An English Boy in New York

Boys Don't Knit #2

by T.S. Easton

Ben Fletcher, the master of mohair, is back . . .As part of his prize as All-UK Knitting champion, seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher has won himself an all-expenses-paid trip to New York . . . and to the US National KnitFair. Unfortunately, his new girlfriend Megan is (somewhat suspiciously) unable to come with him, which means Ben has the dubious pleasure of being accompanied by his family and his third-choice-friend Gex.The other problem is, Ben's not really sure he wants to be known as a teenage knitting genius any more. His idea for a knitable hoodie could make him millions . . . or turn him into a laughing stock forever. An existential knitting crisis turns out to be the least of Ben's concerns though, as he quickly finds that his apparent magnetism for trouble has followed him across the pond. Join Ben for another hilarious misadventure, involving some overly eager Knitting Expo representatives, suspicious men in dark suits, some potential trouble from the Mob, a mix-up of epic proportions with Megan . . . and still rather a lot of knitting.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Knitting, Humor

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2014

About the author

T. S. Easton is an experienced author of fiction for all ages and has had more than a dozen books published. He has written under a number of different pseudonyms in a variety of genres. Subjects include vampires, pirates, pandemics and teenage agony aunts (not all in the same book). He lives in Surrey with his wife and three children and in his spare time works as a Production Manager for a UK publisher. BOYS DON'T KNIT is his first novel for Hot Key Books, and you can find out more about him at https://www.hotkeybooks.com or on his website www.tomeaston.co.uk Follow hin on Twitter: @TomEaston

Reviews

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the (series?) Boys Don't Knit was one of my favourite books I read in 2014, a year before I joined Goodreads. I loved the fact that the main character, a boy called Ben Fletcher takes up knitting and goes to the UK National Championships. It has been a while since I returned to the world of Ben's life and I think that is why my star rating for this is lower than I thought it would be.

I strongly recommend Boys Don't Knit if you are looking for a realistic but fun YA Contemporary that involves knitting! You do need to read that book before reading this one since it does contain spoilers. However, without giving the main details of the plot away, Ben returns and is invited to New York for an international knitting event. However, his girlfriend Megan doesn't want to go so instead, he ends up going with his parents and a friend who is notorious for getting onto the wrong side of the law. During an interview, Ben brags that he can knit faster than a machine that has recently been manufactured and he is challenged to knit against the machine to see who comes out on top. The story format is written in diary entries which I liked since I also write stories in the same form. I just didn't quite feel connected to Ben as I did in the first book. The majority of the characters present I struggled to connect to as well. However, I felt the setting of New York was realistic and only spurred my dreams of visiting one day!

[Gitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining YA about a boy who loves to knit. A bit like an episode of ‘The Inbetweeners’ with a ball of yarn.

Ben from Boys Don't Knit (in public) has won a knitting competition and gets to go to New York with his parents and his wanna-be gangster friend. In New York, he accidentally claims in an interview that he can knit faster than a machine, and is unwillingly thrown into another knitting competition. One he can't possibly win.

I've really screwed up this time. And it'll take more than a bit of super fast knitting to put this right.

This was a cute read, but it lacked some of the yarn-magic from Boys Don't Knit (in public), which was adorable. Most of the plot was predictable and the jokes a bit flat. I did have a bit of fun while reading, but I felt absolutely nothing after turning the last page. I guess this sequel wasn't necessary. It didn't really cast on anything new to the knitting story. Just a trip to New York, some conflicts between Ben, his friends and his girlfriend, and the battle of man against knitting machine.

There could be much better ways to write this sequel. Ben out of school, working hard to become an independent knit-designer could be an interesting plot. Or Ben at some Design-school.

My blog: The Bookworm's Closet

[Hélène Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read, funny and witty, with engaging characters and a light satire of American stereotypes about Europe which I found quite refreshing!
(still confused about the lack of stitching at the end of any knitting... o.O ^-^)

[Ensiform · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this sequel to Boys Don't Knit, knitting champion Ben Fletcher is invited to a knitting convention in New York City. Of course, things never go perfectly for poor Ben. Being on probation threatens his trip, but he manages to attend with his parents and his wannabe-gangster idiot pal Gex in tow. And of course it means being away from his girlfriend Megan, which suddenly seems not to matter so much when he meets some American women, including a beautiful PR assistant with "perfect teeth." What with worrying about owing favors to the Mafia, misunderstanding American idioms, and flubbing up interviews with the knitting world media, there's almost no time for Ben to fret about what he'll create for the championships. Filled with wacky misunderstandings and antics told in Ben’s dry, understated comic style, this book is a solid sequel. The often idiosyncratic supporting characters all have their own voices, but they all have love for Ben and help him be his best. It's a fun, light-hearted, amusing book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out more of my reviews here!


I was so very excited to read this book, a massive thank you to Hot Key Books for sending em a copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you're a follower of my blog for a while, you may know that I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, Boys Don't Knit . After the ending of the first novel, I knew this series was going to be one of my favourites. I was completely right!

In the first novel, we are introduced to Ben Fletcher's world. Ben Fletcher is very unlike his friends, who like to watch football, go to nightclubs and play video games. Ben has developed a love of knitting after joining a knitting group while on probation. This is something he knows is very unusual for other boys his age, and at first, it is a secret hobby. Then Ben is entered into the UK Knitting Championship and he finds that his friends and family are surprisingly supportive. I liked that the level of support is carried on into the second novel, his family is much more accepting of his unusual hobby, as is his mates.


The characters in this novel are just fantastic. They make you laugh out loud at their crazy antics and also really develop an attachment to them. Ben is an amazing male protagonist. He is such a worrier and it is hilarious to read about the things he is constantly worrying about in his mind. I love his commentary in the novel and the situations he manages to get himself into are side-splitingly funny. I really love his relationship with the elderly Mrs Frensham, there was a hilarious scene involving Mrs Frensham trying to work Skye on her new smart phone that had me laughing out loud.

The other characters in this novel such as Ben's mates and girlfriend are also really great to read about. I really enjoy Megan's character as I think she is a realistic portrayal of a young teenage girl, whereas in some novels the girlfriends are made out to be a little more stroppy than is realistic. I loved reading about the antic of Gex in this novel. As you can imagine, Gex gets up to all kinds of mischief and mayhem while dragging Ben into the mix, with hilarious outcomes. Ben's parents constant innuendo banter was also so very funny but I also felt a little embarrassed for Ben !

I also really enjoyed the new characters introduced in this novel as Ben meets a range of new and interesting people in New York. Brandi was a really nice character. Although a little ditzy, she was kind, caring and a good friend to Ben while in New York . The same can be said for Trey, whose character was a nice side character in the story.

The plot of this novel was really well written. I loved reading about Ben's shenanigans in New York and the suspense leading up to the big knitting competition. I love reading about the "Hoopie", a piece of knitwear that is Ben's own creation, and I am desperate to own one! The novel really has rekindled my love of knitting, and has inspired me to take back up knitting this autumn. I loved reading about Ben's interviews and meetings in New York. I think it was interesting to read about how he experienced what it would be like to have to try and sell your product / business to a company. I found it fascinating and some of my favourite parts in the novel took place during his interviews as they were so funny.

Tom Eastons gripping and humorous writing style really pulls the reader into the story. The book had me hooked as I was eager to read about the adventures in New York. The writing style is so fun to read, especially with the knitting and pop culture references sprinkled throughout the novel - I loved the ones about Doctor Who! Overall an addicting contemporary novel that would appeal to both male and female readers, and also those who may or may not knit!

Please check out this series if you're looking for something refreshing and different, but also with a brilliant streak of humour.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

(This review covers some parts of book one!)

In this series, we follow seventeen year old Ben Fletcher: older brother, son of double entendre obsessed parents, and unwitting criminal. In a charming and frazzled narrative, readers go along with Ben as he navigates a tricky time in his life. Under probation for a minor and bizarre crime committed with his ruffian friends, Ben is lost. Lost at school, picked on, shy about and with girls, and unsure of what to do. While picking an activity to do as mandatory part of his punishment, he teeters into the unexpectedly mammoth, popular and (usually) female-filled world of knitting. And his life begins to change in small, big and bigger ways.

Book one, unexpectedly so, is the introduction to Ben, his family, his life in England, and unexpected ascent into knitting. Book two, just as sharp, just as funny, expands Ben's world and his relationships as he travels to the US for the very first time. Easton does a wonderful job with keeping tone in both novels: amongst his bawdier, less considerate and cruder friends, Ben definitely comes across as the more solid and respectful boy- but still entirely believable as a tangible teen with flaws, obsessions, and blind-spots. As far as narrators go, Ben has a great voice- I was absolutely hooked from the get-go with his narration. Think a combination of a worrier like Mia Thermopolis with the over-thinking tendencies of a young Jessica Darling, the unvarnished honesty of Georgia Nicholson, and the ribald nature of a Swim the Fly character.

Overall, both titles in Boys Don't Knit were a wonderful and welcome surprise for me. Readers who love contemporary YA, British writers, anxiety-prone but totally loveable protagonists- all mixed in with bonkers humour, heart and a little sauciness- this may be just the right read for you.

[Stacy Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book better, but it was cute.

[Emeraldawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in a duel book series about a young boy that takes up knitting and falls in love with it. I loved the idea because it, (and the other series by this author ) are about it's okay it enjoy things outside of the gender norm. The first book, I loved and was laughing out loud. THIS book, is funny, but I enjoyed in slightly less. Manly Ben's friend through it off for me. I felt that if I had a friend like that in my life, I wouldn't even bring them on a trip, or really, even stay friends with them. Friendship is a give and take, but Gex is just so awful to Ben, It made me disappointed that there was never a true Ben standing up for himself, more like the first book.

But I did enjoy the cast of oddballs Ben seems to always seems to be collecting in each book. The author likes to play up characters like one might think of people that just would hang out in places like New York, if one just watched old movies. Like Mob Boss, or clubs. Food like Waffles or Philly Cheese Steak's also.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from where we left off in book one, Ben fresh from his win at the Knitting Championship now faces fulfilling his knitting orders and balancing a new challenge in his life, a girlfriend, Megan!

However, Megan uses her Grandma being ill as an excuse to stay home yet her brother Marcus keeps Ben up to date as she meets up with Sean back home. So instead, Gex his best mate joins him and his parents in New York but gets in touch with Keith his seemingly possible criminal of a cousin. Drama ensues as Ben tries to help his manager Brandi get rid of her ex G, he faces a huge business meeting not knowing about it and takes on the best knitting machine in a battle to be the quickest knitter!

A fun book filled with hilarious innuendos that makes it great reading for teens and adults too if they wanted to read it!

[Imi Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant read and it was fun being inside Ben's head again. However, I found the storyline a bit chaotic and predictable making it hard to push through and finish the book as you could already guess what would happen. This was a shame as I enjoyed the first book so much. Another thing was the lack of knowledge about knitting. As a knitter myself, the mistakes on the subject were glaringly obvious (e.g., at the end when Ben says "I'd like a nice, chunky wool. A 4-ply alpaca. Untreated." - this sentence provides so many problems, such as 4 ply isn't chunky, 4 ply is typically used for socks and is quite delicate); I ignored these mistakes in the first book but by the second you'd hope the author would get a knitter to fact-check the book before publishing. As I said, this book was a pleasant read but not up to the same standard as the first.

[Dani H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars actual rating. I really loved the first book in this series, and although this was a lighthearted read and it did make me laugh pretty hard in places, it just didn’t come anywhere close to the first book for me. In Boys Don’t Knit I really enjoyed the character development and the humour that came along with that, and there was a lot less of that in this instalment.
I also found the ending to be disappointing and rather abrupt.

Overall, a nice, lighthearted read, but the first book was much better, which left this book a little lacking. Funny in places and enjoyable enough, but not what I had been expecting.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, easy, breezy, but once finished wasn't completely filling--I don't feel the plot-points really connected or paid off in an interesting way, and the new characters weren't nearly as compelling as the characters in the prior book.

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read that was rather cinematic in its scene-skipping, montage / diary style of writing. Didn’t enjoy it as much as the first, and even Ben admits that the finale was anticlimactic. It could’ve been drawn out a little bit more just to show the impact of all their antics abroad, especially with such a sudden ending.

Sort of a Bridget Jones for knitting or crafty related teens?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I was wary of the second book since I'd enjoyed Boys Don't Knit (In Public) so much. But this one might even be better! It was laugh out loud funny and I was a bit worried about dear Ben towards the end. Another great read by Tom Easton.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

its not as bad as it sounds, or as cliché

[Danica Midlil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm petered out for this story. He keeps bailing Gex out of trouble and it's driving me crazy.

[Grace Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved.

[Pam Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humour, easy read but the covers are so junior looking when the main character is in the final year of school.

[Radha TheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one. Stay in Britain, young man. New York was not your friend.

[Jacqui Scolari · Rating 4 out of 5]

So funny. Ben is so precious

[Leralyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoier alert

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was really good.

[Alison (AlisonCanRead) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun book. Not quite as good as the first book Boys Don't Knit, but still full of laugh-out-loud and some cringe laugh moments.

I think the highlight of the book for me was the PR person Ben was assigned to, Brandi. She felt like a very stereotypical American in the funniest ways. She assumed that since Ben was British, he didn't know anything about the U.S., including 9/11. I am trying to decide which is more arrogant - assuming that non-Americans don't know anything about the U.S. despite that American culture and politics infiltrate much of the world. Or assuming that non-American know everything about the U.S., because of course American news is important worldwide. Both are arrogant assumptions, I suppose. I feel like assuming non-Americans know nothing is the more arrogant, though. Perhaps because we Americans barely know anything about what goes on in the rest of the world and I feel like other countries have a more global perspective than we do.

Back to the review...Ben gets himself into some real trouble by implying that he can knit faster than a machine and spends much of his week scrambling to get out of it. That's just some of his problems though. His weird friend Gex - who only occasionally redeems himself - is causing trouble and convincing Ben that they're getting caught up with the mafia. He's worried that his parents are having marital trouble. He's worried that his girlfriend Megan doesn't like him anymore and/or is cheating on him.

