A review by savvylit
Summer Fun by Jeanne Thornton

emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Summer Fun is a modern American epic! The intertwining stories span decades and sweep across themes. This novel is so many things at once: fan fiction about/a love letter to the Beach Boys, a trans bildungsroman, a testament to chosen family, and a deep dive into the rigors of the Hollywood music industry.

Summer Fun has two main characters: B and Gala. Through Gala's retellings, we soon come to know absolutely everything about B. B is the lead singer and songwriter of a band called the Get Happies. B was the eldest child of an abusive father. B never felt comfortable in the gender B was assigned at birth. Gala, on the other hand, is a narrator who emerges to readers fully formed. She intentionally keeps us at a distance, never revealing versions of her past self and always telling someone else's tale for them. And she was a truly excellent narrator! I think that's why I wish she would've ultimately shared more of her own story.

Overall, I very much enjoyed Summer Fun. If you're in the mood for a sweeping, summer-y, and queer novel then you should definitely think about picking this one up!!
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