Read and Reviewed

You know those books that make you smile throughout? The ones that aren't especially deep, but loads of fun and laugh out loud funny? The ones you read when you're looking for an escape, when you don't want to think too hard, when you just want to read to enjoy? How My Summer Went Up in Flames is that sort of book.

I am actually a newbie when it comes to books about road trips, and I'm glad this was my first experience, because it really was a cute, fun, fluffy way to spend an afternoon. The book is engaging and engrossing in equal measures, and I was actually surprised that, once we got past a hilariously funny (without always meaning to be) main character in Rosie that there's actually a lot of depth to her story, and the way her ex-boyfriend's actions turned her into someone she didn't like at all. I thought it was pretty thought-provoking in the end, without hitting you over the head. I also liked the cast of characters accompanying Rosie on her trip, from boy-next-door Matty, to geeky and surprisingly sensitive Spencer, to moody and impatient Logan. Each of the boys served their own role in getting Rosie to realize that breaking up with Joey wasn't the be all, end all and that she actually could do something to turn her life around.

I do want to say that I had a fairly big problem, however, with the fact that Rosie used words like "skank" and "slut" and other completely inappropriate names to refer to Joey's new girlfriend. Considering that he is the one who cheated on her, not the new girlfriend, Rosie's anger was completely misdirected. And regardless of how angry you are, throwing a word around like "slut" to describe the girl your boyfriend cheated with is just distasteful. Let's put the blame on the right person, and quit with the name-calling.

Nonetheless, I came away from How My Summer Went Up in Flames with a new appreciation for road trip books. Rosie's personal journey was infinitely readable, and I found it impossible to not root for her to make the necessary changes and figure herself out. If you're looking for a fun and quick contemporary read that's perfect for summer, do pick this one up!

An e-galley was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

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