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Boystown #1
Boystown: Season One
One of the most diverse and lively neighborhoods in the country, Chicago's BOYSTOWN has something for everyone. So it's no wonder that Jesse Morgan and Cole O'Brien chose to live there upon graduating from college. Ready to begin the next phase of their lives in an exciting new city, Jesse and Cole quickly find themselves at the center of a new group of friends.
Joyelle and Derek Mancini have been happily married for years, but Derek is harboring a secret that could tear them apart. Derek's brother Emmett is about to discover that his boyfriend Keith Colgan has a past that will haunt them both. Long time couple Logan Pryce and Max Taylor must face a crisis that neither of them expected. And, before they realize it, Jesse and Cole find themselves at the center of it all in the adult playground known as BOYSTOWN.
Welcome to BOYSTOWN.
Joyelle and Derek Mancini have been happily married for years, but Derek is harboring a secret that could tear them apart. Derek's brother Emmett is about to discover that his boyfriend Keith Colgan has a past that will haunt them both. Long time couple Logan Pryce and Max Taylor must face a crisis that neither of them expected. And, before they realize it, Jesse and Cole find themselves at the center of it all in the adult playground known as BOYSTOWN.
Welcome to BOYSTOWN.
316 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2013
About the author
Jake Biondi
20 books80 followersJake Biondi began BOYSTOWN as an online story and intended to release one "episode" online per month, each ending in a cliffhanger. The story became so popular -- and the online reading audience grew so quickly -- that people from all over the country began to email him demanding to know what happened to their favorite characters and wanting the episodes to be released faster. They also had suggestions for future storylines. Excited by and grateful for his readers’ responses to BOYSTOWN, Biondi began to write and release installments more quickly.
Eventually, Biondi moved BOYSTOWN offline and published the first ten installments in book form as BOYSTOWN Season One. The book became an international hit, with fans all over the globe clamoring for more. Since then, Biondi has released numerous additional BOYSTOWN series books.
Biondi later introduced his thrilling MAJESTY series, a period drama about the royal Chamberlain family. Like BOYSTOWN, MAJESTY has been embraced by fans who love action-packed twists and turns as well as a touch of romance.
Eventually, Biondi moved BOYSTOWN offline and published the first ten installments in book form as BOYSTOWN Season One. The book became an international hit, with fans all over the globe clamoring for more. Since then, Biondi has released numerous additional BOYSTOWN series books.
Biondi later introduced his thrilling MAJESTY series, a period drama about the royal Chamberlain family. Like BOYSTOWN, MAJESTY has been embraced by fans who love action-packed twists and turns as well as a touch of romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 23, 2020
2.5 stars
I think this one is not to be taken seriously.. 🤭
It was baaaaad. Like a really bad soap opera. 😣 I tend to enjoy some soapy stories sometimes, but this was not it.
The characters were horrible people, i was hoping to at least like one of them but nope, i didn't.
I had no problem with the writing style, it is written like a TV show and instead of chapters we have episodes and within the episodes we have different scenes involving different characters who are all connected in one way or another. 🤭
I may or may not continue in the future.
I think this one is not to be taken seriously.. 🤭
It was baaaaad. Like a really bad soap opera. 😣 I tend to enjoy some soapy stories sometimes, but this was not it.
The characters were horrible people, i was hoping to at least like one of them but nope, i didn't.
I had no problem with the writing style, it is written like a TV show and instead of chapters we have episodes and within the episodes we have different scenes involving different characters who are all connected in one way or another. 🤭
I may or may not continue in the future.
June 19, 2014
3,5 stars!
Drama, baby, drama!
I HAVE NEVER READ SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Not that it's something incredibly GOOD or extremely BAD or NOTHING compare with. You can compare it. With a never ending soap opera, but not with a book.
I suppose THAT was exactly the desired effect the author wanted to achieve.
Why else did he name the instalments of the series Seasons and chapters Episodes?
While reading I had a STRANGE mixture of emotions
from:
to
through
up to
But the most dominated emotion was
Normally an eye-roll-book is NO GO for me:
I roll my eyes more than 10 times I lose any healthy interest in it.
HERE I rolled my eyes at leas 3 times per page and I couldn't put it down. Well, I have a good medical insurance, you have to read it on your own risk.
* Like in many soap operas there are many stories in the book that are running parallel. And all of them are connected.
It's a small world!
* Like in many soap operas there are many characters and the author tries to insert as much informations in yoursmallpoor head as possible-at least at the beginning. It is overloaded with events, places, characters. The scenes change at a fast pace, he moves between the stories, the telling jumps back and forth and it is not very surprising that the developing of the characters suffers the most serious consequences of it.
* The writing is very simple and spartan. It is very easy to read because it principally consists out of dialogues and the space between them is filled with an audio description of a soap opera for visually handicapped persons.
* The author is a very big fan of first names. I'm wondering, did nobody tell him that there are many other possibility to say whoslides his tongue down to whose ever neckand whoputs his thick dick in whose ever holemakes a small talk RIGHT NOW except to repeat the names of all participants in every sentence?!
* Maybe I'm not a big expert in the matter of soap operas to be able to judge but the easiness with that almost EVERY character vocalizes the magic L-word makes it sounds the same like "I'm horny".
But is it the same?!
In spite of the fact that toward the end my eye-roll has increased DRAMATICALLY and in spite of all my complaints,
I can't say I WAS NOT ENTERTAINED. I WAS.
And after my eyes will recover a bit, I think, I'll move to the next instalment.
Happy
August 2, 2014
Awck. I accidentally got this Boystown instead of that other Boystown: Three Nick Nowak Mysteries. That wouldn't have been too bad if this didn't turn out to be excruciatingly bad. Hilariously terrifying in all ways.:D Dang.
August 29, 2014
Cue the organ music as this fun and fast moving soap opera moves steadily through the lives of a small handful of friends. There is everything in this story that you'd find in a night time soap. Cheating, money, high paying jobs, the scheming wife, sex galore, kidnapping and even murder and that's only in book one. Written in smooth easy to read chapters, the story jumps from each well developed couple to the next. I'd never watch it on television but I'm hooked now.
June 19, 2014
This was a fun, fun read. It's a "grab a daiquiri, plant yourself on the deck" fun time. The writer's style is free and easy, it was hard to put down.
This takes place in a part of Chicago called "Boystown". There are 3 major couples Max and Logan who have been together for quite a while. Emmett and Keith who are on the verge of getting engaged. Derek and Joyelle, a long time married couple. The couples are all friends with Derek and Emmett being brothers. Into this group of friends, stumble Jesse Morgan and Cole O'Brien, two recent college graduates starting new jobs.
This book is a first class soap opera. one that has several twists and turns that kept this reader on his toes. This left me salivating for the next one. It can't come fast enough. I give it a south side full of stars.
This takes place in a part of Chicago called "Boystown". There are 3 major couples Max and Logan who have been together for quite a while. Emmett and Keith who are on the verge of getting engaged. Derek and Joyelle, a long time married couple. The couples are all friends with Derek and Emmett being brothers. Into this group of friends, stumble Jesse Morgan and Cole O'Brien, two recent college graduates starting new jobs.
This book is a first class soap opera. one that has several twists and turns that kept this reader on his toes. This left me salivating for the next one. It can't come fast enough. I give it a south side full of stars.
December 3, 2013
Okay, so let me start this review out by saying I have typed this review 11 times and deleted it 11 times because after reading this story I was amazed, shocked, stunned, and everything in between! I mean I was literally brain fu&^%$! I mean, I have never read a story like this one.
