By K. L. Walther
With the upcoming release of Taylor Swift’s new album, I thought it would be fun to read a book inspired by her songs. The Summer of Broken Rules has been pushed to me on social media for some time, and with the high amount of praise it received, I had high hopes.
The story starts with a strong, vivid setting, placing you right in the heart of a New England summer. In the first few chapters, Walther uses a mix of telling and showing, which feels like a deliberate stylistic choice, as it makes the story feel retrospective. But after those chapters, just when you expect the story to pick up speed, the writing shifts gears and slows the pace. The telling becomes prominent, and there is a lack of visual grounding in scenes. Staying engaged became increasingly frustrating; I found myself reluctant to pick it up, so I cut my losses and put it back on my shelf.
The YA romance comes across as mature. Walther effectively captures the emotional tension of teen relationships through the way the characters act and relate to one another.
If you’re looking for an immersive summer read, I do not recommend. But the nostalgic feel might still appeal to those who are not visual readers and can cope with a lack of description to set the scene.
I did not notice any nods to Taylor Swift’s work.
Descriptive writing: 4/10
Character depth: 6/10
DNF at 33%
Try The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han instead.