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Boys Wanted
Previously published as The Boy Recession.
The population of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, is shrinking as families move to cities and towns with greener pastures, and the local high school is Nearly all of the area's most eligible guy shave moved or transferred schools.
With little competition, the remaining boys find their stocks on the rise, and even the most unlikely candidates have a good chance of making the team and getting the girl. Guitar-strumming slacker Hunter Fahrenbach has made an art of blending into the background, but now desperate coaches are recruiting him and popular girls are noticing his scruffy good looks. With a little help, Hunter might even be boyfriend material...
Down-to-earth Kelly Robbins has simple wish for her junior "one normal, nice boy to crush on." Kelly and Hunter have always been friends, but is there something more to their platonic relationship? And can Kelly overcome the odds? After all, dating is hard enough without a four-to-one ratio.
Flynn Meaney's writing has been described as "witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and real," and Boys Wanted cements her spot as a comedic star on the rise.
The population of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, is shrinking as families move to cities and towns with greener pastures, and the local high school is Nearly all of the area's most eligible guy shave moved or transferred schools.
With little competition, the remaining boys find their stocks on the rise, and even the most unlikely candidates have a good chance of making the team and getting the girl. Guitar-strumming slacker Hunter Fahrenbach has made an art of blending into the background, but now desperate coaches are recruiting him and popular girls are noticing his scruffy good looks. With a little help, Hunter might even be boyfriend material...
Down-to-earth Kelly Robbins has simple wish for her junior "one normal, nice boy to crush on." Kelly and Hunter have always been friends, but is there something more to their platonic relationship? And can Kelly overcome the odds? After all, dating is hard enough without a four-to-one ratio.
Flynn Meaney's writing has been described as "witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and real," and Boys Wanted cements her spot as a comedic star on the rise.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2012
26 people are currently reading
2849 people want to read
About the author
Flynn Meaney
8 books120 followersFlynn Meaney is an alumna of the University of Notre Dame and the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Hunter College.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
August 2, 2012
If you're looking for a really light, fluffy, funny read, The Boy Recession will give you just that. At a very small school, after an awful lot of boys have moved away, the girls are left with a very limited number of date and prom choices. Providing quite a few chuckles and even some laugh-out-loud moments, it's an overall satisfying, quirky novel.
Combining the dual perspectives of Kelly and Hunter, we meet two students at this school who are both on different grounds. One is striving to get noticed by the opposite sex, while the other is fighting them off. Despite the characters being quite enjoyable, I didn't find them particularly complex. We're only shown the surface of what they are both like, nothing deep rooted that truly gets our emotions involved. Both POVs are fairly well done and end up intertwining quite wonderfully. When it comes to Hunter's POV, though, I found some of his inner monologue extremely typical, making it obvious it was written by a female author.
*Giselle in a husky voice impersonating Hunter* "I'm a guyyyy, I sleep until 2 and I eat Fritoooos. I wrestle my with my friends and play World of Warcraft all niiiiight. I like to be a slacker and be irresponsibleee."
Ahem.
Yeah, so Hunter is a pretty stereotypical teenage boy. His personality is a bit hard to grasp, as well, as he does things that are contradictory to his slacker behaviour - like suddenly joining a school play. Oftentimes I simply felt awkward reading his perspective. Eventually, once passed a certain point, he does get a better development where he seems to come out of his shell; becoming more endearing and keeping up with the humoristic jabs that got me laughing.
Kelly's character is a bit more convincing, coming off as having more substance. She's not the most popular, nor the loner, just a normal everyday kid who realizes she's got a crush on a boy. She's a sweet girl that also got some laughs out of me with her clever sense of humor. Together, they surprisingly fit very well. Their relationship from the start -- as friends -- is adorable. It's not a steamy, all encompassing romance, but an honest teenage relationship that can be both cheesy, and endlessly romantic.
A fun kookie adventure that is sort of a guilty pleasure drama fest, The Boy Recession is recommended for those who want a quick, no frill, read.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Combining the dual perspectives of Kelly and Hunter, we meet two students at this school who are both on different grounds. One is striving to get noticed by the opposite sex, while the other is fighting them off. Despite the characters being quite enjoyable, I didn't find them particularly complex. We're only shown the surface of what they are both like, nothing deep rooted that truly gets our emotions involved. Both POVs are fairly well done and end up intertwining quite wonderfully. When it comes to Hunter's POV, though, I found some of his inner monologue extremely typical, making it obvious it was written by a female author.
*Giselle in a husky voice impersonating Hunter* "I'm a guyyyy, I sleep until 2 and I eat Fritoooos. I wrestle my with my friends and play World of Warcraft all niiiiight. I like to be a slacker and be irresponsibleee."
Ahem.
Yeah, so Hunter is a pretty stereotypical teenage boy. His personality is a bit hard to grasp, as well, as he does things that are contradictory to his slacker behaviour - like suddenly joining a school play. Oftentimes I simply felt awkward reading his perspective. Eventually, once passed a certain point, he does get a better development where he seems to come out of his shell; becoming more endearing and keeping up with the humoristic jabs that got me laughing.
Kelly's character is a bit more convincing, coming off as having more substance. She's not the most popular, nor the loner, just a normal everyday kid who realizes she's got a crush on a boy. She's a sweet girl that also got some laughs out of me with her clever sense of humor. Together, they surprisingly fit very well. Their relationship from the start -- as friends -- is adorable. It's not a steamy, all encompassing romance, but an honest teenage relationship that can be both cheesy, and endlessly romantic.
A fun kookie adventure that is sort of a guilty pleasure drama fest, The Boy Recession is recommended for those who want a quick, no frill, read.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
March 27, 2016
Definitely a fun and light-hearted read! I like that there were two point of views from the girl and boy and hearing them complain about each other just felt so real. I laughed out loud at some parts because it was just so true. If you're looking for something quick and fun, pick this one up!
August 7, 2012
I. Freaking. Love. This. Book. I was seriously just short of rolling on the floor laughing out loud. What I did do was laugh out loud and bang on the couch so much that my family thought I was going nuts. Needless to say, my mom demanded to have full rights to reading the book after I finished, so she can see what the deal is! (And because she knows if I loved the book, then she's going to love it too!)
The story is told from the alternating points of view of Kelly and Hunter. I like this because it shows how the boy recession impacts normal girls like Kelly who want to find a good guy and slacker guys like Hunter who become hot commodities seemingly overnight. Kellly wishes her life were more like Grease and that she could find someone to love her, but with the boy recession all the girls are out to find dates for the status of having one. Many are so desperate that they are turning to boys they would never have considered date material before. Hunter, on the other hand, is the slacker. The one girls only hooked up with in dark corners and never for long term. Now, he's becoming somewhat of a star, being one of the more decent slackers and with his musical talents becoming more well known.
While this story starts from Kelly's perspective, this story is really about Hunter, and he is the one who captured my heart. He starts off as a slacker who idles his days away, not caring about getting a job or doing his homework. If people weren't reminding him, he wouldn't know what date it was. After meeting Kelly, however, Hunter changes. He starts caring about what he does and what image he presents. He wants to become deserving of her. To her joy and dismay, he starts becoming something and drawing attention from other girls. Hunter's voice is well portrayed. He's an easygoing guy and doesn't like being put on the spotlight. Throughout the novel, he just wants to do his thing, but with the motivation to impress Kelly he cleans up his act while trying to remain true to himself.
The best part of this book is, of course, the humor. I don't typically enjoy books filled with girls chasing after guys and talking like they have no brains. In this book, it was priceless. With the boy recession going on, I want to see girls chasing after guys, fighting over guys, and being bitchy about other girls over boys. I loved seeing Hunter being clueless about what to do about girls fawning over him. The Boy Recession is filled with hilarious scenes in addition to some really sweet moments between Kelly and Hunter. It is a book that I'm going to be keeping on my shelf--for all the LOLs.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
The story is told from the alternating points of view of Kelly and Hunter. I like this because it shows how the boy recession impacts normal girls like Kelly who want to find a good guy and slacker guys like Hunter who become hot commodities seemingly overnight. Kellly wishes her life were more like Grease and that she could find someone to love her, but with the boy recession all the girls are out to find dates for the status of having one. Many are so desperate that they are turning to boys they would never have considered date material before. Hunter, on the other hand, is the slacker. The one girls only hooked up with in dark corners and never for long term. Now, he's becoming somewhat of a star, being one of the more decent slackers and with his musical talents becoming more well known.
While this story starts from Kelly's perspective, this story is really about Hunter, and he is the one who captured my heart. He starts off as a slacker who idles his days away, not caring about getting a job or doing his homework. If people weren't reminding him, he wouldn't know what date it was. After meeting Kelly, however, Hunter changes. He starts caring about what he does and what image he presents. He wants to become deserving of her. To her joy and dismay, he starts becoming something and drawing attention from other girls. Hunter's voice is well portrayed. He's an easygoing guy and doesn't like being put on the spotlight. Throughout the novel, he just wants to do his thing, but with the motivation to impress Kelly he cleans up his act while trying to remain true to himself.
The best part of this book is, of course, the humor. I don't typically enjoy books filled with girls chasing after guys and talking like they have no brains. In this book, it was priceless. With the boy recession going on, I want to see girls chasing after guys, fighting over guys, and being bitchy about other girls over boys. I loved seeing Hunter being clueless about what to do about girls fawning over him. The Boy Recession is filled with hilarious scenes in addition to some really sweet moments between Kelly and Hunter. It is a book that I'm going to be keeping on my shelf--for all the LOLs.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog Imaginary Reads.
August 11, 2015
Okay, at first glance, this does not look like a book I would like. Multiple narrators? Not a fan of the format. High school romance and dating as the focus? Commence eye-rolling now. But, since I got an ARC of it (and since Flynn Meaney's first novel "Bloodthirsty" was hilarious), I read it. And, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
The best thing about this book, just like her debut novel, is how damn funny it is. She makes me laugh out loud more than any author except maybe Rick Riordan. From hysterical references to Zefron and Disney Channel movies and Taylor Swift, to the sarcasm and occasional dirty jokes teenagers are so fond of using, Flynn Meaney kept me giggling non-stop. In fact, it’s hard to believe Flynn isn’t a teenager herself, she is so good at writing the voices of teens. And she’s not above the occasional swear-word to make it realistic, but she doesn’t overdo it like so many books trying to be “edgy.” When the school stages a musical, it reminded me of “Carter Finally Gets It” – except, unlike that book, this isn’t peppered with a dozen derogatory gay jokes. Thank goodness for that.
The flow of the book is excellent – and, again, the way a teenager would tell it. “I failed all my midterms” is a throwaway line, but a page is devoted to the dating status of the characters. And talk of characters, the story focuses on a group of friends, but there are also enough hilarious acquaintances to paint a good picture of the entire high school. Kelly’s friends, Aviva and Darcy, I really loved. As for Hunter’s friends, Eugene stood out, but I couldn’t really distinguish between the 3 “D-Bags,” as they call themselves. Kelly and Hunter’s narrative voices sounded distinct enough that I was never confused as to who was narrating, which drove me crazy in Allyson Condie’s “Crossed.”
Final word: just like “Bloodthirsty,” this book was always witty, sometimes cute, and almost always hilarious. Just like “Bloodthirsty,” I will instruct all my friends to drop whatever they’re reading and read this. 5/5 stars stars for this fantastic book!
The best thing about this book, just like her debut novel, is how damn funny it is. She makes me laugh out loud more than any author except maybe Rick Riordan. From hysterical references to Zefron and Disney Channel movies and Taylor Swift, to the sarcasm and occasional dirty jokes teenagers are so fond of using, Flynn Meaney kept me giggling non-stop. In fact, it’s hard to believe Flynn isn’t a teenager herself, she is so good at writing the voices of teens. And she’s not above the occasional swear-word to make it realistic, but she doesn’t overdo it like so many books trying to be “edgy.” When the school stages a musical, it reminded me of “Carter Finally Gets It” – except, unlike that book, this isn’t peppered with a dozen derogatory gay jokes. Thank goodness for that.
The flow of the book is excellent – and, again, the way a teenager would tell it. “I failed all my midterms” is a throwaway line, but a page is devoted to the dating status of the characters. And talk of characters, the story focuses on a group of friends, but there are also enough hilarious acquaintances to paint a good picture of the entire high school. Kelly’s friends, Aviva and Darcy, I really loved. As for Hunter’s friends, Eugene stood out, but I couldn’t really distinguish between the 3 “D-Bags,” as they call themselves. Kelly and Hunter’s narrative voices sounded distinct enough that I was never confused as to who was narrating, which drove me crazy in Allyson Condie’s “Crossed.”
Final word: just like “Bloodthirsty,” this book was always witty, sometimes cute, and almost always hilarious. Just like “Bloodthirsty,” I will instruct all my friends to drop whatever they’re reading and read this. 5/5 stars stars for this fantastic book!
April 18, 2012
The Boy Recession is just what the doctor ordered. When I came home last night and opend the package I was jumping up and down because I have been dying to read this book. I started reading it and could not put it down. Thank you to Around The World ARC's for allowing me to read this book.
The Boy Recession is a fun book that had me laughing so hard I was in tears! The girls are celebrating their last day of summer before school starts and they are on the beach tanning enjoying the sun. The next day Kelly, Aviva, and Darcey are getting ready for school when the news hits the school that the most popular familes in town have moved away and taken their sons with them. The school loses 9 boys and that has created a boy shortage. The whole school is talking about and the girls are freaking out because what is school without boys.
The funniest thing is now that there is such a shortage for boys the girls are even looking at geeks and nerds to date. So it is a big surprise when couples start getting together with a total opposite person. The guys are eating it up because the ones who would never get dates are getting dates and the ones that are left have to many girls to chose from. Then the unlikeliest couple get together and the school is all over it calling it crazy but the guy tells his friend we are in a Boy Recession so you better grab a girl while she is hot and still avaliable.
This book is a SUMMER MUST READ! I am going to buy the book when it comes out in August and add it to my best summer read pile. The Boy Recession comes out on August 07, 2012. So keep an eye out for it because you won't be disappointed!
The Boy Recession is a fun book that had me laughing so hard I was in tears! The girls are celebrating their last day of summer before school starts and they are on the beach tanning enjoying the sun. The next day Kelly, Aviva, and Darcey are getting ready for school when the news hits the school that the most popular familes in town have moved away and taken their sons with them. The school loses 9 boys and that has created a boy shortage. The whole school is talking about and the girls are freaking out because what is school without boys.
The funniest thing is now that there is such a shortage for boys the girls are even looking at geeks and nerds to date. So it is a big surprise when couples start getting together with a total opposite person. The guys are eating it up because the ones who would never get dates are getting dates and the ones that are left have to many girls to chose from. Then the unlikeliest couple get together and the school is all over it calling it crazy but the guy tells his friend we are in a Boy Recession so you better grab a girl while she is hot and still avaliable.
This book is a SUMMER MUST READ! I am going to buy the book when it comes out in August and add it to my best summer read pile. The Boy Recession comes out on August 07, 2012. So keep an eye out for it because you won't be disappointed!
December 2, 2012
“In August, we agreed to go to the prom together this year,” Pam reminds Josh. “So I’m just formalizing the agreement. You sign here”—she points to the first page—“and initial here.”
“Shit,” Josh says, shaking his head. “This thing is four pages? What does it say?”
"The first page is the agreement to be each other’s dates,” Pam says. “The second page says you’ll pose with me for at least twenty-five pictures. The third page lists acceptable colors and styles for your tux. Read that carefully, because if you show up wearing a ruffled shirt, I am legally entitled to kick you in the crotch.”
Word of the Wise:
Do not read this book in the middle of the night. Not unless you want to wake up an entire household.
So I've had this on my TR list for a while. And yeah, I've started like 5 other books but I wasn't really feeling them last night at 12 midnight. Instead, I opened this one.
Which, now that I think about it, was probably the worst decision I could have come to in my sleep deprived state.
Why?
Because of the amount of times I burst out laughing. I'm talking extremely loud guffaws and unbelievably piggish snorts that echoed throughout the entire house until I realised exactly what time it was and that people were trying to sleep.
I don't even know how many times it was exactly that I had to hold the uncontrollavke giggles in as silently as possible, all I know is that Flynn Meaney is freaking hilarious.
That said, there were a few things that bothered me throughout the whole thing that hindered me giving this book a full 5 star review. The alternating points of view in this novel irked me a bit at first. The time jumps and random tidbits of information about what was happening elsewhere kind of threw me a little in terms of how they connected plot-wise. But after a while I got used to it. Wasn't exactly thrilled with it, but I got used to it. I was also a little disappointed plot-wise in general. I didn't enjoy the ending, it just fell flat for me and I wish there could have been more said for the PMS - which makes waaaaay more sense and sounds less weird when you read the novel.
But other than the less-than-lack-lustre plot - things were great!
I can honestly say I loved each and every character - they were just written so well. Diva was a perfect diva, Eugene was oddly amusing and the 2 MC's different perceptions of the world around them were so realistic. I have no idea how Meaney came up with the idea of the boy recession, but the way her characters responded and acted in the situation that she put them in were downright hilarious.
Aviva's headlines were classic. A fantastic way to start off each chapter. Eugene's crazy money making schemes? Freaky genius. Pam's prom contract with Josh? Kind of bad-ass and bitchy at the same time - I loved it!
And the relationships? Were so well balanced romantically, especially with the secondary characters who got partnered up. There was a certain delicacy between the characters who ended up together; it reminded me of Buckleys cough syrup - it tastes awful, but it works. When you hear about a match, right off the bat you are totally opposed to it, but then you let it sink in and then you're like huh, that actually works out great!
And the ending? Total companion novel/sequel set up! Aviva at engineering camp with a low girl to guy ratio? That is The Girl Recession waiting to happen!
So I await your next novel Ms Meaney. Hoping you can top this one off with a bang. Until then I guess I'll just have to use these quotes to tide me over:
“Pam thinks it was about a fat girl,” Aviva says, not even looking up as she fills the last line of her notepad.
“What?”
“Because it goes”—Aviva removes the pen from her mouth and uses it to flip her yellow pages back to where she jotted down lyrics—“ ‘You’re the soft place that I fall.’
“Eug, what is this?” I ask him.
“Pride and Prejudice!” Eugene says, tossing the DVD remote to one of the guys on the couch and coming back to stand with me. “Girls love this shit. Trust me.”
One escort turns around to say, “This version’s not bad. But I prefer the BBC miniseries. Six hours. I own it, if you’re interested.”
When the guy turns back around, Eugene tells me, “I got him from the divorced parents’ meeting.”
"This is as romantic as my prom night is going to get,” Darcy says. “Taping Aviva’s nipples down.”
“Shit,” Josh says, shaking his head. “This thing is four pages? What does it say?”
"The first page is the agreement to be each other’s dates,” Pam says. “The second page says you’ll pose with me for at least twenty-five pictures. The third page lists acceptable colors and styles for your tux. Read that carefully, because if you show up wearing a ruffled shirt, I am legally entitled to kick you in the crotch.”
Word of the Wise:
Do not read this book in the middle of the night. Not unless you want to wake up an entire household.
So I've had this on my TR list for a while. And yeah, I've started like 5 other books but I wasn't really feeling them last night at 12 midnight. Instead, I opened this one.
Which, now that I think about it, was probably the worst decision I could have come to in my sleep deprived state.
Why?
