Review of Torrid Summer

[Chinazo Anozie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Torrid Summer" by Martha Miller.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Torrid Summer by Martha Miller is a coming-of-age novel with a dash of murder mystery that follows 18-year-old Jeannie as she deals with life, love, and sexuality. At her young age, Jeannie has been through a lot. Her mother walked out on Jeannie and her father when she was ten years old, while her father was murdered five years later. Jeannie has learned to cope with life with the help of her grandmother and girlfriend, Legs.

However, Jeannie is heartbroken all over again when Legs tells her she has to move away. Jeannie decides to go to her mom in Florida for the summer to get away from everything and perhaps mend their relationship. While there, Jeannie learns more about herself while landing smack dab in the middle of a series of murders by a killer haunting the patrons of a gay bar.

Torrid Summer by Martha Miller is a beautifully written novel. I loved the relationship Jeannie had with her grandmother. I initially found the book to be more of an LGBT education than a murder mystery and wanted an equal mix of both themes. However, as I read on, I understood that sexuality (and all its ramifications) plays a big part when writing about teenage angst, and Miller handles these themes expertly in this coming-of-age novel. With Jeannie’s complicated relationship with her mother, the book bears similarities to—and can easily be in the same league as—Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird. I can see it being made into a movie.

I wish I’d first read the preceding book, Me Inside, which is about Jeannie’s life with her father before and after he was murdered. However, this didn’t affect my reading experience in any way, and Torrid Summer is immensely enjoyable as a standalone. I have nothing to criticize about this book. It was also perfectly edited, as I found no errors. As a result, I happily rate Torrid Summer by Martha Miller 5 out of 5 stars.

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Torrid Summer
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I'm a huge fan of LGBT fiction, so I'm adding this one to my list, but I think I'll read the first book in the series to be across the full story. Thanks for introducing me to this book.

[Areena David]

"Torrid Summer" could be an excellent choice for those interested in personal drama and social elements.

[Sandre Lamar]

"Torrid Summer" by Martha Miller captures the complexities of teenage life with authenticity and depth. The blend of coming-of-age exploration and murder mystery makes for a compelling and thought-provoking read.

[NetMassimo]

I might be old for a coming-of-age story but this one is much more than that with the murder mystery that becomes important in a story that offers food for thought digging into the LGBT+ world. Thank you for your great review!

[Liam Patel]

The review for Torrid Summer by Martha Miller portrays it as a beautifully written coming-of-age novel with a mix of murder mystery. The reviewer praises the author's handling of LGBT themes and the complex relationship between the main character and her mother. They also mention the book's expert editing and express a desire to see it adapted into a movie. Overall, the review rates Torrid Summer 5 out of 5 and highly recommends it. As a fellow Michigander, I concur with the reviewer's assessment and look forward to reading this engaging and well-crafted book. Rating: 5/5. Evocative prose, painted vivid pictures in my mind.