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Camp Boyfriend #1.5
Camp Christmas
A novella from the authors of CAMP A teenage girl falls in love on a winter getaway with an unexpected boy from her past.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2013
247 people want to read
About the author
J.K. Rock
7 books340 followersJ. K. Rock is the pseudonym for the Young Adult writing partnership of Joanne Rock and Karen Rock. Their CAMP BOYFRIEND series recreates the magic of summer camp, first love, and friendships.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 20, 2013
I’d been looking forward to Camp Christmas by J.K. Rock for two reasons. One: because I’d had a taste of this dynamic duos writing before and trusted them to entertain. And two: because nothing quite beats Christmas reading like a Christmas themed story with snowy setting at Christmas.
Admittedly, this one didn’t feel quite as alluring as Camp Kiss and Camp Boyfriend, the prequel and first book in the series. I’m not quite sure if it’s because we switched to new MC’s and so had to start afresh with caring about new characters, or because this one didn’t seem to hold *quite* as much attention to detail as I’m used to from J.K. Rock, which almost made it feel as though we don’t get so much for our wordage in this one. However, regardless of this, or the reasons, I *did* enjoy this short novella.
Hannah took a little while to like, I’m afraid. Even though we’re given a hint that she doesn’t like how she or her friends behave, she still does it, and grasping a connection with a character who’s acting like a complete cow isn’t easy.
Luckily, this story has an ace up its sleeve, in the form of ‘King of Nerd’ Julian. From the off, we’re given a reason to like this dude. He’s friendly. He’s willing to see the best in people. He’s unselfish. He’s unafraid to be himself. And he’s (hats off to him) persistent.
Sure, I might’ve spent some of the novella hoping that Hannah doesn’t grow some balls and give him the time of day just to give him a reality call, as well as a narrow escape. However, the more we read on, the more we uncover the depths of Hannah (though I still don’t believe this condones her behaviour or attitude), and her character grows enough that we start to hope there might be some spark of something happening between them.
Going back to my earlier reference to this novella not seeming to hold as ‘much’ (not as much as Camp Kiss did, anyway)—I’m not sure if it was actually that this was the case, or just that it felt like there was so much more to be told. So, hoping it’s the latter (which it probably is), I would really like one of the future books to be an expansion of their story, because I really feel as though we need to know what we didn’t (or can’t yet) see.
If you’re a fan of clean YA with great values and underlying messages, then you should check out the Camp Boyfriend series, for sure.
Admittedly, this one didn’t feel quite as alluring as Camp Kiss and Camp Boyfriend, the prequel and first book in the series. I’m not quite sure if it’s because we switched to new MC’s and so had to start afresh with caring about new characters, or because this one didn’t seem to hold *quite* as much attention to detail as I’m used to from J.K. Rock, which almost made it feel as though we don’t get so much for our wordage in this one. However, regardless of this, or the reasons, I *did* enjoy this short novella.
Hannah took a little while to like, I’m afraid. Even though we’re given a hint that she doesn’t like how she or her friends behave, she still does it, and grasping a connection with a character who’s acting like a complete cow isn’t easy.
Luckily, this story has an ace up its sleeve, in the form of ‘King of Nerd’ Julian. From the off, we’re given a reason to like this dude. He’s friendly. He’s willing to see the best in people. He’s unselfish. He’s unafraid to be himself. And he’s (hats off to him) persistent.
Sure, I might’ve spent some of the novella hoping that Hannah doesn’t grow some balls and give him the time of day just to give him a reality call, as well as a narrow escape. However, the more we read on, the more we uncover the depths of Hannah (though I still don’t believe this condones her behaviour or attitude), and her character grows enough that we start to hope there might be some spark of something happening between them.
Going back to my earlier reference to this novella not seeming to hold as ‘much’ (not as much as Camp Kiss did, anyway)—I’m not sure if it was actually that this was the case, or just that it felt like there was so much more to be told. So, hoping it’s the latter (which it probably is), I would really like one of the future books to be an expansion of their story, because I really feel as though we need to know what we didn’t (or can’t yet) see.
If you’re a fan of clean YA with great values and underlying messages, then you should check out the Camp Boyfriend series, for sure.
December 26, 2013
Originally posted at City of Books
Camp Christmas is the perfect holiday read! It's fun, sweet, and definitely dramatic. I was initially hesitant about reading this because I wasn't a fan of the protagonist, Hannah, but she totally won me over in this novella. We get to know why she is the way she is, and she gets her happy ending too. If you've read Camp Boyfriend, you've got to read this one. Even if you haven't, this works great as a standalone novella too, so go get it!
During the school year, Hannah's back at Northstar Academy, which is basically a school for rich kids. But what we didn't know before is that Julian attends it along with her. I loved Julian in Camp Boyfriend - he was hilarious and just so real. But I don't remember him interacting with Hannah at all, which is why it surprised me when I found out this novella features the two of them. Hannah's made Julian swear not to tell anyone at school about Camp Juniper Point, and they basically stay out of each other's way. Until the ski trip, where they end up being partners and Hannah realizes there's a lot more to the guy she calls the King of Nerds that she thought.
We still see the mean-girl Hannah in Camp Christmas, and she kinda bugged me at some parts. But I loved that we get Julian's point of view as well, because he sees right through her act and through him, so do we. I love Hannah's toughness and confidence, and her ability to not let anything or anyone get to her. Except for Julian, of course!
Sigh, Julian. He's my favourite boy of the series so far. Julian doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, and that is so different from most teenagers. He even had his cape on the ski trip! And it definitely came in handy.
Say what you will about a cape; I’d be the only one warm tonight if we got stuck out here.
My eyes slid to Hannah. I could probably be talked into sharing it.
That part cracked me up! I loved reading from Julian's POV because it's obvious he's not over his crush on Hannah, and that it could definitely be more than that. Just because I love Julian so much, I'll share a little swoon-worthy teaser.
He came closer. His lips landed on mine in a kiss I never would have expected. The contact was soft and sweet, gentle and unhurried. My eyes fell closed, senses focused on the feel of him.
