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The Boys of Summer
(Summer #1)
by
Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the swelterin ...more
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the swelterin ...more
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Kindle Edition, 321 pages
Published
December 17th 2012
(first published December 9th 2012)
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Start your review of The Boys of Summer (Summer, #1)

Mar 21, 2015
Andie
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
contemporary,
favorites,
read-in-2019,
young-adult,
new-adult,
read-in-2017,
read-in-2018,
romance
Even better the second time around! No it's not one of my favorite summer contemporaries, it is THE favorite! I can't begin to describe how much I love this book. It's one of those stories that sucks you in and next thing you know it's 3am and you've just finished the book in one sitting.
Everything about this book is perfect! Love the Australian setting. The characters, writing, romance, witty banter, was all great! And those Onslow Boys! Major heart eyes for every single one of them. You can't ...more
Everything about this book is perfect! Love the Australian setting. The characters, writing, romance, witty banter, was all great! And those Onslow Boys! Major heart eyes for every single one of them. You can't ...more

4.5 stars
Don’t you just love those nights where a book has you up until the early hours in the morning, when you have to go to work the next day really early but you just don’t care? The Boys of Summer was one of those books. It was fun, had a fresh summery vibe going on that has you aching for the vibrant summer days. I didn’t realise how much I needed a book like this until I picked it up.
The Boys of Summer did take me a while to get into, but bam as soon as the Onslow boys were introduced I k ...more
Don’t you just love those nights where a book has you up until the early hours in the morning, when you have to go to work the next day really early but you just don’t care? The Boys of Summer was one of those books. It was fun, had a fresh summery vibe going on that has you aching for the vibrant summer days. I didn’t realise how much I needed a book like this until I picked it up.
The Boys of Summer did take me a while to get into, but bam as soon as the Onslow boys were introduced I k ...more

STILL FREE! If you haven't grabbed it yet grab it now!
http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Summer-Boo...
2-13-14
Tess has an ex-boyfriend from hell who bullies her and gave her a flat chested nick name. She lives in her best friend Ellie's shadow. When summer begins her friend Adam talks her into working at a restaurant instead of spending her time at the lake like she wanted. Tess's summer starts off rather bad and she is feeling down. The first 12% was a bit slow but sometimes slow beginnings are a necess ...more
http://www.amazon.com/Boys-Summer-Boo...
2-13-14
Tess has an ex-boyfriend from hell who bullies her and gave her a flat chested nick name. She lives in her best friend Ellie's shadow. When summer begins her friend Adam talks her into working at a restaurant instead of spending her time at the lake like she wanted. Tess's summer starts off rather bad and she is feeling down. The first 12% was a bit slow but sometimes slow beginnings are a necess ...more

Dec 09, 2012
Donna {Book Passion For Life}
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
ya-contemporary-romance,
for-review
Going into The Boys of Summer I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard it was good but I’ve recently been in a bit of a reading slum where nothing seems to be grabbing my attention, so I was hoping this wasn’t going to be the same and you know what, it wasn't at all. The Boys of Summer was everything I was hoping it would be and more.
The Boys of Summer is a flirty, fun and fantastic read – it’s easily up there with the likes of Jenny Han’s series, The Summer I Turned Pretty and it’s on ...more
The Boys of Summer is a flirty, fun and fantastic read – it’s easily up there with the likes of Jenny Han’s series, The Summer I Turned Pretty and it’s on ...more

I have spent almost a year looking for a book similar to Jenny Han's Summer Trilogy and I FINALLY found one..and it was even better! I loved, loved, LOVED The Boys of Summer! I devoured it in a single night. This is C. J. Duggan's debut novel, which pretty amazing because it sucked me right in!
Tess doesn't like to draw attention to herself, she prefers being in the background, have fun with her two best friends and drift through high school. However the summer before Year 12, everything changes. ...more
Tess doesn't like to draw attention to herself, she prefers being in the background, have fun with her two best friends and drift through high school. However the summer before Year 12, everything changes. ...more

This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.
When I started The Boys of Summer I expected it to be a sweet New Adult novel with interesting characters and a cute romance. I'm happy to say it was all I hoped it would be.
The book focuses on three friends, Tess, Adam and Ellie and how they spend their summer before their 12th year at High School. While Adam and Ellie are really excited about their summer job at the local Onslow Hotel, Tess isn't quite fond of the idea. But as they ...more
When I started The Boys of Summer I expected it to be a sweet New Adult novel with interesting characters and a cute romance. I'm happy to say it was all I hoped it would be.
The book focuses on three friends, Tess, Adam and Ellie and how they spend their summer before their 12th year at High School. While Adam and Ellie are really excited about their summer job at the local Onslow Hotel, Tess isn't quite fond of the idea. But as they ...more

