Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar

Pages: 352
Publish date: February 1st 2016
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781925266924
Purchase: Book Depository –  Amazon US – Amazon AU

Summer Skin:

I was sent an arc of Summer Skin my Kirsty Eagar from Allen and Unwin in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Summer Skin is a sexy, funny, female driven OZ YA novel that reminds that things are not always what they seem and even people who seem all and mighty on the outside need a little loving. Summer Skin is also not for people under the age of 17, because there is loads of sexy time.

Summer Skin follows protagonist Jess as she forms a pack to give even with the jocks from Knights College that shamed her best friend and let’s just say at first things go to plan, then everything kind of falls apart.

I loved Jess, she was sassy and a feminist and stood up for what she believed it. It’s not rare that you get a strong female character in YA, however there is something about Jess that is different. Jess is by far not your usual protagonist, she is strong and takes shit from no one. And although she is strong she has a vulnerable side that stays hidden and only Blondie can pick that apart.

“I want you to revise your attitude. Women, amazingly enough, are allowed to like it. If that’s news to you, then you’re not doing it right.” 

Blondie otherwise known was Mitch is your typical Alpha Male. He is sexy as hell, however he is also quite sexist to begin with and even if he did feel differently about he showed no signs of fixing what the Knights stand for.

The sexual tension between these two was off the scales from the very first chapter. I adored the banter and sarcasm between Jess and Mitch, it had me laughing quite a bit. It was nice to see that it wasn’t love at first sight, more of his hot and I would love to do stuff with him.

It was something very different, that you don’t normally see in YA, I loved it. Kirsty Eagar did that part so well. You wanted Jess and Mitch to get together, but you love that it was slow burning and started off with something other than I love you.

Both Jess and Mitch have dark pasts that they have to conquer throughout the novel and again something that Kirsty Eagar did so well was that Jess and Mitch talked a lot. They simply just talked. About how they felt, what they have been through and although it does take time to get through the cracks – it’s beautiful when it happens.

Jess has a hard time trusting males, because of the toxic relationship that she just got out off not long before the book started and we see throughout the book. Some people may not like Jess for some reasons and I can totally understand why, she has one way of thinking and it isn’t until Mitch breaks down her walls that she sees other things in life.

Mitch on the other hard holds a dark past, one that he feels terrible about and cannot seem to let go. He holds up a barrier that doesn’t let anyone get too close or even close at all. He uses the dick façade, so no one, especially girls don’t like him.  

‘You’re probably also threatened by the fact that the guys here can cope with women in contexts other than porn. Not like a bunch of little lords who hate women because they secretly prefer getting hot and sweaty with each other under the guise of chasing a leather ball around a field.’ 

Nevertheless, they both start to break each other’s walls and sometimes the talking is sexier than sexy time.

However, sexy time is pretty saucy, but not like other New Adult novels that it takes over the story. It’s beautiful.

I loved the writing style of Eagar, it kept me engaged and I was able to read Summer Skin in a couple of hours. It was easy to read and I kept on turning page after page.

Summer Skin is not for the faint hearted, be prepared for a sexy, slow burning love full of passion and secrets. Summer Skin deals not only with young men taking advantage of women, but how women can act differently to it. It shows us that people hide behind fronts not only to keep themselves safe, but others as well. Summer Skin is full of empowering young women that take a stand.