The Boys of Summer (The Summer Series Book 1)

Truthfully I struggled with this one. Maybe it was just me but it felt immature. I know they are young but it turned me off of this book. I will say that the writing flow was nice.Overall it was just an okay read.

Brimming with the angst and awkwardness that comes with growing up, this is heart-warming new adult romance.

When Tess starts waitressing at the Onslow Hotel, all she wants is to forget the taunting she regularly gets at school, instigated by her ex and his nasty friends. But when her job brings her closer to Toby, a boy she's been crushing on for years but was always too old and popular to notice her, Tess realises change is on the horizon... and that it's not necessarily a bad thing.

With witty banter, fast pace, and lots of teenage dilemmas, this is both a coming-of-age and one of those romances that have you wanting to shake some sense into both protagonists - and to tell them to grow up. One for the beach, or those cold months wishing you were at the beach. Enjoy!

Tess is a really great character to follow, the story Boys of Summer is written in first person point of view, and I really loved to get to know her, and through her eyes the other characters in Onslow. The story is very realistic, both when it comes to the way 17-year-olds would like to spend their summer to the changes in them to the crushes on older boys. I just loved the light-hearted feel to it, and the way Tess interacted with her friends Ellie and Adam, and later with the other characters as she slowly was able to shed her protective shell.

Boys of Summer has everything a summer romance needs, and it does have a very slight `Grease' feel to it. Tess is a smart and nice girl, but she's very shy, especially after her ex, Scott, starts bothering her at school after their break-up. She's not comfortable around people she doesn't know, and she doesn't even want to have a job for the summer vacation because it's so out of her comfort zone. Adam and Ellie manage to persuade her to work at Onslow Hotel with them, though, and little by little she becomes more sure of herself, able to get to know new people, and her new-found confidence is simply breath-taking! Her funny banter with Toby and his friends is spot-on, and it really made me feel like I was 17 again, hanging out at the beach by the lake, silently lusting after the older boys at the other side of the beach...

All the relationship troubles, the way other people judge us, and her interactions with Ellie made me love Tess even more. Her insecurities that she was hiding behind a very strong front, her jokes and her crush on Toby were realistically done as well. As summer went on, the little changes in Tess became bigger as she and Toby, as well as his friends, got to know each other better. Feeling accepted for who she was triggered an amazing self-confidence in Tess that is not that easy to come by. And really, even the tension between her and Toby, their awareness towards each other, and the hidden looks just made me ready to swoon. Another point to the story is the safe sex, both in conversations among the teenaged friends, and in their actions, this is always really important to me, so cudos to Ms. Duggan for doing this so well, too.

If you need a little pick-me up in the form of a light-hearted, well-written story with realistic characters and a good storyline, Boys of Summer is it!

There was something completely wonderful and irresistable about The Boys of Summer. It was the type of book that made me remember young love - sometimes fondly and sometimes with a slight cringe. :-)

The synopsis explains to book pretty well, so I'll get right to my review.

The negatives:

Lack of communication.
If you read my reviews often, you know that one of my pet peeves is when a couple has problems based solely on their failure to communicate and actually talk about what's going on between them. This does happen a bit in this book, but I found it much more forgivable than usual because I felt like the lack of communication was a bit more warranted here than in some other books - after all, Tess feels very young and a bit out of her league when it comes to The Onslow Boys. I'll talk a bit more about this in the next bullet point ...

What I LOVED:

Realistic young love.
I think the main reason that I absolutely adored this book was because Tess felt so realistic to me. I could completely empathize with Tess' fears and insecurities and I felt like her responses to finding herself thrown in with an older crowd rang true. It made complete sense to me that Tess felt out of her element and didn't always know how to act around Toby or what to expect from him. As I mentioned above, Tess could have avoided some problems by simply talking to Toby and not jumping to conclusions about certain things. But, for the most part, this seemed realistic to me because Tess was so unsure about her place among this older crowd - she let her insecurities get the best of her and I truly felt for her. I also thought that Duggan did a fantastic job of portraying young love - how amazing and horrifying it can feel (sometimes both at the same time!). Tess' crush on the extremely swoon-worthy Toby was poignant and completely believable - I so wanted her to find her happily ever after!!

