Something Like Summer (Volume 1)

This was an excellent read and really different from the typical run-of-the-mill gay romance novel. There is depth to the emotion in this book and characters that you can't help but wish the best for. I'm so glad I decided to read this. I read it in less than 24 hours in 2 separate sittings. Highly recommended.

Although cheesy and somewhat predictable, this is a novel that expresses a homosexual love story that creates a unique plot which makes the book hard to put down. The story goes along without a dull moment but it does eventually turn into a cliche love triangle that has a increasingly obvious conclusion. Even though this is not a masterpiece of writing, Jay Bell accurately portrayed the idea of someone's first love and how a first high school spark is something that will last with someone for a lifetime.

My hat is off to Jay Bell. I read books like there is no tomorrow & rarely do I ever have one that gets me emotional. This story was so touching I don't think this or any review will do it justice. I felt so strongly that I actually wanted to leave a review which I don't do often.

I read in one of the reviews before I bought it that once you start the book you couldn't put it down. (they are right)

The development of the characters & story was wonderful. There was so many different relationships & feelings being told in this story to make you feel as if this was a biography instead of a gay romance.

I will continue to look for more from this writer. You won't go wrong by purchaseing this.

I'm not usuall a fan of this type of book but I decided to give this book a try. I am happy I did it was a great book and I highly recommend it and its companion something like winter. Both are great reads

i grabbed this book as a casual read and was so amazed.
i found myself smiling, laughing, crying, angry, and infatuated. the characters really hit home for me and Jace made this read exceptional. from smiling awkwardly on the public transit to sobbing in class-- i couldnt put it down. 5 stars!

An incredibly perceptive insight into the feelings of gay adolescent teenagers, seagueing into maturing feelings and insights of young adults, climaxing into very realistic emotional strains and resolutions experienced by all mature adult relationships.

The writing in this book was a bit sloppy and unclear at times but overall it was a really good book that you should definitely read. The ending was also a bit sloppy and rushed but like I said it's a good book that you should read

Just finished reading this book. And yes. It is an extremely amazing story. Even though the story has quite a few cliche's, it handles them extremely well. Thank you Jay Bell, for giving us this incredible read!

As an openly gay teenager, I can relate with Ben. So many quotes that come from this book have changed the way I look at things. The turmoil and the love are so overbearing and so beautiful. "Love isn't meant to be hidden away and life is to short for shame.".

Just a brief grammar nazi blurb; and on to the good stuff. These characters certainly seemed alive to me and ever developing as the story carried on. I would highly recommend this story to my romantic friends and a couple friends who need a clearer understanding of relationships.

I bought this book not really all that interested in it, truth be told I figured why not spend $3 for a day I got bored. Well three days later I got bored, and it only took 6 hours to read the entire book. Not only was it loving, heartbreaking, touching, funny and truthful of how many young adults see things and feel things, but you actually feel what Benjamin is feeling. The ending was indeed rushed, but I can't see the book ending any other way, it fit Ben perfectly. I recommend to any young readers, pick this up. It's worth the couple of dollars for the amazing experience!

I read an amazing amount of books, but this is one of those that will stand out for the rest of my reading days. What an amazing story! I tell all my friends about it and encourage them to read it as fast as they can. Jay Bell did an amazing job of telling life through the eyes of a teenage boy who becomes a man in this tale, and through it all you laugh with him, are nervous with him, weep for him, laugh at him, I could go on, but instead, read this story yourself, it is transcendent!

i have never read books as good as these. i was entranced by the plot and was crying at the end of both "something like summer" and its sister book "something like winter". i would recommend either of the books to anyone who doesn't mind reading a gay themed novel.

advantage: okay. im still in the middle of the book. but i would say i cant put down this book. it keeps your mind at curiousity as to what would happen next. if you are the fairytale prince and the frog type. you should read this.

disadvantage: the story is way too good to be true. i find it a little bit too unrealistic. maybe this stuff is possible, but for most of us gays , we woudnt end up tha same way tim and ben ended up. and thats the sad part about this book. we can all fantasize about one thing that this would happen in real life. but come on, this is just too good to be true.

but for the sake of reading, i would asy this is a good read.

I,loved this book one of a many few i ve''read in the past THAT made quite a impact on my idea of how a love,could have been..i love Ben ,and Tim ,that make it even harder for me not to fall Utterly in love with [Jace],As'well,luv himmmmm too ,he was so sweet to Ben ,,n his cat n''his,love of fortune cookie and those trip s,overseas.. i hate When it comes down to it that i was going to ve''to say goodbye to him it hurt like hell .
Remind me of the novel common son ,,that love so much but this one surpass ,bravo j ,bell..but next time please don't let me care about a character ,,so much as jace if we have to see them go ,,im still crying sorry if i mess it up for other Reader .but i just had to say it ,

I liked the book. I thought it was good; it flew by very quickly and it was an easy read. But, I feel Bell could have described Ben's feelings more, instead of giving the reader a basic outlook. Also, I felt the language Bell used was to basic and could have been more sophisticated. Otherwise, it was a good read.

