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The Boy I Love
When the boy you love asks you to keep his greatest secret, do you? A thought-provoking, achingly complex novel about prejudice and the many meanings of love from Nina de Gramont, author of Meet Me at the River, which Kirkus Reviews called a “must-read.”
Sixteen-year-old Wren has been content to stay in her best friend Ally’s shadow. It doesn’t bother her that Ally gets the cutest guys, the cutest clothes, and even a modeling gig—Wren is happy hanging with the horses on her family’s farm and avoiding the jealousy of other girls. But when Tim, the most intriguing guy in school, starts hanging out with Ally and Wren, jealousy is unavoidable, but not the kind Wren expects. Because even though Ally is way into him and Wren hasn’t flirted, not one little bit, it becomes increasingly clear that Tim prefers Wren’s company above anyone else’s.
Tim’s unexpected devotion comes at the exact time Wren’s home life is about to be turned upside down. But at least there is Tim...always a gentleman and ever dependable. But as his own seemingly perfect world comes spiraling down around him and he tells Wren his biggest secret, Wren must decide what she’ll really do for love.
Sixteen-year-old Wren has been content to stay in her best friend Ally’s shadow. It doesn’t bother her that Ally gets the cutest guys, the cutest clothes, and even a modeling gig—Wren is happy hanging with the horses on her family’s farm and avoiding the jealousy of other girls. But when Tim, the most intriguing guy in school, starts hanging out with Ally and Wren, jealousy is unavoidable, but not the kind Wren expects. Because even though Ally is way into him and Wren hasn’t flirted, not one little bit, it becomes increasingly clear that Tim prefers Wren’s company above anyone else’s.
Tim’s unexpected devotion comes at the exact time Wren’s home life is about to be turned upside down. But at least there is Tim...always a gentleman and ever dependable. But as his own seemingly perfect world comes spiraling down around him and he tells Wren his biggest secret, Wren must decide what she’ll really do for love.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2014
12 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Nina de Gramont
11 books894 followersNina de Gramont's latest novel, The Christie Affair, is an international and New York Times best seller, and the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for February, 2022. Nina is also the author of a collection of short stories, Of Cats and Men, as well as the novels Gossip of the Starlings and The Last September. She has written several YA novels (Every Little Thing in the World, Meet Me at the River, The Boy I Love, and -- under the pen name Marina Gessner -- The Distance From Me to You). Nina teaches creative writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She lives with her daughter and her husband, the writer David Gessner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 24, 2014
Intriguing, thought-provoking, and heartfelt. I must say The Boy I Love turned out to be one heck of a surprise. Initially, I didn't know how I'd feel about the story because in the first two chapters I was iffy, and I suspected one of the themes right off so I feared it'd be too predictable and I wouldn't enjoy it. But I was wrong. I'm also happy to not have read the synopsis beforehand because yeah, dead giveaway.
So, aside from the issue of two friends having a childish fallout over a guy with his own problems, I liked the other aspects of the story that brought up racial discrimination, as well as how the author worked in the effects of owning a land that played its part in a horrific period in history. Not only that, but the main character and her family were going through a great deal throughout the story and I truly felt for them. Their situation was quite relatable for many as its true to the state of the economy. Their emotions were real, and the impact of their struggle was real.
Another thing I liked was how discrimination wasn't only about race, but the author showed how it applied to sexual orientation as well, and what many individuals have to face because of who they are and who they love. I was deeply moved by the main character's beliefs in that sense and her drive to wanting to do something, regardless of how she feels about Tim. I think she was a strong character and you don't find that often in young adult books, so that was another positive in this story.
Speaking of characters, let me tell you I did not like Wren's best friend from beginning to end. Allie just came off snotty and conceited to me. Like I get being shy, because I am, and not having the courage to talk to someone you have a crush on. But come on, you can't get mad if he likes someone else. You have no claims over him whatsoever. So the fact that she got mad at her best friend because Tim had established a relationship with Wren was just stupid to me. And I wanted to slap her when she didn't seem to care that Wren was going through so much and needed a friend. No wonder Wren couldn't tell her about Tim, regardless if he made her promise not to tell anyone. She just came off too self-centered. Basically, she was a bitch and I could see why she wasn't getting what she wanted. Her personality sucked.
Moving on, I liked Wren's family life and the dynamics of her home. Her parents were really great, realistic people and I liked how involved they were. Not only in her life but in the story. Their characters were equally strong throughout and I liked how she could talk to them. That's another thing that's rare in books (parents, fathers in particular, aren't very present). But I really enjoyed that part of the story.
In conclusion, The Boy I Love was an enjoyable read. It's fast-paced, fluid writing style that was easy to fly through in no time. The descriptions were good. I felt like I was living every scene. And my interest was held throughout. I must admit, there were one or two parts that had me saying huh? but for the most part, I liked this one and definitely will check out the author's other books.
So, aside from the issue of two friends having a childish fallout over a guy with his own problems, I liked the other aspects of the story that brought up racial discrimination, as well as how the author worked in the effects of owning a land that played its part in a horrific period in history. Not only that, but the main character and her family were going through a great deal throughout the story and I truly felt for them. Their situation was quite relatable for many as its true to the state of the economy. Their emotions were real, and the impact of their struggle was real.
Another thing I liked was how discrimination wasn't only about race, but the author showed how it applied to sexual orientation as well, and what many individuals have to face because of who they are and who they love. I was deeply moved by the main character's beliefs in that sense and her drive to wanting to do something, regardless of how she feels about Tim. I think she was a strong character and you don't find that often in young adult books, so that was another positive in this story.
Speaking of characters, let me tell you I did not like Wren's best friend from beginning to end. Allie just came off snotty and conceited to me. Like I get being shy, because I am, and not having the courage to talk to someone you have a crush on. But come on, you can't get mad if he likes someone else. You have no claims over him whatsoever. So the fact that she got mad at her best friend because Tim had established a relationship with Wren was just stupid to me. And I wanted to slap her when she didn't seem to care that Wren was going through so much and needed a friend. No wonder Wren couldn't tell her about Tim, regardless if he made her promise not to tell anyone. She just came off too self-centered. Basically, she was a bitch and I could see why she wasn't getting what she wanted. Her personality sucked.
Moving on, I liked Wren's family life and the dynamics of her home. Her parents were really great, realistic people and I liked how involved they were. Not only in her life but in the story. Their characters were equally strong throughout and I liked how she could talk to them. That's another thing that's rare in books (parents, fathers in particular, aren't very present). But I really enjoyed that part of the story.
In conclusion, The Boy I Love was an enjoyable read. It's fast-paced, fluid writing style that was easy to fly through in no time. The descriptions were good. I felt like I was living every scene. And my interest was held throughout. I must admit, there were one or two parts that had me saying huh? but for the most part, I liked this one and definitely will check out the author's other books.
Read
November 23, 2014A beautiful book. I really loved it. It's a shame, though, that there's no back cover copy, at least on the hardcover version. Because I think it's hard to take a chance on a book when you don't know what it's about. But the first page pulled me right in, and I'm so glad I gave it a try.
July 15, 2016
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
Here is a fact about my reading habits that I just love: I love reading books that are good, and that are underrated. Nina de Gramont's The Boy I Love perhaps could make you expect this to be the cheesiest, most predictable book that you will ever read in the history of books. The cover is extremely cheesy, if I do say so myself. Forget about all of those negative thoughts pushing you away from reading this. Forget about the HATERS, you know? But honestly? I don't even see too many haters hating on this satisfying, utterly enjoyable story, because there is this one FREAKING PLOT TWIST that turns the table around and has you addicted for the rest of the book because you know that what you expected to happen will not happen at all. But of course, there is that single voice in your head telling you, "Who knows?" as you read. Nina de Gramont is now an instant-buy for me. I already own two other books by her, and I will hunt for everything. *hears thunder in the distance showcasing my seriousness*
The Boy I Love has this table-turning title and cover. We see a beautiful cover model sitting by a campfire, looking like an Abercrombie model. Most girls want to poke his chest, I bet. I wouldn't blame them. This guy is supposed to be the male protagonist of this story, named Tim. Wren, our female protagonist, basically falls head over heels for him in a way when she meets him in her new school, that she transfers to alongside her best friend, Ally, who also has her own personal demons. Ally wants to become a model, but her parents do not let her follow her dreams. We haven't seen that story before, right? *giggles* Ally has a huge crush on Tim, who prefers to spend time with Wren.
LOVE TRIANGLE? I think we all predicted that when we started reading. There is this one secret that could change the way you look at the whole book and I could never spoil it here, or else the whole book is ruined. When this was revealed, I was ten times more addicted and intrigued to the novel than I originally was. Honestly? If this stayed a cutesy romance, I still would've enjoyed it because Nina de Gramont is just a good writer. She creates relatable characters who certainly do not live in a perfect world where relationships always work and they certainly are not able to always follow their dreams. This is absolute realism.
I love the setting of this story: North Carolina. I've travelled through the state when I head on road trips to Florida, and it honestly is one of my favourites to travel through. I love the summer-year-round atmosphere and the nature. It's been a while since I've read a book set in the Carolinas (I honestly don't remember the last one, or if there has been one in the past) and it just made me giddy. I love the summer feeling that this book inherited. You could read it any time of the year and instead of seeing snow outside of your window, you could imagine green grass, scorching temperatures, an alligator in your river (haha) and a bonfire. That's summer. This book could seriously be called, in other words, summer.
This headed in a direction that I never imagined was possible. I keep saying this, but Nina de Gramont took us to a different world. I loved how each of the characters had their own problems (not that I would wish anyone to have problems), including Wren's issues with her parents, Ally's dream issues and Tim's issues that I will of course, not reveal. That is what contemporary should always feature.
Wren was just a fabulous protagonist. She was fearless, real, selfless. Her friends and family came first, and when everyone kept coming to her with their problems, Wren kind of forgot about her own issues and eventually, all of that came splattering at her. That frequently occurs to people in the real world, and it touched me. TIM AND WREN EQUAL FRIENDSHIP GOALS. Tim is your perfect example of a good boy best friend. I wish I had one of those.
Nina de Gramont experiments with a lot of examples of friendship. Ally and Tim both have to share Wren at different points of the book, and Nina showcased the difference between girl friendship and boy and girl friendship. They each had each other for different reasons, to hold different secrets, but in the end, friendship occurs for the same reason: for loyalty. Whoever said boys and girls cannot be friends are so wrong. This is a perfect example of how that actually works.
The Boy I Love by Nina de Gramont is a book that has been sitting in my bookshelf for quite some time now, and when I decided to read it on a road trip, it was the perfect book. It shouts summer, bonfires and mistakes. It screams out romance, but that wasn't a main idea of the story whatsoever. The most important thing? Friendship. Nina illustrates the theme of girls not having to love boys for romantic reasons, but that they could love them as friends. Aw. My heart is fluttering. PLEASE READ THIS, SECOND-GUESSERS.
Here is a fact about my reading habits that I just love: I love reading books that are good, and that are underrated. Nina de Gramont's The Boy I Love perhaps could make you expect this to be the cheesiest, most predictable book that you will ever read in the history of books. The cover is extremely cheesy, if I do say so myself. Forget about all of those negative thoughts pushing you away from reading this. Forget about the HATERS, you know? But honestly? I don't even see too many haters hating on this satisfying, utterly enjoyable story, because there is this one FREAKING PLOT TWIST that turns the table around and has you addicted for the rest of the book because you know that what you expected to happen will not happen at all. But of course, there is that single voice in your head telling you, "Who knows?" as you read. Nina de Gramont is now an instant-buy for me. I already own two other books by her, and I will hunt for everything. *hears thunder in the distance showcasing my seriousness*
The Boy I Love has this table-turning title and cover. We see a beautiful cover model sitting by a campfire, looking like an Abercrombie model. Most girls want to poke his chest, I bet. I wouldn't blame them. This guy is supposed to be the male protagonist of this story, named Tim. Wren, our female protagonist, basically falls head over heels for him in a way when she meets him in her new school, that she transfers to alongside her best friend, Ally, who also has her own personal demons. Ally wants to become a model, but her parents do not let her follow her dreams. We haven't seen that story before, right? *giggles* Ally has a huge crush on Tim, who prefers to spend time with Wren.
