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Summer of the Boy
Damn my luck.
First summer home from college, I have to deal with the fallout of the bomb I dropped on my family the night before I left.
First summer home from college, I have to face the realities of breaking my girlfriend's heart.
First summer home from college, I meet the man of my dreams...
And I don't know if it's legal.
First summer home from college, I have to deal with the fallout of the bomb I dropped on my family the night before I left.
First summer home from college, I have to face the realities of breaking my girlfriend's heart.
First summer home from college, I meet the man of my dreams...
And I don't know if it's legal.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2018
94 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Zolton Arthur
46 books241 followersA former preschool teacher, chef, and lastly, a stay-at-home mom, Sarah Zolton Arthur has worn many hats in her life, until graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in English/Creative Writing and finally finding the hat that fits: writing romantic comedies. Above all else, she lives by these rules. Call them Sarah’s life edicts: In Sarah's world, all books have kissing and end in some form of HEA, because all romance heroes deserve love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 22, 2018
1.5 stars round up for the likeable MCs
After a pretty decent start, this ended up being a very disappointing read for me. The MCs were very likeable and as a couple, so very sweet but….
Leif is home from college during summer break. He’s at a Fair when he witnesses Ridley having a meltdown. Ridley is autistic, and Leif gets him to calm down. After this initial meeting, they become fast friends. The story starts to fall apart for me because the pacing was way too fast, and there were inconsistencies with Ridley’s personality. The constant reference of Ridley as a person with autism became repetitive. At times, it felt like the author was reminding the reader of that fact. There was also a hell of a lot of over the top drama scenes!! It was drama for the sake of drama. It didn’t add anything to the story other then feelings of frustration that had me rolling my eyes.
The story didn’t feel well thought out or researched.
After a pretty decent start, this ended up being a very disappointing read for me. The MCs were very likeable and as a couple, so very sweet but….
Leif is home from college during summer break. He’s at a Fair when he witnesses Ridley having a meltdown. Ridley is autistic, and Leif gets him to calm down. After this initial meeting, they become fast friends. The story starts to fall apart for me because the pacing was way too fast, and there were inconsistencies with Ridley’s personality. The constant reference of Ridley as a person with autism became repetitive. At times, it felt like the author was reminding the reader of that fact. There was also a hell of a lot of over the top drama scenes!! It was drama for the sake of drama. It didn’t add anything to the story other then feelings of frustration that had me rolling my eyes.
The story didn’t feel well thought out or researched.
October 6, 2018
I'm so sorry but I just didn't like anything in this book. All went too fast for me.
These two young boys met in some "bad" circumstances and it's kind of love at first sight. I'm not a big fan of this kind of book but I decided to give it a try. It was so disappointing 😬.
Leif is a young nineteen boy who came out one year ago in front of his family. Since that, he avoids them because he feels like nobody understood him (I found it funny because his mother is the type of person who knows everything about everything, open-minded as f***. I can't understand how he thought she couldn't understand 🤷🏽♀️ ). When he comes back for summer holidays, he meets Ridley, a young 20 boy, who's autistic and it just "click" beetween them.
They started to hang out together and a few days later they were already all about their feelings for each other (😒). Then "chance" made Ridley postulate in the same university as Leif.
Throughout the process, Ridley's mother is considered like a b**** just because she tried to protect her son, ok, she did it the wrong way BUT this woman was there for her son every day when the father left. Leif's parents are amazing but I don't know if I mean it in a good way haha (). Lol.
Nothing felt right in this. Ridley could have handled the situation better with his mother. Leif's parents were too much, and this love story? Too fast.
Can't recommend it.
August 31, 2020
Sweet summer romance
Very sweet summer romance. Im loving Rid who's an autistic 20 yo, being homeschooled all his life and controlled by his mother. To a certain extent, I sympathise with the mother . She was being protective of him , sheltering him for the outside world and from the prejudice he might face. She was also scared that she herself and her family would be discriminated upon because of Rid. In contrast, Leif has a very supportive family and friends behind his back. Summer romance bloom between both and they got their happy ending.
Very sweet summer romance. Im loving Rid who's an autistic 20 yo, being homeschooled all his life and controlled by his mother. To a certain extent, I sympathise with the mother . She was being protective of him , sheltering him for the outside world and from the prejudice he might face. She was also scared that she herself and her family would be discriminated upon because of Rid. In contrast, Leif has a very supportive family and friends behind his back. Summer romance bloom between both and they got their happy ending.
August 22, 2018
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. The most important one being the way Sarah portrays a person who has autism. I worked in the field of special education and hated having my students described as disabled. Ridley wasn’t disabled. He was a very capable young man. Unfortunately, he had a mother who held him back and made him feel inferior.
Luckily Rid is discovered by Leif. This is the story of the summer they fall in love. The summer Lief helps Ridley discover how capable and independent he truly is.
Luckily Rid is discovered by Leif. This is the story of the summer they fall in love. The summer Lief helps Ridley discover how capable and independent he truly is.
November 26, 2018
DNF.
If the insta-love wasn't bad enough, using 'autistic' as a noun sure was. An autistic..... Really???
If the insta-love wasn't bad enough, using 'autistic' as a noun sure was. An autistic..... Really???
November 4, 2018
I always feel bad leaving negative reviews, but this book just wasn't for me (and even problematic) in so many ways. I occasionally enjoy the "love at first sight" trope but it was very literal in every sense of the word in this book and it just... wasn't good.
First off, the book's synopsis doesn't accurately describe the book at all. I had no idea the core component of this book was love between two teenagers, one with autism. And that could have made for an awesome story. (More on why it didn't below.) The synopsis mentions the "bomb dropped" before he left for college. It wasn't that, and was resolved in the first chapter. He never "faced the realities" of breaking his girlfriend's heart. That was never addressed, except for when the character And then there's the "and I don't know if it's legal" part which... what?!
The author botched the love interest's autism so badly. At its core, this book is a story of a man falling in love with an autistic man who is desperate to be seen as a person, NOT an "autistic person," and yet the main character constantly refers to him as autistic or "an autistic" (???) throughout the entire book. There could have been an amazing story between the pair here, but nope.
Then they were saying at 2 weeks.
And there's also the fact that the autistic character's behavior, sensory, and communication issues seemed to just completely disappear over the span of three weeks.
I don't know, this story just didn't work for me on so many levels. I finished it because I paid for it and hoped it'd get better at the end, but it just fell flat and didn't do justice to the character constantly being labeled.
First off, the book's synopsis doesn't accurately describe the book at all. I had no idea the core component of this book was love between two teenagers, one with autism. And that could have made for an awesome story. (More on why it didn't below.) The synopsis mentions the "bomb dropped" before he left for college. It wasn't that, and was resolved in the first chapter. He never "faced the realities" of breaking his girlfriend's heart. That was never addressed, except for when the character And then there's the "and I don't know if it's legal" part which... what?!
The author botched the love interest's autism so badly. At its core, this book is a story of a man falling in love with an autistic man who is desperate to be seen as a person, NOT an "autistic person," and yet the main character constantly refers to him as autistic or "an autistic" (???) throughout the entire book. There could have been an amazing story between the pair here, but nope.
Then they were saying at 2 weeks.
And there's also the fact that the autistic character's behavior, sensory, and communication issues seemed to just completely disappear over the span of three weeks.
I don't know, this story just didn't work for me on so many levels. I finished it because I paid for it and hoped it'd get better at the end, but it just fell flat and didn't do justice to the character constantly being labeled.
August 11, 2018
I liked how the boys got to know each other and fall in love .. but I feel that at the end when you finish the book you can feel you eyes bleeding from how many time you've read autistic .. is that all Rid is ? My autistic boyfriend I've read this phrase 100 times !! At least !!!😞😢😓👹😵😡
November 8, 2023
Lachen, huilen, lief, schattig en hartbrekend. Een do-gooder voor een happy ending en gewoon leuk om te lezen. Een echt romantisch verhaal.
