The Edge of Summer

If you want to be transported to Cape Cod and look into the soul of a whale in the North Atlantic without ever leaving your house, then this is a must read. The Edge of Summer captures our human impact on whales while weaving a beautiful young love story between a character trying to redefine herself and a dreamy lifeguard trying to save himself as well as his beach patrons. The book captures teenage angst and hope perfectly. Who hasn't had a summer crush while also trying to figure out their own identity? Relatable and fun. You will feel the salt spray on your face as you turn the pages.

The Edge of Summer by Erica George is a sincere story of first love and first loss, but also of marine conservation. Following a summer marine biology intern, this one contains plenty of descriptions of efforts to save the whales and a realistic main character who comes to learn from her mistakes. I was especially impressed by the way the author raises awareness about entanglements and other threats to marine life, making this a perfect summer read with many impactful moments.Following the death of her best friend, Cor sets out to complete the list of things they wanted to do together before college, including the marine biology internship of her dreams. Throughout the summer, Cor grapples with grief and guilt, but she also navigates her growing feelings for Mannix, a local lifeguard. However, when romance interferes with responsibility, she must find a way to balance her heart with her commitment to the whales, who tie her to her friend.❀ INTERESTING MAIN CHARACTERCor is an interesting main character, and she grows a lot throughout the book. She isn’t the most likeable at times–the past interspersed with the present reveals the guilt she feels for the way she treated her best friend in their last moments, and she can occasionally be selfish. However, as the story progresses, she starts to learn from her mistakes. I especially enjoyed the way Cor’s passion for whales is written. The story behind her interest is really heartfelt, and I felt her dedication to saving the whales come through in every chapter.❀ MEANINGFUL STORYOne of this book’s big wow factors for me is the way the whales are woven throughout the narrative. They not only tie Cor to her friend, bringing a lot of emotion to the story, but they also create a message of marine conservation. One of the whales Cor finds herself taken with has been entangled, and Cor is determined to do whatever she can to save her. There are many details about the marine biologists’ efforts to save the whales throughout the story, and I loved the way it raises awareness about entanglements and other threats to marine life. This spotlight on human responsibility for these countless tragedies made the story especially meaningful for me.❀ A STRONG SUMMER READThe Edge of Summer by Erica George is a heartfelt story about grief, but it is also one about love and saving the whales. I enjoyed the concept of a marine biology internship, and the main character transforms throughout the book. The whales and the theme of marine conservation add even more depth to the story, making this a strong summer read with greater social messages.

If you want to be taken away to a sun-kissed beach, THE EDGE OF SUMMER is just the ticket. Erica George’s deep love for Cape Cod just shines on every page, and at the end of each chapter, I found myself saying 'just one more,' until… there I was at the end, a swoony grin on my face. Because there is swoony romance in this gorgeous novel, but that’s not all. This is also a deeply moving and resonant story about friendship, regret, and how to walk the line between the many forces that pull on your heart. And, perhaps most of all, it’s a story about the ways human behavior impacts the natural world – specifically, the majestic whales that make their home off Cape Cod. Erica George’s compassion, commitment, and care for these creatures radiates from THE EDGE OF SUMMER. The book educates and advocates and inspires, without ever for a second feeling preachy or didactic. I found myself getting weepy over Cape Cod’s whales at more than one point in this book, which is a testament to the power of Erica George’s words. Highly recommend. My thanks to Hachette for the eARC.

Coriander Cabot and her best friend Ella have dreamed of saving the whales since they were in elementary school. Last year, Ella died in a drowning accident, and now Cor is making her way through a list of things she and Ella wanted to do before college on her own. This summer, she has a prestigious marine biology internship on Cape Cod. When she meets a cute lifeguard named Maddix, and she can’t deny her feelings for him. When conflicting priorities pull her in different directions, Cor has to figure out how to follow her heart and her promise to the whales and her friend.I was fascinated to learn that whales can be identified by the unique markings on their flukes. Cor was realistically portrayed, with flaws and trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be. Maddix, on the other hand, seemed to be perfect; I would have liked to see a more realistic portrayal of him, too. Kathryn Lynhurst did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. I would recommend this story for older teens.Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.