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Summer Boys #1
Summer Boys
From the creators of Gossip Girl comes a fresh, edgy take on teenage romance. Three interconnected stories explore the different stages of love over the course of one summer on the seashore.
It's summer. It's hot. And it's time to hook up.
Cousins Ella, Beth, and Jamie are at their family's beach house, and they're gearing up for the wildest time of their lives. Sassy Ella is majorly crushing on a cute older boy—who just happens to be her sister's new boyfriend. Meanwhile, practical Beth is surprised when she finds herself falling for her best friend George. And shy, creative Jamie gets her heart broken when her summer love abandons her.
Three girls, too many boys, and some seriously stormy romances ... it all adds up to one unforgettable summer.
It's summer. It's hot. And it's time to hook up.
Cousins Ella, Beth, and Jamie are at their family's beach house, and they're gearing up for the wildest time of their lives. Sassy Ella is majorly crushing on a cute older boy—who just happens to be her sister's new boyfriend. Meanwhile, practical Beth is surprised when she finds herself falling for her best friend George. And shy, creative Jamie gets her heart broken when her summer love abandons her.
Three girls, too many boys, and some seriously stormy romances ... it all adds up to one unforgettable summer.
214 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
128 people are currently reading
7903 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Abbott
25 books739 followersHailey Abbott grew up in Southern California, where she split her time between creative writing and creative beaching. She is the author of Summer Boys, Next Summer: A Summer Boys Novel, The Bridesmaid, Getting Lost with Boys, and The Secrets of Boys. Hailey now lives in New York City.
Her first book was Summer Boys, published in 2004, the first of a series. It was described as "escapist beach reading" by the School Library Journal.
Her first book was Summer Boys, published in 2004, the first of a series. It was described as "escapist beach reading" by the School Library Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 306 reviews
April 9, 2012
A few years ago, before I had discovered the joys of internet shopping and book availability really depended on what I could find in - usually department - stores, I really wanted to read this. I never got around to buying it though, because I thought it would be too trashy for my tastes. Now, with the wonderful evolution of ebooks, I picked it up pretty cheaply and gave it a go. So what was the verdict?
Well, it was trashy, but not in a hide-this-somewhere-where-it-won't-embarrass-you-if-someone-finds-it-and-asks-you-ALL-about-it kind of way, just more in a easy going holiday read sort of way. Which is a good thing, if you are after that.
Some of it - like the way it was written and the setting - was reminiscent of the Peaches series by Jodi Lynn Anderson, or the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants books, by Ann Brashares, but not quite in the same grade.
The characters were quite likeable and real. They all made mistakes but figured it out in the end. Some things didn't get completely out in the open, in Ella's case, but maybe she will fess up further along in the series?
Still, it was good and one day I will get around to reading the rest of these books.
Well, it was trashy, but not in a hide-this-somewhere-where-it-won't-embarrass-you-if-someone-finds-it-and-asks-you-ALL-about-it kind of way, just more in a easy going holiday read sort of way. Which is a good thing, if you are after that.
Some of it - like the way it was written and the setting - was reminiscent of the Peaches series by Jodi Lynn Anderson, or the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants books, by Ann Brashares, but not quite in the same grade.
The characters were quite likeable and real. They all made mistakes but figured it out in the end. Some things didn't get completely out in the open, in Ella's case, but maybe she will fess up further along in the series?
Still, it was good and one day I will get around to reading the rest of these books.
October 3, 2014
Just, no.
April 24, 2008
"Summer Boys" by Hailey Abbott was a "must read" according to my friend Christina. I went with her opinion and picked it up and befor I knew it I couldn't put it down. Three cousins: Ella (the beautiful one that gets any guy she wants), Beth (the one that cares more about sports then the way people see her), and Jamie (the one that wants to look for a summer love, but the one she falls for was right in front of her face for the past cupple of years). They spend every summer together at Pebble Beach, but this summer they are looking for their summer flings.
The first night they are at the beach, Ella sees a lead singer of a band and MUST have him. After the show she goes to find her sister. When she finds her, Peter (the lead singer) is there flirting with her sister. Peter and Kelsi (Ella's sister) end up dating, but Ella can't get him out of her mind. Should she make a move on Peter or stay true to her sister?
Jamie found her summer love last summer and they had a long distant relationship for the past year. When she gets to Pebble Beach, the first thing is to find Ethan. They spend a few days together and then he starts pushing her away. Soon enough he pulls the whole "lets just be friends" thing and Jamie's heart gets broken. She doesn't get out of bed for the next cupple of days but then she thinks, "what better way to get back at him then hook up with one of his freinds." Should she try to hurt Ethan like he hurt her or just try to be friends with him?