The story takes you for a ride and its definitely one you don't forget. The only thing I didn't like was that it jumped months or years at a time and just briefly mentions anything that happened. Besides that though this book was absolutely fantastic

The story takes you for a ride and its definitely one you don't forget. The only thing I didn't like was that it jumped months or years at a time and just briefly mentions anything that happened. Besides that though this book was absolutely fantastic

I literally can't put this book down. The story line just gets more and more intense and I fell in love with every single part of it! The following book Something like Winter is also a great book that is worth reading!

I have read several novels in this type of genre, but this surpasses them all by far! This kept me up all hours of the night just wanting to know what happens next! This will be a book that I will always re-read just because it was such a suspenseful, ROMANTIC, and love oriented book. There were several parts in the book where I cried and some where I got angry because the detail is great and I would love to see more books like this one out there. Thanks for the terrific read! I will recommend this book looking for a great story!

If you're looking for a good gay/erotic novel then choose this. It deals with friends being friends, lovers, and even enemies. The ending is very good because you dont see what happens with Tim and Ben. I found it very interesting to read not only because it deals with gay youth but shows you (in my opinion) the realistic stuff in reality.

I recommend it highly as you won't be let down. I personally think they should make this into a movie!

I chose this rating because this book kept me on edge the whole time
It had me in my feelings up and down with sadness and joy fullness.
I recommend this book to anyone, this is how love is and how we can see how love grows in each and every individuals eyes.

Read it it remind yourself of the emotions we've all felt as gay men at one time or another. Put it down and come back to it later. Somewhat satisfying to lose yourself in the drama. A good read for the beach.

I sat in my room and cried for an hour after reading. Getting through the last chapter was not what I was expecting. This book is definitely a must read. The author captures his readers in a story that can relate to all ages.

I couldnt put this book down. It felt to real and was def an emotional one for me. One of the best reads in a long time. The ending is kinda cut short, but still hands down a great book to read. To me, these characters exist in real life.

I'm currently halfway through reading this book and had to stop just to take it all in. It's amazing. So much better than any other "gay story" I've ever read. It's inspiring, heartbreaking, and thoughtful. I find myself smiling while reading it and laughing at some witty humor, but I also find myself with watery eyes. The characters are so well thought out, so real, that I can't help but believe that they actually exist somewhere. Like I said, I'm only halfway through and I'm already in love. My only concern now is whether or not Jay Bell is going to seek out the movie deal that is well deserved for a story as heartfelt and daring as this. A story like this needed to be told. Gay teens are out, they are being taunted, but they are also having sex, and for too long we've had to choose between stories of romanticism, sex, and coming-of-age. Thankfully, this book now provides all three in a manner that is real, not merely fantasy. If you don't read this book, you're missing out. But, like I said, I just want it to become popular so a year or two down the road I can watch a few cute actors play out this story!

The closest comparison I could come up with is a book called 'At swim, two boys' by an Irish Author called Jamie O Neil.
Honestly, both conjured feelings I haven't had in 25years, the butterflies and sweaty palms, it really took me back to high school LOL, I was transported, well done Jay a jolly good offering.

This book is awesome. I read the whole thing in about three days because I simply couldn't put it down. The characters seemed so real, and the events in the book brought out emotions that I honestly didn't expect when I was buying it. It made me happy, it made me laugh, and I'll admit that it made me cry as well. All in all, this is one of my favorite books and I am so happy that I bought it.

After a good fantasy novel, Jay Bell writes a gay love story with different ingredients: friendship, teen infatuations, High School atmosphere and, of course, love, lots of love. This author writes a flowing, easy prose, and the reading proceeds effortlessly and I would say pleasurably. Almost two thirds of the novel are quite good, and it's easy to grasp life in a typical American suburb, even for people who have never experienced it. The characters are quite credible and some passages excellent. The last third, however, is less thrilling. What happens after High School is relatively contrived, and the only important character added, Jace, is more an idea than a real person. The end is romantic but almost unbelievable.

I would recommend the book to people who like romance: it's well written and it never falls into vulgarity or the formula sex descriptions of many romance novels. Unfortunately, Mr. Bell totally falls in the pit of conventional "gay beauty", a cliche that contributes to fantasy more than to social incisiveness. This notwithstanding, its imperfections do not detract from its general good result, it's highly entertaining and another addition to the curriculum of an interesting budding writer.Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

I bought this book on the strength of the reviews, and boy was I glad I did. It's a flowing and very breezy read which I pretty much cleared in a day. Without being spoilery the ending was a tad .. convenient but for everything that went before, it's a pure 5 star book

I can not come up with words that explain this book. Amazing doesnt come close. Started reading it and literally did not put it down until i was finished. Beautiful story. Would make an awesome movie.

If you are looking for a heart warming story about romance, keep looking. Total downer, interspersed with multiple smaller downers, ending in a downer that's shoehorned in so clumsily that makes you realize the author is a sadist. The amount of therapy this is going to require makes the book cost-prohibitive.

Yes, some of us are ditzy but I don't want to pay money to read about it about the extreme which seems to be in this book.. Maybe I am just too conservative but I don't like to pay money to read about this sort of behavior. We have too many other hurdles to get over. I've only gotten to chapter five and I doubt that I will put in the time to read the rest especially since the writing is not that great. There are so many better books to read.

