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Boys of Summer
Choose your own boyfriend in this breezy beach read about love, family, and the true meaning of friendship.
Meet the Boys of Winlock Harbor…
Grayson Cartwright: Golden Boy. Football Prodigy. Troublemaker.
Mike Metzler: Local Heartthrob. Surfer Boy. Hopeless Romantic.
Ian Handler: Army Brat. Musician. King of Sarcasm.
Best friends since they were kids, Grayson, Mike, and Ian were hoping for another epic summer on “The Locks”, filled with clambakes, bonfires, and late-night swims in the ocean.
But that was before Ian’s dad never returned home from his last deployment. Before Mike had to take on more responsibility in order to help provide for his family. Before Grayson’s accident left him with an injured throwing arm and an uncertain future.
It’s clear this summer on the island is shaping up to be very different from those Grayson, Mike, and Ian had come to rely on. And when the sacred code of dating a friend’s sister or ex is broken, it will push their friendship to the absolute limit, testing their loyalties in a way that could either break them—or save them.
Meet the Boys of Winlock Harbor…
Grayson Cartwright: Golden Boy. Football Prodigy. Troublemaker.
Mike Metzler: Local Heartthrob. Surfer Boy. Hopeless Romantic.
Ian Handler: Army Brat. Musician. King of Sarcasm.
Best friends since they were kids, Grayson, Mike, and Ian were hoping for another epic summer on “The Locks”, filled with clambakes, bonfires, and late-night swims in the ocean.
But that was before Ian’s dad never returned home from his last deployment. Before Mike had to take on more responsibility in order to help provide for his family. Before Grayson’s accident left him with an injured throwing arm and an uncertain future.
It’s clear this summer on the island is shaping up to be very different from those Grayson, Mike, and Ian had come to rely on. And when the sacred code of dating a friend’s sister or ex is broken, it will push their friendship to the absolute limit, testing their loyalties in a way that could either break them—or save them.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
41 people are currently reading
1988 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Brody
60 books2,810 followersJessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, Amelia Gray is Almost Okay, A Week of Mondays, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, the Unremembered trilogy, and the System Divine trilogy which is a sci-fi reimagining of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, co-written with Joanne Rendell. She’s also the author of the #1 bestselling novel-writing guides, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel as well as several books based on popular Disney franchises like Descendants and LEGO Disney Princess. Jessica’s books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. She’s the founder of the Writing Mastery Academy and lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
August 15, 2017
Boys of Summer was a breezy and mostly enjoyable summery contemporary but the major problems I had with two of the protagonists stopped me from enjoying the book as a whole.
Grayson: I wish I had liked Grayson more than I did but I struggled to empathise with him. He was responsible for so many of his own terrible decisions that it was hard to feel sorry for him, especially when he kept lying to his friends when he knew that waiting to tell them would make it worse. I just wanted him to stop his nonsense and admit that he was not helping his situation or reach out to his friends for help but by the end of the book, he was still self-involved.
His characterisation also relied too heavily on the typical Tragic Jock trope. You know the one where the womanising star quarterback is *gasp* actually a boy with feelings who is not really interested in football and is having a hard time because his mum is dead/abandoned him; then he meets a girl who shows him he can be more than what everyone else wants from him so the book ends with a big, dramatic confrontation with his hyper-masculine father about dropping out of his football scholarship… you get the point. It is a commonly used trope in American YA contemporaries and it is getting really old. It is literally just the plotline of The Cinderella Story and that movie was my childhood so nothing stands the chance of topping it.
Harper I was a little bit disappointed by how much Harper’s character was underdeveloped. I still don’t quite know why she used Mike like she did or whether her feelings for Grayson were even sincere. Her backstory felt very shallow and glossed over. I don’t know if that was because she was meant to be a minor character but it came across like the author meant her to be a personified plot device more than an actual character. I didn’t really get much from her and what I did, I didn’t like. She was just so selfish!
Ian: What a dickhead! I don’t have any other words to describe him. I know that grief manifests in different ways for different people and some people respond to it in extreme manners but his flashbacks show us that Ian has been acting like a dickhead for the majority of his life (so he cannot use his grief as an excuse). I hated that he slut-shamed Whitney and that he continued to act surprised when she is seen wearing glasses - because, let’s remember, glasses have nothing to do with people’s eyesight, they are an indicator of people’s intelligence and Whitney is not supposed to be smart - and is caught reading. He seemed to have the impression that girls aren’t capable of having an interest in something like shopping or fashion and books… because fashion-loving females are too vapid, shallow and dumb to read. Obviously. *eye roll*
Whitney: If you know me at all by now, you’ll know that slut-shaming and poor female characterisation is one of my biggest pet peeves. I would take a million love triangles over a book with problematic female character rep… and unfortunately, Whitney - Grayson’s sister and Ian’s romantic interest - was a perfect example of what can go wrong. To set the scene, Whitney is a conventionally gorgeous girl but because she was constantly called pretty as a child, Whitney grew up thinking that her one strength in life was that she was pretty. In her thirteen-year-old head, this meant it was her responsibility to always look good for the guys which she would meet or bump into if she went out; and to Whitney, looking ‘good’ meant she had to dress in “slutty” clothes. At first, I was excited that this book was going to bring up some social commentary about how society over-sexualises tween girls and the effect this has on their self-esteem (especially when Whitney initially confronted Ian) but as you can imagine, it did not quite play out that way.
Instead of the author letting Whitney realise that she can dress however she wants to and have her rock her own particular style by the end of the story, she decides to take a really nasty route. She makes Whitney grow up and ‘realise’ that worrying about fashion made her stupid. Her friends - who were still into fashion and cosmetics - were labelled vapid and shallow. This was not because of their materialism or the fact that they were genuinely shallow as individuals but simply because they cared about fashion. The author completely and utterly shamed anyone who showed an interest in shopping, clothes or makeup.
After her realisation, Whitney stops straightening her hair/wearing makeup and starts to feel comfortable enough to wear her prescription glasses and ‘casual’ clothing… and suddenly, magically, Ian finds her hot. He suddenly finds it worth his time to talk to her and is consequently shocked to find out she enjoys reading just like him. In fact, Whitney has read classics that the Might Ian himself has not. It is obvious that Ian did not even consider the possibility that Whitney could be interested in both fashion and reading. No. How could she? People - and by people, he means girls - who like fashion are too dumb to be able to read! I had to put the book down as this part.
I know some readers will think that I am overreacting to all of this but I have read so many misogynistic books this year that I no longer have an ounce of patience for it. I understand that the author was (probably) trying to be empowering by telling girls they don’t have to wear makeup or dress in particular ways to succeed in life but she did this in the wrong way. There is nothing wrong with being passionate about fashion/cosmetics, enjoying shopping or caring about what you wear. Telling people - girls, in particular, in this case - that they don’t have to only care about their appearance is a good message but going as far as to shame people who do wear makeup and care about fashion is the opposite of helpful. This book portrayed Whitney as a person who was not worth knowing until she stopped caring about fashion and I think this is harmful. This book was not empowering and I was not okay with how Whitney’s character was written.
Mike: Mike was honestly the only main character who I wholeheartedly enjoyed. He was such a realistic and well fleshed-out protagonist. A few of the decisions he made seemed a little bit dicey but I adored him as a whole. I loved that we explored his familial relationships and his growing relationship with Julie was sweet and well-paced. I liked that it was developed slowly and built on an actually genuine friendship between the two of them. I was shipped it a lot and would have much preferred to have had this entire book focused on them.
Overall?
This was a mostly enjoyable contemporary read that could have been great if the author had focused on Mike and Julie. The problematic female characterisation had been in a rage for the majority of the book and the Grayson's trope-ridden subplot really dragged the story down. I did like the setting and the overall atmosphere so I would consider reading a future Brody story. I was just not impressed with the Whitney, Grayson or Ian’s characterisation.
Grayson: I wish I had liked Grayson more than I did but I struggled to empathise with him. He was responsible for so many of his own terrible decisions that it was hard to feel sorry for him, especially when he kept lying to his friends when he knew that waiting to tell them would make it worse. I just wanted him to stop his nonsense and admit that he was not helping his situation or reach out to his friends for help but by the end of the book, he was still self-involved.
His characterisation also relied too heavily on the typical Tragic Jock trope. You know the one where the womanising star quarterback is *gasp* actually a boy with feelings who is not really interested in football and is having a hard time because his mum is dead/abandoned him; then he meets a girl who shows him he can be more than what everyone else wants from him so the book ends with a big, dramatic confrontation with his hyper-masculine father about dropping out of his football scholarship… you get the point. It is a commonly used trope in American YA contemporaries and it is getting really old. It is literally just the plotline of The Cinderella Story and that movie was my childhood so nothing stands the chance of topping it.
Harper I was a little bit disappointed by how much Harper’s character was underdeveloped. I still don’t quite know why she used Mike like she did or whether her feelings for Grayson were even sincere. Her backstory felt very shallow and glossed over. I don’t know if that was because she was meant to be a minor character but it came across like the author meant her to be a personified plot device more than an actual character. I didn’t really get much from her and what I did, I didn’t like. She was just so selfish!
Ian: What a dickhead! I don’t have any other words to describe him. I know that grief manifests in different ways for different people and some people respond to it in extreme manners but his flashbacks show us that Ian has been acting like a dickhead for the majority of his life (so he cannot use his grief as an excuse). I hated that he slut-shamed Whitney and that he continued to act surprised when she is seen wearing glasses - because, let’s remember, glasses have nothing to do with people’s eyesight, they are an indicator of people’s intelligence and Whitney is not supposed to be smart - and is caught reading. He seemed to have the impression that girls aren’t capable of having an interest in something like shopping or fashion and books… because fashion-loving females are too vapid, shallow and dumb to read. Obviously. *eye roll*
Whitney: If you know me at all by now, you’ll know that slut-shaming and poor female characterisation is one of my biggest pet peeves. I would take a million love triangles over a book with problematic female character rep… and unfortunately, Whitney - Grayson’s sister and Ian’s romantic interest - was a perfect example of what can go wrong. To set the scene, Whitney is a conventionally gorgeous girl but because she was constantly called pretty as a child, Whitney grew up thinking that her one strength in life was that she was pretty. In her thirteen-year-old head, this meant it was her responsibility to always look good for the guys which she would meet or bump into if she went out; and to Whitney, looking ‘good’ meant she had to dress in “slutty” clothes. At first, I was excited that this book was going to bring up some social commentary about how society over-sexualises tween girls and the effect this has on their self-esteem (especially when Whitney initially confronted Ian) but as you can imagine, it did not quite play out that way.
Instead of the author letting Whitney realise that she can dress however she wants to and have her rock her own particular style by the end of the story, she decides to take a really nasty route. She makes Whitney grow up and ‘realise’ that worrying about fashion made her stupid. Her friends - who were still into fashion and cosmetics - were labelled vapid and shallow. This was not because of their materialism or the fact that they were genuinely shallow as individuals but simply because they cared about fashion. The author completely and utterly shamed anyone who showed an interest in shopping, clothes or makeup.
After her realisation, Whitney stops straightening her hair/wearing makeup and starts to feel comfortable enough to wear her prescription glasses and ‘casual’ clothing… and suddenly, magically, Ian finds her hot. He suddenly finds it worth his time to talk to her and is consequently shocked to find out she enjoys reading just like him. In fact, Whitney has read classics that the Might Ian himself has not. It is obvious that Ian did not even consider the possibility that Whitney could be interested in both fashion and reading. No. How could she? People - and by people, he means girls - who like fashion are too dumb to be able to read! I had to put the book down as this part.
I know some readers will think that I am overreacting to all of this but I have read so many misogynistic books this year that I no longer have an ounce of patience for it. I understand that the author was (probably) trying to be empowering by telling girls they don’t have to wear makeup or dress in particular ways to succeed in life but she did this in the wrong way. There is nothing wrong with being passionate about fashion/cosmetics, enjoying shopping or caring about what you wear. Telling people - girls, in particular, in this case - that they don’t have to only care about their appearance is a good message but going as far as to shame people who do wear makeup and care about fashion is the opposite of helpful. This book portrayed Whitney as a person who was not worth knowing until she stopped caring about fashion and I think this is harmful. This book was not empowering and I was not okay with how Whitney’s character was written.
Mike: Mike was honestly the only main character who I wholeheartedly enjoyed. He was such a realistic and well fleshed-out protagonist. A few of the decisions he made seemed a little bit dicey but I adored him as a whole. I loved that we explored his familial relationships and his growing relationship with Julie was sweet and well-paced. I liked that it was developed slowly and built on an actually genuine friendship between the two of them. I was shipped it a lot and would have much preferred to have had this entire book focused on them.
Overall?
This was a mostly enjoyable contemporary read that could have been great if the author had focused on Mike and Julie. The problematic female characterisation had been in a rage for the majority of the book and the Grayson's trope-ridden subplot really dragged the story down. I did like the setting and the overall atmosphere so I would consider reading a future Brody story. I was just not impressed with the Whitney, Grayson or Ian’s characterisation.
March 25, 2016
Who needs romance when you can have BROMANCE? ;)
Also:
#TeamMike
Also:
#TeamMike
May 4, 2016
2.5 Stars
I am feeling rather divided about Boys of Summer.
I really like the idea of it, and in many ways I liked the plot. Well, mostly anyway. I love that each of the guys is at a turning point in life and each of them have to overcome some difficulty. I also really liked how they fixed things between them.
But I am not a fan of the writing style. First of all this is written from the POV of the three male MCs.