BOYSTOWN is written in "episodes," each ending in a cliffhanger. As you go through the episodes things start to heat up and you're like, holy eff what the hell is going on?
So we have Jesse and Cole who are in college and they are graduating and looking for jobs. They have both found their dream jobs in Chicago and are looking forward to graduating and starting their new lives.
Then you have the happy couple Joyelle and Derek. They are the perfect couple as Derek travels for work and Joyelle is an ER nurse and loves her job. They have been married for years and Joyelle is ready for more. She wants to make her family complete. But there is one thing about one of these individuals that will rock this relationship to the core. Will they survive this or will they walk away from each other?
Emmett and Keith are the perfect couple. They are so in love and do everything together. So much so that Keith is planning on doing something special for Emmett. But just as Keith thinks he is going to get his HEA, someone has decided that he will not get his HEA yet, and they plan on doing something very very naughty. Will Keith and Emmett survive this new (or old) threat to their relationship? Will someone try and hurt them? I will say this I LOVE Emmett and if something happens to him I will be flying to Chicago a lot sooner.... hint hint Jake!
Max and Logan have been together for a long time and everything seems to be spiraling out of control. One of them has a drinking problem and the other is left trying to help him when he does not want help. So what do you do when the person you love does not want you anymore? Do you move on quietly or do you fight like hell for the person you love to keep them even though you know they don't want you?
See what I mean? So much going on with these characters and then we add to the mix some other characters like Jacqueline who is one of the character's mother who finds herself in a relationship with someone younger and when her son finds out who it is, all hell is going to break lose because that guy has a HUGE secret and when it comes out, I don't think anyone will be left standing.
Then we have Ben who is connected to two of the characters and is falling in love with one of them but when the secrets and lies come to the forefront, all hell is going to break lose. Whoop whoop! What drama we get from my man Ben. He is a chocolate God, sex on wheels but I would not want to be him when shit happens.......
Then we have Nick, Todd, and Justin who are related to some of the characters by blood and by relationships and boy oh boy when the drama unfolds and shit hits the fan and the police are called who will be left standing and who will be dead??
Oh and that police officer is actually detective Michael Martinez and boy does he have a story to tell. Lord, makes me need some ice cold water something fierce because I was feeling very feverish reading about Michael. lordy....... lordy..... lordy.... CALIENTE!
So Boystown is a real place in Chicago and after reading this book, I told my husband I need to go there and visit because I have this image in my head that Jake put in it and I just have to go there and visit and get my book signed by Jake. I am so fan girling it is not funny. I mean I want to be in his brain so bad because that ending was like WTF? Really Jake? No you did not! Man oh man why is one of my favorite characters there?
This is a MUST READ male/male and male/female book but most of all I felt like I was there right in front of the characters living their lives with them, going through all their ups and downs and all their pain and grief they had. Jake you are BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOYSTOWN is written in "episodes," each ending in a cliffhanger. As you go through the episodes things start to heat up and you're like, holy eff what the hell is going on?
So we have Jesse and Cole who are in college and they are graduating and looking for jobs. They have both found their dream jobs in Chicago and are looking forward to graduating and starting their new lives.
Then you have the happy couple Joyelle and Derek. They are the perfect couple as Derek travels for work and Joyelle is an ER nurse and loves her job. They have been married for years and Joyelle is ready for more. She wants to make her family complete. But there is one thing about one of these individuals that will rock this relationship to the core. Will they survive this or will they walk away from each other?
Emmett and Keith are the perfect couple. They are so in love and do everything together. So much so that Keith is planning on doing something special for Emmett. But just as Keith thinks he is going to get his HEA, someone has decided that he will not get his HEA yet, and they plan on doing something very very naughty. Will Keith and Emmett survive this new (or old) threat to their relationship? Will someone try and hurt them? I will say this I LOVE Emmett and if something happens to him I will be flying to Chicago a lot sooner.... hint hint Jake!
Max and Logan have been together for a long time and everything seems to be spiraling out of control. One of them has a drinking problem and the other is left trying to help him when he does not want help. So what do you do when the person you love does not want you anymore? Do you move on quietly or do you fight like hell for the person you love to keep them even though you know they don't want you?
See what I mean? So much going on with these characters and then we add to the mix some other characters like Jacqueline who is one of the character's mother who finds herself in a relationship with someone younger and when her son finds out who it is, all hell is going to break lose because that guy has a HUGE secret and when it comes out, I don't think anyone will be left standing.
Then we have Ben who is connected to two of the characters and is falling in love with one of them but when the secrets and lies come to the forefront, all hell is going to break lose. Whoop whoop! What drama we get from my man Ben. He is a chocolate God, sex on wheels but I would not want to be him when shit happens.......
Then we have Nick, Todd, and Justin who are related to some of the characters by blood and by relationships and boy oh boy when the drama unfolds and shit hits the fan and the police are called who will be left standing and who will be dead??
Oh and that police officer is actually detective Michael Martinez and boy does he have a story to tell. Lord, makes me need some ice cold water something fierce because I was feeling very feverish reading about Michael. lordy....... lordy..... lordy.... CALIENTE!
So Boystown is a real place in Chicago and after reading this book, I told my husband I need to go there and visit because I have this image in my head that Jake put in it and I just have to go there and visit and get my book signed by Jake. I am so fan girling it is not funny. I mean I want to be in his brain so bad because that ending was like WTF? Really Jake? No you did not! Man oh man why is one of my favorite characters there?
This is a MUST READ male/male and male/female book but most of all I felt like I was there right in front of the characters living their lives with them, going through all their ups and downs and all their pain and grief they had. Jake you are BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8, 2015
Mildly entertaining and fast moving. It's been a week since I finished this and any desire to read the next season has pretty much vanished.
May 27, 2014
This novel Boystown: Season One by Jake Biondi!
Chicago's Boystown is one of the most diverse places that caters to everyone. After graduation from college, Cole and Jesse have decided that Boystown will now be their new home. Now that they're settled in and ready to begin their lives in this new great city, they have found a great group of friends but not without drama and this groups welcomes them with open arms. The married couple Derek and Joyelle have been happily together for years but there's a dark secret that could quite possible break them up and shatter their lives. Emmett's boyfriend Keith could also be harbouring a dark secret that might destroy them and their relationship. Now onto Max and Logan and the drama that their facing and now Jesse and Cole find themselves smack right in the middle of it all and welcome to Boystown guys!!!!!
I loved reading about these amazing and brilliantly written characters that I couldn't get enough of them as I was living them also. Jesse and Cole graduating and finding their dream jobs in Boystown. Now we have Derek and Joyelle and their perfect marriage as he has a successful job and she is a nurse but a dark secret threatens their perfect life and will they survive it or will the secret be too damaging for their relationship. Max and Logan have been together for years but their relationship hits a serious bump in the road. One of them takes a wrong turn and isn't willing to get help from the other so can their relationship withstand this as it seems that only one of them is working on staying together. Emmett and Keith are such an amazing couple together and now reaching that special place in their relationship. As Keith plans on something very special for his love Emmett but something or someone will be trying to end what they have together.
There is so much going on with these characters that you will be in a inconstant page turning frenzy and loving every minute of it. There are quite a few sub characters that add some great fun and drama to the story such as the mother Jacqueline and her much younger lover. Ben who has feelings for one of the guys in a relationship and man he adds some delicious drama. Nick, Todd and Justin and the fun they provide but someone might not literally survive all the drama. There's a very hot detective and man he will get your juices flowing and trust me on that one.
I completely enjoyed how this book was written in episodes and each one had a cliff-hanger just like watching a tv show so I found that so uniquely imaginative and so much more fun than the typical chapters. The beautiful way Jake told the story and his brilliant writing style of ease and fast paced made reading Boystown a complete thrill and I loved it from the very first line until the climative end. I so would love to go and find Boystown and meet these exciting characters as that is how you will feel about them. You won't be able to stop thinking about them for days to come. This is why I am thrilled that Season 2 will be dropping soon as everyone will be dying to read the next season. Jake Biondi did an amazing job on this novel and I count myself as a new fan of his work. So I highly recommend this novel Boystown to everyone who loves an amazing MM/GLBT novel, fun and wild characters, drama, forgiveness, betrayal and LOVE!!!!!
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."
Reviewed by Paul at Gay Media Reviews!
Chicago's Boystown is one of the most diverse places that caters to everyone. After graduation from college, Cole and Jesse have decided that Boystown will now be their new home. Now that they're settled in and ready to begin their lives in this new great city, they have found a great group of friends but not without drama and this groups welcomes them with open arms. The married couple Derek and Joyelle have been happily together for years but there's a dark secret that could quite possible break them up and shatter their lives. Emmett's boyfriend Keith could also be harbouring a dark secret that might destroy them and their relationship. Now onto Max and Logan and the drama that their facing and now Jesse and Cole find themselves smack right in the middle of it all and welcome to Boystown guys!!!!!
I loved reading about these amazing and brilliantly written characters that I couldn't get enough of them as I was living them also. Jesse and Cole graduating and finding their dream jobs in Boystown. Now we have Derek and Joyelle and their perfect marriage as he has a successful job and she is a nurse but a dark secret threatens their perfect life and will they survive it or will the secret be too damaging for their relationship. Max and Logan have been together for years but their relationship hits a serious bump in the road. One of them takes a wrong turn and isn't willing to get help from the other so can their relationship withstand this as it seems that only one of them is working on staying together. Emmett and Keith are such an amazing couple together and now reaching that special place in their relationship. As Keith plans on something very special for his love Emmett but something or someone will be trying to end what they have together.
There is so much going on with these characters that you will be in a inconstant page turning frenzy and loving every minute of it. There are quite a few sub characters that add some great fun and drama to the story such as the mother Jacqueline and her much younger lover. Ben who has feelings for one of the guys in a relationship and man he adds some delicious drama. Nick, Todd and Justin and the fun they provide but someone might not literally survive all the drama. There's a very hot detective and man he will get your juices flowing and trust me on that one.
I completely enjoyed how this book was written in episodes and each one had a cliff-hanger just like watching a tv show so I found that so uniquely imaginative and so much more fun than the typical chapters. The beautiful way Jake told the story and his brilliant writing style of ease and fast paced made reading Boystown a complete thrill and I loved it from the very first line until the climative end. I so would love to go and find Boystown and meet these exciting characters as that is how you will feel about them. You won't be able to stop thinking about them for days to come. This is why I am thrilled that Season 2 will be dropping soon as everyone will be dying to read the next season. Jake Biondi did an amazing job on this novel and I count myself as a new fan of his work. So I highly recommend this novel Boystown to everyone who loves an amazing MM/GLBT novel, fun and wild characters, drama, forgiveness, betrayal and LOVE!!!!!
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."
Reviewed by Paul at Gay Media Reviews!
December 29, 2014
Wow, this was such a quick, fun read. Boystown Season One reads like a soap opera, depicting a cast of young gay characters similar to those featured in Queer as Folk. But the story is set in modern-day Chicago. Several sub plots develop and then converge, linking the central characters together. The story is written in an unusual, third-person omniscient narrative, I think in an attempt to make the plot more cinematic. So please be warned, the story does contain a lot of head hopping.
There are some plot twists that are head scratchers as well. At one critical point in the plot, one of the main characters goes missing. Everyone disperses and goes about their business, even the missing character's immediate family. Nobody cries. Nobody mourns. I just could not wrap my head around that. And then later, when the cops show up to inform the family that they've found a dead body they think is the victim, nobody reacts. At all.
Setting that aside, I really got sucked in by the plot. I got to know and fell in love with the cast, and I'll definitely be continuing with the series.
There are some plot twists that are head scratchers as well. At one critical point in the plot, one of the main characters goes missing. Everyone disperses and goes about their business, even the missing character's immediate family. Nobody cries. Nobody mourns. I just could not wrap my head around that. And then later, when the cops show up to inform the family that they've found a dead body they think is the victim, nobody reacts. At all.
Setting that aside, I really got sucked in by the plot. I got to know and fell in love with the cast, and I'll definitely be continuing with the series.
February 22, 2018
Addictive soap opera
Seriously, not much time for full review because i can't stop reading. Crazy rabbit hole i fell into. It's Dallas, Dynasty and Melrose all in one crazy drama. Eagerly looking forward to see who i end up liking and hating, it changes every few episodes, lol.
Would to see this on screen, like Queer as Folk. I would watch over and over.
Seriously, not much time for full review because i can't stop reading. Crazy rabbit hole i fell into. It's Dallas, Dynasty and Melrose all in one crazy drama. Eagerly looking forward to see who i end up liking and hating, it changes every few episodes, lol.
Would to see this on screen, like Queer as Folk. I would watch over and over.
August 20, 2014
In Boystown: Season One, author Jake Biondi has done what so few have dared to do with such calculated intent: translated the television soap opera to print. This novel is filled with all the campy melodrama I used to love back in my General Hospital shipping days, the sort of drama that forces you to suspend all disbelief and lose yourself in the crazy. Take all of the affairs and breakups and sinister schemes and unlikely scenarios and insta-loves and stalkers and would-be killers; add all other manner of dysfunctional issues soaps are famous for; roll them into a single book, and that’s Boystown in its condensed form. Now all that needs to happen is for someone to come back from the dead in Season Two, and life will be complete.
Just as you’d expect from a soap opera, the ensemble cast in this novel each has their own story running concurrently, primarily relationship drama, which accounts for the rapid-fire scene changes that come at a manic pace. The challenge at the outset of this novel is in keeping everyone straight–who’s with whom–as the role players are all introduced and lumped together at the beginning of the book. The blanket intros came at the expense of focusing on the plot and trying to remember who was who, but all was eventually untangled and once it was, I was ready to see where the author was going to go with the down and dirty. Noting the size of the cast and the concurring storylines, one of the sacrifices I did feel was made was in character and relationship development. It was sketchy, at best, for the sake of including as much turmoil as possible in these people’s lives—the “I love yous” are thrown around at will, with no real serious intent to them—and I didn’t find myself warming up to any one couple in a meaningful way, although the Derek/Cole storyline holds potential. It’s a veritable gold mine of drama.
The aforementioned scene changes in Boystown weren’t always accomplished as skillfully as I felt they might have been. “At the same time…” began to take on a “Meanwhile, back at the ranch…” feel for me, not to mention taking some getting used to. It’s a unique delivery, to be sure, maybe a little risky. The author is playing director and is plotting out his script in a deliberate way. Where this worked in some respects, keeping the story set at a brisk flow, in others the delivery wasn’t as engaging as I felt it could have been. There are scenes in this novel that feel more like a laundry list of what’s playing out rather than there being a fluent narrative delivery. The “this happened, then this happened, then this happened” writing style was especially noticeable during sex scenes, which made it difficult to become grounded in the story.
