The Summer I Learned to Dive by Shannon McCrimmon Review

The Summer I Learned to Dive by Shannon McCrimmon-YA Contemporary Romance

Kindle format given by author for review

Since the time she was a little girl, eighteen-year-old Finley “Finn” Hemmings has always lived her life according to a plan, focused and driven with no time for the average young adult’s carefree experiences. On the night of her high school graduation, things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that her mother has been keeping a secret from her—a secret that causes Finn to do something she had never done before—veer off her plan. In the middle of the night, Finn packs her bags and travels by bus to Graceville, SC seeking the truth. In Graceville, Finn has experiences that change her life forever; a summer of love, forgiveness and revelations. She learns to take chances, to take the plunge and to dive right in to what life has to offer.

My Take:

When I first got this request, I saw the cover and fell in love. Then I looked at my crazy review schedule and wasn't sure when I could get it in, but I took in on with hope that I could get to it by the end of the summer. Well, I'm a little past my deadline and am so sad that it took me so long to read this book. I really enjoyed it! 

We meet Finn as she's just graduated from high school. She was a quiet teen who focused on school rather than friendships. As a result, she looked at her high school experience with a bit of regret. Then, she learns a huge family secret that leads her to South Carolina to get reacquainted with some long lost family members. 

Finn arrives in SC, she's scared, confused, and anxious to find answers. Her grandmother is thrilled that she's finally come, but her grandfather is a bit skeptical. As Finn begins to learn more about her family, she also starts to make some friends. On the first day, she meets Jesse. Not only does he work at the family restaurant, but he helps her grandparents around the house. I absolutely adored Jesse! He understands Finn and her need to learn more about her life. Jesse is there for her as a friend and slowly becomes something more. 

I wasn't expecting the romantic element to the story, but I sure did love it. Jesse and Finn are so sweet with each other. While I enjoyed seeing Finn go through her self-discovery process, I loved watching her and Finn the most. 

This is a great coming of age story. While it was a bit predictable for me, I enjoyed it very much. In fact, I wasn't quite ready for it to end and think I would really like to have a sequel. If you're looking for a solidly good read, check this out. 

~"I mean," he said swimming closer to me, "you've lived your entire life too afraid to live off balance. You've stuck to this plan of yours and it's keep you from experiencing life. So, if you're too afraid to try and dive, then stay here and swim." He swam away from me and started walking out of the water.-Loc 3172

~With the beautiful things I had discovered this summer, like loving and being loved, there was also the ugly truth that there was no such thing as perfect.-Loc 4755

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