Beth brought her best friend, George, along with her this summer. But one day at the beach this girl Cara starts hitting on him. Beth just thinks it's crazy that someone could think that he is cute. They start spending more and more time together and it drives Beth up the wall. Then she relizes, she's in love with George and she's jellous of Cara. Should she try to break them up and steal George back or should she let him be happy with who he is already with?
I loved how one chapter it was in Beth's perspective and then the next was in Jamie's and then it went to Ella's. I could relate to all three of the situations and it kept me reading to see what happens next.
The first night they are at the beach, Ella sees a lead singer of a band and MUST have him. After the show she goes to find her sister. When she finds her, Peter (the lead singer) is there flirting with her sister. Peter and Kelsi (Ella's sister) end up dating, but Ella can't get him out of her mind. Should she make a move on Peter or stay true to her sister?
Jamie found her summer love last summer and they had a long distant relationship for the past year. When she gets to Pebble Beach, the first thing is to find Ethan. They spend a few days together and then he starts pushing her away. Soon enough he pulls the whole "lets just be friends" thing and Jamie's heart gets broken. She doesn't get out of bed for the next cupple of days but then she thinks, "what better way to get back at him then hook up with one of his freinds." Should she try to hurt Ethan like he hurt her or just try to be friends with him?
Beth brought her best friend, George, along with her this summer. But one day at the beach this girl Cara starts hitting on him. Beth just thinks it's crazy that someone could think that he is cute. They start spending more and more time together and it drives Beth up the wall. Then she relizes, she's in love with George and she's jellous of Cara. Should she try to break them up and steal George back or should she let him be happy with who he is already with?
I loved how one chapter it was in Beth's perspective and then the next was in Jamie's and then it went to Ella's. I could relate to all three of the situations and it kept me reading to see what happens next.
January 4, 2018
Summer Boys,/I> is from three different point of views: Ella, Beth, and Jamie. They have one thing in common: boy drama.
Ella is considered the beautiful one who can most likely get any guy she wants. Beth is the one that cares more about sports than the way people look at her. Then there's Jamie who wants a summer love and thought she found the one. Oh, and they are all cousins.
This book kind of made me love and hate it at the same time. I just felt like Jamie was kind of whiny because her boyfriend was sort of "pushing" her away. I mean they didn't live near each other and only really met once a year at the beach, so I don't really understand why she doesn't want to appear clingy but she really is. They are different people so I completely understand that he didn't drop all of his summer plans just because she was coming to visit her family for the summer. Plus they were about to go off to college so in a way they are basically testing the limits of their relationship. Eventually her relationship with Ethan goes wrong and she has to figure out how to deal with everything.
Then there's Ella, who I love because she doesn't using boys for her benefit or playing with them. She just wants one special guy and you kind of end up rooting for her to find him. Well, I did. She was pretty much my favorite out of the three girls. I did end up liking Beth but I was mostly just rooting for her to fall in love with her best friend. She didn't really have to look anywhere for her perfect guy, not like Beth. I probably would've liked Jamie more if she didn't seem so whiny to me.
Overall, I ended up really liking this book and I will definitely be looking for more books written by Hailey Abbott.
Ella is considered the beautiful one who can most likely get any guy she wants. Beth is the one that cares more about sports than the way people look at her. Then there's Jamie who wants a summer love and thought she found the one. Oh, and they are all cousins.
This book kind of made me love and hate it at the same time. I just felt like Jamie was kind of whiny because her boyfriend was sort of "pushing" her away. I mean they didn't live near each other and only really met once a year at the beach, so I don't really understand why she doesn't want to appear clingy but she really is. They are different people so I completely understand that he didn't drop all of his summer plans just because she was coming to visit her family for the summer. Plus they were about to go off to college so in a way they are basically testing the limits of their relationship. Eventually her relationship with Ethan goes wrong and she has to figure out how to deal with everything.
Then there's Ella, who I love because she doesn't using boys for her benefit or playing with them. She just wants one special guy and you kind of end up rooting for her to find him. Well, I did. She was pretty much my favorite out of the three girls. I did end up liking Beth but I was mostly just rooting for her to fall in love with her best friend. She didn't really have to look anywhere for her perfect guy, not like Beth. I probably would've liked Jamie more if she didn't seem so whiny to me.
Overall, I ended up really liking this book and I will definitely be looking for more books written by Hailey Abbott.
March 2, 2018
"Oh God, everybody's stupid," Beth gushed. "You need to find a guy who lets you know it's okay to be stupid."
Silly, light. You go into this book knowing it's an easy, summer read. This is a story about a group of female cousins. They go to Pebble Beach every year and spend the time together. It's told from 3 different points of view: Beth, Ella and Jamie. They learn a lot about themselves and a lot about each every summer as they muddle their way through romance and friendships and the inevitable ending of summer and going home.
Silly, light. You go into this book knowing it's an easy, summer read. This is a story about a group of female cousins. They go to Pebble Beach every year and spend the time together. It's told from 3 different points of view: Beth, Ella and Jamie. They learn a lot about themselves and a lot about each every summer as they muddle their way through romance and friendships and the inevitable ending of summer and going home.
January 20, 2011
I believe this book was an a-okay book. I didn't really like it AND I didn't really hate it. But I believe it deserves a 2 and 1/2 stars. Reasons? Well...
First, I didn't like how the P.O.V. changes. I don't think it had a pattern of who P.O.V. it was. (Like some books, they switch from one character to another.) It always confuse me and I always have to read the back to think which character is speaking. And after a few chapters, I will still be confuse...
While we are talking about characters...
~Ella - I don't like her. I don't like her personality and attitude. Escpecially when she was the cheater in the relationship even tho her sister was happy with Peter (i hope that was the name?) But what I hated her the most is when she secretly dated (and didnt told her sister) and had sex with Peter. And after that she founds out he was cheater on both of them. Even tho she said she will stop dating for a while. But we all know that's not gonna work and that karma will kick her in the butt.
~Beth - A sweet girl who believe she can't like her best (guy) friend, but she like him anyways even tho he is with someone. Beth is a nice character, even tho she gets jealous a lot. And for some odd reason I think she puts a lot of drama and concerns before she realizes that George likes her too. She gets mad easily and it's funny how she didn't see the signs before that he like her. But they made it thru and they got together. And I think they are a cute couple :)
~And Jamie - A girl who got heartbroken by her love. O.K. I'm being honest, but Jamie was blah... What I mean blah is that she was a character that was there. I know that she was in bad times since she got depress because of the break up but she pull thru. But I think she was a main character just to be there and nothing more. And please don't kill me Jamie's fans, but that how I view her.
My opinion for the author...
I wish that Hailly Abbott gave more realistic to each characters. Something that might relate (even tho there is a lot to relate to from each characters) Escpeically the minors characters too. The minors were just there to be there and be minory (Is that a word?) It just seems eh to me.
And otherall, this why I rated 2 and a half (but it has to be 3, I guess)
First, I didn't like how the P.O.V. changes. I don't think it had a pattern of who P.O.V. it was. (Like some books, they switch from one character to another.) It always confuse me and I always have to read the back to think which character is speaking. And after a few chapters, I will still be confuse...
While we are talking about characters...
~Ella - I don't like her. I don't like her personality and attitude. Escpecially when she was the cheater in the relationship even tho her sister was happy with Peter (i hope that was the name?) But what I hated her the most is when she secretly dated (and didnt told her sister) and had sex with Peter. And after that she founds out he was cheater on both of them. Even tho she said she will stop dating for a while. But we all know that's not gonna work and that karma will kick her in the butt.
~Beth - A sweet girl who believe she can't like her best (guy) friend, but she like him anyways even tho he is with someone. Beth is a nice character, even tho she gets jealous a lot. And for some odd reason I think she puts a lot of drama and concerns before she realizes that George likes her too. She gets mad easily and it's funny how she didn't see the signs before that he like her. But they made it thru and they got together. And I think they are a cute couple :)
~And Jamie - A girl who got heartbroken by her love. O.K. I'm being honest, but Jamie was blah... What I mean blah is that she was a character that was there. I know that she was in bad times since she got depress because of the break up but she pull thru. But I think she was a main character just to be there and nothing more. And please don't kill me Jamie's fans, but that how I view her.
My opinion for the author...
I wish that Hailly Abbott gave more realistic to each characters. Something that might relate (even tho there is a lot to relate to from each characters) Escpeically the minors characters too. The minors were just there to be there and be minory (Is that a word?) It just seems eh to me.
And otherall, this why I rated 2 and a half (but it has to be 3, I guess)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
i finished this in less than 24 hours and its the perfect summer read. i felt all the vibes from any 2000’s summer book/show and i really liked it.
only one of the couples was worth anything by the end but whatever there was lots of drama to make up for it. i preferred george and beth’s story and ella’s was my least favourite because that was foul.
let’s just say im getting the rest of the series from the library asap.
only one of the couples was worth anything by the end but whatever there was lots of drama to make up for it. i preferred george and beth’s story and ella’s was my least favourite because that was foul.
let’s just say im getting the rest of the series from the library asap.
August 27, 2023
This was the longest 200 pages of my life
July 15, 2024
I am reading at least the first 2 Summer Boys so I can read Kara's review of book 2.
