#PromotionWithPride Proudly Presents: The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding @theames #YAlit #LGB
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  • N. N. Light
    • Jun 14, 2018
    • 3 min read

#PromotionWithPride Proudly Presents: The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding @theames #YAlit #LGB


It's Pride Month and every day, N. N. Light's Book Heaven will feature a book and an author from the LGBTQ+ community. I'm always on the look-out for romantic comedies and a few weeks ago, I discovered The Summer of Jordi Perez (And The Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding. It's a fantastic beach read and a must-read!

Title: The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles)

Author: Amy Spalding

Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ, Lesbian Romance, Young Adult

Book Blurb:

Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby’s been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, she’s thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Hard. And now she’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win the coveted paid job at the end of the internship.

But really, nothing this summer is going as planned. She also unwittingly becomes friends with Jax, a lacrosse playing bro-type who wants her help finding the best burger in Los Angeles, and she’s struggling to prove to her mother—the city’s celebrity health nut—that she’s perfectly content with who she is.

Just as Abby starts to feel like she’s no longer the sidekick in her own life, Jordi’s photography surprisingly puts her in the spotlight. Instead of feeling like she’s landed a starring role, Abby feels betrayed. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image others have of her?

My Review:

The feel-good beach read of the summer!

Abby’s convinced this is the summer where she’ll experience all that life has to offer. It starts out great when she lands a coveted intern spot at her favorite clothing boutique. She meets Jordi and she falls head over fashionista heels in love. Conflict ensues as they both compete for the paid permanent position at the end of the summer. It’s hard to compete when all you wanna do is kiss. She also befriends Jax who insists on showing Abby the very best burger joint in L.A. By the end of the summer, Abby learns what it means to stand on your own two feet and to let love in.

Wow! This is such a great romantic comedy and after a few pages, I completely forgot this was a queer romance. This is a story about a plus-size girl who gets to be the leading lady in her own life, ditching the cute, sidekick role. Sure, there’s plenty of conflict but show me a romantic comedy that doesn’t have that. Each character has a realness to them and the dialogue kept me laughing. Abby’s a great role model and I found glimpses of my seventeen-year-old self in her.

If you’re looking for a beach read that gives you all the feels, pick this up today! Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars

Buy it now:

Author Biography:

Amy Spalding grew up in St. Louis, but now lives in the better weather of Los Angeles. She has a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications from Webster University, and an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School. Amy studied longform improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

By day, she manages the digital media team for an indie film advertising agency. By later day and night, Amy writes, performs, and pets as many cats as she can.

Social Media Links:

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

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