Though I do feel Boystown: Season One suffers a bit from the ills of the unedited self-published novel (or, at least not professionally edited, from what I could tell), it’s still a fun book to give yourself permission to indulge in. It begs the reader not to take things too literally or ask too many questions to try to rationalize and make sense of certain situations introduced in the plot. Once I allowed myself to give in to all the seedy and salacious goings on rather than focusing on my nagging little qualms, I couldn’t help but like this book, flaws and all, all the way to its “Who shot J.R.?” style cliffhanger of an ending.
If you love a novel that’s over-the-top in only the best ways, I’d recommend giving this one a try. I’m ready to jump headlong into Boystown: Season Two, and can say, with all honesty, I’m looking forward to it like Joan Collins, Linda Evans, and a good catfight.
Just as you’d expect from a soap opera, the ensemble cast in this novel each has their own story running concurrently, primarily relationship drama, which accounts for the rapid-fire scene changes that come at a manic pace. The challenge at the outset of this novel is in keeping everyone straight–who’s with whom–as the role players are all introduced and lumped together at the beginning of the book. The blanket intros came at the expense of focusing on the plot and trying to remember who was who, but all was eventually untangled and once it was, I was ready to see where the author was going to go with the down and dirty. Noting the size of the cast and the concurring storylines, one of the sacrifices I did feel was made was in character and relationship development. It was sketchy, at best, for the sake of including as much turmoil as possible in these people’s lives—the “I love yous” are thrown around at will, with no real serious intent to them—and I didn’t find myself warming up to any one couple in a meaningful way, although the Derek/Cole storyline holds potential. It’s a veritable gold mine of drama.
The aforementioned scene changes in Boystown weren’t always accomplished as skillfully as I felt they might have been. “At the same time…” began to take on a “Meanwhile, back at the ranch…” feel for me, not to mention taking some getting used to. It’s a unique delivery, to be sure, maybe a little risky. The author is playing director and is plotting out his script in a deliberate way. Where this worked in some respects, keeping the story set at a brisk flow, in others the delivery wasn’t as engaging as I felt it could have been. There are scenes in this novel that feel more like a laundry list of what’s playing out rather than there being a fluent narrative delivery. The “this happened, then this happened, then this happened” writing style was especially noticeable during sex scenes, which made it difficult to become grounded in the story.
Though I do feel Boystown: Season One suffers a bit from the ills of the unedited self-published novel (or, at least not professionally edited, from what I could tell), it’s still a fun book to give yourself permission to indulge in. It begs the reader not to take things too literally or ask too many questions to try to rationalize and make sense of certain situations introduced in the plot. Once I allowed myself to give in to all the seedy and salacious goings on rather than focusing on my nagging little qualms, I couldn’t help but like this book, flaws and all, all the way to its “Who shot J.R.?” style cliffhanger of an ending.
If you love a novel that’s over-the-top in only the best ways, I’d recommend giving this one a try. I’m ready to jump headlong into Boystown: Season Two, and can say, with all honesty, I’m looking forward to it like Joan Collins, Linda Evans, and a good catfight.
May 11, 2014
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Where to start on this drama-filled rollercoaster thrill ride…I wasn’t totally sure what to expect here. It isn’t something that would normally interest me, but I decided to give it a shot. If you’re looking for something a bit different, this is quite a unique story. If you are a soap opera fan, or a fan of the Melrose Place type shows, you will love this, as it pretty much reads like a script – there are episodes, which I understand are how this was originally written, and the scenes flow from one into the next. This takes a bit of getting used to as you’re reading about one couple, meanwhile, in the same sentence, another couple is doing something else and the story switches to them. This is definitely different, but it flowed very well and moved the story along nicely. I found it to be one of the things I enjoyed about it.
The characters – there are quite a few of them, which, again, took me some time keeping straight. But they draw you in rather quickly. The first main couple is Derek and Joyelle, but we quickly begin to see a pattern here that takes place pretty much throughout the story. At least to me, if felt as though just about everyone in this story was cheating. They all have issues, and by the middle of this, I was begging for there to be one “healthy” couple in the bunch. Sadly, it was quite the opposite, as things become even more twisted and crazy. These are supposed to all be friends and are all connected in some way or another. You know how in long-running soap operas some characters seem to have been in a relationship with everyone over the span of the years? Well, this has that same feel, only it is crammed into a much shorter time period. Out of the other “couples,” there are some to like and some (ok, most) to not like so much.
So, aside from all of the cheating, this story really does pull you in. It reads very fast, and by the end, you do care about many of the characters involved. Some you want to hug, some you want to kill. Wanting to see them get to better places kept me turning pages as fast as I could. One niggling issue I had were repeated phrases (mostly regarding the sex). And, this ends on a pretty big cliffhanger.
All in all, I was riveted to the craziness and need to read Season Two STAT to find out what happens and how that affects each of these characters. There are quite a few storylines that left me growling to see their conclusion, so I’m hoping for more and maybe even some happy endings for some of these guys as well.
Where to start on this drama-filled rollercoaster thrill ride…I wasn’t totally sure what to expect here. It isn’t something that would normally interest me, but I decided to give it a shot. If you’re looking for something a bit different, this is quite a unique story. If you are a soap opera fan, or a fan of the Melrose Place type shows, you will love this, as it pretty much reads like a script – there are episodes, which I understand are how this was originally written, and the scenes flow from one into the next. This takes a bit of getting used to as you’re reading about one couple, meanwhile, in the same sentence, another couple is doing something else and the story switches to them. This is definitely different, but it flowed very well and moved the story along nicely. I found it to be one of the things I enjoyed about it.
The characters – there are quite a few of them, which, again, took me some time keeping straight. But they draw you in rather quickly. The first main couple is Derek and Joyelle, but we quickly begin to see a pattern here that takes place pretty much throughout the story. At least to me, if felt as though just about everyone in this story was cheating. They all have issues, and by the middle of this, I was begging for there to be one “healthy” couple in the bunch. Sadly, it was quite the opposite, as things become even more twisted and crazy. These are supposed to all be friends and are all connected in some way or another. You know how in long-running soap operas some characters seem to have been in a relationship with everyone over the span of the years? Well, this has that same feel, only it is crammed into a much shorter time period. Out of the other “couples,” there are some to like and some (ok, most) to not like so much.
So, aside from all of the cheating, this story really does pull you in. It reads very fast, and by the end, you do care about many of the characters involved. Some you want to hug, some you want to kill. Wanting to see them get to better places kept me turning pages as fast as I could. One niggling issue I had were repeated phrases (mostly regarding the sex). And, this ends on a pretty big cliffhanger.
All in all, I was riveted to the craziness and need to read Season Two STAT to find out what happens and how that affects each of these characters. There are quite a few storylines that left me growling to see their conclusion, so I’m hoping for more and maybe even some happy endings for some of these guys as well.
December 5, 2019
You all know I love some trashy popcorn drama. Degrassi, Once Upon a Time, Charmed (I'll admit)... It's great, and there's a place for it in the world of literary and visual entertainment. What some writers and directors don't seem to grasp is that there's a real art to creating good, juicy melodrama. Mindless indulgence actually takes something special and is not easy to make. There has to be something to it, whether it be good character work, snappy dialogue, or -- and this is the best one -- writer(s) just having a REALLY good time.
I'd like someone to pass this message along to the author of this dull, insipid, predictable, and utterly joyless piece.
If you've ever walked into a Boystown (or WeHo or Hell's Kitchen or Capitol Hill, etc.) gay bar and marveled at the army of pudding-faced white boys sporting the exact same haircut and beard, you've familiar with the cast of this book. Just a bunch of flat, interchangeable, emotionally-dotarded idiots.
The scenes skip around a lot (like a tv show... I understand what he's trying to do with "Season One" so don't come for me) but since none of the characters have any qualities, it's super confusing what's going on. Max, Emmett, and Keith were particularly difficult for me to keep distinct. There was a point where I thought one of them died, so I got excited. But on the next page he was okay after all. :-(
There was a lot of sex in this book, which can be enough of a thread to keep a book alive, but this was... not good sex. Every scene might as well be copy/pasted: He kissed him hard, running his hands up his back. He pushed him against the wall, kissing his neck and working his way down. Then they put the penis in and two seconds later everying is done and it's the most incredible sex anyone has ever had. I read this for book club last night and learned the phrase "two-pump chump", which is a little hateful because we can't control our biology, but it made me laugh because these characters are all that.
Also, "he ran his hands up Cole's amazing chest" is not good writing. "Amazing" is not a compelling adjective. Tell me what makes the chest amazing. Also not compelling adjectives are "hairy" or "black". They may be accurate, but they're not engaging if that's all you have in your arsenal.
There were two black characters in this book, which you're mostly reminded of when their penises are mentioned. It's... kinda gross. Also one of them is a sociopath.
And because this is "Season One" and we need a teaser for "Season Two" basically the book just ends at some point with tons of plot threads still pending. This is bad. It's really bad, and it would be okay if it were bad if it seemed like the author was having any fun at all. But everything is just presented with very little imagination and no style.
Incidentally, the audiobook is read in a stilted monotone, which doesn't help at all.
Ok, I'm done. There are 6 more books, but you'll have to go on without me to see how this junior high drama plays out.
I'd like someone to pass this message along to the author of this dull, insipid, predictable, and utterly joyless piece.
If you've ever walked into a Boystown (or WeHo or Hell's Kitchen or Capitol Hill, etc.) gay bar and marveled at the army of pudding-faced white boys sporting the exact same haircut and beard, you've familiar with the cast of this book. Just a bunch of flat, interchangeable, emotionally-dotarded idiots.
The scenes skip around a lot (like a tv show... I understand what he's trying to do with "Season One" so don't come for me) but since none of the characters have any qualities, it's super confusing what's going on. Max, Emmett, and Keith were particularly difficult for me to keep distinct. There was a point where I thought one of them died, so I got excited. But on the next page he was okay after all. :-(
There was a lot of sex in this book, which can be enough of a thread to keep a book alive, but this was... not good sex. Every scene might as well be copy/pasted: He kissed him hard, running his hands up his back. He pushed him against the wall, kissing his neck and working his way down. Then they put the penis in and two seconds later everying is done and it's the most incredible sex anyone has ever had. I read this for book club last night and learned the phrase "two-pump chump", which is a little hateful because we can't control our biology, but it made me laugh because these characters are all that.
Also, "he ran his hands up Cole's amazing chest" is not good writing. "Amazing" is not a compelling adjective. Tell me what makes the chest amazing. Also not compelling adjectives are "hairy" or "black". They may be accurate, but they're not engaging if that's all you have in your arsenal.
There were two black characters in this book, which you're mostly reminded of when their penises are mentioned. It's... kinda gross. Also one of them is a sociopath.
And because this is "Season One" and we need a teaser for "Season Two" basically the book just ends at some point with tons of plot threads still pending. This is bad. It's really bad, and it would be okay if it were bad if it seemed like the author was having any fun at all. But everything is just presented with very little imagination and no style.
Incidentally, the audiobook is read in a stilted monotone, which doesn't help at all.
Ok, I'm done. There are 6 more books, but you'll have to go on without me to see how this junior high drama plays out.
June 13, 2014
So I was totally pumped up to read this book. It was going to be a group read in one of my favorite Facebook groups, mind you I knew I would most definitely get behind in the read because life always just seems to get in my way. So what do I do...HMMM I decided to jump start the read so for once I wouldn't be the Slacker I am known as....LOL!! Well what happened next is I found myself reading the entire book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down...seriously!! My poor family had to have hot dogs for dinner cause I just didn't feel like setting the kindle down to cook..TRU DAT!!! This book was like no other book I have read. It reminded me of watching a TV show... You all know like Days of Our Lives. This story was gripping and intense. It was filled with great dialogue and juicy drama.
There are so many characters in this neighborhood that I could not pick a favorite but my heart leans a little to Derek and Keith. Anyway..This story is written in episodes that will have you laughing one minute, fanning and catching your breath, spitting mad and even crying at points. Exactly why I loved it. The emotional journey that Jake Biondi takes you on will leave you wanting more for sure. Jake manages to capture the reader from the first page.. I love it!!
There is Derek and Joyelle the married couple who certainly love each other but Derek has this need to be with men also. Little did he expect being in love with the one night stand he couldn't resist. So I can't wait to read the outcome of this little tizzy.
There is Emmet, Dereks gay brother and Keith who are totally in love with each other but trust is a big issue there and not to mention a dangerous past that is gonna explode on their relationship. Whew..some truly epic scenes!!
We've got Max and Logan who have been together for years but their relationship is growing complacent and we can't be sure they are gonna make it. They both just can't decide if its worth fighting for now. I just wanted to cuddle both these guys!!
Then we've got the two youngest men , both just graduating college, Jesse and Cole. Little did they know they soon find themselves tangled right in the middle of this neighborhood. Oh, what its like to be young and think you know everything.
There is so much going on in this book it was hard not to become a fast addict of Boystown. The sex is sizzling hot and off the charts. This book has an intense cliffhanger and I am grateful that I don't have to wait too long for Boystown Season 2! I feel like a kid right now waiting on Christmas..UGH!! I just have this passionate need to know more of these characters that I am hopelessly in love with already. So Jake don't make me wait too long!!! PLEASE!! This is a must read book that I promise will captivate your mind and your heart so if you haven't picked it up to read yet make sure you go ONE-CLICK TODAY!!!
There are so many characters in this neighborhood that I could not pick a favorite but my heart leans a little to Derek and Keith. Anyway..This story is written in episodes that will have you laughing one minute, fanning and catching your breath, spitting mad and even crying at points. Exactly why I loved it. The emotional journey that Jake Biondi takes you on will leave you wanting more for sure. Jake manages to capture the reader from the first page.. I love it!!
There is Derek and Joyelle the married couple who certainly love each other but Derek has this need to be with men also. Little did he expect being in love with the one night stand he couldn't resist. So I can't wait to read the outcome of this little tizzy.
There is Emmet, Dereks gay brother and Keith who are totally in love with each other but trust is a big issue there and not to mention a dangerous past that is gonna explode on their relationship. Whew..some truly epic scenes!!
We've got Max and Logan who have been together for years but their relationship is growing complacent and we can't be sure they are gonna make it. They both just can't decide if its worth fighting for now. I just wanted to cuddle both these guys!!
Then we've got the two youngest men , both just graduating college, Jesse and Cole. Little did they know they soon find themselves tangled right in the middle of this neighborhood. Oh, what its like to be young and think you know everything.
There is so much going on in this book it was hard not to become a fast addict of Boystown. The sex is sizzling hot and off the charts. This book has an intense cliffhanger and I am grateful that I don't have to wait too long for Boystown Season 2! I feel like a kid right now waiting on Christmas..UGH!! I just have this passionate need to know more of these characters that I am hopelessly in love with already. So Jake don't make me wait too long!!! PLEASE!! This is a must read book that I promise will captivate your mind and your heart so if you haven't picked it up to read yet make sure you go ONE-CLICK TODAY!!!
March 12, 2014
3.5 of 5 stars – A Fun Story of Friends and Lovers that a Lot of Gays Can Relate To
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Jake!)
It’s always fun to read a story set in a place you’re familiar with, and so yes, this was fun for me; but even if you aren’t familiar with Chicago’s Boystown, I think a lot of gays will relate to this story.
I was drawn in and it felt like a group of friends I’ve known or could have known. All the drama, all the partying, all the mix of relationships and people, all the ins and outs of gay life. His characterizations go beyond stereotypes and as the action and situations develop, so do the people. The relationships, situations, actions and emotions are varied, realistic, and true-to-life.
Jake Biondi’s style is easy to read and fast paced with a sprinkle of humor and emotions here and there. For any of you who “read to travel” like I do, his descriptions of the settings are right on. I can’t compare it completely to “Tales of the City,” but having just re-read that, I did see similarities in their diverse groups of friends and lovers, describing so well the locale in which it is set, mixing in some mystery with the romance and sex, the jumping from one situation to another taking the drama with you, and maybe that was a result, interestingly, of both being first written in serial installments.
All in all, an engaging romp with friends and lovers many would love to join in on.
(I'm excited to have won this as a Goodreads First Read – so thanks, Jake!)
It’s always fun to read a story set in a place you’re familiar with, and so yes, this was fun for me; but even if you aren’t familiar with Chicago’s Boystown, I think a lot of gays will relate to this story.
I was drawn in and it felt like a group of friends I’ve known or could have known. All the drama, all the partying, all the mix of relationships and people, all the ins and outs of gay life. His characterizations go beyond stereotypes and as the action and situations develop, so do the people. The relationships, situations, actions and emotions are varied, realistic, and true-to-life.
Jake Biondi’s style is easy to read and fast paced with a sprinkle of humor and emotions here and there. For any of you who “read to travel” like I do, his descriptions of the settings are right on. I can’t compare it completely to “Tales of the City,” but having just re-read that, I did see similarities in their diverse groups of friends and lovers, describing so well the locale in which it is set, mixing in some mystery with the romance and sex, the jumping from one situation to another taking the drama with you, and maybe that was a result, interestingly, of both being first written in serial installments.
All in all, an engaging romp with friends and lovers many would love to join in on.
July 31, 2014
Friends mais version MM
Découvert grâce à une amie, j’ai adoré me plonger dans cette série très divertissante, drôle et sexy, avec une multitude de rebondissements, car nous suivons les aventures de plusieurs couples mais tout s’enchaine à la perfection. C’est léger, un mélange subtil de drame, trahison et passion comme dans un feuilleton, mais sous cette apparence légère, Jake biondi a su mettre de la profondeur dans ces personnages et évite de tomber dans la caricature ou les clichés. J'ai beaucoup aimé le travail sur chaque personnage et j’ai été très surprise de la manière dont l’auteur a réussi à tous les « assembler » afin d’en faire une construction cohérente.
Vous avez l’impression d’être devant un soap opera, c’est une délicieuse sucrerie qui n’a pour but que de vous divertir et de vous faire passer un bon moment, la parfaite lecture de vacances.
Découvert grâce à une amie, j’ai adoré me plonger dans cette série très divertissante, drôle et sexy, avec une multitude de rebondissements, car nous suivons les aventures de plusieurs couples mais tout s’enchaine à la perfection. C’est léger, un mélange subtil de drame, trahison et passion comme dans un feuilleton, mais sous cette apparence légère, Jake biondi a su mettre de la profondeur dans ces personnages et évite de tomber dans la caricature ou les clichés. J'ai beaucoup aimé le travail sur chaque personnage et j’ai été très surprise de la manière dont l’auteur a réussi à tous les « assembler » afin d’en faire une construction cohérente.
Vous avez l’impression d’être devant un soap opera, c’est une délicieuse sucrerie qui n’a pour but que de vous divertir et de vous faire passer un bon moment, la parfaite lecture de vacances.
June 21, 2014
a wow it has been eons since I have read anything other than M/M book characters t has also been eons sine I yelled at book characters. There were several cringe worthy moments in this book where dark secrets were behind every door and as I was totally invested in every characterI was at the edge of my seat during the reading of this amazing story such suspense so many oh my God moments I am hereby living for the second installment. Mind you this is this authors first crack at writing its an incredible story and a MUST READ honestly. The cliffhanger ending will have me obsessing about Season 2 for weeks and weeks.
Read
January 13, 2014I don't know how to rate this. I didn't like the writing style and the drama was so over the top...cheating, crazy ex lovers, son & mother unknowingly sharing a man, alcoholism, a kidnapping, and lots of toe sucking...eeek! It really was a soap opera and I'll probably read season 2...I do want to know what will happen next lol.
June 19, 2014
OMG.. I loved this book I couldn't put it down, it was getting better & better & you didn't want to stop reading it because you wanted to see what would happen next !! I love/ dislike some characters & then changed my mind, lol. The End... My heart stopped for a minute & then I cried for a minute & my jaw dropped, can't get over it!!Grrrrrr, dang cliffhanger :( Can't Wait for Season 2
May 8, 2015
This is an interesting well written read. There are all kinds of low down and down low situations happening. And sooner rather than later feelings are going to be hurt and pride bruised in several instances. This author is new to me but he's hooked me with season one. Since I need to find out what's going on, I've got to read season two because there is a cliffhanger. Enjoy I did.
May 26, 2015
I really did enjoy this book but am only giving it 4 stars as i felt that some parts were a bit rushed, i did read it as though i was reading a script which helped with the confusion i felt when it switched from 1 set of characters to another. Over all though it was a good book and the ending was brilliant x
March 1, 2022
This was a wild ride. That cliffhanger made me scream wtf.
Emmett is best boy.
[r/w Maisie 💕]
Emmett is best boy.
[r/w Maisie 💕]
March 7, 2022
Boystown: Season one is the first part of a multipart series. Its storyline begins here in part one but is in no way resolved here. Instead, this is merely the first part of a series. Season One introduces a few subplots that will probably comprise the overall plot of the series. It also introduces lots of characters, some of which do not enter until very near the end of the book. By the end of this long series of books, perhaps each of these characters will have a place, but in this first part, there are simply too many.
Beyond its extensive list of characters is a long list of relationships, requiring the reader not only to recognize one character from another but one relationship from another.
The writing is pedestrian, simple and straightforward with no attempt at eloquence or impressiveness. In some cases, it lacks the detail needed. In other cases, it presents elements and situations that lack authenticity.
The storylines really did not begin developing until fairly far into the book They seemed interesting and almost suspenseful, but true suspensefulness required stronger, more finely tuned prose.
Overall, I was disappointed. If I were the type who likes books that continue their plots from one volume to the next, I may have held a higher opinion of the book. As it is, it just makes me wish I had read something else.
Beyond its extensive list of characters is a long list of relationships, requiring the reader not only to recognize one character from another but one relationship from another.
The writing is pedestrian, simple and straightforward with no attempt at eloquence or impressiveness. In some cases, it lacks the detail needed. In other cases, it presents elements and situations that lack authenticity.
The storylines really did not begin developing until fairly far into the book They seemed interesting and almost suspenseful, but true suspensefulness required stronger, more finely tuned prose.
Overall, I was disappointed. If I were the type who likes books that continue their plots from one volume to the next, I may have held a higher opinion of the book. As it is, it just makes me wish I had read something else.