LOVE TRIANGLE? I think we all predicted that when we started reading. There is this one secret that could change the way you look at the whole book and I could never spoil it here, or else the whole book is ruined. When this was revealed, I was ten times more addicted and intrigued to the novel than I originally was. Honestly? If this stayed a cutesy romance, I still would've enjoyed it because Nina de Gramont is just a good writer. She creates relatable characters who certainly do not live in a perfect world where relationships always work and they certainly are not able to always follow their dreams. This is absolute realism.
I love the setting of this story: North Carolina. I've travelled through the state when I head on road trips to Florida, and it honestly is one of my favourites to travel through. I love the summer-year-round atmosphere and the nature. It's been a while since I've read a book set in the Carolinas (I honestly don't remember the last one, or if there has been one in the past) and it just made me giddy. I love the summer feeling that this book inherited. You could read it any time of the year and instead of seeing snow outside of your window, you could imagine green grass, scorching temperatures, an alligator in your river (haha) and a bonfire. That's summer. This book could seriously be called, in other words, summer.
This headed in a direction that I never imagined was possible. I keep saying this, but Nina de Gramont took us to a different world. I loved how each of the characters had their own problems (not that I would wish anyone to have problems), including Wren's issues with her parents, Ally's dream issues and Tim's issues that I will of course, not reveal. That is what contemporary should always feature.
Wren was just a fabulous protagonist. She was fearless, real, selfless. Her friends and family came first, and when everyone kept coming to her with their problems, Wren kind of forgot about her own issues and eventually, all of that came splattering at her. That frequently occurs to people in the real world, and it touched me. TIM AND WREN EQUAL FRIENDSHIP GOALS. Tim is your perfect example of a good boy best friend. I wish I had one of those.
Nina de Gramont experiments with a lot of examples of friendship. Ally and Tim both have to share Wren at different points of the book, and Nina showcased the difference between girl friendship and boy and girl friendship. They each had each other for different reasons, to hold different secrets, but in the end, friendship occurs for the same reason: for loyalty. Whoever said boys and girls cannot be friends are so wrong. This is a perfect example of how that actually works.
The Boy I Love by Nina de Gramont is a book that has been sitting in my bookshelf for quite some time now, and when I decided to read it on a road trip, it was the perfect book. It shouts summer, bonfires and mistakes. It screams out romance, but that wasn't a main idea of the story whatsoever. The most important thing? Friendship. Nina illustrates the theme of girls not having to love boys for romantic reasons, but that they could love them as friends. Aw. My heart is fluttering. PLEASE READ THIS, SECOND-GUESSERS.
September 4, 2014
* * * 1/2
Wren and Ally will do anything to spend the school year together. So when Ally’s family moves away from Cutty River, Wren’s parents allow her to switch schools so that she can attend Williamsport High School with Ally. Ally, with her sights set on the cheerleading team and a new boyfriend, is determined to be one of the popular kids. Wren, other than being determined to be involved in theater, took a much more laid back approach to her new high school.
The outcome in this scenario is pretty predictable. Ally does not make the cheerleading team. And not only does she not get the boyfriend, the boy she likes seems much more interested in Wren. What isn’t predictable is Wren and Tim’s relationship. Yes Wren is attracted to Tim. And yes, she might be willing to have a relationship even though her best friend has a crush on him. But Tim unexpectedly confesses a secret to Wren and in her effort to help Tim and keep his secret, she and Tim become inseparable. Ally doesn’t believe they are not dating and drops Wren like a hot potato. And because Wren has promised not to tell anyone Tim’s secret, she is unable to explain to Ally why she and Tim have become so close.
On top of the devastation of losing a best friend and gaining a new one that is emotionally struggling, Wren is having issues at home. Her parents have lost funding for their horse rescue which means they will likely need to sell the farm that has been in her father’s family for generations. That means giving up not only the home she loves but also the horses. One of which Wren is particularly close to.
In the end, Wren has to learn to handle the difficulties life keeps dumping on her while still staying true to herself, her friends and her family.
My only complaint is that I found the title of this book misleading. I did not feel the primary focus of the novel was Wren’s relationship with Tim. Yes that was one of the things Wren is struggling with in this book. But it’s not her only struggle. The struggle with her parents and losing their home is just as prominent in this story as her relationship with her friends. This is a story about a girl experiencing many struggles. Some completely normal for a sixteen year old high school student. Some not.
As is usually the case with books I enjoy, what I loved most were the characters. They weren’t always particularly likable but they were such honest portrayals of human imperfection that it was hard to not love them anyway. Wren is only sixteen and the author portrays her voice perfectly. That blend of young teen on the verge of becoming an adult is both pretentious and awkward. But in the most engaging way. And even though the story is told in the first person, Wren’s voice is powerful and eloquent enough to allow the reader to know the secondary characters. The secondary characters I found to be the strongest were Ally, Tim and Wren’s mom. Which make sense as those were the people that were closest to Wren.
If you are looking for a lot of romance this may not be for you. BUT …f you are looking for a thoughtful YA novel about friendship, family and love then I definitely recommend The Boy I Love.
Nat
Wren and Ally will do anything to spend the school year together. So when Ally’s family moves away from Cutty River, Wren’s parents allow her to switch schools so that she can attend Williamsport High School with Ally. Ally, with her sights set on the cheerleading team and a new boyfriend, is determined to be one of the popular kids. Wren, other than being determined to be involved in theater, took a much more laid back approach to her new high school.
The outcome in this scenario is pretty predictable. Ally does not make the cheerleading team. And not only does she not get the boyfriend, the boy she likes seems much more interested in Wren. What isn’t predictable is Wren and Tim’s relationship. Yes Wren is attracted to Tim. And yes, she might be willing to have a relationship even though her best friend has a crush on him. But Tim unexpectedly confesses a secret to Wren and in her effort to help Tim and keep his secret, she and Tim become inseparable. Ally doesn’t believe they are not dating and drops Wren like a hot potato. And because Wren has promised not to tell anyone Tim’s secret, she is unable to explain to Ally why she and Tim have become so close.
On top of the devastation of losing a best friend and gaining a new one that is emotionally struggling, Wren is having issues at home. Her parents have lost funding for their horse rescue which means they will likely need to sell the farm that has been in her father’s family for generations. That means giving up not only the home she loves but also the horses. One of which Wren is particularly close to.
In the end, Wren has to learn to handle the difficulties life keeps dumping on her while still staying true to herself, her friends and her family.
My only complaint is that I found the title of this book misleading. I did not feel the primary focus of the novel was Wren’s relationship with Tim. Yes that was one of the things Wren is struggling with in this book. But it’s not her only struggle. The struggle with her parents and losing their home is just as prominent in this story as her relationship with her friends. This is a story about a girl experiencing many struggles. Some completely normal for a sixteen year old high school student. Some not.
As is usually the case with books I enjoy, what I loved most were the characters. They weren’t always particularly likable but they were such honest portrayals of human imperfection that it was hard to not love them anyway. Wren is only sixteen and the author portrays her voice perfectly. That blend of young teen on the verge of becoming an adult is both pretentious and awkward. But in the most engaging way. And even though the story is told in the first person, Wren’s voice is powerful and eloquent enough to allow the reader to know the secondary characters. The secondary characters I found to be the strongest were Ally, Tim and Wren’s mom. Which make sense as those were the people that were closest to Wren.
If you are looking for a lot of romance this may not be for you. BUT …f you are looking for a thoughtful YA novel about friendship, family and love then I definitely recommend The Boy I Love.
Nat
June 4, 2014
*I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
The Boy I Love was actually very good, and it exceeded my expectations. I was intrigued by the subject matter, but it also left me thinking that it would probably just be incredibly cliche or full of immature characters. There was a little of that, but for the most part I found that it handled the topic with sensitivity and really had a message for the target audience.
I really enjoyed Wren, I liked that there were moments that she felt very mature for her age, and then moments when she was incredibly immature. I felt this was accurate though based on the fact that she was 16. It’s that age when you know you should be more mature, but hormones and high school make it difficult. Sometimes Wren felt like she wasn’t a real character though because she was overly mature.
Like when she decides to keep Tim’s secret, there’s no hesitation or worry about what this might mean for her. She doesn’t think about not dating other boys because she’s secretly in love with Tim. It just bothered me because when you like someone finding out that they like someone else, opposite sex or not, it hurts. But it didn’t hurt Wren, she was just incredibly accepting of that. Which is not a bad thing, but it just didn’t feel genuine to her character. Especially when she was freaking out about the farm so much, I felt that was much more in line with her personality.
I also had a hard time with Wren’s friend Allie. She took the opposite path from Wren, and became even more immature. It was difficult to understand why the two of them would be friends. Allie always seemed to put Wren down, or leave her out. Plus, when Wren really started to fit in Allie was jealous, which is understandable but she didn’t even think about how it had been for Wren before.
I thought that the whole book was incredibly interesting, and the premise really is the book. It’s just that the characters and story were better developed than other books that are similar. I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars because while it was good there were things that I think could’ve been improved upon.
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/05/the...*
The Boy I Love was actually very good, and it exceeded my expectations. I was intrigued by the subject matter, but it also left me thinking that it would probably just be incredibly cliche or full of immature characters. There was a little of that, but for the most part I found that it handled the topic with sensitivity and really had a message for the target audience.
I really enjoyed Wren, I liked that there were moments that she felt very mature for her age, and then moments when she was incredibly immature. I felt this was accurate though based on the fact that she was 16. It’s that age when you know you should be more mature, but hormones and high school make it difficult. Sometimes Wren felt like she wasn’t a real character though because she was overly mature.
Like when she decides to keep Tim’s secret, there’s no hesitation or worry about what this might mean for her. She doesn’t think about not dating other boys because she’s secretly in love with Tim. It just bothered me because when you like someone finding out that they like someone else, opposite sex or not, it hurts. But it didn’t hurt Wren, she was just incredibly accepting of that. Which is not a bad thing, but it just didn’t feel genuine to her character. Especially when she was freaking out about the farm so much, I felt that was much more in line with her personality.
I also had a hard time with Wren’s friend Allie. She took the opposite path from Wren, and became even more immature. It was difficult to understand why the two of them would be friends. Allie always seemed to put Wren down, or leave her out. Plus, when Wren really started to fit in Allie was jealous, which is understandable but she didn’t even think about how it had been for Wren before.
I thought that the whole book was incredibly interesting, and the premise really is the book. It’s just that the characters and story were better developed than other books that are similar. I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars because while it was good there were things that I think could’ve been improved upon.
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/05/the...*
May 29, 2015
Book Review: The Boy I Love
Nina De Gramont’s The Boy I Love is a take on a love story gone wrong. The main character Wren goes through school having a big crush on this guy Tim Greenlaw, but little did she know he had a big secret. Throughout the book you will see the struggles that people go through in high school. Even though it sounds like a sappy love story, it’s not.
The main character Wren lives on a farm with her parents, and they are having struggles with paying the bills. They were scared because they might have to move away and give all their horses away. A lot of things happened at the farm, for example they shared there first kiss with each other. Wren and Tim have gone on walks and have gotten closer because of the farm. One scene that stood out to me was in the second chapter when Tim invited Wren and her friend Allie to this party he was having at the beach. Wren and Allie went and they didn’t know what to expect. It was their first high school party. When they got there, Tim and his friend Devon greeted them. Little did Wren know, Tim’s ex was there. As the night when on, things got a little crazy; there was a lot of alcohol involved. There was a bonfire going, and Wren and Allie went to sit by it to warm up. Then Tim’s ex came out of nowhere and “accidently” pushed Wren into the fire. Luckily, Tim was right there to catcher her, so she didn’t fall all the way into the fire. She wasn’t lucky because her hands had went into the fire, and had to go to the hospital. Tim was there to take her, because he was the only that hadn’t been drinking. Also Tim felt that it was all his fault that it happened.
This book takes a relationships that would be a perfect one and changes and changes it to a friendship that will never be broken. What I mean by that is because everything that they have gone thought with each other they are able to trust each other. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a love novel with a twist, its one of the best “love” novel I have ever read. This book tells a story that some people hide who they really are. Because they are scared if people find out who they really are they will be judged. I feel that this book shows that you don’t have to that, because in the end the real friends will stick by your side the whole time.
Nina De Gramont’s The Boy I Love is a take on a love story gone wrong. The main character Wren goes through school having a big crush on this guy Tim Greenlaw, but little did she know he had a big secret. Throughout the book you will see the struggles that people go through in high school. Even though it sounds like a sappy love story, it’s not.