I wondered if his heartbeat pounded as hard as mine beneath my gloved hand. But beneath my lips, he took all the time in the world. I’d been kissed before, but always with guys who acted like they knew what they were doing. There’d been sloppy kisses. Fast kisses. And hard, aggressive kisses that mashed lips on teeth.
Not Julian. His mouth teased over mine like a guy determined to get it exactly right. I felt dizzy from it and had to put both hands on him to steady myself.
I might be swooning over Julian a little too much, but I can't help it! He's amazing. I wish this was a full-length book instead of a novella, because these characters are awesome and complex and I really want more of them. This is the kind of novella you can re-read whenever you feel like, because it's short and sweet and you can't help loving it. I just wish it were longer. But I'll take what I can get! Either way, I loved Camp Christmas. Joanne and Karen have created some fantastic characters in this series and I'm really anticipating the next book.
Camp Christmas is the perfect holiday read! It's fun, sweet, and definitely dramatic. I was initially hesitant about reading this because I wasn't a fan of the protagonist, Hannah, but she totally won me over in this novella. We get to know why she is the way she is, and she gets her happy ending too. If you've read Camp Boyfriend, you've got to read this one. Even if you haven't, this works great as a standalone novella too, so go get it!
During the school year, Hannah's back at Northstar Academy, which is basically a school for rich kids. But what we didn't know before is that Julian attends it along with her. I loved Julian in Camp Boyfriend - he was hilarious and just so real. But I don't remember him interacting with Hannah at all, which is why it surprised me when I found out this novella features the two of them. Hannah's made Julian swear not to tell anyone at school about Camp Juniper Point, and they basically stay out of each other's way. Until the ski trip, where they end up being partners and Hannah realizes there's a lot more to the guy she calls the King of Nerds that she thought.
We still see the mean-girl Hannah in Camp Christmas, and she kinda bugged me at some parts. But I loved that we get Julian's point of view as well, because he sees right through her act and through him, so do we. I love Hannah's toughness and confidence, and her ability to not let anything or anyone get to her. Except for Julian, of course!
Sigh, Julian. He's my favourite boy of the series so far. Julian doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, and that is so different from most teenagers. He even had his cape on the ski trip! And it definitely came in handy.
Say what you will about a cape; I’d be the only one warm tonight if we got stuck out here.
My eyes slid to Hannah. I could probably be talked into sharing it.
That part cracked me up! I loved reading from Julian's POV because it's obvious he's not over his crush on Hannah, and that it could definitely be more than that. Just because I love Julian so much, I'll share a little swoon-worthy teaser.
He came closer. His lips landed on mine in a kiss I never would have expected. The contact was soft and sweet, gentle and unhurried. My eyes fell closed, senses focused on the feel of him.
I wondered if his heartbeat pounded as hard as mine beneath my gloved hand. But beneath my lips, he took all the time in the world. I’d been kissed before, but always with guys who acted like they knew what they were doing. There’d been sloppy kisses. Fast kisses. And hard, aggressive kisses that mashed lips on teeth.
Not Julian. His mouth teased over mine like a guy determined to get it exactly right. I felt dizzy from it and had to put both hands on him to steady myself.
I might be swooning over Julian a little too much, but I can't help it! He's amazing. I wish this was a full-length book instead of a novella, because these characters are awesome and complex and I really want more of them. This is the kind of novella you can re-read whenever you feel like, because it's short and sweet and you can't help loving it. I just wish it were longer. But I'll take what I can get! Either way, I loved Camp Christmas. Joanne and Karen have created some fantastic characters in this series and I'm really anticipating the next book.
December 18, 2013
That was just perfect. I think Julian is my new book boyfriend for sure!
I was so excited to download this PDF this morning and read it! I knew I was going to love it. I loved Camp Kiss, and Camp Boyfriend, so what's not to love about a story that takes place in a cold setting where you know things are just going to heat up?
This is Hannah's story, yep, that Hannah of the Diva Den. And she's such a snob, so worried about what others will think of her and how she can maintain her popularity even as her world outside her precious uppity school is falling apart. But it's more important to her to maintain that front so she can get through school. She doesn't want to get thrown under the bus. And she has this love/hate relationship with her friends which is just weird to me (as I never experienced this) but I totally get it and know where it's coming from. BUT, Hannah begins to grow and let go in a short span of time. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure she was already cracking before this little ski trip, but she was putting up a great front to stop from splitting in half.
Introduce Julian to the mix. He's the boy nerd, the one everyone stays away from. He wears a cape for goodness sakes! But, suddenly he's not what he used to be. Where there was nerd, now there's this really intelligent guy who can take care of himself. The guy who puts all those years as a Boy Scout to work. The one who listened and learned and kept it all in his mind. At the same time, there's this guy who has learned to love himself and not care what others think, well, everyone except perhaps for Hannah. He's got it bad for her. And, while it seems she's always been out of his reach, he takes a chance in this novella and makes a move to break into her frosty front.
I just loved the pace of this story. It really was a quicke and satisfying read. It ties nicely with the fact that the main characters know each other from Juniper Point. Yet they keep this a secret, Hannah because she's fears her popularity and Julian because he wants to make Hannah happy. I love how in just a short span of time we see both characters really come into their own (although I think Julian was already kind of there). And I love that JK Rock gave us dual points of view. It's always so great to see a story from both sides. I feel like I get so much more from the characters when I can actually see things through their eyes (instead of how they are seen through the eyes of others).
So kudos to JK for giving us a little trinket while we await the publication of the next Camp Boyfriend book. now more than ever I can't wait to see where it leads. And I really hope the publisher decides to put this one out in print as they did Camp Kiss!
I was so excited to download this PDF this morning and read it! I knew I was going to love it. I loved Camp Kiss, and Camp Boyfriend, so what's not to love about a story that takes place in a cold setting where you know things are just going to heat up?
This is Hannah's story, yep, that Hannah of the Diva Den. And she's such a snob, so worried about what others will think of her and how she can maintain her popularity even as her world outside her precious uppity school is falling apart. But it's more important to her to maintain that front so she can get through school. She doesn't want to get thrown under the bus. And she has this love/hate relationship with her friends which is just weird to me (as I never experienced this) but I totally get it and know where it's coming from. BUT, Hannah begins to grow and let go in a short span of time. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure she was already cracking before this little ski trip, but she was putting up a great front to stop from splitting in half.
Introduce Julian to the mix. He's the boy nerd, the one everyone stays away from. He wears a cape for goodness sakes! But, suddenly he's not what he used to be. Where there was nerd, now there's this really intelligent guy who can take care of himself. The guy who puts all those years as a Boy Scout to work. The one who listened and learned and kept it all in his mind. At the same time, there's this guy who has learned to love himself and not care what others think, well, everyone except perhaps for Hannah. He's got it bad for her. And, while it seems she's always been out of his reach, he takes a chance in this novella and makes a move to break into her frosty front.
I just loved the pace of this story. It really was a quicke and satisfying read. It ties nicely with the fact that the main characters know each other from Juniper Point. Yet they keep this a secret, Hannah because she's fears her popularity and Julian because he wants to make Hannah happy. I love how in just a short span of time we see both characters really come into their own (although I think Julian was already kind of there). And I love that JK Rock gave us dual points of view. It's always so great to see a story from both sides. I feel like I get so much more from the characters when I can actually see things through their eyes (instead of how they are seen through the eyes of others).
So kudos to JK for giving us a little trinket while we await the publication of the next Camp Boyfriend book. now more than ever I can't wait to see where it leads. And I really hope the publisher decides to put this one out in print as they did Camp Kiss!
December 18, 2013
Awww I loved this novella so much!!! Joanne, Karen you are amazing!!!
If you've read the previous book and the novella, then you know Hannah, one of the mean girls, a popular girl who values that popularity and the status it brings her above everything else. But she isn't just a mean girl, in fact she never intended to be one, but once she became one she had to keep acting like one, even though she doesn't like herself when she acts likes that, she's tired if it.
I gotta say by reading the previous books I already had an image of how Hannah was like but Joanne and Karen surprised me from the start because she is such a different girl that what I thought, I sympathize with her from the very start, and I felt bad bad knowing the circumstances that lead her to become a "mean girl" so I was totally cheering for her to grew out of it and become true to herself. I think we can all relate to the fear of being judged by how we act and how we behave, trust me when I say this is also a very inspiring story.
Of course Hannah's facade is in danger of being revealed when Julian enters the scene. He's a geek after all, a guy who wears a cape like it was the most natural thing in the world and he owns it!! He knows who he is and doesn't care what everyone thinks (don't you love him already? 'cause I do! ♥). He knows Hannah from before, in fact he has been playing close attention to her, he sees the real Hannah so of course she is scared of that... and still she also feels oddly happy and excited about that.
This novella feels both short and long at the same time. I think it's so well constructed and written that you feel is so much more than just a short story and at the same time being one I reached the end just wanting to have more of this characters!! I hope we get to see them on the next book, I'd also love if this came out on print so I could have it on a special place in my bookshelf.
I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading Camp Christmas, it made me so happy, I think it's definitely a story that everyone should read!!
If you've read the previous book and the novella, then you know Hannah, one of the mean girls, a popular girl who values that popularity and the status it brings her above everything else. But she isn't just a mean girl, in fact she never intended to be one, but once she became one she had to keep acting like one, even though she doesn't like herself when she acts likes that, she's tired if it.
I gotta say by reading the previous books I already had an image of how Hannah was like but Joanne and Karen surprised me from the start because she is such a different girl that what I thought, I sympathize with her from the very start, and I felt bad bad knowing the circumstances that lead her to become a "mean girl" so I was totally cheering for her to grew out of it and become true to herself. I think we can all relate to the fear of being judged by how we act and how we behave, trust me when I say this is also a very inspiring story.
Of course Hannah's facade is in danger of being revealed when Julian enters the scene. He's a geek after all, a guy who wears a cape like it was the most natural thing in the world and he owns it!! He knows who he is and doesn't care what everyone thinks (don't you love him already? 'cause I do! ♥). He knows Hannah from before, in fact he has been playing close attention to her, he sees the real Hannah so of course she is scared of that... and still she also feels oddly happy and excited about that.
This novella feels both short and long at the same time. I think it's so well constructed and written that you feel is so much more than just a short story and at the same time being one I reached the end just wanting to have more of this characters!! I hope we get to see them on the next book, I'd also love if this came out on print so I could have it on a special place in my bookshelf.
I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading Camp Christmas, it made me so happy, I think it's definitely a story that everyone should read!!
August 17, 2021
When we left Camp Juniper Point in book 1, we saw that the Divas weren’t as bad as we originally thought, except maybe for Hannah whose heart was the hardest to change. Anyhow, in the end we also get to see a more human side to her, although I was very sceptic about it. Nevertheless, the authors graced us with a glimpse into Hannah and Julian’s lives away from Camp and what I learned softened my heart towards her.
I just love the turn of events the authors followed with this one, but honestly I wish there was a bit more. The book is very fast paced, and the shortest yet, because it is a novella of course.
I loved the setting they chose for this one, and all the action and tension the story had. For such a short novella surely a lot happened! I had to force myself to stop reading so I could get some sleep. But seriously, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year and I just love skiing, so this mix couldn’t be more perfect.
I always thought Julian was cool. He was indeed a super geek, but I admired how he didn’t care about what everybody else thought about him. But I was glad to see a less nerdy side of him. On the other hand, I will never understand the mean girl side of Hannah. As she said, hurting doesn’t enable you to hurt others. I understand that everyone can be mean at times; I know I have because of my hot temper, but it is certainly not O.K. to put on a mean girl act. So it thrilled me to see she was starting to drop it and embrace her true self. I couldn’t have guessed in a million years, though, that this two would even interact with each other.
Unlike the other books, this one is the first in which we get the guy’s point of view, and I loved it! You know I’m a sucker for dual point of views, and this is no exception. It was cleverly done, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Julian’s head as well as Hannah’s. It was impossible to get confused.
On the whole, this book is deeply romantic, fun, thrilling and an excellent complement to the series. Plus it’s free! You cannot miss it.
I just love the turn of events the authors followed with this one, but honestly I wish there was a bit more. The book is very fast paced, and the shortest yet, because it is a novella of course.
I loved the setting they chose for this one, and all the action and tension the story had. For such a short novella surely a lot happened! I had to force myself to stop reading so I could get some sleep. But seriously, Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year and I just love skiing, so this mix couldn’t be more perfect.
I always thought Julian was cool. He was indeed a super geek, but I admired how he didn’t care about what everybody else thought about him. But I was glad to see a less nerdy side of him. On the other hand, I will never understand the mean girl side of Hannah. As she said, hurting doesn’t enable you to hurt others. I understand that everyone can be mean at times; I know I have because of my hot temper, but it is certainly not O.K. to put on a mean girl act. So it thrilled me to see she was starting to drop it and embrace her true self. I couldn’t have guessed in a million years, though, that this two would even interact with each other.
Unlike the other books, this one is the first in which we get the guy’s point of view, and I loved it! You know I’m a sucker for dual point of views, and this is no exception. It was cleverly done, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting into Julian’s head as well as Hannah’s. It was impossible to get confused.
On the whole, this book is deeply romantic, fun, thrilling and an excellent complement to the series. Plus it’s free! You cannot miss it.
August 24, 2014
The first novella in this series made me want to read the rest of the series, this is the second novella in the camp boyfriend series and it's just as awesome as the first. Camp Christmas takes Hannah the mean girl from Camp and shows the readers a different side of her when she goes on a ski trip with her school the day before christmas.
I love JK Rock their writing style and how they combine popular and nerd aspects in their characters. This novella is really enjoyable and sweet. I really liked getting to know Hannah and how she struggles with everything going on and in the end even opened her eyes and pushed aside some of her fears to let Julian in. Julian is another great character, I don't remember much about him from Camp Boyfriend, but I really enjoyed getting to know him in this novella. He is a nerd who doesn't care about what other people think about him and I really admired him for the fact that he could walk around in a cape because he wanted to and didn't let other people their opinions affect him.
Hannah and Julian might seem like a weird couple at first sight, a mean girl and a nerd, but they are really good for each other. I also liked the winter setting of this novella and it made me wish I could take a ski vacation too (I love skiing!). While many novellas feel a bit rushed, this novella didn't have that problem at all. Sure it was short, that's why it's called a novella, but the pacing was good and I wished it was longer because I wanted to know more about these awesome characters and how their relationship will develop form here onwards.
To conclude: this is a great novelle to curl up with this winter. Julian and Hannah are a great couple and I like dgetting to know them better. This novella is a great addition to the series and I can't wait to read Camp Payback, the next book in this series!
I love JK Rock their writing style and how they combine popular and nerd aspects in their characters. This novella is really enjoyable and sweet. I really liked getting to know Hannah and how she struggles with everything going on and in the end even opened her eyes and pushed aside some of her fears to let Julian in. Julian is another great character, I don't remember much about him from Camp Boyfriend, but I really enjoyed getting to know him in this novella. He is a nerd who doesn't care about what other people think about him and I really admired him for the fact that he could walk around in a cape because he wanted to and didn't let other people their opinions affect him.
Hannah and Julian might seem like a weird couple at first sight, a mean girl and a nerd, but they are really good for each other. I also liked the winter setting of this novella and it made me wish I could take a ski vacation too (I love skiing!). While many novellas feel a bit rushed, this novella didn't have that problem at all. Sure it was short, that's why it's called a novella, but the pacing was good and I wished it was longer because I wanted to know more about these awesome characters and how their relationship will develop form here onwards.
To conclude: this is a great novelle to curl up with this winter. Julian and Hannah are a great couple and I like dgetting to know them better. This novella is a great addition to the series and I can't wait to read Camp Payback, the next book in this series!
April 16, 2014
MAN. I EXPECTED NOT TO LIKE THIS ONE SO MUCH. I really, really hated Hannah. She was annoying and mean and UGH. So I was a bit apprehensive when I started this little novella. But Damn. It was awesome. I don't really like dual narratives and all, but this worked out, I had no problem with this one. But Hannah was still a bit annoying, but deep inside she has a good heart, we notice this in this novella.
In this little novella we follow Hannah, as mentioned before. During their school's ski trip a guy from camp, Julian, gets in contact with her. He was the nerd at camp and Hannah didn't want him talking to her, so he wouldn't ruin her reputation with the popular clique.
Okay, let's just start on that I love the Camp Boyfriend series and I love these little novella's because 1) they are short and 2) they are absolutely adorable and 3) they are free! I mean, who wouldn't want a free, contemporary novella that is a prequel to the soon to be published Camp Payback. Well, I definitely would!
The writing in this one is obviously great. It does have dual narratives, the other books didn't have that. So that was different, but it worked in this book. I am usually not a very big fan of it however.
I'm really looking forward to reading Camp Payback, which I will hopefully pick up next week or so. If you have read this novella, let me know what you thought of it. I would love to hear of other people who really like this series as well!
In this little novella we follow Hannah, as mentioned before. During their school's ski trip a guy from camp, Julian, gets in contact with her. He was the nerd at camp and Hannah didn't want him talking to her, so he wouldn't ruin her reputation with the popular clique.
Okay, let's just start on that I love the Camp Boyfriend series and I love these little novella's because 1) they are short and 2) they are absolutely adorable and 3) they are free! I mean, who wouldn't want a free, contemporary novella that is a prequel to the soon to be published Camp Payback. Well, I definitely would!
The writing in this one is obviously great. It does have dual narratives, the other books didn't have that. So that was different, but it worked in this book. I am usually not a very big fan of it however.
I'm really looking forward to reading Camp Payback, which I will hopefully pick up next week or so. If you have read this novella, let me know what you thought of it. I would love to hear of other people who really like this series as well!
December 18, 2014
I like to read seasonally (if a book is set in the winter, I read it in the winter. If it is set in the summer, I read it in the summer), so even though Christmas has passed, readers will still enjoy this winter story.
I love novel companion stories and novellas and Camp Christmas lets readers get to know more about Hannah who first appeared in Camp Boyfriend. Camp Christmas gave me more insight to how Hannah became the mean girl, why she stayed the mean girl, and why it's a reputation she wants to shake but isn't sure if she can. Through the story, we see the power of secrets and the power in secrets.
Readers also get to know about Camp Boyfriend's supporting character Julian. Honestly I didn't remember much about him from book, but I got to know him here and he was a fun character to read. He's smart and witty and has that special something that you want to know more about (and Hannah did too). He's the kind of guy you want to have around when things get crazy.
I really enjoyed Camp Christmas and it makes me want to read even more books by J.K Rock.
I love novel companion stories and novellas and Camp Christmas lets readers get to know more about Hannah who first appeared in Camp Boyfriend. Camp Christmas gave me more insight to how Hannah became the mean girl, why she stayed the mean girl, and why it's a reputation she wants to shake but isn't sure if she can. Through the story, we see the power of secrets and the power in secrets.
Readers also get to know about Camp Boyfriend's supporting character Julian. Honestly I didn't remember much about him from book, but I got to know him here and he was a fun character to read. He's smart and witty and has that special something that you want to know more about (and Hannah did too). He's the kind of guy you want to have around when things get crazy.
I really enjoyed Camp Christmas and it makes me want to read even more books by J.K Rock.
October 26, 2014
I've loved Julian ever since Camp Boyfriend because he was different. And he shares a love for LOTR. I'm so glad he got his own story. Although this was more about Hannah. I loved it all anyway. It made me laugh and made me all giddy. This was simply wonderful.
Merged review:
"Julian Berwick [is] smoking hot."
And I am in love.
Merged review:
"Julian Berwick [is] smoking hot."
And I am in love.
January 31, 2014
~5 Stars~
This is a really cute novella between 2 different characters from the 'Camp Boyfriend' series.
It's very fluffy and full of snow.
A perfect read.
This is a really cute novella between 2 different characters from the 'Camp Boyfriend' series.
It's very fluffy and full of snow.
A perfect read.
August 16, 2016
Review posted here.
The Camp Boyfriend series has been such a delightful surprise for me. I honestly didn't know when I first heard about it that I would love it as much as I have. "Camp Kiss" was pretty good, Camp Boyfriend was really good, and "Camp Christmas" is amazing. I like that Joanne and Karen have made a point with their writing that there aren't really "good guys" and "bad guys." Sure, there are antagonists in their stories (you can't have a decent story told without conflict, after all), but Joanne and Karen prove that there are more always more than one side to every story and that no one is the villain in their own story. Case in point: Hannah, who is the leading lady in this novella.
Hannah spent much of Camp Boyfriend being a petty queen bee, which is partially Lauren's perspective but also partially she's actually mean (albeit shallowly) to the Munchie Manor girls and the Wander Inn boys. Now that we're in Hannah's head, though, it's easy to see that there's more to her than the girl obsessed with fashion and boys. Instead, Hannah is a lonely teenage girl who is dealing with her parents' divorce and a group of frenemies who are insistent on tearing her down. I'm not saying it's okay to be a jerk to other people when you're going through a bad time, but that is normal, human survival instinct, and it's one I can not only sympathize Hannah for doing, but I also empathize with her.
Also, props on the actual hidden nerd thing. It's popular for people to have be nerdy these days, but Hannah has REAL nerdiness in her, and I love it. I don't know how they do it, but Joanne and Karen also manage to give their characters traits and habits and interests I have in my life. I absolutely attended a "nerd" convention before it was a cool mainstream activity thanks to Comic Con San Diego. Skiing is one of my favorite sports, and yes, I do have a cape. But back to Hannah. This adorable novella is really her realization of what is important and what is bull. She figures out that it's okay to let someone else "win" those stupid games that we all play but swear we don't, it's okay to be yourself. Once again, this is a story of a character finding out who she is and learning to love herself, which is the best message a ya book can possibly have.
Then there's Julian, who is pretty much the polar opposite. There's a saying that the rich aren't crazy, they're eccentric, which I guess is a motto their school buys into because people leave Julian alone since he's one of the wealthiest kids. Or at least I bet that's what they tell themselves. Actually, Julian is just ridiculously comfortable with himself. He's a nice; he's smart; he's a gentleman; he's unique; and he's not scared of that. Julian is a boy with perspective. He knows that all that high school posturing is BS, and he doesn't have time for it. For him, this novella is about his decision to finally go for what he wants, which is Hannah. In a way, he's like her Yoda or her Dumbledore or her Gandalf, as he helps her through her big eureka moment, except it's BETTER than all those old guys because 1. Julian has abs (I know he's wearing a parka the whole time, but I can totally tell there is undercover ab stuff going on here) and 2. these two kids have crazy ridiculous tummy-butterfly-inducing chemistry.
This novella is just a perfect read for a chilly winter day, whether you're on snowy slopes or just shivering in a southern state going through a weird cold snap like I am right now. There's adventure, there's humor, there's romance. And you'll probably find yourself shipping Juliannah as I did. Honestly, they might rival Lauren and --t- for my favorite Camp Boyfriend romance (I can't just give the ending away! Go read it!). But you can't have Julian for yourself. I called dibs on the sexy Geekster!
The Camp Boyfriend series has been such a delightful surprise for me. I honestly didn't know when I first heard about it that I would love it as much as I have. "Camp Kiss" was pretty good, Camp Boyfriend was really good, and "Camp Christmas" is amazing. I like that Joanne and Karen have made a point with their writing that there aren't really "good guys" and "bad guys." Sure, there are antagonists in their stories (you can't have a decent story told without conflict, after all), but Joanne and Karen prove that there are more always more than one side to every story and that no one is the villain in their own story. Case in point: Hannah, who is the leading lady in this novella.
Hannah spent much of Camp Boyfriend being a petty queen bee, which is partially Lauren's perspective but also partially she's actually mean (albeit shallowly) to the Munchie Manor girls and the Wander Inn boys. Now that we're in Hannah's head, though, it's easy to see that there's more to her than the girl obsessed with fashion and boys. Instead, Hannah is a lonely teenage girl who is dealing with her parents' divorce and a group of frenemies who are insistent on tearing her down. I'm not saying it's okay to be a jerk to other people when you're going through a bad time, but that is normal, human survival instinct, and it's one I can not only sympathize Hannah for doing, but I also empathize with her.
Also, props on the actual hidden nerd thing. It's popular for people to have be nerdy these days, but Hannah has REAL nerdiness in her, and I love it. I don't know how they do it, but Joanne and Karen also manage to give their characters traits and habits and interests I have in my life. I absolutely attended a "nerd" convention before it was a cool mainstream activity thanks to Comic Con San Diego. Skiing is one of my favorite sports, and yes, I do have a cape. But back to Hannah. This adorable novella is really her realization of what is important and what is bull. She figures out that it's okay to let someone else "win" those stupid games that we all play but swear we don't, it's okay to be yourself. Once again, this is a story of a character finding out who she is and learning to love herself, which is the best message a ya book can possibly have.
Then there's Julian, who is pretty much the polar opposite. There's a saying that the rich aren't crazy, they're eccentric, which I guess is a motto their school buys into because people leave Julian alone since he's one of the wealthiest kids. Or at least I bet that's what they tell themselves. Actually, Julian is just ridiculously comfortable with himself. He's a nice; he's smart; he's a gentleman; he's unique; and he's not scared of that. Julian is a boy with perspective. He knows that all that high school posturing is BS, and he doesn't have time for it. For him, this novella is about his decision to finally go for what he wants, which is Hannah. In a way, he's like her Yoda or her Dumbledore or her Gandalf, as he helps her through her big eureka moment, except it's BETTER than all those old guys because 1. Julian has abs (I know he's wearing a parka the whole time, but I can totally tell there is undercover ab stuff going on here) and 2. these two kids have crazy ridiculous tummy-butterfly-inducing chemistry.
This novella is just a perfect read for a chilly winter day, whether you're on snowy slopes or just shivering in a southern state going through a weird cold snap like I am right now. There's adventure, there's humor, there's romance. And you'll probably find yourself shipping Juliannah as I did. Honestly, they might rival Lauren and --t- for my favorite Camp Boyfriend romance (I can't just give the ending away! Go read it!). But you can't have Julian for yourself. I called dibs on the sexy Geekster!
December 24, 2013
I was immediately pulled into this well-written Young Adult novella by J.K. Rock. Part of the Camp Boyfriend series, Camp Christmas will not only take you full circle through high school relationships and attitudes, but also a high-stakes adventure.
When Hannah starts off on a yearly Christmas Eve ski trip to the Adirondack Mountains with her private school, a fellow classmate complicates her life. Julian knows her from Camp Juniper Point in North Carolina, but Hannah tries to keep her camp and school lives separate. In fact, she told Julian not to speak to her when they were ten, and she still holds him to it. But she doesn’t know that Julian is changing from a nerd into a cool teen.
Being the third most popular girl at Northstar Academy is extremely important to Hannah, and it helps her deal with her crumbling home life. She has a “mean girl” attitude that keeps her afloat with Missy and Bella, who hold the number one and two spots, and if they keep seeing her with Julian, she could lose her status. But she soon discovers that her social life isn’t all she has to worry about.
There are very real dangers on Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York, and Hannah’s small group, which has gone off trail thanks to their lacrosse coach, finds itself dealing with an emergency situation. And even with all of this going on, Hannah must sort through her feelings for Julian, whose kind manner, tall build, and confidence tempt her to overlook his nerd label.
Camp Christmas is a fun book which showcases J.K. Rock’s talent and knowledge, and it’s the perfect length for a holiday or weekend read. Having read Camp Kiss and Camp Boyfriend also, I look forward to more of the Camp Boyfriend series.
Warning: Girls might find themselves falling for dreamy Julian Berwick, who owns a cape.
When Hannah starts off on a yearly Christmas Eve ski trip to the Adirondack Mountains with her private school, a fellow classmate complicates her life. Julian knows her from Camp Juniper Point in North Carolina, but Hannah tries to keep her camp and school lives separate. In fact, she told Julian not to speak to her when they were ten, and she still holds him to it. But she doesn’t know that Julian is changing from a nerd into a cool teen.
Being the third most popular girl at Northstar Academy is extremely important to Hannah, and it helps her deal with her crumbling home life. She has a “mean girl” attitude that keeps her afloat with Missy and Bella, who hold the number one and two spots, and if they keep seeing her with Julian, she could lose her status. But she soon discovers that her social life isn’t all she has to worry about.
There are very real dangers on Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, New York, and Hannah’s small group, which has gone off trail thanks to their lacrosse coach, finds itself dealing with an emergency situation. And even with all of this going on, Hannah must sort through her feelings for Julian, whose kind manner, tall build, and confidence tempt her to overlook his nerd label.
Camp Christmas is a fun book which showcases J.K. Rock’s talent and knowledge, and it’s the perfect length for a holiday or weekend read. Having read Camp Kiss and Camp Boyfriend also, I look forward to more of the Camp Boyfriend series.
Warning: Girls might find themselves falling for dreamy Julian Berwick, who owns a cape.
March 1, 2015
"Camp Christmas" is a Young Adult Novella set between book 1 and 2 in the "Camp Boyfriend" series by J.K. Rock and it is snow-melting sweet.
Hannah is one of the ruling girls at Northstar Academy together with her two best friends Missy and Bella. Lately, things are not well between the three and Hannah is a bit anxious how to proceed. When Julian suddenly talks to her on the ski trip to Whiteface Mountain, she has to make a difficult decision. Is she going to play a prank on Julian to secure her rank or will she give in to her new found feelings for this hot guy?
Hannah and Julian know each other from Camp Point (the summer camp the series focuses around) and have some kind of deal to never talk to each other when at School. So, it comes at a surprise, when they are thrown together and get along quite well.
Hannah is this kind of girl who made a wrong decision once and is stuck now. She has to overcome her insecurities to leave her habits behind. It is not easy, but she made the first step considering that she is aware of the fact that her actions hurt other people. Hannah is not really a mean girl and she needs just a friendly person to help her along and perhaps Julian is the right one for that.
Julian has a long standing crush on Hannah and feels tired of battling his attraction, so he makes a move. At first, Hannah blocks his advances, but then the trip is not going as planned. Maybe Julian is able to show Hannah that there is more to him than it appears.
So, the novella is written in first person from Hannah's and Julian's point, there is no disarray in the story. It conveys the Christmas magic while bringing together two kindhearted people.
Hannah is one of the ruling girls at Northstar Academy together with her two best friends Missy and Bella. Lately, things are not well between the three and Hannah is a bit anxious how to proceed. When Julian suddenly talks to her on the ski trip to Whiteface Mountain, she has to make a difficult decision. Is she going to play a prank on Julian to secure her rank or will she give in to her new found feelings for this hot guy?
Hannah and Julian know each other from Camp Point (the summer camp the series focuses around) and have some kind of deal to never talk to each other when at School. So, it comes at a surprise, when they are thrown together and get along quite well.
Hannah is this kind of girl who made a wrong decision once and is stuck now. She has to overcome her insecurities to leave her habits behind. It is not easy, but she made the first step considering that she is aware of the fact that her actions hurt other people. Hannah is not really a mean girl and she needs just a friendly person to help her along and perhaps Julian is the right one for that.
Julian has a long standing crush on Hannah and feels tired of battling his attraction, so he makes a move. At first, Hannah blocks his advances, but then the trip is not going as planned. Maybe Julian is able to show Hannah that there is more to him than it appears.
So, the novella is written in first person from Hannah's and Julian's point, there is no disarray in the story. It conveys the Christmas magic while bringing together two kindhearted people.
January 6, 2016
CHARACTERS
Even though I didn't really get Hannah's love/hate relationship with her friends, I did kind of understand her using popularity as something of an outlet for the frustration she felt with her family falling apart. It's nice to know that in the end, she found growth and realization in her life, and she got her own happy ending. And then there's the ever awesome Julian. I love how he was able to see through Hannah's mean facade and even took it to himself to break it. He was a good listener and was always willing to learn. Most of all, though, I admired that he was confident enough to not care what other people thought of him, because that's something really rare nowadays.
PLOT
The plot was shown in the perspectives of both Hannah and Julian, and that was really great because it saved me the trouble of trying to grasp the thoughts of the other. (Also, I'm a total sucker for guy POVs.) The book was well-written, and it was fun as well as a bit dramatic.
CONCLUSION
This novella was entertaining enough to read, and it makes me want to try out all the other books in the series. Fortunately, though, it can be read as a standalone, so you don't have to worry if you haven't read the other ones yet!
Even though I didn't really get Hannah's love/hate relationship with her friends, I did kind of understand her using popularity as something of an outlet for the frustration she felt with her family falling apart. It's nice to know that in the end, she found growth and realization in her life, and she got her own happy ending. And then there's the ever awesome Julian. I love how he was able to see through Hannah's mean facade and even took it to himself to break it. He was a good listener and was always willing to learn. Most of all, though, I admired that he was confident enough to not care what other people thought of him, because that's something really rare nowadays.
PLOT
The plot was shown in the perspectives of both Hannah and Julian, and that was really great because it saved me the trouble of trying to grasp the thoughts of the other. (Also, I'm a total sucker for guy POVs.) The book was well-written, and it was fun as well as a bit dramatic.
CONCLUSION
This novella was entertaining enough to read, and it makes me want to try out all the other books in the series. Fortunately, though, it can be read as a standalone, so you don't have to worry if you haven't read the other ones yet!
October 22, 2014
My Thoughts: In Camp Christmas, we get to hang out with Hannah and Julian. And Hannah’s not so good friends. They were kind of snobby but so was she. I knew it was an act for her right away. With her life unfolding before her eyes, she has to keep something normal; her social life.
I really liked Julian. He’s such a nerd but in a good way. In this story, all the teens are away at a skiing trip. And things take a turn for the worst. I liked seeing Julian and Hannah in action relying on their strength to pull through it.
This one was very short so I can’t say much but I did think it was cute and I can’t wait to keep on with the series!
Overall: I really liked Julian and I want to know more about him! I love the idea of his tattoo on his chest too! Sweet! I really thought this was a cute novella! I’d probably give this more of a 3.5 but it is very short and a fast read!
Cover: Like it! They look all wintery so it fits perfectly!
What I’d Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
_______________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
I really liked Julian. He’s such a nerd but in a good way. In this story, all the teens are away at a skiing trip. And things take a turn for the worst. I liked seeing Julian and Hannah in action relying on their strength to pull through it.
This one was very short so I can’t say much but I did think it was cute and I can’t wait to keep on with the series!
Overall: I really liked Julian and I want to know more about him! I love the idea of his tattoo on his chest too! Sweet! I really thought this was a cute novella! I’d probably give this more of a 3.5 but it is very short and a fast read!
Cover: Like it! They look all wintery so it fits perfectly!
What I’d Give It: 3/5 Cupcakes
_______________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
January 5, 2014
This is a great addition to the Camp series. I loved learning more about Hannah. This story definitely let's you see beneath the surface of her meanness. Gosh, this age is very terrifying, though we never learn that until we are all grown up and taking a look back. I loved Julian as well. He was the perfect hero for Hannah, and I'm so excited to see how their relationship goes in the next full length book of this series.
