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Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale
Published by: Swoon Reads
Pub Date: March 19, 2019
Pages: 336
Format: e-arc | Source: blog tour/author
Genres: young adult, contemporary romance
Rating:

Rule #1 – Never fall for a summer boy.

Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad.

And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had – to never fall for a summer boy?

From the opening pages I could tell this was going to be a Morgan book. I loved the aesthetic of the small coastal Maine town, the local shops, and how real the characters felt while still being in this sort of fantasy picture perfect seaside town. I related SO much to Babe’s fear of change, of wondering what would happen after high school when friends go to college. Change is hard and so much of it feels like the end of the world when you’re a teen. Friendships change and grow, and that is a natural part of life. I think it’s so important to depict that because it was a lesson I had to learn in my own life.

A year from now, five years from now, all I wanted was for us to be the same, doing things together, neing the people we’d always been. I didn’t want to be the kind of friends who drifted apart after high school… I didn’t want to think about fall and college and uncertainties. I wanted what was certain. (page 17)

My other favorite thing, besides the swoony romance, was Babe’s love of baking. I cannot resist descriptions of baked goods and the baking process! It makes me want to watch Great British Bake Off and break out my own mixer. Plus there is something soothing and cozy about it.

Between the beachy setting, the baking, and Babe’s on page bisexuality, there is a lot to enjoy about Small Town Hearts. It would be an excellent summer read!