Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon Pulse (2011), Edition: Original, Paperback, 288 pages
Description
Over the course of several summers on the Atlantic coast, Chase struggles with his feelings for his best friend's sisters in the beach house next door while trying to get his own family through seemingly insurmountable problems.
User reviews
LibraryThing member meags222
I received this book from Simon & Schuster Galley Grab and I was pretty excited to read it. First of all, I really like the cover of this book for some reason. That being said, I think the cover of the book really threw me for a loop when I started reading this book. For some reason, I had it in my
Show More
head that this book would be narrated by a female so when the narrator ended up being male I was surprised. It's not often that I read books narrated by a male but I really liked this one. I come from a big family; I have 5 younger siblings. I really liked that the McGill family had 5 children in it. There is Chase, the narrator, Noah who runs away every chance he gets, Gideon is the deaf younger brother, Claudia the younger sister trying to be grown up but really still a kid, and Lucy the baby of the family. Every year the McGill family spends the summer at their beach house and meets up with Hathaway family. This novel spans over several years but the story only ever progresses in the summer. I thought this novel would be a light beach read but I was definitely mistaken. Moskowitz does a good job at keeping the reader entertained and interested in what is going to happen next. There is a love triangle as well between Chase, Noah and one of the Hathaway girls. This triangle gets a bit strange and at times I questioned whether brothers would really act this way. When it comes to the reality factor, I have to say I think Moskowitz portrayed a real family with real problems quite well. I know that some readers may question the parenting skills of the McGill parents but coming from a large family I know that it is impossible to keep an eye on all your children at the same time. It can get chaotic and you just learn to live with this busyness. I have to say that the ending blew me away. I do not want to spoil it for anyone but I will say that I was not expecting any of that to happen. I left the book feeling a bit sad and I wanted to read more about the McGill and Hathaway family. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member LauraMoore
Such a great read! I didn't know what to expect and at first I wasn't so sure but I grew to love the characters and the story behind it. I was significantly confused in the beginning with all the different characters and for a few pages thought Gideon was the family dog lol don't know how I got
Show More
that but still. If you think your going to just get a light fluffy read out of this book you're in for a suprise. While parts of this book are laugh out loud funny, there are also some difficult issues and things that will pull on your heart strings. I absolutely feel in love with both the McGill and Hathaway families and the only character I didn't like was the infamous Melinda and I constantly wanted to yell at her tO close her legs but even she was bar able due to her unfortunate situation in college. I definitely need to read more from Hannah moskowitzs. Show Less
LibraryThing member booktwirps
Summers at the beach are everything to Chase. Every summer he and his family pack up and head to the beach where they meet up with the Hathaway’s. This is how it’s always been and how he imagines it always should be. Life at the beach is perfect.
When the book begins, Chase is about to turn
This is the summer he shares his first kiss with Bella Hathaway. It’s supposed to be like this. He is supposed to end up with Bella, Noah with Meredith and Claudia with Shannon (the Hathaway siblings). That way, they’ll always be together. This is also the summer that Meredith introduces he and Noah to the works of Camus, and they become completely obsessed, frequently quoting him.
The next summer things are changing, and Chase is still doing his best to keep his family together. His parents are fighting a lot more now, Noah is even more moody, and Claudia is out of control. To make matters worse, Chase is thinking about sex a lot. It consumes him. During one of Noah’s disappearing acts, Chase hooks up with Melinda. This is the summer when everything changes and Chase finds himself trying to adjust to how different his summers are going to be from now on.
This is a book that I couldn’t stop thinking about. The story spans four summers, and with each turn of the page the reader is totally sucked in to everything Chase is feeling: His happiness, his angst and his heartache. I felt like I was his friend and I was going on this journey with him. This is a book that everyone should pick up and take with them to the beach this summer.
My biggest problem with the book is the cover. I don’t feel that the bikini clad body does it justice. It kind of gives the wrong impression, because what is inside the cover is a beautifully written, coming of age story that is about so much more than bikinis.
When the book begins, Chase is about to turn
Show More
fifteen, and he’s doing his best to keep his family together. Older brother Noah is flighty, moody, and runs off every chance he gets. Younger sister, Claudia, is eleven and already a handful. His youngest brother, Gideon, is totally deaf, and his mother is pregnant with her fifth child, due any day now.This is the summer he shares his first kiss with Bella Hathaway. It’s supposed to be like this. He is supposed to end up with Bella, Noah with Meredith and Claudia with Shannon (the Hathaway siblings). That way, they’ll always be together. This is also the summer that Meredith introduces he and Noah to the works of Camus, and they become completely obsessed, frequently quoting him.