It's all these worries that made the book not quite as fun for me. Ben is an anxious, perfectionist, type-A person. Knitting's ability to relax him is a major part of why he likes it. So I don't mind reading about a few worries here and there. But this book took it too far. There's awkward funny and ugh, not again awkward. This book crossed the line several times. Particularly with Ben's anxiety over Megan - when pretty much anyone other than him could tell he was overreacting.

Despite a few flaws, if you were a fan of Boys Don't Knit, you should really read this book. It's funny and heartwarming but best of all returns us to the world of Ben the Knitter, which on the whole is a very enjoyable place to be.

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Champion knitter Ben is back and off to New York to claim his prize of an all-expenses paid trip to the US National KnitFair. I loved the first book about Ben which was funny, humorous and warm-hearted, so I couldn't wait to get stuck into the sequel.

Ben's a natural worrier so his anxiety comes to the fore when he has to decide who to take with him on the trip when his girlfriend Megan can't go. It's quite hilarious watching Ben trying to puzzle out who to ask as his list of possible travel partners keeps on getting smaller and smaller. He eventually ends up rather reluctantly asking Gex who jumps at the chance, although he has zero interest in knitting. His Mum and Dad are also there to accompany him on the trip and although they are pretty embarrassing, pretending that they are on their second honeymoon, I found them really funny.

The New York setting was one of my favourite things about the book. The Big Apple is my top dream holiday destination and until I get there (I will one day!) I like to live vicariously through others. It was great getting to see Ben explore some of the sights and sounds of the city and he gave me a lot of laughs with his obsession about eating the way that New Yorkers do. I'll admit that I would do the same if I ever got the opportunity to go!

Ben's passion for knitting is another aspect which makes these books so enjoyable. His love for all things knit and purl shines out from every page and he makes me want to pick my knitting needles up and join him. He has an interesting challenge to face in the story which I won't spoil but needless to say, it involves Ben having got himself into a rather tricky and very humorous situation.

This was a truly enjoyable read by a fantastic author. I'm so pleased that Ben got a sequel because he's such a great character that you really take him to your heart. Fans of the original will be sure to love this book.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben had almost forgot his prize included a trip to KnitFair USA in New York. Now he only needs to decide who to take and clear it with his probation officer, then make it through immigration which is harder said than done when you’ve got a record and are a member of an activist group. Poor Ben just wants a rest, but his trip is turning into PR meeting after PR meeting. The he opens his mouth on radio and says something he is soon going to regret.

An English Boy in New York is a fun follow up to Ben’s knitting adventures. The hoopie is taking off and he’s convinced he’s allergic to the colour cerise. Knitting with it makes his head hurt. So of course there’s a plot which leads him to cerise wool and the discovery of Canadian paracetamol. I thought his opinions on the differences between US and UK teeth were adorable. And it kinda made me want a Philly cheesesteak sandwich even though I don't like steak. Honestly, these books are such fun and distracting reads, more please!

I don’t really want to say who Ben ends up taking to New York, but let’s just say it isn’t his girlfriend, Megan. It does say on the blurb but I didn’t read that first and I liked the suspense of him going through his contacts. Being separated from his girlfriend makes Ben paranoid of course, maybe her gran isn’t sick after all…

New York provides many an opportunity for Ben’s anxiety to show through. There are plenty of books that make things like paranoia and anxiety into dramatic centrepieces but I like the reality of it in this. It’s the silly little things that makes Ben worry, exactly the sort of things that can make living with anxiety into a daily struggle against logic.

[Tena Edlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2 1/2 stars. Definitely not as good as the first, even though I still like the characters and the whole premise of the story. This book felt rushed, and what was really irritating was that the author didn't do the required homework. If you're going to write a book set in the United States, don't give the Americans in the book very British dialogue. There were SO many things in this book that Americans would never say.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't quite as good as BOYS DON'T KNIT, which was hilarious and endearing. I didn't find Ben or his antics in the world of knitting in New York to be quite as charming this time. And I didn't buy the diary entry storytelling as much either. Still this was a quick read and I found myself smiling and laughing in places. The first book is well worth the read and highly recommended. I had a fun time reading this, but it's not nearly as compelling.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series - the main character, Ben, is so witty that despite the fact that he's a teenage boy, I'd want to be his friend. He could teach me how to knit and then we would hang out with other knitters and just laugh all night. I hope there will be more books in this series!

[Charley Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my video review to see why I rated this book 5/5 stars!
http://youtu.be/2A-9NlbfR0M

[Tianne Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from Boys Don't knit you travel with Ben the unlikely teen knitting whiz. Typical teen fun and some crazy moments in between with a Brit finding the New York way crazy