Review: The Summer I Learned to Dive by Shannon McCrimmon

Title: The Summer I Learned to Dive

Author: Shannon McCrimmon

Source: kindle ebook for review

goodreads...

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...

Finley is what you could call a 'safe' person. Well in my opinion at least. She is safe because she keeps people at a distance and doesn't make room for friends. She has a plan in life and that is to make good grades...get into medical school and become a heart surgeon...marry by a certain time...have kids by a certain time. But that plan just got blown out of the water when on the day of her high school graduation she learns her grandparents have been trying to see her for years. Something her mother has been keeping from her.

Ever since her father died when she was 2 she thought they were the ones never wanting to see her. But her mother had been hiding the cards and screening their calls. Why did her mother think she was protecting her by keeping them away from her?

So in a rash decision, Finn takes off in the middle of the night, all alone, to find her father's parents and get to know them. It's the beginning of summer and no better time to seek them out. But what she finds that summer just might change her forever. Will she be able to rekindle a relationship with her hardheaded grandfather? Will she be able to keep to her plan? And who Finn finds inside herself that summer may surprise even her!

In the wee hours of night I started reading The Summer I Learned to Dive just to get a feel of the book. Not really expecting to read much of it until the next day. Before I knew it I was half way done. I was seriously hooked just pages in and was seeking the same answers Finn was. Why did her mom think she was protecting her by keeping her in the dark when it came to her grandparents? Was there a huge scandal? Were they abusive? What's the big deal? So I kept reading in search of answers.

Thankfully when I started reading the book, Shannon had given me a Dream Cast (which will be posted today as well as an interview with Finn). I was able to picture these kids in my mind and it made the story more real while reading. Now lets talk about these characters. Jesse is a cutie that I knew I was going to just love. And of course I loved those silly sisters, Meg and Hannah, always funny and there for Finn. Finally Finn had some real friends. Shannon gave us a great ensemble of characters that were fun and ones you really enjoy reading about.

In The Summer I Learned to Dive you will find a wonderful, clean storyline that is perfect for any reader. The only thing I seemed to have a slight problem with was the ending. It didn’t give me that closure I was seeking. But none the less, I still loved it. I look forward to more works by Shannon and hope you will give The Summer I Learned to Dive a chance.