What’s better than one book from an author you like? Two, released simultaneously!

Kind of cool, huh? That’s what Jenny O’Connell’s publisher is doing with her new young adult series “Island Summer.” The first two books “Local Girls” and “Rich Boys” were recently released and I’m excited to tell you about them for two reasons. One, Jenny is part of the Girlfriend’s Cyber Circuit and, two, I really liked her previous novel “The Book of Luke.”


Here’s a description of the two new books.

In LOCAL GIRLS, friendships are in danger of ending with the summer. Kendra and Mona are best friends, local girls who spend their summers catering to rich tourists and the rest of the year chafing against small-town life. Then Mona’s mom marries one of the island’s rich summer visitors, and Mona joins the world of the Boston elite, leaving Kendra and Martha’s Vineyard behind. When Mona returns the following summer, everything is different.

Unlike his sister, Mona’s twin brother Henry hasn’t changed.  He’s spending his summer the way he always has: with long, quiet hours fishing. Early mornings before work become special for Kendra as she starts sharing them with Henry, hoping he can help her figure Mona out. Then Kendra hatches a plan to prove she’s Mona’s one true friend: uncover the identity of the twins’ birth father, a question that has always obsessed Mona. And so she begins to unravel the seventeen-year-old mystery of the summer boy who charmed Mona’s mother. But it may prove to be a puzzle better left unsolved–as what she is about to discover will change their lives forever…

In RICH BOYS, Winnie jumps at the chance to babysit for a wealthy summer family and earn some extra money—but soon learns that life in the Barclay’s beautiful vacation home isn’t as perfect as it appears. And what was supposed to be a carefree summer quickly becomes more complicated than she ever thought possible.

Jenny’s also holding a t-shirt contest right now. Vist her blog and post a comment on your favorite summer memory in the contest post and voila — you’re entered to win!