September 18, 2026
Not sure what I was expecting but this ended up being 3 stars for me and I do want to read the next book in the series. It was fun and very fast reading. Not being familiar with Chicago at all I think might have taken away a little of the pleasure for me. All in all I don't regret reading this book and will for sure look out for the next one in the series.
own-but-not-read-yet
March 4, 2018Book 1 is currently FREE on Amazon (US) AND Smashwords.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GL4NAKQ
Books 2-5 are FREE on Smashwords only (as far as I know).
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GL4NAKQ
Books 2-5 are FREE on Smashwords only (as far as I know).
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
March 1, 2022
do not judge okay. this is like the written version of a gay soap opera and the drama was good
rw/ emilia
rw/ emilia
October 26, 2014
5 star review by Kimberley
This story tells the tale of a group of friends who live in the Boystown area of Chicago. Reading the blurb, I was a bit leery about reading it but once I started, I couldn’t stop. This series is absolutely sinful, filled to the brim with old school soap opera drama. There is sex, deceit, infidelity on video and audio, a kidnapping, a murder, a decades old vendetta, revenge and other secrets and lies that are being brought to light….it is DELICIOUS. Biondi’s characters and storyline are extremely well developed written. There were a lot of characters with a lot of different things going on with them but it’s that style of writing that will prevent you from getting bored; it certainly kept me on my toes. There are several couples that comprise this group of friends. I can’t give you an accurate account of couples as they tend to overlap and change as the story progresses. Just to give you an idea of what you are working with, the core characters/couples are Derek and Joyelle, Logan and Max, Emmett and Keith. Then add to that Cole and Jesse, Jacqueline and Ben. The Ciancio twins, Justin, Tyler, Michael, David and Rachel are the secondary characters but there are zero degrees of separation with these people. Another thing that I loved about this book was the diversity. There was this wonderful array of gay, straight, bisexual, Hispanic, African American and Caucasian characters. The author also did a great job of creating these delicious dramas in the background while each individual character’s story is unfolding. Of all of characters in this story, I disliked Emmett and Max the most. Considered the ‘good guys’ of the group, I felt that they were the most deceitful, I especially wasn’t buying Emmett’s goody good image. Max and Emmett wore these ‘nice guy’ masks that came off as the story progressed. I felt that it was the relationship between these two ‘best friends’ that was behind Logan’s alcohol problem; if not, it certainly contributed to it. I felt bad for Logan and Keith; especially Keith. I felt that these groups of people were not truly his friends and he should wash his hands of them altogether. I disliked Emmett’s brother Derek as well but still not as much as I disliked Emmett. Unlike Emmett, Derek didn’t hide the fact that he was an asshole; you knew he was an asshole by page three of the book. Oddly enough, I didn’t dislike Cole he was simply this pathetic kid with his brains between his legs. He’s young, he’s going to make dumb mistakes, but Derek is full grown. Joyelle was a bit too Pollyanna and naïve for my taste but she’s not a bad person, just saddled with that asshole husband. Jesse was doing the MOST and irritated me, but not as much as his mother Jacqueline. Jacqueline is a woman of a particular age making these rookie mistakes that a girl in her twenties would make. I mean, really?! Her behavior was downright embarrassing. That entire situation surrounding her, Jesse, Max and Ben is one of the most trifling and low down story lines that I have ever—ever seen. Although most of the people in this group of ‘friends’ were messy, the Jacqueline, Jesse, Max and Ben storyline was the most scandalous. The jury is still out on the rest of the characters. You will not be able to put this book down as it sucks you in from the first word to the last and will leave you craving more. This series is titled ‘Boystown’ but I’d call it The Young and the Messy. It was a fantastic, addictive and at 303 pages, substantial read. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
This story tells the tale of a group of friends who live in the Boystown area of Chicago. Reading the blurb, I was a bit leery about reading it but once I started, I couldn’t stop. This series is absolutely sinful, filled to the brim with old school soap opera drama. There is sex, deceit, infidelity on video and audio, a kidnapping, a murder, a decades old vendetta, revenge and other secrets and lies that are being brought to light….it is DELICIOUS. Biondi’s characters and storyline are extremely well developed written. There were a lot of characters with a lot of different things going on with them but it’s that style of writing that will prevent you from getting bored; it certainly kept me on my toes. There are several couples that comprise this group of friends. I can’t give you an accurate account of couples as they tend to overlap and change as the story progresses. Just to give you an idea of what you are working with, the core characters/couples are Derek and Joyelle, Logan and Max, Emmett and Keith. Then add to that Cole and Jesse, Jacqueline and Ben. The Ciancio twins, Justin, Tyler, Michael, David and Rachel are the secondary characters but there are zero degrees of separation with these people. Another thing that I loved about this book was the diversity. There was this wonderful array of gay, straight, bisexual, Hispanic, African American and Caucasian characters. The author also did a great job of creating these delicious dramas in the background while each individual character’s story is unfolding. Of all of characters in this story, I disliked Emmett and Max the most. Considered the ‘good guys’ of the group, I felt that they were the most deceitful, I especially wasn’t buying Emmett’s goody good image. Max and Emmett wore these ‘nice guy’ masks that came off as the story progressed. I felt that it was the relationship between these two ‘best friends’ that was behind Logan’s alcohol problem; if not, it certainly contributed to it. I felt bad for Logan and Keith; especially Keith. I felt that these groups of people were not truly his friends and he should wash his hands of them altogether. I disliked Emmett’s brother Derek as well but still not as much as I disliked Emmett. Unlike Emmett, Derek didn’t hide the fact that he was an asshole; you knew he was an asshole by page three of the book. Oddly enough, I didn’t dislike Cole he was simply this pathetic kid with his brains between his legs. He’s young, he’s going to make dumb mistakes, but Derek is full grown. Joyelle was a bit too Pollyanna and naïve for my taste but she’s not a bad person, just saddled with that asshole husband. Jesse was doing the MOST and irritated me, but not as much as his mother Jacqueline. Jacqueline is a woman of a particular age making these rookie mistakes that a girl in her twenties would make. I mean, really?! Her behavior was downright embarrassing. That entire situation surrounding her, Jesse, Max and Ben is one of the most trifling and low down story lines that I have ever—ever seen. Although most of the people in this group of ‘friends’ were messy, the Jacqueline, Jesse, Max and Ben storyline was the most scandalous. The jury is still out on the rest of the characters. You will not be able to put this book down as it sucks you in from the first word to the last and will leave you craving more. This series is titled ‘Boystown’ but I’d call it The Young and the Messy. It was a fantastic, addictive and at 303 pages, substantial read. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
October 18, 2014
Original Post: eARC Series Review: Boystown Seasons 1 & 2 by Jake Biondi
I must confess, I just love reading something written unusual for me. These books are presented much like a script would be, but technically, it is not a script. With that style in mind, think: HBO TV Series. There is sex, violence, nudity, erotica, infidelity, crime, passion, blood, drama, angst, thrill, mystery, more erotica and more complications that sets the TV ratings skyrocketing. Yes, these are books but they are not.
Take a look at that title: Boystown Season. There is now a season one and a season two. And just like anything we watch on TV, the separate episodes are just the different slices to the whole season. Where season one left off, season two begins but with new characters, more plot complications, and more mysteries to unravel.
The central focus of these books are not one, not two, but a few characters. Each character has their own little story to tell and each story complicates the whole story but makes it complete. The start of the read could be a bit confusing, but once the episodes unfold slowly and really fast, then all of them somehow manage to be part of the single picture.
My first thought is Derek. Now this is a character I would call hypocritical and really idiotic. Yet he is the one I really like the most. I won't call him the anti-hero either. He is just Derek and he has issues he has to deal with. He is married to Joyelle but he is lover to Cole, a guy he met on a trip. Losing his wedding ring on that scandalous secret affair started the ball rolling so to speak.
The second focus I love to hate is Logan. Now he is an idiot. But I love him anyways. He is an alcoholic who refuses to back off from his denial and has a sort of self-defeating personality. His denials and failure to face up to his own faults not only ruin his relationships but his personality itself.
Why do I like these men? Both are obviously not the 'romantic leading man' types. They are flawed, they have inner demons and they are hypocritical. - Just the kinds of people we meet everyday and relate to. They are real.
Joyelle. Wow, this is a woman with a mission but she has secrets too. Emmett loves and loves completely. When driven away, his needs to connect finally opens his eyes to a future he had always wanted. Max. His needs are just as complex and he does connect.
Then there are Justine, Jesse, Keith. Then the twins. There are a huge cast of characters here and their lives are all so interconnected it is hard to figure out where the blurred lines begin and the solid lines end. In short, these men and women all have something to say and they do say them verbally, emotionally, sexually, violently, secretly - its exhausting to find all the adjectives but in a good way.
The one thing I cannot do is reveal the plot. This is an ongoing series and I cannot, in all justice, spoil these books with spoilers. What I can say is this: this is not written in the usual formula. This is like watching a very intriguing and engrossing TV series readers would love to hate and love to love. Reading this makes the brain work - to the past and to the future. There is always that feeling of being on edge for what comes next and that is what made me realize, I finished the two books in a single afternoon. Talk about brain fried!
... but I smile and frown for that third season is still in production and Jake Biondi better produce.
I must confess, I just love reading something written unusual for me. These books are presented much like a script would be, but technically, it is not a script. With that style in mind, think: HBO TV Series. There is sex, violence, nudity, erotica, infidelity, crime, passion, blood, drama, angst, thrill, mystery, more erotica and more complications that sets the TV ratings skyrocketing. Yes, these are books but they are not.
Take a look at that title: Boystown Season. There is now a season one and a season two. And just like anything we watch on TV, the separate episodes are just the different slices to the whole season. Where season one left off, season two begins but with new characters, more plot complications, and more mysteries to unravel.
The central focus of these books are not one, not two, but a few characters. Each character has their own little story to tell and each story complicates the whole story but makes it complete. The start of the read could be a bit confusing, but once the episodes unfold slowly and really fast, then all of them somehow manage to be part of the single picture.
My first thought is Derek. Now this is a character I would call hypocritical and really idiotic. Yet he is the one I really like the most. I won't call him the anti-hero either. He is just Derek and he has issues he has to deal with. He is married to Joyelle but he is lover to Cole, a guy he met on a trip. Losing his wedding ring on that scandalous secret affair started the ball rolling so to speak.
The second focus I love to hate is Logan. Now he is an idiot. But I love him anyways. He is an alcoholic who refuses to back off from his denial and has a sort of self-defeating personality. His denials and failure to face up to his own faults not only ruin his relationships but his personality itself.
Why do I like these men? Both are obviously not the 'romantic leading man' types. They are flawed, they have inner demons and they are hypocritical. - Just the kinds of people we meet everyday and relate to. They are real.
Joyelle. Wow, this is a woman with a mission but she has secrets too. Emmett loves and loves completely. When driven away, his needs to connect finally opens his eyes to a future he had always wanted. Max. His needs are just as complex and he does connect.
Then there are Justine, Jesse, Keith. Then the twins. There are a huge cast of characters here and their lives are all so interconnected it is hard to figure out where the blurred lines begin and the solid lines end. In short, these men and women all have something to say and they do say them verbally, emotionally, sexually, violently, secretly - its exhausting to find all the adjectives but in a good way.
The one thing I cannot do is reveal the plot. This is an ongoing series and I cannot, in all justice, spoil these books with spoilers. What I can say is this: this is not written in the usual formula. This is like watching a very intriguing and engrossing TV series readers would love to hate and love to love. Reading this makes the brain work - to the past and to the future. There is always that feeling of being on edge for what comes next and that is what made me realize, I finished the two books in a single afternoon. Talk about brain fried!
... but I smile and frown for that third season is still in production and Jake Biondi better produce.
February 19, 2015
This was an amazing read. It was intense, dramatic, riveting, emotional and very sexual with Hot, Hot Sex. As I read this book, I felt like I was In the middle of a modern day "Peyton Place", if any of you remember that. The story line was strong with the flow and intertwining of everyone's lives together was brilliant. This was more of a strong, sexy, action packed soap opera, but was a lot more interesting. The author did an great job of the way the story was formatted connecting the dots of the events. The character development was strong with each individual's traits and involvement within the story. Felt my head spinning at times as the relationships changed and the traumatic events happened. This would definitely make a great series of TV. I loved the characters and there were so many twists and turns within the book, you never knew what was coming next. The only character that I did not like was Nick, who was the villain, and possibly Ben, not knowing what he really is up to with Jesse's mom. The characters in this story are all friends/family who love each other, but have their own special relationship problems which usually affect the others in one way or the other. I highly recommend this book. Haven't read a book that kept me wanting to find out more. This book has a strong cliffhanger, which you'll say "Oh, No"!! I had to immediately go to the next one in the series to find out what happened and with who....Great Book, Brilliant writing, and a Definite Must Read!! This was a dramatic, emotional, action-packed roller coaster ride with a lot of twists and turns and a lot of Hot Sex....
July 6, 2014
Wow!!
First I want to start off saying this is a first for me reading from this Author Jake Biondi. I absolutely loved this book I can't say enough good about it , I especially love the unique way it was written.
The Author broke the story into episodes rather than chapters it is a first for me reading as such . I found that this fast style of writing was so addictive I couldn't put this book down, I finished it in ine sitting.
We meet so many different characters in this book and witness how relationships grow closer and apart.
You will experience such a closeness with each of these characters from Cole and Jesse best friends and recent college grads, to Derek and Joyelle with their perfect marriage, you will see some dark secrets revealed there Shhh I will not tell !!
Then we have Emmett (Derek's younger brother ) and his partner Keith , also Max and Logan . You will also meet Ben and Jacqueline (who is Jesse's mom) and some really surprising secrets there, just wait to see who Ben really has feelings for.
Jake also introduced other individual characters such as Todd, Justin (Derrek and Emmett's estranged brother) and a very hot detective . I highly recommend this book and gave it a definite 5 stars .
We are left with a slight cliffhanger that makes it even more exciting for the release of Boystown:Season Two to release on July 7 .
First I want to start off saying this is a first for me reading from this Author Jake Biondi. I absolutely loved this book I can't say enough good about it , I especially love the unique way it was written.
The Author broke the story into episodes rather than chapters it is a first for me reading as such . I found that this fast style of writing was so addictive I couldn't put this book down, I finished it in ine sitting.
We meet so many different characters in this book and witness how relationships grow closer and apart.
You will experience such a closeness with each of these characters from Cole and Jesse best friends and recent college grads, to Derek and Joyelle with their perfect marriage, you will see some dark secrets revealed there Shhh I will not tell !!
Then we have Emmett (Derek's younger brother ) and his partner Keith , also Max and Logan . You will also meet Ben and Jacqueline (who is Jesse's mom) and some really surprising secrets there, just wait to see who Ben really has feelings for.
Jake also introduced other individual characters such as Todd, Justin (Derrek and Emmett's estranged brother) and a very hot detective . I highly recommend this book and gave it a definite 5 stars .
We are left with a slight cliffhanger that makes it even more exciting for the release of Boystown:Season Two to release on July 7 .
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