I wish I hadn't bought it. I'm not sure why -anyone- "couldn't stop reading til the end", and I doubt the intelligence of the reviewers. Nothing happened. The only thing that made me turn pages was hoping it was just a bad beginning and that it would get better... It doesn't get better. I literally couldn't read on. The main character is a pushover with no self-respect, willing to risk school and family for a boy who is sleeping with him on days he doesn't see his girlfriend. His best friend is generic, the parents are 2D, and the story is a bore.

Congrats for learning how to self-publish, but this is one of those books that needs a copy-editor for content. If you trust the reviews, the first 4 chapters are on Jay Bell's website. Do not buy the book until you read a sample first.

Since this isn't the first book in the series that I've read, I'm really disappointed that I'm reading them out of order! I'm going to forge ahead and hope the next one and the last can equal the 3rd, which was amazing.

Where to begin?

I managed to overlook the awkward writing style of this author(All tell and no show), but I couldn't overlook the often outrageous storyline. I thought with all the five star reviews that this book was going to be an awesome read.

Alison's story was boring. And what was that about when her abusive father suddenly had this big change of heart after Ben spoke some harsh words with him? Would a man like that really change overnight? It turns out in the end he didn't. We find this out much later, but at the time it felt so out of place.

The whole scene with Ben's mom wanting to hook him up was absurd. This was the 90s right and Ben is 17?

There were so many things that I found totally unrealistic and I know some will say it's fiction, but I have to believe the characters motivations for the actions they take.

The love scenes did nothing for me. I didn't find them appealing, erotic or romantic.

I did like Jace. I thought he was a nice character. I think he was the one redeeming point in this book.

The ending was horrible. I won't get into it because it would spoil the book for others who might want to read it. But needless to say, I didn't think it was a good way to end things.

All in all the best things about this book was Jace and the price. It was cheap. And while I disliked just about everything about this book, the price was right.

It's been a long time since I've found a book that's so compulsively readable. There are certainly a few minor flaws - namely a tendency to rush, through necessity, over a 12-year arc. A couple of times, the author could have inserted dialogue to show rather than tell some particularly important scenes, especially in one blistering argument between two of the main characters.

However, "Something Like Summer" is a treat of a romantic novel. By telling the story from the point of view of a seriously flawed lead, in the form of temperamental and vaguely obsessive Ben, Bell manages to pull off a nuanced storyline that unashamedly puts romance at its centre.

Tim was, for me, the most intriguing of Bell's characters, but the supporting friendly figure of Allison was a joy. Bell also deserves points for his attention to detail and for capturing the disconcerting lunacy that comes with falling in love.

A pleasure to read in the two days it took for me to devour it.

So, first off, I read a lot, but more classic literature and historical nonfiction than anything else, so maybe I'm a poor judge of current fiction, but I felt the need to leave this review anyway. I basically liked it, it was at times quite moving and sweetly written, but great literature it is not. First, the writing was uneven. At parts it was well developed and gave a great picture, but then at others it read like the author was getting bored and just wanted to get something down on paper. There were also more than a couple typos in the version I downloaded on my Nook. Ben's character was uneven, he did not seem to have a consistent personality throughout the story. I actually thought Tim was better written and more believeable. His life did not turn out well, he got bitter, he made bad choices, he tries to manipulate his way back into a relationship with Ben, who he had felt happy with once, these are ways people really act, even if it might be unpleasant. Then there is poor Jace. He felt like a character of convenince for the author. He was the strong, supportive, and just a little too pius one. Other's had flaws and made mistakes but never him and then he was shuffled off when he was no longer needed. Yes, I know this is all critical, but I did enjoy it, though I agree with other reviews I read, maybe it would have been better just ending after Part I.

I am so overcome with emotion (in the best possible way) that it is difficult for me to find words to express how much I love this story. I first read this book one year ago (almost to the day). I didn't write a review at the time, probably because I was so new to the M/M genre. I have just now reread this book in anticipation of reading the newly released sequel. I cannot in good conscience not write a review of this book. It is one of my all-time favorites.

This is a coming-of-age story and so much more. In part one, we experience life through Benjamin's eyes as he develops a growing infatuation with newcomer Tim. Both in their junior year of high school, Ben worms his way into Tim's life and they enter into a secret relationship filled with sweet highs and heartbreaking lows. In part two, we skip ahead a few years and follow Benjamin as he works on rebuilding his life after parting with Tim. Although he meets someone new and falls in love, his feelings for Tim are closer to the surface than he cares to admit, and his inevitable reunion with Tim is bittersweet. In part three, a few more years have gone by and Benjamin is once again reunited with his old friend and first love.

Love is messy and complicated. It's heart-wrenching at times and sweetly satisfying at others. Benjamin experiences all of this in his romantic relationships. This is a tragically beautiful love story with richly developed characters who are lovable, relatable, and wonderfully flawed.

I highly recommend this one!

Just finished Jay Bell's Something Like Summer and am looking forward to reading the next installment Something Like Winter.

This novel opens with our hero, Ben, an out and proud, gay High School junior with accepting parents, a supportive gal-pal, and a spunky attitude, stalking his latest crush de jour, Tim, the beautiful but mysterious new boy in town. When an unplanned collision puts Tim on crutches, Ben is only too happy to minister to his needs. Imagine how thrilled Ben is when some of Tim's needs parallel his own! However, Tim is still closeted and pretty much in denial and Tim's overwhelming need to "appear" normal soon puts a monkey wrench into their relationship.

There are plenty of romantic novels (and movies - see Get Real 1998) that deal with these coming out issues, but this novel is more than just that. While it's a superficial, hormone addled, romance that begins this story, we are soon considering questions of fidelity and what makes for a true lasting love.

I've seen reviews of this book that suggest that the later scenes were unnecessary, however for me they were what made the book truly special. Yes, the romance scenes are sweet but then so is frosting, and just as most people prefer a little cake with their frosting, most people will appreciate the look into other aspects of a loving relationship that make this book superior to the insta-love romances that everyone seems so keen on today.

In checking out other reviews of this book I was worried that the drunken angry father character would be over the top. I didn't find him to be at all. There was also criticism of how Jace's role plays out. Having seen how unbelievably quixotic real life can be, I had no trouble believing this aspect of the story.

I understand that the second book in this series is the same story as told from Tim's perspective and I fully expect to see even more unanticipated aspects of this story than in the first telling. Love is seldom easy or simple, more so when the lovers are not always welcomed by bigoted society. And people and relationships do change over time.

If you're looking for a generally upbeat gay romance that manages to have depth without being maudlin and allows the reader to consider aspects of relationships that seldom make it into lighter weight fiction, you could worse than checking out this book.

In the mean time I'm starting on the second book, Something Like Winter and the third part Something Like Autumn in which Jace gets his chance.

This book was really amazing. It exceeded my expectations. This book was a journey of self discovery and love. It wasn't easy or comfortable but it was authentic.
Bravo Jay Bell.
This book featured Ben Bentley, a high schooler that came out at 14. He found love with a closeted jock but it ended abruptly as fear of real life forced Tim Wyman to make a painful choice to remain closeted. Fast forward to College and Ben has a mature relationship with Jace. This new relationship is 3 years strong until the past, specifically Tim comes back and wants Ben back. Past & young love versus Current & mature love, who will be Ben's future? Can he have both men in his life without hurting anyone? Tough choice!

Well written, engaging characters, loved the best friend Allison, loved the pace. I found myself fully inverted in Ben. Awesome coming of age book and a book about a subsequent chance at getting love right. Everyone in this book really evolved and matured. That is one of the things I enjoy, witnessing growth in the characters. I really want to read the subsequent book soon.

I started this book with a lot of reservations. My first impressions was this was going to be a rather primitive and juvenal story. But I was so very wrong. This is a creatively in-depth journey into love, growth and learning how to live others and oneself.

Ben is a complicated but insecure young man who only wants to find someone to accept and love him for who he is. Tim is a handsome young man who doesn't know who he is, but do starved for Love he tries to find it with all the wrong people. When a poorly thought plan for a little payback goes terribly wrong it sets both young men down a path that leads then through many peaks and valleys over the next 12 years.

The way that Author Jay Bell spins this tale is breathtaking and heart wrenching. Watching these two's relationship blossom was amazing. When fate drives them apart Ben find the second Love of his life in the form of an older man named Jace, Ben finally finds his footing in Life. Then from the pain of the past walks in Tim, his first love. When jealousy, insecurities and unrelinquished live comes into play Ben's torn between the past and the present, and on the line is his future.

But one of the most interesting thing about the first three books in the series is that they tell the same story, but from the point of view from each of the characters. The first half of the series are:

Book 1: Something Like Summer
Book 2: Something Like Winter
Book 3: Something Like Autumn

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book and look forward to reading and reviewing the following books.

Keep you're eyes open for this writer, he's definitely someone you will fall in love with.

*I received this book from the author for an honest review*

I enjoyed the book (despite too many typos in the Kindle edition--proofreader, anyone?). It's refreshing to see this kind of honest gay story being told. Does anyone know when the movie will be available on DVD or streaming?

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 6/10

PROS:
- The descriptions of public high school are accurate in a way that both amused me and made me faintly nauseous a few times. The tentative nature of the boys' initial exploration is also dead-on: equal parts touching, amusing, and awkward.
- Bell's writing is smooth and easy to follow: his dialogue seems realistic, his sentences are simple but not simplistic, and the story contains fewer typos and errors than the majority of LGBT books published these days.
- The characters are flawed in ways that made me view them as lifelike but didn't make me dislike them entirely. I disliked some of their choices, certainly; but overall I felt like they were pretty decent guys.

CONS:
- Because the entire story is told from Ben's point of view, I didn't feel near as connected to the character of Tim. They separate at one point, for instance, and while I appreciated the look that that separation provided into Ben's life, I got to the point where I stopped caring much at all about Tim--and stopped caring about whether they ever got back together.
- I hated the ending. Truly hated it. Yes, it felt rushed to me, as other reviewers have said. But even if it had been properly developed, I still would have hated it.

