Book Tour: THE SECRET SUMMER PROMISE review + author interview

Book Details

Title: The Secret Summer Promise
Author: Keah Brown
Publisher: Levine Querido
Publication Date: June 6, 2023
Genre(s): Young Adult, LGBT, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 283

     

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Reading Details

Finish Date: May 2, 2023
Format: Physical

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Rating: 5/5

Review: 
Thank you so much to Hear Our Voices tour for allowing me to take part in this tour and, especially, for allowing me to be one of the interview stops. Make sure to check out the schedule so you don't miss any of the amazing stops! This book was so good and I thoroughly look forward to seeing what every other host has to say about it!

I really loved this book. Something about this book just hit me right where I needed it to. The writing was great for me, the pacing was great, and I loved the characters. It hit me at exactly the right time and I just blew through the book!

This was a genuinely adorable story, with some rough patches don't get me wrong, but it was exactly what I needed after a bit of a reading drought. It was sweet and charming, and it made me crave summer!

Andrea is also one hell of a character to root for specifically. She's still trying to figure herself out and figure out what she wants out of life and it's a journey that she goes on to get to it. It's not necessarily easy, since when has being a teenager been easy, but she comes out of it stronger and more sure of herself.

There were a few times where the writing didn't seem to match that of a young adult book and a young adult protagonist, like at times the words just seemed a bit awkward coming from a teenager. But honestly, that really didn't bother me a whole lot. I've read a lot of books with various voices and writing styles, so at this point I'm usually willing to flow with whatever I've been given.

All in all, I think this was a great book! I really adored Andrea as a character and I found that I connected with Keah Brown's writing style! I look forward to reading more from her in due time.

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When you first started writing, what would you write?

Really bad short stories and poems. I used to write them in a notebook that I kept under my dresser and on the inside of the notebook flap it read: KEEP OUT! because I was a dramatic little girl who wanted to protect my artistry, ha!

Do you have a set writing space/time to help you stay focused?

Yes. Because I pride myself on doing multiple things at once; in the morning I’ll work on a book, in the afternoon I’ll work on the musical I’m co-writing or the movie script I’m drafting and then in the evenings I’m in acting class once a week. On the other days of the week that I am not in class, I will work late on the other projects I mentioned or watch a comfort movie.

How did you come up with the idea for this book?

The idea came to me with the first line of the book actually. Instantly, I knew that I wanted to tell the story of a girl desperate to have the best summer with her friends and the other people she loves and what that would look like.

Was there anything that changed a lot from the first draft to the final one? Anything that never changed?

The names of the characters never changed or the way they look but the earliest version of the book was in third person and not 1st. I think it fits first so much better so it all worked out!

Hopefully without spoilers, what is your favorite scene in this book?

There are a few but for the sake of avoiding spoilers, there is an anniversary party and my main character, Andrea gets in the middle of the dance floor with her best friends and they sing along to Pretty Girl Rock by Kerri Hilson. I love it

Was any research done while writing this book?

I did do some research on how to make monkey bread for this book. I don’t think it was extensive research but it left me hungry. I have to say the characters in this book eat a lot of food that I wanted when it was all said and done.

How do you feel knowing that this book is so close to being out?

I’m nervous and excited! I hope it finds its people and that the people meant to love it, do.

Do you have any books you'd recommend to people who enjoy reading your book?

Absolutely readers who enjoy TSSP should read Ashley Woodfolk and The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirda