Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clean, teen summer romance encourages honesty and courage.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In SUNKISSED, Avery's best friend betrays her only days before her parents whisk her off to family camp for the summer. With no cell service, Avery and her social media-obsessed sister fear the worst. But then Avery meets Brooks, a camp counselor who plays in the camp band. As her sister begins making a documentary about the band, Avery decides to begin a journey of self-discovery, one that requires her to step outside her comfort zone. As she and Brooks grow closer, Avery needs to decide who she truly wants to be and how far she's willing to go to get there.
Is It Any Good?
A sweet, easy read, this book is a simple romance with classic summer vibes. Relatively predictable, Sunkissed is a clean young adult novel that pairs a coming-of-age story with a slow-build romance. Avery's realization that taking the path of least resistance doesn't always take her where she wants to go is an important lesson, especially for teen girls who struggle with being eager to please.
The overall story is charming, if a bit unrealistic at the end. Other than Avery and Brooks, the characters fall a bit flat. The romance is built on friendship and honesty, which makes for a more believable story. The overall plot is reminiscent of other summer romance stories, most notably Dirty Dancing. But the story ticks enough boxes to make it a fun read for younger teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the many ways Avery steps outside her comfort zone during Sunkissed. She takes risks both by taking on new activities and by finding new ways to communicate with friends and family. How does her courage pay off?
Avery lies to her family, her friends, and herself many times throughout the book. Do you think the story would've ended differently if she'd been honest all along?
Summer romances are a popular genre. Why do you think summer love makes for such a compelling story?
The summer camp is a cellphone- and Wi-Fi-free zone. Why do you think the author chose to include this detail? How do the different teenage characters deal with not being able to spend time online?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : May 4, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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