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The Changing Season
“THE CHANGING SEASON is a story that will bring you back to that awkward period of time between childhood and adult life. I highly recommend this book.” - Richard Paul Evans, #1 NYT Bestselling Author, THE CHRISTMAS BOX and THE MISTLETOE PROMISE. “THE CHANGING SEASON is a thought provoking coming of age tale that explores the complicated themes of love, faith, family, and above all, loyalty. Mr. Manchester's portrayal of a boy at the cusp of manhood is evocative and sympathetic.” - Susan Wilson, NYT Bestselling Author, ONE GOOD DOG. This was supposed to be a simple summer for one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy – his canine best buddy – going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck. And it was before Vicki. This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple. An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, THE CHANGING SEASON is an experience to savor.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2015
14 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Steven Manchester
41 books272 followersNew England's Storyteller Steven Manchester is the author of the soul-awakening novel, The Menu, as well as the '80s nostalgia-series, Bread Bags & Bullies; Lawn Darts & Lemonade. His other works include #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; the multi-award winning novels, Dad and Goodnight Brian; and the heartwarming Christmas movie, The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show and CBS's The Early Show; in Billboard and People Magazines. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival, 2018 New York Book Festival, 2020 New England Book Festival, and 2021 Paris Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. Visit: www.StevenManchester.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 9, 2017
Review copy provided by author and GR friend Steven Manchester.
This is the coming-of-age story of Billy Baker, a happy-go-lucky teenager reluctantly forced to make the transition not only from high school to college but from adolescence to adulthood. When he gets a rewarding job at an animal shelter and finds Vicki, the girl of his dreams, he is quite happy. However, an unfortunate accident threatens to undo what he has accomplished and his world totters around him. Fortunately, he has the support of his family and his ever faithful canine sidekick, Jimmy.
Billy and Vicki indulge in a courtship which quivers between almost childlike innocence and raging sexual desires (which happens in some of Manchester's other novels too). But things don't end quite as rosily for the leading couple as they do in some of the other books. They experience things which are likely to remain with them for life. But for Billy at least, this arms him to face life's challenges head-on.
This is the coming-of-age story of Billy Baker, a happy-go-lucky teenager reluctantly forced to make the transition not only from high school to college but from adolescence to adulthood. When he gets a rewarding job at an animal shelter and finds Vicki, the girl of his dreams, he is quite happy. However, an unfortunate accident threatens to undo what he has accomplished and his world totters around him. Fortunately, he has the support of his family and his ever faithful canine sidekick, Jimmy.
Billy and Vicki indulge in a courtship which quivers between almost childlike innocence and raging sexual desires (which happens in some of Manchester's other novels too). But things don't end quite as rosily for the leading couple as they do in some of the other books. They experience things which are likely to remain with them for life. But for Billy at least, this arms him to face life's challenges head-on.
February 20, 2016
Being caught between adulthood and being a kid is one of the hardest things about being a teen. Graduation is more than a hallmark of growing up, it is a time of confusion, feeling a little lost and yet the excitement of the future is still there. What better time to have one last great summer with your best friend? That is exactly how Billy thought and he planned his summer before college with his best buddy, his dog, Jimmy. That isn’t how things turned out. Life happened, life-changing events happened and Billy will discover that coming of age can be as natural as it can be painfully difficult.
Billy didn’t know what he wanted to be “when he grew up,” but a horrific tragedy begins to peel away Billy’s cocoon of childhood and the way he looks at those around him. His one constant was Jimmy, his aging dog, who was loyal, loving and gave everything unconditionally, he shared everything with his best friend. A need for money for college led Billy to a job at an animal shelter, the very one he met Jimmy at, kind of like coming full circle and seeing things from another perspective. Could this be his calling in life?
Then there was his first love, another hallmark in a summer filled with them. Through it all, the importance Jimmy played in his life is heart-warming, the interaction and love between them is one of the most moving aspects of Steven Manchester’s tale, The Changing Season. Mr. Manchester writes straight from his heart to those he writes for. For many, it is re-living the reality of growing up, for others it will be a reassurance that their own confusion is not unique to them. Follow this emotional summer and feel the passion of a writer who knows how to connect on every level. If you are an animal lover, you will completely understand Jimmy and Billy as their lives are at different ends of their timelines, if you have never owned a pet, you may find yourself stalking a shelter. If you are human, The Changing Season will burrow deep into your soul as you recall the changing seasons of your own life.
I received an ARC edition from The Story Plant and Steven Manchester in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Fiction Studio Books
Publication Date: February 22, 2016
ISBN: 9781611882261 (Hard cover)
Genre: Coming of Age
Print Length: 349 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Billy didn’t know what he wanted to be “when he grew up,” but a horrific tragedy begins to peel away Billy’s cocoon of childhood and the way he looks at those around him. His one constant was Jimmy, his aging dog, who was loyal, loving and gave everything unconditionally, he shared everything with his best friend. A need for money for college led Billy to a job at an animal shelter, the very one he met Jimmy at, kind of like coming full circle and seeing things from another perspective. Could this be his calling in life?
Then there was his first love, another hallmark in a summer filled with them. Through it all, the importance Jimmy played in his life is heart-warming, the interaction and love between them is one of the most moving aspects of Steven Manchester’s tale, The Changing Season. Mr. Manchester writes straight from his heart to those he writes for. For many, it is re-living the reality of growing up, for others it will be a reassurance that their own confusion is not unique to them. Follow this emotional summer and feel the passion of a writer who knows how to connect on every level. If you are an animal lover, you will completely understand Jimmy and Billy as their lives are at different ends of their timelines, if you have never owned a pet, you may find yourself stalking a shelter. If you are human, The Changing Season will burrow deep into your soul as you recall the changing seasons of your own life.
I received an ARC edition from The Story Plant and Steven Manchester in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Fiction Studio Books
Publication Date: February 22, 2016
ISBN: 9781611882261 (Hard cover)
Genre: Coming of Age
Print Length: 349 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 8, 2016
Title: The Changing Season
Author: Steven H. Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Changing Season" by Steven H. Manchester
My Thoughts....
What a amazing story that this author gives the reader! A boy and his dog. Billy Baker who has graduated from HS, getting ready to go off to college was having a a heck of summer fun. With his dog [Jimmy], along with his friends[Charlie and Mark], getting a summer job and even getting a new girlfriend [Vickie] what a summer it will be for Billy. However, what will happen when a dark secret comes out about a friend and what was up with Billy's sister [Sophie]? How will this secret affect Billy's love life? I will say what a beautiful bond that this boy {Billy]had with his dog[Jimmy]. If you are a dog lover...this read is for you! All in all with all that goes on in this story the author gives the reader a well written story that will keep your attention all the way to the end. One thing for sure if you want to learn about dogs that have been in a shelter/pound....this is one excellent read that will explain it all to the reader. There was a part of the story that I did find it somewhat predictable, however I will say it did not take away from the fact the story was still a good read. In the end be ready for a good read that deals with 'age tales, dogs, test of friendship, loyalty, great job and first love.' That ending was quite a tearful one for me! Would I recommend this read to a teenager and up. Yes! This was truly one amazing story! Oh, I also wanted to mention that beautifully done book cover!
Thank you to the author for this read in exchange of my honest opinion of the novel.
April 8, 2022
Prequel: The Hike by Steven Manchester
This is s prequel to The Changing Season by the author.
It starts in the summer before college for Billy as he takes his dog for a hike.
He tries to get others to join them but they decline. There are a lot of things Billy needs to be doing, college applications, forms and getting a job.