They are supposedly all quite different, but they all sound exactly the same. So much that when I put the book down I had to check who's POV I was reading, each and every time.
In general though, I kept expecting somehow more... of something. I felt that the boys came out a bit flat. Even if there was character growth. The girls were really stereotyped. I still like the end and I like the idea, I think I kept hoping for something epic like Stand By Me.. You know something that is seriously deep and profound. And this while it is interesting and sweet, it's doesn't dig deep enough for that.
Somehow this felt like it is not a cute and fluffy but it doesn't manage to hope into serious territory either.
Hence I am sitting on the fence. Mostly feeling like this should have been somehow more.
I am feeling rather divided about Boys of Summer.
I really like the idea of it, and in many ways I liked the plot. Well, mostly anyway. I love that each of the guys is at a turning point in life and each of them have to overcome some difficulty. I also really liked how they fixed things between them.
But I am not a fan of the writing style. First of all this is written from the POV of the three male MCs.
They are supposedly all quite different, but they all sound exactly the same. So much that when I put the book down I had to check who's POV I was reading, each and every time.
In general though, I kept expecting somehow more... of something. I felt that the boys came out a bit flat. Even if there was character growth. The girls were really stereotyped. I still like the end and I like the idea, I think I kept hoping for something epic like Stand By Me.. You know something that is seriously deep and profound. And this while it is interesting and sweet, it's doesn't dig deep enough for that.
Somehow this felt like it is not a cute and fluffy but it doesn't manage to hope into serious territory either.
Hence I am sitting on the fence. Mostly feeling like this should have been somehow more.
Read
August 22, 2016I loved the design of this book. The margins told you which boy was narrating and had a little picture of a guitar, a surfboard, or a football so you could keep them straight in your mind as you read. Such a cool idea. I was right there on the island with them. I think I identify with Mike the best. Though I could have easily fallen for any of them. This book would be great to read at the beach sitting under an umbrella while you sipped a frosty bottled Coke.
Read
May 29, 2017Another hit from Jessica Brody! Here's what I loved most about Boys of Summer:
-It spotlights male friendship! (which is entirely too uncommon in YA)
-It takes place in a beach town, but not every character is an uber-rich tourist. Some of the characters are locals, and economic struggles play a key role in the storyline.
-Not every character chooses to attend a four-year university after high school—the characters have diverse career ambitions, all of which are treated as equally valid choices.
-It's different from Brody's previous contemporary novels (it deals a bit more with heavy, hard-hitting emotions), but she pulls it off well. I'm a huge fan of her writing, and Boys of Summer further cemented my appreciation.
-It spotlights male friendship! (which is entirely too uncommon in YA)
-It takes place in a beach town, but not every character is an uber-rich tourist. Some of the characters are locals, and economic struggles play a key role in the storyline.
-Not every character chooses to attend a four-year university after high school—the characters have diverse career ambitions, all of which are treated as equally valid choices.
-It's different from Brody's previous contemporary novels (it deals a bit more with heavy, hard-hitting emotions), but she pulls it off well. I'm a huge fan of her writing, and Boys of Summer further cemented my appreciation.
June 19, 2016
This book was so ANGSTY. These three guys really didn't treat each other well at all, let alone like "best friends."
Here's the thing. We all grow up, make new changes, and grow apart. I'd hate to think that something like the (major climactic moment) would suddenly bring everyone back together again. And even if it did, how long could such a fragile relationship last? I know you can point to the boys' long history of friendship, but we all change. We grow up and we grow apart. Heck, Grayson mentioned it himself — the person you are at 12 has no idea what you'd want at 18. I've read that every cell in your body gets replaced within 7 years. That means 7 years down the line, you're not even made up of the same cells that make you who you are.
I don't like how two things solve everything: violence or love. When problems are that deep, a punch isn't the answer. A kiss isn't the answer. No one knows how to communicate properly, and I have a major issue with that.
Ian also ground my gears immensely. A death does not give you a free pass to do ANYTHING. Why would Grayson get beat up, but Ian get a free pass? The circumstances are somewhat different, and I guess that would make Grayson a hypocrite if he went after Ian, but still — I thought there would be some payout there. Ian's mom is truly excruciating to read about. Actually, Grayson's mother is pretty awful too. I thought there'd be a strong Hidden Meaning in her case, i.e. a history of domestic abuse or something. But no, these parents are pretty much just self-absorbed and worn down. The only happy ones seem to be Mike's parents, but they have their own struggles.
Julie dear. You're so sweet and kind. And honestly, you deserve better than freaking MIKE. Jasper and Jake though, they can stay with you.
Overall, this book was a little angsty for my taste. I didn't care much for the characters, and the denouement went a little too long. There were also too many loopholes (e.g. why would Whitney get on a ferry while Grayson was still there?). Oh well.
Here's the thing. We all grow up, make new changes, and grow apart. I'd hate to think that something like the (major climactic moment) would suddenly bring everyone back together again. And even if it did, how long could such a fragile relationship last? I know you can point to the boys' long history of friendship, but we all change. We grow up and we grow apart. Heck, Grayson mentioned it himself — the person you are at 12 has no idea what you'd want at 18. I've read that every cell in your body gets replaced within 7 years. That means 7 years down the line, you're not even made up of the same cells that make you who you are.
I don't like how two things solve everything: violence or love. When problems are that deep, a punch isn't the answer. A kiss isn't the answer. No one knows how to communicate properly, and I have a major issue with that.
Ian also ground my gears immensely. A death does not give you a free pass to do ANYTHING. Why would Grayson get beat up, but Ian get a free pass? The circumstances are somewhat different, and I guess that would make Grayson a hypocrite if he went after Ian, but still — I thought there would be some payout there. Ian's mom is truly excruciating to read about. Actually, Grayson's mother is pretty awful too. I thought there'd be a strong Hidden Meaning in her case, i.e. a history of domestic abuse or something. But no, these parents are pretty much just self-absorbed and worn down. The only happy ones seem to be Mike's parents, but they have their own struggles.
Julie dear. You're so sweet and kind. And honestly, you deserve better than freaking MIKE. Jasper and Jake though, they can stay with you.
Overall, this book was a little angsty for my taste. I didn't care much for the characters, and the denouement went a little too long. There were also too many loopholes (e.g. why would Whitney get on a ferry while Grayson was still there?). Oh well.
March 3, 2016
HUGE UP-SIDE: Nobody gets raped.
Seriously, looking at this cover, I was SURE somebody was going to get raped. I've just gotten sucker-punched too many times by the idyllic cover and the title that could mean anything, and then there's a party and it's Veronica Mars walking home with her shoes in her hand all over again. But not here. So whew!
Gr 8-Up -- It’s gearing up to be another perfect summer in Winlock Harbor, the only town on a tiny Northeastern resort island. Grayson, Ian, and Mike are looking forward to their last carefree summer before Grayson heads off to Vanderbilt to play football, Mike moves to New York City with his girlfriend, and Ian sets off into the world armed only with his guitar. But each of the boys is secretly hobbled by loss, injury, or heartbreak - and while they’re great at hanging out, talking smack, and watching TV, they’re each totally unable to express their sorrow or pain to each other, or to ask after one another’s feelings. Luckily, each boy begins a new romance with a girl, and they eventually begin to access their emotions as they each are forced to think about these new relationships. A great setting, lots of kissing, and a diverse cast of characters are pluses, but it can be hard to distinguish the voices of each boy, and the depiction of shut-down masculinity is a bit depressing. —Paula Willey
Seriously, looking at this cover, I was SURE somebody was going to get raped. I've just gotten sucker-punched too many times by the idyllic cover and the title that could mean anything, and then there's a party and it's Veronica Mars walking home with her shoes in her hand all over again. But not here. So whew!
Gr 8-Up -- It’s gearing up to be another perfect summer in Winlock Harbor, the only town on a tiny Northeastern resort island. Grayson, Ian, and Mike are looking forward to their last carefree summer before Grayson heads off to Vanderbilt to play football, Mike moves to New York City with his girlfriend, and Ian sets off into the world armed only with his guitar. But each of the boys is secretly hobbled by loss, injury, or heartbreak - and while they’re great at hanging out, talking smack, and watching TV, they’re each totally unable to express their sorrow or pain to each other, or to ask after one another’s feelings. Luckily, each boy begins a new romance with a girl, and they eventually begin to access their emotions as they each are forced to think about these new relationships. A great setting, lots of kissing, and a diverse cast of characters are pluses, but it can be hard to distinguish the voices of each boy, and the depiction of shut-down masculinity is a bit depressing. —Paula Willey
April 19, 2021
who knew boys could be so dramatic. lol.
i actually quite liked the idea of this book. i dont think bromances get enough attention, so i was really excited to read this and thought it had a lot of promise.
however, i dont think this lives up to its potential. although each of the boys storylines are different, all of their voices/POVs sound the same. other than distinct events happening in their lives, i couldnt tell them apart, which is unfortunate. and i thought the character developments were a little weak. if anything, the main focus is just on who was hooking up with whom and how they are hiding it from each other.
still, i can imagine this being a good summer read for those looking for something quick and easy.
↠ 3.5 stars
i actually quite liked the idea of this book. i dont think bromances get enough attention, so i was really excited to read this and thought it had a lot of promise.
however, i dont think this lives up to its potential. although each of the boys storylines are different, all of their voices/POVs sound the same. other than distinct events happening in their lives, i couldnt tell them apart, which is unfortunate. and i thought the character developments were a little weak. if anything, the main focus is just on who was hooking up with whom and how they are hiding it from each other.
still, i can imagine this being a good summer read for those looking for something quick and easy.
↠ 3.5 stars
April 15, 2020
after reading the hell that was “Stealing Snow”, this book provided me with much relief . I know I’ve always loved Jessica Brody, but the last book I read by her, MY Life Undecided, felt somewhat juvenile to me and didn’t go into much depth. This book was much better, the characters were well thought out and the plot flowed somehow perfectly between the three characters, which seems would be hard to do or difficult to read but ended up working really well .
July 29, 2020
I liked Mike’s storyline the most, but all three narratives fit together well. This is definitely unusual for a ya contemporary - three male narrators - but Jessica Brody pulled it off well.
Read
July 27, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Sexism
Slut-shaming
Grief & loss depiction
Sexism
Slut-shaming
Grief & loss depiction
November 17, 2017
3.5 Stars
It's not often that I read a YA novel from a male perspective or three male perspectives to be precise. This novel drew me in with its summer island locale (think Martha's Vineyard) and its carefree vacation atmosphere. It's the story of three young men right on the cusp of adulthood. Mike, Ian, and Grayson have been best friends for twelve years. Mike lives on the touristy island year round while Grayson and Ian come every summer. Their friendship ties and traditions keep them bound together, but this year is different as each young man arrives carrying baggage. At first, I expected a shallow summer read, but I soon became engrossed in these boys and their pivotal summer. It seems like a last hurrah as each boy is about to be catapulted into adulthood, but it is truly about the changing nature of friendship and how to move forward and learning to let go of the past. It's bittersweet, but that's the nature of growing up.
It's not often that I read a YA novel from a male perspective or three male perspectives to be precise. This novel drew me in with its summer island locale (think Martha's Vineyard) and its carefree vacation atmosphere. It's the story of three young men right on the cusp of adulthood. Mike, Ian, and Grayson have been best friends for twelve years. Mike lives on the touristy island year round while Grayson and Ian come every summer. Their friendship ties and traditions keep them bound together, but this year is different as each young man arrives carrying baggage. At first, I expected a shallow summer read, but I soon became engrossed in these boys and their pivotal summer. It seems like a last hurrah as each boy is about to be catapulted into adulthood, but it is truly about the changing nature of friendship and how to move forward and learning to let go of the past. It's bittersweet, but that's the nature of growing up.
February 7, 2017
Un libro contado desde la perspectiva de tres chicos con una autora mujer = no. No, no, no.
Demasiado drama y amor para un libro que daba para muchísimo más. Las historias de cada uno se desarrollan en los últimos tres o cuatro capítulos... y mientras tanto tuvimos a los tres histeriqueando con chicas, así que no me parece tan importante como la autora lo deja entrever al final. Digo, si no te afectó para ir screwing around with some girls durante las anteriores páginas, por qué lo haría ahora?
Demasiado drama y amor para un libro que daba para muchísimo más. Las historias de cada uno se desarrollan en los últimos tres o cuatro capítulos... y mientras tanto tuvimos a los tres histeriqueando con chicas, así que no me parece tan importante como la autora lo deja entrever al final. Digo, si no te afectó para ir screwing around with some girls durante las anteriores páginas, por qué lo haría ahora?
January 29, 2016
Jessica Brody's latest is a swoonworthy read teens are sure to love! Told in three alternating POV's, three best friends are reunited for the summer with potentially explosive results as the secrets that they hold between them threaten to tear their friendship apart. Although romance abounds, each of the boys is grappling with some serious personal issues that give the novel substance and depth and will keep readers turning the pages.
December 8, 2016
This is the first book that I have read by Jessica Brody. I loved the Boys of Summer... especially meeting them in the middle of winter! Jessica Brody's characters are awesome and complex. I'm an almost thirty-four-year-old woman who loves young adult novels as well as adult. Anyone looking for a brilliant read that is smart, funny, snarky and sexy will love Boys of Summer.
August 26, 2017
I really liked this! I felt like it was more realistic than teen romances usually are--it wasn't a perfect "and they stayed together forever, happily ever after" type ending. It really acknowledged that they were teenagers and their paths weren't really known and there's no way to tell what would work and what wouldn't, but it was hopeful and I really liked that.
October 2, 2022
I don’t want to admit this, but I suppose there’s no way around it: I did not like this and I don’t think it was very well-written. I had such high hopes for this – I was so sure I would love it that I put it off for a while until what felt like the perfect time – and that plus the fact that I’ve met Jessica Brody – and that (albeit shallow) personal connection makes it harder to say the (somewhat mean) negative things I’m thinking – make this book quite the upsetting disappointment. For starters, this is the kind of multiple perspectives that I hate. The kind where switching perspectives means switching storylines. You get invested in one story and then just when it’s getting good, it switches to another that you don’t care about because you’re more interested in the one you were just reading. But then by the time we make it back around to that storyline, you don’t care about it anymore. That’s pretty much how I felt the entire way through the book. I didn’t really like any of the characters, either. All three of the guys are incredibly self-absorbed. This is one of those stories where two friends or a group of friends are supposedly close and are just having issues in the book, but we never actually see them being friends, because the issues start right away. We’re just told that they’ve always been such good friends and we’re told stories from back when they were close, but that’s it. I just have a hard time picturing the three of them being best friends the way they were described. The relationships were not great. I didn’t like any of the characters individually, so the relationships already had one strike against them. I didn’t like how all 3 guys comment often about how these girls are the only ones who make them feel okay. It’s a sweet notion, but it was a little ridiculous. And oh the CLICHES. They got a little painful to read at times. And this book was highly unsatisfying in terms of romantic relationships, as well. If I’m reading about a relationship, I kind of want it to have a happy ending. The whole benefit of fiction is that everything can work out and people can end up together, unlike real life. Aside from all of that, I think I would have preferred this story from the girls’ perspectives. I wouldn’t have thought that before I read this – I was very intrigued by the prospect of having just the guys’ perspectives. It’s so different from what I normally read. But I don’t think it worked. It just wasn’t written well enough to be successful. I think Ian’s storyline caused me the most amount of anger. Plus it was just sad, so I didn’t enjoy that. But aside from that, he is grieving his father. Not wanting to deal with his out-of-control alcohol mother on top of that doesn’t make him a bad son. I mean, the whole point is his mom is kind of a mess so I would hope no one would come out of this feeling like Ian should have been a better son, but I hate that that’s even a narrative in this book. His mom lost the love of her life. She’s devastated. I feel like she’s allowed to fall apart. And I can see how it hurts even more that her son doesn’t want to be around her. But Ian lost his dad and is also devastated and falling apart. He was not ready to go down memory lane and deal with all the stuff his dad left behind. His mom wouldn’t respect that, so he removed himself from the situation and I think that’s perfectly acceptable. And I am so mad at his mom for being pissed at Ian for not being ready to go through his dad’s stuff. I don’t feel like that’s something you can be mad at someone about, no matter what you’re going through. And then there’s Ian’s friends. Mike and Grayson are giving Ian space, because they don’t want to force him to talk about his dad if he’s not ready and that doesn’t make them bad friends. I’m not gonna say it was unfair of Ian to call them bad friends, because he was clearly having a rough time. But there are no right answers when it comes to how to help someone through their grief. When I’m upset, I need to be left alone. Other people need to be overwhelmingly surrounded by people who care about them. And when a person is at their lowest, it’s nearly impossible for them to articulate exactly what they need. There’s no magical, one-size-fits-all solution. It just sucks. I appreciate the outcome that Mike wanted to stay on the island. I grew up in what used to be a small town and all people ever used to talk about was how they couldn’t wait to get out. It was nice to watch someone be in love with their tiny hometown instead of feeling trapped by it. Side note: enough with Crusade of Kings already. The amount of times it was mentioned was ridiculous and often out of place. It was like the author was pleased with the concept of this fictional tv show that she created and wanted to bring it up absolutely as much as she could. This book just was not very good and I was pretty disappointed by it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2017
Ich habe erst zu spät gesehen, dass es sich bei der Ausgabe, die ich hatte um eine verlängerte Leseprobe handelte (Riveted-Ausgabe im Februar)... daher kann ich nur zu ca. 15 % des Buches was sagen.... und vormich hingrummeln, dass ich das Ende lesen will. Da ich aber die Regel habe, dass ich für E-books niemals so viel ausgebe, wie für Papier-Ausgaben, muss ich hier auf meine Chance warten....
Das Buch ist abwechselnd aus der Sicht der 3 Hauptcharaktere geschrieben.Allerdings ändert sich der Schreibstil nur minimal, daher ist es ganz gut, dass die Überschrift einem den Hinweis gibt,wer gerade erzählt.
Die drei Jungs sind seit Jahren jeden Sommer zusammen auf einer Touristeninsel.
Greyson kommt aus reichen Verhältnissen und hat eine großartige Footballkarriere vor sich. Bis seine Mutter die Familie verlässt und er einen mehr oder weniger selbstinszenierten Autounfall hat, bei dem sein Wurfarm verletzt wurde. Er spricht allerdings mit niemandem über das Thema, erst recht nicht darüber, dass er starke Schmerzen hat. Er möchte alles vergessen und sich wie jedes Jahr mit Touristinnen amüsieren. Leider steht er sich da selber am meisten im Wege.
Ian lebt auf der Insel. Sein Vater hatte eine Unfall und kann nicht arbeiten und mit zwei kleineren Geschwistern ist die Familie am Rande der Pleite. Nur weil Ian Geld dazuverdient funktioniert alles noch so halbwegs. Natürlich wissen seine Kumpels nichts davon. Er ist seit Jahren mit Harper zusammen, deren einziges Ziel es ist, so schnell sie kann von der Insel zu verschwinden. Sie planen eine gemeinsam Zukunft in New York. Bis sie, einmal wieder, mit ihm Schluss macht. Allerdings fühlt es sich dieses Mal so an, als sei es auch das letzte Mal.
Mike ist der letzte im Bunde. Sein Vater ist von seinem letzten Militäreinsatz im Sarg zurückgekommen und natürlich ist nichts mehr, wie es war. Seine Mutter trinkt zu viel und er verschwindet schon ziemlich schnell zu Greyson, wo er sich in einem der vielen Gästezimmer einnistet und mehr oder weniger schlechte Songs auf seiner Gitarre komponiert.
Mike ist der einzige, dessen Probleme offen ersichtlich sind und Greyson und Ian versuchen ihm zu helfen, aber das ist ihm zu viel.
Alles in allem bin ich gespannt, wie es weiter geht. Die Verbindungen zwischen den dreien scheinen sich zu dehnen, Freundschaften scheinen sich aufzulösen. Aber vielleicht endet alles ja doch noch als 'Bros über Hos'.
Bin gespannt!
Das Buch ist abwechselnd aus der Sicht der 3 Hauptcharaktere geschrieben.Allerdings ändert sich der Schreibstil nur minimal, daher ist es ganz gut, dass die Überschrift einem den Hinweis gibt,wer gerade erzählt.
