Review

Being dumped by your long-time boyfriend can be difficult, especially when summer is just beginning. But a new summer romance looms after a case of mistaken identity, and 16-year-old Gemma finds herself falling for the brother of a girl she seriously wronged five years prior. Will a new name, nose job and post breakup makeover be enough to conceal her true identity from Josh's sister? Seemingly, yes. Or maybe things aren't as simple they appear? Could Hallie, the girl Gemma wronged when they were eleven, be concealing secrets of her own?

Lets back up to five years ago, when Gemma's parents neglected to tell her their trial separation was permanent, not just for the summer. Observing her dad falling for Hallie's mom, Gemma knew she had to get her out of the picture using any means possible, even if that meant destroying the woman's career. It wasn't until afterward that she realized her foul deeds put the brakes on her fathers writing career too. Not to mention that her mother had already moved on to a new relationship of her own.

Heading back to the Hamptons for the first time since that fateful summer, Gemma meets an attractive boy on the train and sparks fly. Its not until they arrive that Gemma realizes Josh is Hallie's brother. How do you have a summer romance with someone who flinches at the mere sound of your name? Fortunately¾or unfortunately depending on how you look at it¾Josh assumes Gemma's name is Sophie, thanks to the name written on her latte cup.

After several embarrassing incidents occur, it's not until a game of "truths" that Gemma seizes the chance to indirectly apologize for what she'd done to Hallie five years prior. She says, "I've never hurt someone on purpose." Hallie looks confused and when it's her turn to speak her truth she says softly, "I've never been hurt by someone on purpose."

I found Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend to be an engaging, well written story. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it throughout the book. The only reason I didn't give it a five was because I was able to figure out midway through the book how Hallie's mother got the money to buy such an enormous house.

There was much that I liked about the book. Spot-on dialogue, believable reactions to embarrassing situations, blossoming romance and likeable characters. And a twist at the end, so surprising that I never saw it coming. What more do you need for a good summer read?

What I didn't like? Finding out at the end that it's a sequel. I'm a fan of tying things up in a nice, neat bow at the end of a story. I understand the authors reasoning however, because once you get to the surprise ending you realize a whole other can of worms has been opened.  And I for one, can't wait to stick my fishing hook in that can to see what comes out.

Umm...so when is the release date for Revenge, Ice Cream, and Other Things Best Served Cold?