ARC Season: Slowing Down Amelia

 

I wasn't going to sign up for anymore ARC teams when a book released in late August/early September, but when I saw this one I felt it was Fate and filled out that application. The main characters are Amelia and Chloe - my best friend is Amelia and kiddo is Chloe. The main characters are entering their freshman year of high school - so is my kiddo. I couldn't want to read what adventures Amelia and Chloe got into in their best summer ever. 

I'm so glad that I filled out that application and that I was accepted to be part of this ARC team because this book was so good!

Slowing Down Amelia is a young adult novel that follows Amelia and her bestie Chloe on their summer before entering high school. It also has a good reminder for adults that the teenage years are a hard stage of life - Brittany said it right when she sang "I'm not a girl. Not yet a woman. All I need is time, a moment that is mine, while I'm in between." That song is the soundtrack for this book. 

Amelia's grand ideas for the best summer ever is to convince her mom and her BFF Chloe's mom to let them go to Montana to stay with her Aunt Hadley. The families agree to let the girls go for a month and they have their first ever trip on a plane to go from Rhode Island to Montana ... small town, middle of nowhere Montana, which is a culture shock for the girls. 

However, that doesn't hold them back on their plans for the best summer ever. They get invited to parties (with high schoolers!) and have their first taste of alcohol. Not the best experience, but they are trying to fit in and Amelia is more about fitting in than Chloe. 

Amelia has heart eyes for Lorenzo (a junior!) and Chloe bonds with his friend Anders. Chloe and Anders bond about being the only minorities in their friend groups and also about academics. While Amelia was the one who wanted to fit in more than Chloe, she got jealous of the bond that Chloe and Anders were forming. 

Between the parties, a tractor pull, a first kiss, learning to ride horses, lazy rivers and hikes, it seems like the girls really are living their best summer ever. Until they get busted, and word gets out that they are only 14. They have to learn some hard truths and suffer through some life lessons, but the girls leave changed forever because something doesn't have to last forever to leave a permanent mark. 

Growing up is hard, and it's a heavy mix of being pulled in different directions. There’s nothing wrong with wanting pajamas, a couch and your pet instead of drinking and fake confidence. After all, what will you really remember - the barn parties or the moments with your best friend where you can just be yourself?

Oh yeah, and core memories should always be solidified with ice cream.