Had a hard time keeping track of who was who... lots of teen summer drama with TV show vibes - beach, parties, drinking, hooking up, no parents, etc... and who didn't see the George thing coming? Poor Cara.
Had a hard time keeping track of who was who... lots of teen summer drama with TV show vibes - beach, parties, drinking, hooking up, no parents, etc... and who didn't see the George thing coming? Poor Cara.
January 11, 2011
This book is about three teenage girls and there summer at pebble beach. It's also about their relationships they get in with guys. Each chapter is about three different girls. They are all best friends. One of the the girls Ella is super pretty and all the guys like her but one. Ella like him a lot but he is dating her older sister so her chapter is about that. Beth cares about sports and how she looks. Beth has been dating this guy Ethan since last summer but it all goes wrong in the end. Jaime has her best friend up there with her but... he's a guy, she all of a sudden realizes through out the book that she likes him more than just a friend!
I LOVED this book it's amazing. It's so suspenseful you can never put it down. I loved all the characters in this book. It's a series so I can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this book to any girl. Especially the ones that are a little boy crazy :).And there are some steamy parts! So if your up for a great book that makes you crack up and at some points a little sad, but loves happy endings then you must read this book. It's also easy to read and keeps you hooked! Some chapters will leave you hanging so all you wanna do is get to that second chapter to hear the rest of the other girls story. I loved that about this book.
The author did a really great job writing this. If you liked the gossip girl books then you'll love this.She really know's how to keep you hooked and seems to know a lot about how us girls think. What I also love is that she's written a whole series on these books so you can still go back for more! It's great, she is a great author and I will definitely be reading more books by her.
I LOVED this book it's amazing. It's so suspenseful you can never put it down. I loved all the characters in this book. It's a series so I can't wait to read the next one. I would recommend this book to any girl. Especially the ones that are a little boy crazy :).And there are some steamy parts! So if your up for a great book that makes you crack up and at some points a little sad, but loves happy endings then you must read this book. It's also easy to read and keeps you hooked! Some chapters will leave you hanging so all you wanna do is get to that second chapter to hear the rest of the other girls story. I loved that about this book.
The author did a really great job writing this. If you liked the gossip girl books then you'll love this.She really know's how to keep you hooked and seems to know a lot about how us girls think. What I also love is that she's written a whole series on these books so you can still go back for more! It's great, she is a great author and I will definitely be reading more books by her.
April 11, 2022
I aspire to live like these girls when i’m their age soon. august by taylor swift but not at the same time. why do i feel empty? why did it have to end with summer ending i physically hate that feeling and they were all packed up to go i hate goodbyes so much but this book was so good everything a about coming of age teenage girls enthralls me
November 10, 2010
So cliche. No plot or story. Only good if you want to read about physical romance and teenage behavior (which I wanted at the time, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it out). Not worth your time...? I'll read the next few in the series and see if it makes more sense. And I will get back to you.
July 25, 2022
Is this a reasonable rating? Maybe exaggerated, but I had a blast reading this book. I went to the beach with some friends and we took turns reading each chapter out loud. It was hilarious to read a bunch of high schoolers just be so wild and so down bad and simpy. The manipulation was just hilarious. I had a fantastic time reading this book. I'll be a core memory.
June 14, 2022
I'm 15 years old again and still love this book. Probably a bad case of nostalgia but I don't care. I'm going to read the next 3 asap
July 11, 2023
AS A JOKE
March 16, 2017
This book “Summer Boys” by Hailey Abbott is about 3 girls with 3 different types of personalities.Ella is the really pretty one that can get any boy she wants but the one she wants is her sister’s boyfriend. Beth is more laid back and doesn't really care about what people think of her, and this year she decides to bring her “friend” George to the beach she doesn't even like george like that but the more she hangs out with him she starts liking him ….. Jamie is the one who’s looking for a summer lover, because the one she met the year before broke her heart and told her “we should just be friends” and slowly pushed her away.now that he dropped her she's thinking if she should do the same thing and hurt him back just to get back at him.These 3 girls have been going to the beach every summer just to find a lover.I give this book a 5 star.I think the message behind the text is that you have to wait for love and can't force anything if it's not meant to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 23, 2009 Hot, steamy, and lustful. "Summer Boys" by Hailey Abbot captivated my heart and mind.
A book about three girls, cousins, who all go to the beach in Maine to spend the summer with their big happy family. An every year tradition gets a little mixed up as they begin to mature. Ella, being the fun, flirty, girl who gets all the boys’ attention and dresses top of the line. Beth, athletic and humble, quite opposite of Ella, but her attraction to her best friend get hot and heavy, things get complicated. Jamie, cute and fun and most of all in love. She fell for a guy last summer and held onto the relationship for a whole year until this summer. I love how each relationship and friendship is deeply described. I felt as if I was in the book. The style was confusing at first, but I got the hang of it very quickly, each chapter alternates focusing on a different girl and her adventures.
