The Boys of Summer

There was a time in my reading life when I was all about the romance, when love interests being the focal point and jealousy/fighting over the heroine would have appealed to me, and when twenty-two year old men hanging out with seventeen year old girls might have seemed as exciting to me as it did to the heroine Tess and her best friend.

What I find at this point in time is that whether the heroine is a teen or an adult, I want more for her than just the romance. I want to see some other goal for her beyond a relationship. Most importantly I want to know her beyond a relationship. I want a strong sense of her personality and her interests. Unfortunately the only interests Tess expressed here were in getting the guy. I came away from show more this book feeling like I knew nothing about her aside from the fact that she wanted him. Tess and this story had nothing else going on besides her pursuit of him and drawing the attention of nearly every male in her path. At one point in the book a guy tells Tess he’s never met anyone like her and all I could think was, well please, enlighten me, what is she like even, because to me, she was and remained too much of blank slate.

To make matters worse, this guy Tess was so into has a girlfriend and Tess spends much of the book justifying her pursuit of him because the girlfriend isn’t nice to Tess, but who would be nice to a teenage girl who is clearly trying to catch the eye of your adult boyfriend?

The age gap between the teenage girl and adult man isn’t huge, five years, and as mentioned, there was a time in my teens when the prospect of a slightly older guy would have been attractive so if I were still a teen as the intended audience for this book is, it is possible that I would have had little issue with the age gap, as an adult reader, however, the guys came across as questionable for spending all their time with high school girls.

I do read YA with frequency so that wasn’t specifically the issue here, I’m not one of those people who despises or thinks lesser of books centered around this age group, though admittedly I think my age did factor into my response to this particular book in some areas like the age gap and the overall plot (or lack thereof), but I don’t think my response to the characterizations had anything to do with my age, the characters truly did need more depth and definition.

A few years ago I really liked Paris Lights by this author, I’d recommend that one for readers of adult romance, Boys Of Summer, however, for a number of reasons wasn’t the right choice for me, but if you’re in a boy crazy phase of your life you might find this one more satisfying than I did. show less

Set in the 1990's, The Boys of Summer takes place in the small town of Onslow in Australia. Tess McGee is 17 years old, she's quiet, shy, and has been silently crushing on Toby Morrison since she was in the 7th grade. There's only one problem, Toby Morrison is 22 years old and is one of the "Onslow Boys," or so the girls have named them, a group of older popular guys that hang out together. Tess doesn't even think Toby knows she exists. Tess's best friends Ellie and Adam talk her into working at Adam's uncle's hotel, The Onslow Hotel, where the "Onslow Boys" tend to spend most of their free time, for the summer......a summer that changes Tess's life forever.

I loved Tess. She was beautiful, even though she didn't realize it, fun loving, show more and smart. Circumstances had left her very shy and insecure, but her summer with the "Onslow Boys" helped her to come out of her shell and make some really great friends. She also finds that the boy of her dreams has been dreaming about her to. She messes up big time, but she pushes past it, forgives, is forgiven, gets her heart broken, and finds happiness. C.J. Duggan has done an excellent job in writing her character and I really did identify with Tess and was able to experience her emotions right along with her. Ellie is her best friend and I liked her to. She is a little self-centered, but when push comes to shove Ellie is there for Tess, and I just loved Adam, their other best friend. He was hilarious and I really hope he gets a story of his own. Toby was hotness personified and every girls dream, and I loved watching the romance develop between Toby and Tess. They had their good times and bad times, and issues to work though, but it made them stronger in the end. I loved the other "Onslow Boys" to. Sean was my favorite and I can't wait to read his story in Endless Summer, the next book in the series.

Overall, I totally enjoyed The Boys of Summer. If you love contemporary romance, then I would definitely recommend checking this book out. show less

She's Got Books on Her Mind

Tess is teased relentlessly by her ex-boyfriend and his posse. Luckily where she lacks in confidence in telling her ex off, her best friends more than make up in having her back. There is Ellie, the boy crazy, over-excitable, and confidant best friend. And then there is Adam the everybody-loves-him, somewhat silly, and ever sweet best friend. That ever sweet best friend got into her the job from hell that she and all of them have to work on the weekends during summer. Or so she thought. Enter Toby Morrison, her crush since forever, a boy five years older her and wouldn't even see her if she tried. But then he does and her crushing years come rushing back.

Toby is a part of the Onslow Boys group. They are the show more "elite" boys who were once pretty big in the Onslow community. They were revered and admired. All the girls want to be with them none more than Toby. That's why it isn't strange that Toby is taken by one of the most beautiful girls in their small town. But do the laughs, wide smiles, and glimpses that she gives him being returned or is she just being too much of a day dreamer? Even if they are not returned her summer with the Onslow Boys bring her confidence nevertheless. She is now saying and doing things she never would have before. The only thing that could make this summer even better would be if Toby Morrison was hers.