Overall comments: This is a deep story, well-written and covering many years and many aspects of Ben's life. Is it a good book? Yes. Will I ever read it again? No. Because it's heartbreaking. I was depressed for nearly a week after I finished reading it.

When I started this, I thought it was going to be another run-of-the-mill 'nerdy high school guy crushes on apparently straight jock guy and they start a clandestine relationship and then it gets tested by external pressure for the straight guy to come out' novel. I've certainly read a fair number of those recently. But there's so much more to this. Yes, it starts out the way I described, but Jay Bell brings life to the characters and builds the relationship in a way that just seems so much more authentic. And the story goes well beyond high school, following the characters into college and beyond. It's very easy to connect to this story and to find yourself laughing, crying, and loving right along with them...

"Something like Summer" is the first book I ever read from Jay Bell, and being also my first book when it comes to gay literature, I was a little bit skeptical, which is why I was so surprised when I started reading and I realized I could not put the book down. The only word I can think of that fits this book is "Beautiful". The story was beyond adorable, and me being a romantic at heart could do nothing but enjoy it from start to finish!

The first part was gorgeous! Ben and Tim are so perfect for each other, despite Tim being in the furthest corner of his closet! I think it's about the way Mr. Bell narrated their encounters. By the time the first part had finished I felt such a strong liking to Tim and Ben together that I could not wait until they were reunited. It didn't matter all that Tim had done, I just wanted them to be happy with each other. Which I think is also part of the reason why I couldn't like Jace. Regardless of how good he was for and towards Ben, I was still fixated on the idea of Tim and Ben being a couple. Though I still the reason why they parted was way too sad, and did not sit well with my heart, but that's just me.

Anyways, "Something like Summer" is an incredibly beautiful book that tells an incredibly beautiful story. I totally recommend it!

I absolutely loved Something Like Summer. I very much enjoyed the story being spread out over so many years and being able to see how the characters changed and stayed the same as they grew older. As for the characters, I felt they were very real and wanted them to be happy. There were many times in the novel that I felt torn between two sides of an issue because I understood the motivations of each character. Part one was very strong which is important since it sets up the history for the rest of the novel.

*Note: The cover art is equally amazing

I loved it. I read a great deal while traveling but only write reviews that are five stars as I don't have time for anythingless. This book I found to be very well put together, and researched, there might have been a few bumps or places I might have said maybe, but in general and as a whole, I love it and will recommend it to others. I am a member of the Aspen Book Club in Colorado, the Brooklyn Hatters Book Club, "The Manhattan Book club" the European book club and the Linnenbach Readers (Book) club. I have to say that I am on the move, on the road so often that read has become an outlet and using the stores reader a great way to reduce the hours, 5 cheers to this author, I am very happy with this book and will recommend it to others.

I'm currently reading this book, and so far I'm really impressed. As of yet I have not noticed any typo's, which I find to be common for this genre. The author is great at conveying the feelings and emotions of the protagonist and his peers. The intimate scenes are steamy, but in good taste. I look forward to finishing this book, and look forward to looking into the authors other works. He has a channel on Youtube that is worth a look for those wanting insight into the life of Jay Bell and his tastes.

Such a great book. After finishing this book I was hooked on the series. I'm a little bit of Tim and a little bit of Ben, but I'm all about love.

What is most great about this book and series is that it's not the standard 1 true love story. Like real life, some people are lucky enough to have multiple true, real love in their life. And sometimes they are even luckier to be able to have a second shot at one of those past loves.

This book was amazing! It told Ben and Tim's love story from teenagers to adulthood. What I liked most of it was how the book covered Ben's life experiences, his relationship with Jace and his growth as a person. It felt like a real life story was being told. The author expressed everything from drama, laughter, heartbreak, sorrow and hope. It was amazingly written, with the MC's developed fully and a sense of reality so great, you felt like you were a part of the story as well.

Another book for my keep shelf!

It was written in a simple way what enabled the reader to open oneself up to emotions that reflected from every word. It was emotionally hard on the reader by speaking about how life is rather than illustrating it. This book was filled with purity and innocence, the reality that one should always love the simple things in life. I liked how the author knew what details where important to tell and what where not (for example, descriptions of sex were elegant). It is a story from the heart of the author that he was able to transport perfectly into my heart. Jay Bell, I thank you for making me believe in love again in this crazy world!

This book is marvelous. I bought it today and read it all on my computer in one sitting....I have never felt so many emotions reading a book in my life. At several points in the story, I was literally HUGGING my computer and crying, I'm not even kidding.

There are so many things in this book that I believe many people can relate to. I bought this book merely to dabble a little more in gay-centered fiction, but this book gave me so much more. Forgiveness, heartbreak, confidence in one's self...it's all in here.

This book has really set my standards high for any future romantic books I'll be reading, because I seriously doubt I can come across something that will put me on an emotional roller coaster like this one has.

I absolutely loved Something Like Summer. I very much enjoyed the story being spread out over so many years and being able to see how the characters changed and stayed the same as they grew older. As for the characters, I felt they were very real and wanted them to be happy. There were many times in the novel that I felt torn between two sides of an issue because I understood the motivations of each character. Part one was very strong which is important since it sets up the history for the rest of the novel.