Awesome friendships.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the friendship between Adam, Ellie and Tess. These three had such an amazing bond and camaraderie - Adam especially just made me smile every time he showed up in the book!!! The way they joked with each other, the way they backed each other up through thick and thin, even the way they fought - it all felt so authentic and it made me want to be best friends with them too! Then there was the male bonding going on with The Onslow Boys - once again, I thought that Duggan nailed it. It was so refreshing to see some really strong friendships that took center stage in a book - while this story was definitely about the romance, the friendships were never given short shrift!

Witty banter.
There was tons of dialogue in this book that just made me smile (or laugh out loud). Pretty much everything that came out of Adam's mouth was hilarious and Tess' flirty banter with The Onslow Boys was always entertaining. Once again, it just made me wish that I knew these people in real life!!

No need for a sequel!
This is definitely a self-contained book. Don't get me wrong - I am dying to read the next book in this series (and will be very soon), but we aren't left with any sort of cliff-hanger and this book stands really well on its own. The other books in the series are just icing on the cake!

I think I might stop swooning over this book eventually, but it's not going to happen anytime soon! I honestly cannot wait to read An Endless Summer now - and I don't plan on waiting long!! 5/5 stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

What it's about: Tess has scored herself a summer job - and it's going to be one summer she won't ever forget! From sneaking out to hang out with the Onslow boys, to working in the local hotel, the summer fun is just beginning! But wait, there's more! Just add a drop of drama and a few slashes of comedy and I present to you - The Boys of Summer.

What I thought: This book kept me up until the wee hours of the morning because I literally could not force myself to put it down - I just had to know what happened. Everything about The Boys of Summer absolutely blew me away. Firstly, how gorgeous is that cover? Yes, very eye-catching. Can't wait to have that baby on my book shelf! Next, C.J. Duggan has created this fantastic little town called Onslow - which I desperately want to exist because its sounds awesome! Then there are the Onslow boys which you will have absolutely no choice but to fall in love with - it's a given everyone. Toby, Sean, Stan and Ringer. Toby we get to know quite well and believe me guys, he's the fictional character of your dreams. Read it and weep girls - you've found him. Sean is a strong second runner up for me - I almost loved him as much as Toby, it's true. Stan and Ringer we don't really get to know too well, which is a shame, but we know them enough to know we'd want them as friends. This story is about Tess, but the Onslow boys really do steal the show away. But what I really love the most, is watching Tess go from wallflower extraoidanaire to super-hot babe flirting with all the boys, sneaking out of home. Watching Tess go on this life-changing journey is extremely touching and you just can't help cheer for her. Of course she couldn't have done it without a bit of help from her best friends Ellie and Adam!

I will be recommending this book to anyone who listen basically. Do yourself a favour and go grab a copy now!

The Good: Can I just say everything? Yep. Everything.

The Bad: The next book, isn't released for, like, forever. *Sigh*

Rating: 5 Bookstacks

4.5 stars!

After reading rave review after rave review, I decided it was time that I give in and find out what these Onslow Boys are all about. Knowing my sister-in-law Becca liked similar books, I asked if she wanted to read it with me. She was on board, so we went ahead and jumped in head first. At first we weren't too sure about it... but by 20% we were both addicted!

Tess, our super-sweet heroine, wants nothing more than to relax by the water for the summer. After a bad breakup with a guy who gave her a horrible flat-chested nickname, her stress level is pretty high and she just wants to relax. Living in the shadows of her two best friends, Ellie and Adam, blending into the walls, is where she's comfortable being. Her friend Adam begs and pleads, and eventually convinces Tess to work with him and Ellie in the local hotel owned by his uncle. The last thing she wants to do is deal with annoying tourists... but she eventually gives in and decides to make the best of it. At least she'll be with her friends.

Her summer job ends up being more drama, both good and bad, than she had expected. She soon meets a group of gorgeous guys, known as the "Onslow Boys", which is where I became completely addicted to the story. Though the first few chapters were a bit slow, it was necessary to build the characters up to where they needed to be in the story.

The romance between Tess and Toby was so fun. Tess had been in love with Toby from afar for longer than she could remember. But when she gets the chance to really get to know him, she finds her feelings growing even stronger. The bad news... he has a girlfriend. A really pretty, prissy and stuck-up one at that. Poor Tess.

I loved the '90′s vibe throughout the story. As a girl in her... uhhh... thirties *cough* I could really relate to it all. I also enjoyed that it was written by an Australian author. I haven't read many books that take place in Australia, so the language, though I honestly had to look up a few things here and there, was so much fun!

The Boys of Summer was such a great read. This story was so addicting, the characters so realistic and engaging, my sister-in-law and I flew through it in a matter of a few short days. I'm ready to begin An Endless Summer now and read about Sean, one of my favorite characters in this book. Let's get to know this sexy stud a bit better, shall we? ;)

A review copy was provided for an honest review. The Boys of Summer is so much fun and made me feel like summer was already here! It's times like these that I wish I lived in the fictional town of Onslow, Australia living it up with Tess, Ellie, Adam and the Onslow boys. It's fantastic, utterly enjoyable, and satisfyingly absorbing with lovable characters, witty banter, and sexy boys. Tess is an amazing character and my favorite who goes from laughing stock in high school to living it up summer style with hot Aussies. It's a lovely escape and a great romantic story to get lost in. There's some extremely Australian slang tossed in but it still remained easy enough to understand and enjoy. The writing is well-done, the story is gripping, and it's a heck of a lot of fun! A contemporary romance that's worth reading!

Tess McGee is a seventeen-year-old girl whose school days are numbered but not before her ex-boyfriend spreads around the mortifying nickname he gave her. Tic Tac Tess is what's whispered around for her alleged lack of a chest, thankfully her two loyal best friends save her from more humiliation. Summer is right around the corner and Tess' best friend Adam has somehow convinced her to take a summer job at the Onslow hotel with him. He claims it'll be the best summer ever but when he ends up getting sent away she's forced to work her entire summer alone--save for her other bff Ellie. While summer looks almost as worse as high school things start to look up when she meets some hot older boys who are former graduates of her high school--one of which she's been crushing on since she was in middle school. Now work seems like play when the Onslow Boys come around to hang out at the hotel/pub, and she's got a chance to prove to them she's not just Tic Tac Tess but so much more.

I completely loved Tess McGee she's funny, at times awkward, but she's also courageous and straightforward. At first she's shy, not much for partying, but when she gets to live a little she comes alive and she's brilliant. Tess turns her life around in the course of one summer, bettering herself as well as stepping out of her comfort zone and from the shadow of her friends. Toby is 22, gorgeous, part of the Onslow boys, and off the market but when he meets Tess McGee their chemistry gets harder to resist. I liked that it took awhile for the characters to change; it didn't just happen overnight so it maintained realism. The secondary characters are great, Adam and Sean are really amusing and not-to-mention hot. From the moment I started reading I had this stupid grin on my face because it's literally that kind of a book - I hardly wanted to see it end! It was funny, charming, flirty, with a little drama and %100 entertaining! I haven't read a contemporary romance this good since the Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines! This is the book to read when you're looking for effortless fun, pure escapism, and a hot summer read. Highly appeals to any mature YA/New Adult Contemporary Romance fans. You won't regret buying this one; you'll totally fall in love with the story and all of the characters. C.J. Duggan knows how to write a book you'll just be drawn into! I'm already waiting for the next one--impatiently might I add! The Boys of Summer is an Australian gem!

Best friends Tess, Ellie, and Adam have their summer all planned out — until Adam gets himself sent off to his grandmother’s in the city as punishment for his drunken party antics, leaving Tess and Ellie to navigate their summer alone. That is, until the Onslow Boys become a part of their plans.

Tess has been swooning over Toby since she hit puberty, but at five years younger than him, she’s never even been on Toby’s radar. The fact that he’s speaking to her now, even joking around with her and giving her rides is something of a miracle, seeing as how he’s been dating the beautiful Angela for the last year. Summer was supposed to be riding bikes, sleeping in, and laying out in the sun. But now it’s riding in cars, a day on the lake with rowdy, older boys, and falling hard for the guy she never thought she could have.

Toby is refreshingly realistic, not the heart-on-his-sleeve twenty-something guy found in most romances. He’s not overly talkative, not exactly clear and forthcoming about his intentions, and not idealized — except in Tess’s mind, of course. It’s that bit of character development that makes this book stand out among others, that makes Tess’s reactions to him so true to life and makes him the picture-perfect and utterly realistic summer boy.

And Tess… She’s such a normal teenager, over-analyzing every smile, every look, every word her dream boy speaks. Her fear of making a fool of herself, her self-consciousness about her young age around the older Onslow Boys… If you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a teenage girl, a peek into Tess’s mind is just the thing.

