The Au Pairs (The Au Pairs, #1)

Summary:

"Summer in the city? Way overrated. Everybody who's anybody in New York City summers in the Hamptons. Mara, Eliza, and Jacqui all want a piece of the action, all for different reasons.So the girls answer a classified ad to become au pairs. How bad can it be, watching a couple of kids on the beach all day? They've got the swank address, the sweet ride, and an all-access pass to the hottest social scene on the East Coast. It's shaping up to be the summer of their lives."

Plot: The Au Pairs plot line is a pretty predictable summer read and overall kind of vapid. However, I did enjoy the name dropping and the essence of the Hamptons.

Characters: Mara quickly becomes the main character of the series and easily most like-able. While Jacqui quickly became the most annoying and Eliza the one with the most growth.

Final Thoughts: I am very impressed how Melissa DeLaCruz is a versatile author and how whenever you read her books, you she transforms. Certains authors have a trademark way of writing that you know it is them, but DeLaCruz is full of writing surprises. With that being said The Au Pairs, would be the least favorite book I have read of hers, I will continue to read the series to see if the plot gets stronger.. However, I cannot see where it can go.

The Summer My Life Began

Summary:

"Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time."

Plot: The Plot is perfect for a spring and/or summer break read, if you are a young pre-teen.

Characters: For the most part I found all the characters pretty one dimensional, even though most had back-rounds and everything. I just couldn't really feel for them. Ironically, the characters I like the most Frederick, Gwenny and Sid. Weren't even main characters. And really WHY was Beth a character? Her being there and her story line was pointless.

Pros: Prefect for the younger crowd, perfect for summer or a quick read.

Cons: It felt forced, and didn't live up to the potential it had.

Final Thoughts: The cover and the title promise a lot and in the beginning the book really lived up to all that, I thought okay I could totally dig this book while lying on the beach catching some sun. Then something happened something in the middle of the book, that I can't explain really, besides forced and maybe fake? I didn't feel the love connection and all though the secret was surprising, I just didn't feel that compelled to be sympathetic or anything over it. Oddly, my favorite part of the book is when the characters are having ice cream and the choice of ice cream flavors, fits each character perfectly. Would I recommend this book to my blogger friends.. no. Would I give this my 12 year old cousin? Yes.

The Summer My Life Began Will Be Available May 10th

Thank You To NetGalley and Speak / Penguin!