The next summer things are changing, and Chase is still doing his best to keep his family together. His parents are fighting a lot more now, Noah is even more moody, and Claudia is out of control. To make matters worse, Chase is thinking about sex a lot. It consumes him. During one of Noah’s disappearing acts, Chase hooks up with Melinda. This is the summer when everything changes and Chase finds himself trying to adjust to how different his summers are going to be from now on.
This is a book that I couldn’t stop thinking about. The story spans four summers, and with each turn of the page the reader is totally sucked in to everything Chase is feeling: His happiness, his angst and his heartache. I felt like I was his friend and I was going on this journey with him. This is a book that everyone should pick up and take with them to the beach this summer.
My biggest problem with the book is the cover. I don’t feel that the bikini clad body does it justice. It kind of gives the wrong impression, because what is inside the cover is a beautifully written, coming of age story that is about so much more than bikinis.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Bookswithbite
When I first got this book, I was expecting a good summer romance. It was nothing like that. What I got, was even better! This book is told from Chase's point of view in all the summers of his teen years. I like that. As an avid reader, you really don't get to read many books from a male pov, so I
What I like most about this book is the dynamic plot it has. Yes, dynamic. It's explosive, the bomb diggity, da bomb! I was completely torn to bits by all the happenings in the plot. Chase and his family goes through a lot through out the summers.
One thing about this book is that it is not some lovey, dovey summer story. It has great raw emotions just flowing off the pages of the book. I felt angry, happy, sad, and even jealousy. You get see inside of the family and all of their problems. What's more, is that you see the family stick through it all together. They may have had their problems and share of mistakes, but they make it through.
I adored Chase. His strength and amazing selflessness in all that he does, made my heart melt. He was used, mistreated, and acted too mature for a kid who is supposed to be a teenager. He took care of his siblings as if they were his own. He took great responsibility for things he didn't have too. Yet, he remained strong. I am amazed.
Invincible Summer is great, powerful, emotional read that has stolen my heart. The development of all the characters throughout the plot is clear. Chase's voice is easy to hear and feel. Ms. Moskowitz did a wonderfully job writing this book. I can't wait to read what she write next!
Show More
was excited to do so. I have never seen summer so dramatic (in a good way!). What I like most about this book is the dynamic plot it has. Yes, dynamic. It's explosive, the bomb diggity, da bomb! I was completely torn to bits by all the happenings in the plot. Chase and his family goes through a lot through out the summers.
One thing about this book is that it is not some lovey, dovey summer story. It has great raw emotions just flowing off the pages of the book. I felt angry, happy, sad, and even jealousy. You get see inside of the family and all of their problems. What's more, is that you see the family stick through it all together. They may have had their problems and share of mistakes, but they make it through.
I adored Chase. His strength and amazing selflessness in all that he does, made my heart melt. He was used, mistreated, and acted too mature for a kid who is supposed to be a teenager. He took care of his siblings as if they were his own. He took great responsibility for things he didn't have too. Yet, he remained strong. I am amazed.
Invincible Summer is great, powerful, emotional read that has stolen my heart. The development of all the characters throughout the plot is clear. Chase's voice is easy to hear and feel. Ms. Moskowitz did a wonderfully job writing this book. I can't wait to read what she write next!
Show Less
LibraryThing member C.Ibarra
Chase is excited to begin another summer at the family beach house. Knowing his older brother will leave soon for college, he is hoping for a summer of fun times with Noah. The neighbors who they always hang with have also returned, but things seem to be shifting as the children get older.
At first I thought this was just another story of kids raising themselves while the parents let the dysfunction fester. Parents who probably should have stopped procreating several children ago. Mom is pregnant, youngest brother is deaf, tween sister is seriously acting out, and older brother keeps his distance. This leaves narrator Chase to hold their world together.
Chase’s idolization of his older brother crosses the boundaries of normal. The interactions between him and his little sister also erred on the side of strange.
The bizarre sibling relationships made me feel almost uncomfortable at times. Even with the strange family dynamics, I couldn't help but be utterly pulled in by this author's writing, the world, and the characters she created. I was frantically turning the pages to discover what happened to this family that was falling apart before my eyes.
The ending killed. Literally ripped my heart out and stomped on it. This is a book that leaves an impression. It isn’t the light beach read the cover leads you to believe exists between the pages. The plot is gritty and uninhibited. I’d use caution when recommending it to younger teens due to the sexual situations and language. If you’re looking for an intense contemporary read give this one a try.
