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Boyless
Nothing was going to ruin Bryn’s boyless summer. She was all set to have a fantastic experience working at all-girl Camp Timberpine, away from the outside world, away from her food-obsessed mother. With no boys around, Bryn was no longer the bottom of the totem pole of desirability. She was only River, art counselor, still fat, but without the constant reminders that her body shape took her right out of the spawning pool, like a salmon who couldn’t swim upstream.
And then he appears—the camp director’s son, up for the summer to build the camp a new outdoor stage. Logan is more handsome than Bryn would like to admit--and he’s also a threat to all of Bryn’s summer plans. As the other counselors throw themselves at him, Bryn knows that any one of them might be the lead in Logan’s summer romance. Even worse, Logan seems to have pegged her as the safe girl—the one he can hang out with without getting constantly hit on, and no amount of Bryn’s caustic sarcasm will get him to leave her alone. In fact, he almost seems to like it.
Bryn’s hope for a boyless summer rapidly turns to anything but. But could Logan ever be interested in her as more than a friend? And can Bryn let go of her fears and give romance a chance?
And then he appears—the camp director’s son, up for the summer to build the camp a new outdoor stage. Logan is more handsome than Bryn would like to admit--and he’s also a threat to all of Bryn’s summer plans. As the other counselors throw themselves at him, Bryn knows that any one of them might be the lead in Logan’s summer romance. Even worse, Logan seems to have pegged her as the safe girl—the one he can hang out with without getting constantly hit on, and no amount of Bryn’s caustic sarcasm will get him to leave her alone. In fact, he almost seems to like it.
Bryn’s hope for a boyless summer rapidly turns to anything but. But could Logan ever be interested in her as more than a friend? And can Bryn let go of her fears and give romance a chance?
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2016
13 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Janci Patterson
57 books251 followersJanci Patterson writes fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary young adult novels. Janci lives in Orem, Utah, with her husband, Drew Olds, and their children. Janci's first science fiction novel, A Thousand Faces, is available for free from all e-book vendors. Visit Janci at her website, www.jancipatterson.com, to join her reader's group for access to another free novel, her middle grade Searching for Super, only available there.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 19, 2016
This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the POV. I loved how she was an obviously unreliable narrator who didn't know that she was. Her opinion of herself filtered EVERYTHING that she saw and heard - which was perfect. There aren't very many main characters who self-identify as fat who also balance the tension of feeling comfortable in their own skin while uncomfortable with how everyone views them, correct or not. The romance was super sweet and awkward and fun. I loved Bryn's comments; she had me laughing out loud several times! Overall a really fun book. Recommended.
July 2, 2016
This is the best contemporary YA novel I've read in years. It's both a romance and a coming of age story in which the main character needs to learn to love and embrace herself. It's filled with clever, witty dialogue, just the right amount of snarkiness, a nice mixture of art, athleticism, and fun. The subplots are just as developed as the main plat and the ending is spot on. I really liked the portrayal of the overweight character--it's eye-opening and loving and doesn't represent weight loss as the solution to the character's problems. I highly recommend this book!
May 5, 2020
I wanted to like this one. I love summer camp and spent as much time there as possible as a kid and then counselor, so the biggest downfall of this book is that I could not suspend my reality for the story line.
This is about the worse camp I've read about. Apparently most of the staff are minors and in charge of kids for the whole summer (if this was a day camp then sure but it is not), some of those kids are the same age or maybe a year older, there seams to be only one true adult - the camp director, the camp director is terrified her son is going to hook-up with the whole camp, so she is more worried about that than the campers, there is often only one counselor with a group of kids, and the main character is often alone with one child, there is a minor/18 heading up the kitchen. And apparently this camp pays enough for someone to pay tuition AND books for a full semester. ALL of those things are all wrong and I really can't get past the absurdity of it.
Next, and I am glad this slacked off about half way, but EVERY thought the main character had was negative and hung up on her weight. It was frustrating to read and I got tired of being in her head and hearing it all. And this is coming from someone who was and is over weight, so I know those feelings. My sport is equestrian, so I know a thing or two about horse and what they can carry. If you are going to have ponies who cant carry the weight of an active softball player (honestly how heavy is this girl really) then you need to supply some other ponies of horses. One, little ponies are little shits and not really great for camp anyways, large ponies can handle some weight, and if you have campers who are just as old as your staff then you are going to run into weight issues with them and a bigger issue height, so having some horses on hand would be better.
I did actually like and enjoy the connection between Logan and Bren, so that is why this is getting three stars. It was sweet and awkward and all that new relationship in high school is.
But I am glad I got this on the audible escape and did not spend a credit. The narration was good. Normally I would rather have the male POV as well but I was ok only having Bren's POV in this story.
So overall, while I did enjoy the connection between Logan and Bren, I could not get past the location and all the wrongness of the camp.
This is about the worse camp I've read about. Apparently most of the staff are minors and in charge of kids for the whole summer (if this was a day camp then sure but it is not), some of those kids are the same age or maybe a year older, there seams to be only one true adult - the camp director, the camp director is terrified her son is going to hook-up with the whole camp, so she is more worried about that than the campers, there is often only one counselor with a group of kids, and the main character is often alone with one child, there is a minor/18 heading up the kitchen. And apparently this camp pays enough for someone to pay tuition AND books for a full semester. ALL of those things are all wrong and I really can't get past the absurdity of it.
Next, and I am glad this slacked off about half way, but EVERY thought the main character had was negative and hung up on her weight. It was frustrating to read and I got tired of being in her head and hearing it all. And this is coming from someone who was and is over weight, so I know those feelings. My sport is equestrian, so I know a thing or two about horse and what they can carry. If you are going to have ponies who cant carry the weight of an active softball player (honestly how heavy is this girl really) then you need to supply some other ponies of horses. One, little ponies are little shits and not really great for camp anyways, large ponies can handle some weight, and if you have campers who are just as old as your staff then you are going to run into weight issues with them and a bigger issue height, so having some horses on hand would be better.
I did actually like and enjoy the connection between Logan and Bren, so that is why this is getting three stars. It was sweet and awkward and all that new relationship in high school is.
But I am glad I got this on the audible escape and did not spend a credit. The narration was good. Normally I would rather have the male POV as well but I was ok only having Bren's POV in this story.
So overall, while I did enjoy the connection between Logan and Bren, I could not get past the location and all the wrongness of the camp.
January 9, 2024
I listened to the audiobook version of this YA romance novel by Janci Patterson. There is something exquisite about Janci's writing that makes me take books like this, way out of what would be my normal reading genre, and absolutely love them. While the story follows many of the usual beats one would expect from a YA romance, Janci's depth of knowledge of the writer's craft really shines through when it comes to her use of the first person narrator. The main character, Bryn, is likeable and, at the same time, flawed and unreliable as a narrator in a way which fascinates, rather than frustrates, the reader.
Like many of Janci's other books this one has shown me, once again, that excellent writing is almost always worth reading, regardless of genre.
Like many of Janci's other books this one has shown me, once again, that excellent writing is almost always worth reading, regardless of genre.
November 30, 2018
Good young adult romance with imperfect characters. My favorite part was that the fat girl didn’t have to lose weight to get her HEA. Why is this my favorite part? Most books overtly show how shallow it is to judge a book by its cover, then every time the main character must conform to societal standards by losing weight (become the swan) before she wins (deserves?) the boy...negating the message about love should be more than skin deep. This one shows people aren’t perfect, not just by weight or looks but in their personal demons...their expectations and assumptions about what others think and their motives. Recommend.
May 1, 2021
I loved the cover and the title to this novel. And I rate it 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because as a YA Romance it did just enough to deserve it.
...But I almost docked a star (or two!) over the inner monologues that became increasingly repetitious, and also the million and one references to the way the protagonist blushes CONSTANTLY. A little trimming of the inner monologues/ramblings and references to blushing would do this novel wonders.
...But I almost docked a star (or two!) over the inner monologues that became increasingly repetitious, and also the million and one references to the way the protagonist blushes CONSTANTLY. A little trimming of the inner monologues/ramblings and references to blushing would do this novel wonders.
August 9, 2018
This was just delightful. If you like YA or know anyone who likes YA, I highly recommend it. It was just the right mix of romance and humor but not so fluffy it didn't leave an impact.
February 26, 2020
A very sweet summer romance, very well written and it made me feel so many emotions! Couldn't put it down! 😍
May 13, 2016
First loves.
always the best and mostly awkward. This book captured it all. I could see myself in Bryn. Great afternoon read.
always the best and mostly awkward. This book captured it all. I could see myself in Bryn. Great afternoon read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews