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Boys of Summer (Boys of Summer #1)

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 765 ratings · 91 reviews

I thought I knew what love was…

My name is Hunter Willis and I’ve found love. The problem? I’m not sure I’m ready for the rest of the world to know I’ve fallen for my best friend. Everyone knows Max is gay. Me? They think I’m straight as an arrow. So did I, until Max and I shared a kiss three months ago that blew that theory right out of the water.

Now, by the ocean in Flori...more

ebook, 1st Edition, 49 pages

Published August 4th 2009 by Samhain Publishing

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Mar 19, 2013 Bev rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gfy, happy-ever-after, m-m, really-good-friends

3 stars for me, found the language rather stilted.

Hunter and Max were a nice enough couple, and I was happy that they found their HEA, but I have to say that I much preferred the song 'Boys of Summer' by Don Henley

to this book. Sorry.

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Mar 08, 2013 Major English (Laura) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sex

I wouldn't consider this a best friends to lovers story as the synopsis suggests, as the two MCs, Maxwell and Hunter are friends, but the way the story is written, their friendship and the emotional basis for them becoming lovers isn't really touched upon.... The way this story is written, it is almost as if there should have been more chapters before chapter one started to give these characters' friendship a backstory, because the story begins with them already in a relationship.

This piece was...more I wouldn't consider this a best friends to lovers story as the synopsis suggests, as the two MCs, Maxwell and Hunter are friends, but the way the story is written, their friendship and the emotional basis for them becoming lovers isn't really touched upon.... The way this story is written, it is almost as if there should have been more chapters before chapter one started to give these characters' friendship a backstory, because the story begins with them already in a relationship.

This piece was definitely a coming-out piece with more angst than I was anticipating. It is the story of Maxwell and Hunter, who start a romantic relationship but who are both relatively "new to being gay." (With Maxwell having dated men before, but Hunter has only ever dated women.) We are not told how old these characters are, which bothered me too. I couldn't tell if they were in their mid twenties or their mid thirties. Heck, they could have been older, technically, as no age was given. This made it hard for me to picture the characters. Additionally, we are told these characters love each other, which I buy, but we are told and not shown... Just like we are told and not shown that they are friends that turn into lovers. And they were not best friends, they just hung out in the same group of friends.

Hunter's trepidations about coming out to their friends irked me a bit. I think that his conflicting emotions were realistic, but I didn't like the way they were presented. Also, as I found with other reviews I read here on goodreads, I was confused with the dynamic of the MCs. Max was supposed to be the one who was comfortable with his sexuality, but the story starts off mainly from Hunter's point of view about how much he wants Maxwell, but then it turns out that Max isn't actually out of the closet, unlike what the synopsis suggests. So it was a bit contradictory at times.

So all in all, I thought this story was just ok. I wish there was more of a foundation to it. I wish there was some more backstory to it, and the language in it kept reading to me like these two MCs were a heterosexual couple with Maxwell being the woman. The language seemed very delicate, which is fine and was endearing in a way, but im not sure it was entirely fitting to these characters. The love making scenes, were just that, acts of love as opposed to smut. Which is completely fine with me. This is merely an observation. (less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Guilty Pleasures added it

Shelves: guiltypleasures-slick

Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4 Stars

Every time I read this book I immediately start singing the Don Henley song, “But I can see you, your brown skin shining in the sun. You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on baby. I can tell you my love for you will still be strong after the boys of summer, have gone.” Yes, Cooper Davis mentions the song in the book but even before I read it, the song came to mind. After reading it, the song has much more meaning. Boys of Summer and Tak...more Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4 Stars

Every time I read this book I immediately start singing the Don Henley song, “But I can see you, your brown skin shining in the sun. You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on baby. I can tell you my love for you will still be strong after the boys of summer, have gone.” Yes, Cooper Davis mentions the song in the book but even before I read it, the song came to mind. After reading it, the song has much more meaning. Boys of Summer and Taking You Home (book 2) still remain my favorite M/M books of all time. Maybe it’s because they were my first in the genre, but I think it has more to do with Hunter Willis who tells his story from discovering the attraction to another man to coming out and making a commitment.

Let me begin by saying this book is written in first person and I don’t know if it would have been as good if it wasn’t. The book starts out with Hunter and Maxwell on vacation together in Florida. They’ve been together for a few months but have known each other for four years. I really and truly connected with Hunter during his struggle to please Max and come out to their friends. The author does a great job of having Hunter tell us about the other people in this book. We know quite a bit about Maxwell, his best friend Louisa, Hunter’s ex-girlfriend and good friend Veronica, and their friend Ben all through Hunter’s eyes.

There are so many poignant moments in this book that it’s hard to even say which one is my favorite and as special as the moment is when Hunter and Max finally consummate their relationship, I think Hunter telling Max that he wants to be with him long term is one of the most beautiful scenes written. The love and caring that flow though the words still give me goose bumps after multiple reads. Then there is also the scene where Hunter realizes he wants to come out to their friends, “Nobody has ever kissed me the way that Max Daniels did that night, the end. Male or female, it’s an irrelevant argument, there’s something in the way of my heart opened that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Maybe that’s what true love it. I have no idea. I only know that I’m never going back, now that he’s mine. I’m on this side of things, and I don’t think it has much to do with sexuality or orientation. I think it’s about what he did to me with that very first kiss, and what he’s been doing to me ever since.” Powerful stuff, right?

While the main focus in this book is on Hunter and Max, it’s evident that their friends are important and a support system for them both. Keep in mind that this book is really kind of a prequel to the second book Taking You Home. I’ll be honest, I read Taking You Home first not knowing about Boys of Summer. I “discovered” BOS a few months after I read TYO. Reading them out of order was kind of interesting because I already knew so much more about these characters before I read this book but, I was so glad to get to see them at the beginning of their relationship. We see a lot more of Louisa, Veronica, and Ben in the second book along with Max’s family.

Boys of Summer is a wonderful book about a man who for a good portion of his life believed he was heterosexual, then he meets the person of his dreams who happens to be a man. I love watching Hunter come to terms with his sexuality and all the fears that go along with it. I especially love when his friends tell him they suspected it for a long time. His thought, “I could have spent the past four years with Maxwell, not floundering on the last outpost of my heterosexuality.” I think we all know it doesn’t work that way and I understand his point, but he really had to figure it out for himself. I’m just glad he has Maxwell to help him along the way.(less)

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Dec 06, 2011 Bee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, gay-for-you, kindle, m-m, passion-erotica, romance, stuck-in-the-closet, travel

Usually when I rate a book 5 stars I will have gone all ”YES!” from the very beginning of reading…not this time…it was more…”Um, no!” but then it became…”hmmm”…and “aaaahhh, ok”…and finally a loudly ringing “YEAH!” It was really different…but in the end it totally won me over.

Hunter and Max have been together for a while, but while Max is gay and out Hunter have been straight all his life…until he laid eyes on Max. Now they’re off in Florida on vacation and they make an agreement. Hunter promise...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: x-read-in-2011, ebooks-i-own

well this was different :)
This book was a recommend romance book -

It's also my first real read that was focused solely on a Gay couple. Sure I've read about three-some but they've all been with shifters and mating and all this -

This book was a really touching story about 2 guys who loved each other -

The story is told in Hunter's POV - Now Hunter had always been straight - he dated girls, even had sex with them - but there was always something wrong - Veronica - his last girlfriend - they tri...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Jenre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary, romance

I picked up this book after its sequel Taking You Home was recommended to me on the post I did about cross dressing heroes. As I am incapable of reading any books out of order, I decided to read this one first. I’m so glad I did as it was a really terrific coming out story which was packed full of emotion and romance.

The story is written from the first person point of view of Hunter. He’s on holiday with his lover Maxwell and they have reached a sort of crisis point in their relationship. Maxwel...more I picked up this book after its sequel Taking You Home was recommended to me on the post I did about cross dressing heroes. As I am incapable of reading any books out of order, I decided to read this one first. I’m so glad I did as it was a really terrific coming out story which was packed full of emotion and romance.

