Lovestruck Summer

by Melissa C. Walker

Quinn came out to Austin, Texas to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts - and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061715867
• ISBN13: 9780061715860
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Harper Teen
• Length: 266 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Extremely Fun and Relatable

Lovestruck Summer is about Quinn's journey from indie rock girl to her true self. Quinn (actual first name Priscilla) is a blue haired, band t-shirt wearing 18 year old who just graduated high school (of course she had to do something punk to the dreaded cap and gown) and is practically surgically attached to her iPod. When she has the chance to intern for her favorite band's record company in Austin, Texas, she jumps at the offer. When she gets there, however, things aren't as she expected. Living with her sorority sister cousin Penny, Quinn judges everyone before getting to know them. There's Penny, of course, her fruit and candy eating cousin who has the required properly dressed small dog. Russ, Penny's plaid wearing cowboy neighbor who speaks his mind. And, of course, Sebastian - the guy PERFECT for Quinn in every way, with his tight jeans, black shaggy hair, green and black rimmed glasses, and job as a DJ. So as Quinn likes Sebastian, the guy she thinks she should be with, why does she keep thinking about Russ the cowboy? This book is perfect for anyone who's ever been in Quinn's identity crisis post-high school stage. I loved the voice behind her - so determined, so single minded. It narrates exactly what she's thinking and it's so truthful you believe it, even when you want to smack some sense into her. As a YA book, it's great for girls to read to hopefully help them through those confusing years. And for someone my age, it's a great way to look back and smile. I found myself nodding in agreement and laughing out loud at some of the fantastic and relatable scenes. As for the characters, I loved the supporting ones that most. Chrissy, the sorority sister who doesn't apologize for who she is, is completely endearing. And Jade, Quinn's fellow intern, is a friend I'd love to have - supportive, funny, and confident (most of the time). Melissa Walker does an excellent job at describing characters that could be completely stereotypical in an interesting and depth-filled way. I love the youthful scenes, like the party scene, that feel like moments I've lived through. Walker also did a great job at pointing out Austin hotspots - although I've never been there, a friend verified that most are there and very, very cool. My one complaint with this book is actually the cover. Melissa Walker has a fantastic blog where she discusses the covers of new YA books - sometimes with comments from the authors themselves. I like the cover enough, it's cute, but it doesn't convey the message of the book at all. It's the cover of Penny's story, not Quinn's. Cover aside, I loved the book. It's a book that I didn't want to end, however I don't want there to be a sequel - in my heart, I know everything worked out just fine. And if it didn't, well, Quinn's still learning. It's a book that makes me reflect on those years and kind of miss them - but not too much.

I feel like this book was written just for me!

Lovestruck Summer has got to be one of my favorite summer romances of all time. I seriously squeeeeeeed throughout the whole book. Oh My God. I felt like Melissa Walker wrote this book for me. I totally and completely got Quinn. I'm sort of a music snob myself and could totally see myself in her. I don't do country music, I just don't. I'm sure I like a few songs that I don't realize are country but that is all. Also, I've never thought of a cowboy/fratboy as hot, never, until now. I really appreciated this book's message of not dismissing something or someone just because you think you should or because you believe the stereotype about something. I loved the back and forth between Quinn and her cowboy/fratboy neighbor Russ. Holy heck was that boy as sweet can be! But no, Quinn is set on finding herself an indie/emo boy and sets her sights on Sebastian a local dj who might not be as good inside as he looks outside. Then we have Quinn's cousin Penny and her sorority sister/next door neighbor Chrissy who at first glance Quinn writes off. And then there's co-intern Jade who comes off kind of cold at first. By the end of the summer Quinn will get to know these girls so well and come to learn a lot about herself and her beliefs in the process. Ok, I could just go on and on about how much I love this book, but just really see for yourself. You will squeal and laugh and go aww about 1,000 times!

Enchanting Review: Lovestruck Summer

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER MELISSA WALKER Contemporary Young Adult HarperTeen Rating: 4.5 Enchantments A perfect summer read! LOVESTRUCK SUMMER features Priscilla aka `Quinn' but don't call her Priscilla! Quinn has big plans for the summer, interning at the Amalgam records, and finding the supreme boyfriend, an indie loving guy with the perfect hair and some funky glasses and she`s sure she`s going to meet him in music loving Austin. But things aren't quite what she expected in Austin, something she finds out right away when her study-conscious cousin Penny picks her up at the airport, resembling something more out of a sorority guidebook then the cousin she remembers. What quickly follows is one of the funniest romantic comedies I've read in a long time! Ms. Walker has a knack for creating memorable characters and LOVESTRUCK SUMMER continues that trend. I liked Quinn immediately, especially her attitude and the fact that her life seems to revolve around music. She practically lives in headphones, using the music to drown things out. Her cousin Penny, fellow intern Jade and neighbor Chrissy round out the cast of characters, as does Miss Tiara, Penny's cross dressing dog, one of the most unique characters I've ever read! And don't forget the two complete opposite guys she finds herself attracted to, skinny indie DJ Sebastian and country loving jock and frat boy, Russ. One minute Quinn wants to never lay eyes on the frat boy again and the next, she can't wait to listen to the mix tape he makes her. The summer in Austin moves fast, and Quinn finds herself deeper into the Austin way of life, her preconceived notions about pretty well everything falling away--or so it seems, until she gets called on it by someone unexpected. Has Quinn changed at all or is she merely the same girl who stepped off the plane, the one who wanted to have the perfect summer romance? It's hard to pick just one favorite scene to highlight in the review, because I enjoyed them all--especially the ones between Russ and Quinn. But I'd have to say one of my favorites is when Russ takes Quinn for a trip down the river. The chemistry between the two characters is great, the dialogue hilarious and the scene is so well done you feel like you're tagging along with them. LOVESTRUCK SUMMER is a fun young adult romance that will have you lose track of time as you lose yourself in Quinn's summer and hope she ends up with the right boy. [...] Lisa Enchanting Reviews

A perfect summer read...

Quinn goes to Austin with her love of music and a internship with Amalgam Records. She is staying with her cousin, Penny and her cross dressing dog, Miss Tiara. When her internship was actually though out to be a joke and the real intern is Jade. The good thing is that she knows the perfect indie guy, Sebastian, but there is also Penny's neighbour, Russ that makes Quinn think. I loved the characters. Quinn was so funny. Russ was sweet. Jade was awesome. I loved the fact that Penny had a cross dressing dog. The story was as cute as the cover. I loved how there was a mention of Violet as "I once knew this girl that worked at my movie theater who went to New York to became a fashion model." (Pg 114-115). Melissa is an amazing writer and I really loved it. Lovestruck Summer is amazing and a great read. You should really check it out soon.

Romantic Comedy at Its Finest!

I love romantic comedies. They are the best to read when looking for something light and fun. And since I'm always looking for that, this book was perfect. I laughed, I almost cried, and just had an all around good time reading it. What I loved about this novel was that it was strictly a romantic comedy. It has a lot of depth to it! Quinn has to question everything she's thought about herself, boys, and just people in general. It really makes you wonder if you're selling yourself, and others, short like Quinn. Maybe I was more susceptible to this because I've been wondering about that very thing here lately. Like Quinn comes to realize, I've been realizing lately that I don't want to be that person that makes fun of the bubble gum pink sorority girls or other people who seem to fit a stereotype but may have more to offer. So in that capacity, this novel really struck a chord with me (musical pun not intended but kind of cute now that I think about it!). For a romantic comedy, it is also less predictable than you would think. I might just be easily thrown, but I really did question at times if the book would end how I felt it should. Of course it does, but it's realistic. So, this novel has comedy, romance, depth, and moments of unpredictability for those readers who tire of knowing how a book will end (but the journey is what matters anyway, right?). I highly recommend this as a perfect summer read. I have a feeling I might even reread it later this summer, it's that good!