Smart Girl Summer by Kristin Rockaway Book Review

Welcome to my review of Smart Girl Summer by Kristin Rockaway. I assumed this would be more romantic with an idyllic Mediterranean setting. It was a quick and easy read but fell a little short of my expectations.  

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Synopsis

From Kristin Rockaway comes a fun, insightful romance about what can happen when life gets off track but you’re willing to go along for the ride.

This summer’s not going as Abby Atkinson planned. A thieving PhD adviser, a screeching halt to her grad program, and zero job offers have left her high and dry. Nothing a little eat, pray, love across the Mediterranean can’t fix, right?

Or eat, pray, tutor, more like. Her dissertation might be dead, but she can still teach. She’ll just have to do it for six weeks on a superyacht with a billionaire and his daughter.

A playboy billionaire, according to the tabloids—but Abby’s not so sure. As big as his bank account is, his heart’s that much bigger, especially when it comes to his daughter. Their strained relationship could use some mending, though, and Abby can help. She was hired to teach junior high math, but she’ll make room in her lesson plans.

Falling for her boss wasn’t part of the plan either, but…

Maybe it’s time she let her heart, not her head, teach her something new.

About The Author

Kristin Rockaway is a native New Yorker and recovering corporate software engineer. After working in the IT industry for far too many years, she finally traded the city for the surf and chased her dreams out to Southern California, where she spends her days happily writing stories instead of code. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, taking naps, and planning her next big vacation.

My Review

I love reading about STEM heroines, but I found this one too predictable which made her feel a little annoying. The initial excitement of Abby falling for her tutees’ father was excitingly written but then, once they started dating, it seemed to fizzle out a little. They bond well over Richard’s daughter which was lovely but not particularly romantic, though Abby does help him to become a better father.  

I found the plot of a PhD student being wronged and then finding an amazing job for the summer (instantly it seemed) a little too convenient and unbelievable but good for her. The tutor and the billionaire falling in love were too predictable too. Every time he speaks to her, she says the hairs stood on the back of her neck which got a bit tiring as well. 

However, I did really enjoy the scenery and the idea of spending six weeks traipsing around Europe on a yacht. This wasn’t the book for me but would suit someone who loves predictable light romances which are a little cliché.

Rated