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Songs of Summer #1
The Boys of Summer
It's 1989 in Limerick, Ireland, and eleven year old Richie South's summer is shattered by a terrible crime which happens within a few feet of his home. When little Tommy Kelly is murdered in the local quarry, Richie and his friends decide that they are going to bring the killer to justice.
Richie grows up fast, experiencing grief, horror and even love, in the the space of a few sweltering hot days. Friendships crumble, families are destroyed, and a romance blossoms from the unlikeliest of sources. From the first page until the last, we are inside Richie's thoughts: Living every second of his terror; knowing every minute of his joy; feeling what it is to be a child again.
Richie grows up fast, experiencing grief, horror and even love, in the the space of a few sweltering hot days. Friendships crumble, families are destroyed, and a romance blossoms from the unlikeliest of sources. From the first page until the last, we are inside Richie's thoughts: Living every second of his terror; knowing every minute of his joy; feeling what it is to be a child again.
- GenresComing Of Age
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2012
30 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Ciarán West
9 books51 followersCiarán West is the Limerick-born author of The Boys of Summer, Sweetness Follows, Girl Afraid, A Certain Romance, and the new novel, More than Words
You can find him on his website, on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and occasionally on Wordpress, when he remembers that he has a blog.
Here's a few words from him:
"I used to believe that I didn't write in any particular genre, but I suppose I write thrillers. Or thrilling books. 'Page turners' keeps coming up as a description. And 'Slice of life', too. I like that one.
I write mostly in a conversational style with no flowery language or show-offy adverbs - I think that makes it easier to read my books if English isn't your first language - despite the colloquial, slang-heavy nature of one particular series. It wasn't initially a deliberate thing - my first book is written in the vernacular of an 11 year old, so big words were out of the question anyway, but when I did my next one - a third person narrative in adult language, I think I carried on the 'simple is best' theme, because I think it's more accessible, even if the subject matter wasn't, so much.
I try to write in different styles, but I guess that, in the end, your own style comes through, whatever you're writing. And I'm okay with that."
You can find him on his website, on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and occasionally on Wordpress, when he remembers that he has a blog.
Here's a few words from him:
"I used to believe that I didn't write in any particular genre, but I suppose I write thrillers. Or thrilling books. 'Page turners' keeps coming up as a description. And 'Slice of life', too. I like that one.
I write mostly in a conversational style with no flowery language or show-offy adverbs - I think that makes it easier to read my books if English isn't your first language - despite the colloquial, slang-heavy nature of one particular series. It wasn't initially a deliberate thing - my first book is written in the vernacular of an 11 year old, so big words were out of the question anyway, but when I did my next one - a third person narrative in adult language, I think I carried on the 'simple is best' theme, because I think it's more accessible, even if the subject matter wasn't, so much.
I try to write in different styles, but I guess that, in the end, your own style comes through, whatever you're writing. And I'm okay with that."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 13, 2012
I've just finished this book, and I feel like I've been punched in the gut and left for dead. In the best possible way. You think you know where it's going, you think you know what's coming, but you don't. You just... don't. Mr. West spins a sense of unease from the opening pages, and builds it and builds it into a tangible dread and an ending so horrible and real, I may well have nightmares. My heart raced through the entire last of the story, and I could not put it down. Reminiscent, in my mind, of Stephen King at his best; so vivid, it drags you right in.
It's not all despair and darkness, though; woven throughout is the engaging and gorgeously illuminated story of narrator Richie South's coming of age with the girl next door. These dreamlike moments interlock with the rest to make young Richard a fully relatable person, rather than a character in a novel.
The Limerick slang may take a bit of getting used to, but it's well worth the effort (and by effort, I mean taking ten seconds to google "Irish slang: (word)." Believe you me, I'm not one for having to work too hard). I look forward to many more tales from this excellent author. He's pure rapid, shur.
It's not all despair and darkness, though; woven throughout is the engaging and gorgeously illuminated story of narrator Richie South's coming of age with the girl next door. These dreamlike moments interlock with the rest to make young Richard a fully relatable person, rather than a character in a novel.
The Limerick slang may take a bit of getting used to, but it's well worth the effort (and by effort, I mean taking ten seconds to google "Irish slang: (word)." Believe you me, I'm not one for having to work too hard). I look forward to many more tales from this excellent author. He's pure rapid, shur.
July 30, 2012
Amazing. West grabs you in the first few paragraphs and never lets you go. What starts as a coming-of-age adventure takes a sudden turn and takes you on a white-knuckle ride to the finish.
Reminded me of early Stephen King mixed with a bit of Tana French. West draws you in with his sure sense of place and time (Limerick, Ireland in the 1980s) his Richie South (the narrator) takes us on through a vivid story that contrasts the giddy insecurity and delights of first love with the darker passions of betrayal, vengenance, and violence.
