Since Last Summer

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