Monday 28 January 2013

Review: The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan

The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan
Publication date: 17th December 2012.
My rating: 4.5 stars


Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.

To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

Don’t you just love those nights where a book has you up until the early hours in the morning, when you have to go to work the next day really early but you just don’t care? The Boys of Summer was one of those books. It was fun, had a fresh summery vibe going on that has you aching for the vibrant summer days. I didn’t realise how much I needed a book like this until I picked it up.

The Boys of Summer did take me a while to get into, but bam as soon as the Onslow boys were introduced I knew there would be no going back for me. Tess had agreed with her best friends Adam and Ellie over the summer holidays to work at the Onslow hotel, it’s not how Tess had planned to be spending her summer, but her friends insisted it would be a whole lot of fun and plus at least she would be spending it with her best friends. But she didn’t expect Adam to be involved in a freak accident and be shipped off to his Nan’s for the summer holidays; neither did she expect Ellie to be infatuated with the Onslow boys. But Tess soon realises that there’s something which draws her to 22 year old Toby, despite him having a girlfriend and her acting like a moron in the hotel whenever he makes an appearance. Ellie knows she shouldn’t be hanging out with him and the rest of the boys. But Ellie and Tess promised to make this one summer they wouldn’t forget.

And what a summer it was! Despite the five year age gap I enjoyed every single moment the girls spent with the Onslow boys; Stan, Sean and Toby. They were such decent guys, never to take advantage of the girls, always respected them, but most of all showed them a fun time. Each one of the guys brought something different to the book, they had me in hysterics with their endless banter, brought a smile to my face with their double entendre messages especially from Sean, but most of all I felt like there was something missing when they weren’t around. Don’t get me wrong, I thought Tess was a great mc, she did occasionally over think things and then at other times rush into things without thinking things through. But things were always livelier and upbeat when the boys were around. But despite this book focusing on everyone having a good time, Duggan was also able to weave through a story of heartache. Duggan definitely was able to work with both aspects extremely well. It was awful watching Tess having to go through such a tough time, but the way Tess matured through the book and overcame these issues was done extremely well overall.

Duggan also had a habit of leaving you with a teasing sentence of what’s to come, I liked and didn’t like this aspect as most of the time it left an utter feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach of what could be around the corner.

Overall The Boys of Summer is a perfect example of what summers are meant to be about. With a fantastic set of characters, you will be missing out on a lot of fun by not picking this up.    

20 comments:

Shirley said...

YES to your first sentence! But to be honest, sometimes I just get too tired to stay awake and continue reading.... :S I've been reading amazing things about this book everywhere recently :) Tess & her friend's adventures with the Onslow boys sound like loads of fun! Great review, Jasprit<3 Glad you enjoyed it so much :)

P.S I love how both you and Rachel are reading Boundless right now :) Can't wait to read your reviews<3

kit said...

This sounds like a great book - I like the kind of books that make you wish it was summer, and right now a bit of book-sunshine is the best I'm going to get I think! Great review - I'll be looking out for this one. :)

Tanja - Tanychy said...

While I was reading your first sentence I stopped and went to the GR to add this book. I love, no adore, when the book keeps me up at night. This sounds like one of the reads I'll love. Amazing review Jasprit! :)

Leanna Elle said...

Glad you enjoyed this one - it sounds fab. I love a good summer read! :)

Unknown said...

I haven't heard of this book, but it sounds so good, even better after your review! I can't wait to read it, I love summer reads :) Great review!

Maji Bookshelf said...

This sounds like an awesome read!! everyone who reviewed it seems to have been in love with it!! I really do miss the days i stay up super late to finish a book MajiBookshelf

brandileigh2003 said...

I need to pick this one up. I love summer books, esp if they are so good they keep me up at night. Great review.
Happy reading,
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

Jenny said...

Why yes, yes I do love those books that make me stay up til the wee early hours and spend the entire next day like a zombie. They're the best! I definitely need to be meeting these Onslow boys Jasprit, and Tess sounds like a wonderful protagonist. I must add this to my list, thanks for a fabulous review!

Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

This might sound weird coming from me, but I'm in the mood for something like this too! I'm just so tired of this winter and the cold and feeling depressed all the time that I want a feel-good romance, something light and fun and with plenty of gorgeous boys.
So Onslow boys, here I come. Thanks so much, Jasprit. I'll go see if I can get a copy right away.

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

Is it summer yet? Just the thought of summer makes me happy.....I am in the mood for light and happy and wonderful. I have read some other glowing reviews on this one and I really do want to check it out. Now just to find the time.

Sara @ Forever 17 Books said...

I love the books that keep you up reading, not wanting to put it down! I cannot wait to read this one so I am so glad you enjoyed it so much. I was going to wait until summer for this one, but I am not sure I can. I seem to be in the mood for some good contemps. Great review! :)

~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

Lesley said...

The Boys of Summer had me up until the small hours too and boy did I enjoy it! Great review Jasprit.

Special Needs Mom said...

Great review. I loved the book and can't wait for the next one.

Sarah Elizabeth said...

This sounds like a great summery read! Think I might have to get a copy. I can't remember the last book that kept me u late cause I wanted to read it! The Onslow boys sound like fun!

Keertana said...

I just LOVE those books that beg for you to stay up ridiculously late! I'll definitely have to check this out, Jasprit, solely because of that reason. I'm so glad you enjoyed this and it seems like a ton of fun. I'll definitely be reading it when I'm in the mood for one of those reads. Fantastic review, Jasprit! :)

Unknown said...

Oh my! Now I am desperate to read this one, Jasprit. I miss summer so much right now. Everything you've said about The Bots of Summer makes me want to read it.

Thanks!

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

Funnily enough, I spent the previous night mostly awake and reading, despite having to get up early. ;) The best books manage to keep you engaged like that! I really like the sound of this one. The character interactions especially sound good and... the author is Aussie?! I'll add this one to the list right now. Brilliant review, Jasprit!

Jess said...

This one is going on my Summer TBR I do love an Aussie author and this one sounds brilliant!

Book Passion for Life said...

Lovely review hun and I totally felt the same. It was defo a swoon-worthy read. xoxox

Renae @ Respiring Thoughts said...

I don’t think I’ve heard of this book before! So it was definitely great to discover it. The way you describe the Onslow brothers does sound awesome, Jasprit—genuinely nice male leads who don’t have some obsessive-alpha complex are sometime hard to find. I think the age difference between Tess and Toby might make me a little uncomfortable potentially, but I think it really depends on how the author handles and presents the issue. But in any case, thanks for posting this review and letting us all know about this book! (Really can’t believe I missed it.)

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