While West tackles some touchy subjects, the book never drops into sensationalizing or graphically describing any of it, choosing (wisely) instead to keep the focus on Richie and his observations.
The Boys of Summer is going to stay with me for a long, long time.
Reminded me of early Stephen King mixed with a bit of Tana French. West draws you in with his sure sense of place and time (Limerick, Ireland in the 1980s) his Richie South (the narrator) takes us on through a vivid story that contrasts the giddy insecurity and delights of first love with the darker passions of betrayal, vengenance, and violence.
While West tackles some touchy subjects, the book never drops into sensationalizing or graphically describing any of it, choosing (wisely) instead to keep the focus on Richie and his observations.
The Boys of Summer is going to stay with me for a long, long time.
August 27, 2012
This time 24 hours ago, I was about half-way through The Boys Of Summer, having started it just a few hours earlier. Not long after midnight, I read the final paragraph. Mouth open, in a state of semi-shock; a shot or two of strong whiskey wouldn't have gone astray, particularly as I was faced with the task of trying to get to sleep which was no mean feat after reading THAT story.
It was the last thing I thought of before I eventually nodded off & the first thing I thought about on waking this morning. I was distracted, haunted throughout the day (still am), thinking over & over of the story & how it unfolded, the bits I didn't see coming & how the author worked them in so seamlessly.
The relationship between the main character Richie South & his mother brings some much needed light relief in an otherwise dark & twisty tale. Their exchanges are beautiful in their simplicity. Richie's developing romance with girl next door Marian is another highlight; the feelings portrayed by Mr West will draw you back to your own early experiences in life & rake up all the emotions that came with the territory.
By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked, and I didn't stop reading until I got to the end. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching a movie on a huge cinema screen in 3D; so good are Mr West's descriptions of the people, places, scenes.....I have already cast several of the characters in my head.
If Joey Tribbiani were to read this book, he'd probably find himself putting it in the freezer a couple of times. It's dark, it's twisty, it's beautiful, it's simple, it's complex, it's melancholy, it's funny, it's sweet, it's a real treat for the senses. Never before have I started & finished a book in the space of 12 hours. Will I do it again? Maybe, if Mr West decides to grace us with novel number two (here's hoping!).
G'wan & read it shur; you'd be a steamer not to.
It was the last thing I thought of before I eventually nodded off & the first thing I thought about on waking this morning. I was distracted, haunted throughout the day (still am), thinking over & over of the story & how it unfolded, the bits I didn't see coming & how the author worked them in so seamlessly.
The relationship between the main character Richie South & his mother brings some much needed light relief in an otherwise dark & twisty tale. Their exchanges are beautiful in their simplicity. Richie's developing romance with girl next door Marian is another highlight; the feelings portrayed by Mr West will draw you back to your own early experiences in life & rake up all the emotions that came with the territory.
By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked, and I didn't stop reading until I got to the end. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was watching a movie on a huge cinema screen in 3D; so good are Mr West's descriptions of the people, places, scenes.....I have already cast several of the characters in my head.
If Joey Tribbiani were to read this book, he'd probably find himself putting it in the freezer a couple of times. It's dark, it's twisty, it's beautiful, it's simple, it's complex, it's melancholy, it's funny, it's sweet, it's a real treat for the senses. Never before have I started & finished a book in the space of 12 hours. Will I do it again? Maybe, if Mr West decides to grace us with novel number two (here's hoping!).
G'wan & read it shur; you'd be a steamer not to.
July 24, 2012
Ok, I'll come clean - I've read it, but I haven't read the final edit . . . So I'm going to cough up for a Kindle and buy a copy because it's so brilliant it deserves a re-read. In fact, it deserves a day off work with some comfy pyjamas and a Limerick slang dictionary. Sounds pure rapid, sham.
Read
August 3, 2017Interesting to read it again from start to finish, rather than backwards (which is how I did the final edit). I'm proud of it; it's the sort of book I'd read.
July 25, 2012
Well, I have just finished and I can honestly say I feel exhausted. This book took me on a roller-coaster through the whole feckin' theme park.
I thought I knew where it was headed and then BAM! West pulls out something I hadn't even considered, and I was constantly wondering and guessing at how this story was going to pan out, even until the final pages. When I was once again blown away.
This book is horrifying but beautiful at the same time, if that makes sense. Seeing the world through the eyes of an eleven year old boy made me slightly uncomfortable to start with, but then I stopped reading as an adult and started feeling like a kid again, you know that time between being a child and becoming a young adult. That was the beautiful part. This book had me feeling, not just reading. My heart thumped along with Ritchie's, along the many twists and turns.
This book has depth, humour and heart. The story can be dark reading material, but it was absolutely thrilling. I was hooked, not just by the twists in the tale but by the characters. You find yourself really caring for some of them, others; not so much.
