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    That Summer
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    That Summer
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    That Summer
    Audiobook4 hours

    That Summer

    Written by Sarah Dessen

    Narrated by Mia Barron

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The more things change. . . .

    As far as Haven is concerned, there’s just too much going on.

    Everything is changing, and she’s not sure where she fits in.

    Then her sister’s old boyfriend shows up, sparking memories of the summer when they were all happy and everything was perfect. . . .

    But along the way, Haven realizes that sometimes change is a good thing.

    “Unforgettable.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 25, 2003
    ISBN9780807215692
    Unavailable
    That Summer
    Author

    Sarah Dessen

    Sarah Dessen is the number one New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen novels for teens, which have received numerous awards and rave reviews. Her books have been published in over thirty countries and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She currently lives in North Carolina with her family.

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    Reviews for That Summer

    3.5/5

    533 ratings30 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I both love and hate this book I love the book because I love Sarah Dessen's writing. The characterization of her central character is always done very well, so well that you feel like this fictional character is a real person and you have been granted the privilege to be a part of their life for this brief moment in time.Haven is in the middle of a whirlwind of change and she doesn't quite know how to deal with all of it. Her family is falling apart, her body is in the midst of changing and she cannot even feel comfortable in her own skin. Everything is crashing down and changing all around her and up to this point she has simply been going along with the flow, unfeeling. Then Sumner comes in and his presence remind her of a very different time, a time where she felt happy and alive. I love this book because I could be friends with Haven and in some ways I feel like I was Haven at one point.

      I hate this book because Dessen spends so much time revealing Haven that I feel like I could barely see the other characters. This is irritating because those people influence and change Haven's life so much. I want to understand their relationships and who they are. I also hated the fact that after Haven starts to feel alive and she starts to cope with her life the novel just ends. Overall, this really is not my favorite of Dessen's novels.
    • 1/5
      Couldn't even finish the book. Part of me believes it was because the protagonist's life almost exactly mirrored mine in a very creepy way, but also because there was no real plot. In simple terms, it was very easy to guess this was Dessen's first book. I made it to 75 pages left of the book and just couldn't bring myself to go any further. I didn't even care about the ending as I had no connections to the characters.
    • 3/5
      "That Summer" is an example of a well thought out inspiring novel. This is light on the brain with not too many challenging words that I, a middle school student, had no problem reading everything completely. The plot was very understandable for me and could be for others too. Sarah did a great job in this book to hopefully lure the middle school student into pouring everything into reading such a marvelous book. But, me as a male person, I recommend to this being read by a female reader because this is about the dramatic female life of teenagers. But, everything in life can't be all happy and joyous. That being said, this novel was a little dull and misunderstanding at times. Sarah, I think from my perspective, made this book and her, which was an early work of hers, look a little childish at times. And a two and a half star rating is fair to this because overall, this is kind of a slump of a book.
    • 2/5
      This book was mediocre. It wasn't up the same par as other Sarah Dessen books were. I was waiting for some relationship to form between Haven and Sumner, but nothing came of it. It was a rather short book as well. Definitely not the best book, but it wasn't bad. I could see this book being more for preteens than Sarah Dessen's other books are.
    • 2/5
      I believe this was one of the early Sarah Dessen books, and as such, it was a little dull. Sure - it had some funny moments - like when Haven quit her job and Sumner was a charming character, but the whole storyline felt a little flat and Haven's major "temper tantrum" at the end seemed somewhat dramatic and out of character. The slow simmer could have been a little more obvious. It was an okay and quick read, but after devouring a number of Dessen books in the last few weeks, I would certainly rate this as the least interesting.
    • 2/5
      I think it is time for Sarah Dessen and I to part company. Although she writes for teenage girls, I find her protagonists annoying and self-centred, and Haven was no exception. She was bratty and I was irritated by the way she kept looking back to 'that summer' with rose-coloured glasses.Overall, I found the characters flat, the plot bland and there was too much teenage angst for my liking. The only positive going for "That Summer" was that it was a short read.
    • 3/5
      Haven spends a summer coming into her own, realizing that things are changing, and she must be as well. Who hasn't had a day or two to act completely crazy?
    • 3/5
      Dear Divorce Victim or Self Conscious Teen,
      Are you looking for a book you can relate to? One that brings light to your dark situation? If so, I highly recommend this Sarah Dessen read! Why you ask? Well... when I was seventeen this tiny book brought a big solace. I found hope within the paragraphs and learned to cope by reading Haven's story. My parents were divorcing, my dad was happy with someone else, and my sister and I were left to navigate the storm. It was a dark time and while many tried to help, nothing seemed to work, so I escaped reality with books.

      When I stumbled upon That Summer by Sarah Dessen I didn't expect to find answers within the pages, but I did. Hearing about similar flaws and situations helped me to see that I wasn't alone. It talked me off the ledge and made sense of the crazy. I found a connection to the words and by the end the hurt didn't hurt quite as much.

      Now I'm not saying that this book will fix all of your problems, but after a thorough re-read I can tell you this... That Summer is filled with family struggles, negative body image views, and the truth about not being able to understand the unexpected. It brings a poetic, yet juvenile prose to tough situations. In my opinion, it's the perfect read for any struggling teen. It addresses a lot of issues, but also has a heart warming ending with clear progression. It may not be for everyone, but it helped me and I know it has the ability to help many others.

      I hope that if you take a chance, you find solace in the words too.
      -Love from a fellow reader
      #ReadADessen
    • 3/5
      i enjoyed the story even though it moved along slowly. To me the content seem a bit mature for Middle School Students with lots of bad language, strippers, under age drinking, etc. Of course with middle schoolers, this may be the very reason they will read the book.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of an eventful and life-changing summer for a 15 year old young girl. I enjoyed this story and could relate to much of it. Life changes and we have to cope with it. Sometimes we cope in ways that are more appropriate than others. A good read.
    • 2/5
      Dessen's early work, rough but still some great moments (like when Haven loses it at her shoe store job and starts throwing shoes). The story of a girl who isn't adjusting to all the major changes in her life and just wants to go back to one perfect summer, until her sister's ex resurfaces and helps her see the things she wasn't seeing.
    • 3/5
      Sarah Dessen loves to write about teenage girls dealing with change or fitting in. In this book, that’s exactly what she’s done. Haven, a fifteen year old girl who is almost six feet tall, is faced with a lot of change. Her mom and dad recently divorced because her dad fell in love with the “Weather Pet”, Lorna from the news station that he works at. Lorna and Haven’s father get married and a little more than a month later, Haven’s sister, Ashley, gets married to Lewis, who Haven doesn’t like because he is plain and boring.Before Ashley and Lewis get married, Haven sees Ashley’s ex-boyfriend, Sumner, who Haven thinks is perfect for Ashley. When Haven talks to him, she starts to remember that summer when Ashley, Haven, Sumner, her mom and dad all went to Virginia Beach. Everything was perfect and Ashley wasn’t freaked out over everything because of her upcoming wedding.In the end Haven realizes that everything happens for a reason and that everything will eventually be O.K. She finally accepts Lewis, her height, and Lorna (sort of), even though she doesn’t completely love it all. Sarah Dessen is an amazing writer for young adults because she focuses on things that actually happen to kids in their teens. A lot of readers can connect to her characters and this is just one example.This book brings out many emotions such as happiness and sorrow for the characters. There are a few spots in the book that are slow, but they always lead up to something exciting and filled with emotion.This book makes you ask question and makes you think a little. It makes you feel like you’re not the only person in the world dealing with problems and insecurities. Nobody and nothing is perfect and this book shows that you have to move on and keep going because there are always going to be bumps in the road and you can’t help that. You just have to go over them. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.All in all this was a good book. It taught a really good and important message. It was connectible and an easy read. I think that teens and young adults would enjoy this book, although it had a few dry and confusing parts. Once you get past those, That Summer by Sarah Dessen is quite enjoyable and I would recommend this book to all my friends.
    • 3/5
      Its a good book not what I had expected, but I liked it.
    • 4/5
       Haven's 16th summer is a mess. Her father is getting married to his much younger wife, then her sister is going crazy planning a wedding. Her best friend has come home from camp a stranger, and her job is incredibly dull.Haven is on the outskirts of everything, even her own suddenly tall body.Haven is a delightful character, and This story of her worst summer was very pleasant to read, as Haven come to terms with the changes in her life, and a new understanding of the people around her. This was a treat to read, and I especially loved the lack of romance, this is a realistic story where the love that develops is Haven's for herself.
    • 5/5
      Everyone can look back on that one summer when everything changed. For fifteen-year-old Haven, that summer is now. Her father, the sports anchor for WTSB News Channel 5, is marrying the station's meteorologist (or Weather Pet, as Haven's mother prefers to call her). And Haven's older sister, Ashley, is planning to walk down the aisle with boring Lewis Warsher. But before that can happen, Ashley's old boyfriend Sumner Lee comes back in town.Sumner's return sparks Haven's memories of another summer long ago-a summer when her parents were still happily married, her sister was young and carefree, and everything was simpler. But was life ever really so perfect, or is Haven's version of the past colored by her fear of the future?
    • 3/5
      I liked this book a lot. But I feel like it ended without much happening. I felt like there could've been more within the story.
    • 3/5
      Book talk: Read aloud: Introduce by saying That Haven has been having a rough summer: her parents are divorced, her father just got married to the local weather girl, and her sister is due to be married in a few weeks. In this scene she's at the mall with her mother, who has just told her she is thinking about selling their house. Start with " I don't want to move..." on page 107, and end with "I didn't mean to snap at you."Haven is having a terrible summer. Her parents recently divorced, and her father just married the local weather girl. Her perfect sister is getting married in a few weeks. And she' stuck putting shoes on smelly kids in her job at the mall. When she runs into one of her sister's old boyfriends, she starts reminiscing about days when everyone was together, when everything seemed perfect.Haven would, I think, be very relateable to a certain type of reader - she's self-conscious about her growing (and growing! nearly 6-foot) body, she's upset about her parents' divorce, and though she doesn't always want to admit it, she's clearly fed up with her sister. She's not shy, necessarily, but passive - things happen *to* her, but it's not until the very end of the book that she reacts. In some ways it's clear this is a conscious choice on her part - she talks about trying to control her emotions so as not to upset her mother or her sister; they are the emotional ones and Haven is the one who keeps things on an even keel. Kids with that temperment would certainly appreciate having a character like that to relate to.You could see this as a "problem" book - Haven's parents have divorced and she's having trouble dealing with it. But Dessen doesn't really frame it that way; divorce is almost a metaphor for growing up, and accepting change. Haven has to come to grips wit the fact that things will change as she ages, as much as she would like them to stay the same. This theme is replicated several times in the novel: here sister is moving away, her friend has come home from camp with a boyfriend and a smoking habit.One aspect of the book - being overshadowed by a sister's wedding - reminded me very much of "Sister of the Bride" by Beverly Cleary and of course, "Sixteen Candles."
    • 4/5
      "That Summer" is a book about a girl named Haven who feels out of place no matter where she is - among family, at school, and just in general. It doesn't help that she's only fifteen and almost six feet tall, or that her older sister gets more attention, which is unusual since Haven is the baby of the family. Her dad also left her family for another, younger woman. Haven can't help but feel inferior. She wishes she could go back to better years, back to that summer when everything in her life seemed perfect. But as someone from that summer re-enters her life, she begins to see that things weren't as ideal as she thought they were, and learns to move on an accept things as they are. This was probably my least favourite novel of Sarah Dessen's, but that's not to say it was bad. It was very short and the conclusion came a bit too near to the end, and the story seemed to have an abrupt ending at that, but it was still a fairly good book.
    • 4/5
      If there is one thing certain about life, it's that everything changes. Whether the change is small or grand, it's still a change and 15 year old Haven is trying to adjust to the many changes occurring in her life. Her father is getting remarried and to Lorna Queen- the Weather girl who works at the same news station as him. Not to mention her older sister Ashley is getting ready to get married as well. As if two weddings isn't enough to keep Haven on her toes, the fact that she is Six feet tall and still growing just seems to make matters a bit more difficult for her.It's enough already with family changes to make any teenager feel out of placed. But sometimes we tend to make the situation worse in our minds when we start to look at the past and let the wonderful memories and moments consume our hearts. Out of all of the summers that Haven has experience, there is that one summer, that one memory that haunts her and provides a comfort within her as she struggles through the Summer she is living in now. A summer filled with weddings, growth spurts,confusion and an encounter with Sumner, one of her sister's ex boyfriends who created that happiness and magic during that Summer, the one that Haven holds close to her heart.It's been forever since Haven last saw Sumner and now that he is back in her life, the memories and emotions make it harder for her to cooperate with the events occurring with her life. Why can't things go back to how they were before? Haven asks herself. But sometimes we blind ourselves looking back into the past. Maybe things happened for the better. Perhaps the truth we have believed in for a long time, is not the truth at all..I really enjoy Sarah Dessen's books and being that this is her very first book i knew that her writing wasn't going to be that great like in her other books. At first i felt that the story was lacking action. There was too much description from Haven and too much of her "telling" of the story instead of showing. But i believe that the reader has to keep in mind Haven's situation and that the lack of action in the story is because she's isolated and alone with her emotions. She has to deal with the changes by herself, so Sarah Dessen did do a good job writing out Haven's story.I wouldn't say that this was her best book but it was a good story.
    • 3/5
      Starting with her father's wedding to another woman, Haven's life seems to spiral downward. The only shining light is the reappearance of her sister's quirky boyfriend, Sumner (one of her sister's many high school love interests). This sparks Haven's longing for the perfect summer when Haven's parents were still together, and her sister was actually nice to Haven, mainly because of the effect Sumner had on Haven's sister.Like many of Dessen's books, That Summer is contains a mystery (I normally love the mysteries that Dessen creates in her books) - the mystery of why Haven's sister ended her seemingly perfect relationship with Sumner. Unfortunately, the reason behind the break up is rather predictable and ushers in a rather lackluster ending.I tried to like That Summer, I really did. I'm a sucker for Sarah Dessen books, but That Summer doesn't have the same quality of story telling as Dessen's more recent novels. Ultimately, That Summer is a rather average book with forgettable, unlikeable characters.
    • 2/5
      As much as I adore Sarah Dessen, her first book is not that memorable a read. There's nothing about it that really sticks out. I don't care about the characters, the plot, anything, and that's a bad characteristic for a story to possess. A book is meant to grab and enthrall its readers, and this one fails at this vital task. I understand that Haven, the main character, is in a state of tumult in her life, but the urgency is never really communicated in the writing. There's so much pointless description and deadened conversation, none of it seems quite real. I suppose a younger teen who is just getting used to growing up might enjoy this book, but for teens 15+, I'd pick another Dessen novel. Rating: 2/5
    • 4/5
      Haven is fifteen and her summer is turning out to be rotten. Opening with a view of her mother elbow deep in dirt gardening on the day Haven's father, a local sportscaster, gets married to the weather girl (not so fondly nicknamed "the Weather Pet" by Haven's mother) from his station, things are really not going Haven's way. Not only has her father re-married, but Haven's best friend goes away to camp and changes drastically, her sister's upcoming wedding is turning her into a terrible Bridezilla, and Haven herself feels like a freak thanks to her unusual height. When one of her sister's ex-boyfriends shows up, Haven latches onto him, thinking that the summer when Sumner was around was a golden time in their family. Alternating between her memories of that summer two years ago and the present summer, this is the story of a young girl facing major changes both outside of her control and within herself.Dessen has nicely captured the pain and humiliation of being fifteen and her portrayal of Haven's longing for a past summer when things looked so much rosier is poignant. Some of the minor characters are a bit over the top though. Haven's sister is a selfish monster and is allowed to be a ridiculous, shrewish brat for a very long time given her age and imminent marriage herself. Haven's best friend turns from good girl to love-struck teen rebel seemingly overnight. And Haven's mother's portrayal as the newly divorced going out on the town without considering her 15 year old daughter struggling to cope with all the changes is a bit far fetched. But despite the stereotypical characterizations of these minor characters, the book will still resonate with teens, especially those who are searching for the person into whom they want to grow. Light and easily read, I can see why Dessen is a recommended read for the late middle school, early high school set. Overall, it's a nice read.
    • 5/5
      I liked this book but not as much as i liked all the other books that i have read. I Wish i could have got in to this book like i have before with all the other book. I think that if i liked it more that i would have finished it faster! The book was about a girl that was really tall girl that is going through some tough times with her family.
    • 4/5
      In her fifteenth summer, Haven is nearing six feet tall and feeling every bit as awkward as a fish out of water. That summer is particularly tumultuous for her: in addition to her embarrassingly rapid growth spurt, she also has to suffer through two marriages, her father's remarriage and her sister Ashley's.It's hard for Haven to see her father moving into a new life with his new bride, leaving her and her mother behind. Meanwhile, Haven thinks that Ashley is being too selfish with her impending marriage. But it is not only that. Ashley has always been pushing Haven away her whole life and acting like a pain. Wistfully Haven remembers the summer Ashley went out with Sumner Lee. He made Ashley loosen up and allow Haven to get close.All of a sudden, Sumner's back being his usual comfortable, friendly self, taking Haven along for the ride. He's just what she needs this summer, when she feels disconnected from everyone else. In a way, she's also secretly hoping that Sumner will help bring her and Ashley closer together, just like he did all those years ago.But sometimes things aren't always how Haven wants them to be. This summer, she'll learn that people will let her down, but she can grow into her body, soul and all. It only takes one summer.Sarah Dessen is a consistently impressive author, and her debut will not let anyone down. It has heart and realism, two things that many YA books nowadays are sorely lacking. Don't miss this rich story.
    • 4/5
      Haven's summer beings lots of changes, making her long for the better days, which she later learns may not have been as great as they seemed. The plot for this story is not too exciting, but would be interesting to young girls who are dealing with a lot of changes in their lives. As a character, is it interesting to watch Haven's growth, both physically and emotionally, throughout the events of her life, and make her very easy for young girls to relate to. It is set in Virginia, making it very easy for any young person to relate with. The theme is that looking back at your past doesn't stop the present and future from happening, and change is something everyone has to deal with. This book is another by Dessen that focuses on the lives of women and young girls, putting men in the background and love interests as characters who don't do much talking or action. This book was a moving book that shows young girls that they are not alone with their changing bodies and changing lives, and I would include this in my collection is a good representation of that.
    • 3/5
      This is my third Sarah Dessen book (her first). Haven, 15 years old and nearly 6 feet tall, is spending her summer dealing with the fall-out of her parents divorce. The summer opens with the re-marriage of her father to the weather girl on the news station (he's the sports guy) and continues as her older sister prepares to be married herself. Haven becomes aware of a growing sense of loss, of her family, her relationship with her sister, her best friend, and everything that was important to her. Will she cling to the past or move into the future? The book has some great strenghts (development of characters, dialogue) but seems too short to give adequate time for Haven to develop to where she is when the story leaves us. I enjoy young adult fiction because it addresses important themes to teens (and would be great reading for parents to help them remember what those times were like). However, it tends to come too easily to happy/complete endings, which I felt with the conclusion of this story. This book would be a good middle school, early high school selection, particularly for girls with families of divorce.
    • 4/5
      I picked up this book after reading [This Lullaby] by [[Sarah Desen]], I found [That Summer]] to be totally enjoyable. I will continue to be a fan of Sarah Dessen's and can't wait to ead another of her books.
    • 4/5
      The world and her family are changing around her, and fifteen year old Haven wants more than anything to go back to the summer when her parents were still married, and she and her sister Ashley got along. The novel begins with her father marrying his pretty young coworker and progresses along with plans for Ashley's end-of-summer wedding. And though Haven can't help looking back to that summer when everything seemed perfect, she learns that things aren't always as perfect as they seem. On the whole, I thought it was a cute book. Though I much prefer Dessen's two most recent novels (The Truth About Forever and Just Listen), Haven had the same sweet, slightly introverted personality that many of Dessen's other main characters have. I found it to be a well-written YA novel.
    • 3/5
      OK, a little awkward in places. Main character is underdeveloped.
    • 1/5
      Dessen's first novel is a touching true to life (til the end) story of a younger sister, 15 year old Haven, readjusting to life in the summer before her father remarries a young co-worker and her 21 year old sister Ashley gets married and moves out.