All the boys treat Jimmy, the dog like another guy. There is a scare while hiking and Billy needs to just take care of things himself.
Note from the author and synopsis of The Changing Season are included along with praise from others on the works of the author.
Especially love the experience of being on the hike with them as I feel with the sounds and smells and terrain I am right there with them.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
...
The Changing Season by Steven Manchester
Have read many of the author's other works and have enjoyed the places they take me to along with learning new things.
This one does the same. Have volunteered at animal shelters by knitting blankets that adopted dog goes home with but had never been inside the buildings, Interesting to learn of what happens there.
Book starts out with Billy Baker and his friends Mark and Charlie. Charlie just about grew up being his brother as they spent so much time together. It's graduation from high school and they've decided to head to college.
Billy has no idea what to major in but the summer gives him the answer. He works at a restaurant but after school he finds a real summer job. He also meets a new girl and she likes him also.
Charlie broke up with his girl and thinks Dalton is the problem and finds him one night driving home. Choices are made that night that will impact many others lives including Billy.
Throughout the story Jimmy, love how he got his name, Billy's dog gives him comfort and support. He's even better than a brother as his love is unconditional. Love where the book takes them together as life goes on.
Very touching story and glad it went this way as Charlie had other options that I was fearful to read about if he had choose another path.
Enjoyed the local places I need to check out.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
This is s prequel to The Changing Season by the author.
It starts in the summer before college for Billy as he takes his dog for a hike.
He tries to get others to join them but they decline. There are a lot of things Billy needs to be doing, college applications, forms and getting a job.
All the boys treat Jimmy, the dog like another guy. There is a scare while hiking and Billy needs to just take care of things himself.
Note from the author and synopsis of The Changing Season are included along with praise from others on the works of the author.
Especially love the experience of being on the hike with them as I feel with the sounds and smells and terrain I am right there with them.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
...
The Changing Season by Steven Manchester
Have read many of the author's other works and have enjoyed the places they take me to along with learning new things.
This one does the same. Have volunteered at animal shelters by knitting blankets that adopted dog goes home with but had never been inside the buildings, Interesting to learn of what happens there.
Book starts out with Billy Baker and his friends Mark and Charlie. Charlie just about grew up being his brother as they spent so much time together. It's graduation from high school and they've decided to head to college.
Billy has no idea what to major in but the summer gives him the answer. He works at a restaurant but after school he finds a real summer job. He also meets a new girl and she likes him also.
Charlie broke up with his girl and thinks Dalton is the problem and finds him one night driving home. Choices are made that night that will impact many others lives including Billy.
Throughout the story Jimmy, love how he got his name, Billy's dog gives him comfort and support. He's even better than a brother as his love is unconditional. Love where the book takes them together as life goes on.
Very touching story and glad it went this way as Charlie had other options that I was fearful to read about if he had choose another path.
Enjoyed the local places I need to check out.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
December 30, 2015
My Thoughts...
The author, Steven Manchester, recently e-mailed me to see if I would consider reading his new book and posting a review. So this week I decided it was time to get it read since it will be released February 23, 2016.
It is a charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion. It is also a coming of age story about high school friends, a boy, a girl and a dog. THE CHANGING SEASON makes us ponder over whether we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us. More than just another endearing dog tale, THE CHANGING SEASON is a moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.
It was an amazing book. I laughed and smiled and cried. Wise...and sure to open the hearts of all who read it, and Mr. Manchester will endear himself to all the animal lovers with this book: THE CHANGING SEASON...
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
The author, Steven Manchester, recently e-mailed me to see if I would consider reading his new book and posting a review. So this week I decided it was time to get it read since it will be released February 23, 2016.
It is a charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion. It is also a coming of age story about high school friends, a boy, a girl and a dog. THE CHANGING SEASON makes us ponder over whether we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us. More than just another endearing dog tale, THE CHANGING SEASON is a moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers.
It was an amazing book. I laughed and smiled and cried. Wise...and sure to open the hearts of all who read it, and Mr. Manchester will endear himself to all the animal lovers with this book: THE CHANGING SEASON...
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers and authors I am under no obligation to write a positive review.
May 13, 2016
I was very excited to get to read yet another book from Steven Manchester. His books always have terrific intertwining of characters and interesting outcomes. The Changing Season did not disappoint.
"...one wrong choice..and your whole life..."
This is the story of a teen boy who is getting ready to graduate from high school and has nothing but his life ahead of him. Life is good but no idea what is in store for the future is for him. He has two best friends and one furry friend that makes life complete but they change everything. Then there is Vicki who becomes the love of his life but...
One wrong choice is made. Once choice that will affect his life and all of those that surround him. I cannot reveal who makes the choice, for that you will have to read the book.
----------
I was astounded by these characters. Although the book mainly focuses on Billy and his relationships, the supposedly minor characters are the ones that really make the impact for the book. Without them, Billy would have no story and pretty much an ordinary life with his dog. However, Steven Manchester is a master story teller who knows how to weave words. He peels back the layers that reveal the essence of ones soul.
I was able to tell early on in the book what would eventually happen to Billy and the direction he would take in life. It was inevitable because of the Summer job he had. I do wished that part of the book had not been so obvious but it was. It took several chapters to get to the ending of what already could be figured out and that made the book a little cumbersome but not too bad,
His relationship with his dog was one that could be relate-able for anyone who has a pet that is considered family. I wondered if the author has such a pet?
A chunk of the book told of his relationship with Vicki. So many surprises for them. Their love story is beautiful and I could view them as if I was their best friends watching it blossom. There was hope for them and it felt good but..."One wrong choice..."
For me, I felt disappointment, I was invested in them. There was such build up for them. I thought that the author would leave it all nice and toasty and all would be good, but he didn't and it was abrupt.
In fact, the book is not at all what one would expect and the characters are flawed.
Is that a spoiler? I think not. Sometimes, things cannot always be nicey-nice and again, that is what makes the author stand out and is a plus for the book as a whole.
The characters throughout the book interject thoughts about the world around them and what they thing should or should not be. Although these moments were written as character spoken, I felt as I was reading that this, was actually the author's own thoughts coming through. This was not a negative but rather, an observation.
So, where does that leave me?
I liked this book but was not in love with it as I have been with others. Still, I give it 4 stars!
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ with yours.
~Naila Moon
"...one wrong choice..and your whole life..."
This is the story of a teen boy who is getting ready to graduate from high school and has nothing but his life ahead of him. Life is good but no idea what is in store for the future is for him. He has two best friends and one furry friend that makes life complete but they change everything. Then there is Vicki who becomes the love of his life but...
One wrong choice is made. Once choice that will affect his life and all of those that surround him. I cannot reveal who makes the choice, for that you will have to read the book.
----------
I was astounded by these characters. Although the book mainly focuses on Billy and his relationships, the supposedly minor characters are the ones that really make the impact for the book. Without them, Billy would have no story and pretty much an ordinary life with his dog. However, Steven Manchester is a master story teller who knows how to weave words. He peels back the layers that reveal the essence of ones soul.
I was able to tell early on in the book what would eventually happen to Billy and the direction he would take in life. It was inevitable because of the Summer job he had. I do wished that part of the book had not been so obvious but it was. It took several chapters to get to the ending of what already could be figured out and that made the book a little cumbersome but not too bad,
His relationship with his dog was one that could be relate-able for anyone who has a pet that is considered family. I wondered if the author has such a pet?
A chunk of the book told of his relationship with Vicki. So many surprises for them. Their love story is beautiful and I could view them as if I was their best friends watching it blossom. There was hope for them and it felt good but..."One wrong choice..."
For me, I felt disappointment, I was invested in them. There was such build up for them. I thought that the author would leave it all nice and toasty and all would be good, but he didn't and it was abrupt.
In fact, the book is not at all what one would expect and the characters are flawed.
Is that a spoiler? I think not. Sometimes, things cannot always be nicey-nice and again, that is what makes the author stand out and is a plus for the book as a whole.
The characters throughout the book interject thoughts about the world around them and what they thing should or should not be. Although these moments were written as character spoken, I felt as I was reading that this, was actually the author's own thoughts coming through. This was not a negative but rather, an observation.
So, where does that leave me?
I liked this book but was not in love with it as I have been with others. Still, I give it 4 stars!
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ with yours.
~Naila Moon
February 23, 2016
Every once in a while an author comes along who writes novels that are so powerfully compelling, poignant, and thought provoking, that they pull at the heartstrings and stir the soul. For me, that author is Steven Manchester and his latest novel, The Changing Season.
The Changing Season is a wonderful coming-of-age tale that follows seventeen year old Billy Baker's summer of change as he transitions from the end of his childhood to being on the cusp of young adulthood. Set in New England, the reader is transported back to a time of innocence, a summertime between Billy's high school graduation and entering college. Billy's journey of self-discovery will bring many firsts: first love; first job; first adult responsibilities; struggles with uncertainty, questions, choices, and decisions about his future career; the test of bonds and loyalty between family and friends; and the unconditional bond with his beloved dog Jimmy. In this summer season of change, Billy will discover the harsh reality and complexities of the real world through an unexpected tragedy and through his choices and decisions, and the outcomes will provide him many valuable life lessons, and ultimately help him transition into adulthood.
The Changing Season is a poignant coming-of-age new adult story that will simply pull at your emotional heartstrings. Author Steven Manchester weaves a richly descriptive tale about Billy's journey of self-discovery interwoven with the special bond that he has with his twelve year old dog Jimmy. The reader will be easily captivated and drawn into this beautifully written and touchingly realistic tale. You can't help but get swept away and experience the full gamut of emotions as you walk down memory lane and relate to that awkward period in life when a person is at the crossroads between childhood and adulthood. Throughout this season of change, Billy's best friend / beloved dog Jimmy is at his side, and for anyone who is a dog lover, this is an emotional and unconditional loving bond between a boy and his dog that will simply melt your heart.
The Changing Season is an amazing story that is written from the heart. It is a must read that will stir your soul, and resonate with you for a very long time.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
The Changing Season is a wonderful coming-of-age tale that follows seventeen year old Billy Baker's summer of change as he transitions from the end of his childhood to being on the cusp of young adulthood. Set in New England, the reader is transported back to a time of innocence, a summertime between Billy's high school graduation and entering college. Billy's journey of self-discovery will bring many firsts: first love; first job; first adult responsibilities; struggles with uncertainty, questions, choices, and decisions about his future career; the test of bonds and loyalty between family and friends; and the unconditional bond with his beloved dog Jimmy. In this summer season of change, Billy will discover the harsh reality and complexities of the real world through an unexpected tragedy and through his choices and decisions, and the outcomes will provide him many valuable life lessons, and ultimately help him transition into adulthood.
The Changing Season is a poignant coming-of-age new adult story that will simply pull at your emotional heartstrings. Author Steven Manchester weaves a richly descriptive tale about Billy's journey of self-discovery interwoven with the special bond that he has with his twelve year old dog Jimmy. The reader will be easily captivated and drawn into this beautifully written and touchingly realistic tale. You can't help but get swept away and experience the full gamut of emotions as you walk down memory lane and relate to that awkward period in life when a person is at the crossroads between childhood and adulthood. Throughout this season of change, Billy's best friend / beloved dog Jimmy is at his side, and for anyone who is a dog lover, this is an emotional and unconditional loving bond between a boy and his dog that will simply melt your heart.
The Changing Season is an amazing story that is written from the heart. It is a must read that will stir your soul, and resonate with you for a very long time.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
February 17, 2016
This is a beautiful coming of age story about a young man and his elderly dog. Billy and his friends just graduated high school and unlike them, Billy has no idea where he wants life to take him. During his last summer at home, Billy gets a job at the local shelter, falls in love, and watches his friend's life fall apart.
I don't usually read a lot of books with male protagonists, but I am so glad I gave this one a chance. Almost everyone has had a time in their life when they felt lost, and looking back, I can't imagine what it would feel like to be 18 again and not know where life is headed. There are many things I like about this book. While Billy has several close friends, his best friend is his dog, Jimmy. They have basically grown up together and while Billy is pretty much just starting his life, Jimmy is nearing the end of his. The two have such a natural, calming relationship. Jimmy sleeps in bed every night and Billy always make a point to tell him all about his day. I also like many of the characters in this book. Don't get me wrong, some of them do awful things, but that just makes them more human. And most importantly, this book doesn't tell a story which is neatly packaged and wrapped up with a bow at the end. Real life doesn't always end that way and I think this author understands that. Some of the ending was predictable, but it definitely didn't end as I expected, and I think that made the ending all that much better.
My only real complaint with the book is that I feel something was left out with Sophie's story. Sophie is Billy's sister, who is home for summer from college, and there are a few loose ends with her which never really resolved themselves. However, since it is not a book about her, I will let that pass.
It would be wonderful if Manchester would revisit these characters 10 years in the future so the reader can see how everything plays out. I actually care enough about them that I sort of want to know what kind of lives they are living. If you love coming of age novels, or dogs in general, then this is a must read.
I was provided a copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I don't usually read a lot of books with male protagonists, but I am so glad I gave this one a chance. Almost everyone has had a time in their life when they felt lost, and looking back, I can't imagine what it would feel like to be 18 again and not know where life is headed. There are many things I like about this book. While Billy has several close friends, his best friend is his dog, Jimmy. They have basically grown up together and while Billy is pretty much just starting his life, Jimmy is nearing the end of his. The two have such a natural, calming relationship. Jimmy sleeps in bed every night and Billy always make a point to tell him all about his day. I also like many of the characters in this book. Don't get me wrong, some of them do awful things, but that just makes them more human. And most importantly, this book doesn't tell a story which is neatly packaged and wrapped up with a bow at the end. Real life doesn't always end that way and I think this author understands that. Some of the ending was predictable, but it definitely didn't end as I expected, and I think that made the ending all that much better.
My only real complaint with the book is that I feel something was left out with Sophie's story. Sophie is Billy's sister, who is home for summer from college, and there are a few loose ends with her which never really resolved themselves. However, since it is not a book about her, I will let that pass.
It would be wonderful if Manchester would revisit these characters 10 years in the future so the reader can see how everything plays out. I actually care enough about them that I sort of want to know what kind of lives they are living. If you love coming of age novels, or dogs in general, then this is a must read.
I was provided a copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2016
Billy was a typical Senior in high school, about to graduate, planning to go to college but totally oblivious as to what he was to study or do with the rest of his life. His one obsessive love is his elderly dog, Jimmy, with whom he shares camping and other adventures. Billy and his friends, Charlie and Mark get together frequently in Billy’s smelly, unkempt bedroom to play video games. They are quite content. Charlie and Mark have college plans for the future and are thinking of careers. Billy seems totally out of the loop – at first!
The night of graduation, the key note speaker insists that the students will have to face the responsibility and consequences of their actions and decisions; Billy heard it all as more “blah, blah, blah,” never realizing his world was about to change.
