Lily

This One Summer

This One Summer by Tamaki, Mariko, and Jillian Tamaki. is the story of Rose and Windy, two girls who go back to the small beach town called Awago for their normal summer vacation. Rose is on the edge of growth and between childhood and adulthood, and the story shows the tension and kinda quiet drama of that changing time. Rose and Windy spend their days watching horror movies and swimming, they also get pulled into the adult problems around them including Rose’s parents' arguments and a local teen near them dealing with a pregnancy. The story doesn’t follow a typical plot; instead, it’s about the subtle, quiet moments that make growing up feel strange and overwhelming.

Honestly, This One Summer was just okay for me. I liked some parts, especially the artwork, which was really beautiful and helped tell the story. But the story itself didn’t grab me as much as I expected. It had slow pace and the focus on small moments made it hard for me to stay fully interested sometimes. I did like how it showed real family problems and growing up struggles, but overall, it wasn’t my favorite read. But I can see why other people might connect with it.

I would recommend This One Summer to readers in middle school or early high school, especially people who enjoy realistic stories, graphic novels, or books that deal with emotions and relationships. It’s not a fast paced book, so if you like action or fantasy, this might not be there style but if you like books that make you think and feel, you should try it. Before reading, it might help to know that it includes mature themes, so it’s best for readers 12 and up.

A pretty cool drawn, emotionally honest story about growing up and learning that not everything has easy answers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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