The story is written from the first person point of view of Hunter. He’s on holiday with his lover Maxwell and they have reached a sort of crisis point in their relationship. Maxwell wants Hunter to publicly come out of the closet and to admit their love to their close group of friends. In doing this Hunter will have to face to up the fact that he is gay – something which scares him. He’s almost ready to take that step but needs the gentle support and love of Maxwell to overcome his fears.

The writing in this book is very intense because most of it is made up of Hunter’s thoughts and feelings as his mind churns with the decisions he has to make. This could have become quite tiresome and self-indulgent but the story is saved from that by the author’s lyrical prose and ability to skilfully gain my sympathy for Hunter and his problems. Another reason why it worked for me was because the love that Hunter feels for Maxwell shines through his thoughts. It is in everything – the way he describes Maxwell, in his wavering and confused feelings, in his absolute certainty that he can read Maxwell’s every thought, interpret his tone of voice and his movements. After a few pages I knew that Hunter’s love for Maxwell would overcome everything and I delighted in reading that journey towards accepting his feelings and making good on them with his actions. It was all so deeply romantic that it made me ache a little inside.

I also liked that Hunter acts very much like a man. He finds it difficult to express his feelings out loud – and yet we get all those feelings as they swirl around his head. He’s attuned to Maxwell but oblivious to the feelings of his friends and puts his foot in it, blundering his way in an endearing manner. I really liked Hunter and was genuinely happy for him by the end of the story.

I could go on for much longer about the things I liked about Boys of Summer, such as the tender and beautifully described sex scenes; the way that the past and present was skilfully interwoven; how I was caught up in Hunter’s fears; how much I liked Maxwell’s gentle patience with Hunter and indeed the character of Maxwell who is flirty but generous and kind. I really do recommend this story to anyone looking for a sensitively handled coming out story with a very romantic feel. This might be the first book I’ve read by this author but I already have the sequel, Taking You Home, and I’m looking forward to reading that very soon.(less)

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Mar 23, 2010 Ravyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-mm-fiction, t-gay-for-you

I read this 49-page novella on a whim, something quick and simple to pass the time. What a pleasant experience that turned out to be.

Although written in the first person (which I don't normally like), the story told through Hunter's eyes was absolutely lovely and sweetly touching. This is basically a coming-out story that focuses on Hunter's fears about admitting both to himself and the world that he's in love with a man. What makes this story all the sweeter is the contrast between Hunter's ro...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Ava rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-erotic-romance

I really enjoyed this book. Hunter and Max have been friends for years, and over the past few months that friendship has turned into much more. But Hunter fights the fact that he could be gay, and even after he accepts it within himself and realizes he loves Max, he's scared to admit it to the world. The thing is, Max is gay, and he wants them to eventually be in a committed relationship. Max realizes Hunter's afraid to come out, and in an effort to take their relationship to the next step, he s...more I really enjoyed this book. Hunter and Max have been friends for years, and over the past few months that friendship has turned into much more. But Hunter fights the fact that he could be gay, and even after he accepts it within himself and realizes he loves Max, he's scared to admit it to the world. The thing is, Max is gay, and he wants them to eventually be in a committed relationship. Max realizes Hunter's afraid to come out, and in an effort to take their relationship to the next step, he suggests the two go on a week long vacation to Florida to get away. Just the 2 of them. The book is about Hunter facing his fears and coming out, with Max as his side as his boyfriend.

The book is told in 1st person POV, and I usually don't like 1st person and shy away from such books. But the blurb really grabbed me, as did the excerpt, so I gave it a chance and loved it. The 1st person POV really worked in this book. And it was written in such a way that I fell in love with not only Hunter, but Max as well. He was such a great guy - so patient and sweet and sexy and hot as hell. He understood Hunter, understood his fears. While not explicitly stated in the book, I got the impression Max was so patient because he understood what Hunter was going through, because he'd been through it himself at one point. He's not a complete saint, though - Hunter does test his patience. Max loves Hunter and truly wants to be in a committed relationship with him, so it was sometimes hard for him when Hunter pulled back.

