The Summer I Destroyed You
by Elizabeth O'Roark
Self-Published
Book 4 in The Summer Series
“Destroying other people isn’t going to make you feel any better.”
“That suggests you’ve never destroyed an enemy before. It’s actually quite fulfilling.”
EMMY
Elliott Springs has small-town values, cobblestone streets, perfect scenery. These are things I don’t care about. What I do care Revenge. And no matter how compelling I find Liam Doherty—the guy focused on saving Elliott Springs—I’m going to get it.
LIAM
What do you call a woman who wants to destroy everything you love, yet the sight of her sets you on fire? Nemesis or future wife…and since she can’t wait to leave California, I guess I know which one she is. Emerson Hughes wants to be the villain in our town’s history, and the more I learn about her past here, the more I understand it. I wanted to save Elliott Springs. I think I want to save her even more.
Genre
Triggers
Eating Disorder (weight and body image, restrictive eating), Severe bullying, Loss of parent, Child Abuse
Before I begin, I would like to thank Elizabeth O'Roark and her team, along with Valentine PR, for sending me an arc of The Summer I Destroyed You, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you have seen my other reviews on Elizabeth's books - especially The Summer series books - you know they are usually five star reads for me. The Summer I Destroyed You is no different.
I loved this book. For so many reasons.
Elizabeth writes wonderful, captivating, intense romances, and does it incredibly well. The romance sinks it's claws into you, and doesn't let go, even after the conclusion. It's steamy and romantic and everything I want in a romance.
But this isn't Elizabeth's only strength.
She also writes out incredibly well thought out, and richly layered characters. Every book I've read of hers has characters that draw you in - even the difficult characters. For example, I didn't think I would like The Summer You Found Me because of the impression Kate left on my in The Summer I Saved You. But Elizabeth managed to do it without changing the character.
Now in this book, I went in with an open mind for Emmy. She is definitely what I would define as a difficult character. She is aggressive, a little mean, and is out for vengeance.
It doesn't take long for one to figure out why. How she went from a kind girl to what we get in this book.
Let's just say I get it. Does it make it right? No. But I get it.
It made her character that much more interesting to me.
If that wasn't enough, Elizabeth made Emmy witty and intelligent. It made for some amazing clap backs, and banter.
The banter.
I loved the tension and banter between Emmy and Liam.
While Liam didn't have the same level of trauma that Emmy did, he did have his own issues, and ones that were pretty relatable. Financial issues, and being behind in work because of a bad injury. Happens all the time.
What also happens all the time is an event occurring in ones life that wakes you up and pushes you to start living.
The whole frenemy, opposites attract thing worked in this book.
It made two unlikely characters come together in a delicious, entertaining way.
Elizabeth O'Roark became a favorite author of mine after the first book I've read of hers, and yet, she keeps surprising me with every new release. If you haven't read this series yet, do it! The Summer I Destroyed You is incredible.
Favorite quotes coming soon!
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