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Paperboy: A Dylan Tomassi Novel
EQUAL PARTS INSPIRATIONAL RAGS TO RICHES STORY AND
ENLIGHTENING NARRATIVE ON CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Raised by a single mother in affluent Fairfield County, Connecticut, Dylan Tomassi grew up poor. As a boy he is befriended by a reclusive widow he meets on his paper route. She mentors him with sage advice on matters facing a young man growing up without a father. She never pays for her newspapers, and he never asks for the money because of all the good advice she dispenses. When she finally does square up, it changes his life forever.
Dylan relocates to Florida and becomes a successful private investor, but people and events affecting his exciting new lifestyle on the Sunshine State’s west coast cause him to realize, with the help of his old friend, that many things going on in the world simply don’t make sense. He vows to use his wealth to make a difference in the world when he’s not sidetracked running into nefarious characters or busy keeping his best friend, wealthy playboy Alex Malloy, out of hot water. With corruption, debauchery, deception, and murder swirling around him, Dylan proves nice guys can finish first.
Paperboy is the first book in a series of Dylan Tomassi novels.
ENLIGHTENING NARRATIVE ON CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Raised by a single mother in affluent Fairfield County, Connecticut, Dylan Tomassi grew up poor. As a boy he is befriended by a reclusive widow he meets on his paper route. She mentors him with sage advice on matters facing a young man growing up without a father. She never pays for her newspapers, and he never asks for the money because of all the good advice she dispenses. When she finally does square up, it changes his life forever.
Dylan relocates to Florida and becomes a successful private investor, but people and events affecting his exciting new lifestyle on the Sunshine State’s west coast cause him to realize, with the help of his old friend, that many things going on in the world simply don’t make sense. He vows to use his wealth to make a difference in the world when he’s not sidetracked running into nefarious characters or busy keeping his best friend, wealthy playboy Alex Malloy, out of hot water. With corruption, debauchery, deception, and murder swirling around him, Dylan proves nice guys can finish first.
Paperboy is the first book in a series of Dylan Tomassi novels.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2022
46 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 22, 2025
Well written but pretty boring.
July 31, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this novel. It is a good coming of age type novel with a young Dylan learning how to be a fine man, responsible and successful. He has a great mentor in an elderly woman. The plot has some clever aspects, like accusations against the relative of a powerful politician and a missing laptop. I always like to learn something when reading fiction and there was quite a bit about investing, the newspaper industry and the myth of objectivity, crooked insurance practices and crooked politicians. Characters are drawn well, both the nice ones like Dylan and the horrible ones.
Romanello's writing style is predominantly prose, something I find not very engaging. There is much detail when giving the setting and initially describing characters. The historical setting is done well with things like period television shows and clothing mentioned. What I liked least about the novel was the amount of descriptive sexual encounters. There were just too many. Some were just way too explicit and that was not needed at all to move the story forward.
This is a good debut effort. It would appeal to readers who like lots of prose and less dialogue and action and don't mind too many explicit sex scenes. I look forward to another novel featuring Dylan as a capable hero. I just hope the sex will be toned down.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Romanello's writing style is predominantly prose, something I find not very engaging. There is much detail when giving the setting and initially describing characters. The historical setting is done well with things like period television shows and clothing mentioned. What I liked least about the novel was the amount of descriptive sexual encounters. There were just too many. Some were just way too explicit and that was not needed at all to move the story forward.
This is a good debut effort. It would appeal to readers who like lots of prose and less dialogue and action and don't mind too many explicit sex scenes. I look forward to another novel featuring Dylan as a capable hero. I just hope the sex will be toned down.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
October 31, 2025
The first half was a decent story of a boy growing up surrounded by loving, devoted relatives and friends. Then his developing years and its ups and downs. Goals achieved, the plot became boring sometimes hurling off to the misdeeds of others and continued personal growth. I skipped a lot until the last 10% when what I kept thinking would happen eventually. Something unexpected. Still, resolved with little fanfare.
June 21, 2025
A fabulous read and so heartwarming that there truly is good in this world.
Having grown up in Ct, it was a pleasure to read and relate to the entire beginning chapters of the book.
Now living in Florida, once again so enjoyable to relate to the areas mentioned in it!
Great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Great summer read
Having grown up in Ct, it was a pleasure to read and relate to the entire beginning chapters of the book.
Now living in Florida, once again so enjoyable to relate to the areas mentioned in it!
Great read! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Great summer read
August 15, 2023
Geez I don’t think I’ve read a book since college 40 plus years ago.. I try but I usually fall asleep and loose interest. A friend recommended this book to me after I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. It was an easy read for me and definitely kept my interest.
January 28, 2023
Great read. Takes from a small town to Florida
January 28, 2023
Definitely a page turner
February 5, 2023
A fun fast paced read / I want a sequel !
July 2, 2025
I personally believe if I were a man, I would have enjoyed this story more. A rags to riches, fancy cars, loose woman, corruption and a never ending description of the food consumed.
July 6, 2025
Too lengthy
I enjoyed the beginning of the book and felt like it could have ended after Dylan graduated highschool. For me it took too long to get to the ending.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book and felt like it could have ended after Dylan graduated highschool. For me it took too long to get to the ending.
October 16, 2025
This would have been an ok read but all the X-rated bits were just too much. If you’re into smutty, this one’s for you. I wasn’t able to finish it.
January 24, 2026
Dragged out with no real story and bogged down dumb day to day of main character, I was bored.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews