This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 The first, and perhaps most upfront, reason why I loved this book is because it deals with a very real, very present issue that is happening throughout North America right now - reparative therapy (or "pray the gay away"). I think a lot of people have probably heard that term thrown around or heard the odd story about these camps but may not know just how horrible and abusive they really are. Verdi's The Summer I Wasn't Me sheds light on what's really going on. I know when I read this book I got angry. I was furious and frustrated and disgusted that this was allowed to happen. And that parents would actually send their kid to these places instead of loving them for who they are. I think any book that inspires that kind of emotional reaction is not only one worth reading, but one worth talking about. 
 I also really loved Lexi. I adored her independence, her stubbornness and how no matter how much the camp pushed her, she was determined to always push back, at least a little, so that she wouldn't lose herself entirely. She goes willingly to the camp in an effort to fix her relationship with her mom. I think that sense of guilt and of family responsibility is something a lot of people can relate to - gay or straight. 
 And last but not least, in the heart of all this abuse and tragedy and heartache, is a love story. A story of two people coming together, even though circumstances are against them. Even though it seems impossible. Lexi and Carolyn bond over the Great Gatsby and I love when people come together through a shared reading experience. Their brief moments of happiness really helped to break up the tension and sadness of the rest of the book. 
 The Summer I Wasn't Me will make you angry. It will frustrate you and unsettle you. But it will also inspire you and warm your heart. The characters Jessica Verdi has created are ones that will stay with you long after you go on this journey with them. It's an important and necessary book and one that I can't recommend enough.