I very often find chick books very boring. Kind of merengue-like--- all fluff, meandering around endless descriptions of the curtains and how everybody feels all the time, and banging on about EVERY little detail of social life ad nauseum, discussing forever 'what it all means' (FYI: I'm not a chick).
'Summer Psychic', which I bought sort of 'accidentally' (it was on the 3 for 2 table at the book shop, and I needed a third), was surpsingly good. Actually, it was very good, which was a surprise. Unlike many of her novelist sisters, Jessica Adams seems to understand the male mind, and the male world. She throws that in together with the female world, so us guys get to have an inside voice from the ladies. The story was solid. It moved along with a brisk pace. And, unusual for a relationship book, there were times toward the end where I was actually nervous for the characters.
Another thing I liked about Adams' book was the way she dealt with psychic phenomena. Her descriptions and use of the arena were consitent with my own experiences over the past 20-odd years. To me, anyway, it had the ring of truth to it.
Further, the story was sweet. And interesting. Whether you're a girl or a guy, you might find it engaging. I could see a bit of myself in the situations and people--- and that is certainly one important thing many of us try to get from a movie or a book. We like it when we can find something in the story that speaks to us in our own world. Some males can write for both females and males, and vice versa. But is that real common? I don't think. it happens, sure, but very often does not. So when I find a chick writer (such as Susan Isaacs, Diana Gabaldon, for example) that seems to LIKE me, and understands me, and helps me learn more things about myself, etc., I say grab that person's work and enjoy it. Jessica Adams, in my view, is such a writer.
It's corny and soppy to say--- but by having characters go through this and that--- and we'd hope that some of them resolve difficulties, and grow and heal and get nice results, etc.--- it is something we personally can identify with. We can feel as if we 'learned' something. 'Psychic Summer' had all that for me.
I am not a fan of astrology (IMHO, it's a bit whispy, vague, and pointless), and I read that Adams writes about that regularly. But that's cool. It's not my thing, and 'Summer Psychic' is devoid of any mentions of Saturn or Uranus (haha). I appreciated that.
Overall, a very, very nice book to read in your free time. More than a mere trifle--- when you're done reading it, not only will you have had a good time with an absorbing book, but you may feel a little better about yourself and the world. I did.