4 Onslow Boys Stars
MA-YA genre
What I loved:
1. The Onslow Boys: Toby, Stan and Sean.
2. Humor
3. Adam & Ellie. Great set of BFFs.
4. The building of Toby and Tess' relationship. Friendship, flirting to acting upon things to couple status.
5. The author did a good job at making you feel different things for Tess when it came to: the teasing/harassment/bullying, shyness around boys, her feelings for Toby, her confusions towards what was going on between her and Toby, her insecurities, her humiliations ...more
MA-YA genre
What I loved:
1. The Onslow Boys: Toby, Stan and Sean.
2. Humor
3. Adam & Ellie. Great set of BFFs.
4. The building of Toby and Tess' relationship. Friendship, flirting to acting upon things to couple status.
5. The author did a good job at making you feel different things for Tess when it came to: the teasing/harassment/bullying, shyness around boys, her feelings for Toby, her confusions towards what was going on between her and Toby, her insecurities, her humiliations ...more

First reaction: Absolutely delightful! Sweet, sexy and hot, but also thoughtful, funny and clever! One of the best romantic stories I've read since Stealing Parker and Pushing The Limits!
Full review to come!
Full Review:
**WARNING: This review might contain spoilers and an unhealthy dose of rave*
The Boys of Summer is a wonderful example of just how deliciously sexy, sweet and charming summer fling books can be! A book that gives you goose-bumps, makes you swoon over its incredibly handsome male ...more
Full review to come!
Full Review:
**WARNING: This review might contain spoilers and an unhealthy dose of rave*
The Boys of Summer is a wonderful example of just how deliciously sexy, sweet and charming summer fling books can be! A book that gives you goose-bumps, makes you swoon over its incredibly handsome male ...more

I stayed up until 2:37am to finish The Boys of Summer to say I was gripped would be a massive understatement. I swooned, I cried, I laughed and then I swooned a little bit more. At 70% I had to physically put it down to wipe away a little tear after shouting a gigantic "Noooooo!!" at my poor kindle. I loved it, and then I loved it some more.
A real coming of age story, Tess has lived in the shadow of her gorgeous boy crazy BFF Ellie and cool but thoroughly likeable Adam. Tess is hoping that a laz ...more
A real coming of age story, Tess has lived in the shadow of her gorgeous boy crazy BFF Ellie and cool but thoroughly likeable Adam. Tess is hoping that a laz ...more

I won this and can't wait to get it!! EEEEPPPP
*******************
Okay, after my initial shock of winning this book I was eager to get stuck into it, not really knowing what it was about and who this author was. And then, as I began to read it I was so taken aback by the fact that it was was written by a fellow Aussie! I was so excited to read it even more and I was suddenly laughing out loud and whisked back into the 90's (ahem yes, that's my high school years LOL). This book is so much fun and ...more
*******************
Okay, after my initial shock of winning this book I was eager to get stuck into it, not really knowing what it was about and who this author was. And then, as I began to read it I was so taken aback by the fact that it was was written by a fellow Aussie! I was so excited to read it even more and I was suddenly laughing out loud and whisked back into the 90's (ahem yes, that's my high school years LOL). This book is so much fun and ...more

This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.
*I originally rated this book 4.5 stars because it seemed a bit long, but as I wrote my review I realized it really deserves 5 stars because it was pretty damn perfect*
For months, I saw tons of bloggers talking about The Boys of Summer and how amazing it was. I was so intrigued, I bought myself a copy and bumped it up on my tbr list. With all the elements that make contempo ...more
*I originally rated this book 4.5 stars because it seemed a bit long, but as I wrote my review I realized it really deserves 5 stars because it was pretty damn perfect*
For months, I saw tons of bloggers talking about The Boys of Summer and how amazing it was. I was so intrigued, I bought myself a copy and bumped it up on my tbr list. With all the elements that make contempo ...more

This was a really quick sweet slightly nostalgic read.
Tess and Toby's story was sweet and cute and swoony and a little heartbreaking. I really loved the friendships in this book and The Onslow Boys (I want one....)
Huh, summer bliss.
*Off my merry way to read the rest of series. see U around ;)* ...more
Tess and Toby's story was sweet and cute and swoony and a little heartbreaking. I really loved the friendships in this book and The Onslow Boys (I want one....)
Huh, summer bliss.
*Off my merry way to read the rest of series. see U around ;)* ...more

Mar 18, 2013
Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
2015hw,
i-own,
contemporary,
brandee-recs,
romance,
kindle,
new-adult,
giveaway-win,
recieved-as-gift,
read-in-2015
The perfect summer romance: it has that tension, a crush from afar, giddiness, coming of age, awesome characters and really good writing!
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews ...more
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews ...more

I was really anxious to read this book as it sounded good. Its actually a teeny bopper book (excuse my phrase.
A whole lot of pages on a 17 year old girl who has almost a life long crush on a 22year old boy named Tobias (this name TOTALLY put me off!!!!!! )
I seriously don't know where was the authors mind when she thought of the characters names. lol- Tobias Ernst HAHAHAHHA!!
Anyway, the entire story is about Tess who starts a summer job at a bar and she gets noticed by Toby. After alot of 'intima ...more
A whole lot of pages on a 17 year old girl who has almost a life long crush on a 22year old boy named Tobias (this name TOTALLY put me off!!!!!! )
I seriously don't know where was the authors mind when she thought of the characters names. lol- Tobias Ernst HAHAHAHHA!!
Anyway, the entire story is about Tess who starts a summer job at a bar and she gets noticed by Toby. After alot of 'intima ...more

This was such a cute, summertime in Australia, fun story. Tess is a 17 year old girl that has been finagled by her friends, Adam and Ellie, into working the summer weekends at the Onslow hotel restraunt.little does she know what the summer has in store for her. Her and Ellie are soon introduced to, and hanging out with who they refer to as the Onslow Boys. And one of them just happens to be Tess' long time crush. After a boat trip, some weekend parties, and an unfortuate bike mishap, Tess and he
...more

Super easy read, just what I needed on a hot summer day :)
Was not heavy in drama, or depressing at all.. so if you are looking for a pretty light hearted, humorous, easy going, (teensy bit of angst/drama) book then this is for you.
Sometimes you need a book that is not heavy in a drama and pointless incidents, but a good solid young adult book and I was not disappointed. I laughed, I gasped, I fanned myself, I teen girl'd squealed, I sighed, I grinned.. i did it all.
Great summer book to sink you ...more
Was not heavy in drama, or depressing at all.. so if you are looking for a pretty light hearted, humorous, easy going, (teensy bit of angst/drama) book then this is for you.
Sometimes you need a book that is not heavy in a drama and pointless incidents, but a good solid young adult book and I was not disappointed. I laughed, I gasped, I fanned myself, I teen girl'd squealed, I sighed, I grinned.. i did it all.
Great summer book to sink you ...more


I'm pretty sure that this book was worth 5 stars. I was disappointed that I didn't get into it quicker, it took I think around 5 chapters before I was totally into it and couldn't get enough! While reading this book I had a few emotions mostly stuck their the whole way through. Ok I was becoming jealous of little Tess, I was so upset at Toby and at Sean, I was laughing at the awkwardness of Tess and Toby and Sean and Ellie and everyone but most of all I was just relieved and that was the best fe ...more

3.75 stars
(Join giveaway HERE.)
I wouldn't have read this right away if I haven't been part of the blog tour which I actually forgot I signed up for until I, to my surprise, received a schedule for a tour stop. Haha! Yeah, it was during the few weeks before my practicum ended and my blogging schedule was really a mess. But now, I'm so glad I am part of this tour and that I'll be able to share you how much I enjoyed this book because The Summer Boys is definitely a very lovely read!
It's been quite ...more
(Join giveaway HERE.)
I wouldn't have read this right away if I haven't been part of the blog tour which I actually forgot I signed up for until I, to my surprise, received a schedule for a tour stop. Haha! Yeah, it was during the few weeks before my practicum ended and my blogging schedule was really a mess. But now, I'm so glad I am part of this tour and that I'll be able to share you how much I enjoyed this book because The Summer Boys is definitely a very lovely read!
It's been quite ...more

Can I just say, I'M. IN. LOVE.!!! Like seriously! I loved everything about this book. I'm so giddy right now, I can't even sit still. This story was everything I look for in a romance book. I loved the characters. I loved the humor. I loved the writing style. I loved the romance. I loved it all. I just have this huge ass grin on my face and I'm glad no one can see it cause it looks pretty fucking ridiculous.
Tess, Toby, Stan, Sean, Ellie, Adam, Chris and Ringer were just amazing characters. They ...more
Tess, Toby, Stan, Sean, Ellie, Adam, Chris and Ringer were just amazing characters. They ...more

Dec 17, 2012
Angela Chen
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
every young-adult reader, ok, everyone!
Recommended to Angela by:
a friend marks it as to-read, I check it out, and immediately got to reading it.
Shelves:
all-time-favorites
A 'T' for Tess, a 'T' for Toby.
If a book is able to keep you up until 3 AM to finish reading, then it's a worthy book to read and definitely a must-read! Well, this book is totally amazing!!! I can say it's one of the best summer reads. God, I'm still having Toby withdrawals.

It started with Tess, Ellie and Adam, three best friends of all time, got a job at the Onslow Hotel. Tess, seventeen-year-old, is a shy girl, often terrified of everything and tends to just follow Ellie around. Every weekend ...more
If a book is able to keep you up until 3 AM to finish reading, then it's a worthy book to read and definitely a must-read! Well, this book is totally amazing!!! I can say it's one of the best summer reads. God, I'm still having Toby withdrawals.

It started with Tess, Ellie and Adam, three best friends of all time, got a job at the Onslow Hotel. Tess, seventeen-year-old, is a shy girl, often terrified of everything and tends to just follow Ellie around. Every weekend ...more

Not many books have been able to equal the love I have towards Anna and the French Kiss (So far only Jenny Han's Summer Trilogy did). The Boys of Summer is added to this list now. It is an understatement when I say that I loved this book. I didn't only love this book, I inhaled it and devoured it in a single night. Yup, I messed up my sleeping pattern because I stayed up all night reading it. Every time I would say "This is the last chapter" I get too obsessed to what might happen next and dive
...more

I am so in love with this book! I can’t even tell you how glad I am that I read The Boys of Summer. This is one of those rare books that I tried to make last as long as possible because I didn’t want it to end. Everything about this book was brilliant: the characters, the setting, the romance, the friendships. This is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of 2013.
C.J. Duggan played all the emotions in The Boys of Summer perfectly. I smiled, my heart hurt, I cried, I laughed, and I did some ma ...more
C.J. Duggan played all the emotions in The Boys of Summer perfectly. I smiled, my heart hurt, I cried, I laughed, and I did some ma ...more

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

WOOOOWW ! I ACTUALLY CANNOT EXPLAIN MY LOVE I HAD FOR THIS BOOK! I WILL DEFFINATLEY READ THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN!! AMAAAAZIINGGGGGGG!
this book really gave me goosebumps and made me laugh and cry and everything! best of all it was australian! yaay first ever book from my own country! ahha
the cover of this book was also really cute and i have not wanted a second book this much and cannot wait to read the next serioulsy!
NEGATIVES:
ABSOLUTLEY NOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEEEE!!!!
POSITIVES:
1. i loved tess's and tob ...more
this book really gave me goosebumps and made me laugh and cry and everything! best of all it was australian! yaay first ever book from my own country! ahha
the cover of this book was also really cute and i have not wanted a second book this much and cannot wait to read the next serioulsy!
NEGATIVES:
ABSOLUTLEY NOOOOOONNNNNNEEEEEEEE!!!!
POSITIVES:
1. i loved tess's and tob ...more

This one started so slowly I almost ditched it - I'm so glad I didn't because once it got going it was a lovely sweet story. Even though the main character was only 17, I didn't feel like I was reading the vacuous thoughts of a juvenile, it was better than that. It reminded me of my insecurities at that age and that combined with the warm summer days and the late 1990s setting made me feel nostalgic for those years.
The chemistry between the main characters was great but I was just as interested ...more
The chemistry between the main characters was great but I was just as interested ...more

I didn't expect to enjoy this novel so much. It's everything you're looking for in a mature young-adult novel and I'm sad I didn't keep it until next summer because it's everything I'm looking for in a summer read and more.
All the characters bring something to this story and I've got a special shout out for a secondary one - Sean. Don't ask me why but I fell for this one.
I love the voice of the main character and the pace of the story. I was never bored and I'm glad I listened to the recommend ...more
All the characters bring something to this story and I've got a special shout out for a secondary one - Sean. Don't ask me why but I fell for this one.
I love the voice of the main character and the pace of the story. I was never bored and I'm glad I listened to the recommend ...more

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

You can now read this review on my blog.
The Onslow boys... ahh I'm in love with those boys! <3
STARS: 5 Onslow-ish stars
This is my first book that I'm reading from an Australian author (or maybe not? I think it is), anyway C.J. Duggan is one really good writer, I would lie if I tell that I didn't like this book, this is one really perfect book for summer, with romance, fun and all other summer things, I loved it! I'm coming back for more! <3
STORY
Boy, oh Boy. First thing that I loved about this bo ...more
The Onslow boys... ahh I'm in love with those boys! <3
STARS: 5 Onslow-ish stars
This is my first book that I'm reading from an Australian author (or maybe not? I think it is), anyway C.J. Duggan is one really good writer, I would lie if I tell that I didn't like this book, this is one really perfect book for summer, with romance, fun and all other summer things, I loved it! I'm coming back for more! <3
STORY
Boy, oh Boy. First thing that I loved about this bo ...more

Like this review? I have more! Check out my blog, Pen to Paper.
I first heard about this book when a blogger friend of mine reviewed it, and rated it pretty highly. The first thing that grabbed me about the book was the cover - but not just because it's so pretty - because it also looked like just the kind of book I needed to read at the time. Reading the synopsis confirmed that. When I finally started reading it, I knew I'd made the right decision.
I fell in love with this story from the very fir ...more
I first heard about this book when a blogger friend of mine reviewed it, and rated it pretty highly. The first thing that grabbed me about the book was the cover - but not just because it's so pretty - because it also looked like just the kind of book I needed to read at the time. Reading the synopsis confirmed that. When I finally started reading it, I knew I'd made the right decision.
I fell in love with this story from the very fir ...more

When Toby kissed me it was like I burned from the inside; I had never felt more alive, more wanted. The edges of any doubts I'd had, had melted into him. It had been fast, hot and completely unexpected, and then like that he was gone, leaving me in the darkened alcove, my hands shaking as I had touched my kiss-swollen lips.
Tess is a quiet and shy 17 year old who would much rather blend into the background than be front and centre. Thanks to some taunting and pranks at school she doesn't have a g ...more
Tess is a quiet and shy 17 year old who would much rather blend into the background than be front and centre. Thanks to some taunting and pranks at school she doesn't have a g ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advanced Copies f...: Win The Boys of Summer & An Endless Summer by C.J. Duggan! [INT] | 1 | 10 | Jan 09, 2014 01:30PM | |
Book Two An Endless Summer is out now. | 1 | 15 | Jul 12, 2013 10:49PM | |
Join New Facebook Discussion Group for C.J Duggan's Summer Series | 2 | 9 | Jun 15, 2013 01:25AM | |
♥!The Young Adult...: The Boys of Summer | 3 | 59 | Apr 16, 2013 10:20PM | |
Who's Your Author?: GIVEAWAY: Win the New Adult, Contemporary Romance ebook The Boys of Summer (Int) | 1 | 4 | Feb 17, 2013 01:43AM | |
The Book Monsters: GIVEAWAY: Win the New Adult, Contemporary Romance ebook The Boys of Summer (Int) | 1 | 1 | Feb 17, 2013 01:43AM | |
Shut Up & Read: GIVEAWAY: Win the New Adult, Contemporary Romance ebook The Boys of Summer (Int) | 1 | 6 | Feb 17, 2013 01:43AM |
CJ Duggan is an internationally best-selling author of contemporary Young Adult and New Adult fiction. From small town dramas to big city dreamers, CJ’s coming-of-age tales are filled with hope and heart, and told by relatable protagonists with strong Australian voices.
A proud Yorta Yorta woman, CJ lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she is not writing you will ...more
A proud Yorta Yorta woman, CJ lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she is not writing you will ...more
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“Do you want some words of advice, Tess?”
I glanced at Adam’s profile as he sipped.
“Don’t give your heart away too easily.” He turned to me. “Make him earn it.”
—
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I glanced at Adam’s profile as he sipped.
“Don’t give your heart away too easily.” He turned to me. “Make him earn it.”
“If there is one thing worse than self-pity, it was other people's pity.”
—
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