Show More
Invincible Summer follows Chase’s life over the course of four summers as things begin to take dramatic turns in many directions. I would love to elaborate on this, but I can’t find the words. This book has so many layers, and I don’t think it is possible to give it a blurb or synopsis that truly does it justice.At first I thought this was just another story of kids raising themselves while the parents let the dysfunction fester. Parents who probably should have stopped procreating several children ago. Mom is pregnant, youngest brother is deaf, tween sister is seriously acting out, and older brother keeps his distance. This leaves narrator Chase to hold their world together.
Chase’s idolization of his older brother crosses the boundaries of normal. The interactions between him and his little sister also erred on the side of strange.
The bizarre sibling relationships made me feel almost uncomfortable at times. Even with the strange family dynamics, I couldn't help but be utterly pulled in by this author's writing, the world, and the characters she created. I was frantically turning the pages to discover what happened to this family that was falling apart before my eyes.
The ending killed. Literally ripped my heart out and stomped on it. This is a book that leaves an impression. It isn’t the light beach read the cover leads you to believe exists between the pages. The plot is gritty and uninhibited. I’d use caution when recommending it to younger teens due to the sexual situations and language. If you’re looking for an intense contemporary read give this one a try.
Show Less
LibraryThing member elissajanine
Invincible Summer is Moskowitz's second book, and those familiar with her debut, Break, will recognize her confident, complex writing and the raw drama of a family in turmoil. The relationships are the key in this gritty book about summer and brothers and childhood innocence lost.
LibraryThing member TheReaderBee
I read this book in just a few hours time. Mrs. Moskowitz has a very unique writing style that made the book very hard to put down. However, I didn’t really care about any of the characters. The one exception would be the main characters brother, Gideon, who is deaf. Having an autistic niece,
There is a lot of foul language in the book, which is a bit of a turnoff. I am not a prude at all, I know people curse, especially tweens and teens. However, with this being a YA book, I felt there was a bit too much. There are also some sexual references that are really more for an adult book than a YA book. (Again, I’m not trying to be a prude!)
Overall, this was a good, albeit emotional read. I’m sure everyone else will love the book. It was just ok for me.
Show More
there’s something about a child with a disability that always pulls at my heartstrings. I really loved his character.There is a lot of foul language in the book, which is a bit of a turnoff. I am not a prude at all, I know people curse, especially tweens and teens. However, with this being a YA book, I felt there was a bit too much. There are also some sexual references that are really more for an adult book than a YA book. (Again, I’m not trying to be a prude!)
Overall, this was a good, albeit emotional read. I’m sure everyone else will love the book. It was just ok for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brandileigh2003
I think that it is important to note going in that this is not your typical light summer beach read. But it DOES have amazing characters, a rich storyline, and a gritty, raw and unforgettable writing style.
I really like how the characters are authentic and they have problems. They work through
Invincible Summer really has detailed and interesting family dynamics, but I love the message through it all, siblings love and are there for each other. It was touching to see them interact and frustrating when they were being silly. Not silly as in haha but doing real life mistakes and you could see them hurting.
I gotta say though, one thing I skipped was all the Camus quotes. I understand that was their thing and what they bonded over, but it's just not my thing.
I also appreciate the male POV in this book. I feel like it's well written and true to character. I expected some of the details to be skimped over, but they weren't. Not to the point of gratuity but I got a peek at how guys might think of in certain situations.
I could not put this book down, and I'm missing the characters now even as I'm writing about them.
I really like how the characters are authentic and they have problems. They work through
Show More
their issues in their own ways, but at the end they still aren't perfect. This is not a criticism in any way, but it is a view of real life. The characters do grow and change, but they do not get the happily ever after, even though they learn to be happy with their circumstances. Invincible Summer really has detailed and interesting family dynamics, but I love the message through it all, siblings love and are there for each other. It was touching to see them interact and frustrating when they were being silly. Not silly as in haha but doing real life mistakes and you could see them hurting.
I gotta say though, one thing I skipped was all the Camus quotes. I understand that was their thing and what they bonded over, but it's just not my thing.
I also appreciate the male POV in this book. I feel like it's well written and true to character. I expected some of the details to be skimped over, but they weren't. Not to the point of gratuity but I got a peek at how guys might think of in certain situations.
I could not put this book down, and I'm missing the characters now even as I'm writing about them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Strangemore
Family drama.
What is it about family drama that speaks to us all so deeply? I know why it effects me. As an only child, peace and quiet was the norm for my household. I craved the hug of an older sister or the pranks of a younger brother. Craved anything. Any new and exciting family dynamic.
So I
Does drama just come with the territory? Is it all worth it?
