Review and Giveaway: Twenty Boy Summer

 

Title:  Twenty Boy Summer

Author:  Sarah Ockler

Review Copy Provided by:  Little, Brown

About the Book:  

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

My Review:    The perfect summer, beach read.  Not just because it takes place on the beach or because summer is in the title, but because this book just screams summer: vacation with friends, California, teenage love, love lost, best friends, growing up.  What more could you ask for?  I really enjoyed Ockler's debut YA novel.

Anna, the main character is so easy to love and such a typical teenager.  She has a best friend, well two, but one's a boy, they live next door, and they spend ALL their time together.  Everything is perfect, until Anna's 15th birthday.  The best friend, who's a boy, becomes more and Anna has to hide it from everyone, including Frankie, her best friend.  Anna's conflict is with herself; should she tell, did Matt really love her, what would have happened with them, is she cheating on a ghost if she dates other guys?  That's more than one teen should have to deal with at a time.  But, Anna is strong.  She finds solace in her journal until she learns that even the journal can't bring Matt back.

Ockler unfolds a great story as two friends learn more about each other in 3 weeks on the beach than they ever thought possible.  Will this friendship survive the ABSE (Absolute Best Summer Ever) when everything backfires?  You'll have to read it for yourself and see.

5/5 stars for Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer.  Take it with you to the beach, and enjoy!

TBS was not due to hit shelves until June, but someone let it out early and it's being spotted in bookstores all over the states.  To see TBS on the map, make sure you stop by Sarah's blog.  She is hosting the Put Twenty Boy Summer on the Map contest on her blog where she's giving away a beach prize pack, and she's also giving away a copy on Goodreads.  Other bloggers have gotten in on the excitement and contests are popping up everywhere!  Here is the list:

Beautiful Creatures Book Club has an ARC and Swag Bag of goodies - ends 5/29

The Story Siren has 5 hardcover copies - ends 5/30

Reader Rabbit has 3 hardcover copies - ends 6/2

Well, I have one to add to that list.  Little, Brown has given me 5 copies to giveaway to my readers as well.  I know, you want to know how you can win one?  Well, it's easy; all you have to do is leave a question for Sarah in the comments.  You have until Friday May 29, at midnight (CST) to ask your questions.  After Friday, I will send all the questions to Sarah, she will choose 5 to answer on my blog, and those 5 people will win a copy of Twenty Boy Summer.  So, what are you dying to know?  Start asking!  Be sure you leave an email address so we can get in touch with you. Contest is open to anyone in the US/Canada; no PO boxes please.