Die drei Jungs sind seit Jahren jeden Sommer zusammen auf einer Touristeninsel.
Greyson kommt aus reichen Verhältnissen und hat eine großartige Footballkarriere vor sich. Bis seine Mutter die Familie verlässt und er einen mehr oder weniger selbstinszenierten Autounfall hat, bei dem sein Wurfarm verletzt wurde. Er spricht allerdings mit niemandem über das Thema, erst recht nicht darüber, dass er starke Schmerzen hat. Er möchte alles vergessen und sich wie jedes Jahr mit Touristinnen amüsieren. Leider steht er sich da selber am meisten im Wege.
Ian lebt auf der Insel. Sein Vater hatte eine Unfall und kann nicht arbeiten und mit zwei kleineren Geschwistern ist die Familie am Rande der Pleite. Nur weil Ian Geld dazuverdient funktioniert alles noch so halbwegs. Natürlich wissen seine Kumpels nichts davon. Er ist seit Jahren mit Harper zusammen, deren einziges Ziel es ist, so schnell sie kann von der Insel zu verschwinden. Sie planen eine gemeinsam Zukunft in New York. Bis sie, einmal wieder, mit ihm Schluss macht. Allerdings fühlt es sich dieses Mal so an, als sei es auch das letzte Mal.
Mike ist der letzte im Bunde. Sein Vater ist von seinem letzten Militäreinsatz im Sarg zurückgekommen und natürlich ist nichts mehr, wie es war. Seine Mutter trinkt zu viel und er verschwindet schon ziemlich schnell zu Greyson, wo er sich in einem der vielen Gästezimmer einnistet und mehr oder weniger schlechte Songs auf seiner Gitarre komponiert.
Mike ist der einzige, dessen Probleme offen ersichtlich sind und Greyson und Ian versuchen ihm zu helfen, aber das ist ihm zu viel.
Alles in allem bin ich gespannt, wie es weiter geht. Die Verbindungen zwischen den dreien scheinen sich zu dehnen, Freundschaften scheinen sich aufzulösen. Aber vielleicht endet alles ja doch noch als 'Bros über Hos'.
Bin gespannt!
June 22, 2017
Light, fun summer young adult read.
June 22, 2021
I did not think I was going to like this book. 5 pages in I thought my assumption was correct. What with Grayson being the epitome of male privilege, the dude bro, and entitled I wasn’t sure I could make it through the rest of the book. But the more I read the better I got to know this band of brothers (Mike being my absolute favorite) and the more I understood them as people and the world of this book.
A great read! It an interesting layout by having us read from the perspectives of the three best friends in an unfailing pattern of three— cyclically. Funny and light until it’s not. A great read that explores the friendships of young men, their coming of age, and the complexities of our many many emotions.
A great read! It an interesting layout by having us read from the perspectives of the three best friends in an unfailing pattern of three— cyclically. Funny and light until it’s not. A great read that explores the friendships of young men, their coming of age, and the complexities of our many many emotions.
September 29, 2016
Actual rating 3.5 stars
So this book had an interesting concept. It follows three teen guys: Grayson Cartwright he's your typical teen athlete, star quarterback ready to head off to Vanderbilt in the fall on a football scholarship. However, an injury from a bad decision could end it all. Ian Handler your typical artsy guy, spends more time with his guitar than anything else. Avoiding his mother during her time of mourning after losing her husband (Ian's father). Mike Metzler (my favorite) is your typical island boy but with a lot of responsibility this summer. His dad's been injured which means he has to step up to make the money the family needs.
This is the last summer these three boys will spend in Winlock Harbor before starting their lives as adults. However, nothing goes as planned this summer. Normally, they spent it making fun of the tourists, watching a tv show and drinking. Not this summer though, each one has had so much going on that they can't just do the simple things. However, none of them are willing to talk about the big issues until the end.
Things get really messy for them pretty quickly. Harper, Mike's on again off again girlfriend, who is constant need of "breathers" dumps him again pretty early on. After six years of this Mike is use to it. Then Grayson stumbles upon a crying Harper and the line between right and wrong becomes gray. Soon Grayson and Harper are sneaking around and lying. Things only get more complicated for them when Mike starts working on Grayson's roof, which is yet another job for Mike to help the family.
Mike meets Julie a new girl to the island for the summer after she tries to save him from drowning, only to find out he wasn't drowning. He was actually searching for his surf board. He quickly finds himself in a routine of spending time with Julie but can't seem to leave Harper in his past. Especially after finding Grayson's phone with 22 text messages from Harper. Grayson covers it up only to be caught kissing Harper on the beach by Mike which leads to fight.
Grayson is fighting his future. His shoulder is hurt from a running a car into a tree after his mom walks out. Now his whole future is on the line at Vanderbilt. His father is determined he is fine because Grayson has been lying and hiding his pain from his shoulder. Now, there's no where to hide and he has to face it all, including his mother and his best friend while making a decision for his future.
Ian had it the hardest in my opinion. He was an army brat who felt like he failed his father because they had very little in common. Then add his mother into the mix she's drinking her feeling away. He's unable to stay in his grandparents house with all the reminders of his father. So, he joins Grayson at his house but he soon finds himself finding comfort in the arms by Whitney, Grayson's sister.
After an incident with his mother towards the end of the summer Ian finds himself wanting to end it all. Whitney knowing something is wrong with Ian finds Mike and Grayson in the mist of the fight over Harper, she breaks it up just in time for them to reach Ian before he makes the mistake of a lifetime.
The book concludes with Ian deciding to stay on the island, Grayson leaving back to Connecticut to figure out his future and Mike deciding his life would always be on the island.
Overall, the book was really great. I loved the idea, the only problem for me was I couldn't relate to Ian and I couldn't stand Grayson. Mike was the one saving grace for me in this book. However, overall the book is a good read.
So this book had an interesting concept. It follows three teen guys: Grayson Cartwright he's your typical teen athlete, star quarterback ready to head off to Vanderbilt in the fall on a football scholarship. However, an injury from a bad decision could end it all. Ian Handler your typical artsy guy, spends more time with his guitar than anything else. Avoiding his mother during her time of mourning after losing her husband (Ian's father). Mike Metzler (my favorite) is your typical island boy but with a lot of responsibility this summer. His dad's been injured which means he has to step up to make the money the family needs.
This is the last summer these three boys will spend in Winlock Harbor before starting their lives as adults. However, nothing goes as planned this summer. Normally, they spent it making fun of the tourists, watching a tv show and drinking. Not this summer though, each one has had so much going on that they can't just do the simple things. However, none of them are willing to talk about the big issues until the end.