I'm actually pretty impressed with how well this book went. I don't know what I thought but I didn't think I would like this book so much. At first I was a bit worried about how the book was going in the beginning but just a little more into it and I saw who the characters were. I really liked that the book didn't start in the summer like I expected. There was background on the characters and the story. I didn't see why she was made fun of though. I understood the whole jerk of a boyfriend but the main character, Tess, had the wit and playful humor throughout the book. I guess she faded behind that shadow of her friend for a while but I saw how awesome she was even from the beginning.

I really just loved Tess. There were some little parts where she wasn't behaving very properly by lying about something pretty important and having sex prematurely. I always feel like that makes me sound like such a prude but she hardly spent time with a guy and she was in bed with him. It wasn't as bad as it sounds actually. I just hope that not all teenagers are as reckless as she was. Now I sound like a mother... Anyways I liked the way she was and her attitude for the majority of the book. I really just loved her as a person. I could connect with the story so much better because she was there.

Now Toby was a nice guy but I liked one of the Onslow Boys so much better. Sean? Now I would be crushing on him. I love that he will be one of the main characters in the second book. I can't wait to hear about Sean the Prince Charming (in my eyes). So Toby was really a nice guy but he was taken most of the book. When he got closer to her he wasn't around as much as I would have liked. He matched her silly humor and wit. I really loved all of the good characters banter. It was relaxing in a way. I could feel the new beginning and new bright feeling that Tess was feeling. It just felt... perfect in a way like these new friends with the old were home. Seriously a worthwhile book to read. I am so beyond excited about Sean! I can't wait for him to find the girl who will be his. show less

The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan
Series: Summer #1
Published by Createspace on December 19th 2012
Reviewed by AB
The Word: After the boys of summer have gone
http://birdslovewords.com/review-the-boys-of-summer-by-c-j-duggan/

Is it me or does everyone breakout into the boys of summer song when they read the title?

Tess is a shy almost awkward kind of teenager looking for a summer of fun and antics before going back to school… that was before she let herself get talked into working for the summer. Tess is all up for forgetting about her high school troubles and spending time with her bestie’s, but the summer has other plans for Tess.

Tess and her failing summer plans end up making friends with ‘The Onslow boys” a bunch of boys show more she’d never imagine would become her new favourite summer plans. Among said “Onslow boys” is the boy…. and I mean “The boy” (you know the one you always dream about and write Mrs “the boys surname” in your book) at the forefront of her mind, and we all know how distracting and messy that can make things. It’s almost like a twisted game of witt with the whole “Tess summer plans Vs Summers plans for Tess” but what’s a summer without a little chaos?

This is a good solid girl meets boy kind of book, just what I needed after a month of holidaying and frantic days with my own almost summer romances. I did, however, find that the timeline throughout the book felt rushed at some points, unclear in others, and…… pointless to mention in some. This book had no wow factor in the plot for me or anything exciting that made me need to stay awake to read, maybe it just wasn’t at meaty as I’m becoming use to. I did actually although find it nice to not be obsessed – so a great book for the in-between intense books.

Tess and her relationship with her two best friends Adam and Ellie is promenant throughout the book. Tess is the introvert within her group, happily sticking to the shadows and keeping a level head at all times for her friends. I did find at times that her relationship with Adam was a little random, pointless and didn’t add any value for me to the overall plot. Tess does develop and grow with her bestie’s just as with any solid friendship.

Tess and “The boy” can be summed up in three words…. Adorable, Exciting and Heartbreaking. Tess learns to grow from the introvert that she has always been and learns that betrayal when the heart is involved can be brutal for all involved. He is not only unpredictable and charming but untouchable and perfect in the idealist way that only “The boy” can be.

Tess’s parents don’t play a massive role in the story but are great stable characters. It has just the right balance of involvement, life lessons, assurance that she has parents, and brings out Tess’s true nature and caring side.

This book was enjoyable, not one that I found I needed to read at all times but the perfect book for my busy work periods. It was something I was happy to read and put down when I had work to attend too. A sweet book but almost like an ex boyfriend, fond memories but now I’m out I wouldn’t go back unless he did something amazing to win be back.

Loves, hugs and kisses

AB. show less

It's not often a book can hook me from the start, but CJ Duggan's 'Boys of summer' does it. I've been meaning to read this since it's release, but have so many other books on my to read list, i just hadn't got around to it but last night I decided to load it onto the ipad. Wow, it was worth it.

First of the characters are beautifully created and you can't falling in love with Toby, Sean, Stan and the other Oslow Boys as well as liking the delightful, quiet Tess and slightly wild Ellie.

The story is a romance, but it draws you in to the very end. You're not sure if Tess will end up with Toby, but you certainly hope so.

An amazing first book from CJ and I can't wait to read the second in the series.

Quick Thoughts:
1. Super cute summer read.
2. The characters were all really fun and entertaining.
3. The plot was predictable but the author threw some twists in to spice it up.
4. Very easy to read.
5. The plot was a lot more realistic than many other contemporary books. People make mistakes!

Let me just say AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. This is the first book in the series and I truly can't wait to finish it up. This follows the life of Seventeen year old Tess. I am really enjoying books that start off with a not so great romance, into this amazing new romance where things are just perfect. Truly a summer romance novel.

Characters were great, a bit slow to get into but all in all a great read. Looking forward to more by C.J. Duggan.