Billy accepts a job as an assistant in a dog shelter which he enjoys due to the help and conversations he has with a mentor there. She’s realistic without being preachy which clears the way for Billy to truly “listen.” On the other hand, Billy’s friend, Charlie, isn’t listening to anyone and he really needs to take advice. In a fit of rage and jealousy, he acts out a rash action which shatters the world of a family. Rather than tell the truth, Charlie buries himself in self-pity and fear. While that happens, Billy finally meets a girl, Vicki, with whom he wholeheartedly falls in love. She changes his world over the summer, but Billy is broken when an act of omission on his part makes Vicki drop him like a hot potato.
One could say more, but this is too amazing a story to ruin by dropping plot snippets. Suffice to say, this is, like all of Steven Manchester’s novels, a terrific read. While there is a somewhat contrived quality to the story, one still roots for the major and minor characters and is always deeply moved by the challenges and outcomes therein. Readers will love and recommend this story of love, loyalty, betrayal and truth!
The night of graduation, the key note speaker insists that the students will have to face the responsibility and consequences of their actions and decisions; Billy heard it all as more “blah, blah, blah,” never realizing his world was about to change.
Billy accepts a job as an assistant in a dog shelter which he enjoys due to the help and conversations he has with a mentor there. She’s realistic without being preachy which clears the way for Billy to truly “listen.” On the other hand, Billy’s friend, Charlie, isn’t listening to anyone and he really needs to take advice. In a fit of rage and jealousy, he acts out a rash action which shatters the world of a family. Rather than tell the truth, Charlie buries himself in self-pity and fear. While that happens, Billy finally meets a girl, Vicki, with whom he wholeheartedly falls in love. She changes his world over the summer, but Billy is broken when an act of omission on his part makes Vicki drop him like a hot potato.
One could say more, but this is too amazing a story to ruin by dropping plot snippets. Suffice to say, this is, like all of Steven Manchester’s novels, a terrific read. While there is a somewhat contrived quality to the story, one still roots for the major and minor characters and is always deeply moved by the challenges and outcomes therein. Readers will love and recommend this story of love, loyalty, betrayal and truth!
March 16, 2016
This was actually the first book that I have taken the time to sit down and read since this school semester had really gotten started for me. I enjoyed it, as I do all of Steven's books, but it wasn't my favorite. There was a time when I probably wouldn't have even cared for it at all because until this past year, I was not a dog person. I never understood how people could get so attached to their animals, but our kids talked us into getting a dog a little over a year ago and now I finally get it.
This is the story of the last summer that Billy spends at home before he goes off to to college. He is kind of a adrift. He doesn't know what he wants to do with his is life and he seems to be the only one of his friends who is in this position. He takes a summer job at an animal shelter and this turns out to be the best decision he's ever made. He is even able to take is long time companion Jimmy, a mutt he adopted from the very same shelter years before, in to work with him. Throughout the summer Billy is also dealing some very hard issues. He's keeping a secret for a friend, one that has the potential to change many things including a new relationship with Vikki, the girl he is in love with.
This is the story of how Billy grows up and learns that things don't always turn out the way you hope, but the way they do turn out may be better for you in the long run. I won't say that I am a huge fan of how everything was resolved in the end. I feel like there were things that could have been handled better or at least with a little more closure, but I do understand why it ended the way it did. And as always Steven managed to make me cry at the end!
This is the story of the last summer that Billy spends at home before he goes off to to college. He is kind of a adrift. He doesn't know what he wants to do with his is life and he seems to be the only one of his friends who is in this position. He takes a summer job at an animal shelter and this turns out to be the best decision he's ever made. He is even able to take is long time companion Jimmy, a mutt he adopted from the very same shelter years before, in to work with him. Throughout the summer Billy is also dealing some very hard issues. He's keeping a secret for a friend, one that has the potential to change many things including a new relationship with Vikki, the girl he is in love with.
This is the story of how Billy grows up and learns that things don't always turn out the way you hope, but the way they do turn out may be better for you in the long run. I won't say that I am a huge fan of how everything was resolved in the end. I feel like there were things that could have been handled better or at least with a little more closure, but I do understand why it ended the way it did. And as always Steven managed to make me cry at the end!
January 9, 2016
Graduating high school, Billy is looking forward to his last summer home. He plans to spend the time with Jimmy, his canine best friend, and his other less furry friends, Mark and Charlie. But as it turns out nothing is as Billy expected. Everything changes with one horrific accident. Then Billy finds a new job, one that will give him focus. Finally he meets Vicki and falls in love for the first time. The one constant he has is the love of his dog. Billy’s last summer is turning into The Changing Season. He finds his goals and is forced to grow up and face the world as an adult. Some things your parents cannot do for you. At graduation, the key note speaker was correct. One decision could have life long consequences. They learn that their decision can affect more than themselves. Other people pay the consequences as well Billy’s last summer sees him growing up and becoming a young man. When he leaves for college, Billy leaves behind more than just his childhood. Steven Manchester’s The Changing Season is more than just a story of a Billy coming of age. It is about loyalty, love, disappointment and above all responsibility. On the cusp of his future, Billy and his friends learn so much during The Changing Season. This is one book you do not want to miss - See more at: http://singletitles.com/?p=11173#stha...
January 5, 2016
In my humble opinion, Steven Manchester is one of this generations greatest writers and so when something comes out by him, it becomes the top book to be read in my TBR pile. I can't help it, his writing always speaks to my heart and leaves me with so much to think about.
The Changing Season resonated with me as I could relate on so many levels to this tremendous tale of growing up. Like Billy Baker, I loved animals and I was carried on a splashing sea of uncertainty....what did I want to do with my life after high school? I never did determine what I should do, unlike our young hero, Billy.
Another thing we shared was a strong moral ethic and a strong sense of loyalty to our friends. Billy was your normal teenager experiencing first love, a vile test of friendship, and a job he came to love and appreciate.
The author could have taken this story in so many different directions, but I loved the simplicity of the relationship between dog and boy. The story could've been about your next door neighbor or at the very least, someone you know.
This book is an easy read for those who love coming of age tales, dogs, and first love.
I loved it. I am excited that it was my first read in 2016. It's a good sign for future reads this year.
The Changing Season resonated with me as I could relate on so many levels to this tremendous tale of growing up. Like Billy Baker, I loved animals and I was carried on a splashing sea of uncertainty....what did I want to do with my life after high school? I never did determine what I should do, unlike our young hero, Billy.
Another thing we shared was a strong moral ethic and a strong sense of loyalty to our friends. Billy was your normal teenager experiencing first love, a vile test of friendship, and a job he came to love and appreciate.
The author could have taken this story in so many different directions, but I loved the simplicity of the relationship between dog and boy. The story could've been about your next door neighbor or at the very least, someone you know.
This book is an easy read for those who love coming of age tales, dogs, and first love.
I loved it. I am excited that it was my first read in 2016. It's a good sign for future reads this year.
February 29, 2016
William "Billy" Baker and his faithful four-legged companion Jimmy are about into a different kind of journey. Billy is unsure what his college experience is going to be like. Billy has had Jimmy since he was a puppy. Billy and his friends seem to have it all yet lacking motivation. Billy thought his life was going to be carefree but that's not the case. Billy's best friend committed a crime yet refusing to go to the police. Billy's stuck between his best friend and his girlfriend. Can Billy start over ? Will Billy show his feeling? What is Billy' s career choice? Your answers await you in The Changing Season.
Steven Manchester has a gift of storytelling that just can't be beat in my opinion. The characters are raw, real, honest, compelling, and down to earth. The story is a coming of age tale yet it's so much more than that. I honestly don't have the words to express how I feel about this book. This author is on my must buy and read list.
Steven Manchester has a gift of storytelling that just can't be beat in my opinion. The characters are raw, real, honest, compelling, and down to earth. The story is a coming of age tale yet it's so much more than that. I honestly don't have the words to express how I feel about this book. This author is on my must buy and read list.
May 22, 2016
One Rash Decision Can Change Your Life Forever
Life has just begun for Billy and his high school friends. They have graduated from high school and the sky is truly the limit. The summer before college with a bright future, lots of parties, summer days ahead and then the unthinkable happens. One rash decision will have lasting consequences. Was it worth it?
I found this book to be a pretty good read but it started off a little slow for me. I have read all of this author's work and while I felt the storyline was vibrant and he did paint a very good picture, I felt it was a little drawn out. While it didn’t prove to be one of my favorites, lessons were learned in the novel.
Overall, “The Changing Season” was a great portrayal of what happens when you let feelings get in the way and you stop thinking rationally and end up making a life altering decision. I look forward to reading more from Steven Manchester.
Reviewed by: Lisa M.
3.5 stars
Life has just begun for Billy and his high school friends. They have graduated from high school and the sky is truly the limit. The summer before college with a bright future, lots of parties, summer days ahead and then the unthinkable happens. One rash decision will have lasting consequences. Was it worth it?
I found this book to be a pretty good read but it started off a little slow for me. I have read all of this author's work and while I felt the storyline was vibrant and he did paint a very good picture, I felt it was a little drawn out. While it didn’t prove to be one of my favorites, lessons were learned in the novel.
Overall, “The Changing Season” was a great portrayal of what happens when you let feelings get in the way and you stop thinking rationally and end up making a life altering decision. I look forward to reading more from Steven Manchester.
Reviewed by: Lisa M.
3.5 stars
March 7, 2016
Man's best friend
I was looking forward to this book & though it was entertaining & emotional at some parts, I found the first have of the book to be slow & hardly hold my attention. I kept waiting for something to happen & it never really did. There was too much dialogue for me throughout the book that didn't really say anything & repeated itself.
I was looking forward to this book & though it was entertaining & emotional at some parts, I found the first have of the book to be slow & hardly hold my attention. I kept waiting for something to happen & it never really did. There was too much dialogue for me throughout the book that didn't really say anything & repeated itself.
February 5, 2017
A coming of age, last hurrah before college, with school friends, meeting the girl of his dreams, and his best friend Jimmy (DOG). Steven writes fiction but his stories are more true to real life. They really stir the soul and really get to your heart.
January 28, 2021
Loved this one. This book goes through that oh so important Summer after high school. My youngest son lived this and this book put into words so perfectly how I knew he must have been feeling. As a mom I i know what my girls experienced . My boys while I can emphasize they hide so much. I love the way the family is portrayed as being on the fringes of the main character's world and yet how he begins to see them as people. This one will stay with me.
October 9, 2020
Steven Manchester is one of my favorite authors and it breaks my heart to not be impressed with this book. It was too simply written and not very believable.
I still have faith in this writer and look forward to his next book!
I still have faith in this writer and look forward to his next book!
June 23, 2017
I read this book to screen the content for a friend's daughter. I don't think she's old enough for this read yet but I'll hold onto it for when she is!
September 30, 2017
Not a bad story. Coming of age, animal rescue, romance... a little of everything a teen or any young adult may enjoy!
September 18, 2018
3.5 stars
May 17, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 Stars(Good)
November 29, 2016
What a great story for many ages. Loved all the local references. Definitely a GREAT read!
February 20, 2016
This is a Story Plant book that I have received an ARC for in exchange for my honest review.
From the book jacket:
I don't commonly incorporate the entire description from the blurb in my reviews, but the wording of this one struck me as important to how I approached the book. Just from the description, I can get a decent idea of what the book probably reads like. It's a coming-of-age tale, a boy and his dog, and then his idyllic small-town life is flipped on its head by Drama and Mayhem. Fair enough. Classic story, one that's been done to death but still manages to stay interesting. I was game. Nervous, but game.
See, when I see sentences like "the accident that shook the entire town," I start getting suspicious about the plot. Too often we see something like this and the ENTIRE TOWN stops on a dime to obsess about this tiny detail that happened to some 17-year-old kid. Having grown up in a small town, yes--I can say that it certainly would have been noticed, but that doesn't mean that everyone suddenly knows and judges. (Shuuuuuun.) So while hopeful, I approached the book with trepidation.
I worried in vain.
Manchester's writing takes an easy edge with the catastrophe--showing that it's affecting the town while it destroys the young men involved. It takes young love, complicates it believably, and makes it work out exactly as one might expect. And it takes that gripping fear of graduation and "what on Earth am I supposed to do with my life" and spins it exactly how we likely all lived it.
Billy is incredibly likable and believable in both his strengths and his flaws. His relationship with Jimmy, his aging shelter mutt, is well-rounded just like any other interpersonal relationship in the book. His struggle with seeing his friends all have definite plans for the future, and not knowing what he wants to be when he grows up is familiar. And the conflict between Billy and his friends Charlie and Mark is incredibly real and painful.
The story moves at the relatively quick pace of a classic YA/coming-of-age story, but for once I didn't mind it. There was neither anything I felt got rushed (even the romance subplot flowed nicely) nor parts I thought were drawn out too long. It ended exactly the way I felt it should (though I have hopes and feelings about the conclusion of the Vicki arc) and spared nothing.
A genuine feel-good book, even with the darkness at its core. Well-written and evocative, Manchester has bottled the feeling of limbo between high school and college--childhood and adulthood--and trapped it within 276 of literary magic. And if the ending doesn't at least tap the slightest bit at the same feelings that the end of Toy Story 3 did, I'm not sure where you've hidden your heart. Absolutely a book to check out.
Rating: **** - Recommended
The Changing Season will hit shelves this Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
From the book jacket:
This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy; one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy - his canine best buddy - going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left.
But that was before the accident that shook the entire town.
It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck.
And it was before Vicki.
This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he truly didn't understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple.
I don't commonly incorporate the entire description from the blurb in my reviews, but the wording of this one struck me as important to how I approached the book. Just from the description, I can get a decent idea of what the book probably reads like. It's a coming-of-age tale, a boy and his dog, and then his idyllic small-town life is flipped on its head by Drama and Mayhem. Fair enough. Classic story, one that's been done to death but still manages to stay interesting. I was game. Nervous, but game.
See, when I see sentences like "the accident that shook the entire town," I start getting suspicious about the plot. Too often we see something like this and the ENTIRE TOWN stops on a dime to obsess about this tiny detail that happened to some 17-year-old kid. Having grown up in a small town, yes--I can say that it certainly would have been noticed, but that doesn't mean that everyone suddenly knows and judges. (Shuuuuuun.) So while hopeful, I approached the book with trepidation.
I worried in vain.
Manchester's writing takes an easy edge with the catastrophe--showing that it's affecting the town while it destroys the young men involved. It takes young love, complicates it believably, and makes it work out exactly as one might expect. And it takes that gripping fear of graduation and "what on Earth am I supposed to do with my life" and spins it exactly how we likely all lived it.
Billy is incredibly likable and believable in both his strengths and his flaws. His relationship with Jimmy, his aging shelter mutt, is well-rounded just like any other interpersonal relationship in the book. His struggle with seeing his friends all have definite plans for the future, and not knowing what he wants to be when he grows up is familiar. And the conflict between Billy and his friends Charlie and Mark is incredibly real and painful.
The story moves at the relatively quick pace of a classic YA/coming-of-age story, but for once I didn't mind it. There was neither anything I felt got rushed (even the romance subplot flowed nicely) nor parts I thought were drawn out too long. It ended exactly the way I felt it should (though I have hopes and feelings about the conclusion of the Vicki arc) and spared nothing.
A genuine feel-good book, even with the darkness at its core. Well-written and evocative, Manchester has bottled the feeling of limbo between high school and college--childhood and adulthood--and trapped it within 276 of literary magic. And if the ending doesn't at least tap the slightest bit at the same feelings that the end of Toy Story 3 did, I'm not sure where you've hidden your heart. Absolutely a book to check out.
Rating: **** - Recommended
The Changing Season will hit shelves this Tuesday, February 23, 2016.
February 23, 2016
For any dog lovers looking for an exceptional novel about the love and loyalty of a dog and his owner, you will definitely want to pick up The Changing Season, from Steven Manchester. This is his latest novel that details the coming of age of a young man named Billy who is finishing up his final days in high school. He is your typical run of the mill high school young man. His friends are all planning on heading off to college with big plans of what they have always dreamed about doing in life, and Billy can't make up his mind what he should do or even what he should take in school. All he knows is his best friend and confidant is a lab mix who goes by the name of Jimmy, named after his Uncle Jimmy.
As Billy struggles to figure out what to do, he spends the first weeks of that transition period with his friends Charlie and Mark whose all night video game sessions will soon become a thing of the past. They all have to grow up sometime. Charlie who has been dating Bianca for as long as any of them can remember will undoubtedly marry her at some point, at least that is what Mark and Billy believe. However during one of those final graduation parties when things get out of hand and the drinks begin to flow, Charlie has suspicions that Bianca is cheating on him. No matter how he confronts her, she claims they are simply friends, but Charlie won't let it go. He believes what he wants and storms off from the party drunker than ever.
In one split decision, life will change forever for all of them. An unthinkable tragedy will rock them all to their core and all those college plans will go up in smoke as secrets are held back because they have all agreed to keep the loyalty they always have had. When Billy meets a young girl named Vicki, it truly seems like a match made in heaven. Billy begins to spend more time with Vicki when he is not working as his dog Jimmy faces growing older and the effects that come with that. He can no longer do quite a few of the things he used to but the one thing that remains is his undying loyalty to Billy, no matter how little time he seems to have for him lately. Life is about to change for them all and there will be no going back.
I received The Changing Season by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and honest evaluation. I've read all of Steven Manchester's novel and each one simply gets better and better. Like all the rest, this will has found a permanent home in my library. His characters are believable because they contain flaws that we all have. In this situation for each person involved, you keep asking yourself, what would you do? It's a hard line to make the right decision if there is a right decision to be made. As a huge animal lover, this one really hit home for me, showcasing the unconditional love our pets always have for us and we can learn a lot from them no matter what we are going through. For me, this one hits it out of the part and earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.
As Billy struggles to figure out what to do, he spends the first weeks of that transition period with his friends Charlie and Mark whose all night video game sessions will soon become a thing of the past. They all have to grow up sometime. Charlie who has been dating Bianca for as long as any of them can remember will undoubtedly marry her at some point, at least that is what Mark and Billy believe. However during one of those final graduation parties when things get out of hand and the drinks begin to flow, Charlie has suspicions that Bianca is cheating on him. No matter how he confronts her, she claims they are simply friends, but Charlie won't let it go. He believes what he wants and storms off from the party drunker than ever.
In one split decision, life will change forever for all of them. An unthinkable tragedy will rock them all to their core and all those college plans will go up in smoke as secrets are held back because they have all agreed to keep the loyalty they always have had. When Billy meets a young girl named Vicki, it truly seems like a match made in heaven. Billy begins to spend more time with Vicki when he is not working as his dog Jimmy faces growing older and the effects that come with that. He can no longer do quite a few of the things he used to but the one thing that remains is his undying loyalty to Billy, no matter how little time he seems to have for him lately. Life is about to change for them all and there will be no going back.
I received The Changing Season by Steven Manchester compliments of The Story Plant for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my fair and honest evaluation. I've read all of Steven Manchester's novel and each one simply gets better and better. Like all the rest, this will has found a permanent home in my library. His characters are believable because they contain flaws that we all have. In this situation for each person involved, you keep asking yourself, what would you do? It's a hard line to make the right decision if there is a right decision to be made. As a huge animal lover, this one really hit home for me, showcasing the unconditional love our pets always have for us and we can learn a lot from them no matter what we are going through. For me, this one hits it out of the part and earns a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.
January 4, 2016
The Changing Season
By
Steven Manchester
Author Steven Manchester has captured that stressful time of a high school senior’s last moments of school going into that last summer of teen-hood; a coming-of-age at its best. In his emotional tale, the reader follows Billy as he navigates the moments he becomes more than a high school graduate.
Near the very beginning, there is a horrific car accident that shakes the town. A young life is ended with consequences that reach beyond the reader’s expectations. Billy is entrusted with a dark secret that shakes him to the core. He comes to the realization that even the best of people can make mistakes and it alters the blind trust he had as a child. It is this first building block that moves him into manhood.
As the story progresses, Billy is faced with the dilemma of how to earn enough money to pay his way through college. He leaves his job as a dish washer at a Chinese restaurant to gain employment at the local animal shelter.
There are so many moments of personal growth for Billy as he learns that he can’t judge his father in the same cut and dry manner as he did before. As adulthood slowly settles onto his shoulders, he gains new perspectives. He learns forgiveness for not only his own faults but those of his father, and his friends.
At the beginning of the story, Billy has no idea what he wants to be in life. He has no idea which degree he should pursue. He hasn’t truly loved anyone else besides his trusted dog, Jimmy. When Billy was little they adopted Jimmy from the very shelter where he now works. He’s come full circle from being a boy adopting a dog, to being a young man caring for other dogs and cats like Jimmy. It is through the interactions with these animals that he learns valuable lessons and even finds his true calling.
He even finds his first love in Vicki. She not only helps his heart grow, but their relationship also sets yet another building block onto the foundation of his character.
Through it all, Jimmy has been by his side even though his age hinders him from doing the puppy things he once did.
It is this bond between dog and boy that secures this story in the hearts of the reader. Add in all of the little moments of realization that add up to one truly heartfelt story and the reader can’t help but be moved by sharing the journey.
Every adult can find something within this story to relate to their own journey through The Changing Season. It is remarkable how true to life this story captures those very moments.
The Changing Season is available for pre-order now for its release date of February 23, 2016
To learn more about Steven Manchester and his other titles, please visit his website at:
http://www.stevenmanchester.com/
FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title for review purposes only via Steven Manchester, The Story Plant and Net Galley; no other compensation was awarded.
By
Steven Manchester
Author Steven Manchester has captured that stressful time of a high school senior’s last moments of school going into that last summer of teen-hood; a coming-of-age at its best. In his emotional tale, the reader follows Billy as he navigates the moments he becomes more than a high school graduate.
Near the very beginning, there is a horrific car accident that shakes the town. A young life is ended with consequences that reach beyond the reader’s expectations. Billy is entrusted with a dark secret that shakes him to the core. He comes to the realization that even the best of people can make mistakes and it alters the blind trust he had as a child. It is this first building block that moves him into manhood.
As the story progresses, Billy is faced with the dilemma of how to earn enough money to pay his way through college. He leaves his job as a dish washer at a Chinese restaurant to gain employment at the local animal shelter.
There are so many moments of personal growth for Billy as he learns that he can’t judge his father in the same cut and dry manner as he did before. As adulthood slowly settles onto his shoulders, he gains new perspectives. He learns forgiveness for not only his own faults but those of his father, and his friends.
At the beginning of the story, Billy has no idea what he wants to be in life. He has no idea which degree he should pursue. He hasn’t truly loved anyone else besides his trusted dog, Jimmy. When Billy was little they adopted Jimmy from the very shelter where he now works. He’s come full circle from being a boy adopting a dog, to being a young man caring for other dogs and cats like Jimmy. It is through the interactions with these animals that he learns valuable lessons and even finds his true calling.
He even finds his first love in Vicki. She not only helps his heart grow, but their relationship also sets yet another building block onto the foundation of his character.
Through it all, Jimmy has been by his side even though his age hinders him from doing the puppy things he once did.
It is this bond between dog and boy that secures this story in the hearts of the reader. Add in all of the little moments of realization that add up to one truly heartfelt story and the reader can’t help but be moved by sharing the journey.
Every adult can find something within this story to relate to their own journey through The Changing Season. It is remarkable how true to life this story captures those very moments.
The Changing Season is available for pre-order now for its release date of February 23, 2016
To learn more about Steven Manchester and his other titles, please visit his website at:
http://www.stevenmanchester.com/
FTC Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this title for review purposes only via Steven Manchester, The Story Plant and Net Galley; no other compensation was awarded.
Read
February 21, 2016This is a story as much about a boy and his dog as it is about life in general. Billy is a young lady on the cusp of his first big steps towards adulthood...COLLEGE! It's the summer before and his dreams of lazying the days away with his best buds, canine and human alike, are about to crash and burn. Quite literally, they do but not through his own efforts, more like a result of a non-effort on his part. You see, everything was going along fine until his best bud had an internal falling out with his best girl and his jealousy twisted to hatred. He made a rash decision influenced by the notorious rebel rouser "fire water" and in the end, lives were ended in many interpretations of the word. The fallout was huge for some, but life changing for all and it all becomes even more real as we see those burdened with secrets begin to crack. It's heart breaking for certain, but you can also feel the anger held by those in the inner circle and the contempt they have for those they feel lied to them. Did they? Some would say yes...others would beg to differ. They could say a kindness was being paid. They could say they were letting the lost find their way and bring light to the truth on their own. They could say a lot of things but any one of them would still not changed the final outcome.
As with his previous works, there are big issues dealt with such as underage drinking, self control, lying, and never striking out in anger. We see the ill effects of bad decisions as well as revel in the joys youth and a summer day can bring. It was wonderful to see Billy grow in the few months we know him and when he finally found his future right in front of him, I couldn't help but cheer. The tough times he encountered and decisions he made were noble despite how they may have been seen by others, and in the end I think he did the best that he or anyone else could have. I was especially touched by the story unfolding between Billy and Jimmy. Go figure, right? The dog lover loved the boy and his dog story line. It's just it was so real, so tangible, and such a big part of BOTH of their lives. From his humble introduction to his attending his summer job with him despite his lack of desire to be there, the walks around the neighborhood to sharing a bed in companionship at the end of a day, it's all there detailing the life of a wonderful soul. Watching the years pass by was inspiring and heartbreaking with a definite need for tissues by book's end...no, I'm not spoiling anything but preparing you for a touching moment.
Overall, a wonderful edition to the growing body of work that this author has amassed. I for one am always psyched when I see something new on the horizon from him, and am only too happy to share in the pre-pub celebration going on now throughout the blogosphere.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
As with his previous works, there are big issues dealt with such as underage drinking, self control, lying, and never striking out in anger. We see the ill effects of bad decisions as well as revel in the joys youth and a summer day can bring. It was wonderful to see Billy grow in the few months we know him and when he finally found his future right in front of him, I couldn't help but cheer. The tough times he encountered and decisions he made were noble despite how they may have been seen by others, and in the end I think he did the best that he or anyone else could have. I was especially touched by the story unfolding between Billy and Jimmy. Go figure, right? The dog lover loved the boy and his dog story line. It's just it was so real, so tangible, and such a big part of BOTH of their lives. From his humble introduction to his attending his summer job with him despite his lack of desire to be there, the walks around the neighborhood to sharing a bed in companionship at the end of a day, it's all there detailing the life of a wonderful soul. Watching the years pass by was inspiring and heartbreaking with a definite need for tissues by book's end...no, I'm not spoiling anything but preparing you for a touching moment.
Overall, a wonderful edition to the growing body of work that this author has amassed. I for one am always psyched when I see something new on the horizon from him, and am only too happy to share in the pre-pub celebration going on now throughout the blogosphere.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
March 20, 2016
The Changing Seasons by Steven Manchester is the best coming of age books that I have ever read. Baker is all set to have a great lazy summer with his dog, Jimmy before college begins. But it did not turn out that way. Along with his aging dog, he was counting on spending a carefree summer with his friends. Mark and Charlie. But with the summer come many changes.
There is a serious accident and Billy is plunged into deep emotional turmoil. He has to make some moral decisions. But fearing the negative outcome of doing the right thing stalls him. This will effect both one of his best friends and new girlfriend.
He is also feeling lost because he is not sure of what he wants to become in life professionally. He considers many options but they don’t fit him. Because his parents cannot pay his way for college, he needs a new job, not the dishwashing job of restaurant where he gets paid under the table. He applies for job at the nearby animal shelter. He also meets what he though was the love of his life. He plunges deep into love with Vicki. Dare he take a chance of revealing something that might harm their relationship? Then, there is Jimmy, the aging Lab mix. He is always there for Billie, ready to listen and lick his face.
This book is a movement towards more complexity of the main character for Steven Manchester. This is the way that life is. Our lives do not involve just one issue to struggle with, they are much more complex that. Sometimes the moral thing to do does hurt other people.
Another thing that I noticed with all of the author’s books and this one even more is how comfortable I feel reading it. It is like not seeing a best friend for a few years and easily picking up the conversation. He shines the light on several things that we tend to forget. One is that pets take care of us, it is not just that we take care of pets. I had a difficult time growing up and my dogs were always there for me. Another thing is that teenagers are evolving into adults, and their lives are in no way simple. I enjoyed how the author had Billie recognize that his parents were not totally bad or good and he could recognize in their actions, their love for him.
The author, Steven Manchester requested a fair review. Because of a problem with my eyes, I have trouble reading e-book so Mr. Manchester sent me a finished copy. I greatly appreciated that and what I thought of his book was not influenced by that. My thoughts and feelings in this review are my own. I have reviewed his other books in the past. Every time I read a new one, I feel this one is the best!
I highly recommend this book for grown-ups and teenagers to better understand what it is like coming of age.
There is a serious accident and Billy is plunged into deep emotional turmoil. He has to make some moral decisions. But fearing the negative outcome of doing the right thing stalls him. This will effect both one of his best friends and new girlfriend.
He is also feeling lost because he is not sure of what he wants to become in life professionally. He considers many options but they don’t fit him. Because his parents cannot pay his way for college, he needs a new job, not the dishwashing job of restaurant where he gets paid under the table. He applies for job at the nearby animal shelter. He also meets what he though was the love of his life. He plunges deep into love with Vicki. Dare he take a chance of revealing something that might harm their relationship? Then, there is Jimmy, the aging Lab mix. He is always there for Billie, ready to listen and lick his face.
This book is a movement towards more complexity of the main character for Steven Manchester. This is the way that life is. Our lives do not involve just one issue to struggle with, they are much more complex that. Sometimes the moral thing to do does hurt other people.
Another thing that I noticed with all of the author’s books and this one even more is how comfortable I feel reading it. It is like not seeing a best friend for a few years and easily picking up the conversation. He shines the light on several things that we tend to forget. One is that pets take care of us, it is not just that we take care of pets. I had a difficult time growing up and my dogs were always there for me. Another thing is that teenagers are evolving into adults, and their lives are in no way simple. I enjoyed how the author had Billie recognize that his parents were not totally bad or good and he could recognize in their actions, their love for him.
The author, Steven Manchester requested a fair review. Because of a problem with my eyes, I have trouble reading e-book so Mr. Manchester sent me a finished copy. I greatly appreciated that and what I thought of his book was not influenced by that. My thoughts and feelings in this review are my own. I have reviewed his other books in the past. Every time I read a new one, I feel this one is the best!
I highly recommend this book for grown-ups and teenagers to better understand what it is like coming of age.
February 22, 2016
The Changing Season by Steven Manchester is a thought-provoking and bittersweet coming of age novel for recent high school graduate, Billy Baker.
Billy and his best friends Charlie Philips and Mark Diethelm are eagerly anticipating their last summer together before going off to college in the fall. While Charlie and Mark have their futures all mapped out, Billy is still a little lost as he tries to figure out what career appeals to him. As their summer begins, Mark gets a head start on his degree by taking a few classes at the local college and Billy starts looking for a full-time job to help pay his tuition. Charlie, on the other hand, disappears after making a fateful decision that will have a devastating effect on not only him, but numerous other people, including Billy.
Billy's summer is off to promising start as he begins a new job at a local animal shelter and unexpectedly finds love with his new girlfriend, Vicki. He is still worrying about his future as he tries to figure out what he decide on his major, but he has a short term plan to get some of his core classes out of the way until he figures it out. His romance with Vicki is all consuming and their dates are sweet with both of them eagerly exploring their passion for each other. Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and roses for Billy as he wrestles with a moral dilemma after a friend confesses a terrible secret to him. His loyalty to his friend eventually puts Billy in an untenable position as his relationship with Vicki becomes more serious.
As Billy transitions from naive teenager to young adult, he turns to his faithful canine companion, Jimmy, for comfort. Jimmy is a much loved family pet who has been Jimmy's best friend and trusted confidante for the past twelve years. With Jimmy's unconditional love and devotion, Billy survives some pretty serious heartbreak after the truth about his friend is finally revealed. Billy is also distressed by realization that while his life is just beginning, Jimmy is entering his twilight years and their time together is limited as his beloved dog begins to feel the effects of aging.
The Changing Season by Steven Manchester is a heartwarming young adult story that is fast-paced and engaging. The characters are well-developed and multi-faceted with easy to relate to flaws and imperfections. Billy's struggles to leave boyhood behind and begin the next phase of his life are realistic and are sure to resonate with readers of all ages. The novel's conclusion is a little poignant but uplifting as Billy embarks on the next phase of his life forever changed by the lessons learned during his last summer as a carefree teen.
Billy and his best friends Charlie Philips and Mark Diethelm are eagerly anticipating their last summer together before going off to college in the fall. While Charlie and Mark have their futures all mapped out, Billy is still a little lost as he tries to figure out what career appeals to him. As their summer begins, Mark gets a head start on his degree by taking a few classes at the local college and Billy starts looking for a full-time job to help pay his tuition. Charlie, on the other hand, disappears after making a fateful decision that will have a devastating effect on not only him, but numerous other people, including Billy.
Billy's summer is off to promising start as he begins a new job at a local animal shelter and unexpectedly finds love with his new girlfriend, Vicki. He is still worrying about his future as he tries to figure out what he decide on his major, but he has a short term plan to get some of his core classes out of the way until he figures it out. His romance with Vicki is all consuming and their dates are sweet with both of them eagerly exploring their passion for each other. Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and roses for Billy as he wrestles with a moral dilemma after a friend confesses a terrible secret to him. His loyalty to his friend eventually puts Billy in an untenable position as his relationship with Vicki becomes more serious.
As Billy transitions from naive teenager to young adult, he turns to his faithful canine companion, Jimmy, for comfort. Jimmy is a much loved family pet who has been Jimmy's best friend and trusted confidante for the past twelve years. With Jimmy's unconditional love and devotion, Billy survives some pretty serious heartbreak after the truth about his friend is finally revealed. Billy is also distressed by realization that while his life is just beginning, Jimmy is entering his twilight years and their time together is limited as his beloved dog begins to feel the effects of aging.
The Changing Season by Steven Manchester is a heartwarming young adult story that is fast-paced and engaging. The characters are well-developed and multi-faceted with easy to relate to flaws and imperfections. Billy's struggles to leave boyhood behind and begin the next phase of his life are realistic and are sure to resonate with readers of all ages. The novel's conclusion is a little poignant but uplifting as Billy embarks on the next phase of his life forever changed by the lessons learned during his last summer as a carefree teen.
August 30, 2017
Darn it! I can't believe the author put me through all those emotions! Those last twenty pages are a doozy, let me tell you! But the feelings are a sweet, melancholy emotion that, though they peak in the final pages, carry you throughout the book like all of Manchester's stories. I think what got me with this book was it's focus on animals, mainly dogs. The story seems like a coming of age tale about a boy caught between the highs of finishing high school and the lows that come from the fear of venturing off into college and the unknown adult world. While it is definitely about Billy's growth, it is also a moving piece about a boy and his aging dog. I know what you're thinking - grab the kleenex box. That was my reaction when I saw the cover and I usually avoid these kind of stories because I get so torn up about the bond between human and dog. But this is really a beautiful story that pushes you just to the edge of total tear jerker but then gently tugs the reins back so that it never really feels like a sad ending. That's just my speed. I also liked how the main character works at an animal shelter over the summer which gives the story another aspect of him maturing but also ties back to the relationship between Billy and Jimmy. There is also Billy's experience dating someone steadily as well as some shocking drama which give the story a different flavor then just your typical man's best friend tale.
The only thing that I will say is this book dragged a bit in the middle. It has a transition where it moves from being about Billy's summer adventures to focusing more on his bond with Jimmy. Once the switch was made, I really got sucked into the new focus of Billy and Jimmy's relationship. However, the book felt a bit dull as some plot points closed and we moved on to things that were not yet finished.
I'm going to say this is my second favorite Manchester book, but only because Goodnight, Brian was so fantastic that this doesn't quite top that. The end of the book just killed me but in the best way! It's not that anything revolutionary happens but that Manchester is so skilled at capturing everyday human emotions that we all cycle through in this circle of life that you can't help but relate to it in a bittersweet way. I think I'm going to have to make a visit to my parent's house soon to snuggle with our family dog, Bloo, in Jimmy's honor.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
The only thing that I will say is this book dragged a bit in the middle. It has a transition where it moves from being about Billy's summer adventures to focusing more on his bond with Jimmy. Once the switch was made, I really got sucked into the new focus of Billy and Jimmy's relationship. However, the book felt a bit dull as some plot points closed and we moved on to things that were not yet finished.
I'm going to say this is my second favorite Manchester book, but only because Goodnight, Brian was so fantastic that this doesn't quite top that. The end of the book just killed me but in the best way! It's not that anything revolutionary happens but that Manchester is so skilled at capturing everyday human emotions that we all cycle through in this circle of life that you can't help but relate to it in a bittersweet way. I think I'm going to have to make a visit to my parent's house soon to snuggle with our family dog, Bloo, in Jimmy's honor.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
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