"Next Summer" is the sequel; I can’t wait to begin reading it and discover the new summer love affairs.
A book about three girls, cousins, who all go to the beach in Maine to spend the summer with their big happy family. An every year tradition gets a little mixed up as they begin to mature. Ella, being the fun, flirty, girl who gets all the boys’ attention and dresses top of the line. Beth, athletic and humble, quite opposite of Ella, but her attraction to her best friend get hot and heavy, things get complicated. Jamie, cute and fun and most of all in love. She fell for a guy last summer and held onto the relationship for a whole year until this summer. I love how each relationship and friendship is deeply described. I felt as if I was in the book. The style was confusing at first, but I got the hang of it very quickly, each chapter alternates focusing on a different girl and her adventures.
"Next Summer" is the sequel; I can’t wait to begin reading it and discover the new summer love affairs.
October 7, 2013
Cousins Ella, Beth, and Jamie spend their summer at Pebble Beach in Maine along with the rest of the Tuttle family, each falling for their own "summer boy." I chose this book because I love romance novels, and I was pleased with the reading; the plot intrigued me from the start. The author's writing style was superior, however, I didn't like that each chapter was told from different perspectives. For example, one chapter would be telling Jamie's story, followed by Ella, then Beth. At the beginning, it was a bit bewildering, and towards the climactic moments I would want to skip the chapters and just focus on one character. My favorite quote was stated by Jamie, "I knew now that there were certain things you had to let go. But that didn't mean they ever had to leave you." I love this quote because throughout summer they each had distinctive experiences; some in which they realized weren't meant to last forever. Although people change, the memories will always be there. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and has a good understanding of complex plots.
November 22, 2022
Read for Popsugar Reading Challenge “book with a summer romance”
Yeah, I might be 30 years too old for this one. It was ridiculous fluff and not even fun fluff. It’s basically three cousins swanning about some beach town wondering if three boys lurrrrrvvvvvvvveeeee them back.
You know nothing about the three girls. They basically pop into existence sometime in July and there is zero backstory on their lives outside of which halter top they are wearing that day.
There are so many brand names in this (circa 2005) that I really hope the author got a kickback.
Dentyne Ice ✔️
Juicy Couture shorts ✔️
Ambercrombie t-shirt ✔️
Smirnoff Ice ✔️
Bath & Body Works ✔️
Jergins ✔️
And then when you’ve recovered from all the product placement you are assaulted with all the pop culture references:
“Hilton Sisters” ✔️
Avril ✔️
Christina ✔️
Regis and Kelly ✔️
This book was barely 200 pages and I’m exhausted.
Yeah, I might be 30 years too old for this one. It was ridiculous fluff and not even fun fluff. It’s basically three cousins swanning about some beach town wondering if three boys lurrrrrvvvvvvvveeeee them back.
You know nothing about the three girls. They basically pop into existence sometime in July and there is zero backstory on their lives outside of which halter top they are wearing that day.
There are so many brand names in this (circa 2005) that I really hope the author got a kickback.
Dentyne Ice ✔️
Juicy Couture shorts ✔️
Ambercrombie t-shirt ✔️
Smirnoff Ice ✔️
Bath & Body Works ✔️
Jergins ✔️
And then when you’ve recovered from all the product placement you are assaulted with all the pop culture references:
“Hilton Sisters” ✔️
Avril ✔️
Christina ✔️
Regis and Kelly ✔️
This book was barely 200 pages and I’m exhausted.
August 14, 2011
First time I encountered the term "skinny-dipping". LOL
From the creators of GOSSIP GIRL comes a fresh, edgy take on teenage romance. Three interconnected stories explore the different stages of love over the course of one summer on the seashore.
It's summer. It's hot. And it's time to hook up.
Cousins Ella, Beth, and Jamie are at their family's beach house, and they're gearing up for the wildest time of their lives. Sassy Ella is majorly crushing on a cute older boy -- who just happens to be her sister's new boyfriend. Meanwhile, practical Beth is surprised when she finds herself falling for her best friend George. And shy, creative Jamie gets her heart broken when her summer love abandons her.
Three girls, too many boys, and some seriously stormy romances...it all adds up to one unforgettable summer.
From the creators of GOSSIP GIRL comes a fresh, edgy take on teenage romance. Three interconnected stories explore the different stages of love over the course of one summer on the seashore.
It's summer. It's hot. And it's time to hook up.
Cousins Ella, Beth, and Jamie are at their family's beach house, and they're gearing up for the wildest time of their lives. Sassy Ella is majorly crushing on a cute older boy -- who just happens to be her sister's new boyfriend. Meanwhile, practical Beth is surprised when she finds herself falling for her best friend George. And shy, creative Jamie gets her heart broken when her summer love abandons her.
Three girls, too many boys, and some seriously stormy romances...it all adds up to one unforgettable summer.
February 28, 2012
Alyssa Morres
Romance
"Summer Boys" is a novel about best friends becoming lovers, breakups, jealousy, and anything else you can think of in a relationship. It is narrated by each girl character and talks about each of their experiences. Very well written book and it really portrays the issues in which young couples go through when dating, or even on summer relationships. Abbott really catches the true essences of teens in love and lust.
Romance
"Summer Boys" is a novel about best friends becoming lovers, breakups, jealousy, and anything else you can think of in a relationship. It is narrated by each girl character and talks about each of their experiences. Very well written book and it really portrays the issues in which young couples go through when dating, or even on summer relationships. Abbott really catches the true essences of teens in love and lust.
March 5, 2014
Es un 2.5, es un libro para pasar un rato nada más. Se siente como una película juvenil y ya. Es entretenido pero no tiene algo que lo haga único o diferente. Son aventuras y desventuras amorosas, con triángulos amorosos, rompimientos,traiciones, los mejores amigos que se aman etc. o sea cosas muy cliché. No es malo pero pues no creo que siga con la saga, no me atraparon ni la historia ni los personajes.
December 17, 2012
This book was donated to the Library and I read it to see if it was appropriate for our students. It's definitely acceptable for Young Aduls --just not very good. Many of the situations seemed contrived and unreal, and it is only the lovely descriptions of the New England coast in the summer which made me complete the reading. This is no Gossip Girl, believe me.
February 21, 2025
Young me loved this book and it always stuck with me for some reason. Just reread as an adult and it was a sweet little story about young girls navigating evolving relationships. Definitely made me nostalgic and now I want to rent a beach house in Maine.
January 6, 2020
Lol I really liked this series when I was a teen. So I’m giving it stars based on then.
June 15, 2024
Horrrrrrrible but read it cause I’m zesty
July 23, 2025
Initial Thoughts:
Honestly, I put this on my TBR when I was sixteen—and now, ten years later? It did not age well. First off, can Abbott please define what “hooking up” means? Because for Ella it clearly means sex, but for Beth, it might just mean kissing? Maybe she did go all the way, but if so, that’s a big jump from a first kiss to full-on sex within an hour. Either way, these teenagers are moving way too fast.
I liked the concept of the novel: three cousins, three POVs, one summer in a beach town they return to every year. Sounds promising. What I didn’t like? The complete lack of depth in both the relationships and the storytelling. These girls supposedly spend every summer in this town, yet there are no long-standing friendships with locals, no old flings hanging around, not even a familiar face. Only Jamie seems to have any past history in Pebble Beach—she dated a guy last summer. That’s it? After years of visiting, that’s the only connection?
The cousins barely interact, which makes their stories feel like isolated novellas more than a shared novel. Beth could honestly be at a completely different beach. Even when Ella and Jamie cross paths, it’s irrelevant to their own arcs. When the next chapter starts, it's like those interactions never even happened. It’s fluffier than a hotel pillow, but at least Abbott labels it honestly: a light summer read.
Characters:
We follow three cousins—Ella, Beth, and Jamie—each told in third person. And I’ll be real: I hate third person for this kind of book. It robs us of the juicy inner monologue we need when teens are being messy. And these girls are so messy.
Let’s start with Ella. She's the worst—and somehow, also the most entertaining. Self-centered, selfish, and completely unaware of the chaos she causes, she moves through the beach town like a walking cautionary tale. She pursues her sister’s summer fling without a shred of hesitation. Does Abbott give us real consequences or some much-needed self-awareness from Ella? Not really. We get a half-hearted redemption arc in the final few pages, but it’s too little, too late.
Compared to Ella, Beth and Jamie are angels. Jamie’s just sad, sweet, and trying to win back the guy who ghosted her—a little pathetic, a little relatable. She makes cringey teenage decisions, but you can’t stay mad at her. Beth is the classic “mean to the one she likes” trope, and honestly? I support her.
Plot and Writing:
Each girl has her own plotline—separate, and rarely overlapping. Which is wild, considering they’re cousins staying in the same place. Wouldn’t they hang out? Gossip? Warn each other about the sketchy townies?
Beth’s story is the classic best-friend-to-lover arc, sparked only when she sees him flirting with another girl. It’s predictable, tame, and conflict-free. Jamie’s plot centers on trying to win back her summer boyfriend, which mostly involves internal moping and a few misguided attempts at seduction. Not problematic, just kind of sad.
Ella, on the other hand, brings the drama. She sets her sights on Peter—who, in case you missed it, is her older sister’s summer fling. It’s messy, gross, and probably the only reason I kept reading. She’s just that chaotic.
The writing itself is breezy and easy to follow. Abbott’s choice to start each chapter with the character’s name helps, even if the POVs don’t interact. Structurally, it’s clean and simple. But that simplicity is also its downfall—there’s no real depth, stakes, or payoff.
Conclusion:
This is the definition of a light summer read: no depth, lots of drama, and just enough scandal to keep you flipping pages. With three storylines (none of which actually connect), you get a best-friend-to-lover, a breakup recovery arc, and a cringey “I stole my sister’s guy” plot that somehow ends with a redemption moment. You’ll roll your eyes—but you’ll probably finish it.
Will I remember this by the end of summer? Absolutely not. But for under 200 pages, it was fun enough. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been mad if the ocean swept it away—it would float, thanks to how fluffy it is.
Honestly, I put this on my TBR when I was sixteen—and now, ten years later? It did not age well. First off, can Abbott please define what “hooking up” means? Because for Ella it clearly means sex, but for Beth, it might just mean kissing? Maybe she did go all the way, but if so, that’s a big jump from a first kiss to full-on sex within an hour. Either way, these teenagers are moving way too fast.
I liked the concept of the novel: three cousins, three POVs, one summer in a beach town they return to every year. Sounds promising. What I didn’t like? The complete lack of depth in both the relationships and the storytelling. These girls supposedly spend every summer in this town, yet there are no long-standing friendships with locals, no old flings hanging around, not even a familiar face. Only Jamie seems to have any past history in Pebble Beach—she dated a guy last summer. That’s it? After years of visiting, that’s the only connection?
The cousins barely interact, which makes their stories feel like isolated novellas more than a shared novel. Beth could honestly be at a completely different beach. Even when Ella and Jamie cross paths, it’s irrelevant to their own arcs. When the next chapter starts, it's like those interactions never even happened. It’s fluffier than a hotel pillow, but at least Abbott labels it honestly: a light summer read.
Characters:
We follow three cousins—Ella, Beth, and Jamie—each told in third person. And I’ll be real: I hate third person for this kind of book. It robs us of the juicy inner monologue we need when teens are being messy. And these girls are so messy.
Let’s start with Ella. She's the worst—and somehow, also the most entertaining. Self-centered, selfish, and completely unaware of the chaos she causes, she moves through the beach town like a walking cautionary tale. She pursues her sister’s summer fling without a shred of hesitation. Does Abbott give us real consequences or some much-needed self-awareness from Ella? Not really. We get a half-hearted redemption arc in the final few pages, but it’s too little, too late.
Compared to Ella, Beth and Jamie are angels. Jamie’s just sad, sweet, and trying to win back the guy who ghosted her—a little pathetic, a little relatable. She makes cringey teenage decisions, but you can’t stay mad at her. Beth is the classic “mean to the one she likes” trope, and honestly? I support her.
Plot and Writing:
Each girl has her own plotline—separate, and rarely overlapping. Which is wild, considering they’re cousins staying in the same place. Wouldn’t they hang out? Gossip? Warn each other about the sketchy townies?
Beth’s story is the classic best-friend-to-lover arc, sparked only when she sees him flirting with another girl. It’s predictable, tame, and conflict-free. Jamie’s plot centers on trying to win back her summer boyfriend, which mostly involves internal moping and a few misguided attempts at seduction. Not problematic, just kind of sad.
Ella, on the other hand, brings the drama. She sets her sights on Peter—who, in case you missed it, is her older sister’s summer fling. It’s messy, gross, and probably the only reason I kept reading. She’s just that chaotic.
The writing itself is breezy and easy to follow. Abbott’s choice to start each chapter with the character’s name helps, even if the POVs don’t interact. Structurally, it’s clean and simple. But that simplicity is also its downfall—there’s no real depth, stakes, or payoff.
Conclusion:
This is the definition of a light summer read: no depth, lots of drama, and just enough scandal to keep you flipping pages. With three storylines (none of which actually connect), you get a best-friend-to-lover, a breakup recovery arc, and a cringey “I stole my sister’s guy” plot that somehow ends with a redemption moment. You’ll roll your eyes—but you’ll probably finish it.
Will I remember this by the end of summer? Absolutely not. But for under 200 pages, it was fun enough. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been mad if the ocean swept it away—it would float, thanks to how fluffy it is.
