Book Review: Nantucket Blue.

Title: Nantucket Blue.
Author: Leila Howland.
Series: Yes, #1.
Pages: 294.
Source: Library.
Publisher: Disney Hyperion.
Published Date: 4/7/13.
Links:
Book Depository
Goodreads

Summary:

"For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t. 

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue"

My Thoughts:

If it's not obvious already, I picked this book out, purely based on the amazing and summer-y looking cover! I figured it would be a light and fun book to read out in the sun. Little did I know, that it would be packed with friendship, devastation, love, and even heartache.

Things seem to be going good for Cricket, the boy (Jay) she's been crushing on since middle school is noticing her,  its summer time and her best friend, Jules, invited Cricket to go on her family vacation. But all those good things quickly come shattering down, when Jules mother dies, and Cricket is uninvited to the family trip.

Knowing that Jules needed her best friend's shoulder to cry on, Cricket makes the best of the situation, and applies to become a nanny on Nantucket for the summer. She won't be living with Jules, but she'll be close enough, in case something happens.

But the nanny job falls through, and Cricket stumbles upon a cleaning lady job instead. She doesn't realize, until she arrives at Jules house, that Jules doesn't look all that upset, and that she isn't acting like the best friend Cricket has known and loved. Cricket even discovers that Jules informed Jay about some of their private conversations. And Jay is pissed.

Cricket doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to go home, and hear her mom tell her "I told you so", so she decides to push through and spend the summer earning a bit of extra money. Cricket doesn't do much the first few weeks, even though the other cleaning lady, who isn't much older than her, invites Cricket to hangout with her and some cute boys.

Cricket denies each offer she makes, but instead finds friendship, and fun with someone else. Someone completely unexpected....Jules' little brother. Cricket doesn't know how Jules would feel about them spending so much time together. But does it matter anymore? Are they even friends anymore?

Final Verdict:

Nantucket Blue was an amazing read! When I laid down outside, and started reading this book, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I figure it would be a light fun read, but it turned out to be so much more than that!

Cricket is honestly one of the most AMAZING friends anyone could ask for. She got a summer job as a cleaning lady, and took the boat herself, to spend the summer making sure that her friend is okay! Who wouldn't want a friend like that? She's funny, and though her original plans didn't span out like she though, she still tries to have a nice time and enjoy herself.

Jules, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She told Jay about private conversations she and Cricket had. She turns her back, and becomes "best buddies" with some other girl on the island, and she completely leaves Cricket in the dust.

The ending to Nantucket Blue wasn't anything explosive or crazy, but just what the story needed. There was so much emotion and drama flowing through most of the story, I enjoyed the settle ending.

Overall, Nantucket Blue was more than I was ready for. It wasn't too focused on Cricket's relationship with Jules' brother, but instead more on the two girls' friendship, or the lack thereof. If you're looking for something summer-y but also emotional and meaningful, Nantucket Blue is your best option!