Kody Keplinger
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Series or Standalone: Standalone
ISBN: 9780316084222
Pages: 304
Websites:
Rating: 5 Stars
Each book that Kody Keplinger releases just gets better and better. A Midsummer’s Nightmare has now replaced Shut Out as my favorite book by her.
A Midsummer’s Nightmare really showed Keplinger’s growth as a writer. This book is not just a fluffy summer romance book, but delves into Whitley’s very messed up emotional state. Keplinger has such a great range in her writing; she can write a great romance, throw in some humor as well as deal with serious emotional issues, all in one book.
Like Keplinger’s previous books, the characters jump out off the page. Keplinger is really able to capture what it’s like to be a teenager. Almost all the characters have flaws, something I loved, making them feel like an actual person. The characters don’t feel static and their voices flow naturally off the page. Her characters, as always, feel like an actual teenagers.
When I first started this book, I though it would be just a fun contemporary romance novel. Whitley typical summer with her dad gets flipped upside down when he announces he’s getting remarried. To make matters worse, Whitley had a one night stand with her soon to be step brother. Sounds like a fun dramatic read. What A Midsummer’s Nightmare provided was all that plus more. I really loved the book wasn’t all light and fluffy. At times, the book was very serious and Keplinger really delved into the emotional pain that Whitley was feeling and has been feeling for sometime. I loved her exploration of why Whitley acts the way she does and the journey of getting Whiltey to speak up about her feelings.
Whitley was one messed up character, yet I loved her. Her flaws made her relatable and I really empathized with her. She’s an emotional wreck to begin with, and the actions of her dad and what she has to deal with over the summer just make it worse. It was nice to slowly see her open up and accept people into her life. While Whitely feels her dream summer with her dad has turned into a nightmare, but this summer offers her the opportunity to open up and reveal the hurt she keeps buried deep inside. She’s probably my favorite character of Keplinger’s to date. Her emotional pain felt so authentic and it was something many girls could relate to.
Keplinger’s boys in this novel are, of course, awesome. Nathan, as the love interest was not only a hunk, but a sweetheart. I wish every guy was as sweet and caring as he was. Nathan also has his fair share of issues as well, but he’s dealing with them. Whitley’s first best friend, Harrison, is a pretty awesome guy as well. He’s got all the characteristics of a great friend, one I like to have. He’s there for Whitley when she needs him.
The story had me hooked from beginning to end and was very easy to get caught up in. I didn’t want to put the book down until I knew how it would end. I loved how Whitley’s secrets were slowly unveiled and how we got to see the real Whitley. I couldn’t wait to see her finally open up and tell her father how she feels. The romance was cute, but not the star of the book.
A Midsummer’s Nightmare is a perfect summer read. Don’t judge this book by the cover, which I really dislike. The cover doesn’t do the book justice to the wonderful story inside.
A Midsummer’s Nightmare is everything I wanted and more from a Kody Keplinger book and I highly recommend you pick this one up whether you have read her previous books or now. I can’t wait to see what Kody Keplinger publishes next because each book just gets better than better.
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