Because of the amount of times I burst out laughing. I'm talking extremely loud guffaws and unbelievably piggish snorts that echoed throughout the entire house until I realised exactly what time it was and that people were trying to sleep.
I don't even know how many times it was exactly that I had to hold the uncontrollavke giggles in as silently as possible, all I know is that Flynn Meaney is freaking hilarious.
That said, there were a few things that bothered me throughout the whole thing that hindered me giving this book a full 5 star review. The alternating points of view in this novel irked me a bit at first. The time jumps and random tidbits of information about what was happening elsewhere kind of threw me a little in terms of how they connected plot-wise. But after a while I got used to it. Wasn't exactly thrilled with it, but I got used to it. I was also a little disappointed plot-wise in general. I didn't enjoy the ending, it just fell flat for me and I wish there could have been more said for the PMS - which makes waaaaay more sense and sounds less weird when you read the novel.
But other than the less-than-lack-lustre plot - things were great!
I can honestly say I loved each and every character - they were just written so well. Diva was a perfect diva, Eugene was oddly amusing and the 2 MC's different perceptions of the world around them were so realistic. I have no idea how Meaney came up with the idea of the boy recession, but the way her characters responded and acted in the situation that she put them in were downright hilarious.
Aviva's headlines were classic. A fantastic way to start off each chapter. Eugene's crazy money making schemes? Freaky genius. Pam's prom contract with Josh? Kind of bad-ass and bitchy at the same time - I loved it!
And the relationships? Were so well balanced romantically, especially with the secondary characters who got partnered up. There was a certain delicacy between the characters who ended up together; it reminded me of Buckleys cough syrup - it tastes awful, but it works. When you hear about a match, right off the bat you are totally opposed to it, but then you let it sink in and then you're like huh, that actually works out great!
And the ending? Total companion novel/sequel set up! Aviva at engineering camp with a low girl to guy ratio? That is The Girl Recession waiting to happen!
So I await your next novel Ms Meaney. Hoping you can top this one off with a bang. Until then I guess I'll just have to use these quotes to tide me over:
“Pam thinks it was about a fat girl,” Aviva says, not even looking up as she fills the last line of her notepad.
“What?”
“Because it goes”—Aviva removes the pen from her mouth and uses it to flip her yellow pages back to where she jotted down lyrics—“ ‘You’re the soft place that I fall.’
“Eug, what is this?” I ask him.
“Pride and Prejudice!” Eugene says, tossing the DVD remote to one of the guys on the couch and coming back to stand with me. “Girls love this shit. Trust me.”
One escort turns around to say, “This version’s not bad. But I prefer the BBC miniseries. Six hours. I own it, if you’re interested.”
When the guy turns back around, Eugene tells me, “I got him from the divorced parents’ meeting.”
"This is as romantic as my prom night is going to get,” Darcy says. “Taping Aviva’s nipples down.”
October 29, 2012
GAAAAAAHHHH YOU AWESOME BOOK!!!! Oh yeah, and guess what, people, I love the title!!!! XD This book is so super duper cute!!!! > //// < My cheeks and ears are still feeling red from the cuteness!!!!! I love you book. You are my new favorite book of the year. You have picked me up from my mini-depression on Alice in Zombieland. If there is ever a book to pick you out of a mini-depression or for anything, this. IS. THE. ONE!
The Boy Recession, a sudden need of boys at Whitefish Bay and to make matters crazier, all the girls are fighting for boys whether they are slobs, nerds, or totally not their type, girls are in need of supply of BOYS. And it's crazy, it's like Black Friday, but with female and men. It's pretty crazy. And that's what makes this book so much fun!!!! It's is just purely FUN.
There is Hunter in this crazy Boy Recession, who is a very laid-back slacker. And he just doesn't like "lifting his finger" that much because he so lazy. I loved him for his laziness right away! XD And--it gets better!--even though he seems like a slime ball like other guys, he's really a sweet guy. I don't know, he's got charm alright. > __ < I really loved how he grew so much through the whole book. He's pretty awesome.
On the girl's side of things, there is Kelly. She's a very normal girl. She's very nice and she's always the "in-between" in most things personality, but she likes it that way, and I liked her as well. :) She's a band geek for pete's sake! Me and her go waaaay back. ;D
There's other characters that each of their pizazz and I loved all the characters! They're just so much fun. And I seriously have to love Whitefish Bay. I don't know if it's a real place, but it sounds amazing and it has that small town effect. ^ _
Imagine something funny, okay now add with something really fun yeah now times it by 10 or 100. Uh-huh, it's a ball of fun, funniess. Now add a little cherry on top: that's the cuteness, it's the cherry on the top. Add some sprinkles as much as you like desirable and it's just something waiting to be loved. > //// <
The Boy Recession, a sudden need of boys at Whitefish Bay and to make matters crazier, all the girls are fighting for boys whether they are slobs, nerds, or totally not their type, girls are in need of supply of BOYS. And it's crazy, it's like Black Friday, but with female and men. It's pretty crazy. And that's what makes this book so much fun!!!! It's is just purely FUN.
There is Hunter in this crazy Boy Recession, who is a very laid-back slacker. And he just doesn't like "lifting his finger" that much because he so lazy. I loved him for his laziness right away! XD And--it gets better!--even though he seems like a slime ball like other guys, he's really a sweet guy. I don't know, he's got charm alright. > __ < I really loved how he grew so much through the whole book. He's pretty awesome.
On the girl's side of things, there is Kelly. She's a very normal girl. She's very nice and she's always the "in-between" in most things personality, but she likes it that way, and I liked her as well. :) She's a band geek for pete's sake! Me and her go waaaay back. ;D
There's other characters that each of their pizazz and I loved all the characters! They're just so much fun. And I seriously have to love Whitefish Bay. I don't know if it's a real place, but it sounds amazing and it has that small town effect. ^ _
Imagine something funny, okay now add with something really fun yeah now times it by 10 or 100. Uh-huh, it's a ball of fun, funniess. Now add a little cherry on top: that's the cuteness, it's the cherry on the top. Add some sprinkles as much as you like desirable and it's just something waiting to be loved. > //// <
August 8, 2015
Loved this book. It's about junior high school boys. I have four grandsons around this age. She knows how to make you laugh about their wants and foibles.
October 20, 2017
Good book , but its not something I can really relate to.
August 3, 2012
Note: The copy I read was an ARC. The final copy may be change or altered. This is a review of the ARC.
Have you ever seen one of those typical, cheesy, teen movies? You know, the type where two best friends don't know that they're in love with each other because they are too stupid to realize that, then some sudden drama occurs because of that unresolved romance, but at the end they realize their stupidity and start dating, and then go to prom, because, you know, every teen movie has to have a prom?
The Boy Recession was exactly like that.
You have these friends called Hunter and Kelly, who deep down, like each other as more than friends. Then, a boy recession occurs at their school and the girls start getting all desperate and slutty to find a guy to be with. The guys are actually enjoying this because that means that the popular, hot girls will eventually go out with them. This boy recession is affecting said best friends because of certain newfound feelings.
Meanwhile, you have Kelly's other best friends. Aviva, the boy-crazy one, and Darcy, the political one. Hunter's other best friend, Eugene, is one of those sexist, pervert pigs, that you can't help but either strangle them or laugh at his jokes. Either way, these secondary characters are involve in their own drama that I just simply didn't care. In fact, I didn't care for the drama at all!!
And check this out: This book says that if you're in an athletic team (and with a Spandex uniform to match!), you're either a bitch or a ditz.
Also, if you like somebody, you should act like you're not interested towards her and date someone else (a manipulative bitch or the new student is a big plus!), because, you know, she/he was never going to like you back anyway. Repeat those steps, and wait to be both infected with mono, because everybody knows that you can only get mono with a kiss (Ha, ha.) and then, a few days later, TA-DA!, your boyfriend/girlfriend is going to break up with you because you were a "dirty cheater". Oh, and by the way, it is always the other girl's fault that a relationship is destroyed. Fear the mistress!
And now, enjoy your loneliness and get together. THE END.
And let's not forget, if you are a guy, and you date a girl who doesn't want her boobs to be touched (even though she is the hottest girl at school!) act like an asshole and break with her. Getting some is more important than someone else's feelings! Date other girls, but expect to miss that hot, "frigid" girl because you're still "in love with her". And, hey, maybe that girl is going to fix the "Best Couple" results at Prom, because she also still in love with you, despite the fact that you treated her like trash. Jerkiness is so hot and attractive!
Get back together, and be frustrated, once again, that you won't get to have sex with her. Ever. Or at least until marriage.
Even though the main characters pissed me off from the start, I actually ended up enjoying this cheesy, and sometimes funny, novel with a very predictable ending and its annoying, yet realistic, characters. The writing was alright, but I still thought it was just okay. Nothing special. Just like those teen movies.
Have you ever seen one of those typical, cheesy, teen movies? You know, the type where two best friends don't know that they're in love with each other because they are too stupid to realize that, then some sudden drama occurs because of that unresolved romance, but at the end they realize their stupidity and start dating, and then go to prom, because, you know, every teen movie has to have a prom?
The Boy Recession was exactly like that.
You have these friends called Hunter and Kelly, who deep down, like each other as more than friends. Then, a boy recession occurs at their school and the girls start getting all desperate and slutty to find a guy to be with. The guys are actually enjoying this because that means that the popular, hot girls will eventually go out with them. This boy recession is affecting said best friends because of certain newfound feelings.
Meanwhile, you have Kelly's other best friends. Aviva, the boy-crazy one, and Darcy, the political one. Hunter's other best friend, Eugene, is one of those sexist, pervert pigs, that you can't help but either strangle them or laugh at his jokes. Either way, these secondary characters are involve in their own drama that I just simply didn't care. In fact, I didn't care for the drama at all!!
And check this out: This book says that if you're in an athletic team (and with a Spandex uniform to match!), you're either a bitch or a ditz.
Also, if you like somebody, you should act like you're not interested towards her and date someone else (a manipulative bitch or the new student is a big plus!), because, you know, she/he was never going to like you back anyway. Repeat those steps, and wait to be both infected with mono, because everybody knows that you can only get mono with a kiss (Ha, ha.) and then, a few days later, TA-DA!, your boyfriend/girlfriend is going to break up with you because you were a "dirty cheater". Oh, and by the way, it is always the other girl's fault that a relationship is destroyed. Fear the mistress!
And now, enjoy your loneliness and get together. THE END.
And let's not forget, if you are a guy, and you date a girl who doesn't want her boobs to be touched (even though she is the hottest girl at school!) act like an asshole and break with her. Getting some is more important than someone else's feelings! Date other girls, but expect to miss that hot, "frigid" girl because you're still "in love with her". And, hey, maybe that girl is going to fix the "Best Couple" results at Prom, because she also still in love with you, despite the fact that you treated her like trash. Jerkiness is so hot and attractive!
Get back together, and be frustrated, once again, that you won't get to have sex with her. Ever. Or at least until marriage.
Even though the main characters pissed me off from the start, I actually ended up enjoying this cheesy, and sometimes funny, novel with a very predictable ending and its annoying, yet realistic, characters. The writing was alright, but I still thought it was just okay. Nothing special. Just like those teen movies.
October 22, 2012
Read this and other reviews at my blog.
Julius P. Heil High has about 250 students, and a general ratio of more girls than guys. But when budget cuts drive the desired football couch across the country, a lot of families pull their boys out to go to private schools where they can have a shot at getting their coveted football scholarships. This has left the school with a 4:1 ratio of girls to boys, making even the geekiest boys a hot commodity. Kelly is a down-to-earth girl, not the type to get noticed by boys to begin with, and because of the lack of boys, her friend Hunter has gotten quite popular. When she realizes that she likes him, she can't think of how she could possibly compete for him. Now she is out to try to make him see her so that she might win his heart.
This book was cute. The idea was really nice and I was looking forward to it, but in the end I was rather disappointed. The story switches points of view between Kelly and Hunter, which I loved. I loved being able to see both sides of things. It really allows you to get to know both characters and it helps give you a connection to them. You want to root for them.
Kelly and Hunter are both really likable. They are also pretty cute together, which is a plus in a romance setting. Their friends are all fabulous as well. They all had their faults and strengths and were just generally well-rounded. The friends were all funny to read about as well, which was nice. It made for quite a few places where I would laugh aloud or smile to myself from something cute happening.
The plot was really simple, and that's where the story suffered. Things felt rushed. There were time skips randomly through things, and things would be mentioned as an after thought. Like, someone would break up and it would simply say that they had broken up "a few weeks ago" and that would be the end of it. No reason for a lot of things. It was all convenient plot points. Things happened because they needed to, not because the story wanted them to. It made the story feel really stiff and jarring. Kelly going out with the Freshman was a great example. By the summary for the book you think there will be more to it, but nope, she goes out with him to try to make Hunter jealous and then they hardly do anything. How can you make someone jealous just by being taken in name with someone. There was next to nothing about their relationship in there. I feel like things wrapped up too nicely. There wasn't enough conflict, there wasn't enough problems. Everything that happened was fairly small and unexciting.
So this was a cute read and I really did enjoy it, but I was disappointed. I had expected it to be quite a bit better from the summary, and there just wasn't enough there to thrill me. This is defiantly something you want to rent or borrow from a friend before you jump into buying it.
Julius P. Heil High has about 250 students, and a general ratio of more girls than guys. But when budget cuts drive the desired football couch across the country, a lot of families pull their boys out to go to private schools where they can have a shot at getting their coveted football scholarships. This has left the school with a 4:1 ratio of girls to boys, making even the geekiest boys a hot commodity. Kelly is a down-to-earth girl, not the type to get noticed by boys to begin with, and because of the lack of boys, her friend Hunter has gotten quite popular. When she realizes that she likes him, she can't think of how she could possibly compete for him. Now she is out to try to make him see her so that she might win his heart.
This book was cute. The idea was really nice and I was looking forward to it, but in the end I was rather disappointed. The story switches points of view between Kelly and Hunter, which I loved. I loved being able to see both sides of things. It really allows you to get to know both characters and it helps give you a connection to them. You want to root for them.
Kelly and Hunter are both really likable. They are also pretty cute together, which is a plus in a romance setting. Their friends are all fabulous as well. They all had their faults and strengths and were just generally well-rounded. The friends were all funny to read about as well, which was nice. It made for quite a few places where I would laugh aloud or smile to myself from something cute happening.
The plot was really simple, and that's where the story suffered. Things felt rushed. There were time skips randomly through things, and things would be mentioned as an after thought. Like, someone would break up and it would simply say that they had broken up "a few weeks ago" and that would be the end of it. No reason for a lot of things. It was all convenient plot points. Things happened because they needed to, not because the story wanted them to. It made the story feel really stiff and jarring. Kelly going out with the Freshman was a great example. By the summary for the book you think there will be more to it, but nope, she goes out with him to try to make Hunter jealous and then they hardly do anything. How can you make someone jealous just by being taken in name with someone. There was next to nothing about their relationship in there. I feel like things wrapped up too nicely. There wasn't enough conflict, there wasn't enough problems. Everything that happened was fairly small and unexciting.
So this was a cute read and I really did enjoy it, but I was disappointed. I had expected it to be quite a bit better from the summary, and there just wasn't enough there to thrill me. This is defiantly something you want to rent or borrow from a friend before you jump into buying it.
October 27, 2012
Read my reviews at looking for seattle
The Boy Recession was so cute. I don't have anything negative to say about it, but it didn't exactly change my life or anything, so I think a 4 is appropriate.
The book opens up in Hunter's point of view, which excited me. I LOVE YA's told from the male POV. Teenage boys are... interesting. Of course, the book eventually starts to switch back and forth from Hunter's POV to Kelly's. But I didn't mind - Kelly is a very down to earth, real character. She's afraid she's too normal - and nothing good ever happens to anyone normal - but really, she's just very sweet and everyone loves her.
When I started to read into the boys involved in this novel - Hunter, Eugene, Derek - I thought, these guys are basically losers. They hang out at a gas station, never with any girls. Eugene is an "entrepreneur", and Hunter is very smart, but they don't want to seem to do anything about it.
Then comes The Boy Recession. All the school's eligible boys are whisked off to other schools, and the girls of the school no longer have so many to pick from. And Eugene has this plan to get with one of the "spandexers", and it actually works. The thing is, these boys are kind of losers, but at the same time, they're not. Hunter certainly turns his life around by teaching younger kids music, actually finishing a song, starring in the school's musical, etc. And it turns out, they really know how to treat girls. Except Derek, of course:
"Be a gentleman. When she walks in a room, you stand up. When she gets to a door, you open it. When she gets to a chair, you pull it out."
"Bullshit!" Derek calls out, his voice muffled by his hat. "Women can hold their own doors and pull out their own chairs. You're a sexist pig, Eugene."
And that, my friends, is what I was really looking for in this book. A romantic comedy. And if I'm perfectly honest, this book is fucking hilarious. No, there's nothing special about the writing style, but that's okay, because Flynn Meaney is really, really funny. Between Aviva's witty newspaper articles, Hunter and Kelly's relationship as it blossoms, Eugene's binder of boys (Mitt Romney, anyone?) - it was all so cute. This book tells a sweet story about teen love that's honest and intelligent and I think more YA contemporary writers could gain from following its model.
The Boy Recession was so cute. I don't have anything negative to say about it, but it didn't exactly change my life or anything, so I think a 4 is appropriate.
The book opens up in Hunter's point of view, which excited me. I LOVE YA's told from the male POV. Teenage boys are... interesting. Of course, the book eventually starts to switch back and forth from Hunter's POV to Kelly's. But I didn't mind - Kelly is a very down to earth, real character. She's afraid she's too normal - and nothing good ever happens to anyone normal - but really, she's just very sweet and everyone loves her.
When I started to read into the boys involved in this novel - Hunter, Eugene, Derek - I thought, these guys are basically losers. They hang out at a gas station, never with any girls. Eugene is an "entrepreneur", and Hunter is very smart, but they don't want to seem to do anything about it.
Then comes The Boy Recession. All the school's eligible boys are whisked off to other schools, and the girls of the school no longer have so many to pick from. And Eugene has this plan to get with one of the "spandexers", and it actually works. The thing is, these boys are kind of losers, but at the same time, they're not. Hunter certainly turns his life around by teaching younger kids music, actually finishing a song, starring in the school's musical, etc. And it turns out, they really know how to treat girls. Except Derek, of course:
"Be a gentleman. When she walks in a room, you stand up. When she gets to a door, you open it. When she gets to a chair, you pull it out."
"Bullshit!" Derek calls out, his voice muffled by his hat. "Women can hold their own doors and pull out their own chairs. You're a sexist pig, Eugene."
And that, my friends, is what I was really looking for in this book. A romantic comedy. And if I'm perfectly honest, this book is fucking hilarious. No, there's nothing special about the writing style, but that's okay, because Flynn Meaney is really, really funny. Between Aviva's witty newspaper articles, Hunter and Kelly's relationship as it blossoms, Eugene's binder of boys (Mitt Romney, anyone?) - it was all so cute. This book tells a sweet story about teen love that's honest and intelligent and I think more YA contemporary writers could gain from following its model.
August 17, 2012
This book was really cute in principal, but I ended up finding myself looking for more. Flynn did a great job with the book in general, it was fun to read but I didn't really feel as if there was any connection to the characters. I guess the easiest way to explain it, would be that while it was a cute and fun book it doesn't really leave much of a lasting impression. With that said, my rating leans more towards four stars (3 1/2) I just couldn't warrant a full four stars.
The story was good, but nothing amazing. Was a book about kids in high school that included a lot of relationship/friendship and other kinds of drama you'd expect to see in a high school setting. It's not the most unique story in the world, but I do feel like Flynn did a pretty good job crafting it. I feel like she balanced everything pretty nicely, which kept me interested. And I really loved the alternating point of views between Kelly and Hunter. Again, I just really wish there would of been something that made it more of a memorable read.
The characters felt so generic to me, they just seemed like the cliche high school teenager that you would expect to see. I just didn't really see any flare from the characters, not even Hunter or Kelly and that really disappointed me. And then you had characters like Diva that were just outright annoying. There are a few characters that were somewhat more enjoyable than the rest, but like I had said none of them really had the flare and they weren't really characters I felt like I could connect with.
The ending of the book was pretty decent to be honest, but again I felt like it kind of bordered being cliche considering everything that was going on. I do feel like it was a pretty solid ending for the story though and that Flynn did a good job trying to close up the story in a way that made it enjoyable. I just can't get away from the thought that I wish the book would of been a little more memorable.
The Boy Recession isn't a bad book, it was just lacking in some departments. At least in my opinion. All in all, I do feel like this book is worth giving a chance. While it wasn't a book that was very memorable for me, I still thought it was a fun and light read. So if it's something you think you'd be interested in then I say go for it.
The story was good, but nothing amazing. Was a book about kids in high school that included a lot of relationship/friendship and other kinds of drama you'd expect to see in a high school setting. It's not the most unique story in the world, but I do feel like Flynn did a pretty good job crafting it. I feel like she balanced everything pretty nicely, which kept me interested. And I really loved the alternating point of views between Kelly and Hunter. Again, I just really wish there would of been something that made it more of a memorable read.
The characters felt so generic to me, they just seemed like the cliche high school teenager that you would expect to see. I just didn't really see any flare from the characters, not even Hunter or Kelly and that really disappointed me. And then you had characters like Diva that were just outright annoying. There are a few characters that were somewhat more enjoyable than the rest, but like I had said none of them really had the flare and they weren't really characters I felt like I could connect with.
The ending of the book was pretty decent to be honest, but again I felt like it kind of bordered being cliche considering everything that was going on. I do feel like it was a pretty solid ending for the story though and that Flynn did a good job trying to close up the story in a way that made it enjoyable. I just can't get away from the thought that I wish the book would of been a little more memorable.
The Boy Recession isn't a bad book, it was just lacking in some departments. At least in my opinion. All in all, I do feel like this book is worth giving a chance. While it wasn't a book that was very memorable for me, I still thought it was a fun and light read. So if it's something you think you'd be interested in then I say go for it.
August 6, 2012
Meaney’s debut doesn’t come with fireworks or sparkles. It doesn’t have a swoony love interest nor does it have a love triangle that sends girls spinning into teams so and so. There are no deep dark secrets or childhood trauma that often characterizes contemporary novels. None of that in The Boy Recession. If I had to paint a picture of what the book is like, I would paint a quiet country afternoon, a large, green lawn, blue skies, sunshine. It’s a breath of fresh air, an escape. The main characters in the novel are not battling the world in the explicit ways of the other novels but they are still navigating adolescence and the shark ridden corridors of high schools.
I found myself intrigued by the premise of the novel. What happens when the cream de la creme in guy stock is removed from a school? Where does attention shift to? To the not-so-desirable guys who had previously been shunned by all. Hunter is a great character. He’s funny, smelly at times and real. And Kelly is a great counterpart. The book is told in alternating perspectives but rather than being abrupt, the shift is almost seamless. However, Kelly and Hunter do not sound alike. The voices are well defined. I also liked how, despite nothing epic happening, there’s a graceful flow to the novel that makes reading it extremely easy. The novel doesn’t ask much of you but it gives a lot in return. It is wickedly funny at times and it has some observations about human nature that will make you grin. I found the novel to be realistic in terms of dialogue and portrayal of people and events.
And I also appreciated how Meaney focused a lot of time on friendship. Especially on the friendship between the guys. I thought that was adorable. AND there are no mean girls in this novel, you guys! Well, there’s a semi-mean girl but really, she doesn’t count. There are cliques, yes, but nothing so polarized that there are factions and borders and different tables in the cafeteria. This alone made me like the book a lot more.
In conclusion, what this book has a solid, gentle story (yes, smelly guys and all) that will make you laugh, may make you think and will leave you smiling at the end. I recommend it.
I found myself intrigued by the premise of the novel. What happens when the cream de la creme in guy stock is removed from a school? Where does attention shift to? To the not-so-desirable guys who had previously been shunned by all. Hunter is a great character. He’s funny, smelly at times and real. And Kelly is a great counterpart. The book is told in alternating perspectives but rather than being abrupt, the shift is almost seamless. However, Kelly and Hunter do not sound alike. The voices are well defined. I also liked how, despite nothing epic happening, there’s a graceful flow to the novel that makes reading it extremely easy. The novel doesn’t ask much of you but it gives a lot in return. It is wickedly funny at times and it has some observations about human nature that will make you grin. I found the novel to be realistic in terms of dialogue and portrayal of people and events.
And I also appreciated how Meaney focused a lot of time on friendship. Especially on the friendship between the guys. I thought that was adorable. AND there are no mean girls in this novel, you guys! Well, there’s a semi-mean girl but really, she doesn’t count. There are cliques, yes, but nothing so polarized that there are factions and borders and different tables in the cafeteria. This alone made me like the book a lot more.
In conclusion, what this book has a solid, gentle story (yes, smelly guys and all) that will make you laugh, may make you think and will leave you smiling at the end. I recommend it.
December 28, 2014
This book is for all of the fringe kids. You know..the friend of a friend of the popular crowd twice removed.
This is a bird's eye view of what happens if all of the popular kids (in this case boys) disappear.
The shocking thing is that readers get to see that the laws of adaptation that are often seen in nature apply in this book.
Noooo... that is not to say that any of the females at Juilus P. Heil High School became male over night like those fish on the nature channel; but some pretty drab slackers in the male department do get to step up to the plate and show their truly awesome colors.
My Favorite Boys
Eugene
If there is something that you want he is the go to guy to get it. He has the hook up on everything from beer to boys and he can be bought. Who knew that he also bakes and has the 411 on sophistication and style. He is the comic relief for this story and it is so fun to see him put his seedier skills to work in the during his time as a big fish in the popularity pond.
Hunter
Hunter is the cute guy that has all the right stuff but just doesn't know what to do with it.
He is the guy that sleeps in class if he comes at all and then scores a 1600 on hi SATs.
He is so sweet, sincere, and talented that you can't help cheering when all that he has to offer comes
to the forefront.
All About the Girls
Kelly
Kelly is not what you would call a 'stand out'. In fact, she even manages to be the vanilla in the Neapolitan trio of friends. She's smart, but not the super brain that is Darcy. She's pretty, but not the show stopping boy magnet that is Aviva.
What Kelly is however is determined to do what it takes to get newly popular Hunter to notice her.
This book is hilariously funny without trying. It has just the right amounts of teen cluelessness, self deprecation, epiphany, and swear words to make it a truly great coming of age story.
This is a summer read not to be missed.
Every dog has his day?
Can Hunter run with the big pack?
This is a bird's eye view of what happens if all of the popular kids (in this case boys) disappear.
The shocking thing is that readers get to see that the laws of adaptation that are often seen in nature apply in this book.
Noooo... that is not to say that any of the females at Juilus P. Heil High School became male over night like those fish on the nature channel; but some pretty drab slackers in the male department do get to step up to the plate and show their truly awesome colors.
My Favorite Boys
Eugene
If there is something that you want he is the go to guy to get it. He has the hook up on everything from beer to boys and he can be bought. Who knew that he also bakes and has the 411 on sophistication and style. He is the comic relief for this story and it is so fun to see him put his seedier skills to work in the during his time as a big fish in the popularity pond.
Hunter
Hunter is the cute guy that has all the right stuff but just doesn't know what to do with it.
He is the guy that sleeps in class if he comes at all and then scores a 1600 on hi SATs.
He is so sweet, sincere, and talented that you can't help cheering when all that he has to offer comes
to the forefront.
All About the Girls
Kelly
Kelly is not what you would call a 'stand out'. In fact, she even manages to be the vanilla in the Neapolitan trio of friends. She's smart, but not the super brain that is Darcy. She's pretty, but not the show stopping boy magnet that is Aviva.
What Kelly is however is determined to do what it takes to get newly popular Hunter to notice her.
This book is hilariously funny without trying. It has just the right amounts of teen cluelessness, self deprecation, epiphany, and swear words to make it a truly great coming of age story.
This is a summer read not to be missed.
Every dog has his day?
Can Hunter run with the big pack?
August 12, 2012
When your school's cute boy population dwindles, what do you have? Well, according to Eugene, you have a boy recession. Suddenly the boys who usually go overlooked are getting a ton of attention and Kelly comes to the realization that she likes Hunter, just as he skyrockets in popularity.
Told in first person and alternating between Hunter and Kelly, The Boy Recession certainly lives up to its name. It's not precisely what I thought it would be, but I definitely ended up liking it! And I'm just going to toss this out there, but Eugene is a mastermind and the Pride and Prejudice bit was adorable and hilarious. Honestly, I think as far as minor characters go, he was definitely my favorite and the most memorable out of the bunch. I think I personally would've liked more of the Derek and Darcy dynamic and maybe a bit more of Aviva too. (Darcy being Kelly's friend who is out to change the world and does a ton of reading while Aviva on the other hand is a bit boy crazy.)
Hunter was pretty darn adorable--and not the most motivated guy in the world, but he manages. I think my favorite part about him was how he taught the elementary kids how to play the drums--you'll see what I mean. Kelly on the other hand, well, she acts as a balance between her friends and it's through band that she knows Hunter--they've actually known one another for a while.
As for the plot itself, I definitely enjoyed it! I will, however, admit that--at least to me--it felt like the romance could've meshed with the plot a little bit better (if that makes sense). I really feel like the highlight was prom and I refuse to spoil it for you, but there are several reasons behind why I loved the prom scene so much. This is--what I'd consider to be--a light read and if you're looking for a straightforward contemporary romance to read before the summer is over, you might want to consider checking The Boy Recession out. (Also, Hunter's inspiration behind the song that he wrote made me laugh--it fit him all too well.)
Told in first person and alternating between Hunter and Kelly, The Boy Recession certainly lives up to its name. It's not precisely what I thought it would be, but I definitely ended up liking it! And I'm just going to toss this out there, but Eugene is a mastermind and the Pride and Prejudice bit was adorable and hilarious. Honestly, I think as far as minor characters go, he was definitely my favorite and the most memorable out of the bunch. I think I personally would've liked more of the Derek and Darcy dynamic and maybe a bit more of Aviva too. (Darcy being Kelly's friend who is out to change the world and does a ton of reading while Aviva on the other hand is a bit boy crazy.)
Hunter was pretty darn adorable--and not the most motivated guy in the world, but he manages. I think my favorite part about him was how he taught the elementary kids how to play the drums--you'll see what I mean. Kelly on the other hand, well, she acts as a balance between her friends and it's through band that she knows Hunter--they've actually known one another for a while.
As for the plot itself, I definitely enjoyed it! I will, however, admit that--at least to me--it felt like the romance could've meshed with the plot a little bit better (if that makes sense). I really feel like the highlight was prom and I refuse to spoil it for you, but there are several reasons behind why I loved the prom scene so much. This is--what I'd consider to be--a light read and if you're looking for a straightforward contemporary romance to read before the summer is over, you might want to consider checking The Boy Recession out. (Also, Hunter's inspiration behind the song that he wrote made me laugh--it fit him all too well.)
August 10, 2012
I've had this review in draft for several days now because I just can't decide what to say. This is the worst sort of review to write: the meh review. I had fun reading THE BOY RECESSION, but I just don't have anything to say.
Hunter Fahrenbach and Kelly Robbins are both seniors and band members at Julius P. Heil High. But when they come back to school from the summer, they find out that there have been a number of changes due to budget cuts. There is no band. And, more importantly in the minds of their classmates, most athletic funding has been cut. All of the true athlete hopefuls decide to go to private schools, leaving Heil High bereft of its most popular boys.
I did enjoy Hunter's character arc. He's happily slacked off for years, but he's realized that he needs to do something if he wants to go anywhere after graduation. His big idea: start a music tutoring program for elementary school students. And responsible Kelly is the perfect person to help him. I've read a lot of stories about people trying to clean up their act, and they usually start with crazy schemes. Hunter's idea is a little bit crazy, but it benefits others in a very real way. He doesn't need to make a complete lifestyle change, just learn how to be more motivated.
As they spend more time together, Kelly realizes Hunter is a pretty good songwriter and possibly good boyfriend material. But as soon as he performs in the school talent show at Kelly's behest, all of the girls can see for themselves that he's talented. Pretty soon he's got a girlfriend and a role in the school musical with little time left for Kelly or the tutoring program.
I'm sure you can guess how everything turns out. THE BOY RECESSION is not a novel full of surprises. It's cute, but there's nothing to distinguish it from the million shy-girls-in-love-with-in-demand-boys books out there. Flynn Meaney's first book, BLOODTHIRSTY, sounds fun and I might pick it up and read it sometime. There's nothing wrong with her writing. I just have no passion for THE BOY RECESSION.
Hunter Fahrenbach and Kelly Robbins are both seniors and band members at Julius P. Heil High. But when they come back to school from the summer, they find out that there have been a number of changes due to budget cuts. There is no band. And, more importantly in the minds of their classmates, most athletic funding has been cut. All of the true athlete hopefuls decide to go to private schools, leaving Heil High bereft of its most popular boys.
I did enjoy Hunter's character arc. He's happily slacked off for years, but he's realized that he needs to do something if he wants to go anywhere after graduation. His big idea: start a music tutoring program for elementary school students. And responsible Kelly is the perfect person to help him. I've read a lot of stories about people trying to clean up their act, and they usually start with crazy schemes. Hunter's idea is a little bit crazy, but it benefits others in a very real way. He doesn't need to make a complete lifestyle change, just learn how to be more motivated.
As they spend more time together, Kelly realizes Hunter is a pretty good songwriter and possibly good boyfriend material. But as soon as he performs in the school talent show at Kelly's behest, all of the girls can see for themselves that he's talented. Pretty soon he's got a girlfriend and a role in the school musical with little time left for Kelly or the tutoring program.
I'm sure you can guess how everything turns out. THE BOY RECESSION is not a novel full of surprises. It's cute, but there's nothing to distinguish it from the million shy-girls-in-love-with-in-demand-boys books out there. Flynn Meaney's first book, BLOODTHIRSTY, sounds fun and I might pick it up and read it sometime. There's nothing wrong with her writing. I just have no passion for THE BOY RECESSION.
June 2, 2013
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Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.
*Rounded up from 2.5 Stars on original blog post.
I had several issues with The Boy Recession. That doesn't mean that I didn't like it, but, ya know, I had some issues. The biggest issue that I have with this book is that it's written in alternating point of view. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem for me. But Kelly and Hunter sounded way too much alike, so I usually ended up being confused, because I HONESTLY had NO IDEA who was narrating. It would have been helpful to have some kind signal, like, I don't know, a NAME AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE?
That was absolutely THE BIGGEST issue that I had. All of my other issues pale in comparison, but another one was that a TEENAGE GUY comes up with the term "Boy Recession". I mean, to be honest with you, I've never heard a dude say something like that. I suppose it doesn't mean that they don't, but seriously? I've never heard one.
Those were just a few of the many problems I had with The Boy Recession. But I can't honestly say that it was a total bust. Yeah, I wish that the characters had been a bit more fleshed out. They had the potential, but no one ever acted on it to make them so much better. I also wish that the romance had been a lot less...how to put this...insta-lovish? That isn't really correct, but it fits the best. There wasn't really any time for REAL feelings to develop between Hunter and Kelly. I don't know about you, but I LOVE reading relationships as they develop.
All in all, The Boy Recession isn't a total bust, but I didn't love it. It was cute, and kept me entertained for a few hours.
Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.
*Rounded up from 2.5 Stars on original blog post.
I had several issues with The Boy Recession. That doesn't mean that I didn't like it, but, ya know, I had some issues. The biggest issue that I have with this book is that it's written in alternating point of view. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem for me. But Kelly and Hunter sounded way too much alike, so I usually ended up being confused, because I HONESTLY had NO IDEA who was narrating. It would have been helpful to have some kind signal, like, I don't know, a NAME AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE?
That was absolutely THE BIGGEST issue that I had. All of my other issues pale in comparison, but another one was that a TEENAGE GUY comes up with the term "Boy Recession". I mean, to be honest with you, I've never heard a dude say something like that. I suppose it doesn't mean that they don't, but seriously? I've never heard one.
Those were just a few of the many problems I had with The Boy Recession. But I can't honestly say that it was a total bust. Yeah, I wish that the characters had been a bit more fleshed out. They had the potential, but no one ever acted on it to make them so much better. I also wish that the romance had been a lot less...how to put this...insta-lovish? That isn't really correct, but it fits the best. There wasn't really any time for REAL feelings to develop between Hunter and Kelly. I don't know about you, but I LOVE reading relationships as they develop.
All in all, The Boy Recession isn't a total bust, but I didn't love it. It was cute, and kept me entertained for a few hours.
October 22, 2012
This book is one of those feel-good-quick-read kind of books. It is cute and funny, extremely funny at times with witty observations, but there is not much else going on - no depth I guess you could say. However, with a title like The Boy Recession, I was not expecting any sort of life changing epiphany. So I am not disappointed, nor am I blown away, but I did have a fun time reading this story and it would be a great "in-between" read.
School is starting up again after summer break and the girl population is horrified to find out that almost none of the handsome males have returned. The most desirable family of boys have been transferred to boarding school, so of course the next group of hotties who are in constant competition have to transfer to an even better school. When the departure of these star athletes leaves the school teams looking poor for the season, more students follow looking for a chance to secure their sports scholarships. So after that tragic (at least the girls think so) string of events, the remaining boys are a hot commodity. Were they always cute? Or are they interesting by default? More importantly, does it matter?
I really liked how although this novel definitely is fictional, it isn't over dramatized. Meaning the relationships that fosters between the two main characters (the friend to more than friends thing)isn't drawn out, which so many plots try to do. I never felt like, "Oh my gosh already, enough with the almosts and the could haves ". The plot moved continually forward, rather than in circles, which I really appreciated.
Overall, this is a good book if you're looking for a fun break from reality - no thinking involved.
School is starting up again after summer break and the girl population is horrified to find out that almost none of the handsome males have returned. The most desirable family of boys have been transferred to boarding school, so of course the next group of hotties who are in constant competition have to transfer to an even better school. When the departure of these star athletes leaves the school teams looking poor for the season, more students follow looking for a chance to secure their sports scholarships. So after that tragic (at least the girls think so) string of events, the remaining boys are a hot commodity. Were they always cute? Or are they interesting by default? More importantly, does it matter?
I really liked how although this novel definitely is fictional, it isn't over dramatized. Meaning the relationships that fosters between the two main characters (the friend to more than friends thing)isn't drawn out, which so many plots try to do. I never felt like, "Oh my gosh already, enough with the almosts and the could haves ". The plot moved continually forward, rather than in circles, which I really appreciated.
Overall, this is a good book if you're looking for a fun break from reality - no thinking involved.
February 2, 2013
This review can also be found here.
**I've gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars and I really don't know which to choose. I liked the story I just had some issues with it.**
This book was pretty cute and I found it to be a quick read. I did like the book. It was pretty short and at times was pretty funny. I found myself laughing at times because of some of the things the characters said. I just wish the characters and the romance could have been a little more developed.
A lot of the characters were either annoying, just plain nasty or completely clueless. I think the only one I really liked was Hunter. He was funny and did his own thing without caring what anybody thought. When he wanted to do something he did it and when he didn't want to do something he wouldn't. I wish the other characters could have been more like that instead. I found Kelly to be a little too whiny and she tended to get on my nerves. She was always unhappy about something, whether it was not having a boyfriend or even when she did have a boyfriend, who was totally sweet and polite, she wasn't happy because it wasn't Hunter, who already had a girlfriend!
The romance in this novel seemed a little forced as well. The characters go from only being friends and talking occasionally to full on crushing on each other in a few days. That really bothered me. It's like nobody put any thought into romance but then just decided to put two characters together just for the fun of it.
All in all it was a cute book. I liked it for the most part once I could get past the issues that I had with the story, characters etc. I really wish that I could have enjoyed it a little more.
**I've gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars and I really don't know which to choose. I liked the story I just had some issues with it.**
This book was pretty cute and I found it to be a quick read. I did like the book. It was pretty short and at times was pretty funny. I found myself laughing at times because of some of the things the characters said. I just wish the characters and the romance could have been a little more developed.
A lot of the characters were either annoying, just plain nasty or completely clueless. I think the only one I really liked was Hunter. He was funny and did his own thing without caring what anybody thought. When he wanted to do something he did it and when he didn't want to do something he wouldn't. I wish the other characters could have been more like that instead. I found Kelly to be a little too whiny and she tended to get on my nerves. She was always unhappy about something, whether it was not having a boyfriend or even when she did have a boyfriend, who was totally sweet and polite, she wasn't happy because it wasn't Hunter, who already had a girlfriend!
The romance in this novel seemed a little forced as well. The characters go from only being friends and talking occasionally to full on crushing on each other in a few days. That really bothered me. It's like nobody put any thought into romance but then just decided to put two characters together just for the fun of it.
All in all it was a cute book. I liked it for the most part once I could get past the issues that I had with the story, characters etc. I really wish that I could have enjoyed it a little more.
December 11, 2012
It has its bad points, that is true. Here are some that I noticed:
1. Veering of directions
They stopped at this point in this chapter and then out of nowhere they reach here in the next. There are clues on what happened but you can't help but get the feeling that you missed a lot of stuff in between.
2. Impossible ideas
They WERE interesting but they were rather ridiculous. Like The Promsitutes (oh yeah, I totally love the word!). Seriously? You can somehow manage to earn something from just three hundred dollars (Aviva's date's price) even after having to pay for the rented tux, ride from the Promstitute's home place and back, pay for the Promstitute, and all other details? Maybe you can, but not enough to actually make it worth going through all the trouble.
3. Stereotypes
A lot of the characters are people I've read about before. They weren't that unique and I found Hunter kind of boring. His friends were much more interesting, like the pirate guy.
There are also details that weren't delved into, which was a shame since they played important parts in the story.
But I didn't care (not as much as I usually would anyway). The Boy Recession was hilarious, engaging, and filled with lots of fun that it manages to capture your entire attention for the most part. Kelly and Hunter aren't the best MCs around, but they're not that bad compared to most and the other characters make up for what they lack.
All in all, The Boy Recession is a fun read that is definitely recommended for those looking for a funny, slice-of-life romance.
1. Veering of directions
They stopped at this point in this chapter and then out of nowhere they reach here in the next. There are clues on what happened but you can't help but get the feeling that you missed a lot of stuff in between.
2. Impossible ideas
They WERE interesting but they were rather ridiculous. Like The Promsitutes (oh yeah, I totally love the word!). Seriously? You can somehow manage to earn something from just three hundred dollars (Aviva's date's price) even after having to pay for the rented tux, ride from the Promstitute's home place and back, pay for the Promstitute, and all other details? Maybe you can, but not enough to actually make it worth going through all the trouble.
3. Stereotypes
A lot of the characters are people I've read about before. They weren't that unique and I found Hunter kind of boring. His friends were much more interesting, like the pirate guy.
There are also details that weren't delved into, which was a shame since they played important parts in the story.
But I didn't care (not as much as I usually would anyway). The Boy Recession was hilarious, engaging, and filled with lots of fun that it manages to capture your entire attention for the most part. Kelly and Hunter aren't the best MCs around, but they're not that bad compared to most and the other characters make up for what they lack.
All in all, The Boy Recession is a fun read that is definitely recommended for those looking for a funny, slice-of-life romance.
September 22, 2011
The book was both witty and romantic. At times I found myself laughing out loud by the sarcasm and some of the crazy things that the characters did. Hunter puts you in the mind of the typical teenage boy coming into their own. He is talented musically and smart,and just needs to excel to his potential. Hunter and his friends are the best part of the story for me, they give you an insight into different types of boy personalities. (Derek the adventure seeking pyromanic, Eugene overachieving, rude entrepreneur always with a scheme, and then the Dbags guys who don't know how to play but still call themselves a band.) On the other side is Kelly and her friends and enemies who are all the different versions of teenage girls. Kelly who is an in between person who survives as a background character the person that just balances the story. Kelly finally got up the nerve and did something about what was going on around her.
This book showed an evolution of characters: as they were challenged by their surrounding they changed but still kept their essence. I especially like the changes in point of view throughout the story, it gave the reader the opportunity to know how both characters felt but not how the situation would resolve itself. The story felt like you were living it along with the characters, something I enjoyed.
This book showed an evolution of characters: as they were challenged by their surrounding they changed but still kept their essence. I especially like the changes in point of view throughout the story, it gave the reader the opportunity to know how both characters felt but not how the situation would resolve itself. The story felt like you were living it along with the characters, something I enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2012
Flynn Meaney's second novel, The Boy Recession, was a good YA chick-lit novel. Chick-lit isn't my usual genre, but I really liked this book. The plot was interesting, and flowed smoothly. There were a few things that bothered me about the book. I dislike when authors use the f-word more than once in a young adult novel. The author probably used the f-word close to half a dozen times. Another thing that bothered me in the book was some of the article titles that Aviva uses. For example, "Skankology: How Female Desperation Has Altered the Julius Hook-Up Scene". There's no way a newspaper adviser would let anyone print that in the high school's newspaper. It's just not realistic, and highly inappropriate. Other than those few flaws, the book was good. My favorite character was Eugene. He was funny. He was a pain in the ass for Hunter sometimes, such as when he had Hunter lift his boat. However, he turned out to be a good friend. I'm glad that at the end of the book, everyone got what they really wanted. I haven't read the author's debut novel, Bloodthirsty. Based upon the author's writing style, I will definitely be giving Bloodthirsty a try.
September 7, 2012
3.5/5 Stars
The only thing word I can think of to describe this is "cute." It was a great read for a day where I just wanted to chill out. There wasn't a lot of depth to it, you didn't have to really think about what you were reading - which is not a bad thing. The Boy Recession had an interesting plot that the author pulled off very well. The characters were relatable and funny. This novel had some super fun scenes that had me giggling! I would definitely read other YA contemporary works by Ms. Meaney.
Letting my sister borrow it now!
The only thing word I can think of to describe this is "cute." It was a great read for a day where I just wanted to chill out. There wasn't a lot of depth to it, you didn't have to really think about what you were reading - which is not a bad thing. The Boy Recession had an interesting plot that the author pulled off very well. The characters were relatable and funny. This novel had some super fun scenes that had me giggling! I would definitely read other YA contemporary works by Ms. Meaney.
Letting my sister borrow it now!
September 21, 2012
When you are blasting calories on your recumbent exercise bike, one of the best things you can do for yourself is read an entertaining book that makes the time go by quickly. Y’all, The Boy Recession by Flynn Meany was a book where I read 21% in half an hour on the bike. I was so absorbed that those calories just fell away and time flew right by. But I suppose that is what the most entertaining contemps are supposed to do.
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 9/26/12
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 9/26/12
March 28, 2015
Did not finish this. I wasn't keen on reading a book with dual point of view. It just didn't flow. And the story lacked a hook to draw the reader in.
I'm fairly disappointed, the novel had so much potential.
I'm fairly disappointed, the novel had so much potential.
March 7, 2013
This book had a really good sense of humour to it. Love when its realistic the way teens are, especially boys.
July 20, 2012
When a large percentage of the hot, eligible male population makes a mass exodus from the financially struggling Julius P. Heil High School, the girls left behind quickly notice the deficit and the boys left behind quickly begin to realize that their stock and desirability has suddenly gone up. Meanwhile, the boys aren’t the only thing leaving the high school in a hurry. Because of massive budget cuts, many extracurriculars are being pruned from the class schedules… including Kelly Robbin’s favorite, band. A flautist whose love for music took root during the high school’s once popular elementary school band program, she’s extremely saddened by the high school’s decision to cut music. But when her friend and fellow musician Hunter suggests they revive the program themselves and “peer teach” the musically-inclined third-graders , she jumps at the chance to share her love and knowledge of music with the kids. As they work together, Kelly begins to see a different side of Hunter, finally admitting to herself that, maybe yes, she’s crushing on the cute slacker with the long hair. But when the popular Spandexers crowd also begins to notice Hunter, Kelly wonders if she even has a chance.
Caught between her best friends – the beautiful, vivacious Aviva and the ambitious, scholarly Darcy, Kelly Robbins is the balancing force between the three of them. The normalcy, the glue, the one that averages both of her radcially different best friends out.
Average, that’s Kelly Robbins to a ‘T.’ The cute, sweet, responsible, girl-next-door, she’s known and liked throughout her high school for her perpetual friendliness and kindness. But how does the song go? “Nice girls finish last?” And this is definitely true for Kelly who’s never been much sought after by the male contingent of Julius P. Heil and who sometimes finds herself being referred to as “dude.” Now with the current male to female ratio at school, she fears that the odds of her luck changing during her junior year aren’t good.
“I’ve never had any summer lovin’. And I’ve never had any school year lovin’, either. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never hooked up with a guy. And this morning, on my Internet browser, an article popped up about women marrying themselves.
Even my wireless connection knows I’m alone.” (Kelly, 7%)
I love Kelly’s voice. She’s normal and relateable. While she comes across as an responsible teen, she feels like a teenager teenager – not too grown up and perhaps a tad overly concerned with the daily dramas that infiltrate the microcosm of her school’s social scene. She’s a pretty grounded individual though, and she often displays her ironic sense of humor as she narrates, often cleverly describing things and setting the stage in such a way that depicts the scene perfectly while it also induces fits of giggling. In my opinion, the boys of Julius P. Heil don’t know what they’re missing, and one boy in particular…
“…[T]oday we’re shopping for me. I, Hunter Fahrenbach, am buying an agenda...
I take the planner and flip through the pages. There’s already stuff written on a bunch of days. Christmas, Hanukkah, daylight savings time, Canadian Thanksgiving…Ugh. I can’t handle all these commitments.” (Hunter, 64%)
Meet Hunter. Slacker Extraordinaire. Marked by a distinct lack of ambition and a healthy dose of apathy about everything, the only thing that Hunter is truly passionate about is his bed… and sleeping away his 90-days of summer. When Hunter is not two hours into his REM cycle drooling on his pillow, he’s hanging around with his similarly loser-like friends at the gas station, setting things on fire, or lazing around on the lake. When we meet Hunter for the first time, he is on the very last day of his summer job hunt – and I use the term loosely – on the very last day of summer.
The funny thing is, Hunter is actually very smart. He gets good grades in his classes without much effort, though sometimes as expected, that studying strategy does fail him. He also plays guitar… in a band… that doesn’t actually exist (Why is he in a fake band? Because it takes too much effort to be in an actual band, writing songs, practicing, booking gigs, etc.) But despite his obvious aversion to anything resembling work or commitment, Hunter is endearing. While he might not be the most driven individual, he’s just a really good guy, and when the situation calls for it, he step up, take initiative and be responsible. He’s also hilarious. If I thought Kelly was a funny narrator, Hunter is even funnier. His frank introspection of himself and his honest observations of everyone around him are funny and dead accurate. Though he often tells it like it is when it comes to his friends, it’s clear that Hunter does truly care about his best buds.
Speaking of his posse, Hunter is the keystone to his small social circle as well. Eugene, the unscrupulous, opportunistic capitalist, is well on his way to forming his own criminal organization, and Derek is the irresponsible pyromaniac who never leaves home without his lighter. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call Eugene “responsible,” Eugene is intimately acquainted with how the world works – manipulations and “playing the game” – and despite his sometimes skewed and jaded view of the world, he does provide Hunter with some wise insight from time to time. Because of his unique perspective and character, Eugene (bless his devious little heart) became a favorite of mine. Similarly Derek, despite his tendency to ignite things, whether it be on purpose or otherwise, wormed his way into my heart too. His perpetual optimism and overall obliviousness to fire safety made him at once terrifying, yet kind of adorable. You’ll have to trust me on that one… or, better yet, read the book.
While the premise of The Boy Recession is an interesting and unique one and while it is executed rather plausibly, the plot is nothing particularly groundbreaking in how it develops and resolves. But predictable though it might be, it’s still fun watching the characters, especially these characters, journey toward the conclusion. The romance is also a little on the average side, but as I’ve hinted at earlier, this book shines in character development, snappy inner monologues and hilarious, witty dialogue, all of which made it an extremely fun read for me.
Overall, if you’re looking for a funny, lighthearted book that will induce spontaneous bursts of giggling from start to finish, then pick up The Boy Recession.
Warning: If you share a bed/bedroom/thin bedroom wall with someone else you may not want to read this into the wee hours of the morning, because you WILL wake them up… multiple times (re: uncontrollable bouts of laughter).
Caught between her best friends – the beautiful, vivacious Aviva and the ambitious, scholarly Darcy, Kelly Robbins is the balancing force between the three of them. The normalcy, the glue, the one that averages both of her radcially different best friends out.
Average, that’s Kelly Robbins to a ‘T.’ The cute, sweet, responsible, girl-next-door, she’s known and liked throughout her high school for her perpetual friendliness and kindness. But how does the song go? “Nice girls finish last?” And this is definitely true for Kelly who’s never been much sought after by the male contingent of Julius P. Heil and who sometimes finds herself being referred to as “dude.” Now with the current male to female ratio at school, she fears that the odds of her luck changing during her junior year aren’t good.
“I’ve never had any summer lovin’. And I’ve never had any school year lovin’, either. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never hooked up with a guy. And this morning, on my Internet browser, an article popped up about women marrying themselves.
Even my wireless connection knows I’m alone.” (Kelly, 7%)
I love Kelly’s voice. She’s normal and relateable. While she comes across as an responsible teen, she feels like a teenager teenager – not too grown up and perhaps a tad overly concerned with the daily dramas that infiltrate the microcosm of her school’s social scene. She’s a pretty grounded individual though, and she often displays her ironic sense of humor as she narrates, often cleverly describing things and setting the stage in such a way that depicts the scene perfectly while it also induces fits of giggling. In my opinion, the boys of Julius P. Heil don’t know what they’re missing, and one boy in particular…
“…[T]oday we’re shopping for me. I, Hunter Fahrenbach, am buying an agenda...
I take the planner and flip through the pages. There’s already stuff written on a bunch of days. Christmas, Hanukkah, daylight savings time, Canadian Thanksgiving…Ugh. I can’t handle all these commitments.” (Hunter, 64%)
Meet Hunter. Slacker Extraordinaire. Marked by a distinct lack of ambition and a healthy dose of apathy about everything, the only thing that Hunter is truly passionate about is his bed… and sleeping away his 90-days of summer. When Hunter is not two hours into his REM cycle drooling on his pillow, he’s hanging around with his similarly loser-like friends at the gas station, setting things on fire, or lazing around on the lake. When we meet Hunter for the first time, he is on the very last day of his summer job hunt – and I use the term loosely – on the very last day of summer.
The funny thing is, Hunter is actually very smart. He gets good grades in his classes without much effort, though sometimes as expected, that studying strategy does fail him. He also plays guitar… in a band… that doesn’t actually exist (Why is he in a fake band? Because it takes too much effort to be in an actual band, writing songs, practicing, booking gigs, etc.) But despite his obvious aversion to anything resembling work or commitment, Hunter is endearing. While he might not be the most driven individual, he’s just a really good guy, and when the situation calls for it, he step up, take initiative and be responsible. He’s also hilarious. If I thought Kelly was a funny narrator, Hunter is even funnier. His frank introspection of himself and his honest observations of everyone around him are funny and dead accurate. Though he often tells it like it is when it comes to his friends, it’s clear that Hunter does truly care about his best buds.
Speaking of his posse, Hunter is the keystone to his small social circle as well. Eugene, the unscrupulous, opportunistic capitalist, is well on his way to forming his own criminal organization, and Derek is the irresponsible pyromaniac who never leaves home without his lighter. While I wouldn’t go so far as to call Eugene “responsible,” Eugene is intimately acquainted with how the world works – manipulations and “playing the game” – and despite his sometimes skewed and jaded view of the world, he does provide Hunter with some wise insight from time to time. Because of his unique perspective and character, Eugene (bless his devious little heart) became a favorite of mine. Similarly Derek, despite his tendency to ignite things, whether it be on purpose or otherwise, wormed his way into my heart too. His perpetual optimism and overall obliviousness to fire safety made him at once terrifying, yet kind of adorable. You’ll have to trust me on that one… or, better yet, read the book.
While the premise of The Boy Recession is an interesting and unique one and while it is executed rather plausibly, the plot is nothing particularly groundbreaking in how it develops and resolves. But predictable though it might be, it’s still fun watching the characters, especially these characters, journey toward the conclusion. The romance is also a little on the average side, but as I’ve hinted at earlier, this book shines in character development, snappy inner monologues and hilarious, witty dialogue, all of which made it an extremely fun read for me.
Overall, if you’re looking for a funny, lighthearted book that will induce spontaneous bursts of giggling from start to finish, then pick up The Boy Recession.
Warning: If you share a bed/bedroom/thin bedroom wall with someone else you may not want to read this into the wee hours of the morning, because you WILL wake them up… multiple times (re: uncontrollable bouts of laughter).
May 15, 2021
This book was a poorly written Wattpad book, but I've read Wattpad books with better developed characters. The book had no stakes for me to care about. Nothing dire happens in the plot that changes the characters. Both the characters are high schooler but have the opinions of middle schoolers. Neither of them have much personality except the main girl being portrayed as being the right mix between a prude and slut. After all, basically every other girl is shoved into one of those boxes. It wasn't funny. It was just exhausting and problematic.
gave-up-on
July 23, 2020Pensé que sería divertido, pero solo consiguió aburrirme y enfadarme. Pasó lo que tenía que pasar (porque con 12 años ya vi la misma reacción en un chico de mi edad): a los chicos se les sube a la cabeza y creen que se "merecen" algo más y la chica que hasta hacía unos días era su sueño ya no es suficiente para ellos. Ahí lo dejé porque, al contrario que en la vida real, la chica se echó a llorar por las esquinas en lugar de ver, ella y sus amigas, que no era "el mejor novio que había tenido".
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