“You have to read this one now!” — NANTUCKET RED reviewed
Nantucket Red by Leila Howland
Reviewed by Anupya
“Maybe love existed in the spaces in between.” -Cricket Elizabeth Thompson
When I read a book, I try to guess the end. The best way to end a book is arguably the most talked about among us book-lovers. Nantucket Red delivers a story that exceeds and goes beyond my expectations with an ending different from what I imagined, yet perfect in its own way.
A sequel to Nantucket Blue, the book is about a high school senior, Cricket Thompson, with dreams, aspirations and a strong sense of self who recently got out of a relationship. Looking for an opportunity to pay off her university fee, she moves to a small island, Nantucket, for the summer. She is crazy relatable and so are her friends; they feel real and the reader really gets to know and love each one of them. An ambitious young woman, she wants to get into Brown University, plays lacrosse and is very competitive. At one point she describes getting in as “feeling like redemption”. It is so true, it hurts, because every mistake you may make is conveniently forgotten if you get accepted to a good university.
The book is full of great metaphors and quotes like “the world was a party to which I’d finally been invited” and “when someone stops loving you, does that mean they never really started?” Cricket is such a great character; the only other blonde I know portrayed that well is Annabeth Chase from the Percy Jackson series.
You don’t have to read the first book – I didn’t and I still loved Nantucket Red. It is a drama-filled novel, about a girl’s everyday life and not just her romantic relationships. Deep, philosophical and real, you have to read this one now!
5 thoughts on ““You have to read this one now!” — NANTUCKET RED reviewed”
Darn, I lost interest when I saw the cover, I just don’t find romances interesting in the slightest bit. But your review was great, it downplays the romanic asppects and highlights the realistic world of teens. It’s great that the protagonist is a strong independent women (a bit contradictory to the cover…But I can’t judge by that) so that was great to hear.
I agree its by no means the book’s fault, it’s just I personally don’t really gear towards romances. The cover was very typically teen romance. However, the characters do sound interesting.
Yep, poor cover choice.
But as they say, don’t judge a book by its cover so I guess if I see it at a library I’ll pick it up and give it a go.
By the way, great Percy Jackson shout out.