Customer Reviews
A surprising success - By: Ms. MacNeill, 05 Sep 2007 
Teen novels - especially those from the '80s & '90s - are something of a guilty pleasure for me. I received this one as part of a job-lot I bought on eBay, & I started reading this with very few expectations. Surprisingly, I liked it a great deal more than I expected I would, & it has stuckin my mind moreso than the other teen movels I have read recently.
"Summer Can't Choose" has a tiny whiff of wish-fulfillment about it: Summer herself is clearly written so as to be almost any young girl (which does have the unfortunate consequence of her coming across as rather bland). She is,in her own eyes, a fairly plain-looking teenager - but as soon as she goes to stay with her famous, wealthy relativesin Florida, she finds herself with more boys than she can handle.
I think what really impressed me with this book was the way that it handled stereotypical teen "issues" which show upin most teen novels from the nineties. It's not an "issues" book - Summer herself doesn't find herself having to work her way through anything angstier than which boy she's going to date - but homosexuality & inter-racial dating are both mentioned without any of the characters making them into a big deal. Even better, the subject of rape is treated realistically & sensitively: I honestly can't recall the last teen novel I read that
did such a good job.
It's not perfect, of course. Applegate's depictions of teenage boys - either hopelessly suave or declaring undying love after three or four meetings - are unlike any I've ever met! I also felt that things came a little too easily to Summer, who gets a summer job, a gang of friends & a boyfriend within a day or so of moving to Florida - life is a little too kind to her, I think, & it's rather jarring when contrasted with her cousin Diana's emotional issues.
A breezy, enjoyable read, & the ending left me interested enough to want to read the next bookin the series.
More than meets the eye - By: , 17 Jun 2002 
Don't be fooled by the blurb. 'Summer can't choose' is not your typical teeny bopper book. The love interests are not as idealistic as I would have expected, & the issues confronted aren't out-dated, or handled with the partronizing attitudes they once were. In 'Summer can't choose' Katherine Appleton gives us a convincing insight on the REAL affects of rape on a victim.
Overall, suprisingly realistic, but incomplete ending is slightly annoying. Dieing to read the next one!
Brilliant. You can't put it down - By: , 16 Jan 1999 
This book is the best book i have ever read. I never wanted to put it down & i'm eager to finish the series. The book is very well written & it grasps your heart & certain points it makes you want to cry. You can really understand it & it makes you feel sorry for Summer.
