The synopsis:"I was being strong. Even though I felt weak." Grounded, logical Mia is trying to cope with a summer that hasn't been what she expected. Her vacation in New York's tony Hamptons with her extended family was supposed to be about spending time with her firecracker cousin Corinne and her sympathetic aunt as relief from her mother's criticism and her parents' fights about money and status. But quickly the bubble bursts: her aunt is tense and preoccupied while jaded Corinne is more interested in drinking and her cool friends. Adrift, Mia can't help wanting to be part of Corinne's circle, even though she doesn't like these girls. Struggling to remain true to herself, she strikes up a friendship with Simon, the boy next door. Through late-night walks on the beach, the teens become more than friends. A skinny dip after a storm brutally ends Mia's summer—but not the growth she's achieved.

My thoughts: Captivating from the start, I was furious at the end of the book. It completely blindsided me and honestly, as ridiculous as it sounds, I was devastated and sat there stunned, not really believing the curve ball thrown in the story. And I was legitimately angry until I realized Howells had created something beautiful, and while it created a nice lull and a comforting tone, the loop really made this a memorable novel with an impact well beyond what it might have been without the ending.