Cool for the Summer

Lara has planned her senior year perfectly: she's finally caught the attention of Chase Harding, the football star she's crushed on forever. But when Jasmine Killary transfers to their school, Lara's focus shifts dramatically. The two girls had a secret summer romance that Lara hasn't told anyone about, and Jasmine's arrival forces Lara to confront her feelings. As she dates Chase while navigating her connection with Jasmine, Lara struggles to understand her own identity and desires. This contemporary YA romance explores themes of sexual identity, self-discovery, and the complex nature of attraction. The story examines how past experiences shape present choices, and what it means to be true to oneself while facing societal expectations.

Readers praise the authentic portrayal of bisexuality exploration and questioning, with many noting how the book captures the confusion of figuring out one's identity. The casual Jewish representation and realistic high school dynamics resonated with young adult readers. Common likes: - Fast-paced, engaging writing style - Strong character chemistry - Body-positive messages - Sex-positive approach while remaining age-appropriate Common criticisms: - Predictable plot points - Underdeveloped side characters - Some found the ending rushed - Several readers wanted more depth to the summer backstory One frequent comment notes the effective use of flashbacks between summer and present-day scenes, though others felt this structure became repetitive. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (27,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) BookTok: Consistently recommended with positive reviews StoryGraph: 3.75/5, marked as "fast-paced" and "emotional" by readers

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🌞 Author Dahlia Adler was inspired to write this book after noticing a lack of bisexual representation in YA literature that showed characters actively questioning their sexuality. 💗 The book's title comes from Demi Lovato's song "Cool for the Summer," which explores themes of same-sex attraction and summer romance. 📚 The story challenges the common "love triangle" trope by presenting it through a bisexual lens, making it about identity exploration rather than simply choosing between two people. 🏖️ The Outer Banks setting was chosen specifically because it's a popular vacation destination that feels both familiar and escapist to many American readers. ✨ The book was released during Pride Month (June 2021) and became part of a growing movement in YA literature featuring LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream, commercial fiction rather than solely issue-driven stories.