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This Boy
Lauren Myracle brings her signature frank, funny, and insightful writing to this novel of a teenage boy’s coming-of-age.
Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the lady lobsters, and “wins” at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he’s given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe — oh god, please — he’s beginning to catch the interest of smart, beautiful Natalia Gutierrez. Cruising through high school as a sauced-out, rap-loving beta lobster suits Paul fine, and if life ever gets him down? Smoke a little weed, crunch a few pills . . . it’s all good.
But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it’s easy to get pulled under. With perfect frankness, Lauren Myracle lays bare the life of one boy as he navigates friendship, love, loss, and addiction. It’s life at its most ordinary and most unforgettable.
Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the lady lobsters, and “wins” at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he’s given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe — oh god, please — he’s beginning to catch the interest of smart, beautiful Natalia Gutierrez. Cruising through high school as a sauced-out, rap-loving beta lobster suits Paul fine, and if life ever gets him down? Smoke a little weed, crunch a few pills . . . it’s all good.
But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it’s easy to get pulled under. With perfect frankness, Lauren Myracle lays bare the life of one boy as he navigates friendship, love, loss, and addiction. It’s life at its most ordinary and most unforgettable.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2020
30 people are currently reading
2623 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Myracle
95 books2,025 followersLauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 25, 2020
I yEeTeD THIS BOOK ACROSS THE CANYON
February 26, 2020
I'm super appreciative that that publisher sent me a copy of this book. It wasn't a book I normally would have picked up but I'm always game to read something new.
Shortly after starting This Boy, I realized this book is not meant for me. I'm 100% not the demographic that I think this book is best aimed at. The synopsis says "with perfect frankness, Lauren Myracle explores the point of view of a middle-class white kid" and honestly, that's very telling about what to expect from this book. I'm not a teenage white boy so I couldn't relate at all and I didn't find this character's perspective to be of any interest to me at all. I don't read Young Adult very often these days but when I do, I realize now that I usually grab a YA book with some diversity in it, something with a new perspective, something I can learn perspective from. This book isn't any of that.
Outside of the complete lack of interesting perspective, I felt like this book was incredibly slow and boring.
Overall, to be completely blunt, this book brings nothing new or exciting to the YA genre and even though I think some male teen readers might enjoy this book, I think there's many more YA books that provide a more interesting perspective and better plots. I've been reading YA for a decade now and I know there's so many books out there with this same perspective with better plots. I wish I could have enjoyed this book but the basic privileged, middle class, straight, white boy narrative isn't interesting even to compensate the extremely slow, boring plot.
Shortly after starting This Boy, I realized this book is not meant for me. I'm 100% not the demographic that I think this book is best aimed at. The synopsis says "with perfect frankness, Lauren Myracle explores the point of view of a middle-class white kid" and honestly, that's very telling about what to expect from this book. I'm not a teenage white boy so I couldn't relate at all and I didn't find this character's perspective to be of any interest to me at all. I don't read Young Adult very often these days but when I do, I realize now that I usually grab a YA book with some diversity in it, something with a new perspective, something I can learn perspective from. This book isn't any of that.
Outside of the complete lack of interesting perspective, I felt like this book was incredibly slow and boring.
Overall, to be completely blunt, this book brings nothing new or exciting to the YA genre and even though I think some male teen readers might enjoy this book, I think there's many more YA books that provide a more interesting perspective and better plots. I've been reading YA for a decade now and I know there's so many books out there with this same perspective with better plots. I wish I could have enjoyed this book but the basic privileged, middle class, straight, white boy narrative isn't interesting even to compensate the extremely slow, boring plot.
November 28, 2021
DNF at 40%
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I haven't personally dealt with a twitching dick, or envisioned myself fondling a female's bouncing boobs, so the main character wasn't someone I could relate to. Even his high school experience was laden with thoughts of sex and how his body was changing, and it was weird to read about him dropping his pants to examine himself. There was way too much dialogue about Paul's penis. If a teenage boy thinks about sex all the time, or they objectify women in their minds, okay. I'm sure there's some truth to that when portraying an adolescent boy, but it's not something I want to read about.
This Boy might be very relatable for some people, and I hope it finds its audience, but I'm way too old to find humor in the occasional booger and frequent fart. I definitely don't want to read about how a high school sophomore handles their private bits, thinks about them, or dreams about how they might one day be used. Additionally, the story progressed slowly, and wasn't all that interesting.
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I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I haven't personally dealt with a twitching dick, or envisioned myself fondling a female's bouncing boobs, so the main character wasn't someone I could relate to. Even his high school experience was laden with thoughts of sex and how his body was changing, and it was weird to read about him dropping his pants to examine himself. There was way too much dialogue about Paul's penis. If a teenage boy thinks about sex all the time, or they objectify women in their minds, okay. I'm sure there's some truth to that when portraying an adolescent boy, but it's not something I want to read about.
This Boy might be very relatable for some people, and I hope it finds its audience, but I'm way too old to find humor in the occasional booger and frequent fart. I definitely don't want to read about how a high school sophomore handles their private bits, thinks about them, or dreams about how they might one day be used. Additionally, the story progressed slowly, and wasn't all that interesting.
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January 13, 2021
Going to be a hard pass for me.
The author wrote this because she thought the “white male middle class POV” wasn’t being featured enough in the diversity discussion. UM NO. White male POV is not “diverse” and there are plenty of stories out there that feature cis het white men. This book is all kinds of problematic.
The author wrote this because she thought the “white male middle class POV” wasn’t being featured enough in the diversity discussion. UM NO. White male POV is not “diverse” and there are plenty of stories out there that feature cis het white men. This book is all kinds of problematic.
pass
April 26, 2020N O P E
November 21, 2020
In April of 2019, I moderated a panel called «This American Experience » as part of an online book festival called YallWest. I was nervous and excited—nervous because I would be presenting a book that is very personal and reflective of a challenging time for my family, and excited because of the importance of the conversation and the caliber of the other participants. I wanted to help shine a light on their extraordinary work. I failed.
I talked too much. I talked about my own book in a way that was divisive and tone deaf. I asked questions that were uncomfortable—not just for my fellow panelists but for the audience as well. I messed up, plain and simple, and I am sorry.
I have always valued openness, in my work and in my conversations, and I am learning that this openness, when combined with an incomplete understanding of the experiences and perspective of the listener, can morph into something painful. I am late to understand this, and am sorry my education came at the expense of others.
I believe that the books my fellow panelists—Angie Thomas, Bill Konigsberg, George Johnson, Jennifer DeLeon, and Natasha Díaz—have written are part of a great opening of our industry and literature to long underrepresented voices. Their work is thrilling and courageous and vital. In positioning my book next to theirs, I implied that it was filling a need as big—or bigger–than theirs. I don’t believe this. I was trying—and failing—to say that there aren’t many current coming of age stories that help cishet white teen boys examine their flawed ideas of masculinity and the damage it causes others and themselves—sometimes, in the case of my protagonist, in the devastating form of opioid addiction. I fumbled my words but I have to accept that the impression they made was reinforced by some of my subsequent questions.
I have apologized to my fellow panelists. I have read readers’ tweets and posts and Goodreads reviews, and I have reflected and listened. I am still reflecting and listening, and will be for a long time. It is work I want to do. In support of this, I donated 25 copies of each of my fellow panelists’ recent books to my local Fort Collins, Co, public library system.
I know this donation and apology do not fix things. I offer them anyway in the hopes that they will mitigate some of the pain and disappointment I have caused to a community I care about very much.
I apologize to all of you from the bottom of my heart.
-Lauren
to-never-read
May 5, 2021| Reader Fox Blog |
How this author and this book ended up on a diversity panel is BEYOND me. I am ten thousand percent not here for this kind of nonsense. It's even more baffling considering the fact that this book apparently has some seriously racist and sexist undertones. It's unacceptable and so I will not be reading this book.
I don't support awful like that.
| Reader Fox Links |
How this author and this book ended up on a diversity panel is BEYOND me. I am ten thousand percent not here for this kind of nonsense. It's even more baffling considering the fact that this book apparently has some seriously racist and sexist undertones. It's unacceptable and so I will not be reading this book.
I don't support awful like that.
| Reader Fox Links |
September 29, 2020
Thank you Definitely Books and Pansing for sending me a copy of this book.
This book is in simple terms, a straight white boy narrative that glosses over addiction and grief. Most of the story is just Paul talking about all of how this girl arouses him or his parents divorce affected him or how he is a bit pissed that his friend is pissed that Paul is with their crush.
Most of the conflicts in this book was really petty and there were only a few concrete issues which were merely given a page or two and I wish more attention was given to those parts of the story as they are quite important topics that need to be addressed more.
I liked how the author talked about addiction and it was nice to see something a bit more meaningful in the story but it didn’t get as much attention as merely just being a subplot of the story.
The writing was a bit too simple and straightforward for me and I wished that the author used more words to try and articulate Paul's thoughts and feelings instead of writing them so bluntly.
Overall, this was a story that had a huge potential but the important parts were not given enough attention and the writing was too simple.
This book is in simple terms, a straight white boy narrative that glosses over addiction and grief. Most of the story is just Paul talking about all of how this girl arouses him or his parents divorce affected him or how he is a bit pissed that his friend is pissed that Paul is with their crush.
Most of the conflicts in this book was really petty and there were only a few concrete issues which were merely given a page or two and I wish more attention was given to those parts of the story as they are quite important topics that need to be addressed more.
I liked how the author talked about addiction and it was nice to see something a bit more meaningful in the story but it didn’t get as much attention as merely just being a subplot of the story.
The writing was a bit too simple and straightforward for me and I wished that the author used more words to try and articulate Paul's thoughts and feelings instead of writing them so bluntly.
Overall, this was a story that had a huge potential but the important parts were not given enough attention and the writing was too simple.
Read
April 26, 2020I loved the Internet girls series, but after what happened at yallfest (yallwest?) online today, I can no longer support this author: https://twitter.com/nekuthebooklock/s...
April 6, 2020
Lauren Miracle is the queen of teen pop culture, and most known for her internet series of books. This Boy seemed like an awfully odd departure for her. For me, it really didn’t work. My main issue with it is it seems like Myracle did a whole lot of research into “teenaged boy.” The main character, Paul, is so unbelievably cliched because of it. A horn dog with an obsession with swag, he has very few redeeming qualities. He makes decisions with little regard for anyone, like when he starts dating a girl his best friend also had a crush on and the proceeds to ghost his best friend for months. I have no problem with a flawed MC - in fact, I love them - but this is just too much. He’s not flawed, he’s unlikable.
Another key problem is the pacing in this book. The drama around the dating situation takes us about 3/4 of the way through the book. And then, out of left field, tragedy strikes. And then Paul descends into a really bad place and makes terrible decisions that change his life forever. (Except that we don’t really care because we don’t really like Paul, remember). All of this action is stuffed into the last 1/4 of the book.
I wouldn’t read this one, probably. It’s not worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another key problem is the pacing in this book. The drama around the dating situation takes us about 3/4 of the way through the book. And then, out of left field, tragedy strikes. And then Paul descends into a really bad place and makes terrible decisions that change his life forever. (Except that we don’t really care because we don’t really like Paul, remember). All of this action is stuffed into the last 1/4 of the book.
I wouldn’t read this one, probably. It’s not worth your time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2020
When I signed in to record this book, I was shocked by the low ratings of other readers...I found this book unforgettable! I was thinking about Paul's story this morning as I drove to work. The book traces Paul's high school life and is very frank about Paul's thoughts on sex and being clueless and at the same time sensitive...Paul begins experimenting with drugs to be cool but... I plan to read the other comments when I get time. I thought Paul's story was realistic with a strong voice that rang true to me.
September 19, 2020
I nearly gave up on this book several times; nothing really happens for the first two-thirds of the novel. And then suddenly! there's a story I could get my teeth into. Sadly, it was over just as it was beginning and never went anywhere. Also the main character has no personality which made me not care what happened to him anyway.
I received a free copy of this book for review courtesy of Candlewick Books.
I received a free copy of this book for review courtesy of Candlewick Books.
May 23, 2020
This Boy by @myraclegirl (#42 in 2020)
Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the ladies, and “wins” at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he’s given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe he’s beginning to catch the interest of a smart, beautiful girl. But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it’s easy to get pulled under...
For book lovers/teachers:
This book is perfectly YA. It tells a compelling story, raises the tough conversations that teens need to hear, and has incredibly relatable characters. In Lauren Myracle’s This Boy, you’ll come across bullying, friendship, individuality, growth, love, loss, addiction, and suffering. Paul is the perfect character to introduce to teens as he’s both familiar and dynamic— just like most teens are. Paul starts out as a good kid and changes over the course of his high school career to becomes someone he never thought he would. Whether you’re a teacher or not, this book is impactful. Keep in mind that it’s written for YA and that while some parts might be predictable, it’s for the benefit of a teenage mindset. I would say the complexity of this book can be understood by an audience ranged anywhere from 7th to 10th grade students, but the actual content is geared for 9th through 12th grades.
For parents:
One of the other main characters is Paul’s mother. This Boy shows the other side of teenagehood— the side where parents worry about their kids. I think this is often the side that most kids forget about. Beware of a strong use of language and some of the romantic scenes (depending on what you deem to be appropriate).
4 stars ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @candlewickpress for sending me a gifted copy
Paul Walden is not an alpha lobster, the hypermasculine crustacean king who intimidates the other male lobsters, beds all the ladies, and “wins” at life. At least not according to the ego-bursting feedback he’s given in his freshman seminar. But Paul finds a funny, faithful friend in Roby Smalls, and maybe he’s beginning to catch the interest of a smart, beautiful girl. But in the treacherous currents of teenage culture, it’s easy to get pulled under...
For book lovers/teachers:
This book is perfectly YA. It tells a compelling story, raises the tough conversations that teens need to hear, and has incredibly relatable characters. In Lauren Myracle’s This Boy, you’ll come across bullying, friendship, individuality, growth, love, loss, addiction, and suffering. Paul is the perfect character to introduce to teens as he’s both familiar and dynamic— just like most teens are. Paul starts out as a good kid and changes over the course of his high school career to becomes someone he never thought he would. Whether you’re a teacher or not, this book is impactful. Keep in mind that it’s written for YA and that while some parts might be predictable, it’s for the benefit of a teenage mindset. I would say the complexity of this book can be understood by an audience ranged anywhere from 7th to 10th grade students, but the actual content is geared for 9th through 12th grades.
For parents:
One of the other main characters is Paul’s mother. This Boy shows the other side of teenagehood— the side where parents worry about their kids. I think this is often the side that most kids forget about. Beware of a strong use of language and some of the romantic scenes (depending on what you deem to be appropriate).
4 stars ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @candlewickpress for sending me a gifted copy
June 23, 2021
I was drawn into this book right from the beginning lines. The writing was so poetic and beautiful, it had me hooked. The story was simple, noting the life of young boy as he grows. It's the simplicity of life and love that the author tries to portray in this book.
I loved the friendship tbh. It was fresh and nice to read about. The complexity that arises with falling in love was also beautifully spanned out in the story. The family relations was simple and sweet.
Telling more about this book would be like revealing much of the story tbh. The climax had be shocked and sad, I definitely did not see it coming. And what followed after that also broke my heart. It was evident that teenagers often fall in the grasp of drugs and alcohol, more so to elevate grief. And the way it was shown in the story - ugly yet full of hope, I loved that. It felt real and honest. The withdrawal symptoms, the craze for it - everything was so scary and yet so real.
This Boy is a book that is sweet and sad. It's life in stages, as we grow and learn and leave. It's hopeful. I loved this book and would totally recommend.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with the e-arc of this book. All views expressed are fully mine.
I loved the friendship tbh. It was fresh and nice to read about. The complexity that arises with falling in love was also beautifully spanned out in the story. The family relations was simple and sweet.
Telling more about this book would be like revealing much of the story tbh. The climax had be shocked and sad, I definitely did not see it coming. And what followed after that also broke my heart. It was evident that teenagers often fall in the grasp of drugs and alcohol, more so to elevate grief. And the way it was shown in the story - ugly yet full of hope, I loved that. It felt real and honest. The withdrawal symptoms, the craze for it - everything was so scary and yet so real.
This Boy is a book that is sweet and sad. It's life in stages, as we grow and learn and leave. It's hopeful. I loved this book and would totally recommend.
Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with the e-arc of this book. All views expressed are fully mine.
May 26, 2020
I hated this book. So much. The characters were awful, the plot was superficial. I honestly can't understand why a book with such a basic premise was published in 2020, when authors have taken the platform to change what YA means. There is a twist in the plot, where the characters learn an important lesson and topics are talked about which are more complex then the average book. The author could have made this book a groundbreaking conversation about drug abuse and addiction by including a more diverse set of characters and not falling into the harmful stereotypes that riddle society, but instead, it was basic and shameful. the stereotypes the author put on the characters were hard to read. I was disgusted and angry. everything about the book made me uncomfortable.
April 26, 2020
Another lame, boring tale of the depressed cis, white male teenager trying to become a "man".
April 26, 2020
Review forthcoming.
March 23, 2020
4.25 Stars
This review is based on an ARC of This Boy which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Candlewick Press/Walker Books US).
I loved this. I love Lauren Myracle. She will never not wow me with her insight into teenage-dom. I mean, she's been present throughout (and before and after) my growth through my teens, and now, reading this, it's like, Dang, she's still got it!
Lauren Myracle is ever-aware of the teenage psyche and represents those kids facing the same daily struggle of surviving into adulthood without losing theirshit minds. Though the slang and the trends change, Lauren Myracle's knack for connecting to the reader doesn't.
I am more than a little honored to have received an ARC from one of my favorite authors. I'm also sad and ashamed writing this, because I know that my review can't do This Boy the justice it deserves. I laughed, I cried, I woke my sister up to share a passage that absolutely could not wait until morning. In short, I adored this little adventure with ya boi Paul, and This Boy is a novel that is going to stick with me.
(Note to the publisher: plz change the spelling of the title to This Boi. I guarantee that you will sell more with that one-letter difference.)
Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge: a Bildungsroman
Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge: Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites, pt. 2 (/This Boy Girls Like Us )
This review is based on an ARC of This Boy which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Candlewick Press/Walker Books US).
I loved this. I love Lauren Myracle. She will never not wow me with her insight into teenage-dom. I mean, she's been present throughout (and before and after) my growth through my teens, and now, reading this, it's like, Dang, she's still got it!
Lauren Myracle is ever-aware of the teenage psyche and represents those kids facing the same daily struggle of surviving into adulthood without losing their
I am more than a little honored to have received an ARC from one of my favorite authors. I'm also sad and ashamed writing this, because I know that my review can't do This Boy the justice it deserves. I laughed, I cried, I woke my sister up to share a passage that absolutely could not wait until morning. In short, I adored this little adventure with ya boi Paul, and This Boy is a novel that is going to stick with me.
(Note to the publisher: plz change the spelling of the title to This Boi. I guarantee that you will sell more with that one-letter difference.)
Popsugar 2020 Reading Challenge: a Bildungsroman
Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge: Two books that are related to each other as a pair of binary opposites, pt. 2 (/This Boy Girls Like Us )
January 16, 2020
Wow...just WOW.
Paul and Roby are best friends as they begin high school. They go through all the typical boy things...vulgar language, crude thoughts, ogling girls, living life as though it is all about sex, drugs, and video games. They also have very different home lives. Paul lives with his mom after divorce in a tiny house. Roby’s parents are well off and he has every amenity possible. As much as they are different in physical appearance, they always remain best friends and have each other’s back. That is until Natalia enters the picture. Both lusting after her, Natalia and Paul soon become a couple and Paul and Ruby’s friendship takes a little detour.
Yet, they’re still friends. Then, tragedy strikes.
Tragedies have a way of altering lives. Spiralling down into the world of drugs, alcohol, and reckless behavior is seemingly the only way to cope. Irresponsible decisions are made even by parents. This is the story of This Boy and a journey through friendship, loss, drugs, and high school.
This Boy is an eye-opener, for sure, but you’ll really come to care for Paul and Roby. You’ll find yourself inside the mind of a teenage young man. In the right hands, this could be just the right book at the right time. Great discussion points, too.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, and Lauren Myracle for this ARC.
Paul and Roby are best friends as they begin high school. They go through all the typical boy things...vulgar language, crude thoughts, ogling girls, living life as though it is all about sex, drugs, and video games. They also have very different home lives. Paul lives with his mom after divorce in a tiny house. Roby’s parents are well off and he has every amenity possible. As much as they are different in physical appearance, they always remain best friends and have each other’s back. That is until Natalia enters the picture. Both lusting after her, Natalia and Paul soon become a couple and Paul and Ruby’s friendship takes a little detour.
Yet, they’re still friends. Then, tragedy strikes.
Tragedies have a way of altering lives. Spiralling down into the world of drugs, alcohol, and reckless behavior is seemingly the only way to cope. Irresponsible decisions are made even by parents. This is the story of This Boy and a journey through friendship, loss, drugs, and high school.
This Boy is an eye-opener, for sure, but you’ll really come to care for Paul and Roby. You’ll find yourself inside the mind of a teenage young man. In the right hands, this could be just the right book at the right time. Great discussion points, too.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, and Lauren Myracle for this ARC.
December 6, 2019
This Boy follows Paul as he travels through high school, from his freshman year of finding his place in the “lobster tank,” to senior year as he copes with life’s changes and challenges. From innocence to adolescence, the trajectories we take and choices we make along the way deeply influence ourselves and our peers.
There are a lot of deep emotions packed into this quick read. Peer pressure, loss and heartbreak are never easy feelings to embrace and understand. However, the author attempts to bundle this into a “relatable” read while hurling us into Paul’s life with a single mom, struggling to make ends meet post-divorce – it’s a lot to unravel, and not nearly enough pages dedicated to doing so.
The vulgarity of teenage boys’ thoughts and decisions Paul makes are potentially a bit ahead of the reading age this book is likely intended for. It will make readers both blush and shake their head at the decisions Paul and his mother make, swinging readers from hate towards their decisions to compassion in their struggle.
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
There are a lot of deep emotions packed into this quick read. Peer pressure, loss and heartbreak are never easy feelings to embrace and understand. However, the author attempts to bundle this into a “relatable” read while hurling us into Paul’s life with a single mom, struggling to make ends meet post-divorce – it’s a lot to unravel, and not nearly enough pages dedicated to doing so.
The vulgarity of teenage boys’ thoughts and decisions Paul makes are potentially a bit ahead of the reading age this book is likely intended for. It will make readers both blush and shake their head at the decisions Paul and his mother make, swinging readers from hate towards their decisions to compassion in their struggle.
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
May 12, 2020
What even was this book??? It’s just the most irredeemable teen boy living his life. That’s it. But Myracle’s writing couldn’t save this horrible story. The characters are so one dimensional, they barely qualify as characters. They’re stereotype stand-ins, which I suppose is okay because this book has absolutely no story. Nothing happens in this book until the last 20ish% and even then, the incident is quickly glossed over to focus on Paul. Paul and his overly permissive mother. Oh my gosh. This book is just a look at a privileged white boy. By the end, Paul has done nothing to earn the trust of the people around him but they still trust him. This type of story has been written multiple time by better writers. Maybe this book could’ve been better by expanding the last 20%. As it stands, I would not recommend this book to anyone, even teen boys.
April 28, 2020
so i requested this book thinking that it would be interesting a read. i thought it would take about toxic masculinity and maybe to others but not for me. listen i tried with this book. i wanted to dnf it but i read the whole thing because i thought that it would get better but it didn't. it treated most female characters as idiots except for the main character (because of course). this book wasn't good.
February 18, 2023
Belle surprise pour moi, parce qu'avec ses même pas trois étoiles, et en lisant les critiques ici, je m'attendais à quelque chose de terrible. J'ai comme l'impression que beaucoup de gens n'ont pas aimé le langage cru, les nombreuses fois où le narrateur parle de son pénis, de sa consommation de drogues, etc.
Mais tsé... on vit pas dans un monde de licornes.
**2e roman en anglais cette année. Il m'en reste 10 !
Mais tsé... on vit pas dans un monde de licornes.
**2e roman en anglais cette année. Il m'en reste 10 !
to-burn-in-hell
April 29, 2021Ha ha ha, nope.
June 4, 2020
Walker Books US and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of This Boy. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
This Boy is the story of Paul Walden, an average male teenager with a good sense of humor and a great relationship with his mother. Paul unexpectedly becomes friends with Roby, though their friendship is put to the test because of a young lady that they both like.
The best way that I can describe this book is that Paul spirals out of control and systematically changes his life in a big way. Despite all of the turmoil, anxiety, stress, and emotional swings that Paul exhibits, I never really felt a personal connection with the character or his story. This Boy was written from a teenage boy's perspective, so talk about the opposite gender and about certain body parts is to be expected, but the author wrote about it in a way that seemed to be about shock value. The plot drives the story, with the characters seeming to be reacting to the events as they unfold instead of living them. For these reasons, I would not recommend This Boy to other readers.
This Boy is the story of Paul Walden, an average male teenager with a good sense of humor and a great relationship with his mother. Paul unexpectedly becomes friends with Roby, though their friendship is put to the test because of a young lady that they both like.
The best way that I can describe this book is that Paul spirals out of control and systematically changes his life in a big way. Despite all of the turmoil, anxiety, stress, and emotional swings that Paul exhibits, I never really felt a personal connection with the character or his story. This Boy was written from a teenage boy's perspective, so talk about the opposite gender and about certain body parts is to be expected, but the author wrote about it in a way that seemed to be about shock value. The plot drives the story, with the characters seeming to be reacting to the events as they unfold instead of living them. For these reasons, I would not recommend This Boy to other readers.
February 24, 2020
When I think about Lauren Myracle I think about the Internet Girls series from back when I was in middle school. I loved those so I didn’t hesitate to get my hands on this, but at the same time I wondered how the novel would run age wise given my only knowledge of Myracle was something geared toward the younger audience. Some writers have a hard time tackling different age ranges and Myracle nailed it with This Boy. The characters started young--middle school age--and ended up getting ready ready for college, which meant us readers got the pleasure of watching these characters grow up.
Myracle covers many topics throughout this novel. Some of them were exciting such as falling in love and others harrowing such as death and addiction. The most interesting thing is that these characters develop through all of the good and bad things that are happening to them and we see how it all shapes them as they grow. How bullying brings two boys together and joins them as best friends, how death turns their lives upside down and takes away everything they’ve ever known especially how they view themselves. A lot of emotions ran through the pages and it made for an incredibly intense story until the very last page.
Another thing I wanted to point out about the talents of Myracle is her ability to surprise and shock a reader. There were times when I thought the book was going in one direction, and then all of the sudden a shocking plot twist would occur leaving me utterly speechless. I never saw any of the twists coming and it made reading fun and intriguing because I had no idea what was going to happen next and who it was going to affect.
My only downfall with this novel is that the ending was not as satisfying as I would have liked it to be. There was so much going on just before the end for the main character first and foremost and I really would have liked there to be more closure on the different demons he was facing. There were a few different things that I personally would have liked to see come out of the end and out of everything I only got closure on one thing.
Nevertheless, I thought my Lauren Myracle days were behind me upon my completion of the Internet Girls series but after reading This Boy, I am so ready for everything she has to offer from her past and anything she publishes in the future!
Myracle covers many topics throughout this novel. Some of them were exciting such as falling in love and others harrowing such as death and addiction. The most interesting thing is that these characters develop through all of the good and bad things that are happening to them and we see how it all shapes them as they grow. How bullying brings two boys together and joins them as best friends, how death turns their lives upside down and takes away everything they’ve ever known especially how they view themselves. A lot of emotions ran through the pages and it made for an incredibly intense story until the very last page.
Another thing I wanted to point out about the talents of Myracle is her ability to surprise and shock a reader. There were times when I thought the book was going in one direction, and then all of the sudden a shocking plot twist would occur leaving me utterly speechless. I never saw any of the twists coming and it made reading fun and intriguing because I had no idea what was going to happen next and who it was going to affect.
My only downfall with this novel is that the ending was not as satisfying as I would have liked it to be. There was so much going on just before the end for the main character first and foremost and I really would have liked there to be more closure on the different demons he was facing. There were a few different things that I personally would have liked to see come out of the end and out of everything I only got closure on one thing.
Nevertheless, I thought my Lauren Myracle days were behind me upon my completion of the Internet Girls series but after reading This Boy, I am so ready for everything she has to offer from her past and anything she publishes in the future!
May 15, 2020
Wow.
I read this book randomly to kind of take a breather between two more intense books I read and am going to read next. (The next book has changed because I want to reread something I KNOW will be good smh) The book I finished earlier is one of the best I've ever read. This one? One of the worst.
I read the synopsis and thought it was stupid until the last paragraph which intrigued me. It was short and simple so I gave it a shot. I finished in one day. Cause it was amazing? Absolutely not. I've never wanted so badly to finish a book in my life. I gave it two stars for the sole fact that something made me finish it.
But no, I would never recommend this book. Regardless of whether or not I'm the demographic (age 22 F) it's a boring, lifeless book that I wouldn't recommend to any YA or other aged reader. I've never skimmed through paragraphs of the main character falling apart before (usually my favorite part) but I genuinely had zero concern for him. He was an insufferable, one dimentional, cliche, horny, prick. Even when something big happened that should make you care, I couldn't care less.
I finally understand what people mean when they say a character is cliche, lifeless, and/or flat.
I don't usually leave negative reviews but this book was really something, and, after reading other reviews, I wanted to share my experience as well.
Nothing against the author who no doubt put in a ton of work and who's books I enjoyed when I was younger...but this ain't it.
I read this book randomly to kind of take a breather between two more intense books I read and am going to read next. (The next book has changed because I want to reread something I KNOW will be good smh) The book I finished earlier is one of the best I've ever read. This one? One of the worst.
I read the synopsis and thought it was stupid until the last paragraph which intrigued me. It was short and simple so I gave it a shot. I finished in one day. Cause it was amazing? Absolutely not. I've never wanted so badly to finish a book in my life. I gave it two stars for the sole fact that something made me finish it.
But no, I would never recommend this book. Regardless of whether or not I'm the demographic (age 22 F) it's a boring, lifeless book that I wouldn't recommend to any YA or other aged reader. I've never skimmed through paragraphs of the main character falling apart before (usually my favorite part) but I genuinely had zero concern for him. He was an insufferable, one dimentional, cliche, horny, prick. Even when something big happened that should make you care, I couldn't care less.
I finally understand what people mean when they say a character is cliche, lifeless, and/or flat.
I don't usually leave negative reviews but this book was really something, and, after reading other reviews, I wanted to share my experience as well.
Nothing against the author who no doubt put in a ton of work and who's books I enjoyed when I was younger...but this ain't it.
May 7, 2020
Paul is in his freshman seminar when he realizes that he is nowhere near the top of the food chain. According to the conversation, he isn’t even an alpha lobster. That doesn’t bother him, because he has a new friend, Roby, and what more could a young man want? You are right! They want a girl too. Well, Natalia has caught his interest and she doesn’t mind spending time with the two boys. Will Paul move up in the food chain that is high school? What actions will Paul be willing to try to feel accepted?
This Boy is a stand-alone coming of age story that will have a very small reading audience. I usually don’t mind books that are full of boy thoughts and boy humor, but this book just pushed it too far. I finished the book because I had agreed to review it, but if I hadn’t committed to a review, I would have returned it without finishing. There will be readers out there who want to know all the sexist and perverted thoughts teenage boys are thinking, so if you do, then this is your book. If you don’t want to ready about “all that,” then pass this book by.
This Boy is a stand-alone coming of age story that will have a very small reading audience. I usually don’t mind books that are full of boy thoughts and boy humor, but this book just pushed it too far. I finished the book because I had agreed to review it, but if I hadn’t committed to a review, I would have returned it without finishing. There will be readers out there who want to know all the sexist and perverted thoughts teenage boys are thinking, so if you do, then this is your book. If you don’t want to ready about “all that,” then pass this book by.
March 11, 2020
I saw this author on a panel in person, and think she is an amazing lady and artist...which was why I was so disappointed in this book. To echo another reviewer, nothing happens the first 2/3 of the book. Or perhaps it is better described as three different stories and points that happen to have character crossover between them, but do not seem to contribute to one another. I guess in summation we see friendship, first love, and addiction as parts of the main character's cig of age, but the overall novel lacks a cohesive point. Some god points made, honest representations about teen friendships, rivalries, and sex, but an episodic and disjointed work overall.
April 12, 2021
Excellent realistic fiction story of the journey of a boy through high school. Paul makes friends as an awkward freshman with Roby, and the two go through school together, becoming best friends. They both develop feelings for their friend Natalia, but when Paul starts to date her, it strains the guys' friendship. And then senior year hits and tragedy strikes. And Paul turns to drugs to cope. This is a very heartfelt, wrenching, funny, wise book. I loved the character of Paul, and also his mother--it was nice to see a single parent in a teen novel who is involved in their son's life and tries to help him. They clearly loved each other and were a good team, for the most part. He is a good kid who was raised well, he's not an arrogant jerk. This book is an excellent look at drug addiction and the difficulties of getting clean. Mature language and situations; I'd say 9th grade and up, although 8th grade boys really could benefit from reading it too.
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