De hoofdpersonen zijn 19 en bijna 20, maar de combinatie van jong en volwassen is hier heel mooi.
De hoofdpersonen zijn 19 en bijna 20, maar de combinatie van jong en volwassen is hier heel mooi.
December 31, 2019
***2.5 stars***
Ridley and Leif first meet when Leif witnesses Ridley have a meltdown during the summer fair, when he becomes overwhelmed at being harrassed by some bullies.
Ridley is likeable. He has autism and an overbearing mother who keeps him on a short leash.
I didn't like Leif, who is instantly smitten with Ridley, but continuously questions whether it's appropriate to have feelings for someone with autism.
The story felt rushed and contrived in many places. At 15%:
**Leif: When he comes into view, my heart speeds up. It doesn’t make any sense, my reaction to him. How could my heart get so spastic after only knowing him the equivalent of a couple of hours? I know what lust feels like. Lust you feel in your groin. Whatever this is starts in my heart region and shoots straight down to the pit of my belly.**
I never felt a connection between the two. Leif often uses of stilted, formal, or awkward language:
**You have to be in love to make love, and we make love.**
**He was already in my heart before he ever entered my body.**
**Everything about us is real. And it might sound stupid, or just be the post-coitus getting the best of me...**
Every arc or plot conflict was easily and quickly resolved. Here we have an older, experienced MC and a younger, autistic, sheltered MC quickly on their way to a HEA. It wasn't believable.
Ridley and Leif first meet when Leif witnesses Ridley have a meltdown during the summer fair, when he becomes overwhelmed at being harrassed by some bullies.
Ridley is likeable. He has autism and an overbearing mother who keeps him on a short leash.
I didn't like Leif, who is instantly smitten with Ridley, but continuously questions whether it's appropriate to have feelings for someone with autism.
The story felt rushed and contrived in many places. At 15%:
**Leif: When he comes into view, my heart speeds up. It doesn’t make any sense, my reaction to him. How could my heart get so spastic after only knowing him the equivalent of a couple of hours? I know what lust feels like. Lust you feel in your groin. Whatever this is starts in my heart region and shoots straight down to the pit of my belly.**
I never felt a connection between the two. Leif often uses of stilted, formal, or awkward language:
**You have to be in love to make love, and we make love.**
**He was already in my heart before he ever entered my body.**
**Everything about us is real. And it might sound stupid, or just be the post-coitus getting the best of me...**
Every arc or plot conflict was easily and quickly resolved. Here we have an older, experienced MC and a younger, autistic, sheltered MC quickly on their way to a HEA. It wasn't believable.
Want to read
August 13, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (8/13/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Damn my luck.
First summer home from college, I have to deal with the fallout of the bomb I dropped on my family the night before I left.
First summer home from college, I have to face the realities of breaking my girlfriend's heart.
First summer home from college, I meet the man of my dreams...
And I don't know if it's legal.
Blurb:
Damn my luck.
First summer home from college, I have to deal with the fallout of the bomb I dropped on my family the night before I left.
First summer home from college, I have to face the realities of breaking my girlfriend's heart.
First summer home from college, I meet the man of my dreams...
And I don't know if it's legal.
March 2, 2019
Gorgeous, utterly gorgeous! Leif is the best guy, and Ridley is downright amazing! These two guys and Leif's family make my heart happy to be living in 2019. I want to read about all the people in Sarah Zolton Arthur's head and be friends with them! New favorite author, woo hoo!
January 11, 2019
I was so interested in this from reading the blurb. Started out ok but then wasn’t. I get that the author has an autistic child so her experience is undoubtedly authentic. However this did not translate into the story which uses shame as it had potential. The whole Gabe talking to Ridley part was unnecessary. Not for me I’m afraid 😊
August 15, 2018
Such a worthwhile read!
Awww this was the most amazingly beautiful story.
A brand new author for me, and I stumbled upon this adorable book purely by accident. Who says there's no such thing as fate? LOL
The love story here is steeped in tenderness, and the subject matter handled with enormous sensitivity and care.
I've not ever read a book relating to this disability before this one, and I loved every single thing about this book.
A delightful, often humorous young adult/coming of age mm tale of romance, friendship and family.
Please, do yourself a favor, and read this book. You will be surprised, amazed and transported. Beautifully accurate editing. Uncomplicated, easy flow writing style and overall, just a delicious, wonderful book.
Well done, Sarah, and thank you for sharing this!
Standalone HFN story.
Heat level zero to one.
(All intimacy off page)
Suitable for all ages.
Awww this was the most amazingly beautiful story.
A brand new author for me, and I stumbled upon this adorable book purely by accident. Who says there's no such thing as fate? LOL
The love story here is steeped in tenderness, and the subject matter handled with enormous sensitivity and care.
I've not ever read a book relating to this disability before this one, and I loved every single thing about this book.
A delightful, often humorous young adult/coming of age mm tale of romance, friendship and family.
Please, do yourself a favor, and read this book. You will be surprised, amazed and transported. Beautifully accurate editing. Uncomplicated, easy flow writing style and overall, just a delicious, wonderful book.
Well done, Sarah, and thank you for sharing this!
Standalone HFN story.
Heat level zero to one.
(All intimacy off page)
Suitable for all ages.
July 18, 2020
"Summer of the Boy" received THREE stars.
The connection between Leif and Ridley was great, but I was constantly pulled out of the story by awkward sentences and incorrect word choices. This story would’ve been stronger with heavy beta reading and a thorough copy editing.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything s/he writes."
The connection between Leif and Ridley was great, but I was constantly pulled out of the story by awkward sentences and incorrect word choices. This story would’ve been stronger with heavy beta reading and a thorough copy editing.
The novel gained *stars* for these items:
* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."
* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."
* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"
The novel failed to gain stars for these items:
NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."
NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything s/he writes."
June 11, 2024
Autistic people are not "retards!"
This is a fantastic story where two people really get to know each other. Even the mother of the autistic son chooses to hinder his life instead of supporting his independence. She chooses to be a bigot to cover for her own sad life.
I wouldn't usually even pick this book up, but reading the sample got me hooked. I'm very glad I read it and couldn't stop.
The story was great and fast paced. The meaning of family really shows through.
Spelling and grammar were very good which added to reading enjoyment and comprehension.
I loved reading this book! ❤️
This is a fantastic story where two people really get to know each other. Even the mother of the autistic son chooses to hinder his life instead of supporting his independence. She chooses to be a bigot to cover for her own sad life.
I wouldn't usually even pick this book up, but reading the sample got me hooked. I'm very glad I read it and couldn't stop.
The story was great and fast paced. The meaning of family really shows through.
Spelling and grammar were very good which added to reading enjoyment and comprehension.
I loved reading this book! ❤️
September 26, 2018
Leif is a newly "out" nineteen year old boy who's home from college for the summer after dropping the bomb on his family that he's gay before leaving for school. Leif has been avoiding going home and his family when he so happens to meet Ridley an autistic man having a full blown meltdown. Leif comes to Ridley's rescue and the two guys form an instant attraction towards one another.
Ridley's mom is a complete nightmare.
Leif's family is amazing.
I won't go into spoiler details but this was a very sweet new adult romance. Really enjoyed this one!
Ridley's mom is a complete nightmare.
Leif's family is amazing.
I won't go into spoiler details but this was a very sweet new adult romance. Really enjoyed this one!
Read
July 9, 2019A beautiful story about love and persevering in the face of obstacles!
Ridley is autistic so dealing with young love and figuring out what it means to be gay is just a little bit harder. I just loved this character and reading about how he reacts and the struggles he deals with was such an eye opener. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and how he would handle situations and continuously be inspired by him. It was a wonderful journey to travel. And finding a great author just makes me eager to see what other great reads are out there to discover and experience.
Ridley is autistic so dealing with young love and figuring out what it means to be gay is just a little bit harder. I just loved this character and reading about how he reacts and the struggles he deals with was such an eye opener. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next and how he would handle situations and continuously be inspired by him. It was a wonderful journey to travel. And finding a great author just makes me eager to see what other great reads are out there to discover and experience.
August 10, 2020
So I liked this. But reading reviews has me questioning some things. Yes it did get repetitive on the whole autism/autistic mentions. Just like my last review (5 mins ago) I hate when authors make me feel stupid like I can't remember simple important facts of a story. Reminding us that Ridley is autistic would be one of them.
I liked the meet cute and the insta-lust. The time jumps were good. The drama was typical teen/boy drama.
But the title doesn't make any sort of sense considering Leif insisted that Ridley was a MAN/ADULT. So why the Boy in the title.
I liked the meet cute and the insta-lust. The time jumps were good. The drama was typical teen/boy drama.
But the title doesn't make any sort of sense considering Leif insisted that Ridley was a MAN/ADULT. So why the Boy in the title.
December 27, 2018
A very special book.
Amazing, sweet, and poignant! A dramatic yet relatable and realistic story that sheds light on a high functioning autistic MC. A very sweet love story that just works. A new favourite author of mine that I'll be following and eagerly anticipating new works from. Brava Ms. Sarah, Brava!
Amazing, sweet, and poignant! A dramatic yet relatable and realistic story that sheds light on a high functioning autistic MC. A very sweet love story that just works. A new favourite author of mine that I'll be following and eagerly anticipating new works from. Brava Ms. Sarah, Brava!
May 24, 2019
He has a fallout to cope with when he gets home from college. A dumped girlfriend and the back last of coming out. Now he has found someone he wants to be with. How is it all going to go? What will the fallout be? See what will happen
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2018
My first read by this author. Excellent, warm hearted story by someone who understands the subject matter first hand. Would have liked to know how things turned out with Rid’s mother. Maybe there will be a sequel. I wish Ms. Arthur had more books in this genre.
November 9, 2019
Wonderfully surprising book
I can say I could not put down this story, irritated when interrupted. This is a fun must read book. If you opt for the audio add on to have it read by a great voice/ voices. Read it already!
I can say I could not put down this story, irritated when interrupted. This is a fun must read book. If you opt for the audio add on to have it read by a great voice/ voices. Read it already!
December 23, 2019
Expanding the Family
Cute story about finding love, autism and adulting. The book is a perfect companion to a rainy weekend. Rid is a highly functional young man with autism and his mother stifling his growth. Thank god for boyfriends! 3.25 for backroad drives.
Cute story about finding love, autism and adulting. The book is a perfect companion to a rainy weekend. Rid is a highly functional young man with autism and his mother stifling his growth. Thank god for boyfriends! 3.25 for backroad drives.
March 12, 2020
A very good, short read. I loved the relationship between Leyf and Ridley. It also showed how Ridley was able to grow once he had people around him that allowed him to grow into the man he was meant to be.
March 31, 2020
3 Stars. I loved Ridley and Leif. I didn’t care for Ridley’s mom, she was a b**** and i also felt like everything that happened with her was a bit too dramatic and to be honest most things in this book were a bit too dramatic, i mean what was up with Gabe???
August 27, 2020
Everyone should read this!
This is one of those books that you wish they would turn into a movie because it’s that touching with all the feels! Absolutely great storyline! The heartache, the struggles, the love, the hate, the sadness, the joy, just everything! I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!
This is one of those books that you wish they would turn into a movie because it’s that touching with all the feels! Absolutely great storyline! The heartache, the struggles, the love, the hate, the sadness, the joy, just everything! I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!
September 23, 2020
Very glad I found this story
Engaging read. Highly recommend this lovely story. I really appreciated the way the author portrayed how people with autism are multi-faceted people, too.
Engaging read. Highly recommend this lovely story. I really appreciated the way the author portrayed how people with autism are multi-faceted people, too.
August 15, 2018
A Very sweet book, loved it from beginning to end Leif and Ridley were both amazing characters wish the book was longer.😍
August 28, 2018
Lovely sweet story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews