Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington is a delightful YA contemporary romance featuring two high school seniors, Sidney and Asher, who have been feuding for years during their summer vacations at neighboring lake cabins. Their rivalry leads to escalating pranks until one goes too far, forcing them to cohabitate in a single cabin. Predictably, their initial animosity shifts into a tentative friendship, allowing them to confront their deeper feelings and navigate misunderstandings from their past.

Pennington’s writing style is light and engaging, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters. The dual points of view provide insight into both Sidney's overthinking nature and Asher's quiet charm. The humorous banter, mixed with moments of real emotion, creates a fun and relatable atmosphere. Fans of summer romances will appreciate the vivid lake setting and the playful yet earnest exploration of young love.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed and relatable, with Asher being a charming and supportive figure, while Sidney showcases neurotic qualities that many readers can identify with. Their chemistry and growth are central to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by its easy readability, distinct character voices, and a lighthearted, humorous tone that keeps readers engaged and entertained.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a summer romance between two rival characters who have a history of playful pranks. Their dynamic shifts dramatically when they are forced to live together due to a prank gone wrong, leading them to confront their feelings for each other.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in summer lake houses in Riverton, which vividly captures the essence of summer life, outdoor activities, and the protagonist's experiences.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly fast and engaging, although some readers noted unevenness in the latter part of the story. Overall, it is a quick and compelling read.

Notes:

The story is set in summer and revolves around lake life.

Sidney and Asher have been feuding for years, engaged in elaborate pranks.

Their families have a long history of spending summers renting adjacent cabins by the lake.

A prank gone wrong forces them to live together in the same cabin, leading to a truce.

The book is filled with humor and relatable emotions, despite not covering overly serious topics.

The main characters are high school seniors and competitive swimmers.

The narrative includes both characters' perspectives, enhancing the depth of their relationship.

The story is described as an enemies-to-lovers trope with a backdrop of friendship and rivalry.

Character development is a key theme, particularly Asher's journey of self-discovery.

The plot involves miscommunications that lead to complex feelings between Sidney and Asher.

The humor is highlighted by clever pranks like Kool Aid showers and instant mashed potatoes.

The pacing has been noted as uneven, particularly in the second half of the story.

Readers appreciate the light and entertaining nature of the book, making it a perfect beach read.

Has Romance?

The romance between the main characters, Asher and Sidney, is central to the narrative, with significant development throughout the book.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Teens waging a war of practical jokes declare peace when they fall for one another in this charming YA romantic comedy from Jessica Pennington.

They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it's the same every year-in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, the summer after their senior year, they're determined to make it the most epic yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note-Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy-the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn't so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.

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Meet Me at Midnight

Jessica Pennington