The Summer I Found You

Kate has Type 1 diabetes and struggles to manage her condition while dealing with her recent breakup. She meets Aidan, a 19-year-old army veteran who lost an arm in Afghanistan and is adjusting to civilian life. The two form a connection as they navigate their individual challenges together. Kate works to accept her diabetes diagnosis and take control of her health, while Aidan seeks purpose after his military career was cut short. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of senior year pressures, family expectations, and personal growth. Through their shared experiences with life-altering circumstances, both characters learn about resilience and self-acceptance. The novel explores themes of identity and adaptation in the face of unexpected change. It presents a realistic look at how young people cope with physical limitations while refusing to be defined by them.

Readers describe this as a sweet YA romance that handles disability and military themes with care. The two main characters receive praise for feeling authentic and relatable, particularly in their struggles and insecurities. Likes: - Realistic portrayal of Type 1 diabetes management - Natural development of the relationship - Equal focus on both characters' perspectives - Honest depiction of a young veteran's challenges Dislikes: - Some found the ending rushed - Romance develops too quickly for some readers - Parents seem unrealistically hands-off - Limited depth beyond the central relationship Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The diabetes representation felt spot-on" - Goodreads reviewer "Would have liked more closure at the end" - Amazon reviewer "Characters acted their age without being annoying" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🌟 Author Jolene Perry is also a middle school math teacher, bringing her understanding of teen perspectives to her young adult novels 📚 The male protagonist, Aidan Connelly, is a 19-year-old military veteran who lost his arm in Afghanistan, reflecting a reality faced by many young service members 💉 The book tackles Type 1 diabetes through the character of Kate Walker, helping raise awareness about this chronic condition that affects approximately 1.6 million Americans 💗 The novel explores both physical and emotional vulnerabilities, showing how two people dealing with very different life-altering circumstances can help each other heal 🎯 The author wrote this book in just 17 days during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), though it went through several revisions before publication