Since Last Summer

May 1, 2014
Middle-class Rory and her rich friend Isabel return to continue their romantic adventures in East Hampton.In The Rules of Summer (2013), Rory worked for the wealthy Rule family and fell in love with Connor, the Rules' son. This summer, their romance seems to be in trouble. Rory feels they're somehow pretending, rather as the adult Rules do. Meanwhile, Connor's younger sister, Isabel, now Rory's friend, can't forget Mike, the hot surfer she broke up with last year. Evan, an aspiring comedy writer she meets at the restaurant they both work at, may help her move on. But alas, Evan and Rory seem almost too comfortable with each other....Rory is still aware of her relative poverty, even though Mrs. Rule accepts her as a member of the family. Relationships clash and change as the summer progresses. In this sequel, Philbin focuses more on the changing relationships than on the wealth differentials between her characters, but she still brings her understanding of the benefits and hazards of extreme wealth to the tale. Rory's internship with a film crew pivots on her relationship with the wealthy Rules, while Isabel learns the real joys that can come from hard work.Wealth, as seen from someone who's been there, plus romance that rings true equals nicely entertaining chick lit. (Chick lit. 15-18)

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June 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-A lot has changed since Rules of Summer (Little, Brown, 2013) ended. Rory is back in the Rules's plush home in the tony village of East Hampton, New York, but this time she is a houseguest rather than an employee. Now she is the girlfriend of hunky Connor Rule and best friend of the princess of the Hamptons herself, Isabel Rule. Rory hopes that this summer will be just as fun and romantic as the previous one, but she learns that being an insider in this family is more difficult than she imagined. Not only is Connor unable to live up to her expectations, but drama ensues when Isabel and Rory fall for the same guy. Even more difficult is keeping the deep, dark, family secret revealed in the first book. Romance and betrayal round out this story. Chick lit fans might enjoy it, but readers of the first book will better understand relationships and events as they follow Rory back to the Hamptons for her second summer.-Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 This thoroughly upscale teen chick lit continues to examine relationships established in Rules of Summer (2013). Rory McShane, now Connor Rule's girlfriend, is invited by Connor's sister Isabel to stay at the Rules' home in East Hampton. This summer is different because Rory isn't the errand girl anymore; she is part of the family. Soon enough, she finds out that life on the inside isn't everything she has always wanted. She can't escape family secrets and crises, and Connor is in total denial about his parents' looming divorce. The success of her internship with a local film festival rests upon her ability to get the Rules to appear at the fest's gala, and little by little, Connor cools on their relationship. Enter aspiring filmmaker Evan, who sweeps Isabel off her feet and into a waitress job, scandalizing her mother. All the while, Isabel can't seem to wash Mike, her surfer ex-boyfriend, out of her hair. Romance, heartbreak, fun, sun, and drama are plentiful, making this a great summer read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Rory (Rules of Summer) and her boyfriend Connor's long-distance relationship survived school, but can it survive summer at his family's Hamptons home? Navigating secrets and mixed feelings, Rory discovers that while being their employee last summer was hard, being their guest isn't easy either. Philbin gives an insider's look at how outsiders fare amongst the elite in this shallow but deliciously entertaining beach read.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)