December 16, 2021
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This book was hard to read at first. The characters were not drastically different to start. Once I could tell the characters apart, which only happened after the boys became a part of the story, the book got more interesting. The fact that the three main girls were hard to tell apart until boys were around shows a lack of development of the female characters which is surprising coming from, I’m assuming, a female author.
The most interesting plot line was Jamie’s. She was dating the guy she met last summer, but in the middle of the summer he tells her that they were never dating. She goes wild and breaks into his house and smashes his stuff and hooks up with his friend. Another, clearly, unhealthy depiction of a relationship.
Beth has the classic girl falls for the close guy friend that she never expected to like. Of course they only get together when he gets drunk. Before they get together Beth is super jealous and that is seen as natural. Yet another example of an unhealthy relationship.
Ella has a more interesting plot line that Beth. She is crushing after the guy her older virginal sister gets with. She half tries to steal him, half to get attention and half to get him. She sleeps with him right after she finds out that her sister was thinking about it, but got dumped before she could. The big twist with this one is also expected and show how much a skeeze the guy is.
So this book wasn’t a bad read, but I am getting tired of only seeing unhealthy relationships. There can be flawed relationships, but these are unhealthy ones portrayed as ideal (Beth) or hot (Ella), and that there are different ways to react to a break up (Jamie vs the older sister of Ella).
This book was hard to read at first. The characters were not drastically different to start. Once I could tell the characters apart, which only happened after the boys became a part of the story, the book got more interesting. The fact that the three main girls were hard to tell apart until boys were around shows a lack of development of the female characters which is surprising coming from, I’m assuming, a female author.
The most interesting plot line was Jamie’s. She was dating the guy she met last summer, but in the middle of the summer he tells her that they were never dating. She goes wild and breaks into his house and smashes his stuff and hooks up with his friend. Another, clearly, unhealthy depiction of a relationship.
Beth has the classic girl falls for the close guy friend that she never expected to like. Of course they only get together when he gets drunk. Before they get together Beth is super jealous and that is seen as natural. Yet another example of an unhealthy relationship.
Ella has a more interesting plot line that Beth. She is crushing after the guy her older virginal sister gets with. She half tries to steal him, half to get attention and half to get him. She sleeps with him right after she finds out that her sister was thinking about it, but got dumped before she could. The big twist with this one is also expected and show how much a skeeze the guy is.
So this book wasn’t a bad read, but I am getting tired of only seeing unhealthy relationships. There can be flawed relationships, but these are unhealthy ones portrayed as ideal (Beth) or hot (Ella), and that there are different ways to react to a break up (Jamie vs the older sister of Ella).
June 26, 2025
If you are someone who enjoys books filled with Summer love and drama- this book is for you.
My mom gave me this book sometime around last year I believe, and I wasn’t expecting to ever pick it up off of my bookshelf. You see, I was in the middle of the Harry Potter series, and I kinda needed an in-between-book. “Summer Boys” by Hailey Abott was the book that I eventually settled on. So, I began reading this book whilst sitting on my bed, not expecting to get farther than 15 pages into the book. But I flipped page after page, entranced in what I later realized was a pretty good book.
So I continuously read this book for roughly three hours, up until the moment that I was finished with this book. I finished the whole entire book in one sitting- which isnt new for me. It wasn’t one of those books that made you stare at the wall endlessly, wondering why it was that ending or why it ended on a cliffhanger like that. So, I went and put “Summer Boys” on my bookshelf (in the “read” section) and continued Year 3 of Harry Potter.
Anyways, I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. I was prepared to say that this book had potential, but honestly, this book was good as is. I may even go as far to read the next book, “Next Summer,” I believe it’s called.
Thank you for this quick and dramatics-filled story, Hailey Abott!! I am forever appreciative!
My mom gave me this book sometime around last year I believe, and I wasn’t expecting to ever pick it up off of my bookshelf. You see, I was in the middle of the Harry Potter series, and I kinda needed an in-between-book. “Summer Boys” by Hailey Abott was the book that I eventually settled on. So, I began reading this book whilst sitting on my bed, not expecting to get farther than 15 pages into the book. But I flipped page after page, entranced in what I later realized was a pretty good book.
So I continuously read this book for roughly three hours, up until the moment that I was finished with this book. I finished the whole entire book in one sitting- which isnt new for me. It wasn’t one of those books that made you stare at the wall endlessly, wondering why it was that ending or why it ended on a cliffhanger like that. So, I went and put “Summer Boys” on my bookshelf (in the “read” section) and continued Year 3 of Harry Potter.
Anyways, I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. I was prepared to say that this book had potential, but honestly, this book was good as is. I may even go as far to read the next book, “Next Summer,” I believe it’s called.
Thank you for this quick and dramatics-filled story, Hailey Abott!! I am forever appreciative!
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