I was given the opportunity to read The Myth of Perpetual Summer via NetGalley and Bookish First. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
Readers are treated to the fully imagined world of Tallulah James, a teenager in Mississippi during the civil rights movement of the 1960's. Tallulah and her older brother Griff, due to their mostly absent and completely dysfunctional parents, are helping to raise their twin siblings. With their grandmother taking up the slack, they manage to keep the family intact. When tragedy strikes, Tallulah ends up leaving the only home she has ever known. Years later, after her 19 year old brother Walden is accused of a crime, will Tallulah go home to Mississippi and face her past? Will unresolved feelings cause trouble for Tallulah or give her peace?
This well imagined story has a great premise and fully developed characters. Tallulah's narration of her life reminds me of The Secret Life of Bees, but The Myth of Perpetual Summer is original in every way. I can picture Tallulah in her small Mississippi town, hoping for a better future, but just trying to survive the present. The transition of Tallulah from being part of a family to being a solitary entity was abrupt and was not entirely explained. I also wish that the author had given readers a better view of Tallulah's life in California and her reasons for being so guarded. The Myth of Perpetual Summer falls just short of the 5 star mark because of the aforementioned shortcomings, but the rating system will not allow for half stars. Despite these two small hiccups in regards to the plot, the novel is a wonderful read and one that I would heartily recommend.
Readers are treated to the fully imagined world of Tallulah James, a teenager in Mississippi during the civil rights movement of the 1960's. Tallulah and her older brother Griff, due to their mostly absent and completely dysfunctional parents, are helping to raise their twin siblings. With their grandmother taking up the slack, they manage to keep the family intact. When tragedy strikes, Tallulah ends up leaving the only home she has ever known. Years later, after her 19 year old brother Walden is accused of a crime, will Tallulah go home to Mississippi and face her past? Will unresolved feelings cause trouble for Tallulah or give her peace?
This well imagined story has a great premise and fully developed characters. Tallulah's narration of her life reminds me of The Secret Life of Bees, but The Myth of Perpetual Summer is original in every way. I can picture Tallulah in her small Mississippi town, hoping for a better future, but just trying to survive the present. The transition of Tallulah from being part of a family to being a solitary entity was abrupt and was not entirely explained. I also wish that the author had given readers a better view of Tallulah's life in California and her reasons for being so guarded. The Myth of Perpetual Summer falls just short of the 5 star mark because of the aforementioned shortcomings, but the rating system will not allow for half stars. Despite these two small hiccups in regards to the plot, the novel is a wonderful read and one that I would heartily recommend.