Something Like Summer (Something Like Book 1)

Firstly, I really want to give this book 5 stars. However, like many others, the ending kinda ruined it for me. Jay Bell perfectly captures the angst and happiness of being a teenage gay boy discovering love for the first time. I believe that every gay man can realte to Ben in so many ways. So much of Ben's journey mirrored my own that it was very easy for me to become emotionally involved with this book, and that made it extremely difficult to put down.

I'm not going to elaborate on why I think it should have ended differently. The ending certainly didn't make me hate the book, as much as it left me with an overall sense of sadness. I'm also not going to ruin the experience for others with spoilers, but I will say, that while my heart ached for Ben, I think he made the wrong decision in the end. I also feel that the ending was too rushed, leaving a lot of unanswered questions.

If you want to spend a few days recapturing your youth, and remembering what it was like to be 16 and gay, then buy this book. The nostalgia alone is worth the purchase. Just remember, love doesn't always end in happiness.

Benjamin Bentley came out of the closet when he was fourteen. His parents are loving and accepting, as is his best friend Allison. If only the same could be said of Ben's classmates. Ever since Ben came out of the closet he has been the school piranha - bullied by the jocks, sneered at by the cheerleaders and even his teachers are wary of his open sexuality. It's no surprise that Ben is the only `out' teenager at his Houston school . . . and if he's honest, he can't ever imagine meeting someone and finally having a proper boyfriend.

And then Mr Blue Shoes runs by.

The summer before senior year Ben spots a new face around town. A tall, dark, handsome senior has just moved into the area and Ben is smitten. But then school starts and Tim Wyman (aka `Mr Blue Shoes') turns out to be just like all the rest. He hangs with the jocks, starts dating the prettiest prom queen and wouldn't look twice at Ben . . . until the day that Ben literally crashes into him.

What starts as friendship soon has Ben receiving his first kiss and desperately wishing that Tim would come out of the closet and into the open with him. But where Ben is happy being honest with himself, Tim is wary of his pious parents and becoming a school outcast. Tim is the love of Ben's young life, but Ben doesn't want to be anyone's dirty secret and their affair ends on a sour note. . .

Skip ahead four years and Ben is studying in Chicago when he meets Jace. Jace is a twenty-six-year-old air steward who makes Ben's head spin. Until Jace, Ben was still hung up on Tim and what could have been. But Jace makes him forget, and pretty soon the pair fall madly in love and dream of a romantic Parisian holiday together. And then Ben bumps into Tim, again. Tim, who is now openly gay and desperate for a do-over with the one that got away.

`Something Like Summer' is an M/M romance from Jay Bell. The book opens in Houston, Texas in 1996 and follows Ben and Tim's various encounters up until the year 2008.

I loved this novel. It was a very tender and true examination of first love and second chances, while also being a very earnest examination of young gay love.

Tim and Ben are each other's high school sweethearts. But their story is vastly different from the typical heterosexual tale of first love. Usually when a boy and girl embark on first love in high school the romance has an expiration date - it will run its course and end through nobody's fault but moving away for college or simply outgrowing each other. But it's different for gay teenagers, Ben and Tim especially. Ben and Tim's high school romance didn't get to run its course . . . their affair came to an abrupt and painful end because Tim was unwilling to admit his feelings for Ben and be open about his sexuality. In other words, their relationship didn't die of natural causes, and as a result both men spend the next twelve years wondering "what if?" It's the sort of pondering that could send a person insane. Always second-guessing and wondering if you let `the one' get away simply because you (or they) weren't brave enough to admit to that love. This is not the sort of dilemma typical young heterosexual couples ever have to go through.

I loved how Jay Bell spanned this love story over yearly intervals. We meet Tim and Ben when they are teenagers - and as a reader, you can see Ben's heartache coming a mile away. I was reading that first stretch of time with my heart in my throat - because Ben was adorable and vulnerable. He felt like he'd found a life-raft in Tim, someone to love and understand him . . . unfortunately, Tim was scared. It's understandable, but I still felt for Ben and for the unfair predicament that being gay in high school put both boys through. Remember, this novel is set in 1996. There's no `Will and Grace' and certainly no Kurt Hummel ballads on `Glee'.

I was thrilled when Ben met Jace. Jace, who was uncomplicated, honest and thoroughly infatuated with Ben. Though Ben has been out of the closet for years, Jace marks his first really mature relationship and I loved reading about Ben finally finding happiness. And then Tim reappears - now openly gay and in hot pursuit of Ben. If Jay Bell hadn't written such a tempting character in young Tim, I may have been annoyed by his reappearance and interrupting of Ben and Jace's blissful happiness. But Bell's woven back-story for these men coupled with the undercurrents of lust and longing, mean that it's impossible to begrudge Ben his continued yearning. I never knew who Ben would end up with . . . or who I wanted him to be with. Jace, who was always so honest and loving. Or Tim, who clearly needed Ben's redemptive love. Jay Bell writes a perplexing love triangle that's as frustrating as it is titillating.

A good portion of `Something Like Summer' is written from Ben's perspective as a senior in high school. But then the novel jumps ahead to eventually end with Ben in his early thirties. There are a few sex scenes and constant lusting throughout - but I would still recommend this book to young adult readers. Especially young gay readers.

The novel is very honest about what it is to be a gay teenager - both `out' and closeted. Aside from some very stark frankness about what young boys get up to at sleepovers, Jay Bell also explores the many facets of being young and gay (without ever sounding like a preachy Lifetime channel movie).

Quite a lot of young adult gay romances feature a young person who has yet to come out and admit their homosexuality. In a lot of these novels, you get the impression that coming out is the be all and end all - the magic solution to every problem in a gay teenagers' life. Not the case, as Ben illustrates. Ben is a very well-adjusted young man; he became open about his sexuality at a young age and he is very comfortable with who he is. He has very supportive parents and an amazing best friend. But none of these things equate to an easy time for Ben. He still gets picked on at school. He has no avenues for meeting like-minded gay teenagers. For all of his openness and honesty, Ben is still quite lonely.
Meanwhile, Tim is at the opposite end of the spectrum - gay, but unwilling to admit it. He's scared of his parent's wrath and damaged social status.
I appreciated the fact that Jay Bell told both sides to the gay story. I can't say that either has a happy high school ending, or that Jay Bell is prescribing one course of action over the other . . . I think it's just more likely that high school is hard for everyone. Nobody really knows who they are and everyone just wants to fit in and not be ostracized.

`Something Like Summer' is amazing. Aside from an awesome 90's soundtrack (seriously, everything from Beck to Lauryn Hill is mentioned!) Jay Bell has written one of the most heart-felt and sincere M/M romances I have ever encountered. This is a love story that spans twelve years - a story all about getting a second chance with `the one that got away'.

May contain SPOILERS! BEWARE!

The way Jay Bell captured young love was beautiful. You know that feelings of being a teenager and having a hopeless crush on the cutest boy in school. Just knowing his name is enough to make you have a celebration. That is how Ben felt, except, Ben lived our dream of actually falling in love with the cutest boy in school, which of course is Tim.

I loved how they interacted with each other when they were alone. They yearned to touch each other every second ( I mean they are juniors in high school and their hormones are out of control) and It was so cute how they kissed for the first time. I felt their need to be with each other every second, just run away together and forget the world. Young love is one of best experiences in life and I recommend for you to read it just for that because it is so innocent and cute!

I even felt Ben's desire to be domestic and take care of the one you love in a big house. Just like a fantasy of a happy married couple, living happily ever after. I understood Ben's actions and his desires, which is a bonus. I know there are people who say he was being a bit creepy but he was just a teenager in love!

I also felt Tim's loneliness and some of his actions. Living inside a big house with people who don't even know you can change your character for the worse. A person does not deserve that kind of a lonely life and Tim's past explains his unforgiving actions, of wanting to have someone so familiar to you because he is the only one who ever understood you and you can't live without him. I still liked him in the end though because I understood him.

I loved the connection Jay Bell made with his art and his sexuality. His art represented his sexuality in lots of way, such as keeping it in this garage where no one will see it but then coming in terms with it in the end and showing it to everyone. Beautiful.

I liked how the novel ended for both of them because they deserved each other. They really did.

Okay, here is the part where I start to take away a star. I did not like how this wonderful novel ended. Why? Because I loved LOVED Jace......that's why. He was everything this world needs more of, which are compassionate, kind, patient, Intelligent, wonderful lover, loyal, good friend, and just a pure Human being. People like him exist but there are just so few that we are not lucky enough to meet them In our lifetime. He did not deserve to get that ending, he deserved to die at age 102 in his warm bed with a smile because he lived his life to the fullest. I know life is unfair and all that load, but at least make life fair in novels.

I cried to my mom for like 3 days but I am an emotional 22 year old girl so I guess that explains it. Overall, a great novel.

*** WARNING - SPOILER ALERT ***

I love and hate books. Why? My first book was Harry Potter and the philosopher's stone... I read in one single day (I was 11 years-old). And I loved it so much that I read 7 times!! #Ineedhalp

I'm the kind of guy with a big imagination and when I start read... sometimes I feel myself inside the book, living the same experiences, not like the protagonist but as a shadow. Of course, not every book amused me. My heart beat more with Stephen King and Sidney Sheldon's works.

After looking for books similar to Harry's universe, I found "The Cat in the Cradle" and this book opened my mind for Jay Bell's world.

I don't know how I can put in words, but this book surprised me! I felt angry, I had good laughs... and I cried hard in the end. The tears came because that was the end for me, I was no longer allowed to live in the same universe with Ben & Tim. I cried because I was happy about the final sequence and for everything! OMG, Tim basically waited for years to be together with Ben and, in the end, he got him (f*ck, I'm crying again).

I wish I had a friend as Allison and someone like Tim. Someone to share my life and to be with.

Thanks Sir. Jay Bell. Soon I'll start "Something Like Winter", but not now. My heart is not prepared. If I try, I'll absolutely cry like a little girl.

English is my second-language, so I'm sorry about my bad poor vocabulary...

Jay Bell’s Something Like Summer was a pleasure to read. Boy howdy, can we talk about being engrossed in a story? Wow and how! I read the whole book on a flight from Memphis to Santa Ana and the monster in my pants was as hard as a rock the entire flight. The male passenger next to me stole glances every time I adjusted my dick for comfort. Needless to say, I made the adjustment a production. The book is more than sexy. Something Like Summer took me back to high school days and to one memory in particular. Every single day without fail a particular football team player used to grab me from behind, embrace me, and ask if I was having a good day. He never said anything more. I swam in that feeling. Unfortunately, we never had sex, but I distinctly remember the feeling, when his crotch would bump into my backside during the hug. Without exposing anyone, I’ll just say that I attended Briarcrest Baptist high school.

Gosh! 260+ reviews. I read (and re-read) and loved this book years ago and doubt if I can really add to anything that has already been said EXCEPT to say that of the literally thousands of gay novels I've read during the last 45 years, I think the final 2 lines of dialogue here are absolutely THE BEST I have ever read in a gay novel (E M Forster's "Now we shan't never be parted. It's finished." coming in at #2):

"What now?" Ben asked.

"Now we start over."

Beautiful, Jay. Beautiful.

I identified with Ben totally. And without the characters, what do you have in any story, in any medium? I wish that gay themed books didn't have to be automatically classified as a "romance" if there is anything about love in the novel. I've always thought of romance novels as following a set formula- and unless I'm mistaken, most of them do. So I like it when the story doesn't follow that outline strictly and digs deeper. Even if it's not too deep. First loves always mark your soul. And I read this a long time ago, when it wasn't a part of a series. But now that it is, I'll check out the rest because he's a very good writer. And for me, that translates as a success! Whether you call it a romance or a love story, what matters the most to me is good writing and good characters.

This story is a gay novel... no wait... this story is a novel about a young man who is gay and his name is Ben. He is out and he's proud of being himself. Unlike many stories of gay characters, this one is not about coming out, this story was about finding love and knowing about what it takes to be friends and sometimes enemies. Ben's parents is accepting of him and so is his friend Allison. Unfortunately, his school was not so good for him; students sometimes yell out nasty slurs at him. There is one funny bit about using a Spanish word they used "Mariposa." But I want you to read the book to see what I mean. (Wouldn't want to spoil it).

There is Tim (Weird, my name happens to be Tim) and he's a closet gay teenager. Ben falls hard for him, started stalking him, and then when circumstances occurred, he rammed into Tim while riding his stakes. He ended up taking care of Tim. There, the love struck, and they started developing feelings for each other. But in unfortunate circumstances, Tim's fear of how the society and his parents would react if they knew, they broke up.

Ben has later met Jace, a flight attendant, and they fell in love. Unlike Tim, Jace was open and honest, and he is more interested in Ben. Later, Ben has met Tim again. As luck would have it, Tim's love for him and ben's love for him hadn't changed. But it did conflict Ben's feelings for him and Jace.

The story is funny, romantic, and there are sad parts in it. Yes, there's sex scenes in it, but still very romantic. I will not spoil the ending and I would say I strongly recommend it. Jay Bell has made this story very much original and the love and romance in it is no different from heterosexual couples. Jay has made this story so wonderful that I cannot find anything boring about it or even feel any resentment from any of the characters. I love all of the characters, and I will still keep reading it. Kudos to Jay Bell and he has now gained a new fan. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

This story is a gay novel... no wait... this story is a novel about a young man who is gay and his name is Ben. He is out and he's proud of being himself. Unlike many stories of gay characters, this one is not about coming out, this story was about finding love and knowing about what it takes to be friends and sometimes enemies. Ben's parents is accepting of him and so is his friend Allison. Unfortunately, his school was not so good for him; students sometimes yell out nasty slurs at him. There is one funny bit about using a Spanish word they used "Mariposa." But I want you to read the book to see what I mean. (Wouldn't want to spoil it).

There is Tim (Weird, my name happens to be Tim) and he's a closet gay teenager. Ben falls hard for him, started stalking him, and then when circumstances occurred, he rammed into Tim while riding his stakes. He ended up taking care of Tim. There, the love struck, and they started developing feelings for each other. But in unfortunate circumstances, Tim's fear of how the society and his parents would react if they knew, they broke up.

Ben has later met Jace, a flight attendant, and they fell in love. Unlike Tim, Jace was open and honest, and he is more interested in Ben. Later, Ben has met Tim again. As luck would have it, Tim's love for him and ben's love for him hadn't changed. But it did conflict Ben's feelings for him and Jace.

The story is funny, romantic, and there are sad parts in it. Yes, there's sex scenes in it, but still very romantic. I will not spoil the ending and I would say I strongly recommend it. Jay Bell has made this story very much original and the love and romance in it is no different from heterosexual couples. Jay has made this story so wonderful that I cannot find anything boring about it or even feel any resentment from any of the characters. I love all of the characters, and I will still keep reading it. Kudos to Jay Bell and he has now gained a new fan. I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

So thankful I stumbled across this novel... The characters are endearing and genuine and the relationships truly moved me. I was a little skeptical, expecting the plot to be contrived and trite. Instead I was riveted by 12 years of time and all of these people's lives. I read a lot and read a lot of serious fiction but this book just blew me away. I bought the Kindle edition but just ordered the paperback because I have to own it live and in person. I can't get these characters off my mind. The book is thought-provoking, uncomfortable at times, funny, moving and a much needed ray of optimism and hope. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Originally I though this would just be a simple coming of age story. The typical young outcast teenager who falls in love with the closeted, hot jock. A decent enough story but not particularly special. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I fell in love with this book. Yes, it starts off just as I said but Bell ends up imbuing the characters with such emotion and depth that it completely immerses you in the story. What I most enjoyed however, was the truth of the genre. It was a true coming of age story that didn't stop with the end of high school but ventured further. Ventured into the real world of adult life where most truly mature and come of age. Though I did feel the very end was somewhat rushed, it was also... right. It fit and was beautiful in its execution. Bottom line... this story is amazing!!!

I first read Something Like Summer in 2011 and made note that it was a great read. I have just revisited the series to catch up on the newest additions and find it to be just as impressive as the first time I read it.

Jay Bell's writing is beautifully crafted. He takes many characters and weaves the story through and around their lives in such a way that you feel the story through that character's eyes and emotions. Each book in the series is dedicated to a specific character's viewpoint of the story and I love that. The fact that we really get to know each of these characters intimately in their own voice is a rare treat and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

The stories in this series stay true to each character and their personalities. Not once did I ever find myself jerked out of the story because the character miraculously changed his tune. There are no abrupt endings here. Mr. Bell brings us through the story to a place where I can leave these characters because the story has taken us there, not because the author had reached their word count and had to wrap things up. Thank you for that, Mr. Bell!

I laughed and cried and cringed along with these characters as they lived their lives, made mistakes, fell in and out of love, and suffered accordingly. I highly recommend Something Like Summer and all the books that follow in this series.

Absolutely AMAZING book. I read quite a lot, and this book just really was quite refreshing. The author manages to age the characters and the style within the book as well, splendid job. Now added to favorites.

This book was superb. An fabulously crafted story of lasting love. The characters were portrayed wonderfully. A very emotional story.

Written from Ben's point of view, the first half of the book was focused on the initial relationship of Ben and Tim, followed by Ben's story.

My review has spoilers so please see blog for full review
http://wp.me/p3t48J-3R

It is so exciting to hear that the book is to be made into a movie!

Alright, alright, so it may not be the greatest book written in the history of man, but I thought it was an excellent novel. I've read many books, and this one is among those that gripped me and made me read it from cover to cover without putting it down. It is wonderfully written and the style of writing is a bit loopy at times, but it just adds charm to the book. For the price I paid and for kind of reviews it had, this book met all of my expectations and even managed to surpass them. I could relate to many events in the book (as I'm sure many gay guys can) and it made the story come alive.

Truly a great book. Would recommend it and its companion book "Something Like Winter" to anyone in an instant.

Started reading and couldn't stop! I became so absorbed in the writing, story, humor, characters, all of it! It's really rare that I feel connected to gay literature or film, most of it seems so cheesy and focused on "sex appeal," but I promise you this is not and worth the read. Yeah it has some steamy parts, but not overdone. Give the first free chapter a go!

Again, the plot of the gawky dreamer who lands the most beautiful guy in school is almost irresistible to those of us who wish for the same series of events in our own lives. I actually did land the best looking freshman in college, but I was the one who got cold feet and bolted. So I understood Tim's love/hate relationshp with his sexuality. The descriptive language, which is everything in romance novels it seems, is evocative, but appropriate and not over the top, which lends the story a realism I find really critical in enjoying a book. The sex scenes were very nicely written, not pornography but not overburdened with romance novel euphemisms. A great read.

Boy oh boy. This book really touched my heart. The sweet and angst filled story that starts with Ben as a Junior in high school. We see him in all his awkwardness as he finds first love. He progresses through his college years and we see him torn between his past and future. Oh, the choices he made had me weeping. I loved the man he became as his strength and resolve played out so realistically and so beautifully. There are several more books in this series that I just have to read. I highly recommend this 5 star book.

If your looking for an erotic love story you wouldn't find it this book. This book is REALLLLLLY good. I love how the author showed the time table for Tim and Ben. From the beginning how they fell in love and over the years how they still loved each other, but it was never the right time. They both had to grow in order for their love to stand strong and last. It's not very often I come across a book like this, but when I do I like to encourage people buy it. So with that said BUY THIS BOOK YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.

I usually don't cry or get emotionally invested in the book, but as I read "Something Like Summer", I would skip hours of sleep and productive time just to finish the chapter I'm on (and the next one, and the one after that, and so on :P) I found myself laughing, cussing with fury, and crying at the events of this book and don't regret a thing! I would recommend this book to anyone of any sexuality because it's the love, sacrifice, and fear that is expressed in this book that really hits home. Just buy it already!

I also strongly recommend reading the companion book, Something Like Winter, after finishing this one because it answers unanswered questions, gives the reader a new outlook of Tim, and extends the ending all under Tim's point of view of the events in Something Like Summer :)

REVIEW IN A NUTSHELL:
Why are you reading reviews when you could be reading this book by now? ;)