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Bocas Trilogy #2
Bronte
The sequel to Bocas, Bronte, follows George to Australia.
PJ left a little surprise back home. And her name is Charlotte.
PJ left a little surprise back home. And her name is Charlotte.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2019
17 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 1, 2019
Bronte is the second novel in a planned trilogy by author Thomas Barron about the overseas adventures of George Lewis, an affable American in his late twenties who finds himself embroiled in romantic entanglements and criminal enterprises ranging from arms-dealing to homicide, from (so far) Bocas del Toro to Sydney, Australia.
In the first novel, Bocas, George is taking a break from life by escaping to Panama when he gets wrapped up in a shoot-out between Israeli Intelligence and a drug cartel and his close friend PJ is tragically caught in the crossfire. In the second novel, Bronte, George travels to Australia to attend the funeral and to meet the baby, PJ unknowingly fathered. George’s complicated personal life only becomes more nuanced as he develops a new romantic interest ‘down under’ while simultaneously getting hit with a bombshell from an old flame back home, all of which would be more than enough for George to deal with while grieving the loss of a close friend but then, there’s the small matter of a homicide that needs covering up.
Bronte, like Bocas, is brimming with humor, charm, poignant moments, and sharp observations on life and relationships. Many of these are conveyed brilliantly in the form of Twitter posts the author uses sporadically through the novel to provide witty and perceptive observations on how men and women relate to one another. Barron’s writing is refreshingly spare, ripe with wordplay, and loaded with insight. And like Bocas, the characters Barron has created in Bronte are fully realized, deeply flawed, and achingly human.
Bronte is a well-written, clever, and perceptive novel that is a satisfying follow-up to Bocas. I’m not sure where George’s third adventure will land him but I suspect it will involve a sandy beach somewhere that starts with the letter B. I’ve got my Speedo packed and ready to go.
In the first novel, Bocas, George is taking a break from life by escaping to Panama when he gets wrapped up in a shoot-out between Israeli Intelligence and a drug cartel and his close friend PJ is tragically caught in the crossfire. In the second novel, Bronte, George travels to Australia to attend the funeral and to meet the baby, PJ unknowingly fathered. George’s complicated personal life only becomes more nuanced as he develops a new romantic interest ‘down under’ while simultaneously getting hit with a bombshell from an old flame back home, all of which would be more than enough for George to deal with while grieving the loss of a close friend but then, there’s the small matter of a homicide that needs covering up.
Bronte, like Bocas, is brimming with humor, charm, poignant moments, and sharp observations on life and relationships. Many of these are conveyed brilliantly in the form of Twitter posts the author uses sporadically through the novel to provide witty and perceptive observations on how men and women relate to one another. Barron’s writing is refreshingly spare, ripe with wordplay, and loaded with insight. And like Bocas, the characters Barron has created in Bronte are fully realized, deeply flawed, and achingly human.
Bronte is a well-written, clever, and perceptive novel that is a satisfying follow-up to Bocas. I’m not sure where George’s third adventure will land him but I suspect it will involve a sandy beach somewhere that starts with the letter B. I’ve got my Speedo packed and ready to go.
June 12, 2019
Clever, fun, and soulfully sweet, Bronte balances action, emotion, and humor, woven together with engaging narration. Like in the preceding novel Bocas, the setting - here, coastal Sydney - plays a starring role as George continues on his journey. An enjoyable and satisfying read.
January 4, 2024
This series is seriously one of my favorites ever. Bronte continues on the same note as Bocas with our protagonist embarking on a new journey on the other side of the planet. We get immersed in a range of lovable characters similar to those in Bocas like PJ’s siblings and the coffee shop worker. We get the same romance filled drama on just as crazy of a scale. And we get yet another shocking plot twist that sets up another drama filled ending that is sure to keep you on your toes. Bronte is everything Bocas is but is able to remain fresh in its approach through new forms of comedy, dialogue, characters, and plot nuances. This series might seriously be my favorite ever.
June 7, 2020
The two books I’ve read so far in this series got me to make a new “shelf” on my reading list — “Fun.”
The first book, Bocas, followed Thomas Barron’s main character, George, through an ill-fated adventure in Panama. Taking a time-out from life, George has settled into a beachy life, teaching kids how to swim, tending bar, and hanging out with his best friend and roommate PJ. All the while, he was building an unorthodox journalism career tweeting lovelife advice for Esquire, maintaining eternal irresoluteness with his sometimes girlfriend Shawna, and getting himself in over his head with the bad guys.
Now he’s picking up the pieces, in Australia, at PJ’s funeral, and visiting PJ’s infant daughter there, Charlotte.
That kind of sounds like just a wrapping up of what happened in Bocas, but it’s not — it’s a new adventure. One thing I appreciate so far about this series is that the books stand alone — they are less like installments in a single story than a set of more or less independent stories tied together by George’s character and by events that fall into the background as we move from one story to the next.
That said, the one loose end in Bocas that I really wanted to hunt down here was the story of George and Shawna. I’m rooting for Shawna (one way or another), I have to admit. And she’s here, but it won’t spoil anything to say that their story doesn’t get resolved here, just more complicated.
Okay, but now on to the new adventure. George meets up with Craig (“Craigo” in Australian), PJ’s brother, and Suzanne, PJ’s sister, in Bronte, a beachy suburb of Sydney. Craigo is a memorable character — his job is his pastime, making t-shirts loaded with puns on the back — in fact the name of his t-shirt store is “We’ve Gotchya Back.” Luckily, he doesn’t need the income from the store. Craigo surfs, fights, drunks . . . he does Australian beach life.
Suzanne, of course (I don’t say that pejoratively), is going to fall in bed with our hero George. That’s going to complicate the thing with Shawna, and it’s going to be a complicated thing in its own right.
Then there are Victoria (“V”) and Philip (“Philip Morris”). Victoria is PJ’s daughter Charlotte’s mom. If you remember PJ from Bocas, you know what Victoria must be like. I won’t go into it.
Philip is another story, and he becomes a big part of the story in the second half of the book. He’s Victoria’s fiancé, and a first rate soulless jerk. He doesn’t even try to cover up his cheating on Victoria, and, as it turns out, he’s abusive. And even worse, if that’s possible.
Craigo and George have to do something. I’ll leave it there.
So it’s fun in what the author described as a “beachy noir” way. I never knew I liked “beachy noir.” but I like beaches and I like noir, so there it is. Fun.
A little disclaimer that I’d ask you not to take too seriously — the author, Thomas Barron, offered me the book after I read and reviewed Bocas (which he’d also given me). I wouldn’t normally take someone up on the offer (in fact, I offered to buy the book instead), but the “beachy noir” thing got to me. I’m grateful to him for drawing me into the saga of George.
Now I’m hooked, and I have to find out what happens with Shawna in the last book, Bolinas.
The first book, Bocas, followed Thomas Barron’s main character, George, through an ill-fated adventure in Panama. Taking a time-out from life, George has settled into a beachy life, teaching kids how to swim, tending bar, and hanging out with his best friend and roommate PJ. All the while, he was building an unorthodox journalism career tweeting lovelife advice for Esquire, maintaining eternal irresoluteness with his sometimes girlfriend Shawna, and getting himself in over his head with the bad guys.
Now he’s picking up the pieces, in Australia, at PJ’s funeral, and visiting PJ’s infant daughter there, Charlotte.
That kind of sounds like just a wrapping up of what happened in Bocas, but it’s not — it’s a new adventure. One thing I appreciate so far about this series is that the books stand alone — they are less like installments in a single story than a set of more or less independent stories tied together by George’s character and by events that fall into the background as we move from one story to the next.
That said, the one loose end in Bocas that I really wanted to hunt down here was the story of George and Shawna. I’m rooting for Shawna (one way or another), I have to admit. And she’s here, but it won’t spoil anything to say that their story doesn’t get resolved here, just more complicated.
Okay, but now on to the new adventure. George meets up with Craig (“Craigo” in Australian), PJ’s brother, and Suzanne, PJ’s sister, in Bronte, a beachy suburb of Sydney. Craigo is a memorable character — his job is his pastime, making t-shirts loaded with puns on the back — in fact the name of his t-shirt store is “We’ve Gotchya Back.” Luckily, he doesn’t need the income from the store. Craigo surfs, fights, drunks . . . he does Australian beach life.
Suzanne, of course (I don’t say that pejoratively), is going to fall in bed with our hero George. That’s going to complicate the thing with Shawna, and it’s going to be a complicated thing in its own right.
Then there are Victoria (“V”) and Philip (“Philip Morris”). Victoria is PJ’s daughter Charlotte’s mom. If you remember PJ from Bocas, you know what Victoria must be like. I won’t go into it.
Philip is another story, and he becomes a big part of the story in the second half of the book. He’s Victoria’s fiancé, and a first rate soulless jerk. He doesn’t even try to cover up his cheating on Victoria, and, as it turns out, he’s abusive. And even worse, if that’s possible.
Craigo and George have to do something. I’ll leave it there.
So it’s fun in what the author described as a “beachy noir” way. I never knew I liked “beachy noir.” but I like beaches and I like noir, so there it is. Fun.
A little disclaimer that I’d ask you not to take too seriously — the author, Thomas Barron, offered me the book after I read and reviewed Bocas (which he’d also given me). I wouldn’t normally take someone up on the offer (in fact, I offered to buy the book instead), but the “beachy noir” thing got to me. I’m grateful to him for drawing me into the saga of George.
Now I’m hooked, and I have to find out what happens with Shawna in the last book, Bolinas.
May 6, 2019
Having read and enjoyed the first book in this series I was thrilled to read the second book.
In the continuing story of George he is now in Australia for the funeral of his best friend PJ. His wandering life has led him to his best friends battered baby mamma, hot sister, funny and intense brother and a whole new country to swim in. There are even glimpses into a full-time gig as a “Dear Abby” type for the lovelorn twitter users. The same agile scenes I enjoyed in the first book are here and the glances inside George’s head made this a very enjoyable read.
I’ll be keeping my eye out for the end of the trilogy as I am now invested in George’s future and there was the slightest glimpse of what may be coming.
In the continuing story of George he is now in Australia for the funeral of his best friend PJ. His wandering life has led him to his best friends battered baby mamma, hot sister, funny and intense brother and a whole new country to swim in. There are even glimpses into a full-time gig as a “Dear Abby” type for the lovelorn twitter users. The same agile scenes I enjoyed in the first book are here and the glances inside George’s head made this a very enjoyable read.
I’ll be keeping my eye out for the end of the trilogy as I am now invested in George’s future and there was the slightest glimpse of what may be coming.
June 24, 2020
After reading Bocas, I could not wait to read the second book of the trilogy. Barron really respects the reader with his use of white space on the page, length of the chapters and novel...perfect. I also like the cover designs, size of the book and paper stock...all home runs in my book (pun intended). I am getting so attached to this author's style and design...it is going to be tough to read another novel after I am done with the trilogy. Will have to read Bolinas much slower than I did the first two.
April 11, 2020
Absolutely incredible! I couldn’t put it down, finished it so quickly because of how immersed I was in the story. Thomas writes to make you feel part of the story, like the characters are your friends and like you live in Australia. Suspenseful, funny & witty! Loved every page!
January 23, 2025
An excellent continuation of the series. It read like a love letter to Australia and how deep a friendship can go. Barron's writing style is fun and easy to digest. I love the storytelling and look inside Georgie's brain.
November 30, 2020
Held my attention from the first page to the last
June 30, 2023
I enjoyed the first book, but this one is even better. Love the characters, their worries, and especially the 'solution' to one of the biggest problems.
December 12, 2019
OMFG. Read BOCAS! Read BRONTE! Then weep down on your knees, praying Barron blesses us with a 3rd. 🙏
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews