Synopsis
A lighthearted and swoony contemporary YA romance by fan-favorite author Kasie West about a girl who finds that a summer spent at a family resort isn’t as bad as she imagined…and that falling in love is filled with heartache, laughter, and surprises!
After being betrayed by her best friend, Avery is hoping for a picture-perfect summer. Too bad her parents have dragged her and her sister to a remote family camp for the entire summer. And that’s not even the worst part. Avery also has to deal with no internet, a cute but off-limits staff member, and an always-in-her-face sister.
But what starts as a disaster turns into a whirlwind summer romance as Avery embarks on an unexpected journey to figure out what she truly wants and who she wants to be.
Title: Sunkissed
Author: Kasie West
Publication Date: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Review
This was probably the best West book yet which is saying something since I really love all of her books!! The family bonding was 10 heart emojis, the fun summer camp was 50 heart emojis, and the romance was a million heart emojis. The queen of YA romance remains strong on her throne!
Like I mentioned before, I loved the family bonding in this book! Particularly, we get to see some strong sisterly bonds. It was great to see Avery and her sister, Lauren, grow as individuals and as sisters. I think this was something that elevated this book of West’s from some of her others. I always appreciate a book that can build on more relationships than just romantic ones.
Second, I wanna mention the ever-amazing summer camp! I am a suuuuucker for summer camp books and this was no exception. It had fun summer activities and forbidden guest/employee relationships, plus a few extras. If you enjoyed You Have a Match or Sleepaway Girls then you’ll enjoy this one!
Lastly, the romance!! We get a handsome, long-haired musician in this book and he really couldn’t have been better! He has things he’s trying to escape from home, just like Avery, so we get a little depth in their relationship through their shared hardships. Also, this was mostly a slow burn. It burned long enough for some angst to build up, but ended soon enough to enjoy some cute scenes together.
Overall, this book was pretty much perfect! It had everything I love in a YA romance plus more! I can’t recommend West’s newest book enough!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating
Mood Board
About the Author
Kasie West is the author of many YA novels, including The Fill-in Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Lucky in Love, and Listen to Your Heart. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, JLG selections, and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. When she’s not writing, she’s binge-watching television, devouring books, or bury-ing her toes in the sand of the Central Coast. Kasie lives in Fresno, California, with her family.
This was our favorite book from West in years! Brooks was a swoonworthy love interest. Plus, we loved the setting and music focus.
Totally agree! Plus, I’m just a sucker for summer camp settings in general haha
Love this mood board <3
Thank you!