Rock's take on the mean girl is very refreshing and eye opening. Sometimes we fail to look beneath the surface of other peoples actions. There is so much more going on. Camp Christmas gives us an opportunity to take a step back and try to see the "whys" and the "hows" of what makes Hannah a mean girl. This peek into her psyche was quite informative. I am curious to see how she will be at Camp Juniper Point next summer :)
This book, and series, is a great one for young adult readers. There is so much potential, and so much for young people to learn about themselves and life by reading them. Check it out!
Rock's take on the mean girl is very refreshing and eye opening. Sometimes we fail to look beneath the surface of other peoples actions. There is so much more going on. Camp Christmas gives us an opportunity to take a step back and try to see the "whys" and the "hows" of what makes Hannah a mean girl. This peek into her psyche was quite informative. I am curious to see how she will be at Camp Juniper Point next summer :)
This book, and series, is a great one for young adult readers. There is so much potential, and so much for young people to learn about themselves and life by reading them. Check it out!
December 21, 2013
This novella tells the story of mean girl, Hannah. I believe that a lot of "mean girl" usually have a reason why they're mean and it seems that it's often to hide their pain and protect themselves. Hannah has her reasons and I loved seeing inside her head and coming to understand her better. I loved watching the growth that took place with her.
This story had some tense moments as well and the emotions were well written. I could feel the stress and panic of the characters. There are characters that really grow on me and characters I want to slap. Since I'm now an adult, I can look at them and say, "It doesn't matter--grow up!" yet most teens are insecure and have a hard time standing up against the flow.
There was also a sweet romance. Ah, the joys of young and new love. :) I love how real the characters seem. The internal dilemmas they face and the way they react to them are very real.
Content: kissing; some language; mean girl behavior.
This story had some tense moments as well and the emotions were well written. I could feel the stress and panic of the characters. There are characters that really grow on me and characters I want to slap. Since I'm now an adult, I can look at them and say, "It doesn't matter--grow up!" yet most teens are insecure and have a hard time standing up against the flow.
There was also a sweet romance. Ah, the joys of young and new love. :) I love how real the characters seem. The internal dilemmas they face and the way they react to them are very real.
Content: kissing; some language; mean girl behavior.
October 18, 2014
I absolutely loved this novella.
I was a little uneasy going in because Hannah has not been a nice person in the two earlier books in this series, and I was fairly certain that I was not going to enjoy my time in her head.
And yet. While Hannah was not a nice person most of the time, she was also clearly trying to do better (at least by the end) and I absolutely loved Julian.
This is technically a Camp Boyfriend series, but it's not set at the camp; it's set at a ski retreat (but with two camp characters).
This series is completely fantastic. I love watching these characters grow (and it's especially obvious with Hannah). I only have two books left and that's making me incredibly sad.
Recommended.
I was a little uneasy going in because Hannah has not been a nice person in the two earlier books in this series, and I was fairly certain that I was not going to enjoy my time in her head.
And yet. While Hannah was not a nice person most of the time, she was also clearly trying to do better (at least by the end) and I absolutely loved Julian.
This is technically a Camp Boyfriend series, but it's not set at the camp; it's set at a ski retreat (but with two camp characters).
This series is completely fantastic. I love watching these characters grow (and it's especially obvious with Hannah). I only have two books left and that's making me incredibly sad.
Recommended.
December 29, 2013
Hannah and Julian are awesome together! Mean girl Hannah turns into sugar and spice and almost everything nice when she starts to recognize the good in Julian and how unfair and unkind her actions have been. And I love the message to be true to the real you. Julian rules the mountain and captures the heart of readers!
No prior knowledge about skiing or snowboarding to appreciate and follow Hannah and Julian's adventure on Whiteface Mountain. JK Rock describes the setting and experience beautifully.
This novella will warm up any cold, winter day or night. So snuggle up and enjoy!
I'm definitely a fan of the Camp Boyfriend Series!
No prior knowledge about skiing or snowboarding to appreciate and follow Hannah and Julian's adventure on Whiteface Mountain. JK Rock describes the setting and experience beautifully.
This novella will warm up any cold, winter day or night. So snuggle up and enjoy!
I'm definitely a fan of the Camp Boyfriend Series!
December 19, 2013
YAY!! What another awesome novella by these two! My heart was going fast the whole time. I loved all the characters. Very cool to see two other characters from Camp Boyfriend in a completely different way. Totally ready for the next one!!! :)
March 5, 2014
I really loved seeing this side of Hannah, a side we haven't seen before, it was nice and it reminds me that we all have an inner geek somewhere inside.
Also, Julian is fabulous and it was nice to get this glimpse into the Geekster as well.
Also, Julian is fabulous and it was nice to get this glimpse into the Geekster as well.
August 10, 2016
(Downloaded for free from the publishers website.)
This was an okay short story about a guy and a mean-girl who begin to have feelings for one another whilst on a ski trip. It was fairly predictable, and a little dull in places, but it was okay overall.
6 out of 10.
This was an okay short story about a guy and a mean-girl who begin to have feelings for one another whilst on a ski trip. It was fairly predictable, and a little dull in places, but it was okay overall.
6 out of 10.
August 5, 2016
4 Sniffs - Our nose would be very happy to live in this book.
Check out my review at Booksniffer Book Reviews! http://booksnifferbookreviews.blogspo...
Check out my review at Booksniffer Book Reviews! http://booksnifferbookreviews.blogspo...
December 24, 2013
Perfect! I loved it! I wanted moreee!!!
October 20, 2014
Rating: 3.5/5
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!
April 29, 2014
Ratings:
Fluffy Reader Francine - 5 stars
Fluffy Reader Sandra - 5 stars
Fluffy Reader Valeria - 5 stars
Fluffy Reader Francine - 5 stars
Fluffy Reader Sandra - 5 stars
Fluffy Reader Valeria - 5 stars
June 14, 2016
It was a fun and easy to read book.
Great YA novella. It has some cliches but I think most YA readers will love it
Great YA novella. It has some cliches but I think most YA readers will love it
December 20, 2013
I WANT MORE JULIAN!
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