Invincible Summer explores some of these questions. The massive cast is introduced quickly and all at once in the beginning, which leads to a rather difficult time of sorting everyone out. Once you advance in the story, it becomes much easier and you can even determine who's speaking without needing to be told. Every character is unique and well-defined.
The only rather annoying quirk was how often the dialogue involved quotes by the family's favorite author, Albert Camus. Clearly, the author's writing and his quotes are lovely, but I didn't find it quite believable that 15 to 18 year old boys would actually quote anyone that often.
Beautifully and simply told from the perspective of a young man named Chase over the course of several summers. Starting with the age of fifteen up until eighteen, he struggles through the birth of a new baby, the trials of having a deaf brother, and the complexities of girls. He deeply experiences doubts, regrets, and loss. But he also experiences love.
All this tension is heightened by the presense and, even more often, by the absense of his best friend and older brother, Noah. The story doesn't presume to be all that funny or highly suspenseful, but it can entrap you all the same.
The cover of this book is entirely misleading. It is no sunny romp on the beach. There is a love triangle that doesn't feel like a love triangle. There is grit, sand, and sea, but mostly there is sex, anger, and angst. It is emotional in a completely raw and realistic fashion.
This book is about how the love of a family is simple, yet endlessly complicated. The complicated part is figuring out why you love them. The simple part is that you do.
___________________________
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this as an ARC!!
Content warning: Heavy language and some sexual content.
What is it about family drama that speaks to us all so deeply? I know why it effects me. As an only child, peace and quiet was the norm for my household. I craved the hug of an older sister or the pranks of a younger brother. Craved anything. Any new and exciting family dynamic.
So I
Show More
wonder - is drama essential in a large family? Is it inevitable? I have recently been privy to some of the drama of my Dad's large yet scattered family. While I yearn to know what it is like to feel the comradery of siblings, I don't wish for the intensity that comes along with the heated arguments.Does drama just come with the territory? Is it all worth it?
Invincible Summer explores some of these questions. The massive cast is introduced quickly and all at once in the beginning, which leads to a rather difficult time of sorting everyone out. Once you advance in the story, it becomes much easier and you can even determine who's speaking without needing to be told. Every character is unique and well-defined.
The only rather annoying quirk was how often the dialogue involved quotes by the family's favorite author, Albert Camus. Clearly, the author's writing and his quotes are lovely, but I didn't find it quite believable that 15 to 18 year old boys would actually quote anyone that often.
Beautifully and simply told from the perspective of a young man named Chase over the course of several summers. Starting with the age of fifteen up until eighteen, he struggles through the birth of a new baby, the trials of having a deaf brother, and the complexities of girls. He deeply experiences doubts, regrets, and loss. But he also experiences love.
All this tension is heightened by the presense and, even more often, by the absense of his best friend and older brother, Noah. The story doesn't presume to be all that funny or highly suspenseful, but it can entrap you all the same.
The cover of this book is entirely misleading. It is no sunny romp on the beach. There is a love triangle that doesn't feel like a love triangle. There is grit, sand, and sea, but mostly there is sex, anger, and angst. It is emotional in a completely raw and realistic fashion.
This book is about how the love of a family is simple, yet endlessly complicated. The complicated part is figuring out why you love them. The simple part is that you do.
___________________________
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this as an ARC!!
Content warning: Heavy language and some sexual content.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tarawriter
I'll say off the bat that this is might not be a book for everyone. Some could find the endless Camus quoting to be a bit pretentious. I can see that, but I remember what it was like to be a teenager and to be passionate to the point of irritating about my interests, so for me, this shows
Each summer Chase and his family face a crisis, and the strain begins to show on the family. I think this book is about a family in crisis, with a small part of the story being about an addictive, troubled young woman (Melinda) and how she affects Chase and his brother Noah. Chase is almost obsessed with his older brother, and I can see why. Noah is a bit of enigma. I only have one sister, and when she hit her upper teens, she became a bit of an enigma herself, and she remains so to this day. I understand what it's like to be in Chase's shoes. Why doesn't your sibling want to be part of the family? Why do they want to run away? It's frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time.
I could go on and on about what I loved about this book, but I'll end by saying that Invincible Summer really is the best sort of book. It's not always easy to read, and sometimes you want to smack the sh@! out of the characters, but at the same time you care so much you can't help but want what's best for them. Invincible Summer is one my favorite reads of the year so far.