The Verdict...
If ever there was a book that perfectly captured that one summer, the one where first kisses and first loves and first heartbreaks played out on lazy nights, this is it. Despite its being set in a country I’ll never see, the story is universal, and Tess is the girl we all once were.

C.J. Duggan has an incredible way of turning the confusing, exciting, wonderful existence of the teenage girl into words, and I was hooked within the first few paragraphs. It’s a journey back in time to one lazy, amazing, perfect summer of firsts. I could go on and on and on about this book, but there’s really no way to explain it. Just read it, and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Determined to make the most of the coming summer, Tess promises herself that she'll do her best to set aside her worries. She knows doing so will be difficult, most especially with her ex-boyfriend causing her so many problems, but she's willing to do so, none-the-less. Detesting the fact that Scott has given her so much grief, Tess does her best to put everything behind her. There's no way she's going to let him ruin her summer. Granted, he's doing his best to do just that. If she can get the upper hand, anything he'll try to do won't be as bad. After all, she's got one more year of high school to go. Surely, it won't be that bad, right?

Her life takes an unexpected turn when Toby Morrison, the one boy she never expected to see again, suddenly reappears in her life. After all this time, she's never forgotten him. Nor has her heart let go of the way he makes her feel. Though she's not sure if he remembers her the way she remembers him, she's happy to see him, none-the-less. The fact that she'll get to see every time she goes to work makes things even better.

Immersing herself in her summer job, Tess soon realizes just how difficult balancing responsibility and life can be. Determined to hold her own, she gives things all she's got. Her life becomes a tad chaotic as she grows closer to Toby. The feelings he evokes in her are unexpected, and she wants nothing more than spend as much time as she can with him. Though she knows she shouldn't. Still, when the heart wants something, it's hard to ignore it. The question is, will she be able to survive the onslaught of her emotions once the summer is over?

An awesome start to a wonderful series, The Boys of Summer is a heartwarming story that will capture your heart. We meet Tess and her band of merry friends who are determined in having a wonderful summer. Together, they find themselves in a slew of situations that test the boundaries of their friendship. C. J. has crafted a very believable world whose characters and emotions pour off every page. Looking forward to what comes next for the series!

Please Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tess is dreading having to spent her summer working part-time at the pub, but her friends promise to be there for her every step of the way so she relents. Of course, the job start awful but thankfully she gets into the zone and manages to make it work for her. It helps that she has to get her act together if she wants to impress one of ‘The Onslow Boys’. ;-)

She's had a crush on Toby from the moment she laid eyes on him and years later it's still holding on strong. Now that she has found herself spending time with the boys and more one on one time with Toby she can't help but think of what could happen between them. But Toby has a girlfriend, so Tess goes on with her summer - working, hanging out with her new-found friends and hoping.

I didn't know what to expect with this book, so I was hesitant about it at first. It's been a while since I've read a story like this one, but I liked it. It was sweet, refreshing, light and funny.

I enjoyed Tess' voice and her way of handling things. Although she wondered and hoped, she never assumed and always kept her feet on the ground. She was sweet, smart and very funny. I liked her wicked sense of humor and her sassy comebacks.

There were a lot of characters introduced in this story and they all added something to it. Be it Sean with his sense of humor and the witty banter he exchanged with Tess. I loved him! Through those exchanges I got to see a different side of Tess - flirty, fun and confident. So different from the quiet girl from I had met at the beginning of the story. Then there was Adam, Tess' best friend, with his caring side and his loyalty. He kept Tess grounded even from afar. Of course, I enjoyed Toby too. He managed to bring out the most change in Tess. She was able to let go of some her shyness and be her quirky, sweet self without feeling judged. I loved watching the transformation she underwent. She grew from a shy quiet girl into a young, matured woman who admitted to her mistakes and still showed great strength even at times when she was hurting inside.

All in all, a surprising good story about first love, growing up and accepting yourself.

This book definitely stole my heart away, because it is true. The emotions are so real and you can experience the usual tensions, loyalties and ups and downs of a relationship; you actually feel the characters are real persons and you are somehow part of the group. But what I loved the most is that every character has its own unique personality you grow to care for. Even if the 'Onslow Boys' are always referred to as a group and have some similarities, as all friends do, you can easily tell them apart because each of them has a unique essence that makes them their own person.

