There may not be such a thing as a perfect book, however this ia about as close as it gets. There is nothing that's a retread here, everything is unique (including the way it is written), modern, and original. A refreshing change from those all-to-perfect know-it-all coming of age dramas. This one soars! And you owe it to yourself to read it!

When I first read that "A Tale of Two Summers" was written as a blog between two people, I was a bit turned off. Not that I don't like blogs, but reading a novel that's entirely an electronic conversation between two people over the course of six weeks one summer? How to develop characters and how to advance a plot? Still, I was intrigued. And the book is in my favorite sub-genre of fiction, gay coming-of-age stories (though half this story is from a straight perspective). So I decided to give it a shot. And I'm very glad I did, because it works, and amazingly well. The author lets the two characters--Chuck, a straight high school boy away at drama camp, and Hal, a gay classmate stuck at home whose current highlight is driver's ed class--develop the characters, including each other, themselves. They are best friends since the age of five who have a very close friendship, and who miss each other tremendously during their first-ever extended period apart. At the same time, both are dealing with their first loves, and both are equally dumbfounded as to what to do. But they learn from their burgeoning experiences and from each other, giving advice and serving as sounding boards from afar via their just-about-daily blog entries. It's an accomplishment how the author moves the plot forward in this unconventional format, and the story is very real and true--absolute musts for me in coming-of-age tales. Readers with little interest in coming-of-age fiction likely will not be enthralled. But fans of this genre, especially ones intrigued by new media such as blogs, will enjoy this wonderful look at two boys working their way through the predicaments of first love. It's a great read.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long while. Superb story lines, but the point of view vehicle is fresh, and the characters - wow. Very compelling and enjoyable.

Tale of Two Summers is the story of two best friends spending their first summer apart, Chuck at theater camp and Hal at home, by keeping a blog. This is a hilarious book, but one that is also very emotionally engaging. I had to read this book in numerous sittings because of the complex characters and situations. It was kind of tiring, emotionally. However, I learned so much from this story that had nothing to do with me, a fifteen-year-old girl. I strongly encourage you to buy this book and to read it more than once because each time you read it, you gain more insight into subjects that are too often swept off to the side.

When I first came across this book, I was skeptical. Mainly due to the format. How interesting can two teenagers blog entries really be? Okay, sure it can be interesting, but for how long? Will it seem forced? Still, it intrigued me to see just how it was done.

Needless to say, after only reading the first few pages, my initial thoughts seemed to go away. The blog entries worked. However, it's not until you really delve into this story that you realize, that the blog entry is merely a device (and I mean that in a good way). The gem here is the story, and the two lead characters. Allowing the story to unfold through their blog entries, allows these characters and their lives to become real and easy to relate to. You feel as if you are reading a real person's thoughts, emotions, and opinions. Adding to the realism are the countless pop culture references from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Halo, Scream, and Spider-Man. It reminds you that this is taking place in our world. All of this works.

I hate reviews that recap a story that is already recapped on the page itself (or in someone else's reviews), so I won't do that. Suffice it to say, it's raw emotion. The characters allow themselves to express themselves in a way that really draws you to both of them. There are moments where you'll laugh. There are moments where you'll be thinking "I've done that", or "I've been there". Then there are moments where you can feel your heart drop for Hal and Chuck.

Sadly, the majority of the people who will buy or read this book will be those from the gay community. I say sadly, because this is the kind of book that should not be limited to just the gay community. It should be enjoyed by all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. It's a tale of love, loyalty, and growing up. But above all else, it's a story about friendship. Something anyone and everyone can relate to.