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Summer Skin

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Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar is a novel that follows the story of Jess Gordon, a strong and no-nonsense young woman attending college. The book explores themes of feminism, college life, relationships, and personal growth through the interactions between Jess and Mitch, a complex and somewhat sexist character. The writing style is described as realistic, relatable, and hilarious, with a focus on empowering young women to be their own person and fight against stereotypes.

Characters:

The characters are well-crafted, with Jess as a strong, independent female lead and Mitch undergoing significant growth.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive and humorous, well-crafted to convey the emotional depth and college setting.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the complicated relationship between Mitch and Jess, set against a backdrop of college rivalry and themes of empowerment and sexism.

Setting:

The setting is authentically depicted within an Australian college, illustrating the dynamics of campus life.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally engaging but can be disrupted by confusing time jumps and transitions.
Jess froze. There was a guy. Watching her. Well, technically, he was watching her arse—of all the times to be wearing cut-offs. Worse, the guy in question was probably that guy. She didn’t know what t...

Notes:

Mitch is characterized as an alpha male but struggles with sexist behavior.
Jess is a strong, no-nonsense female lead who embodies modern feminism.
The book highlights the double standards in campus hookup culture from a female perspective.
Chemistry between Jess and Mitch is described as sizzling and realistic.
The writing style is praised for being relatable and engaging.
Jess has recently escaped a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship.
Mitch is haunted by a ghost from his past, which affects his interactions with women.
The book explores themes of personal growth, emotional barriers, and social media validation.
It features strong camaraderie among female characters who support one another against male arrogance.
Jess's character breaks the mold of typical naive heroines in new adult novels.
The author Kirsty Eagar uses humor and sarcasm effectively in character dialogues.
The book presents a realistic portrayal of college life, friendships, and romantic relationships.
While the romance is central, it is treated with maturity without excessive focus on sex.
Readers have noted the book's refreshing take on discussing sex openly and positively.
The narrative includes elements of jealousy and rivalry between college factions, particularly between Jess's group and the Knights.
The setting in Australia sets it apart from typical American college romance stories.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Medium content warnings include themes of emotional abuse, toxic relationships, and sexism prevalent in college culture.

Has Romance?

There is a significant romance present, characterized by tension, growth, and vulnerability between the main characters.

From The Publisher:

From Kirsty Eagar, Summer Skin is a young adult novel about a modern-day riot grrl and an alpha male jock who explore love, trust, and double standards against the backdrop of today's hookup culture.

Jess Gordon is out for revenge. Last year the jocks from Knights College tried to shame her best friend. This year she and a hand-picked college girl gang are going to get even.

The lesson: Don't mess with Unity College girls.

The target: Blondie, a typical Knights stud, arrogant, cold . . . and smart enough to keep up with Jess.

A neo-riot grrl with a penchant for fanning the flames meets a rugby-playing sexist pig-sworn enemies or two people who happen to find each other when they're at their most vulnerable?

It's all Girl meets Boy, Girl steals from Boy, seduces Boy, ties Boy to a chair, and burns Boy's stuff. Just your typical love story.

Kirsty Eagar expertly handles a searingly honest and achingly funny story about love and sex amid the college hookup culture.

Ratings (2)

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Loved It (1)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (3)
Not Interested (6)

About the Author:

Kirsty Eagar grew up on a central Queensland cattle property and spent her school holidays at the beach. She traveled around Australia for a couple of years, worked a variety of jobs, and began writing fiction. Her books include Raw Blue and Summer Skin. Kirsty lives with her husband and two daughters on Sydney's northern beaches.

 
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