Evergreen Lodge: A Memoir

by Tom J. Bross

From the #1 Bestselling Author of Don't Call Me Jupiter comes Evergreen A Memoir, a hilarious and relatable coming-of-age story that will have you laughing out loud and reminiscing about your teenage years. If you enjoy comedy writers like David Sedaris, Jenny Lawson & Seth Rogan, you won't want to miss this one.

Remember when your friends were everything and a new song was enough to blow your mind? Take a fabulous flashback trip to the late 70s with a group of teens working at a semi-dysfunctional family-owned lodge near Yosemite National Park. Relive an era in which you were in search of yourself as much as the next party.

You’ll go skinny dipping at midnight, disco dance under the stars, play pranks on your friends, and beer-bong your way down the Merced River. Some are running away from their regular lives, others are victims of their own runaway hormones. Join the staff at this picturesque resort as they care for and occasionally abuse their customers—and keep an eye out for bears!

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2024

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved getting to know the happier times in Tom’s life through this little series of summer memories. It was a balm after spending the last few days with his Jupiter series which was equally brilliant. I hope Tom writes more soon, I feel like I know him, his friends and his family!

Funnily enough John likes a play on words, for the first couple of books I thought his name was John Jabe Ross, so thanks for the memories John Jabe!

Currently included with audible 🎧

[Book.ishJulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Evergreen Lodge by Tom Bross was like coming home; there's just something comforting in Tom's writing - which again made me oddly nostalgic for a time I never experienced!

This book is like opening up the mind of a teenage boy and dumping its contents out. Shinnanigans, friendships, appreciation for the opposite sex, first-time experiences, hard work, and unbridled free time are back-dropped against a beautiful setting: a lodge just outside Yosemite National Park!

These chapters are broken down into smaller vignettes, while an overall arc to the story (aka Tom's life) remains present. The reader is part of the group and always feels in on the inside jokes!

This was the laugh track and the comic relief needed after Tom's Don't Call Me Jupiter series, providing a different, happier side of his upbringing. This memoir lets Tom shine, rather than the spotlight being on members of his family. It's nice to see a different, more typical side to Tom's adolescence!

I want to say that Evergreen Lodge is my favourite book of Tom's, but I'm not sure that's exactly true. His Don't Call Me Jupiter series just has a different tone, but all are truly my favourites! Although this book does not require you to read the series first, I recommend reading it beforehand to gain background information into Tom's life!

This is a perfect summer read for anyone longing for those carefree, no responsibility teenage days!

Thank you Tom Bross for the complimentary copy to read and review.

[Tanya Klumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Bross's new book "Evergreen Lodge" is a hilarious and relatable story of teenage shenanigans that continually had me laughing out loud. I grew up with two younger brothers so the teenage boy humor was not lost on me. Fart yeah!

This standalone book from Tom was the perfect read to start my summer with. I love his humor! After reading the "Don't Call Me Jupiter" series I'm glad to have discovered Tom had this extended family to keep him grounded when his mother clearly checked out.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read of Tom's new book hit me with a combination of bending over laughing and also wanting to hide under a table. Going back so many decades to our youth brought back so many crazy and embarrassing memories. Picking the summers of '77 & '78 certainly hit on most of the highlights of working at Evergreen Lodge as a young teen. Working at Evergeen Lodge provided us both with an escape from very challenging home life's back in Davis. As the author's best buddy for life, writing an objective book review is a bit of a challenge when the book's events hit so close to home. That said, Tom has a way of bringing the reader along for a journey and weaving together a personal growth story with humor. What's next? Summer of '82?

[Dl_pc · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Mather staff alumni of two summers in the 80s, this book was very relatable. Tom captured the unique experience of life there, and the way life long friendships were made. It was fun reading about places I had been like Rainbow Falls and I.P., and some of the people in the book were still around years later when I was there. The same games were being played (fuzzy duck) and boat races held. It's awesome that those have been captured forever inside these pages. But, it was definitely the friendships made that made it such an awesome experience. Reading how Tom felt like they were a family made this a book worthwhile read.

[Dsarnikf · Rating 4 out of 5]

a nice ending!

I enjoyed all 4 books. I loved them all but Evergreen Lodge was a little struggle because while it was entertaining, I felt it was too immersed in teenage fantasy. Don’t get me wrong - I enjoyed it, and it brought me back. But I guess it felt a little redundant at times. But no regrets and I’ll read the next one. Tom Bross - I’m a fan of your writing and an admirer of your strength and humor!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evergreen Lodge is a throwback to the formative adolescent years in one's life. Tom's memoir gives us girls a glimpse into the male perspective about coming of age. It is also hilariously fun to read.
I love the setting near Yosemite and the references to all the secret places that Tom and his friends knew about. It was almost like spending a summer there!

[Nrofra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please don’t let this be the end of Tom Bross’s memoirs—we must have more! He is such a great writer and listening to audio of him telling the story bring all of his words alive in my mind’s eye. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of SOME of his experiences while working at a mountain resort as a young teen.

[Margaret Caney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully honest

Loved the naivety and heartache of growing up, told with such openness in this book. It's not a gripping drama in the way that a psychological thriller would be but I couldn't put it down. I wanted to reach the end to see what happened to Tom and his friends but at the same time I didn't. What didn't I like? That it wasn't longer.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Job You Wish You’d Had

Every position you ever worked as a teen in a restaurant set in the 70s near Yosemite. Clearly some of the best years of this writer’s life. Felt like I knew every one of these characters. I worked for John and Aunt Margie and Fred. We should all have lifelong friends like Brad and Todd. Great read.

[Kristen Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I first found this author by reading Don’t call me Jupiter the first book of a 3 book series! Loved his storytelling, so when I saw Evergreen lodge come out I grabbed it! I put aside the book I was reading and read this in 2 days. Looking forward to more!

[lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

evergreen lodge

This book started out very nostalgic and brought back memories for me. But then it became too long drawn out. I finished it by skimming through it and I’m sure I did not lose any information while doing so . I am not sure I will read anymore this author.

[Bob Jezerski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing much here

I read Tom Gross Don't Call me Jupiter which was.full.of rich characters and emotional stories of is.families life. This.book in contrast read like.a hasty draft of a teenagers diary. .Skip.this and pick up the other book

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book!

I so enjoyed this book! Laugh out loud funny in so many places! Makes me wish I was a kid again, so I could try to get a job like that at such a phenomenal place as a teenager! What an awesome experience!

[Robyn S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Tom's words actually take you back in time.. you feel like you're right there experiencing all the emotions and escapades right along with him!

[Carroll Lowrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Bross never disappoints. He brings his real life friends and experiences to us in a way that we feel we know them (and WANT to know them). Thanks, Tom for another awesome memoir.

[Robi A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raunchy Rowdy Fun

If you lived as a younger adult in the 70s, this book is for you. Light, humorous yet full of life's little lessons. Enjoy and Smile!

[Ernest W Luengen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Btossie

Great characters and realistic stories, shows hard work with good people can be fun.
I would like to read more. I hope he writes another book

[Sherrie The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Great memories shared. I have read all of his books and love them! I hope Tom will write more books in the future.

[Melanie Eick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical Tom Bross narration. It’s a cute book if you like stories of pubescent boys and their summer escapades.

[Kristen Ahern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writting and the characters and the story. I love the setting. I just wished there was more to the ending.

[Connie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Don't call me Juniper" and the second and third book in that series. I also loved "Evergreen Lodge". Tom J. Bross is now my favorite author. I laughed and cried. Amazing!

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teen boys with raging hormones doing dumb things. Reminded me of the movie Dirty Dancing because it takes place at a mountain resort. It was funny at times.

[louise smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a senior woman it was interesting delving into the mind of a young teen boy but that's not all it was. I enjoyed reading about the beauty of the Yosemite area and the things to do and see and learning the highs and lows of maintaining the Lodge. I appreciated the honesty of the writer in retelling the story from sweet to shocking at times. Next my husband will read it and enjoy it even more because as a teenager he was also working for the summer in a similar setting.

[Kara Kissick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Very entertaining and funny!