Things get really messy for them pretty quickly. Harper, Mike's on again off again girlfriend, who is constant need of "breathers" dumps him again pretty early on. After six years of this Mike is use to it. Then Grayson stumbles upon a crying Harper and the line between right and wrong becomes gray. Soon Grayson and Harper are sneaking around and lying. Things only get more complicated for them when Mike starts working on Grayson's roof, which is yet another job for Mike to help the family.
Mike meets Julie a new girl to the island for the summer after she tries to save him from drowning, only to find out he wasn't drowning. He was actually searching for his surf board. He quickly finds himself in a routine of spending time with Julie but can't seem to leave Harper in his past. Especially after finding Grayson's phone with 22 text messages from Harper. Grayson covers it up only to be caught kissing Harper on the beach by Mike which leads to fight.
Grayson is fighting his future. His shoulder is hurt from a running a car into a tree after his mom walks out. Now his whole future is on the line at Vanderbilt. His father is determined he is fine because Grayson has been lying and hiding his pain from his shoulder. Now, there's no where to hide and he has to face it all, including his mother and his best friend while making a decision for his future.
Ian had it the hardest in my opinion. He was an army brat who felt like he failed his father because they had very little in common. Then add his mother into the mix she's drinking her feeling away. He's unable to stay in his grandparents house with all the reminders of his father. So, he joins Grayson at his house but he soon finds himself finding comfort in the arms by Whitney, Grayson's sister.
After an incident with his mother towards the end of the summer Ian finds himself wanting to end it all. Whitney knowing something is wrong with Ian finds Mike and Grayson in the mist of the fight over Harper, she breaks it up just in time for them to reach Ian before he makes the mistake of a lifetime.
The book concludes with Ian deciding to stay on the island, Grayson leaving back to Connecticut to figure out his future and Mike deciding his life would always be on the island.
Overall, the book was really great. I loved the idea, the only problem for me was I couldn't relate to Ian and I couldn't stand Grayson. Mike was the one saving grace for me in this book. However, overall the book is a good read.
September 2, 2016
I've never read anything from this author before, but I liked this book. Just picked it up at Target while browsing their book section. It looked like a good summer read. A bit predictable, but still entertaining.
3 boys, now graduated from high school and spending the summer at Winlock Harbor, where they all met 12 yrs. ago when they were all six.
Grayson: He's visiting for the summer, but the once talented football star got into a car accident and his arm will never be the same. His parents split up and his mother just left him and his sister with their dad. He is keeping the fact that his arm is in pain on a daily basis, excruciating at times, while everyone thinks he'll be going to college on a football scholarship. What is keeping him occupied this summer? Rather than spending time w/ his buddies, he's spending it all with Mike's ex-girlfriend.
Mike: He lives at this touristy place. Has been w/ the same girl since he was 12. Now she wants to take a break from him again, for the millionth time. They always get back together and they're planning on going to NYC together after the summer, but this time, the breakup may be permanent. Add to that his father who is a roofer fell and messed up his leg. He's still home recuperating and it's up to Mike and his mom to be the breadwinners for the family, taking care of not only themselves, but his 2 little brothers as well. All this while trying to get over his ex-girlfriend, a cute new girl at the club where he works is a nice distraction. And she is awesome helping out with his little brothers too.
Ian. Visiting for the summer, just like they always have. Only this year things are different. His father was killed in the line of duty. Now his mother is losing it, drinking wine like it's the air she breathes, he decides to live in Grayson's house while his mother mourns the death of her husband, staying with her parents who live on the Harbor. He's in total denial about his Dad's death and isn't coping at all. But Grayson's little sister seems to be an inviting distraction.
These 3 guys are the best of friends, but no one is talking about anything important that's going on in their lives. Will they drift apart, or will the secrets they're keeping bring them closer together?
3 boys, now graduated from high school and spending the summer at Winlock Harbor, where they all met 12 yrs. ago when they were all six.
Grayson: He's visiting for the summer, but the once talented football star got into a car accident and his arm will never be the same. His parents split up and his mother just left him and his sister with their dad. He is keeping the fact that his arm is in pain on a daily basis, excruciating at times, while everyone thinks he'll be going to college on a football scholarship. What is keeping him occupied this summer? Rather than spending time w/ his buddies, he's spending it all with Mike's ex-girlfriend.
Mike: He lives at this touristy place. Has been w/ the same girl since he was 12. Now she wants to take a break from him again, for the millionth time. They always get back together and they're planning on going to NYC together after the summer, but this time, the breakup may be permanent. Add to that his father who is a roofer fell and messed up his leg. He's still home recuperating and it's up to Mike and his mom to be the breadwinners for the family, taking care of not only themselves, but his 2 little brothers as well. All this while trying to get over his ex-girlfriend, a cute new girl at the club where he works is a nice distraction. And she is awesome helping out with his little brothers too.
Ian. Visiting for the summer, just like they always have. Only this year things are different. His father was killed in the line of duty. Now his mother is losing it, drinking wine like it's the air she breathes, he decides to live in Grayson's house while his mother mourns the death of her husband, staying with her parents who live on the Harbor. He's in total denial about his Dad's death and isn't coping at all. But Grayson's little sister seems to be an inviting distraction.
These 3 guys are the best of friends, but no one is talking about anything important that's going on in their lives. Will they drift apart, or will the secrets they're keeping bring them closer together?
August 17, 2023
Ever wonder what your friends might think of you or what you’re doing? If yes, then the book Boys of Summer by Jessica Brody would be good. This book is about three friends going to Winlock Harbor, a childhood vacation destination on their last summer of high school. But, this summer everything seems changed and very different. The author organizes the text from each friend’s perspective. Each friend shares their problems and things other people don’t seem to notice about them. As the book keeps moving forward, it is noticeable how one person’s romantic life and problems affect the other two.
The variety of family problems appeared frequently in the book and attempts are made to resolve them which makes this book more realistic and enjoyable. Ian is one of the three main characters along with Mike and Grayson. Something they all had in common is that they all have extremely complicated family situations. Background information, which is given in the first few pages of the book, is that: Mike's dad recently gets in an accident at work and is mainly out of commission in terms of working/taking care of the kids for at least a few months, so money is tight; Ian's dad recently passed away (he was a soldier) and his mom started drinking because of it; Grayson's mom recently left his family without much notice and his dad is keeping the whole thing a secret. Throughout the novel, there are more dramatic events where one friend's romantic life interferes with the lives of the other two. Each of them is struggling with a girl problem, which they keep a secret from the others. They are also hiding family issues from each other. They all seem to be going through an internal conflict that they keep hidden from one another, whether it be a secret, a life-changing injury, suicidal thoughts, or a wish to escape.
I highly recommend this book for teenagers especially because they can relate to it. It’s just a great way to acknowledge the troubles that some people face throughout their teenage years. Thus, this would be a great option to choose for those that are interested in realistic fiction books. Would you get this book to escape struggles in the real world and relate to others that could be going through this as well?
The variety of family problems appeared frequently in the book and attempts are made to resolve them which makes this book more realistic and enjoyable. Ian is one of the three main characters along with Mike and Grayson. Something they all had in common is that they all have extremely complicated family situations. Background information, which is given in the first few pages of the book, is that: Mike's dad recently gets in an accident at work and is mainly out of commission in terms of working/taking care of the kids for at least a few months, so money is tight; Ian's dad recently passed away (he was a soldier) and his mom started drinking because of it; Grayson's mom recently left his family without much notice and his dad is keeping the whole thing a secret. Throughout the novel, there are more dramatic events where one friend's romantic life interferes with the lives of the other two. Each of them is struggling with a girl problem, which they keep a secret from the others. They are also hiding family issues from each other. They all seem to be going through an internal conflict that they keep hidden from one another, whether it be a secret, a life-changing injury, suicidal thoughts, or a wish to escape.
I highly recommend this book for teenagers especially because they can relate to it. It’s just a great way to acknowledge the troubles that some people face throughout their teenage years. Thus, this would be a great option to choose for those that are interested in realistic fiction books. Would you get this book to escape struggles in the real world and relate to others that could be going through this as well?
May 9, 2016
I was provided an ARC of Boys Of Summer By: Jessica Brody in exchange for an honest review from Raincoast Books.
My Review:
I haven't been reading much young adult reads lately due to the fact nothing really pulled me in and the fact that I've been going hard reading erotic romance doesn't help (shh, don't judge me) But then I found out one of my fave YA writers had a new book coming out and it was on like donkey kong lol.
Jessica Brody's books have always been A+ in my book and Boys Of Summer didn't disappoint in the book we meet 3 best friends since childhood. Grayson the rich kid who is a football star, Mike the local boy who's not only hardworking but in love. And finally Ian the sarcastic army brat who's a musician.
Boys of Summer is told in 3 POVs each boy tells their story intertwining each one which I loved especially since its a bunch of guys telling their stories which is very rare in my young adult reads! YAASSS! Jessica! Throughout the story we learn things about each of them that can change their friendship forever. there is also heartache, truth, growth and realization amongst the friends and makes for an eye opening read.
My Final Thoughts:
I can't say this enough Jessica Brody's books never disappoint I always fall in love with her writing and Boys of Summer is no different and worth the read.
My Review:
I haven't been reading much young adult reads lately due to the fact nothing really pulled me in and the fact that I've been going hard reading erotic romance doesn't help (shh, don't judge me) But then I found out one of my fave YA writers had a new book coming out and it was on like donkey kong lol.
Jessica Brody's books have always been A+ in my book and Boys Of Summer didn't disappoint in the book we meet 3 best friends since childhood. Grayson the rich kid who is a football star, Mike the local boy who's not only hardworking but in love. And finally Ian the sarcastic army brat who's a musician.
Boys of Summer is told in 3 POVs each boy tells their story intertwining each one which I loved especially since its a bunch of guys telling their stories which is very rare in my young adult reads! YAASSS! Jessica! Throughout the story we learn things about each of them that can change their friendship forever. there is also heartache, truth, growth and realization amongst the friends and makes for an eye opening read.
My Final Thoughts:
I can't say this enough Jessica Brody's books never disappoint I always fall in love with her writing and Boys of Summer is no different and worth the read.
December 13, 2017
Wow this book was horrible. Like really really really bad. Like the worst book I’ve forced myself to finish in a long time.
I read a sort of sad book earlier today so I figured I needed to read some kind of lighthearted summer YA book to get my spirits up, and this was not it.
This book is supposed to be about three best guy friends in summer, but it’s more like three guy friends who only still talk because they’re each other’s only friends on the island. I mean, they don’t actually ever talk. They just force each other to go to parties and drink even though none of them want to. They each keep secrets, no one asks each other how they’re doing (even though one guys dad died and another guys mom left their family and another guy is feeling pressure from having to support his family). I mean, they don’t talk AT ALL.
Instead, they each lie to and betray each other. Like one guy starts hooking up with his best friends ex girlfriend of six years ??? Like the day after she breaks up with him?? And another guy starts hooking up with his friends sister????? And it’s like, why is everyone so shitty??????
Worst. Book.
I read a sort of sad book earlier today so I figured I needed to read some kind of lighthearted summer YA book to get my spirits up, and this was not it.
This book is supposed to be about three best guy friends in summer, but it’s more like three guy friends who only still talk because they’re each other’s only friends on the island. I mean, they don’t actually ever talk. They just force each other to go to parties and drink even though none of them want to. They each keep secrets, no one asks each other how they’re doing (even though one guys dad died and another guys mom left their family and another guy is feeling pressure from having to support his family). I mean, they don’t talk AT ALL.
Instead, they each lie to and betray each other. Like one guy starts hooking up with his best friends ex girlfriend of six years ??? Like the day after she breaks up with him?? And another guy starts hooking up with his friends sister????? And it’s like, why is everyone so shitty??????
Worst. Book.
Currently reading
October 13, 2016Boys Of Summer was a little challenging for me ever since I picked it up. When I started reading this book, it wasn't exactly the book I was looking for. In this book, the author creates a story with different perspectives of teenage boys. The concept that threw me off was that, each chapter was a new perspective and I felt like the chapters weren't introduced well enough at the beginning to know who was talking. So basically I would start a new chapter and say to myself, "Okay, I think this is Grayson talking", but then there was that one large hint that it wasn't him/her and you had to go back and rethink the entire mental picture in your head. This book definitely got me ready for swimming, tanning, perfect weather, flip flops and surf boards, basically everything that describes summer. Although it did meet my genre expectation of a fiction book generally about teens, it was still a difficult book to understand for me.If you're one that likes teen stories and you just absolutely love summer, along with constant changing perspectives, this may be a book you want to look in to.
June 16, 2016
This story intertwines the three lives of high school boys moving into the next stage of life. Are the rules the same or are we moving past those days of just playing, now feelings matter, and people are hurt by our games. Is there really a "man code" when love is involved? Is your ex really off limits and why is your sister so cute now? Brody does a great job of making you remember those feelings of that next step after high school and how friends and lives change dramatically.
June 16, 2016
This book was okay. It didn't really do anything for me. I thought the premise was really cool, how it switched between three guys' points of view, but the three voices all kind of sounded the same to me. I had to keep checking to remember whose chapter I was reading. The last 40 pages or so were the best for me.
April 26, 2016
I can never get enough of Jessica Brody books! Grayson, Mike, and Ian are my new book boyfriends! Each one has something to add to a relationship, but I have to say I love Mike. Very cute summer read with more strong characters and plots that don't just have romances.
August 22, 2016
This is a book that I'll forget all about it in a matter of minutes, but it was exactly what I was looking for in the moment. This is that easy, quick, perfect summer read sure to entertain, but not covering new ground or provoking many thoughts.
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