It was so cute to witness Tess and Toby fall in love. Their story is so innocent, and it really captures how it feels to fall in love for the first time. I could really relate to Tess' insecurities, because let's face it; Toby was kind of a jerk at times. You can't kiss a girl and then disappear for like a week, duh! Of course the girl would feel insecure. I really enjoyed this book, but I have to admit that I was rooting for Sean. So I was very happy to discover that he was getting his own book.

The beauty of this book was that it was not only about Tess and Toby’s romance, but also about friendship, and discovering oneself; not letting people define you, but finding your own self and feeling confident with it. I really enjoyed watching Ellie, Tess and Adam’s closeness, and of course, the 'Onslow Boys'.

Overall, this is a great story that has not only a great romance, but beautiful descriptions, very human characters and relationships, and of course all the fun of Summer.

My Review
Favorite Quote(s):
"'So if I was to choose? Then I choose complicated,' I said, with a nod of finality. I met his eyes again in a silent challenge. 'I choose you.'"
Favorite Character: Sean. I think he needs some love! I can't wait for his book.
First Line:
"I shouldn't have opened it."
My Musings: With the Boys of Summer, C.J Duggan has managed to get me hooked. An amazing Australian novelist, Duggan has written a fantastic story about a wallflower teen growing into her own skin and becoming her own person. I really enjoyed the overall novel. What I enjoyed most was the local color, or dialect, that was present in the writing. Duggan brought her Australian culture into her characters. The use of words such as ute and the substitution of 's' for 'z' in a variety of words had me feeling like I was in Australia myself. It was refreshing to see a different culture than the typical America.
Tess was used to living life in the shadow of her best friend, Ellie. Ellie got all the boys, and Tess was called Tic Tac Tess at school. When reading Tess' character at first, I thought there was no way that she would evolve into the independent young woman that she became over the course of the novel. It was great to follow Tess' complete transformation as she feel in love and became a woman. Toby's character was your typical book boy. He was swoon-worthy, sweet, and sexy, and he was just so nice that you couldn't help but fall for him. Tess and Toby had a cute relationship that helped to evolve both of their characters.
I also enjoyed Sean's character. He was more like the cute, hot big brother that everyone with their own boy toy would love to have. He was supportive of both Tess and Toby, and helped Tess to break out of her shell. It was sometimes hard to remember that he was a twenty two year old guy--he acted like such a little kid!
The only thing about this novel is that to me, at time, it seems a bit plotless. However, eventually, you could see it get on a slight track--but this happens with Contemporary romance novels sometimes. The writing was swell, and the world that Duggan created was very realistic, with realistic events that could happen to any high school soon to become senior. Overall, Duggan created a great novel about love that spans years and growing into oneself..

Okay, after my initial shock of winning this book I was eager to get stuck into it, not really knowing what it was about and who this author was. And then, as I began to read it I was so taken aback by the fact that it was was written by a fellow Aussie! I was so excited to read it even more and I was suddenly laughing out loud and whisked back into the 90's (ahem yes, that's my high school years LOL). This book is so much fun and I loved that I could totally relate to it on so many levels. The slang and witty banter was effortless and the Aussie culture was so evident. It is marvellous to read books by Aussie authors. I swear, my hubby kept looking over at me and wondering why I was grinning and laughing so much. I kept telling him that this is so Aussie LOL and he knew what I meant. Any Aussie who read this would know exactly why I would think it.

The Boys of Summer is set in a rural town called Onslow. A town where there is one main street, one petrol station, one pub/hotel, where all the locals hang out and have fun. Any typical rural town in Australia. So, it's not very unusual that high schoolers hang out with an older crowd! Hey, even in our suburbs here we tended to do that also. Anyways, Tess, our reserved and shy main character, has just finished Year 11 and wants nothing else but to just chill out all summer with her two best friends, Adam and Ellie (the supposed easy girl in school). Until, they both convinced her that it would be better if they worked instead. She reluctantly agrees to being a waitress at the Onslow Hotel, but if it meant earning some cash and hanging out with her friends, she would do it. Never in her wildest dreams would it be absolutely life changing on so many levels. She would finally emerge into the young woman she was always meant to be. No longer was she the wallflower she worked hard to be, but the brash and confident Tess who had even her crush, the older and sexy Toby Morrison, noticing her, for all the right reasons. I loved how their relationship was full of flirtatious banter and subtle tenderness. And when it was hot, it really was hot...nom nom nom!! Toby was reserved in his own right, but so confident at the same time, without going overboard. In fact, he is your typical Aussie young man and I liked that!