I honestly can not recommend this book highly enough. I'm actually sad I have finished.
September 14, 2025
The styling of this book is brilliant. It's like you think you're going for a lovely walk by the park and pond, but you end up veering off by accident into the horrible forrest where you stumble upon an immense pile of decayed bunny rabbit bodies. The Boys of Summer is a slow build, with plenty of atmosphere crafted by the use of slang and a general feeling of insecurity that permeates the main character's sense of being.
Everyone can relate to Richie (the main character) in some way or another; personally his friends' personalities rang true with me - we all had that one friend of whom we were wary.
I don't want to say much more than that, though. You really should read this book. I finished it right before going to bed last night and was completely stunned.
Everyone can relate to Richie (the main character) in some way or another; personally his friends' personalities rang true with me - we all had that one friend of whom we were wary.
I don't want to say much more than that, though. You really should read this book. I finished it right before going to bed last night and was completely stunned.
July 27, 2012
I want to hug Mr. West for bringing me such a gem.
Then I want to punch him for making it too short (or so captivating that I tore through it too quickly.)
It has been a very long time since I have connected with (or despised) characters so fully. West paints pictures so vivid and scenarios so intricately that you won't be able to help your racing heart, held breath or audible scoffs.
And don't even TRY to anticipate where the book is going! You're outsmarted from the start.
Then I want to punch him for making it too short (or so captivating that I tore through it too quickly.)
It has been a very long time since I have connected with (or despised) characters so fully. West paints pictures so vivid and scenarios so intricately that you won't be able to help your racing heart, held breath or audible scoffs.
And don't even TRY to anticipate where the book is going! You're outsmarted from the start.
September 7, 2020
Well written, engrossing, visceral, and just an all around damn good book.
August 10, 2012
I will be honest and say that it took me until about the 3rd chapter before I really got into this book but by chapter 5 I couldnt wait for more. This is a tale about Richie,an 11yr old boy coming of age in the late 80's in Limerick . The way West describes Richies thoughts and actions with the girl next door is so accurate that I now dont want my son of the same age to have a girlfriend until he is 30!!! It also tells of friendship, peer pressure and the fight within Richies head of whats right and whats wrong. Dont let the slang language put you off, its part of what makes this book so unique, what we read is exactly what Richie thinks, says and hears. The insight into his thoughts is fascinating. Although its a book about Richie coming of age, its also a murder mystery and Im not going to say anything about that other than agree with others on here that you think you know whats coming but yet when you turn the page you are hit with a twist that you could never think was possible. West has a talent to hit you with the raw emotion to give the perfect insight of a boy who is no longer a child but not yet an adult, to catch you unawares with the unthinkable, to leave you wanting to know more if you have to put the book down, and best of all.....I cant wait to see what he comes up with next!
January 9, 2014
Everybody loves a good coming-of-age novel. There's something about reliving that time when you leave behind the innocence of youth behind that dredges up such nostalgia -- even if that coming of age involved some kind of traumatic experience.
Richie South is growing up in Limerick, Ireland, in the Eighties. He gets a fast-forward to manhood when he and his friends decide to investigate a neighborhood tragedy on their own. He also meets an older girl who teaches him the agony and ecstasy of first love.
The Boys of Summer is an engaging, if disturbing, read. The characters are realistic, and, while Richie's Limerick slang is a little jarring at first for those not accustomed to it (like big, ol', American me), it feels more and more authentic as the story progresses. West does an excellent job of capturing the confusion and rollercoaster emotions of adolescence. And he doesn't sugarcoat it, either. Bad things sometimes happen to kids. You even have to wonder whether bad things are actually happening if the kid doesn't think it's bad. It gets graphic, but, then again, so does life.
If you're looking for a story that will make you feel good and nothing else, walk away. But if you can deal with the complex emotions of human experience, and the trauma that often accompanies the loss of innocence, you'll find The Boys of Summer an honest, emotional, and compelling read.
Richie South is growing up in Limerick, Ireland, in the Eighties. He gets a fast-forward to manhood when he and his friends decide to investigate a neighborhood tragedy on their own. He also meets an older girl who teaches him the agony and ecstasy of first love.
The Boys of Summer is an engaging, if disturbing, read. The characters are realistic, and, while Richie's Limerick slang is a little jarring at first for those not accustomed to it (like big, ol', American me), it feels more and more authentic as the story progresses. West does an excellent job of capturing the confusion and rollercoaster emotions of adolescence. And he doesn't sugarcoat it, either. Bad things sometimes happen to kids. You even have to wonder whether bad things are actually happening if the kid doesn't think it's bad. It gets graphic, but, then again, so does life.
If you're looking for a story that will make you feel good and nothing else, walk away. But if you can deal with the complex emotions of human experience, and the trauma that often accompanies the loss of innocence, you'll find The Boys of Summer an honest, emotional, and compelling read.
