Summer Romance.
It’s crazy how two simple words can hold so many images for me.
Okay, so most of them involve a skipping Sandy and hair-combing Danny belting it out at Rydell High, but others are much more personal, such as a teen me:
· Hanging out at the New Orleans levee on Fourth of July, watching the fireworks and flirting with random guys who later turned out to be total thugs
· Stalking my latest crush at his job at the mall for no other reason than I had absolutely nothing better to do with my time
· Going to a week-long Dance Camp and sleeping in the oversize t-shirt my boyfriend of a whole entire week gave me to remember him by (and yes, I did pathetically close my eyes and sniff it for his oh-so-unique Drakkar Noir scent)
![]() |
Me in the t-shirt |
· Exchanging smiles, forever-long glances, and eventual sickly-sweet notes with the guy working the kitchen at a retreat with me before senior year
![]() |
Me and said dude. |
· And finally, kissing the Italian waiter I met on my whirlwind trip to Europe with family
Only one of these scenarios paid off in a relationship of any significance, and sadly, it wasn’t the Italian-accented hunk. Although, the experience does make for an excellent memory!
But you know what? I’m okay with the fact that most of my summer flings fizzled out quicker than they started, because I don’t think longevity is what makes them so special. It’s what they represent.
When you’re a teenager, the summer is one long, lazy stretch of days that seem to last forever. Without the hassle of classes, extracurricular activities, parental nagging, and school-night curfews, you can live a year’s worth of a relationship in just three short months. A girl’s daydreaming heart needs SOMETHING to focus on with all that free time, and with her favorite TV boyfriends on hiatus, her sole fascination becomes her summer crush.
Will he call? Does he like me back? What should I get him for our one-month anniversary? And what will be our song????
So yeah, while my own experiences with ‘summer lovin’ may not have lasted, I’m cool with it because they are all touched with that certain pixie dust magic that only a hot, humid, Louisiana summer can add. The haze lifting off the sun-drenched concrete, the splash of the tepid pool water as we tried to dunk each other, the confiscated daiquiris out by the lakefront, and the rush of butterflies as the hot new guy strutted over and asked for my number.
The magic might’ve worn off as the new school year begun, but the importance of the summer flirtation met its purpose. It sustained me through the eventless break from school and obligations, provided an all-encompassing obsession though the monotony, and fed that romantic heart of mine with the belief that with a dash of sun, a pinch of sand, and a dollop of pure boredom, love—or at least extreme like—can find a way.
~Rachel


MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is available on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Don't forget! Leave a comment below to enter to win a free e-copy of this fantastic book!!! We'll pick the winner on Wed, Sept 12, 2012. Leave an e-mail or Twitter address for us to contact you. :)
***WINNER ALERT: Jackie Hauver is the winner! We've already told Rachel and her publicists at Entangled about your good fortune. Hope you enjoy MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY! :)
30 comments:
I so want to read this book!!! It sounds amazing!! Love your post by the way =D xx
This book sounds really cute. I can say that my teenage years were pretty mellow, but I did go to some great parties!
Rachel,
First of all, I can NOT believe that you homeschool and still manage to write a word. That's incredible. You either deserve a star in heaven or a medal. Take your pick.
I LOVE the cover of your book! It's all there: the contemporary mixed with historical. I can't wait to read it.
Regarding your summer romances...I agree 100%. Those flirtations serve their purpose. They aren't meant to last. But they are oh, so much fun to remember. You almost never look back with a frown on your face. It's always that sappy, soft look. I just wrote about my summer fling with a boy for two summers, and I still smile thinking about him.
And you're so right about having that "one month anniversary." LOL. Sometimes it was just a week, because if you lasted that long in the summer, that was saying a lot. :-)
Thanks so much for stopping by Honestly YA! Great post!
I had a YMCA summer romance. The boy looked exactly like Fred Savage. I think it was more of me chasing him around camp, but I remember being completely obsessed.
This looks like such a good read, interesting and fresh. Would love to read it.
I had a summer romance when I was around 16 with a boy who told me he was in college but it turned out he was in trouble and under a police curfew!
I soon moved on and tried to wipe him out of my life.
Great post Rachel and I can't wait to read your book! I loved learning about what inspired you to write it at the Twitter party. Congratulations on your book release! I'm sure it's going to be a huge success!:)
Haha this is too cute! I've never had a summer romance XD
I cant wait for this book, super excited!!
I really want to read this! Thanks for the giveaway! email: livingoffproceeds[at]gmail[dot]com
OMG I heart Rachel!!!!! That picture of "me and the dude" is very... retro lol. Thanks for the giveaway!!!!
Alyssa Susanna
lilleetleet(at)verizon(dot)net
I'm super excited this book! I hope I'm lucky enough to win it. Thanks for the giveaway.
you can reach me at rj256@aol.com or @jaxhauv on twitter
I can't wait to read this book, I could only find the paperback format on Amazon? someone help me find the ebook version? @corgibooklover
Sounds like a fun read! Thanks for introducing us to Rachel, Lea. And best of luck with the book, Rachel!
So awesome to have you here, Rachel! Thanks for sharing your summer lovin' stories. I'm seriously starting to regret not having more of those. I wonder if it's truly too late for a do-over. hmm....
Can't wait to get my hands on My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. Wishing you amazing success with it!
I really want to read this book! Summer romances and super sweet sixteenths are both equally splendid topics... ;)
Hope I win!
Twitter: @IsabelSong
Awesome giveaway! Thanks!
I'm really looking forward reading this book!
gaby_sama(at)hotmail(dot)com
@GabyLafara on twitter
This sounds like such a fun book. Alas, no summer romances for me. I feel as if I missed out :)
shelleymunro AT gmail DOT com
Been hearing so much awesome about this book, can't wait to read it!!! Thanks for the chance :-D
@ValiaLind
Super cute post, and I love how much you let us know about you :) Fun and nostalgic insight on what it is to be a summertime teenage girl. Your book is coming with me to the beach next week! :)
Loved reading about Rachel's summer romances. This book is definitely on my TBR list.
I can't wait to read this book, I've been waiting for such a long time for it to come out! THanks for the giveaway!
@csunshinebooks
I can't wait to read this book, it looks awesome! Thanks for the giveaway! janita.meerman at gmail dot com
I had an awesome sweet sixteen where I even got a car, but my super sweet sixteen stayed below a 200 dollar budget. This sounds like a great book, so excited.
@Up010Sam
I can't wait to read this one! It sounds fantastic! *Crosses fingers*
tiffanyhollett(at)gmail(dot)com
No sweet sixteen summer romance here. :( I was a late bloomer.
I love the cover...beautiful gown with matching book bag! I look forward to reading this one and sharing it with my daughter.
PhoenixCarvelli at gmail dot com
I can't wait to read this book! I've been counting down the days until it is released!
Email: iluvdance11@yahoo.com
Twitter addy:https://twitter.com/ReadinandThings
Twitter username:@ReadinandThings
Love that crossover between ages. I'm a history romantic so am really waiting to read this book. Thanks for a great giveaway.
Twitter username: @kiradecker
Email: kiradecker (at) Gmail (dot) com
Love that crossover between ages. I'm a history romantic so am really waiting to read this book. Thanks for a great giveaway.
Twitter username: @kiradecker
Email: kiradecker (at) Gmail (dot) com
Oh yes, summer love. We will not speak about mine. Summer before senior year...yeah...did not end well. :D
apatterson AT dyadicechoes DOT com
I wish I had some nice summer loves to remember. I spent most of my summers working (without any cute guys to stare longingly at).
Been waiting to read this since ages.
reviewing.shelf@gmail.com
Post a Comment