I think what I loved best about the book was the feel. It was sweet, hot and vulnerable. The sexual tension was scorching, and I felt Hunter's fear, his ingrained internal resistance to become an openly gay man. He feared how others would react, and I was immensely happy when he realized other people's opinions didn't matter because he loved Max.

It's not as explicit as the usual m/m erotic romance. It's more about the emotions, the depth of love between the 2 men, than the details. Rest assured, the bedroom door is open, it just doesn't have a ton of explicit details.

The book is on the short side for a novella. It opens on the day before their last day of their vacation. But even though the book is short, the author was able to convey a lot of information about Hunter and Max's relationship and how they got to this point. Hunter thinks about the first time he laid eyes on Max, their first 'date', their first kiss, etc. You get to experience the progression of their relationship, feel Hunter's internal fight as he tries to cling to his heterosexuality while falling in love with Max.

The only thing that stood out as kind of odd was that Max was a virgin. He had never had sex with a man or a woman. He dated a couple guys and dated girls in the past, but no sex. He's been in love with Hunter for a while and wants Hunter to be his first. It worked in the book, since Hunter knows that he can't in good conscious take Max's virginity unless he commits himself to their relationship. It can't be just a summer fling. But...in the real world I do wonder how realistic it could be to have a guy remain a virgin for so long. I'm guessing Max is in his late twenties - he's a successful stock trader, has made some nice money, and he's been friends with Hunter for 4 years. I don't recall if the author mentioned their ages, so I'm guessing here. Max had tried dating girls before he realized he was gay, but he's this really attractive, nice, outgoing, successful guy. And he remained a virgin for that long? Umm... Anyway, it did work in the book, so it didn't pull me out of the story.

I definitely recommend this book if you are in the mood for a sweet, romantic love story.

(less)

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Sep 02, 2009 ♥Tricia♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, erotica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 25, 2011 Marcella rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story. Hunter and Max made the perfect couple. I did feel bad for Hunter though. All his life he thought he was straight until he met Max. Max stirred feelings in him that he didn't know he had. It all began with a kiss...a kiss that awoke something in Hunter.

Max has pretty much always known that he was gay. He was very open about it and was never ashamed to display his feelings towards Hunter in public. However, Hunter is not so comfortable with the displays of affection. Max is v...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Nichole (Dirty H) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, 2009, m-m-faves

This sweet little novella (60 pages) hit all the right notes for me. It was near perfect.

This is a first person narrative from the POV of Hunter, who is on a vacation in Florida with his boyfriend, Max. Hunter is deep in the closet, but he wants Max so bad he'll do anything. Max is a virgin, and he wants to give himself to Hunter, but he won't do it without a real commitment - which means coming out to their friends and living as a couple. Hunter finally decides he's ready.

So the book is basical...more

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Jun 18, 2011 C.J. Anthony rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks-on-my-nook

Boys of Summer is a short, quick read. It begins at the end of summer, Hunter and Maxwell are just ending a vacation trip together and a summer of falling in love with each other. Hunter was straight before finally admitting his attraction to Max. Max is gay and has been out for many years, and wants Hunter to be out with him. As they head home from their vacation, Hunter must come to terms with coming out to their friends as both a gay man and as Maxwell's lover.

My favorite part of this book w...more

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Sep 09, 2011 L-D rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, m-m, novella, multiple-reads-would-read-again, series

This was an extremely sweet story. It's about the coming out of a straight man who is in love with his gay best friend. They have been close for years, but Hunter is finally realizing that his love for Maxwell is more than just between friends. This book centers around a get away with these two men to determine if they can move forward with this relationship. Maxwell loves Hunter already, but he won't move into a physical relationship until he is certain of a true commitment. Maxwell has been ex...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Gigi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, friends-to-lovers-gfy

Short story read-gasm fun! Cooper Davis knows two things extremely well: How to write a mind-melting M/M sex scene and how to bring M/M romance to vivid life on the page. After re-reading Bound By Nature I went looking for more by Ms. Davis and was sadden to see she only has 3 books total to her name. But this one was fantastic and it has a sequel Taking you Home so I've very grateful for that.

If you like mind-melting, romantic, emotional sex between beautiful men in love, I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Traci rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book from this author. I did like the writing and the story line. This is the story of best friends "one straight" one gay, that fall head of heals in love with each other. The story is in Hunter's POV "straight" one and his struggle with being in love or being gay and are these the same things. He falls in love with Max "love at first sight" develops a 4 year relationship "friendship" before their "first kiss". This book takes place when they decide to give a relationship a try...more

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Mar 28, 2010 thelastaerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very quick read. This is what I'd call a guilty pleasure read, i.e. I liked the story, but I don't "buy" the story. :)

The sex is hot and there's lots of tenderness and sweetness between the two main protags. Despite a rather implausible plot, I enjoyed the story even when I have to suspend my belief while reading it. There aren't much world or environment building around the story, it pretty much just focus on how the protags dance around their mutual attraction to each other, one openly gay,...more

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Mar 04, 2010 Ami rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica

While the story is sweet, here is my main problem. I just don't get the characters. Maxwell is supposed to be the gay one, he knows he is, and willing to embrace the fact, but he's a virgin? With both MEN and WOMEN? Really?!? And we suppose to believe that when at the same time Maxwell says he has tried the guy dating scenes with a couple of guys?

Then Hunter, is the well-straight-one, who has a crush with Maxwell, but when he takes over, it feels like he has doing it before, trying to reassure M...more

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Sep 10, 2009 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, m-m, what-i-read-in-2009

Hunter Willis and Maxwell Daniels have been best friends for years. Hunter has never had any doubts about his sexual orientation until the night Max kisses him. Months later Hunter can no longer deny to himself that he has fallen in love with Max. Since Max is gay and in love with Hunter there shouldn't be anything standing in the way of a relationship between them. However Hunter has great difficulty even thinking of coming out of the closet as a gay man. He can't imagine how his family and fri...more Hunter Willis and Maxwell Daniels have been best friends for years. Hunter has never had any doubts about his sexual orientation until the night Max kisses him. Months later Hunter can no longer deny to himself that he has fallen in love with Max. Since Max is gay and in love with Hunter there shouldn't be anything standing in the way of a relationship between them. However Hunter has great difficulty even thinking of coming out of the closet as a gay man. He can't imagine how his family and friends, not to mention his ex-girlfriend, will react to the surprising news.

Max has been in love with Hunter for years but never thought he'd have a chance to be with him until the night he kisses Hunter at a party. From that first kiss Max and Hunter start out on a wonderfully romantic journey that will lead them from friendship to love. Max patiently introduces Hunter to the pleasures of being intimate with a man and since Max is a virgin, although he does have some experience, this is a journey in which they are both learning along the way.

It's really wonderful to see how Max tries to help Hunter deal with his fears and apprehensions about going public while at the same time we see how important it is for Max that they be a 'couple' in the full sense of the word and not just a secret between Hunter and him. Max longs for a time when everyone can see just how in love they are and as Hunter became more comfortable with their love and expressing it publicly I cheered for both of them.

This short story is wonderfully written and deeply emotional. Hunter and Max are both well developed characters and the obvious love between them makes this a joy to read. I loved how Hunter's issues are dealt with pretty realistically and not just glossed over. The fact that Hunter has always thought himself a 'normal' heterosexual man and now finds himself in love with a man is very disturbing to him but as he grows more confident in his love for Max we see him start to really examine himself and his sexuality. What he discovers about himself will be a surprise to him and makes this a better story than the usual GFY story.

I really loved this book. It's romantic and sweet with sex scenes that are not as explicit as a lot of M/M books tend to be. This suited both the storyline and the characters very well. Overall I found this book to be beautifully written, it features two interesting men experiencing the joy, confusion, excitement, highs and lows of falling in love. It's about coming to terms with yourself and learning that no matter how important you may think other peoples opinion of you is what really counts in life is being true to yourself. It's about finding love and learning to appreciate it even if it's not at all what is expected of you by others or even by yourself.

As far as I know this is the first book by Cooper Davis and it's a great way to debut. I'll be looking forward to reading more stories by this author in the future. I highly recommend Boys of Summer. (less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Avril rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't GR will allow me all the expletives I want to include here, so let's see if I can get by without them. I love this freaking story. I've had in my huge-ass pile of ToBe Read books For Ever and for some reason I kept passing it over. So freaking glad I decided on it tonight. Short and delicious and let me tell you, from word one my heart was in my throat and engaged with these men. So good, emotions so real, so tangible, so...believable. I have no complaints, loved Hunter's voice. Loved ho...more

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May 27, 2011 Anisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-lendable, m-m-romance

Wow! What an awesome read. 5 stars all the way. I can't believe the ratings aren't higher for this wonderful story. Now, I've got to buy it so that I have a copy of my own. Thank you, thank you Luci for helping me to discover this new author. And thank you, thank you for giving me the heads up on this prequel to the book that follows. I normally go for the books 4 stars and higher and would have missed this great find. Just shows that you can't always go by the ratings. Or else I need to lower t...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Pauline Allan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary

Okay, It was sweet...yes. Romantic...sort of. But, it was just missing that IT moment for me. My favorite scene was when Hunter came up behind Maxwell in the kitchen and planted a big kiss on him in front of their friends. WOW, now that was sweet and hot. I had a difficult time with the first person POV and I needed more. I understand the novella length, but I felt this story could have showed more, told more, made me feel more. The concept was good, but I just didn't feel the fireworks. I want...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Barb ~rede-2-read~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Barb ~rede-2-read~ by: Lily

Shelves: favorites, g-f-y, hawt, read-2012, to-re-read, past-gang-bang, part-of-a-series

This was a wonderful story told from the first person POV of Hunter, a young man in love with his best friend Maxwell. He's finally ready to admit his love for Max and to come out of the closet for him but first they need to get away for a summer vacation across the country from their homes and their best friends so that they can cement their relationship.

The story starts toward the end of their vacation, so at first it seems that we are in the middle of the story, but the gaps get filled in qu...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Thorny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This was one of the sweetest M/M romances I've ever read. That's not to say there isn't any sex, just that the love is more important. The whole story's about Hunter coming to terms with actually loving Max. With loving a man and with what he's willing to do for that man.

I'd like to believe sexuality is fluid and that every straight guy's got a little bi boy giggling inside him, but I've never really bought into the possible reality of a gay-for-you plot. It's a fantasy, and those are delightful...more

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Jan 14, 2012 T.A. Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hunter Willis has a problem.

He is in love with his best friend.

His name is Max, and the two met through other friends while Hunter was with his then girlfriend. The two became fast friends, and spent a lot of time together. Everyone knows Max is gay, and that doesn't bother Hunter. Everyone thinks he is straight, including Hunter himself.

But when they go on what amounts to a date, and share a kiss, everything changes. Now Hunter is spending the night at Max's home. Sleeping in his bed. But Max...more

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May 13, 2011 Tam rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

2.5 stars, I know I'm in the minority on this, sorry. :-/ It just didn't work for me.

Hunter and Max were friends for a couple of years and even though Hunter was straight (he thought) they've been carrying on a secret affair for a few months. They go away for a week and Max won't have anal sex unless Hunter agrees to come out of the closet. Hunter's shitting bricks but finally agrees because he loves him. He's sure everyone (including his and Max's exes (girls)) will hate him because he's gay....more

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Sep 01, 2009 Elisa Ramblings added it

Recently I read a gay romance written by a man and my comment was that it was the proof that men can write romance. But still I think their intake on the romance is different from the one of a woman. Woman are more brainiac, they always did things more complicated than necessary. Like in this case: Boys of Summer is basically a simple story, but all the brainstorming happening inside the mind of one of the character makes it complicated only to realize in the end than complicated is not. Now I'm...more Recently I read a gay romance written by a man and my comment was that it was the proof that men can write romance. But still I think their intake on the romance is different from the one of a woman. Woman are more brainiac, they always did things more complicated than necessary. Like in this case: Boys of Summer is basically a simple story, but all the brainstorming happening inside the mind of one of the character makes it complicated only to realize in the end than complicated is not. Now I'm not saying it in a derogatory way, I like both men in this story, but maybe they are behaving more like a woman would do in the same situation, and so perhaps this is the reason why I can identify so much in Hunter's trouble.

When the story starts, Hunter and Max have already realized that their story is something more than friendship, after some years they met, one night at the beginning of summer Max kissed Hunter and their love story started. Only that Max, even if handsome, self-assured and wealthy, is still a virgin to sex (both with men than women), and to finally give his virginity to someone else, he wants for it to be a true gift of love, and he wants for it to be with the right man, the man that will remain in the bed the morning after, the man with whom he can build a life together.

Hunter knows he loves Max, but he isn't so sure that he wants to commit to that level. For all the summer they met every night, they did heavy petting, but Hunter left every morning at dawn on his motorcycle (another quite romance image). Hunter and Max are part of a tight circle of friends, Max's childhood ex-girlfriend Louisa and Hunter former girlfriend Veronica are part of it, and so is Max's neighbor Ben... coming out as Max's boyfriend for Hunter means coming out full front with a lot of people and changing all his life. It's not a simple decision, and they decided to go on holiday together, far from all their friends, to see if their story has a future.

So at the end of summer we find Hunter and Max together, and we read the story from Hunter's point of view. There is no doubt in Hunter's mind and heart that he loves Max, and it's not that the problem. Truth be told, I don't think it's even a problem for Hunter coming out, admitting he is gay. I have the feeling that Hunter's trouble is one common to a lot of people, he fears to commit, he fears to settling down with one person, to do the shift from boy to man. I really don't think it's the "gay" thing the problem, I think Hunter is more a good and friendly boy who reached that point in life when he has to do something right. In a way, this made him even more real, more masculine... the fear to commit, to settle down, is very common in young men, maybe the way Hunter brains over it it's more a woman's thing, but aside that, Hunter is all "man" in his behavior.

When he finally decides that he wants something more with Max, he becomes all "boyfriend" attitude, carrying heavy things for his lover, beaming when Max is doting over him cooking or doing other sweet things. For good part of the book, Max has really a "bottom" attitude, he has even the teasing behavior that usually women have when they want something, he even uses the sex card, denying Hunter till the moment the man surrenders to his desires. I like how the author chooses to give also to Max his mainly moment, to scroll down a bit from him the idea that he was a bit too feminine.

Boys of Summer is only a novella, and the first book I read by this author, but I like it. It's sweet and sugar, a bit of an old fashioned romance, and sometime it's refreshing to go back to simple and nice stories like this one.

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Aug 19, 2009 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

A truly lovely short novella about the fear of coming out overweighed with an incredible love found, regardless of gender. Sometimes in romance the simplicity of finding and holding onto love is overlooked for the drama, tension, and flash of problems, issues, and miscommunications. Conversely when the romance itself is the center point, the story is often too sweet and easy. Here the author has delivered a beautiful story showing the complexity of emotion and the ease of romance. However the pa...more A truly lovely short novella about the fear of coming out overweighed with an incredible love found, regardless of gender. Sometimes in romance the simplicity of finding and holding onto love is overlooked for the drama, tension, and flash of problems, issues, and miscommunications. Conversely when the romance itself is the center point, the story is often too sweet and easy. Here the author has delivered a beautiful story showing the complexity of emotion and the ease of romance. However the path to acceptance is not always accomplished with a mild mannered announcement and here two great men struggle but focus on what is ultimately the most important element – their love.

Told in first person from Hunter’s point of view, the story follows a brief time period at the end of summer as Hunter struggles with coming out of the closet to friends. A confirmed heterosexual, Hunter has never really questioned his lackluster sexual response to women until he meets Max through mutual friends. The seeds of a crush are laid but both men seem to dance around the idea, ignoring it in favor of a slow building friendship. Finally one summer after they’ve been friends for years Max slowly opens Hunter’s eyes to the emotion between them. Although Hunter dives into the relationship with both feet, he can’t help a one step forward, two steps back attitude. He wants Max desperately yet is afraid of the stigma and label attached to admitting he may be gay.

The characters are really rich in detail and complexity. Hunter’s struggle with accepting his sexuality is layered and he stumbles several times along the way. Without Max’s patient understanding, the relationship would never have worked and Hunter recognizes this important fact. However that doesn’t stop Hunter from lashing out, running away, and inadvertently hurting Max in his fear. Hunter slowly accepts that Max wants an open relationship and won’t accept hiding for too much longer, that Max’s endless patience does indeed have a limit. What’s really touching about the emotional journey is that Hunter’s feelings for Max are never in doubt. Hunter is incredibly proud to be with Max and loves the man completely and totally. Even that deep well of emotion struggles to overcome Hunter’s resistance to accepting he is gay and facing possible repercussions from friends and family.

This short story is surprisingly well written and deeply emotional, given the smaller length. Thus the characterization and journey of the men are never wasted on small details or banal conversation. The tentative exploration into sex includes missteps and unfolding desire which combine to create an intimate look at a relationship as it turns from casual into serious and potentially life long. The romance and sensuality of the relationship comes through, showing the care and love Max has shown Hunter over the course of the summer. Hunter’s slow emergence from fearful “friend” into proud lover is a lovely transformation and epitomizes the classic genre of romance.

If I had any qualms it would only be I didn’t appreciate the scene in the kitchen with Max and Hunter’s ex-girlfriends. While I understand the dynamic and the importance of the women in the men’s lives and close, supportive relationships – I felt the entire conversation is awkward and uncomfortable. I connected with Hunter on such a level, I felt his embarrassment and unease about the situation just as acutely. I didn’t feel the women’s reactions were explained or justified and thus they were somewhat odd and ill fitting to the story. However, this is a small scene in the story and the ending is beautiful and moving.

If you’re looking for a lovely summer romance story – this certainly satisfies.
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Sep 10, 2012 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Connie by: How Well Do You Know Your M/M?

Shelves: m-m, romance, short-story

Hunter and Max are best friends but over the summer they realized that there is more to their relationship than friendship.
And it´s hard on Max, who knows he is gay but has to give time until Hunter is ready.
And is also hard on Hunter, who´s world turns upside down because he is in love with a boy.
Their first time together is so powerful, their love so pure and the connection so strong.
Those moments over the summer will finally give Hunter and Max the strength to face their friends and be open a...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Saly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, single-titles, erotic, rom-contemporary

Hunter and Max have been friends for four years and in the summer it turned into more after they shared a kiss so they got away to see what was between them. Max is open about being gay and a virgin but Hunter has a lot of fears, how will people react and even saying out loud he is gay. These fears seemed normal to be sometimes, he is crazy in love with Max but so afraid of the changes accepting it will bring in his life. All in all I enjoyed the book, it was sappily romantic.

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Jul 18, 2011 Daanquai rated it 5 of 5 stars

Normally I don't much care for books that drip sugar but this one was so beautifully written that I was lapping it all up!

This book was written with in Hunter's POV, which I think helped make it an incredibly intense book instead of just a sappy romance. We got to experience all of Hunter's thoughts and fears of coming out while at the same time acknowledging and accepting his love for Max. And oh, how he loves his Max! Beautiful, sweet story. Loved it!!!

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About Cooper Davis

Cooper Davis is a lifelong writer and reader who fell in love with Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Betsy, Tacy and Tibb. But it was Gone With the Wind that truly kicked her into gear, causing her to write her first short story. Cooper’s mental game of casting herself as characters from fiction began with Scarlet (what woman wouldn’t want to wear that red dress, even if it marked her a harlot?) and c...more

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