Chick lit fans will love ‘Love’

By Carolyn Brewer
George Washington High School

If you love teenage drama or over-the-top, everything-works-out-perfectly types of entertainment, then you’ll love Love Bukowski and the “The Principles of Love” books by Emily Franklin.

Without reading the books prior to “Summer of Love” — the fifth book in the series — readers will be very confused at the beginning and may feel left out by references to past events. However, don’t let the confusion stop you. As you read on, the events will begin to make sense.

Love Bukowski is an only child who has just finished her junior year at Hadley Hall — where her father happens to be principal - and she has survived a breakup with Asher, her British best friend’s brother. As Love’s father heads off to Europe with his girlfriend, Louisa, Love is off on her own adventures, wherever they may lead.

“Summer of Love” starts with Love awakening from an end-of-school party at the beach. It’s the kind of party where some kids had done a bit of heavy partying during the night. Once Love realizes that her affection to someone is not going to be returned, she heads out to her summer destination of Martha’s Vineyard.

Once at the Vineyard, Love starts working at Slave to the Grind II, a coffee shop that her Aunt Mable started. While juggling orders for cappuccinos and hot chocolate, Love must also figure out the treasure hunt clues that her Aunt Mable left her so she could live her life.

To top it all off, Love has to decide with whom she wants to have a summer fling (or longer) — wealthy, gorgeous Henry, whom Arabella (Love’s best Brit friend) likes, or Boat Boy Charlie, equally as hunky as Henry but who stood Love up last year?

As June gives way to July, Love receives an invitation for an interview at Stanford. Despite her dad’s attempts to stop her, Love uses a flexible flight ticket (a clue that Aunt Mable left on the treasure hunt) to fly out to sunny California with Arabella. The clues ultimately bring Love closer to the truth behind her family history.

The book — like all soap operas — ends with a cliffhanger. When a love from Love’s past comes back, will she remain with her summer guy? How will she react to learning her family is bigger than she ever knew it to be? Just what are her plans for the future?

Though initially a bit off-putting with all the characters’ overacting and the cliché moments, “Summer of Love’s” cliffhanger ending will leave readers wanting more.