Blog Tour: Nantucket Blue

Nantucket Blue by: Leila Howland
Expected Publication: May 7th 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis: 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.

LEILA HOWLAND loves to read, explore L.A., and engage in funny and meaningful conversations with her
friends and family, especially her brother who calls from Washington D.C. whenever he’s waiting for the bus. A lot gets discussed in those phone calls, but they tend to end abruptly when the bus shows up. She can really cut the rug, but wishes she could sing without people covering their ears. A graduate of Georgetown University, Leila spent five years acting in New York where she was a company member of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca. It was a lot of fun and she often talks about “getting back into it.” The closest she has come was a stint as an extra on The Young and the Restless in 2010. Leila now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs. She teaches high school English and blogs for HelloGiggles. NANTUCKET BLUE is her first novel.

Nantucket Blue offers a cute summer story with a strong main character, bittersweet situations, and a romance with a twist that I absolutely loved. It’s a beautiful beach setting with so much more than just a summer vacation. Nantucket Blue shows us that you may not know people as well as you thought you did, that sometimes working hard isn’t so terrible, and that you can find love in the most unexpected places.

Cricket and Jules Clayton have always been super close. Cricket is almost like family to the Claytons. What’s supposed to be an amazing summer in Nantucket with Jule’s family and her secret crush Jay quickly spirals downwards. Now, Cricket made it to Nantucket but she has to work her butt off just to stay in town and the people she thought would be happy to see her have turned their backs on her. Refusing to go home to nothing, Cricket decides to make the most out of her situation and enjoy the surprises that await her.

With the romance in the story I absolutely adored Zack and Cricket. I loved Jay too, actually. I loved how the romance wasn’t the typical the popular guy falls for the strong main girl. The romance was the type that slams you in the face when you least expect it. The type that is a hidden affair when you shouldn’t have to hide love. And, mostly I absolutely love when a girl falls in love with someone who truly knows her. When the girl is actually older than the guy. Props to Howland for a non-cliche love.

Another character I have to mention is Jules. Did Jules have a perfectly good reason to withdraw herself from people… of course she did. Did she have a good reason to do a complete 180 on her best friend and act like a backstabber… no, I don’t think she did. Regardless of what happens in your life, if someone is your best friend they’ll always be there for you, and you shouldn’t step on them for it. So for me, Jules was that character I loved to hate, she definitely stirred up the drama in the story.

Overall definitely a cute, quick read. I love that Leila Howland gave us a super strong main character who isn’t afraid to do things on her own. Also that the fact that with the romance she completely went outside of most people’s comfort zones and embraced it, plus she added lovely fiery scenes. Totally enjoyed the whole roller coaster of a story!