*Note: The cover art is equally amazing

I loved it. I read a great deal while traveling but only write reviews that are five stars as I don't have time for anythingless. This book I found to be very well put together, and researched, there might have been a few bumps or places I might have said maybe, but in general and as a whole, I love it and will recommend it to others. I am a member of the Aspen Book Club in Colorado, the Brooklyn Hatters Book Club, "The Manhattan Book club" the European book club and the Linnenbach Readers (Book) club. I have to say that I am on the move, on the road so often that read has become an outlet and using the stores reader a great way to reduce the hours, 5 cheers to this author, I am very happy with this book and will recommend it to others.

I'm currently reading this book, and so far I'm really impressed. As of yet I have not noticed any typo's, which I find to be common for this genre. The author is great at conveying the feelings and emotions of the protagonist and his peers. The intimate scenes are steamy, but in good taste. I look forward to finishing this book, and look forward to looking into the authors other works. He has a channel on Youtube that is worth a look for those wanting insight into the life of Jay Bell and his tastes.

Such a great book. After finishing this book I was hooked on the series. I'm a little bit of Tim and a little bit of Ben, but I'm all about love.

What is most great about this book and series is that it's not the standard 1 true love story. Like real life, some people are lucky enough to have multiple true, real love in their life. And sometimes they are even luckier to be able to have a second shot at one of those past loves.

This book was amazing! It told Ben and Tim's love story from teenagers to adulthood. What I liked most of it was how the book covered Ben's life experiences, his relationship with Jace and his growth as a person. It felt like a real life story was being told. The author expressed everything from drama, laughter, heartbreak, sorrow and hope. It was amazingly written, with the MC's developed fully and a sense of reality so great, you felt like you were a part of the story as well.

Another book for my keep shelf!

It was written in a simple way what enabled the reader to open oneself up to emotions that reflected from every word. It was emotionally hard on the reader by speaking about how life is rather than illustrating it. This book was filled with purity and innocence, the reality that one should always love the simple things in life. I liked how the author knew what details where important to tell and what where not (for example, descriptions of sex were elegant). It is a story from the heart of the author that he was able to transport perfectly into my heart. Jay Bell, I thank you for making me believe in love again in this crazy world!

This book is marvelous. I bought it today and read it all on my computer in one sitting....I have never felt so many emotions reading a book in my life. At several points in the story, I was literally HUGGING my computer and crying, I'm not even kidding.

There are so many things in this book that I believe many people can relate to. I bought this book merely to dabble a little more in gay-centered fiction, but this book gave me so much more. Forgiveness, heartbreak, confidence in one's self...it's all in here.

This book has really set my standards high for any future romantic books I'll be reading, because I seriously doubt I can come across something that will put me on an emotional roller coaster like this one has.

Drinking at a local taphouse with a good friend, and dripping with bitter cynicism, I said something very 20-something about losing faith in happily-ever-after. Something [obnoxious] like that anyway. His response - READ THIS BOOK. RIGHT NOW.

I'll admit - I was skeptical at first. But in less than 20 kindle-sized pages, I was hooked. Like everyone else who's left a five-star - up til four reading it, finished it during breaks the next day. Less than 24 hours had elapsed. Alternate laughter and sobbing and heartwarming wonderful. Adorable. This story is just beautiful.

I don't do this (read "romance novels" - or write reviews). But this book took no time at all to bring me right around. I'm hooked.

At the same friend's suggestion, I'm moving on to Winter tonight. Hopefully I'll get at least a LITTLE sleep...

these characters are magic. they grab your interest and never let go from the opening scene through each twist and turn, to the ending... the story plays out with tons of laughter, love, and tears along the way. this book began my journey through everything jay bell has written so far, and nothing the man has offered has let me down in the slightest.

I just finished this book 30 seconds ago and was so compelled to jump on here and give it a stunning review. This book was simply perfection. For anyone who has ever had that first high school love, this book will be very easy to fall in love with. You find yourself cheering, laughing, and genuinely caring for these characters. A book you will want to share with everyone. Can't sing enough praises. A must read!

This was an excellent book and i am so glad that i bought it. as one person said it is worth more than what i paid. i bought the kindle version and i would consider buying the actual book just to have it. as with all books there were some down sides. i love how in the beginning the author was very detail but in the part two and third they skip a lot of time even a few years. i know it would be boring if they wrote every detail of ben's life but i would gladly have read a hundred pages more. and some other reviews say how they dont like the ending, saying it was rushed but even though i would have liked another chapter in the end i can fully understand why the author wrote the end as they did. It was an amazing book that i loved and i would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a good gay romance book as i was!

The first thing that I have to commend is the wide range of time this book covers. I have yet to read a book where the passage of time was smooth and went unnoticed. The characters were well developed and made me feel emotion when they did and hit me really hard with the bittersweet ending. Definitely recommend this book to everyone.