Show More
authenticity of character. I also felt that the 'some girls are addictive' line from the synopsis to be a bit misleading. If you pick up this book looking for a beach side romance, well, that's not what you're going to get. Not to knock romance novels, but this book is so much more than that.Each summer Chase and his family face a crisis, and the strain begins to show on the family. I think this book is about a family in crisis, with a small part of the story being about an addictive, troubled young woman (Melinda) and how she affects Chase and his brother Noah. Chase is almost obsessed with his older brother, and I can see why. Noah is a bit of enigma. I only have one sister, and when she hit her upper teens, she became a bit of an enigma herself, and she remains so to this day. I understand what it's like to be in Chase's shoes. Why doesn't your sibling want to be part of the family? Why do they want to run away? It's frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time.
I could go on and on about what I loved about this book, but I'll end by saying that Invincible Summer really is the best sort of book. It's not always easy to read, and sometimes you want to smack the sh@! out of the characters, but at the same time you care so much you can't help but want what's best for them. Invincible Summer is one my favorite reads of the year so far.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jacindahinten
I absolutely, positutely (yep, not a word) LOVE main characters in books who are male. Maybe it’s because I enjoy getting inside of their minds or maybe it’s because it’s a change of pace from always reading from a girl’s perspective. But whatever the reason, I still love it and I, in turn
Invincible Summer from the description and cover sounds like a young adult romance book, but it isn’t. It’s about Chase’s life over four summers from fourteen to eighteen. It catalog’s all of the family’s changes especially his relationship with his older brother Noah. Chase’s family was very real and dysfunctional. Some reviews I’ve read thought the family wasn’t believable because “what parents would let their 13 year old cuss in front of them?” I grew up in a family without many rules and where cussing wasn’t prohibited, so to me the family was real. The McGill’s were probably like many families in America today with their flaws.
I could see the changes in Chase through the years by his thought process and difference in attitude. He reacted differently to situations summer after summer. He shared common interests in an author, Camus, with his brother Noah and a summer girl Melinda. In any situation, no matter how tiny or insignificant, they would recite lines from Camus’ works. Some of the conflict in Invincible Summer paired with the quotes of Camus broke my heart! Hannah Moskowitz wrote those quotes brilliantly into Invincible Summer. Hannah also had me looking up Camus’ work while reading Invincible Summer
After reading Invincible Summer, I’m ready and willing to read more of Hannah’s novels in the future. I loved her storytelling…I read Invincible Summer in less than a day because I was drawn in!
Show More
loved Invincible Summer.Invincible Summer from the description and cover sounds like a young adult romance book, but it isn’t. It’s about Chase’s life over four summers from fourteen to eighteen. It catalog’s all of the family’s changes especially his relationship with his older brother Noah. Chase’s family was very real and dysfunctional. Some reviews I’ve read thought the family wasn’t believable because “what parents would let their 13 year old cuss in front of them?” I grew up in a family without many rules and where cussing wasn’t prohibited, so to me the family was real. The McGill’s were probably like many families in America today with their flaws.
I could see the changes in Chase through the years by his thought process and difference in attitude. He reacted differently to situations summer after summer. He shared common interests in an author, Camus, with his brother Noah and a summer girl Melinda. In any situation, no matter how tiny or insignificant, they would recite lines from Camus’ works. Some of the conflict in Invincible Summer paired with the quotes of Camus broke my heart! Hannah Moskowitz wrote those quotes brilliantly into Invincible Summer. Hannah also had me looking up Camus’ work while reading Invincible Summer
After reading Invincible Summer, I’m ready and willing to read more of Hannah’s novels in the future. I loved her storytelling…I read Invincible Summer in less than a day because I was drawn in!
Show Less
LibraryThing member KevinTC
“Gideon keeps falling down.”
Within the opening line of Invincible Summer, is a hint of what will follow as the story of the McGill family unfolds. And who better to tell their story than Chase McGill. Chase, the self-appointed oldest brother (who is chronologically the second oldest), narrates
The thing that really touched me on a visceral level about this story was the relationship between Chase and his older brother, Noah. Noah is a wanderer, a bit of a lost soul perhaps. Chase so desires to keep Noah within the family fold that it’s sometimes the only thing on his mind. But when the brothers are together, that’s the real magic of this book. The two are so touching together, so achingly close and intimate. As someone who grew up with three brothers, this bond that Moskowitz has somehow perfectly captured resonated so loudly for me it became the whole focal point of the story. Whatever happens between these two boys, the love they feel for one another is so solid—so breathlessly there—that it leaves you aching within its pulse.
But as beautifully written as their relationship is, it is not entirely the focus of Invincible Summer. As the opening line alludes, this could in fact be considered a story of falling. We meet up with the McGills every summer for four years. The first summer, we meet the boys, their parents, their younger sister Claudia and deaf brother Gideon. And we also meet the Hathaway family that the McGills intimately share their summers with. There is Shannon, Bella, Melinda and their parents.
There is a reason I listed all the characters here. In the first few pages of Invincible Summer, as a reader, I thought I was going to have a hard time keeping track of this rather large cast. My fears were quickly alleviated, though, as I got deeper into the McGills’ saga. Each character was so well drawn there was never any question about who was who. Moskowitz did a wonderful job making each one unique and memorable.
There is another character in Invincible Summer worth mentioning. Albert Camus. He plays as big a role as some of the other characters. Moskowitz weaves beautiful Camus quotes throughout her story, as the boys become almost obsessed with his views and opinions of the world. After their introduction to him through Melinda, who has sex with both Chase and Noah, they are able to spout off Camus quotes for every event in their lives. This was done perfectly by Moskowitz, someone who clearly knows her Camus. It was such a delight to see the chosen quotes co-mingling with the story Moskowitz so expertly wove.
I’m not going to go too far into the story of Invincible Summer. I feel to give details would be to give away too much. I’ll just say that there is always something happening. In the first summer, we see Chase and his clan deal with a new addition, the tie breaker baby sister who throws off the balance of blond and brunet in the McGill household. In the second summer we see a rift in the family that has them fracturing in such a unique way it’s as tickling as it is tragic. The pivotal moments in Invincible Summer seem to occur in and around Chase’s yearly summer birthday, a fact not lost on our narrator. Each summer, there are issues for the family to deal with. And as the reader sees them arrive and erupt on the page, we are filled with nostalgia, angst, regret and pain. We laugh with the McGills and we cry with the McGills.
This book is one I will return to again and again. It’s an expertly woven tale of family dynamics, teen relationships and childhood summers. Every reader will connect to these memorable characters. Every reader will recall their own childhood summers as they dive deeper into this book… and how they felt both sickeningly vulnerable and powerfully invincible all at once as they struggled through those summers. And if they have siblings, they will ache with the familiarity of the sibling love that is so perfectly texturized in the bond between Noah and Chase. Moskowitz nailed the modern day family in this tale. I feel certain it will work its way into the hearts of all who read it.
Within the opening line of Invincible Summer, is a hint of what will follow as the story of the McGill family unfolds. And who better to tell their story than Chase McGill. Chase, the self-appointed oldest brother (who is chronologically the second oldest), narrates
Show More
this family saga over four summers as he struggles to keep it together and keep making sense of a dynamic that is sometimes impossible to make sense of…the modern family.The thing that really touched me on a visceral level about this story was the relationship between Chase and his older brother, Noah. Noah is a wanderer, a bit of a lost soul perhaps. Chase so desires to keep Noah within the family fold that it’s sometimes the only thing on his mind. But when the brothers are together, that’s the real magic of this book. The two are so touching together, so achingly close and intimate. As someone who grew up with three brothers, this bond that Moskowitz has somehow perfectly captured resonated so loudly for me it became the whole focal point of the story. Whatever happens between these two boys, the love they feel for one another is so solid—so breathlessly there—that it leaves you aching within its pulse.
But as beautifully written as their relationship is, it is not entirely the focus of Invincible Summer. As the opening line alludes, this could in fact be considered a story of falling. We meet up with the McGills every summer for four years. The first summer, we meet the boys, their parents, their younger sister Claudia and deaf brother Gideon. And we also meet the Hathaway family that the McGills intimately share their summers with. There is Shannon, Bella, Melinda and their parents.
There is a reason I listed all the characters here. In the first few pages of Invincible Summer, as a reader, I thought I was going to have a hard time keeping track of this rather large cast. My fears were quickly alleviated, though, as I got deeper into the McGills’ saga. Each character was so well drawn there was never any question about who was who. Moskowitz did a wonderful job making each one unique and memorable.
There is another character in Invincible Summer worth mentioning. Albert Camus. He plays as big a role as some of the other characters. Moskowitz weaves beautiful Camus quotes throughout her story, as the boys become almost obsessed with his views and opinions of the world. After their introduction to him through Melinda, who has sex with both Chase and Noah, they are able to spout off Camus quotes for every event in their lives. This was done perfectly by Moskowitz, someone who clearly knows her Camus. It was such a delight to see the chosen quotes co-mingling with the story Moskowitz so expertly wove.
I’m not going to go too far into the story of Invincible Summer. I feel to give details would be to give away too much. I’ll just say that there is always something happening. In the first summer, we see Chase and his clan deal with a new addition, the tie breaker baby sister who throws off the balance of blond and brunet in the McGill household. In the second summer we see a rift in the family that has them fracturing in such a unique way it’s as tickling as it is tragic. The pivotal moments in Invincible Summer seem to occur in and around Chase’s yearly summer birthday, a fact not lost on our narrator. Each summer, there are issues for the family to deal with. And as the reader sees them arrive and erupt on the page, we are filled with nostalgia, angst, regret and pain. We laugh with the McGills and we cry with the McGills.
This book is one I will return to again and again. It’s an expertly woven tale of family dynamics, teen relationships and childhood summers. Every reader will connect to these memorable characters. Every reader will recall their own childhood summers as they dive deeper into this book… and how they felt both sickeningly vulnerable and powerfully invincible all at once as they struggled through those summers. And if they have siblings, they will ache with the familiarity of the sibling love that is so perfectly texturized in the bond between Noah and Chase. Moskowitz nailed the modern day family in this tale. I feel certain it will work its way into the hearts of all who read it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Lilycanete
Let me start off this review by saying that the description for this book does not do it any justice! The description makes it sounds like this is some sort of chick-lit book but in reality it’s nothing like that! Invincible Summer isn’t a love story instead it’s a story about the tragedies
Moskowitz’s writing is unique and addicting. I finished this whole book in simply one sitting. I quickly knew when i finished Invincible Summer that I’d have to go pick up Moskowitz debut book bones as she has a unique gift for writing.
Chase, the main character and his older brother Noah get into the writer Camus on summer because of their neighbor Melinda. Both start quoting it reguarly throughout the book.
While Invincible Summer definately did grab my interest i couldnt find myself to absoluely adore this book. I enjoyed reading it and connected very well to the main character Chase, but something about this book wasn’t enough for me. I can’t say much without revealing any spoilers so I won’t. What i will tell you is that if your in the search for a book that deals with heavy topics and family tragedies this one’s for you.
Show More
one family faces.Moskowitz’s writing is unique and addicting. I finished this whole book in simply one sitting. I quickly knew when i finished Invincible Summer that I’d have to go pick up Moskowitz debut book bones as she has a unique gift for writing.
Chase, the main character and his older brother Noah get into the writer Camus on summer because of their neighbor Melinda. Both start quoting it reguarly throughout the book.
While Invincible Summer definately did grab my interest i couldnt find myself to absoluely adore this book. I enjoyed reading it and connected very well to the main character Chase, but something about this book wasn’t enough for me. I can’t say much without revealing any spoilers so I won’t. What i will tell you is that if your in the search for a book that deals with heavy topics and family tragedies this one’s for you.
Show Less
LibraryThing member emleemay
This book is okay if you want 4 identical cheesy stories of summertime romance. Some people will love it undoubtedly but I got bored fairly quick.
LibraryThing member ErikaWasTaken
I don't even know how to do my usual pro/con rating for this novel.
The book started as a 4, went to a 5 and then settled at a three honestly, the downfall in the end was that it simply suffered from too much tragedy. Divorce, rape, and now death?
The family was already so broken and so
Extremely well-written, neat use an anachronistic timeline, page turner!
The book started as a 4, went to a 5 and then settled at a three honestly,
The family was already so broken and so
Show More
demoralized, it seems like they could have been split apart without Gideon's death. Extremely well-written, neat use an anachronistic timeline, page turner!
Show Less
LibraryThing member allureofbooks
When I was asked to be a part of this book's blog tour, I was really excited! I'd seen a lot of reviews - both good and bad, that made me very curious about the story. I started reading the book expecting to immediately be caught up into Noah's story.
Unfortunately, I was not. In fact, I kept
I know this isn't the case for everyone, because there are a lot of positive reviews out there! I don't want to go into specific plot details since I don't have anything positive to say. If you pick the book up, I want you to make up your own mind without my ideas about certain particulars floating around in your head.
One thing I can say is that the writing style itself was good. Hannah Moskowitz has a really insightful way of writing...I really wish I could have appreciated it more with characters I wanted to read about!
Anyway, this was just not a book for me.
Unfortunately, I was not. In fact, I kept
Show More
putting it down and forcing myself to try getting into it again...but it never worked out for me. I just couldn't find anything appealing about the characters or their story. Nothing about it falls within my realm of experience, and I couldn't really find anything about any of the characters to make me feel invested in them. All the characters were diverse and complex, which would normally be a very good thing - but I just never found connections to them. I know this isn't the case for everyone, because there are a lot of positive reviews out there! I don't want to go into specific plot details since I don't have anything positive to say. If you pick the book up, I want you to make up your own mind without my ideas about certain particulars floating around in your head.
One thing I can say is that the writing style itself was good. Hannah Moskowitz has a really insightful way of writing...I really wish I could have appreciated it more with characters I wanted to read about!
