Like many others here, I remembered reading Blume as a child and teen, and loving her work. I picked up 'Summer Sisters' hoping to experience some sense of nostalgia yet at the same time read something new. The book was fair for about the first half, but somewhere down the line I stopped caring about the characters and what happened to them. It contains none of the great characterization or engrossing story and situations of her other novels.I'd also like to add that though there are adult situations in the book, it is a YA novel through and through. Adults may be put off by the style (I wouldn't have minded if the story had been good.) Teenage girls may enjoy it, but I'm sure they can find something better.