August and Everything After by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski - Reshelved Books

Hey there Dewey Readers!

Is there a better way to spend a birthday than by sitting outside with a new book and margarita? I don't think so.  And if the book just happens to take place down the shore in Lavalette, NJ it's damn near impossible to think of anything better. This basically sums up my past Wednesday.  The sun was shining, I was drinking tequila, and I devoured Doktorski's latest novel August and Everything After in one sitting, only getting up for minimal bathroom breaks and to refill my mason jar glass.  Ahhh the single 26 year old life.   

So about the novel.  August and Everything After follows the story of Quinn, who is spending the summer down at her aunt's shore house.  Quinn had an especially tough year.  There was a scandal with her high school music student-teacher, and her best friend passed away in a bike-automobile accident that she blames herself for.  Having just graduated high school, everyone is focused on college and the future, but Quinn is struggling with just focusing on the now.  Then Quinn meets a bad boy.  Okay, he CAN be considered a decent guy.  He has a good heart, but he's a hot mess himself and he's tossing up red flags all over the place.  When Quinn is supposed to meet him for pizza, he shows up drunk.  I mean come on, girl.  Then she finds out he used to abuse prescription drugs and he ASKS her told hold a few pills for him! Seriously!? But, they both have their demons, they're both trying to figure life out, they both DO have good intentions, and they both DO love each other.  Whether love is enough........ I don't know.   

I love Doktorski's books because of the New Jersey and shore references, obviously.  These books are a pleasure to read and they are on my list of favorite things.  In this novel in particular, Quinn's aunt is a single LIBRARIAN who moved from North Jersey to live down the shore.  HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS IS MY LIFE GOAL!?  I want to be Quinn's aunt and be a coastal librarian. Ugh. That's the dream.  What else did I love about this book?  Quinn and her aunt drive up to North Jersey and buy a drum set at Sam Ash on 17.  Hello Paramus!  That's where I purchased my flute and piccolo.  I don't think they're in business anymore though... but don't take my word on that.   

Did I love this book? Yes. I adored it. 
Would I recommend this book?  Without a doubt.   
How many coffee beans would I give it?  A million and a half.  

This book is EVERYTHING and more.

Until the next read!
~Jessica 

P.S.  The main characters from The Summer After You & Me are side characters in this book, which just makes me love it even more! And for all you readers close to New Jersey, Jennifer is coming to the Hawthorne Library on Saturday, June 16.  You can sign up here. It's free. 

The Summer After You & Me by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski - Reshelved Books

Hey there Dewey Readers!


I love a beach read.  Heck, I adore the beach.  But do you know what I love more than beach reads and the beach combined!? That's right! Books that take place down the Jersey Shore. 

Jennifer Salvato Doktorski's novel The Summer After You and Me is the PERFECT Jersey Shore beach read.  So, at bit about the novel:

Lucy lives down the shore.  Seaside to be exact.  She's a local, she works during the summer at the burrito place near the boardwalk, she has a twin brother, and she has, or rather had, a large crush on her Benny neighbor Connor until her promised to call her and never did.  (Her brother never trusted Connor.) Her family's home also had to be gutted after Hurricane Sandy, and they are just starting to get back on her feet.  That's right, this novel takes place in a recent post-Sandy world, sort of making it function as a recently based historical novel. Pretty cool, right?  Well, the novel can also be considered an example of environmental fiction.  Why? Because each chapter opens with a small fact, cited from Lucy's school thesis about the "Dating and Mating" habits of sea life.  Lucy, who has been emotionally scared by Connor believes that if sea creatures can live and reproduce without love, maybe humans should as well.... it's less.... messy.  She might have a point there.  

Anyway, I love this book.  I love the romance, I love the setting, I love the Jersey references.  I mean come on, not only Seaside but also references to Rutgers University, Bruce Springsteen, Asbury Park, and so many more are hidden throughout the pages of this book. It's wonderful.  

So Dewey Readers, I leave you with a rating of 10 out of 5 Coffee Beans. 

AND THE BEST PART.  Jennifer is coming to the Hawthorne Library on June 16.  So if you're in the area and want to meet her, you can!  It's FREE.  And you can register here. How cool is that?

Happy Reading!
~Jessica   

The Season of You & Me by Robin Constantine - Reshelved Books

Hey Dewey Readers!

Growing up and living in New Jersey, we love books that are based in our home state,  but do you know what we love even more than books that take place in Jersey!?  Books that take place down the shore.  Robin Constantine's novel The Season of You & Me is just that.  It's a young adult Jersey Shore romance that I have now read twice!  

So a bit about the novel.  This novel is told in the alternating perspectives of two main characters, Cassidy and Bryan.  Cassidy has decided to spend her summer down the shore at her father and step-mother's bed and breakfast.  She needs an escape from her home life, especially because she's struggling with and trying to come to terms with her first real heartbreak.   Is she running away from her problems?  Maybe one can say so, but she IS spending time with family in the form of her father, step-mother, and little brother she doesn't get to see that often.  So, I think it's safe to say the change of scenery is welcomed for many reasons.  Plus, I'm a firm believer that the ocean can heal just about anything.

Bryan lives down the shore.  He's recently paralyzed from the waist down after a skateboarding accident, which could have been prevented.  Rather than be bitter about his injuries, he shows acceptance and has a great sense of humor.  That's not to say that he isn't upset that he can't walk.  He is, he's just doing an excellent job of trying to be okay.  Bryan has had some romantic interests with girls that live in his hometown, but nothing has panned out.  Is it because of his injures? Is it because there was just no chemistry?  Maybe it's a mixture of both.  So when Cassidy begins to work at the same summer camp as Bryan during the day, they begin to develop....a friendship.  

More than just a summery young adult beach read that happens to take place down the shore, this novel tackles issues such as heartbreak, disabilities, divorce, family dynamics, friendship, acceptance, and so much more.  I adore this novel to the point where I am going to give it 55 out of 5 Coffee Beans, because I can.  Even my Grandma loved this novel, which just goes to prove how ANYONE of ANY AGE can read and enjoy y.a. fiction.    

I am also super excited, because Robin has agreed to come up to my library for an author visit!  You can check out all of her upcoming events, on her website.   

Now I am craving a trip down the shore.  

Jillian, can we take a day trip to Point Pleasant!? 

Until the next read!

~Jessica