Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In this sweeping debut, Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane.

Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.

When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him.

In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise―all in the midst of an impending hurricane.

Hurricane Summer is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic―and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.

my thoughts:

Wow. What an emotional and engaging story. Hurricane Season had me from the start and I just could not put it down for anything. I absolutely LOVED this book to bits. It was fantastic!

Bromfield sets the story in Jamaica and manages to bring the island to life with her rich and vivid descriptions of the country, its people and their culture. It's intoxicating to read about. As for the characters, they are unforgettable. Tilla and her sister, Mia, are sent to Jamaica to spend their summer with their father.  A man who has always managed to be absent from their lives.  Once on the island, Tilla finds herself learning about so much more than her father, she discovers her sexuality, what it means to grow up, and the influence of culture and society on the personal.  Hurricane Season is a filled with top notch writing, powerful storytelling, and interesting characters that make for quite the story. This is one book that you won't want to miss out on. I enjoyed it so much and found myself turning each page, faster and faster. I just had to find you what would happen with Tilla, her family, and her future. Such a great read.

I would happily recommend Hurricane Season to anyone looking for their next YA read - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!