Anyway, this was just not a book for me.
Show Less
LibraryThing member roses7184
I hope that what I write here actually makes coherent sense. It is no lie when I tell you that this book had me so emotionally drained yesterday that I couldn't even form a complete thought. I have never read a book by Hannah Moskowitz before Invincible Summer, but I tell you now that I will never
I'm going to open my rambling review with a warning. Grab some tissues, and possibly some comfort food, before you read this book. There is so much emotion packed into these pages that it is impossible not to feel something while you read. My personal emotions ran the gambit from complete adoration for these characters, to empathy, right on down to loathing. Invincible Summer is an emotional roller coaster ride of the truest kind. Hannah Moskowitz knows just how to draw her reader in and keep them there, before completely ripping their heart out of their chest. The best part? You're just okay with it when it happens. Yes, this book is that good.
Chase, Noah, Claudia, all the characters in this book are gorgeously and vividly written. They feel like old friends you might have been missing, because you know them so well in and out by the end of the book. Each one of them is fighting their own inner demons, but at the same time they are trying to learn how to help one another and just coexist. This is a story about families, and how they sometimes fall apart. It is a story about not being sure that growing up is really all that great. It is also a story about being so completely invested in someone that the mere thought of loosing them tears you apart. There are so many bittersweet relationships to observe that after a while I felt as though I just couldn't take it all in. Emotional overload would be a good description.
From the prodigal son who can do no wrong in his mother's eyes, despite his constant running away, to the lone girl in the family who feels as though she might just be a little overwhelmed by it all, there is something for everyone to relate to. This isn't really a happy story by any means, and there are times when I did feel uncomfortable with what I was reading. Sometimes the interactions between these characters are awkward, or terse, or even downright odd. However it is that fact that really proves that Hannah Moskowitz sees into the heart of her characters, and thus the hearts of her readers. No life is perfect, why should our characters be?
Am I rambling yet? I'm sure I am. There is just no way for me to legitimately explain to you how much I not only loved Invincible Summer, but also how deeply it touched me. Hannah Moskowitz has written something that is definitely not "your typical beach read" and thank goodness for that. This book is raw at times, and completely introspective at others. It is beautiful in the most tear-your-heart-out way possible. I will definitely be buying a copy of my very own and wearing the pages thin with rereading it over and over. Hands down, this is my favorite book of the year so far.
Show More
miss a book by her ever again. I'm going to open my rambling review with a warning. Grab some tissues, and possibly some comfort food, before you read this book. There is so much emotion packed into these pages that it is impossible not to feel something while you read. My personal emotions ran the gambit from complete adoration for these characters, to empathy, right on down to loathing. Invincible Summer is an emotional roller coaster ride of the truest kind. Hannah Moskowitz knows just how to draw her reader in and keep them there, before completely ripping their heart out of their chest. The best part? You're just okay with it when it happens. Yes, this book is that good.
Chase, Noah, Claudia, all the characters in this book are gorgeously and vividly written. They feel like old friends you might have been missing, because you know them so well in and out by the end of the book. Each one of them is fighting their own inner demons, but at the same time they are trying to learn how to help one another and just coexist. This is a story about families, and how they sometimes fall apart. It is a story about not being sure that growing up is really all that great. It is also a story about being so completely invested in someone that the mere thought of loosing them tears you apart. There are so many bittersweet relationships to observe that after a while I felt as though I just couldn't take it all in. Emotional overload would be a good description.
From the prodigal son who can do no wrong in his mother's eyes, despite his constant running away, to the lone girl in the family who feels as though she might just be a little overwhelmed by it all, there is something for everyone to relate to. This isn't really a happy story by any means, and there are times when I did feel uncomfortable with what I was reading. Sometimes the interactions between these characters are awkward, or terse, or even downright odd. However it is that fact that really proves that Hannah Moskowitz sees into the heart of her characters, and thus the hearts of her readers. No life is perfect, why should our characters be?
Am I rambling yet? I'm sure I am. There is just no way for me to legitimately explain to you how much I not only loved Invincible Summer, but also how deeply it touched me. Hannah Moskowitz has written something that is definitely not "your typical beach read" and thank goodness for that. This book is raw at times, and completely introspective at others. It is beautiful in the most tear-your-heart-out way possible. I will definitely be buying a copy of my very own and wearing the pages thin with rereading it over and over. Hands down, this is my favorite book of the year so far.
Show Less
Original publication date
2011-04-19
Physical description
288 p.; 8.23 inches
ISBN
1442407514 / 9781442407510
Similar in this library
Stay by Deb Caletti
XVI by Julia Karr