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Reviewed by Makeda Cummings for Readers' Favorite
Summers Away by Kara DeMaio revolves around Ayla DeLuca, a teen girl from New York, and the unique friendships that shape her life. Ayla's simple life in her small, drab town changes the moment she meets Ryan Gematti, a handsome and adventurous boy from Virginia. When Ryan invites her to spend the summer with him, his family, and friends in Virginia, Ayla doesn't hesitate to take him up on the offer. In Virginia, she soon becomes close friends with Ryan, his brother, Tate, and their lively group of friends. She even forms a romantic connection with Jase, Ryan's close friend. When Ayla accidentally discovers a secret about Tate, she decides to protect him, no matter the cost. But when that secret is exposed, traumatic events occur, and a heartbreaking tragedy soon follows. How will Ayla cope in light of these harrowing events? Will justice be served?
Summers Away is a profound and emotional story of self-discovery and the struggles of being true to oneself. Kara DeMaio does a great job of exploring the challenges of living up to someone else’s ideals while neglecting one's own self-identity. The characters are relatable and realistic in more ways than one. Ayla's interactions with her peers help explore crucial adolescent themes like youthhood, the search for acceptance, group dynamics, family issues, self-exploration, sexuality, and love. Every event in their lives, whether great or small, is candidly explored, making it easy to become invested in each character's story arc. You will feel connected to them all, especially Ayla and Tate, who reveal that some friendships can go beyond the traditional realm of affection. Their friendship is the perfect representation of unconditional love, and through evocative language and vivid scenes, DeMaio exemplifies this point perfectly. Summers Away is the ideal read for fans of LGBTQ novels and books with heartfelt and beautiful storylines.
