Book Shelf: Sunkissed (The Ladybirds #3) by Jenny McLachlan

Following on from Flirty Dancing and Love Bomb, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect summer holiday reading for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.

Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?

In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?

Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love . Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself.

More info on Goodreads.....

Review:

 

Sunkissed is the adorable third novel in Jenny McLachlan’s Ladybirds series and this time stars Kat, who finds herself on an unexpected adventure of a lifetime in this fun summer read. 

Fashion lover Kat can’t believe she’s being sent to spend the summer with her flighty Aunt Frida in Sweden. She’ll be stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere with no electricity and no power. That means no phones, no TV and *gasp* no hair straightener! Kat isn’t sure she’ll survive the summer and foresees a miserable four weeks, but once on the island, Kat is surprised to discover some outdoor fun with the other locals and quickly begins having a better time than she could have ever imagined!

Sunkissed is a really light and fun book to read. If you’ve ever wanted to get away on an island escape, now’s the perfect chance to do so….through Kat. Jenny McLachlan is back with another light-hearted tale perfect for YA readers and creates a sweet, quirky and quaint read. As with all the books in this series, you’ll breeze through this novel with ease.

Those heading into this book can be forgiven for thinking Kat is a flaky, often self-obsessed teenager who over dramatizes things and spends too much time on her phone….because Kat is a flaky, often self-obsessed teenager who over dramatizes things and spends too much time on her phone, but boy is she so much fun. And you know what, she’s fifteen……….and she loves her friends and make-up and boys and fashion. She’s actually a sweet, caring person who loves her friends and family despite everything, and I wouldn’t have Jenny McLachlan write her any other way.

I actually think Sunkissed focuses the least around romance than any of the previous books do in this series. Sure, Kat and Leo have a little thing, and they are sweet, but McLachlan manages to make this novel more about Kat, her friends and her family than anything else. The aura of adventure within Sunkissed is complimented by some quirky Swede characters including Nanna, Otto and Kat’s Aunt Frida. Oh, and Pearl steps up as a true friend to Kat in this novel; beginning to truly win me over for the first time and make me excited about the prospect of her story. 

Light-hearted and perfect for a summer afternoon or a light bit of reading fun, Sunkissed was a nice addition to the Ladybirds series and I for one cannot wait for the fourth and final instalment featuring Pearl! 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Perfect for a light read!
Cover: This cover is vibrant and colorful--I like it.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes, I'm looking forward to Peal's story next!