I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend that everyone take a chance and dive into a book that will take you to another place that captures the life of your average teenager in a rural town in Australia. The daggy parents, the slaggy best friend, the flip flops, the dry humping in the back of a ute (LOL several times over at the dry humping), the music of the 90's and the mere mention of Monkey Magic made me crack up laughing...I love the many references to Pop Culture of that time. Take a chance on an Aussie book, you will love discovering all of this, I know I loved remembering it. Can't wait to read the next instalment!

Tess has an ex-boyfriend from hell who bullies her and gave her a flat chested nick name. She lives in her best friend Ellie's shadow. When summer begins her friend Adam talks her into working at a restaurant instead of spending her time at the lake like she wanted. Tess's summer starts off rather bad and she is feeling down. The first 12% was a bit slow but sometimes slow beginnings are a necessary evil especially with this book. It gave me a chance to get to know Tess which really helped me understand her actions and feelings later on in the book.

As soon as she runs into Toby Morrison I was completely hooked. This was summer romance crack! So addicting and I just couldn't get enough of this one. Toby is Tess's lifelong crush but he is older and has a girlfriend. Toby and his friends nicknamed "The Onslow Boys" hang out at the restaurant where Tess and Ellie work. Tess and Ellie spend a lot of time hanging out with them and partying. It felt like one of my summers. I worked at a restaurant for my first job and definitely felt Tess's stress. But she gets to see "The Onslow Boys" so soon it's what she is looking forward to. If I had a group of hot boys hanging out at my restaurant it would have definitely made working more fun.

Toby was hard to read at first. I knew he had feelings for Tess and he dropped little hints. His girlfriend was a bit of a nightmare so eventually he does dump her but I guess I was hoping for it sooner. It was hard for me to watch Tess in pain but I felt Tess and Toby grow so much as friends first which always makes a relationship feel that much more real and special. The book dealt really honestly, realistically, and openly about sex and Tess losing her virginity. There was a lot of relationship insecurities though and that goes back to the beginning of the book. Tess still doesn't trust Toby wants her. Tess and Toby never had "The Talk" so Tess makes some mistakes but I always felt they were right and good for each other. Even though Toby is a little bit older it never bothered me.

Ellie was a fun best friend but she really bothered me at times. She was hiding so much but then when Tess didn't want to give her every little detail of her relationship she kind of blew up. Ellie does grow a lot during the book as well. I loved seeing each character grow and change over the summer. Ellie also begins dating one of The Onslow Boys and has her own journey to being confident in a relationship. Even though it was sad and aggravating watching the characters make these mistakes it felt real. First loves are full of a lot of confusion and insecurities. It is hard finding your way in making your first relationship work. I need to squeeze some talk about Sean in here. He was another Onslow Boy and even though the book never really takes a love triangle route I always loved him. He was so much fun and so sweet to Tess that at times I wanted something to happen with them. There were times when I thought something would happen and almost did but Tess's heart was always with Toby and that is where it belonged. The sequel will be a summer reunion four years in the future! I must say I am scared and excited to see where everyone ends up!

---
What do you say in times like this? "Thanks for last night"? "You were great"? "We should really do this again sometime"? "Thanks for taking my virginity"?
Not that one.

"For a brief moment, you made me believe that I was a somebody, that, above all, I wasn't like the other girls. And I'm not." I stepped forward, so he could hear me over the music. "I know it really doesn't seem that way. And it kills me that I let you down, that I did something so stupid because I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I don't want you thinking I am anything other than who I am, who you got to know this summer."
---

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

Maybe there's just something about "Summer" series that don't click with me. Is it because I hate the beach? I don't know, but I just didn't connect with The Boys of Summer. It's not a bad book at all, but I was just reading it for the sake of reading something. I'll admit to skimming at some points, because the story didn't always hold my attention. It is cute, but it didn't impress me much. It's also described as mature YA, but I thought it felt really young, especially at the beginning. Things didn't pick up or become mature until almost 3/4 in, but then it was really good.

I felt like the first few chapters are really unnecessary. They show Tess and her friends at school, as Tess is being bullied her ex-boyfriend and his loser friends. They mock her for being flat-chested and leave chewed up caramel on her locker. It's all very immature and is why I thought the book read a little young. However, none of this affects the plot or characterization in anyway, so I don't get why it was there at all. I think those opening chapters really set the wrong tone for the entire book.

However, once Tess and her friends begin their summer job at the Onslow hotel, things get a little interesting. Tess and Ellie being hanging out with the older boys who frequent the bar, and of course start up Summer romances. Tess has had her eye on Toby for the past 5ish years, and now he's chance at him. Too bad he kinda has a girlfriend, or an ex-girlfriend. Maybe Tess is just the rebound girl? Their story was a bit repetitive until the last quarter where something finally happens! I think the author handled the sexual side of their relationship very well.

In the end, The Boys of Summer was okay. I didn't like it at the beginning, warmed up a little bit to it in the middle, then really enjoyed it at the end. It just took way too long for something to actually happen. The conflict in Toby and Tess' relationship wasn't super dramatic and over-the-top, which I appreciated. The ending was happy and cheesy, but I liked it.

*Disclaimer: I received this book as part of the blog tour for review. No compensation was offered or accepted.

Summary:

Tess has had it with high school boys. She spent the last year being referred to as Tic Tac Tess, and it wasn't meant in a nice way. At all. Her two best friends convince her to take a summer job at the Onslow Hotel waiting tables. The first day in walks the Onslow Boys, at least that is what her best friend calls them and it seems to fit. And among them is Toby Morrison, the guy that Tess has had a crush on for years.
Somehow Tess finds her summer spent hanging out with the Onslow boys. It leads to stolen kisses and flirting and a great summer. And maybe a little more with Toby.

Definately a summer she will always remember.

Thoughts:

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I think I have found my favorite book of 2012! I just had to wait for the end of the year, that's all. C.J. Duggan wrote such a gem with this one.

Seriously, I'm packing up and moving. If there are guys out there like Sean, Adam, and Toby, I want one. Doesn't hurt that I'm reading about Summer in Australia and I'm sitting here in my coat freezing by hind parts off.

Okay, now that I got all the gushing out of my system, I can go on! I really loved this book. The characters were so well written it was easy to fall in love with them. And the story was great. So well written. I really couldn't put this one down! I started reading this one and couldn't wait to finish it.

Oh, and by the way, when you get to the end and see that Duggan has written another book coming out in 2013? It makes you want to do a happy dance! Well, okay, I did do a happy dance. Then I emailed her and found out who the next book was about! And it was one of my favorite characters in this book! I won't tell you, cause it will spoil this one, but I am SO looking forward to the next book in the series. With that note, I think C.J. Duggan is going to add me to her stalker list or her best friend list. Not really sure which at this point. I did get points for reading the book really fast, but again, it was hard to put down!

Anyway, if you are looking for a lighthearted, fun read over the holidays, this is your best bet! Go for it, I promise, you'll enjoy it!

Rating:

5/5

(Again, I would probably give it a 6 or 7, but my brain just doesn't let me go that high!)

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book as a gift.)
17-year-old Tess is hoping for a lazy summer when her best friend Adam talks her and their other friend Ellie into working at his uncle's bar/restaurant - The Onslow Hotel. Knowing that it's the only way she'll get to see her best friends over the summer, Tess agrees, only for Adam to then back out of the deal!

Tess and Ellie start work, and Tess is excited and nervous to find Toby Morrison playing pool in the bar, Tess has loved Toby since the first time she saw him as a child, and spending time with him would be amazing; if it wasn't for his nasty girlfriend Angela.

It seems that Toby has similar feelings for Tess though, and suddenly working over the summer doesn't seem so bad with Toby hanging around.
Can Tess and Toby be together though? And can they be more than a summer fling?

I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and sweet and intoxicating!

I loved how normal Tess was, and how she didn't realise how attractive she had become. She was such a nice person and such a good friend to Ellie and Adam, and I really wanted things to work out for her!

The romance between Tess and Toby was slow-building and sweet. I was desperate for them to admit their feelings and get together, and the suspense was sweet torture!

I liked the storyline in this book, and I was glad that a lot of the usual clichés were missing. This would be a great summer holiday read!

Overall; a great YA contemporary romance, fun and sweet and recommended!
8 out of 10.

This book was beautiful. A Beautiful story full of beautiful characters and beautiful moments. It was set in a country town in the 1990s- a setting I can completely relate to: joyriding around town with boys, using ninemsn and having to wait for the dial-up Internet to kick in, the music, the 24 hour Caltex. All of it was a wonderful walk down memory lane, and the love story on top of that made for an excellent read. C.J. Duggan is an excellent author who has easily captured my heart. I can wait to read the rest of the series.

The minor dings: The beginning was a bit slow. Too many of the guys had names that began with "S" and it took a while to sort them all out. Certain aspects were a bit repetitive.

Otherwise, it was a book with great characters and (after the slow beginning) one that moved along briskly. There were a lot of interesting twists and turns in the plot and surprises about characters.

If there's a lesson in this book, I think it is that if you are going to have a serious relationship with someone it would be good if you could COMMUNICATE with that person. Don't jump to conclusions, don't let your imagination run wild. Talk things out.

Also, great sex might mean that you are in a great relationship, or it just might mean that great sex feels good. So maybe, just maybe, reach a point of clear communication before you become intimate, so that when you do, you'll know which it is. You won't have to wonder.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

The Boys of Summer is, in a sense, exactly what I've been craving at the moment, despite not realising it. This is the perfect sit-back-and-relax read that, even with its flaws, is sure to draw an easy smile to the face.

Set in an Australian town in the 1990s, C.J. Duggan's novel focuses on three teenage friends, Adam, Ellie and Tess, and their summer together before the start of Year Twelve. Tess, our main character, is hardly thrilled at the prospect of a summertime job at the local pub, but is quickly roped into the idea by her two best friends. It's while waitressing at the Onslow Hotel that she meets her long-time crush, 22-year-old Toby Morrison, and his small group of friends, who soon become known as the Onslow Boys. With this, we have a summer read that ticks all the boxes: laughter, friendship, sun and warmth. The Boys of Summer is quick and fun, and exactly as one might expect a book with such a premise to turn out.

The strongest (well, certainly my favourite) aspect of this story is the relationship between Adam, Ellie and Tess. Almost immediately, it is clear that Duggan understands this age group perfectly. The three have distinct personalities that complement each other well. Ellie is confident, outgoing and comfortable with the opposite sex. Tess is almost her opposite, a little more reserved and timid, but not lacking social skills. Adam is the glue; the clown that knows exactly what to say and when, someone who is full of witty comments and jokes. Despite the differences between them, this is a genuine and heart-felt friendship. It is the sort that can be valued.

The Onslow Boys provide another interesting look at friendship. Despite being five years older than Tess and her friends, there is a natural sense of camaraderie between the two groups. Romance is quick to follow for Ellie, and slowly, eventually, it reaches Tess too. Believe it or not, the 20-something men here are nice guys, mature when they need to be, but essentially young and care-free otherwise. With the banter and candid warmth effortlessly drifting between them and the girls, it is not too difficult appreciating the Onslow Boys' role in this story. It is Toby Morrison that we get to know a little more than the others. Tess and Toby's relationship is a sweet thing. There is a little of everything - light-hearted teasing, flirting, tension and seriousness. The romance is a large part of this book and Duggan, for the most part, weaves it into the plot nicely.

The issues I had with this book are all minor things, but there are quite a few of them, nonetheless. Towards the latter half of the book, the storyline takes a far more dramatic turn. This isn't necessarily a fault, but something to note, particularly for those who prefer teenage drama to be kept to a minimum. Another is the fact Tess is, quite typically, a love interest magnet. Although this book is essentially triangle-free, an unrealistic number of boys show a romantic interest in her. Best-friend Adam even kisses her at one point, which is a little perplexing...

But, as mentioned, these are insignificant blemishes. The Boys of Summer is still a wonderful and much-appreciated break from weightier books. The sequel, An Endless Summer, is due out later this year, and I will keep it on standby for a rainy day.

Hot boys alert!!!! The Onslow boys is the book you need if you're lacking drama in your life or lacking hot young men :D I really enjoyed myself reading the book. I thought the first 10% of the book was a bit boring, but I was so glad that I did not quit because of how good the book turn out to be. Tess is a shy 17 yrs old high school girl who lacks self confidence. She has always been mooning over Toby, and during her summer job at the Onslow hotel, she met what her best friend named 'the onslow boys' and there she got to know her long time crush Toby. I like how the story progresses with Tess and Toby, but not only that but also it went into other relationships, like the bromance the friends shared with each other. What makes it so enjoyable to read was also the humour in this book. I was laughing like a lunatic throughout the book. Thats how much I really enjoyed it!!! Cannot wait to read the 2nd book :D