The main character Wren lives on a farm with her parents, and they are having struggles with paying the bills. They were scared because they might have to move away and give all their horses away. A lot of things happened at the farm, for example they shared there first kiss with each other. Wren and Tim have gone on walks and have gotten closer because of the farm. One scene that stood out to me was in the second chapter when Tim invited Wren and her friend Allie to this party he was having at the beach. Wren and Allie went and they didn’t know what to expect. It was their first high school party. When they got there, Tim and his friend Devon greeted them. Little did Wren know, Tim’s ex was there. As the night when on, things got a little crazy; there was a lot of alcohol involved. There was a bonfire going, and Wren and Allie went to sit by it to warm up. Then Tim’s ex came out of nowhere and “accidently” pushed Wren into the fire. Luckily, Tim was right there to catcher her, so she didn’t fall all the way into the fire. She wasn’t lucky because her hands had went into the fire, and had to go to the hospital. Tim was there to take her, because he was the only that hadn’t been drinking. Also Tim felt that it was all his fault that it happened.
This book takes a relationships that would be a perfect one and changes and changes it to a friendship that will never be broken. What I mean by that is because everything that they have gone thought with each other they are able to trust each other. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read a love novel with a twist, its one of the best “love” novel I have ever read. This book tells a story that some people hide who they really are. Because they are scared if people find out who they really are they will be judged. I feel that this book shows that you don’t have to that, because in the end the real friends will stick by your side the whole time.
September 9, 2014
I really kinda loved this book. From Tim navigating his way through a tough time and trying to be true to himself, to Wren and her emotional attachments, this story really had a lot of heart.
The characters are what made this book so special. I really liked Wren. She had such a big heart and was a strong character despite struggling with the weight of her family's many problems. Wren was dealing with some important changes in her life, but all she really wanted was for everything to stay the same.
Is it okay if I admit that I loved Tim just as much as Wren did? He really was the perfect boyfriend. Well, except that... you know. He was an all around nice guy and well liked by everyone. I felt sympathetic towards his situation, and I can't imagine how difficult it was for him to keep things inside. I just wanted him to feel free enough to be himself without any repercussions.
I never did like Wren's friend Allie. Her unpleasant disposition and petty jealousy made her a terrible friend. She came off as selfish and immature, and I felt that Wren was better off without her.
Family was a very important part of this story. I was glad to see both sets of parents present, even though I wanted to run Tim's parents out of town for the horrible way they treated him.
Tim and Wren found each other at exactly the right time. Their friendship came about because they both needed someone they could be themselves with. Tim was able to trust and confide in Wren, and his confession to her helped ease his burden. Tim was able to be there for Wren when she felt that her entire world was being upended.
This is a beautiful story about being yourself and finding your place in life. It might not be the most unique story, but I loved the complexity of this emotion filled LGBT book. It felt incredibly real, with all of the pain and heartbreak that goes along with being a teenager.
The characters are what made this book so special. I really liked Wren. She had such a big heart and was a strong character despite struggling with the weight of her family's many problems. Wren was dealing with some important changes in her life, but all she really wanted was for everything to stay the same.
Is it okay if I admit that I loved Tim just as much as Wren did? He really was the perfect boyfriend. Well, except that... you know. He was an all around nice guy and well liked by everyone. I felt sympathetic towards his situation, and I can't imagine how difficult it was for him to keep things inside. I just wanted him to feel free enough to be himself without any repercussions.
I never did like Wren's friend Allie. Her unpleasant disposition and petty jealousy made her a terrible friend. She came off as selfish and immature, and I felt that Wren was better off without her.
Family was a very important part of this story. I was glad to see both sets of parents present, even though I wanted to run Tim's parents out of town for the horrible way they treated him.
Tim and Wren found each other at exactly the right time. Their friendship came about because they both needed someone they could be themselves with. Tim was able to trust and confide in Wren, and his confession to her helped ease his burden. Tim was able to be there for Wren when she felt that her entire world was being upended.
This is a beautiful story about being yourself and finding your place in life. It might not be the most unique story, but I loved the complexity of this emotion filled LGBT book. It felt incredibly real, with all of the pain and heartbreak that goes along with being a teenager.
May 1, 2015
I liked that the book was short and had big print(smile). Typical coming to terms with the reality of same sex attraction. Since it is about an athlete, his 'regular guy' looks and carriage made coming out more of a struggle according to the author. The vast culture of men and sports makes me dubious that same sex love is so rare. Frankly I think the image of flaming/obvious gay men and women with mustaches is based more on popular imagination than on reality. This book does not deal with the common experimentation & denial of raging emerging hormones. To my mind a decent quick read but not much groundbreaking nor unheard of here. Book is not explicit so might be appropriate as a gift to a questioning youth male or female.
August 29, 2015
Basically, this book had me at "alligator" on the first page. I'm immediately drawn to books featuring alligators,and I was happy about the many details of the natural world. Also, I was pleased to discover that THE BOY I LOVE is set in the Carolinas, and that de Gramont takes up themes of social justice that are often glossed over in books for both adults and younger readers set in the South. Thus, there are no lovable, loyal African American housekeepers (thank God!). Finally, I like the unabashedly liberal parents and Wren, who is an appealing and relatable narrator.
May 12, 2017
So I picked up this book (yes, mainly for the cover) and thought, "Hmmm.... maybe something good will come out of this." Not a chance mates.
It started out pretty slow, so I came onto here to read reviews (does this get any better? Or should I just stop now?) I figured out his "secret", needless to say it's the reason why I put this book down. His secret? Glad you asked, he's gay.
I know surprised me too!
It started out pretty slow, so I came onto here to read reviews (does this get any better? Or should I just stop now?) I figured out his "secret", needless to say it's the reason why I put this book down. His secret? Glad you asked, he's gay.
I know surprised me too!
April 28, 2015
I loved the gay-boy/straight girl relationship, the utterly convincing "world building" in the South, and the underlying theme of a white family coming to terms with its slave-owning past.
July 13, 2018
Wren Piner is your average teenager…well, an average teenager who lives on a horse farm. She’s grown up in a happy, liberal atmosphere with a gorgeous best friend. She’s not envious of Allie’s looks and Allie isn’t a frenemy. She’s a shy, pretty girl who draws boys by her looks and Allie keeps them with her sparkling wit. In short, they’ve been besties for effsies and nothing will come in the way of their friendship.
So naturally, matters take a turn for the worse, challenging their amity.
This book explores what happens when both Wren and Allie face upheaval when they both transfer to a new high school. Toss in a school play, cheerleading tryouts, a cute boy and a devastating secret and you’ve got the recipe for adolescent hijinks and drama. Let the games begin!
The voice of Wren shows a girl complicated, forthright, tactless, unbiased yet prone to jealousy. She can be surprisingly mature, as when she acknowledges that you have to admit to and face negative emotions because that’s the only way to let them go. But she’s also bratty, selfish and self involved when she learns that her family is facing financial difficulties and they may lose the farm.
Wren falls out of a crush and into love with Tim Greenlaw, a boy her friend Allie has had her eye on since sixth grade. (Uh oh, that ain’t good.) While Wren’s love for Tim grows apace, it puts a strain on her friendship with Allie and we read passages where attempts at reconciliation swiftly turn ugly as both girls lash out at each other.
The dialogue is realistic, at times painful, as Wren tries to negotiate her classes, her part in the high school musical, her increasingly rocky relationship with Allie, the potential loss of her home, her oddball affair with Tim and the prejudices of society. It’s a special kind of YA book, especially as it delves into the matter of unpleasant family history and current-day human prejudice. Wren can’t understand why people should care whom people love, hold hands with or kiss and her big-hearted kindness is part of what makes this book
The author doesn’t give us pat happy endings, miraculous rescues, schmaltzy reconciliation or true love for our intrepid heroine. Wren would like the universe to be what she wants but she learns that bad things happen and that they’re not necessarily the end of the world. The burnt hand she suffers becomes a metaphor for how some things get broken and thrown away but time heals. It may leave a scar but you can still carry on in spite of the injury.
So naturally, matters take a turn for the worse, challenging their amity.
This book explores what happens when both Wren and Allie face upheaval when they both transfer to a new high school. Toss in a school play, cheerleading tryouts, a cute boy and a devastating secret and you’ve got the recipe for adolescent hijinks and drama. Let the games begin!
The voice of Wren shows a girl complicated, forthright, tactless, unbiased yet prone to jealousy. She can be surprisingly mature, as when she acknowledges that you have to admit to and face negative emotions because that’s the only way to let them go. But she’s also bratty, selfish and self involved when she learns that her family is facing financial difficulties and they may lose the farm.
Wren falls out of a crush and into love with Tim Greenlaw, a boy her friend Allie has had her eye on since sixth grade. (Uh oh, that ain’t good.) While Wren’s love for Tim grows apace, it puts a strain on her friendship with Allie and we read passages where attempts at reconciliation swiftly turn ugly as both girls lash out at each other.
The dialogue is realistic, at times painful, as Wren tries to negotiate her classes, her part in the high school musical, her increasingly rocky relationship with Allie, the potential loss of her home, her oddball affair with Tim and the prejudices of society. It’s a special kind of YA book, especially as it delves into the matter of unpleasant family history and current-day human prejudice. Wren can’t understand why people should care whom people love, hold hands with or kiss and her big-hearted kindness is part of what makes this book
The author doesn’t give us pat happy endings, miraculous rescues, schmaltzy reconciliation or true love for our intrepid heroine. Wren would like the universe to be what she wants but she learns that bad things happen and that they’re not necessarily the end of the world. The burnt hand she suffers becomes a metaphor for how some things get broken and thrown away but time heals. It may leave a scar but you can still carry on in spite of the injury.
August 23, 2017
The best books are those that surprise you. For me this was one of those. In the mood for a sticky sweet romance (even if it was M/F) I picked this up and pretty much guessed the secret from the cover blurb.
But that was confirmed early on and yet this book continued to surprise. The parallels between society's attitudes toward miscegenation and gay marriage were evident. The troubled consciences of the main family over their slave holding heritage even into this millennium added yet another level of complexity to what I thought would be a simple romantic confection.
This is a good book. It meets the simple expectations and exceeds them, shedding light on things I'd not thought of in these terms before. Not bad for a "sticky sweet romance (though it turns out there's no great romance. One is left like the main character a bit sad at what never happened but content with the deeper account of what is more real.
But that was confirmed early on and yet this book continued to surprise. The parallels between society's attitudes toward miscegenation and gay marriage were evident. The troubled consciences of the main family over their slave holding heritage even into this millennium added yet another level of complexity to what I thought would be a simple romantic confection.
This is a good book. It meets the simple expectations and exceeds them, shedding light on things I'd not thought of in these terms before. Not bad for a "sticky sweet romance (though it turns out there's no great romance. One is left like the main character a bit sad at what never happened but content with the deeper account of what is more real.
May 24, 2023
It was okay. Predicted the whole book, knew that he would be gay and eventually attempt suicide because that's how all of these books about gay guys written by straight women are. It was a fine book just very contrived and focused far too much on the main character not being able to accept he's gay. For a book that isn't 10 million years old, it sure does focus almost entirely on homophobia and ignorance. The main character was incredibly annoying and needed to move on from crushing on her gay friend and hoping she can turn him straight. Extremely contrived but an alright read.
December 22, 2017
What is the point of this book? The protagonist Wren does not know, so how can I? I feel like the focal point should have been losing her home which doubled as a ranch for horses. The Tim character, the one the narrator lives, is gay, which is nice but very contrived and one dimensional. His depression and spoiler! suicide attempt is an effort by the author to pull of drama, but fizzles quickly as it is not believable. Two stars.
June 14, 2021
I would suggest this book to someone who wants something with drama, and if they want their heart broken. This book was beautifully written, and although I was a bit frustrated with some things in the book, I overlooked that.. THE PLOT WAS JUST REALLY GOOD. I personally didn't think I'd like it so much. 4 stars for me (:
January 24, 2022
one of the books i hadn't read that were in my closet. an easy read and a good 'love' story but I feel like some of the writing feels a little child-ish for a 16 year old (maybe she's meant to be more innocent but still). deals with important topics of love, sexuality and religion and the play subplot is nice. not that great but also not bad, fun to read at the pool while tanning.
November 2, 2021
[Review provided by teen volunteer, amani.] 3 Stars - Based on the blurb of the book, you can predict most of the major plot points. The book was still good, there just weren't any twists in it. It also felt a bit dated.
June 19, 2018
Narration drowns in stream-of-conscious plot exposition. Could not find a single F to give.
January 11, 2024
Loved loved this book Tim and wren are what true friendship is and so many trials they have to face I truly loved every bit of this book
August 28, 2014
The Boy I Love by Nina de Gramont is a thought-provoking novel of friendship that touches on a number of relevant social issues. In many ways, it is a typical coming of age story with all of the usual teenage angst and drama. However, through the adroit first person narration of sixteen year old Wren Piner, this ordinary novel becomes an extraordinary tale of friendship and courage that is heartfelt and compelling.
Wren has been best friends with Allie Hackett for most of their lives, but their transition to a new school suddenly strains their close bond. Wren has been content to live in the shadow of her beautiful and popular friend, but when surprising events put Wren in the limelight, she is stunned by Allie's unhappy reaction. But it is Allie's jealousy over Wren's new friendship with Tim Greenlaw that drives a wedge between the girls and they begin to drift apart. While Wren's feelings for Tim take an unexpectedly romantic turn, he divulges a closely held secret that ultimately brings them closer together.
Wren is very comfortable in her skin and she has a surprising amount of confidence for a teenager. She has a strong moral compass, she stands up for what she believes in and she does not hesitate to voice her opinions. Wren is kind, compassionate and steadfastly loyal with an admirable capacity for forgiveness. She is dismayed by the situation with Allie, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, she seizes the opportunity to seek out her own interests. Wren is very honest with herself about her own bouts of jealousy and the hopelessness of unrequited love but she never lets either get in the way of her friendships.
Allie is self-centered and since she has had very little disappointment in her life, she is stunned when things don't go her way. She is unreasonable in her expectations where Tim is concerned and her immaturity over his relationship with Wren leads to the disintegration of their friendship. Allie rebuffs Wren's attempts to smooth over their disagreement and she begins to make self-destructive decisions.
Tim is an all American boy who is much admired by his peers. Popular and well-liked, this new school year marks a change in his life as he gives up sports to explore his interest in theater. His growing distress over a change is his church's policy is the driving force in confessing both his secret and the conflicting feelings that go with it. Tim takes comfort in Wren's easy acceptance of his admission and their friendship easily weathers the difficulties they eventually face.
There are really no surprises about what is going to happen in The Boy I Love. The book summary pretty much lays out the storyline, but the execution of the plot and the depth of the characters are what makes it an outstanding and unpredictable read. Nina de Gramont introduces sensitive topics in a straightforward manner and the characters reactions to the various situations are realistic. While the novel's target audience is teenagers, I highly recommend The Boy I Love readers of all ages. It is a meaningful novel with a powerful message of love and acceptance that everyone can relate to.
Wren has been best friends with Allie Hackett for most of their lives, but their transition to a new school suddenly strains their close bond. Wren has been content to live in the shadow of her beautiful and popular friend, but when surprising events put Wren in the limelight, she is stunned by Allie's unhappy reaction. But it is Allie's jealousy over Wren's new friendship with Tim Greenlaw that drives a wedge between the girls and they begin to drift apart. While Wren's feelings for Tim take an unexpectedly romantic turn, he divulges a closely held secret that ultimately brings them closer together.
Wren is very comfortable in her skin and she has a surprising amount of confidence for a teenager. She has a strong moral compass, she stands up for what she believes in and she does not hesitate to voice her opinions. Wren is kind, compassionate and steadfastly loyal with an admirable capacity for forgiveness. She is dismayed by the situation with Allie, but instead of wallowing in self-pity, she seizes the opportunity to seek out her own interests. Wren is very honest with herself about her own bouts of jealousy and the hopelessness of unrequited love but she never lets either get in the way of her friendships.
Allie is self-centered and since she has had very little disappointment in her life, she is stunned when things don't go her way. She is unreasonable in her expectations where Tim is concerned and her immaturity over his relationship with Wren leads to the disintegration of their friendship. Allie rebuffs Wren's attempts to smooth over their disagreement and she begins to make self-destructive decisions.
Tim is an all American boy who is much admired by his peers. Popular and well-liked, this new school year marks a change in his life as he gives up sports to explore his interest in theater. His growing distress over a change is his church's policy is the driving force in confessing both his secret and the conflicting feelings that go with it. Tim takes comfort in Wren's easy acceptance of his admission and their friendship easily weathers the difficulties they eventually face.
There are really no surprises about what is going to happen in The Boy I Love. The book summary pretty much lays out the storyline, but the execution of the plot and the depth of the characters are what makes it an outstanding and unpredictable read. Nina de Gramont introduces sensitive topics in a straightforward manner and the characters reactions to the various situations are realistic. While the novel's target audience is teenagers, I highly recommend The Boy I Love readers of all ages. It is a meaningful novel with a powerful message of love and acceptance that everyone can relate to.
August 25, 2014
Wren and ally are best friends and they both moved to a different school, well Wren did because of Ally. Ally likes this guy named Tim but the problem was Tim shows more interest in Wren than Ally. Wren and Ally’s friendship slowly deteriorated when Wren was spending more time with Tim. Well Tim has a big secret and that secret made him and Wren really good friends. Well the theme of the book is about friendship and loyalty… Would you sacrifice your relationship with your long time best friend over a guy that your best friend likes and you barely know him and he confided a big secret with you…
“The boy I love” is a book about friendship, family hardship, interracial marriage, bullying, knowing one’s sexuality, and life of a teenager in general. The first part of the story was plain, I thought “oh another teenage story” but as the story progressed I was like “I did not see that coming”. It has a lot of twist and it’s very realistic, it’s like being in a mind of a teenager and the emotions are strong. Like I said in the beginning there are a lot of topics that are in the book, it made me look back on my own experiences when I was a teenager and how starting high school in a different place was scary and at the same time exciting. The character compliments and supports each other and it has a very good story line.
“The boy I love” is a book about friendship, family hardship, interracial marriage, bullying, knowing one’s sexuality, and life of a teenager in general. The first part of the story was plain, I thought “oh another teenage story” but as the story progressed I was like “I did not see that coming”. It has a lot of twist and it’s very realistic, it’s like being in a mind of a teenager and the emotions are strong. Like I said in the beginning there are a lot of topics that are in the book, it made me look back on my own experiences when I was a teenager and how starting high school in a different place was scary and at the same time exciting. The character compliments and supports each other and it has a very good story line.
October 27, 2014
This review first appeared on my blog
http://loriscreativity.blogspot.com/2...
Like: The characters.
Dislike: Nothing.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, I would 100% recommend this book. It's been a about three years since I last read a Young Adult book, so when I received this book I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it at first, but once I started reading I loved it. I received 'The Boy I Love' Thursday and I finished reading it last night.
Part of the reason I wasn't sure I would like the book is because most books I read are written in third-person, so reading a book in first-person was a big change, but it was a nice change. While I loved the plot, I feel like the characters are what made this book so amazing. That's what I loved most about the first book I read from Nina, her characters are well-developed.
Overall I loved the book and I highly recommend it.
Back in September I mentioned in a Top Ten Tuesday post that I wanted to read more books by Nina de Gramont, later that day I received an e-mail from Nina asking me which book I would like to read and then she sent it to me! So thank you Nina for sending me this book, once again I enjoyed your work!
http://loriscreativity.blogspot.com/2...
Like: The characters.
Dislike: Nothing.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, I would 100% recommend this book. It's been a about three years since I last read a Young Adult book, so when I received this book I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it at first, but once I started reading I loved it. I received 'The Boy I Love' Thursday and I finished reading it last night.
Part of the reason I wasn't sure I would like the book is because most books I read are written in third-person, so reading a book in first-person was a big change, but it was a nice change. While I loved the plot, I feel like the characters are what made this book so amazing. That's what I loved most about the first book I read from Nina, her characters are well-developed.
Overall I loved the book and I highly recommend it.
Back in September I mentioned in a Top Ten Tuesday post that I wanted to read more books by Nina de Gramont, later that day I received an e-mail from Nina asking me which book I would like to read and then she sent it to me! So thank you Nina for sending me this book, once again I enjoyed your work!
April 23, 2015
I love the cover it was the first thing I noticed.
Wren has this beautiful soul she is so good, she is brave and kick ass in a non-threatening way.
Wren and Ally have been best friends since kindergarten, Ally is very pretty and Wren is just a down to earth girl that loves her parents and animals.
Wren and Ally switch school and now Wren is shining and Ally gets jealous, it gets worse when Wren catches the eye of Tim, Ally’s crush.
Tim is a great character I felt so bad for him living with the lies and secrets. I loved Wren she is the kind off friend that you dream of. Her parents are awesome you always read about these ridiculous bad parents and hallelujah this book’s parents were loving and caring.
This book is about friendship, growing up, first love, standing up for what you believe in, loving you parents.
The writing was beautiful, heartbreaking and real. Loved it. Don't miss out.
Wren has this beautiful soul she is so good, she is brave and kick ass in a non-threatening way.
Wren and Ally have been best friends since kindergarten, Ally is very pretty and Wren is just a down to earth girl that loves her parents and animals.
Wren and Ally switch school and now Wren is shining and Ally gets jealous, it gets worse when Wren catches the eye of Tim, Ally’s crush.
Tim is a great character I felt so bad for him living with the lies and secrets. I loved Wren she is the kind off friend that you dream of. Her parents are awesome you always read about these ridiculous bad parents and hallelujah this book’s parents were loving and caring.
This book is about friendship, growing up, first love, standing up for what you believe in, loving you parents.
The writing was beautiful, heartbreaking and real. Loved it. Don't miss out.
April 7, 2014
Wren's family owns an estate and horse farm that dates back to revolutionary times. But things are not going well financially for the family and they may have to sell the horses and the farm. Wren hopes she can find comfort for her sorrows in her friends Ally and Tim but it turns out that Ally and Tim have other things on their minds. Ally is jealous over Wren and Tim's friendship and Tim is living a closeted lifestyle (hiding his homosexuality from everyone but Wren). As the novel progresses, Wren and Tim grow closer as friends and bond over their love of the theater. Wren is content being Tim's shield to the outside world until Tim outs himself and his house of cards falls apart. I was a bit disappointed in this book. The long expository paragraphs took away from me identifying more with the characters.
November 25, 2015
Wren Piner's life is suddenly and rapidly changing. The family farm, which has been in her family for generations, has been foreclosed on forcing her family to plan a move. She changes to a new school with her best friend Allie. They both have a crush on the same guy, Tim. She gets a part in the school play while Allie is passed over during cheerleading tryouts, causing a rift in the friendship. In this coming of age novel, secrets come out, emotions overtake the main characters, and there's a not-so-neat ending, however Wren ends up feeling hopeful for the future.
August 10, 2015
The reviews on the book looked promising, but I must admit I did not shed a single tear. More than anything, I was rolling my eyes. And I'm totally 100% behind the message of the book, but I didn't think it was done very well. The way Wren becomes friends with Tim, how her relationship with Ally is all of a sudden totally dead and, I'm sorry to say, I thought Wren was pretty annoying. Yelling at her parents for something that wasn't their fault, being ultra stubborn, etc. Not my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 8, 2015I called from the start that Tim was gay and I was right. I think that the whole idea was kind of odd. Like i get being in love with someone who won't love you back, but why did they say I love you so much to each other? Like was he actually in love with her? I don't know the whole thing was weird I think if they just changed the title of the book and maybe the cover picture we would be all good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2015
A teen reviewer says:
It was a good read. I liked the characters and the plot was good as well. A little predictable at parts but still a great book!
NO I have not read books by this author before.
YES I would read more books by this author.
It was a good read. I liked the characters and the plot was good as well. A little predictable at parts but still a great book!
NO I have not read books by this author before.
YES I would read more books by this author.
September 19, 2016
Originally read May 26, 2014
Reread Sept 18, 2016
Parents that are around! Yay
An unpredictable storyline. Yay
Thank you for a new story that surprised me and kept me reading :)
Reread Sept 18, 2016
Parents that are around! Yay
An unpredictable storyline. Yay
Thank you for a new story that surprised me and kept me reading :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews