Book Review: The Boys of Summer (Summer Series #1) by C.J Duggan

Reviewed By: Siobhán
Format: Kindle Ebook
Pages: Unknown
Published: 17th Dec 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Lesley (My Keeper Shelf)
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Buy: Amazon UK IAmazon US

Description:
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.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.

It will be a summer she will always remember.

Warning: sexual references, and occasional course language

Review:
I was contacted to review this book by Lesley over at My Keeper Shelf. The author was looking to get more exposure for her debut and since I was in a reading funk and looking for something different I figured I could give it a go. And Boy I am so glad I did. It was the perfect read for me even though I personally thought it was a slow start by the end I was hooked and just a little in love ;)

The Boys of Summer is about Tess, a teenage girl who is forced into taking a Summer Weekend job by her two best friends, Adam and Ellie. All she wants to do is have a fun filled summer going to lake and just relaxing. However, she caves into Adam and takes the job. Even though she is dreading it and really doesn't want to be there at first. All that changes when she the meets "The Onslow Boys". They are older, fun and sexy and Tess has been secretly crushing on one of them since she was 13. The handsome Toby. Tess is about to have a summer she will never forget. Growing up, discovering herself and battling with her feelings for Toby.

Getting the only negative out the way here right now. I thought the beginning was very slow. I wasn't hooked on the story. It was enjoyable but I thought it was just too slow for me. However, about halfway through the book I was completely hooked. I was so engrossed in these characters and the story that I didn't even realise it was after midnight and I was finished the book. Between the characters, the plot and the setting I was completely captivated by the end the book and begging for more.

There is a lot of characters in this story and every one of them brought something different and made the story amazing. However, I would be here all day if I had to talk about all them so I am just going to talk about the main characters. Tess, I loved her. She is so much fun and cute. She lives in her best friends Ellie's shadow but during the summer she comes out of her shell and finds out who she is. She has been crushing in Toby for a long time. And it isn't hard to wonder why. He is so nice and beautiful. There is so much chemistry between Tess and Toby that it was honestly sizzling off the pages (well of my ereader in my case) They are just so darn cute. But of course being a good story things aren't easy and there are things in their way, Toby's Girlfriend. One thing I loved about Toby was that he is 22 and I didn't have to feel guilty about have a fictional crush on him.

As I said they rest of the character are all pretty awesome. Adam and Ellie are Tess's best friends. I want me an Adam. Granted he isn't in the story a lot but when he is so funny. Ellie, now I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. Don't get me wrong I can see why she is best friends with Tess. But she just comes across as annoying. lol. But it works for the story. Now what can I say about "The Onslow Boys"......oh so dreamy! Yeah, I wanted me an Onslow Boy. I wouldn't have minded anyone of them. But apart from Toby, I loved Sean. He is so easy going and fun and didn't take much seriously. He is just lovable.

The Boys of Summer is a book that will make you pine for summer. It makes you want to have your own summer adventure. Hang out with older boys at parties and find love. I remember being 17/18 and summer wasn't that much of a big deal here. But reading The Boys of Summer left me fantasizing what it would be like to grow up in town like Onslow and have the possibility of proper summer fun (I stay in Scotland, we are lucky to have a few dry days during summer)

I highly recommend this if you are looking for a quick read that is packed with witty banter, summer love and refreshing characters.

Cover Talk:
OMG I love this cover. It's perfect and fits the story! I have a thing about pretty covers. I am one of those people who openly admit I do judge a book by it's cover. The cover is the first thing that attracts you. So it needs to eye catching and this is. It's so simple but that's it what makes it a perfect cover.

Rate: 4/5

10 comments :

  1. This sounds really good. I like a good summer read.

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  2. BookLoverPrincessSunday, 16 December, 2012

    Pretty cover. I like the sparkle on it.

    The books sounds good. It's up on smashwords.

    B

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    1. Is it?? I'll get that link up soon. :) thanks.

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  3. FAB review Siobhan, I knew you would love it and now we can discuss at length how much we loved Toby! It's up now on Amazon and Smashwords and will be up soon on Barnes &Noble too.

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    1. Lol. Oh Toby, Tobias! Yummy yummy.

      I'll get the links up tonight!! So everyone can go buy the book. Lol.

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  4. Already on my TBR pile :) This sounds like a fun read. And I'm the same as you I am a complete cover snob. It's the first thing that draws me to a book so if I don't like the cover I probably won't read the blurb.

    ~ Yvonne

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  5. I haven't heard of this book before but I'm loving the sound of it. Great review!

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