I read quite a bit in high school, but now, not so much. My partner read the book first and everyday happily mentioned how much he enjoyed the book. Everyday for 2 weeks. When he finished, he noted, on a daily basis, that I too would enjoy the book. I finally relented and was immediately hooked. This is one of those rare finds and you too may find yourself recommending this book to friends. In my humble opinion, the plot, character development, and writing style are off the chart. I liked it so much, I immediately picked up Hell's Pawn (another title by author Jay Bell) and I could not put it down. In sum: a gifted writer, an excellent read.

I bought just Something Like Summer & I won't lie I was a bit skeptical but by the end I was in tears that it had ened. I am truly in love with this series & glad that I over came my skepticism.They way the book is so well written taking you through these characters lives that but the end you feel apart of their story. Okay maybe that was just my feelings. I am in such an unstable emotional state after these two that I'm glad there is a follow up but I can depend on for my emotional needs. Thanks Jay Bell for such an amazing work. You've earn yourself another fan in me.

I don't normally ever rate my books that I purchase here on the store, but this was one in which I needed to rate.

Hands down, this is the best book I've read in a long time. The Journey that this book takes you through is emotional, heart-warming, and simply enjoyable. Bell's style was not something that I'm used to but I quickly fell into synch after reading the first pages. I can't stress how amazing this book was, Tim and Ben's relationship story follows just as the book's rear cover states.

"Enséñame a volar mi mariposa hermosa."

this book resonates in my heart. i m curently 19 with my high school days just past me but the high school sweet heart want was something that still echoes in my mind. this book let me experience the kind of dramatic love i longed for back in high school. i always longed for the romace i read everywhere but gay romance and drama made it relatable to me(tim being mexican helped too lol) i know that even though it was fiction, if i was still in high school and i had just read this, my loneliness would have been suppresed. tim and ben are such wonderful characters that i could fall in love with both of them. as for jace idk. he seems soo perfect i dont know how to even feel towards him. but the begining of this book is heaven. how i wish i had gone through those experiences in high school.

The plot is very inconsistent, and not exactly very well structured, it has a lot of flaws and the characters at the end are not very well constructed. The subject of love, cheating, etc. is treated in a very superficial and mostly boring way. The book is not very well written, and the ending dissapointed me so much that I didn't even want to finish the book as I saw where it was going. All in all, I do not recomend this novel, as I hardly can distnguish it from stories I can find for free on the internet, which have much more quality content and some are even better written.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book, detailing the life of the protagonist, Ben, in high school as an openly gay teen with a crush on a cute new neighbor, Tim. Reading about how Ben meets Tim, how they interact in school, how others view them, was interesting and fun. How Ben and Tim interact was believable (at least mostly -- do kids really get away with cutting so much school?), as was the ending of the first part of this book.

The second part of the book, introducing a new character, Jace, didn't seem as well developed, but it was still entertaining enough.

The last part of the book devolved into pure soap opera, however. The plot twists in this section were not believable, and the ending of the book, as other reviewers have noted, was not satisfying.

I picked this up because it was Valentine's Day and I've always wanted to investigate the gay romance genre. A quick scan of the store's website produced Jay Bell's relatively well reviewed novels. Looking back, I should have realized that those favorable reviews were produced, almost entirely, by nostalgic middle aged gay men. Don't get me wrong, I understand why people find novels like this appealing (the GLBT community is sadly underrepresented in the genre of love). Throughout the course of the novel, Mr. Bell does manage to produce the necessary passion to capture his reader and generate empathy for his characters but that does not change the fact that Something Like Summer is poorly written.

The shear number of cliches present in this book damn it to literary Hell. To say nothing of the frequent colloquialisms, nauseatingly corny plot twists, and painfully buttressed stereotypes. I wanted to like this book (and sometimes I did) but the writing colored my experience.

If you want romance, stick with Isherwood.

I have now read this book twice and it is my favorite book buy far from the way the author makes you fall
In love with all the people in the book to the way he jumps the book in time at just the right places all the happy parts make you feel happy and all the sad parts make you want to cry this is just an over all great book Something like winter is great to and helps feel in some gaps and ends a lot happier as well.

I just finished both books and so very glad I read them back to back. What a great series. I can't wait for jace's story. The books are a mix of pride and prejudice/Emma and withering heights. Sometimes, I was on the edge of my seat w anticipation. Other times, I hated them all and was annoyed w what a complete mess their lives were but fully engaged in the twist and turns of the story. The sex was hot and I lusted after Tim along w Ben. They were both quick reads and necessary to understand the whole story. I hated tim a lot in the first and then loved him in the second. Great piece of work bell.

I thought this book was a nice, leisurely read. I thought the characters were believable and I didn't find anything predictable, which kept me interested. I rarely find myself drawn to tears by a book, but this one did it! It had some cheesey moments, but overall I was very pleased with the book. I recommend it because it is romantic, sexy, and will stick with you after you put it down. I really enjoyed it.

this book is the best book i have ever read. Ever.. it will make you cry, and laugh and sigh. it pulled all the emotiom out of me. I will read it again. Jay's other books are great as well. This is my fav but all are super. Check him out. You won't be disappointed.

I am sitting here trying to write my review and I cant. I have no words. I knew I would enjoy the book, but I didn't know I would become emotionally invested and finish Something Like Summer in one sitting. Jay Bell, you made the characters so alive that I felt I could pick up the phone and call Ben myself. I absolutely loved this this book, and it will stay with me forever.

I've tried to search for good gay literature and 9/10 times I come across books that a fourth grader probably came up with. It was refreshing to come across "something like winter". It was well written and was romantic as well as heart breaking. I highly recommend this book if you have ever been in love with someone you couldn't have.

I started out reading the free sample of this book and when I was done with that, I had to read the rest. There were so many times this book brought back memories for me. The feelings and emotions felt honest and helped me to relive a lot of what it was like to fall in love. It was fun to be along on the ride as the characters developed

I bought this book last month and I have read it a couple of times since then. I read all sorts of books but I have always been a sucker for a good romance. This is one of the sweetest, most gut wrenching romances I have ever read. It is a beautiful book with believable, well written characters. Dont pass this one up!!

As much as the 5-star reviewers rave about it not being a coming out story for the protagonist, it's absolutely a coming out story for the main love interest, which to my mind is the same thing, since it serves as the primary source of tension. I found the first half hard to get through because of all the high school teen drama, but felt more engaged in the second half when the characters finally took control of their lives.

Finally, I have to agree that the ending was not only rushed, but something straight out of a soap opera. Needless to say, I would have written this story differently, but I'm not a writer and I didn't hate it.

I am so sick of coming out storiesl, and this book was a breath of fresh air. It was exactly what I was looking for. It's a beautiful story laced with simple eloquence. The emotions were relatable, which made the book all the better.

I really enjoyed watching Ben and Tim's love blossom into a force that neither could deny yet at the same time a force that couldn't be controlled before its time. Loved Ben's friendship with Allison as well. Not feeling the Jace love and would have liked to have gotten a better understanding of Tim's perspective but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed being a witness to the love these two shared.

Couldn't put it down. Cried twice (that's a new one for me) and have not slept two nights (and been tired at work as a result). It's fantastic. You start off thinking "another blonde kid" but by the time Ben meets Tim you're trapped :)

Interesting and kinda true stor. If you are looking for something to read during a weekend, just buy this one book.

I read this book within a day and I loved it. for story detailes just read other comments

I bought this based on lots of really good reviews. I was a bit skeptical because most of the 5 star reviews were written by someone who had no other reviews. Turns out I should have paid more attention. This is a reasonably well written book. That is, most of the sentences are in decent English. That's about the only good thing I can say. None of the characters are anything other than plot points. The plot veers between silly and hackneyed. Many of the reviews referred to not being able to stop reading -- especially towards the end. SPOILER ALERT: Almost nothing happens. There is an entirely predictable turning point. Don't waste your time

This was an excellent book and worth the read. You're always captured by what Ben wants to do with his life, but more importantly it is a good sight to the life of anyone whose grown up dealing with a first love who was never comfortable with themselves until they got older. I enjoyed every moment of this book. The ending was nice, it wasn't rushed but more so it was a decent progression. Going through someones life showing how love can manifest and how much you can never get over that very first love.

I loved Ben with Jace. He was perfect and everything Ben needed, but I also loved him with Tim. Tim was an ever developing character. He had to experience what he put Ben through to change and it was nice.

The book paced well, the characters grew well. I absolutely loved it. I recommend this book to anyone who just wants a great read.

I've read lots of YA novels and none have touched me the way "Something like Summer" did. This is an amazing book worth all the time, tears, and laughs I spent on it. I loved it! I defenetely recommend it as well as all of the other works of Jay Bell.

Since this isn't the first book in the series that I've read, I'm really disappointed that I'm reading them out of order! I'm going to forge ahead and hope the next one and the last can equal the 3rd, which was amazing.

When I first came upon this novel, I had my reservations as to how enjoyable it may be. After reading various other reviews, I decided to download the free trial. I was still 50/50 at the end of the trial, but then decided to go ahead and continue.

This story touched upon youthful memories as well as some of the more traumatic times of my life. I found myself getting so tied up in the characters that I would have to close the book at times as I became anxious for them. Hey I am 60 years old for crying out loud, I should be able to handle this! I would tell myself that they were only characters and not real people, but the characters seemed real to me. As I thought about it, life brings similar challenges to each of us that the characters faced in this story and I remembered that there is truth here for most of us.

If you like a great story that covers many years through the characters life as the mature, make mistakes, learn from them and sometimes still mess things up finding out that they are indeed fallible, Then you may enjoy watching the story of love and all the ups and downs that often comes with it as you read this novel. I give it high marks and I would highly recommend it.

Ben and Tim are adorable and the book describes their relationship and all it's challenges trough many years. I cried and laughed and truly enjoyed the book. The feeling of knowing the characters is important to me when reading a book and this book make me feel that. The storyline is great. I recommend reading for all that likes a good love story. Enjoy!

This is an amazing start to what I can only imagine is going ...

This is an amazing start to what I can only imagine is going to be an amazing series!! I have been on a roller coaster of emotions throughout the entire book. This is 100% a series I will be reading multiple times! I definitely recommend this to anyone!