Despite the improbable hole in the story (none of the boys' parents know exactly where their sons' "summer jobs" are other than Dave's job at the pool), this is a caper just right for lightweight summer reading.

Dave, Victor and Curtis' dads insist they get summer jobs. At age 15, the boys were hoping for one more summer of sweet freedom. They create an elaborate plan ("Project Sweet Life") to lie about the jobs they got while coming up with schemes to make $7,000 by the end of the summer without actually working. In the end their assorted and hilariously unsuccessful schemes cost them more in labor and effort than if they'd had real jobs. For the experience though, their bonds of friendship are tighter and Dave better appreciates the integrity they share. Well, the lying and deception aside. ( )

This book is so fun! When three boys are told they must get jobs for the summer, they come up with alternate ways to make money so they can just hang out. Nothing ever goes off as planned and they have to work much harder to maintain the lie. ( )

I loved this book! Dave, Curtis and Victor have been friends for as long as they can remember. Their dads all work together and have decided that this summer, their sons are fifteen and that they should all get jobs for the summer. The boys, however, all believe that fifteen is the year of the "optional summer," the summer that they can get a job if they want, but they don't have to. They've already decided they don't want to - How will they reconcile this? Story is full of fun, adventure and a lot of good lessons. ( )

A fun book about boys trying to avoid summer jobs and inventing ways to make the same amount of money. First they sell of their possessions but have to pay for a dented Ferrari, then they try to catch a bank robber, solve the crime, but get tricked out of the reward by a little old lady...and you get the idea. No bigger issues going on here, but enjoyable. ( )

Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com

This was going to be a great summer for Dave, Curtis, and Victor - until their dads decided they needed to get summer jobs. Everyone knows that fifteen is the last chance you get to enjoy your summer before you turn sixteen, and summer jobs are pretty much required. A summer job at fifteen is just unfair!

So instead of working, the friends decide on Project Sweet Life. All they need to do is somehow raise the money they would have gotten by working all summer, and once that's done, they get all summer to enjoy the sweet life.

But making $7,000 isn't as easy as it seems. Can they manage to hide their non-existent summer jobs from their parents? What happens when they want to visit? And can they make their money without breaking the law or working too hard and still have time to enjoy the sweet life?

When I first read the summary on the back of this book, I immediately thought of my brother. He's fifteen and this sounded exactly like something he would try and plan. I had high hopes for this book - and it didn't let me down!

This book was hilarious and had me turning pages to see what the next Project Sweet Life plan would be. There's plenty of mystery and adventure packed into Dave, Curtis, and Victor's summer. The best part was that none of it ever felt like it was unrealistic - I really believed that the crazy adventures and money schemes could actually work!

Author Brent Hartinger has the perfect voice of teen boys. His characters sounded exactly like the ones I know. This would make a great pick for reluctant readers, but is a treat for anyone. The story will have you laughing and cheering for the boys to get their sweet life.

PROJECT SWEET LIFE is a must-read! ( )