August 13, 2012
I love a good murder mystery, and I hit jackpot when I settled down with this one! This book takes place in Limerick, Ireland and was a page turner from the first chapter. The Irish slang the author uses took some getting used to, but I got the hang of it and felt like I was transported to Ireland in no time. I really connected with the characters and their experiences they lived. The story was brilliantly narrated by a young Richie, and it was quite intersting to read through the mind of an 11 year-old-boy. Its hard to believe the story takes place in such a short time period, it felt as though I had been with these characters so much longer. Some of the characters I loved, some I hated (don't want to give away any spoliers). West did a tasteful job transistioning from the dark and tragic to the feel of a first time love with a bittersweet ending. The "who done it" is a big surprise, didn't see it coming and had to immediately re read once I was finished!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for the "punch you in the gut at the very end of the book" feeling in a Murder Mystery. I look forward to read more of West's books!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for the "punch you in the gut at the very end of the book" feeling in a Murder Mystery. I look forward to read more of West's books!
October 5, 2012
The story, its pacing and content, is absolutely enthralling. Normally, I am extremely slow about reading e-books because I have no reader for them other than my laptop, so they don't make for good before-bed reading. Instead, I tend to catch up on them while I'm folding laundry. I hate folding laundry, so I only manage a handful of pages at a time.
Reading The Boys of Summer, my laundry was exceptionally folded.
(My full review appears at Glorified Love Letters.)
Reading The Boys of Summer, my laundry was exceptionally folded.
(My full review appears at Glorified Love Letters.)
August 7, 2012
The Boys of Summer takes you through a tumultuous summer in Limerick for a group of friends. Beautifully written from the perspective of Richie, an eleven year old, learning so much in such a small amount of time. Occasionally fast paced which leaves you breathless with excitement and fear, to a meandering dreamlike quality which leaves you wishing nostalgically for the long hot summers of your own childhood. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns. Nicely done.
January 30, 2014
I really liked this one. Tons of twists and turns and most of it told from the perspective of an eleven year old. A great study on how things can get out of hand quickly. I did not like the amount of time spent on sex between an eleven year old boy and a thirteen year old girl. I did not like the last few pages where everything was summed up like the author was just tired of the story and said, I quit.
September 24, 2013
I'd have to say I haven't read such a great book in a while. The characters have so much depth and emotion. This book made me happy and sad at the same time. I could hardly put it down. It's a very gripping, suspenseful, and relatable story. I absolutely loved it, I might even read it again sometime in the future :)
August 11, 2012
Fantastic debut novel by a talented writer. Wholeheartedly recommend it! Check out my review here: http://mswas.wordpress.com/2012/08/11...
November 16, 2013
This was an excellently written story. It flowed like a movie script, and would make an interesting film.
October 4, 2013
It took me a couple of chapters to get into it & used to the language , but once I did I couldn't put this book down! A disturbing but fantastic read!
November 13, 2013
amazing story had me gripped from the start.....loved it!!!
February 25, 2018
From page one I was hooked. This book drew me in and and turned my mind into an eleven year old boy’s. When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about what was going to happen next. Truly enthralling and one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
August 26, 2018
Stories about young people are often aimed at young people. This one isn't. It captures all the awkward little sensations of youth that only older readers have the perspective to reflect on properly. And the plot is great and engaging too.
Its nostalgic references are more than just fun, they help craft such a familiar world inhabited by familiar, realistic characters that when the darker moments come they feel so much darker because they are encroaching on that real world, the one that you recognise, just as you know they really can. And that's what makes those moments so uncomfortable. They're uncomfortable for the characters and they are uncomfortable reading too, as they should be for anyone with a shred of moral fibre.
There are best friends, worst enemies and scary rougher, enigmatic rogues that you will remember from your own youth, captured brilliantly. For that reason I could compare it to 'The Body'/'Stand By Me' by Stephen King, but that wouldn't do it justice. This manages to be more realistic yet darker than that. It manages to convey greater feeling without being as schmaltzy as that.
If you have troubled yourself to read a review for this long then you should just read the book.
Read the book!
Its nostalgic references are more than just fun, they help craft such a familiar world inhabited by familiar, realistic characters that when the darker moments come they feel so much darker because they are encroaching on that real world, the one that you recognise, just as you know they really can. And that's what makes those moments so uncomfortable. They're uncomfortable for the characters and they are uncomfortable reading too, as they should be for anyone with a shred of moral fibre.
There are best friends, worst enemies and scary rougher, enigmatic rogues that you will remember from your own youth, captured brilliantly. For that reason I could compare it to 'The Body'/'Stand By Me' by Stephen King, but that wouldn't do it justice. This manages to be more realistic yet darker than that. It manages to convey greater feeling without being as schmaltzy as that.
If you have troubled yourself to read a review for this long then you should just read the book.
Read the book!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews