'T EVEN GET INTO THAT.
Other than Reagan, I really, really liked this book. Emery Lord does a seemingly good job of showing what it's like to be on tour and on the road. Not that I know what that's really like, but it felt authentic and not at all over the top. Dee is a lovable character (in fact, I wish this had been her story), and then of course there's Matt. He is one of those book boys who you'd want to take home to your mother. Charming, polite, and an all around nice guy. Plus he writes the swooniest songs! I like that his and Reagan's romance takes time to develop, even though I don't think Reagan is on the same maturity level as him. She accuses him of hiding behind his grin and his music and that she wants to be with someone "real"... as if she doesn't hide behind her bad attitude and high heels. [Insert eye roll here.] There are some pretty cute scenes between them, but then Reagan would go and say/do/think something stupid and I'd be lost again.
As you can probably already tell, I'm in the minority when it comes to this book, so you'll more than likely have better luck than me. Believe me, no one is more upset than I am about how I feel. I was ready to LOVE this book, but it just didn't work out for me. Reagan's narration pretty much ruins that nostalgic, summery high I get from these type of stories.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
Look. Three stars does not = bad for me. I LIKE my three-star books. I have mostly fond memories of them. But rating Open Road Summer three stars? Like a punch to the gut. In this case, three stars means disappointing. It means in no way did this live up to my five-star expectations. I don't think there was anyone who was looking forward to Open Road Summer more than me. I felt like I was practically begging Lauren to hurry up and read it so she could send it to me. And now I'm having to write a very painful review, because this was not the feel good YA summer romance I was hoping for. I've found myself alone in a sea of four and five star reviews from friends and other bloggers. Which is odd, because I'm hardly ever the black sheep. Le sigh.
Open Road Summer is about Reagan O’Neill and the summer she spends on tour with her best friend Lilah "Dee" Montgomery, who happens to be a famous singer a la Taylor Swift. Reagan recently broke up with a boyfriend who not only cheated on her but hit her as well. She wants to escape this bad girl image she's carved for herself and start over. As she and Dee go from city to city, they experience the ups and downs of fame and friendship and what it means to take risks. Matt Finch, a cute boy-next-door type who joins the tour as the opening act, poses the greatest risk of all to Reagan's heart...
Someone on Twitter (I can't remember who) recently asked if it was necessary for us to like the main character in the book we're reading. My first instinct was to say no, that sometimes having more complex characters means not always being overly fond of them. But I don't think that's true for me. If I don't like the main character then I usually grow frustrated and annoyed and ultimately feel disconnected from the story. If I were to go back through my four and five star books, I doubt I'd find one that had a main character I didn't like. This is the reason - the only reason - for my three star review of Open Road Summer. I could not stand Reagan. She's dealing with some abandonment issues because her mom left her and her dad when she was young, and for the last few years she hasn't been on her best behavior. She sneaks out, she flirts obnoxiously with boys, she's promiscuous, she parties. None of those are necessarily bad things, but dressed on her they are not at all appealing. It's all in her attitude. I don't think I've ever met a more judgmental character, especially toward girls that she is exactly like. At first I thought it might be some sort of defense mechanism, but it happens repeatedly, over and over again, that I could no longer make excuses for her. And she never changes. I wish I had had the presence of mind to count how many times Reagan points out other girls' behavior or what other girls are wearing. For example, there's this one scene she's judging these girls for being all over Matt, and literally the next second she's adjusting her push up bra right before he walks over. And she hates a nurse for checking Matt out indiscreetly, but when a male nurse walks over she immediately starts hitting on him. She wears outfits that are, shall we say, revealing, but then she comments on a group of girls whose tank tops are "even lower" than hers. I just couldn't take it anymore! She made it so difficult for me to like her. She's prickly, judgmental, selfish, immature, and stubborn. How she treats Matt at the end is ridiculous. I CAN'T EVEN GET INTO THAT.
Other than Reagan, I really, really liked this book. Emery Lord does a seemingly good job of showing what it's like to be on tour and on the road. Not that I know what that's really like, but it felt authentic and not at all over the top. Dee is a lovable character (in fact, I wish this had been her story), and then of course there's Matt. He is one of those book boys who you'd want to take home to your mother. Charming, polite, and an all around nice guy. Plus he writes the swooniest songs! I like that his and Reagan's romance takes time to develop, even though I don't think Reagan is on the same maturity level as him. She accuses him of hiding behind his grin and his music and that she wants to be with someone "real"... as if she doesn't hide behind her bad attitude and high heels. [Insert eye roll here.] There are some pretty cute scenes between them, but then Reagan would go and say/do/think something stupid and I'd be lost again.
As you can probably already tell, I'm in the minority when it comes to this book, so you'll more than likely have better luck than me. Believe me, no one is more upset than I am about how I feel. I was ready to LOVE this book, but it just didn't work out for me. Reagan's narration pretty much ruins that nostalgic, summery high I get from these type of stories.
This review can also be found at Love at First Page.
April 22, 2019
“In the moments when I feel like being truly happy is an impossible puzzle, one I’m not meant to figure out but if you have a best friend you can laugh with and a few good songs, you’re more than halfway there.”
Open Road Summer is non-cliché-ish and almost everything I didn’t expect. One, it’s told by Reagan, the bad-ass, supposedly “bitchy” best friend who is trying to make a new start by tagging along on her best friend Dee’s concert tour.
Both are nursing a broken heart but I really appreciate that for the most part of the plot, Reagan tells Dee’s story- the story behind Dee’s childhood sweetheart, Jimmy, her rise to fame, her performances on stage, her interviews and basically Dee’s life as a celebrity, its ups and downs and at the same time how Reagan looks up to her almost perfect friend who has always been grounded and has remained humble despite her popularity and who has stuck by her no matter her delinquencies.
And Reagan tells the story with open honesty that other readers might misconstrue as her being jealous and heartless which she just might be but at least she’s very open about it. I actually find her very real. She can be infuriating but it’s understandable considering where she is coming from. I guess not all girls can be as outwardly good and wholesome as Dee but we can’t all go judging them so quickly just because of their words or actions, can we? Because really, it could all be just a mask, a defense or a manifestation of her own insecurities.
It’s only up to the point when Matt, Dee’s fellow popular singer and whom every girl will probably adore appears in the story that Reagan finally tries to make the story about her. She tries to appear indifferent, stubborn and independent when all this time, she’s honestly just trying to hold all her pain in and in truth, she really cares as much as her best friend does about basically almost everything.
The element of music is wonderful, the friendship really beautiful and the ending makes perfect sense. Both girls get to mend their broken hearts in the most unexpected ways. After all, the concert tour was meant for exactly that purpose. Plus, it’s nice reading a chapter from Dee’s perspective, a bonus content from the book.
April 7, 2016
Reagan's best friend is Lilah who is a country music star. She tags along in her summer tour visiting all the different cities and venues along with her very best friend. They're both nursing broken hearts because they recently broke up with their boyfriends and the tour is a much needed distraction. When a publicity sham goes awry, Lilah brings her good friend Matt who is also a singer to be her opening act and together they pretend they're dating when in reality Matt's eye is on Reagan herself. Will she finally open her heart to another boy? Or will she break his heart?
Emery Lord's name was every where last year. People loved this debut and I can understand the appeal. Sadly I wasn't one of those people. I am one of the black sheep :( I do have my reasons though. First of all Reagan is one dislikable character. The biggest trait? She's super judgmental of other girls around her. Reagan would call them sluts, bitches and whores just because they would be talking to Matt. Being protective around him is no excuse. She is super rude to everyone she doesn't know and I couldn't understand it. So much slut shaming that I was completely exasperated with her from the start. Sure she's completely feisty and passionate and loyal and such a great friend to Lilah, but it didn't occur to her to be respectful of other females? REALLY?! Oh and all the laments of how "perfect" Lilah is got to me. At one point, I just stopped reading Lilah's name. I get it, she's perfect and does everything well and good while Reagan herself does everything wrong because she has some serious issues.
Is that really necessary to think about other girls like that? For shame!
“Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see, I make a face of disgust.”
I liked the writing and how engrossed I was in Reagan's life. It was also and excellent take on fame and the celebrity lifestyle. That what you see isn't necessarily what you get. How media portrays things as fake and unreal and making people want to see what isn't there. How hard it is to be a person who works 24-7 and to keep going even while you're sick. It's never ending and I admire celebs who take the time to be super nice to their fans. Lilah reminds me of Taylor Swift and I think the similarities are all there.
I wanted this to be about best friends, but it was just purely focused on the romance and I wasn't feeling it at all. I liked the fact that it's about a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and a good boy, because we hardly see relationship like this. But I wanted something more and sadly I could only see Reagan change as soon as the book ended, but that wasn't enough for me.
RATING 2/5
QUOTES
I didn't want to be seen as a one-trick pony songwriter, so I focused on something other than falling in love—falling out of love.
It's an understandable impulse, to be on the floor when everything is falling apart, like you just want to feel the solid ground beneath you. When you're on the floor, there nowhere farther to fall.
You're like a porcupine. You've evolved spikes to keep the creeps away.
Besides, I'm more into brunettes.
Nice, in my experience, equals boring.
You know what? I think it's the bravest thing in the world…to run straight at love, even knowing how badly you could get hurt.
What I look like, what I say, how I react, whether or not I go out there…it all matters. There are people whose jobs literally depend on me not screwing up.
You're not a wreck. You have a few battle wounds, like everyone else.
Stop documenting the moment for a second. Just be in it.
You're just a broken-winged bird. And there are two things you can do with broken wings: you can roll over and die, or you can lay low, heal, and start fresh.
Emery Lord's name was every where last year. People loved this debut and I can understand the appeal. Sadly I wasn't one of those people. I am one of the black sheep :( I do have my reasons though. First of all Reagan is one dislikable character. The biggest trait? She's super judgmental of other girls around her. Reagan would call them sluts, bitches and whores just because they would be talking to Matt. Being protective around him is no excuse. She is super rude to everyone she doesn't know and I couldn't understand it. So much slut shaming that I was completely exasperated with her from the start. Sure she's completely feisty and passionate and loyal and such a great friend to Lilah, but it didn't occur to her to be respectful of other females? REALLY?! Oh and all the laments of how "perfect" Lilah is got to me. At one point, I just stopped reading Lilah's name. I get it, she's perfect and does everything well and good while Reagan herself does everything wrong because she has some serious issues.
Is that really necessary to think about other girls like that? For shame!
“Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see, I make a face of disgust.”
I liked the writing and how engrossed I was in Reagan's life. It was also and excellent take on fame and the celebrity lifestyle. That what you see isn't necessarily what you get. How media portrays things as fake and unreal and making people want to see what isn't there. How hard it is to be a person who works 24-7 and to keep going even while you're sick. It's never ending and I admire celebs who take the time to be super nice to their fans. Lilah reminds me of Taylor Swift and I think the similarities are all there.
I wanted this to be about best friends, but it was just purely focused on the romance and I wasn't feeling it at all. I liked the fact that it's about a girl from the wrong side of the tracks and a good boy, because we hardly see relationship like this. But I wanted something more and sadly I could only see Reagan change as soon as the book ended, but that wasn't enough for me.
RATING 2/5
QUOTES
I didn't want to be seen as a one-trick pony songwriter, so I focused on something other than falling in love—falling out of love.
It's an understandable impulse, to be on the floor when everything is falling apart, like you just want to feel the solid ground beneath you. When you're on the floor, there nowhere farther to fall.
You're like a porcupine. You've evolved spikes to keep the creeps away.
Besides, I'm more into brunettes.
Nice, in my experience, equals boring.
You know what? I think it's the bravest thing in the world…to run straight at love, even knowing how badly you could get hurt.
What I look like, what I say, how I react, whether or not I go out there…it all matters. There are people whose jobs literally depend on me not screwing up.
You're not a wreck. You have a few battle wounds, like everyone else.
Stop documenting the moment for a second. Just be in it.
You're just a broken-winged bird. And there are two things you can do with broken wings: you can roll over and die, or you can lay low, heal, and start fresh.
August 6, 2013
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Because:
1. The main character is the best friend of a very Taylor Swift-like star.
2. And she falls for a very Jonas Bro-like (former) star (who is way cuter than any Jonas Brother.)
3. And the main character is absolutely the flawed girl, the girl that people talk about and write graffiti on bathroom walls about
4. But she would do anything for her best friend.
LOVE.
1. The main character is the best friend of a very Taylor Swift-like star.
2. And she falls for a very Jonas Bro-like (former) star (who is way cuter than any Jonas Brother.)
3. And the main character is absolutely the flawed girl, the girl that people talk about and write graffiti on bathroom walls about
4. But she would do anything for her best friend.
LOVE.
April 27, 2015
Hit the Open Road with Reagan, Dee, and Matt
Reagan is a Tennessee teenager who wants to leave her mistakes behind as she joins her best friend, country music sensation Dee Montgomery, on a summer tour across America. Along the way, singer Matt Finch joins the girls as the opening act. Not only does Matt open the show, but he tries to open Reagan's heart. Too bad her past mistakes slam the door shut a time or two.
I love all the lyrics written by Dee and Matt.
Reagan's friendship with Dee is a strength of the novel. Though they both have been trained to act older than their age, they have some moments of playfulness, like when Dee gets down about a scandalous photo released to the press.
"We should have tried to pack me in your suitcase like we joked about." I move my knee, bouncing her legs. "Remember?"
Her head pivots toward me, her mouth almost smiling. There's a twinkle of interest in her eyes, the same spark that accompanies a new song idea, and it flickers between me and the huge suitcase by the door. I know what she's thinking, and while I normally wouldn't go along with it, I'm half past desperate to cheer her up.
Though I feel completely ridiculous, I plop myself into the empty suitcase, trying to tuck my legs inside. Dee starts giggling as she tugs off my sandals. This spurs me on because Dee's real-life laughter is hilarious in itself. In interviews, her laugh is musical, a trilling sound that is completely under her control. But her true laugh is the nerdiest sound in the world. When she gasps for air, she sounds like a goose honking.
Of course pop star Matt, who joins Dee's tour to minimize impact from the photo scandal, walks in just as Reagan is zipped into the suitcase. Reagan's all about being cool, and she is mortified.
For the most part I like Reagan's character. She wears tiny clothes and high heels to feel in control. She has interesting musings like:
I've always thought of myself as an enthusiastic but purely recreational drinker. It disturbs me that I'm drawn to it now, in a moment of crisis.
Fortunately, I speak Passive-Aggressive Bitch as a second language.
and calls her favorite camera my inner photographer's spirit animal.
But when things heat up with Matt, I think she goes over-the-top with the "I'll keep guys at a distance because I'm unlovable and won't let them hurt me" bit.
I fell for Matt and feel badly for him when Reagan keeps her walls up. Here he talks about how he tried to cheer up his sick mother:
"The day before her first chemo treatment, she told me that she'd give anything to be one of those stiff-upper-lip women instead of being so emotional. So I printed out a life-size picture of Queen Elizabeth's face, cut out the eyes and mouth, and stapled some ribbons to the sides. I made a Prince Charles one for myself, and when they put her chemo IV in, I brought the masks out. We laughed so hard and just sat there wearing the masks and talking in these loud, offensively bad British accents."
Dee's hometown boyfriend broke up with her to avoid the media maelstrom, and she pines for him throughout the story. Unfortunately, I believe the resolution of Dee's broken relationship with him fell a little flat.
The writing is strong, especially for a debut novel.
Reagan is a Tennessee teenager who wants to leave her mistakes behind as she joins her best friend, country music sensation Dee Montgomery, on a summer tour across America. Along the way, singer Matt Finch joins the girls as the opening act. Not only does Matt open the show, but he tries to open Reagan's heart. Too bad her past mistakes slam the door shut a time or two.
I love all the lyrics written by Dee and Matt.
Reagan's friendship with Dee is a strength of the novel. Though they both have been trained to act older than their age, they have some moments of playfulness, like when Dee gets down about a scandalous photo released to the press.
"We should have tried to pack me in your suitcase like we joked about." I move my knee, bouncing her legs. "Remember?"
Her head pivots toward me, her mouth almost smiling. There's a twinkle of interest in her eyes, the same spark that accompanies a new song idea, and it flickers between me and the huge suitcase by the door. I know what she's thinking, and while I normally wouldn't go along with it, I'm half past desperate to cheer her up.
Though I feel completely ridiculous, I plop myself into the empty suitcase, trying to tuck my legs inside. Dee starts giggling as she tugs off my sandals. This spurs me on because Dee's real-life laughter is hilarious in itself. In interviews, her laugh is musical, a trilling sound that is completely under her control. But her true laugh is the nerdiest sound in the world. When she gasps for air, she sounds like a goose honking.
Of course pop star Matt, who joins Dee's tour to minimize impact from the photo scandal, walks in just as Reagan is zipped into the suitcase. Reagan's all about being cool, and she is mortified.
For the most part I like Reagan's character. She wears tiny clothes and high heels to feel in control. She has interesting musings like:
I've always thought of myself as an enthusiastic but purely recreational drinker. It disturbs me that I'm drawn to it now, in a moment of crisis.
Fortunately, I speak Passive-Aggressive Bitch as a second language.
and calls her favorite camera my inner photographer's spirit animal.
But when things heat up with Matt, I think she goes over-the-top with the "I'll keep guys at a distance because I'm unlovable and won't let them hurt me" bit.
I fell for Matt and feel badly for him when Reagan keeps her walls up. Here he talks about how he tried to cheer up his sick mother:
"The day before her first chemo treatment, she told me that she'd give anything to be one of those stiff-upper-lip women instead of being so emotional. So I printed out a life-size picture of Queen Elizabeth's face, cut out the eyes and mouth, and stapled some ribbons to the sides. I made a Prince Charles one for myself, and when they put her chemo IV in, I brought the masks out. We laughed so hard and just sat there wearing the masks and talking in these loud, offensively bad British accents."
Dee's hometown boyfriend broke up with her to avoid the media maelstrom, and she pines for him throughout the story. Unfortunately, I believe the resolution of Dee's broken relationship with him fell a little flat.
The writing is strong, especially for a debut novel.
October 1, 2015
This is the kind of books that I could read every day (and I'm guilty of doing that sometimes). It's just so cute and sweet and it leaves my with a giddy feeling for the rest of the day, which is the perfect cure for sad rainy days.
Although this is definitely a summer book, I loved reading it in September, just before it gets really cold, because it reminded me of the last couple of weeks. Lilah and Reagan's summer sounds amazing, even though it's only because of Lilah's fame that they get to road trip around the country like that and it isn't everyone's dream to be famous. However, since it's her best friend's story, it's more focused on their friendship and Reagan's love life than on Lilah's career. I liked that fact, because I would not want to be famous, and reading this story in Lilah's perspective would probably have given me anxiety. However, I liked learning about the celebrity life and the struggles they have, because I thought it was really realistic. I've seen many celebrities destroyed by bad press, so I could absolutely understand how much pressure was on Lilah.
My favourite thing in this novel was probably the friendship between Lilah and Reagan. They're always supportive of each other, listening and offering advice even during the worst of times. They think highly of each other and seeing how proud they are touched me, because it shows that they truly love each other and would never live without their best friend. Celebrity has never affected their friendship, which is a miracle in itself, but then again, I don't think it could be destroyed by anything. The best adjective to describe it is definitely strong, which isn't the case for every friendship out there.
I really liked how Matt and Reagan's relationship evolved. She's quite hard to approach, so I wasn't surprised to see her resist to him in every possible way. On the other hand, his determination and tactics surprised me, because most guys would've given up long ago. I think it's the reason why they're such a good couple, because they put a lot of effort into the base of their relationship. There were a lot of swoon-worthy moments and I was touched by Matt's actions, which were exactly what Reagan needed. However, I was disappointed by the way Reagan acted when they became a couple, because she didn't seem like the kind of girl who would be so ready to let go of her best friend. She never abandonned Lilah, but I feel like she was much less supportive because of her love life. I loved Lilah's love life, which was the most adorable I've ever read about (just like herself). I wish I could've read the story in her perspective just for this reason.
In the end, I really liked this novel. I absolutely recommend it!
Although this is definitely a summer book, I loved reading it in September, just before it gets really cold, because it reminded me of the last couple of weeks. Lilah and Reagan's summer sounds amazing, even though it's only because of Lilah's fame that they get to road trip around the country like that and it isn't everyone's dream to be famous. However, since it's her best friend's story, it's more focused on their friendship and Reagan's love life than on Lilah's career. I liked that fact, because I would not want to be famous, and reading this story in Lilah's perspective would probably have given me anxiety. However, I liked learning about the celebrity life and the struggles they have, because I thought it was really realistic. I've seen many celebrities destroyed by bad press, so I could absolutely understand how much pressure was on Lilah.
My favourite thing in this novel was probably the friendship between Lilah and Reagan. They're always supportive of each other, listening and offering advice even during the worst of times. They think highly of each other and seeing how proud they are touched me, because it shows that they truly love each other and would never live without their best friend. Celebrity has never affected their friendship, which is a miracle in itself, but then again, I don't think it could be destroyed by anything. The best adjective to describe it is definitely strong, which isn't the case for every friendship out there.
I really liked how Matt and Reagan's relationship evolved. She's quite hard to approach, so I wasn't surprised to see her resist to him in every possible way. On the other hand, his determination and tactics surprised me, because most guys would've given up long ago. I think it's the reason why they're such a good couple, because they put a lot of effort into the base of their relationship. There were a lot of swoon-worthy moments and I was touched by Matt's actions, which were exactly what Reagan needed. However, I was disappointed by the way Reagan acted when they became a couple, because she didn't seem like the kind of girl who would be so ready to let go of her best friend. She never abandonned Lilah, but I feel like she was much less supportive because of her love life. I loved Lilah's love life, which was the most adorable I've ever read about (just like herself). I wish I could've read the story in her perspective just for this reason.
In the end, I really liked this novel. I absolutely recommend it!
December 11, 2018
1.5 / 5
As someone who enjoyed Emery Lord’s other novels, this one really disappointed me! It honestly felt as though someone else wrote this. It’s rather baffling. And to be frank, I wasn’t interested in this novel in the slightest, so rounding up to 2 stars might be a little high.
From the first chapter, I knew I wasn’t going to like this book; so maybe I should have put it aside and listened to my gut instinct. But no, I was determined, because I wanted to give the first few chapters the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, my biggest problem ended up stemming from Reagan, the main character. I didn’t like her at all, and obviously that’s going to make the whole novel difficult to get through. I mean, I couldn’t relate to her in any way and found her to be way too negative and obsessive. It was tiring.
The other characters were so un-important (in my opinion) that I don’t think they’re worth writing about. They all felt flat, unoriginal and overused from past books I’ve read. The love-interest especially let me down; he felt like a recycled guy character from other books I’ve read.
I feel as though I’m trashing this novel, but I think it’s probably one many readers will love -- so this is purely my interpretation. Also, I think I might be getting too old for these novels, so that might be a contributing factor to my low rating. Regardless, if you like “light” and “easy” contemporary romance novels with angsty characters, then this is probably for you! And if not, I would recommend you start with Lord’s other novels, first.
As someone who enjoyed Emery Lord’s other novels, this one really disappointed me! It honestly felt as though someone else wrote this. It’s rather baffling. And to be frank, I wasn’t interested in this novel in the slightest, so rounding up to 2 stars might be a little high.
From the first chapter, I knew I wasn’t going to like this book; so maybe I should have put it aside and listened to my gut instinct. But no, I was determined, because I wanted to give the first few chapters the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, my biggest problem ended up stemming from Reagan, the main character. I didn’t like her at all, and obviously that’s going to make the whole novel difficult to get through. I mean, I couldn’t relate to her in any way and found her to be way too negative and obsessive. It was tiring.
The other characters were so un-important (in my opinion) that I don’t think they’re worth writing about. They all felt flat, unoriginal and overused from past books I’ve read. The love-interest especially let me down; he felt like a recycled guy character from other books I’ve read.
I feel as though I’m trashing this novel, but I think it’s probably one many readers will love -- so this is purely my interpretation. Also, I think I might be getting too old for these novels, so that might be a contributing factor to my low rating. Regardless, if you like “light” and “easy” contemporary romance novels with angsty characters, then this is probably for you! And if not, I would recommend you start with Lord’s other novels, first.
September 17, 2018
Such a lovely and sweet feel good read, which, surprisingly, had me rooting almost as hard for a set of side characters as it had me rooting for the actual “main couple”.
April 6, 2014
Admittedly, I'm a little confused by the hype surrounding Open Road Summer. Lord's debut is striking, distinctly flavorful in its focus on strong female friendships, diversity, and prickly heroines. Nevertheless, the glowing five-star reviews around the blogosphere left me with an intangible wanting when it came to the end of this novel. Open Road Summer is a debut I wouldn't hesitate to thrust upon readers, particularly those looking to bridge the gap between YA and NA, but a perfect novel it is not.
Although most readers are likely drawn in by the synopsis of Open Road Summer, - a season spent on the road with a rock star best friend - I failed to be impressed. Frankly speaking, I'm not one for stories about fame. Yet, the emphasis on bold protagonists with enviable friendships compelled me to pick up my ARC and forced me to keep flipping the pages, even when my eyes ached late into the night. Reagan and Dee have been best friends for years; a constant in each others lives even when the world has changed around them. Now, at seventeen, Dee is a blooming musician, complete with a throng of besotted fans. On her tour this time, however, is Reagan, the friend Dee desperately needs after breaking up with her boyfriend, Jimmy. Dee isn't the only one who needs friendship, though. After finding her ex-boyfriend cheating on her and splitting off from him rather disastrously, Reagan is turning over a new leaf. Determined to give up smoking, drinking, and partying, Reagan needs Dee's presence to keep her grounded and focus. And this summer, it's going to be about them: Dee and Reagan. Infinity.
But, as expected, their plans don't quite pan out. When nasty rumors instigate a false nude scandal concerning Dee and her ex-boyfriend, Jimmy, the record label is forced to bring Matt Finch on tour. Matt, whose fame died out when his band disbanded a few years ago, is back with a solo album and as a close friend of Dee, has agreed to act as Dee's fake boyfriend to keep the media entertained and the rumor mill surrounding Jimmy at bay. For Reagan, however, Matt's inclusion into their duo is an unwelcome arrival. No matter how desperately she tries to deny it, there is something about Matt that pushes at her buttons. Unlike most guys, Matt genuinely wants to know the Real Reagan, the one hiding behind the thick barriers and, for the first time, Reagan might actually want to drop those walls after all. Only, is it really safe for her to trust Matt? Or is she simply setting herself up for heartbreak all over again?
What makes Lord's debut a note-worthy novel, in my opinion at any rate, is Reagan's personality. Unlike Dee, Reagan isn't the goody-two-shoes girl-next-door. In fact, she's the girl whose name is constantly being spoken in hushed voices around the school. Its her name you're most likely to see scratched crudely into bathroom stalls. And, what's more, her police record does little to dispel her bad-girl image. Thus, the close friendship between Reagan and Dee comes as an unexpected surprise. Yet, despite their different personalities, there is no denying the strength of the bond these two girls share. While it is easy, at first, to keep them in their stereotypical molds, Lord quickly dispels this, showing us the caring sides to Reagan's personality alongside the uglier aspects of Dee's. What I love about their characterization is the fact that is reads as truly teenage. Dee is quick to react tearfully to news of rumors while Reagan is eager to lash out in anger at those trying to hurt her best friend. And yet, despite the readiness of their emotional responses, neither Dee nor Reagan comes across as irritating, bitchy, or slutty - terms all-too-often associated with YA protagonists. If anything, both these girls come alive as realistic teens, uncertain about their futures, worried about their pasts, and trying desperately to live in the present. With both their good and bad sides expressed dutifully, the gray coloring that makes up the true personalities of these girls, beyond their famous and infamous statuses, is what shines through.
Although Open Road Summer is, technically, about a summer road trip, the novel lacked the needed feel of spontaneity. Dee's tour is meticulously planned and, as a result, the excursions into the world, outside of mandatory concerts, didn't do much for the story. Quite simply put, the setting of this novel never brought this story to life. Without the vivid characters and summer-esque feel to their languid interactions, you'd be hard-pressed to appreciate the scenery as these girls travel across the United States by bus. Nevertheless, despite that, the strong relationships throughout this story prevail. Aside from Reagan and Dee's friendship, minor bonds from Reagan's rocky relationship with her father - her only true parent after her mother ran away from home many years ago - to Dee's tight relationship with her parents are never brushed aside. I appreciated the fact that Lord included the parental units as part of her novel, if only because they are a realistic element in the day-to-day lives of teens, even celebrity ones. Moreover, we can clearly see how nurture has molded Reagan and Dee into different people, though their faults and rough patches only serve to make their friendship stronger.
Nevertheless, the aspect of Open Road Summer which truly opened up my heart and make me feel, swooning and sighing with glory, was the romance. At first, Matt Finch seems remarkably unoriginal - the sweet, boy-next-door type who simply wants to help out a good friend. But just as he kept unexpectedly surprising Reagan with his candor and infectious personality, he unexpectedly wormed his way into my heart as well. Although both Matt and Reagan are physically attracted to one another, their main draw to each other comes from their personalities. Matt likes the Reagan who hides behind a prickly exterior of disdain. While Reagan's cynicism comes with her true self as well, Matt appreciates both the good and bad sides to her, from her loyalty towards Dee to her unwillingness to open up to others. Similarly, Reagan cannot help but fall for Matt - the real Matt whose true emotions take over his expressions. Not the Celebrity Matt whose smiles are perfectly sculpted for the camera, but the one whose laughter is just a little bit crooked. While there are a plethora of hurdles in their way, most notably the fact that Matt is meant to be Dee's fake boyfriend for the summer, their romance plays out slowly. As the sexual tension, banter, and understanding between them builds, it is impossible to feel as if their love story is simply a summer fling: it's so much more.
Ultimately, Open Road Summer was a breath of fresh air. It's a quick read, practically impossible to set down once its momentum gets going. While it isn't the type of story that is likely to stick with me for long, I do not doubt that readers will connect with both Reagan and Dee, not to mention their respective love stories. Moreover, despite the minor flaws within this narrative - the underdevelopment of Reagan's step-mother, the lack of true setting in a road trip novel, etc. - Lord's debut is promising for readers for YA/NA. I, for one, will be checking out her future books without even a sliver of hesitation.
Although most readers are likely drawn in by the synopsis of Open Road Summer, - a season spent on the road with a rock star best friend - I failed to be impressed. Frankly speaking, I'm not one for stories about fame. Yet, the emphasis on bold protagonists with enviable friendships compelled me to pick up my ARC and forced me to keep flipping the pages, even when my eyes ached late into the night. Reagan and Dee have been best friends for years; a constant in each others lives even when the world has changed around them. Now, at seventeen, Dee is a blooming musician, complete with a throng of besotted fans. On her tour this time, however, is Reagan, the friend Dee desperately needs after breaking up with her boyfriend, Jimmy. Dee isn't the only one who needs friendship, though. After finding her ex-boyfriend cheating on her and splitting off from him rather disastrously, Reagan is turning over a new leaf. Determined to give up smoking, drinking, and partying, Reagan needs Dee's presence to keep her grounded and focus. And this summer, it's going to be about them: Dee and Reagan. Infinity.
But, as expected, their plans don't quite pan out. When nasty rumors instigate a false nude scandal concerning Dee and her ex-boyfriend, Jimmy, the record label is forced to bring Matt Finch on tour. Matt, whose fame died out when his band disbanded a few years ago, is back with a solo album and as a close friend of Dee, has agreed to act as Dee's fake boyfriend to keep the media entertained and the rumor mill surrounding Jimmy at bay. For Reagan, however, Matt's inclusion into their duo is an unwelcome arrival. No matter how desperately she tries to deny it, there is something about Matt that pushes at her buttons. Unlike most guys, Matt genuinely wants to know the Real Reagan, the one hiding behind the thick barriers and, for the first time, Reagan might actually want to drop those walls after all. Only, is it really safe for her to trust Matt? Or is she simply setting herself up for heartbreak all over again?
What makes Lord's debut a note-worthy novel, in my opinion at any rate, is Reagan's personality. Unlike Dee, Reagan isn't the goody-two-shoes girl-next-door. In fact, she's the girl whose name is constantly being spoken in hushed voices around the school. Its her name you're most likely to see scratched crudely into bathroom stalls. And, what's more, her police record does little to dispel her bad-girl image. Thus, the close friendship between Reagan and Dee comes as an unexpected surprise. Yet, despite their different personalities, there is no denying the strength of the bond these two girls share. While it is easy, at first, to keep them in their stereotypical molds, Lord quickly dispels this, showing us the caring sides to Reagan's personality alongside the uglier aspects of Dee's. What I love about their characterization is the fact that is reads as truly teenage. Dee is quick to react tearfully to news of rumors while Reagan is eager to lash out in anger at those trying to hurt her best friend. And yet, despite the readiness of their emotional responses, neither Dee nor Reagan comes across as irritating, bitchy, or slutty - terms all-too-often associated with YA protagonists. If anything, both these girls come alive as realistic teens, uncertain about their futures, worried about their pasts, and trying desperately to live in the present. With both their good and bad sides expressed dutifully, the gray coloring that makes up the true personalities of these girls, beyond their famous and infamous statuses, is what shines through.
Although Open Road Summer is, technically, about a summer road trip, the novel lacked the needed feel of spontaneity. Dee's tour is meticulously planned and, as a result, the excursions into the world, outside of mandatory concerts, didn't do much for the story. Quite simply put, the setting of this novel never brought this story to life. Without the vivid characters and summer-esque feel to their languid interactions, you'd be hard-pressed to appreciate the scenery as these girls travel across the United States by bus. Nevertheless, despite that, the strong relationships throughout this story prevail. Aside from Reagan and Dee's friendship, minor bonds from Reagan's rocky relationship with her father - her only true parent after her mother ran away from home many years ago - to Dee's tight relationship with her parents are never brushed aside. I appreciated the fact that Lord included the parental units as part of her novel, if only because they are a realistic element in the day-to-day lives of teens, even celebrity ones. Moreover, we can clearly see how nurture has molded Reagan and Dee into different people, though their faults and rough patches only serve to make their friendship stronger.
Nevertheless, the aspect of Open Road Summer which truly opened up my heart and make me feel, swooning and sighing with glory, was the romance. At first, Matt Finch seems remarkably unoriginal - the sweet, boy-next-door type who simply wants to help out a good friend. But just as he kept unexpectedly surprising Reagan with his candor and infectious personality, he unexpectedly wormed his way into my heart as well. Although both Matt and Reagan are physically attracted to one another, their main draw to each other comes from their personalities. Matt likes the Reagan who hides behind a prickly exterior of disdain. While Reagan's cynicism comes with her true self as well, Matt appreciates both the good and bad sides to her, from her loyalty towards Dee to her unwillingness to open up to others. Similarly, Reagan cannot help but fall for Matt - the real Matt whose true emotions take over his expressions. Not the Celebrity Matt whose smiles are perfectly sculpted for the camera, but the one whose laughter is just a little bit crooked. While there are a plethora of hurdles in their way, most notably the fact that Matt is meant to be Dee's fake boyfriend for the summer, their romance plays out slowly. As the sexual tension, banter, and understanding between them builds, it is impossible to feel as if their love story is simply a summer fling: it's so much more.
Ultimately, Open Road Summer was a breath of fresh air. It's a quick read, practically impossible to set down once its momentum gets going. While it isn't the type of story that is likely to stick with me for long, I do not doubt that readers will connect with both Reagan and Dee, not to mention their respective love stories. Moreover, despite the minor flaws within this narrative - the underdevelopment of Reagan's step-mother, the lack of true setting in a road trip novel, etc. - Lord's debut is promising for readers for YA/NA. I, for one, will be checking out her future books without even a sliver of hesitation.
July 4, 2018
This is somewhere between a 2.5 and a 2.75 ✨
It's not a bad book, by any means. It's just not memorable.
And Reagan, our main character, was not very likeable. Like at all. She was judgmental toward any girl that wasn't her best friend, Dee, but in an entirely hypocritical way. Allow me to give you some examples:
"I survey her appearance, which is so obvious - long hair, skintight dress, and stacked heels. This look is amateur, the one I'd resort to if I was feeling lazy. I thought Matt had better taste than that." - pg. 137
This is Reagan sizing up a random girl that Matt (the love interest) was dancing with at an awards show after party. This is also BEFORE Matt and Reagan are "unofficially" dating. So it's not like Reagan had a lock on him or anything. She's just a bitch, which at least she refers to herself as such throughout the novel...still doesn't justify judging other girls based off their appearance alone. 💁🏼
And this situation was so silly & hypocritical:
"We (Reagan & Matt) stand across from each other, and I cross my arms. This is partly a reflex - and partly because the stance draws attention to my cleavage." - pg. 190
AND JUST 8 PAGES LATER....
(Matt is now on stage, playing his opening set & Reagan is watching from the side of the stage)
"There are a few girls in the front with shirts cut so low that they make my neckline look modest. Like, honestly - if Matt so much as glanced down, he could probably see all the way to their belly buttons. Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see me, I make a face of disgust." - pg. 198
Can you see it? The blatant hypocrisy? I had hoped that maybe this was just a character flaw that would be addressed by the end of the book, but no, it wasn't. I, quite obviously, took major issue with this aspect of Reagan's personality.
Other than Reagan being horrible, there just wasn't anything that stood out in the story. The main plot was weak & never felt like the main plot, if that makes any sense. It was one of the most "okay-est" YA contemporaries I've ever read 😂😅
It's not a bad book, by any means. It's just not memorable.
And Reagan, our main character, was not very likeable. Like at all. She was judgmental toward any girl that wasn't her best friend, Dee, but in an entirely hypocritical way. Allow me to give you some examples:
"I survey her appearance, which is so obvious - long hair, skintight dress, and stacked heels. This look is amateur, the one I'd resort to if I was feeling lazy. I thought Matt had better taste than that." - pg. 137
This is Reagan sizing up a random girl that Matt (the love interest) was dancing with at an awards show after party. This is also BEFORE Matt and Reagan are "unofficially" dating. So it's not like Reagan had a lock on him or anything. She's just a bitch, which at least she refers to herself as such throughout the novel...still doesn't justify judging other girls based off their appearance alone. 💁🏼
And this situation was so silly & hypocritical:
"We (Reagan & Matt) stand across from each other, and I cross my arms. This is partly a reflex - and partly because the stance draws attention to my cleavage." - pg. 190
AND JUST 8 PAGES LATER....
(Matt is now on stage, playing his opening set & Reagan is watching from the side of the stage)
"There are a few girls in the front with shirts cut so low that they make my neckline look modest. Like, honestly - if Matt so much as glanced down, he could probably see all the way to their belly buttons. Some girls have no self-respect, and even though they can't see me, I make a face of disgust." - pg. 198
Can you see it? The blatant hypocrisy? I had hoped that maybe this was just a character flaw that would be addressed by the end of the book, but no, it wasn't. I, quite obviously, took major issue with this aspect of Reagan's personality.
Other than Reagan being horrible, there just wasn't anything that stood out in the story. The main plot was weak & never felt like the main plot, if that makes any sense. It was one of the most "okay-est" YA contemporaries I've ever read 😂😅
June 18, 2020
I'm a taped-together girl, but I can carry my own baggage. What I can't do is pretend I'm weightless, unburdened.
4.5 stars
Do you know the feeling when you're browsing for books, notice one on the shelf and without even knowing what it's about, you just know you're gonna love it? That's how I found this book. Spotted it by accident and from the first look I kinda felt that we would have a good time together. And we did. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It made me get lost inbetween those pages. Three times now.
Often, protagonists just are brilliant at what they're supposed to do. Get thrown into a world you've never heared of, into a fate of batteling demons, saving the world, start a new job you've now idea how to do... take your pick. And they just end up somehow doing it perfectly. Not in this book. Reagan knows she screwed up and she continues to do so. But she's fighting to do better. And that's basically all that any of us can really do. She's real. She's amazingly loveable. So are Dee and Matt. I loved every second.
November 17, 2014
Review also posted at Young Adult Hollywood.
Open Road Summer started out great and I thought was headed for 4 star read. One of the things that lured me in is Dee and Reagan’s friendship. It reminded me of Lissa and Rose from Vampire Academy…that’s how strong their bond is but still not the same.
Open Road Summer is a sweet read and has something to offer. However, what turned me off is the protagonist Reagan, who terrorizes anyone that has a female anatomy that isn’t her best friend (Dee) who would talk or within five mile radius of her love interest, Matt. There is so much slut shaming here. If you can handle this kind of plot this book is for you.
May 25, 2018
5 Words: Music, fame, family, friendship, love.
This was a sweet little listen. I liked the narrator's performance, she really brought the characters to life.
Although it didn't really push any boundaries or challenge me in any way, this was quite enjoyable and ticked all of the right boxes for a summer read/listen. It was easy to dip in and out of, easy to like some of the characters.
I loved how friendship was explored, and all of the little nuances in the writing that showed the relationships. I can understand Reagan being difficult to like, but I thought she was a fantastic character.
Also music is one of my bookish catnips.
I will definitely read more by this author. I just feel that this could have been more.
This was a sweet little listen. I liked the narrator's performance, she really brought the characters to life.
Although it didn't really push any boundaries or challenge me in any way, this was quite enjoyable and ticked all of the right boxes for a summer read/listen. It was easy to dip in and out of, easy to like some of the characters.
I loved how friendship was explored, and all of the little nuances in the writing that showed the relationships. I can understand Reagan being difficult to like, but I thought she was a fantastic character.
Also music is one of my bookish catnips.
I will definitely read more by this author. I just feel that this could have been more.
August 19, 2019
After reading both of her books in the span of three days, I can officially say that Emery Lord is a new favorite author of mine. I loved the Start of Me and You, and to my delight, Open Road Summer was just as amazing. I loved the friendship between Dee and Reagan, and the added aspect of Dee's fame was really interesting and different to read. I think we can only hope to have a friendship like theirs.
Reagan was really dealing with a lot of hard things throughout this novel, and so seeing her journey from being closed up and angry to letting herself go was really beautiful. Of course, I loved Matt (he's basically perfect??) and that he and Regan dealt with the hard things in their lives together, one helping the other.
I say this is a perfect summer read, so if anyone hasn't hopped on the bandwagon yet, now is the perfect time!!
Reagan was really dealing with a lot of hard things throughout this novel, and so seeing her journey from being closed up and angry to letting herself go was really beautiful. Of course, I loved Matt (he's basically perfect??) and that he and Regan dealt with the hard things in their lives together, one helping the other.
I say this is a perfect summer read, so if anyone hasn't hopped on the bandwagon yet, now is the perfect time!!
August 21, 2016
I have no idea what rating I want to give. I loved some parts, others made me angry enough that I was close to throw the book out of my window. I'm in love with Matt Finch and Reagan's best friend Dee, but I've wanted to punch Reagan in the face repeatedly more times than I can count.
Thing is, I absolutely don't mind 'unlikable' heroines. How I loathe that phrase anyway. What even is an unlikable heroine??? Is it a villain?? Someone with questionable morals? Or just a girl who makes mistakes, who dares not to be perfect??
Yes, Reagan is definitely not perfect and I obviously never minded that. Who wants perfect characters?? Like how unrealistic would that even be? I don't mind that she's rude, insensitive and has a mean streak. But. Slut-shaming is such a pet peeve of mine and Reagan slut-shamed like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't stand it and I still get furious when I think about it. Even worse is that she judged other girls mostly for two things: showing great amount of cleavage to Matt's shows and flirting outrageously with Matt. Both of which she did herself. Obviously, that added hypocrite to her list of faults as well
Like I said, I don't mind that she had many imperfections and made stupid mistakes. What teen doesn't? Actually, what human doesn't? But slut-shaming is so problematic because girls tear each other down enough as it is and reading about girls fighting over a guy in a book, or about girls judging each other for wearing what they feel comfortable in is so so harmful. Girls ..or just people actually, need to read about girls supporting each other, about girls befriending each other and staying at each other's side through whatever problems life throws at them. And while there was plenty of that in this book - seriously, I very much appreciated Reagan and Dee's friendship - there was a lot of the other as well and I wish there wasn't. Reagan was in fact aware that she tends to be insensitive and mean, but it was never addressed that her mean-streak was at least during the story, mostly directed at other girls. I might not have minded the slut-shaming if it was later uncovered as problematic and wrong. But it was kind of treated as one of Reagan's character flaws and that rubbed me the wrong way. Even Dee, sweet, kind Dee, got irrationally mad and spiteful at another girl when she thought said girl was dating the guy she was in love with. And that is the part that frustrated me the most: it was treated as if it was normal that girls resented other girls they weren't friends with, that girls generally view other girls as possible competition. And I was not ok with that at all.
Now, I've been following Emery Lord on Twitter for a long long time. Way before I finally started reading her books. And I also read her other two books. On her Twitter account she actually supports the whole girls supporting each other thing. She regularly tweets about amazing girls and what they've accomplished, about feminism in general. And there's no slut-shaming in her other two newer books whatsoever. So I'm not sure where this came from. Maybe she wasn't as aware of the whole concept while writing her first book? Maybe she intended it in a way that I didn't get? Either way, I don't like the way she handled it in this book and if slut-shaming pisses you off fast (as it should!), I probably wouldn't recommend you read this.
But it seriously had so many great parts as well, that I feel super sad that I've had to write so much negative stuff. I still love Emery Lord's writing and the way she tells stories, so I'll definitely buy her new book when it finally releases next year. I'll definitely cherish the quotes I loved and the positive memories of this book, but I'll still say that Open Road Summer is, in my opinion, her weakest story.
Thing is, I absolutely don't mind 'unlikable' heroines. How I loathe that phrase anyway. What even is an unlikable heroine??? Is it a villain?? Someone with questionable morals? Or just a girl who makes mistakes, who dares not to be perfect??
Yes, Reagan is definitely not perfect and I obviously never minded that. Who wants perfect characters?? Like how unrealistic would that even be? I don't mind that she's rude, insensitive and has a mean streak. But. Slut-shaming is such a pet peeve of mine and Reagan slut-shamed like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't stand it and I still get furious when I think about it. Even worse is that she judged other girls mostly for two things: showing great amount of cleavage to Matt's shows and flirting outrageously with Matt. Both of which she did herself. Obviously, that added hypocrite to her list of faults as well
Like I said, I don't mind that she had many imperfections and made stupid mistakes. What teen doesn't? Actually, what human doesn't? But slut-shaming is so problematic because girls tear each other down enough as it is and reading about girls fighting over a guy in a book, or about girls judging each other for wearing what they feel comfortable in is so so harmful. Girls ..or just people actually, need to read about girls supporting each other, about girls befriending each other and staying at each other's side through whatever problems life throws at them. And while there was plenty of that in this book - seriously, I very much appreciated Reagan and Dee's friendship - there was a lot of the other as well and I wish there wasn't. Reagan was in fact aware that she tends to be insensitive and mean, but it was never addressed that her mean-streak was at least during the story, mostly directed at other girls. I might not have minded the slut-shaming if it was later uncovered as problematic and wrong. But it was kind of treated as one of Reagan's character flaws and that rubbed me the wrong way. Even Dee, sweet, kind Dee, got irrationally mad and spiteful at another girl when she thought said girl was dating the guy she was in love with. And that is the part that frustrated me the most: it was treated as if it was normal that girls resented other girls they weren't friends with, that girls generally view other girls as possible competition. And I was not ok with that at all.
Now, I've been following Emery Lord on Twitter for a long long time. Way before I finally started reading her books. And I also read her other two books. On her Twitter account she actually supports the whole girls supporting each other thing. She regularly tweets about amazing girls and what they've accomplished, about feminism in general. And there's no slut-shaming in her other two newer books whatsoever. So I'm not sure where this came from. Maybe she wasn't as aware of the whole concept while writing her first book? Maybe she intended it in a way that I didn't get? Either way, I don't like the way she handled it in this book and if slut-shaming pisses you off fast (as it should!), I probably wouldn't recommend you read this.
But it seriously had so many great parts as well, that I feel super sad that I've had to write so much negative stuff. I still love Emery Lord's writing and the way she tells stories, so I'll definitely buy her new book when it finally releases next year. I'll definitely cherish the quotes I loved and the positive memories of this book, but I'll still say that Open Road Summer is, in my opinion, her weakest story.
June 24, 2014
I liked this book so much! Some favorite things:
1) This book is as much about Reagan's friendship with Dee as it is a romance. I was as invested in their relationship and what was going on in Dee's life as Reagan's. (I did think of Dee as Taylor Swift for a large part of this book, though she is definitely not a carbon copy).
2) The importance placed on friendships, including in romantic relationships - taking time to hang out, build trust and know another person - is refreshing.
3) Matt Finch!! His persistence, song writing abilities, meaningful tattoo and overall swooniness are only some of his great qualities.
4) Watching Reagan's perception change about herself and other characters when she started to loosen her anger at the world, was satisfying and relatable.
5) Within the fun celebrity/friend plot and sweet romance, these characters are still messy and real at the end of the book. Life is a work in progress and relationships take effort. But they can also be amazingly worth it. I love the positive/happy message without too neat a bow.
6) Now I wish I had a best friend musician who took me on tour with her in her souped up bus. I'm a sucker for celebrity+regular people stories and guys who write songs about the girls they like.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
Find the full review on my blog Love is not a triangle
1) This book is as much about Reagan's friendship with Dee as it is a romance. I was as invested in their relationship and what was going on in Dee's life as Reagan's. (I did think of Dee as Taylor Swift for a large part of this book, though she is definitely not a carbon copy).
2) The importance placed on friendships, including in romantic relationships - taking time to hang out, build trust and know another person - is refreshing.
3) Matt Finch!! His persistence, song writing abilities, meaningful tattoo and overall swooniness are only some of his great qualities.
4) Watching Reagan's perception change about herself and other characters when she started to loosen her anger at the world, was satisfying and relatable.
5) Within the fun celebrity/friend plot and sweet romance, these characters are still messy and real at the end of the book. Life is a work in progress and relationships take effort. But they can also be amazingly worth it. I love the positive/happy message without too neat a bow.
6) Now I wish I had a best friend musician who took me on tour with her in her souped up bus. I'm a sucker for celebrity+regular people stories and guys who write songs about the girls they like.
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
Find the full review on my blog Love is not a triangle
June 5, 2016
4 and a half stars!
Did someone call for a kickass friendship, A perfect Romance, and a summer spent on a music tour! You know what I look for in a summer contemporary? Light, Fun, and Friendships. You know what this book had? All of the above and more.
For me I can't look past a strong female friendship in YA and Open Road Summer has the perfect BFF's. Reagan and Dee are funny, loving and true to each other, no matter what happens these two will stick together because together they are unstoppable.
Dee and Reagan had me laughing, crying, and relating so much! Reading about them laughing about silly things to the point of having silent tears and not being able to explain what the joke was to others just had me wanting to call up my own best friend so we could go on some adventures together.
“This is the currency of friendship, traded over years and miles, and I hope it's an even exchange someday. For now, I do what all best friends do when there's nothing left to say. We lie together in all the darkness, shoulder to shoulder, and wait for the worst to be over.”
This book like most YA contemporaries is heavily based on the characters and their growth.
Reagan has a hard shell but a heart of gold. Her Mother has passed away, her Fathers an alcoholic and she has just gotten out of a really bad relationship. This Summer is her time to re group and find herself. She just wants some peace with her Best Friend and to hopefully come back after summer with her life together again.
“I want to reach back into my history with a grade-school pink eraser, scrubbing away my decisions like mistakes on a math test. Too bad I drew my mistakes in ink.”
Lilah and/or Dee is on the rise as a country superstar and on her first tour. She is the girl next door of country/pop and her fans love her but no one suspects that she's not as happy with fame as the world thinks. Dee's fame has had a huge impact of her life and while most things have been for the good a lot of not so good things come with fame and she has had to make tough decisions along the way.
Matt finch joins the tour and is a not so famous anymore singer. He was once part of a brother hood boy band and since they split up has struggled to make it on his own. Matt is one of my favourite characters and love interests I have ever read about. He isn't your typical bad boy or dark and deep. Matt is a good person and he cares deeply about the people who he chooses to have in his life. Also he is really good-looking and sweet so that helps A LOT
“When his eyes land on me, something about his expression changes—like he recognizes me from somewhere, too. I look back, appraising him quickly. He’s kind of beautiful, in an understated, comfortable-looking way—the kind of guy who doesn’t mind seeing a rom-com with you and gives you his hoodie when you’re cold.”
Also the banter was perfect, just the right amount of humour mixed in with teasing.
“Strawberry milk,” I say, eyeing him as we head toward the counter. “Really.”
He turns to me. “Do you have something to say about my snack selections?”
“Nope.” I fall into line behind him. “I just didn’t realize you were a middle-school girl going to a slumber party.”
“And I,” he says, plunking his strawberry-fest down on the counter, “didn’t realize you were a soccer mom justifying her chocolate craving with the fact that raisins are a fruit.”
These characters all put together are the threesome you want to be with this summer and since most of us can't actually go on tour and find the perfect good guy we settle to dive into the world Emery Lord has created and find THE perfect Summer Read.
My Favourite moment in the entire book is when Dee and Reagan are just being kids and trying to zip each other up in a suitcase. It was just something any two best friends would do that would turn into one of those moments where you can't stop laughing and your cheeks are aching and you swear yo've developed abs.
For a book that is about going on tour with a celebrity it is so damn relatable.
Did someone call for a kickass friendship, A perfect Romance, and a summer spent on a music tour! You know what I look for in a summer contemporary? Light, Fun, and Friendships. You know what this book had? All of the above and more.
For me I can't look past a strong female friendship in YA and Open Road Summer has the perfect BFF's. Reagan and Dee are funny, loving and true to each other, no matter what happens these two will stick together because together they are unstoppable.
Dee and Reagan had me laughing, crying, and relating so much! Reading about them laughing about silly things to the point of having silent tears and not being able to explain what the joke was to others just had me wanting to call up my own best friend so we could go on some adventures together.
“This is the currency of friendship, traded over years and miles, and I hope it's an even exchange someday. For now, I do what all best friends do when there's nothing left to say. We lie together in all the darkness, shoulder to shoulder, and wait for the worst to be over.”
This book like most YA contemporaries is heavily based on the characters and their growth.
Reagan has a hard shell but a heart of gold. Her Mother has passed away, her Fathers an alcoholic and she has just gotten out of a really bad relationship. This Summer is her time to re group and find herself. She just wants some peace with her Best Friend and to hopefully come back after summer with her life together again.
“I want to reach back into my history with a grade-school pink eraser, scrubbing away my decisions like mistakes on a math test. Too bad I drew my mistakes in ink.”
Lilah and/or Dee is on the rise as a country superstar and on her first tour. She is the girl next door of country/pop and her fans love her but no one suspects that she's not as happy with fame as the world thinks. Dee's fame has had a huge impact of her life and while most things have been for the good a lot of not so good things come with fame and she has had to make tough decisions along the way.
Matt finch joins the tour and is a not so famous anymore singer. He was once part of a brother hood boy band and since they split up has struggled to make it on his own. Matt is one of my favourite characters and love interests I have ever read about. He isn't your typical bad boy or dark and deep. Matt is a good person and he cares deeply about the people who he chooses to have in his life. Also he is really good-looking and sweet so that helps A LOT
“When his eyes land on me, something about his expression changes—like he recognizes me from somewhere, too. I look back, appraising him quickly. He’s kind of beautiful, in an understated, comfortable-looking way—the kind of guy who doesn’t mind seeing a rom-com with you and gives you his hoodie when you’re cold.”
Also the banter was perfect, just the right amount of humour mixed in with teasing.
“Strawberry milk,” I say, eyeing him as we head toward the counter. “Really.”
He turns to me. “Do you have something to say about my snack selections?”
“Nope.” I fall into line behind him. “I just didn’t realize you were a middle-school girl going to a slumber party.”
“And I,” he says, plunking his strawberry-fest down on the counter, “didn’t realize you were a soccer mom justifying her chocolate craving with the fact that raisins are a fruit.”
These characters all put together are the threesome you want to be with this summer and since most of us can't actually go on tour and find the perfect good guy we settle to dive into the world Emery Lord has created and find THE perfect Summer Read.
My Favourite moment in the entire book is when Dee and Reagan are just being kids and trying to zip each other up in a suitcase. It was just something any two best friends would do that would turn into one of those moments where you can't stop laughing and your cheeks are aching and you swear yo've developed abs.
For a book that is about going on tour with a celebrity it is so damn relatable.
August 20, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This was so much fun with just the right amount of emotion.
I am always up for a summer road trip, and though Reagan was using Dee's tour as a way to escape her old life, it may have actually served as a way to a better one.
I loved Matt. I thought he was a great foil for Reagan. He was persistent and able to break down some of those walls she erected. BUT, Reagan was also good for Matt. She helped him work through some of his grief. They challenged each other and the banter and chemistry was fantastic between them.
I absolutely adored the friendship between Dee and Reagan. They were so different from each other, yet they were each other's port in a storm. Each was willing to drop whatever they were doing to be by the other's side, and they generally did so without (much) judgement. I loved their history and how strong their friendship was.
I would love to read a whole book from Dee's POV, because I really want to know her better. I loved what I saw, and with what happened at the end of the book, I just would like to get back there with her and see how it all worked out.
A fabulous and fun story of friendship, love, second chances, and taking chances.
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This was so much fun with just the right amount of emotion.
I am always up for a summer road trip, and though Reagan was using Dee's tour as a way to escape her old life, it may have actually served as a way to a better one.
I loved Matt. I thought he was a great foil for Reagan. He was persistent and able to break down some of those walls she erected. BUT, Reagan was also good for Matt. She helped him work through some of his grief. They challenged each other and the banter and chemistry was fantastic between them.
I absolutely adored the friendship between Dee and Reagan. They were so different from each other, yet they were each other's port in a storm. Each was willing to drop whatever they were doing to be by the other's side, and they generally did so without (much) judgement. I loved their history and how strong their friendship was.
I would love to read a whole book from Dee's POV, because I really want to know her better. I loved what I saw, and with what happened at the end of the book, I just would like to get back there with her and see how it all worked out.
A fabulous and fun story of friendship, love, second chances, and taking chances.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
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