Boys Don't Knit by T.S. Easton

Dec 10, 2014 Tatiana rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015, ya, 3, starred-2015

Very light (maybe a little too light?) and quite funny, in a Georgia Nicholson way.

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2014 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: pub-macmillan, 2015

This book was a complete delight! I loved being inside Ben's head. Ben doesn't always understand his messy family - or feel like he fits, he's not sure how he feels about his friends (they keep getting him into trouble) and he doesn't know how to talk to girls he likes. When Ben gets put on probation for a situation that involves poor judgement, liquor stealing, and hitting a crossing guard with a bicycle, all largely the fault of his idiotic friends, Ben ends up taking a knitting class. Of cour ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2016 Ksenia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, funny, pov-male, brain-candy, 2016

5 Stars

I’m always on the lookout for books with well-done male POV. Boys Don’t Knit is such a little gem, and I wish it got more attention.

Ben Fletcher is your average teenage boy. Well, maybe not so average, but, hey, we all have our quirks.

"Call me Mr Template. Otherwise known as Ben Fletcher. My friends sometimes call me Bellend Ben which I’m not so keen on. I am small and thin with black hair and brown eyes. I don’t like sports, though my mum thinks I like football. I don’t like cars, though

5 Stars

I’m always on the lookout for books with well-done male POV. Boys Don’t Knit is such a little gem, and I wish it got more attention.

Ben Fletcher is your average teenage boy. Well, maybe not so average, but, hey, we all have our quirks.

"Call me Mr Template. Otherwise known as Ben Fletcher. My friends sometimes call me Bellend Ben which I’m not so keen on. I am small and thin with black hair and brown eyes. I don’t like sports, though my mum thinks I like football. I don’t like cars, though my dad thinks I like Jeremy Clarkson. I don’t like fighting, though Lloyd Manning from school thinks I like being punched in the back of the head. What do I like? I like writing and reading and maths and organising things. I sort of like spending time with my friends, though I’m constantly worried about what new trouble they’re going to get me into."

After Ben’s friends dragged him into one of their shenanigans, he ended up causing car accident, crushing his bike into lollipop lady and breaking stolen Martini Rosso all over place. Now as a part of his probation he had to complete a journal, participate in the “Giving Something Back” program (which means to spend time with crazy lollipop lady). Worst of all he is forced to attend a class and the only available one is knitting.

Ben is such a likable and endearing character. I see a lot of my son in him. And I loved humor in this book. I constantly smiled or laughed while reading it. There was a lot of silliness and fun in Boys Don't Knit, but there were also serious thought-provoking scenes and a lot of heart in this book.

I loved everything about this book: Ben’s eccentric and loving family, his friends and their silly antics, hilarious emails with his probation officer Claudia Gunter, his touching friendship with lollipop lady Mrs Frensham and of course awkward teenage first love.

‘You know what I like about you most?’ she asked.
‘My cabling technique?’
‘No. It’s that you don’t know how great you are,’ she said, smiling shyly.

I also appreciate how family positive this book is. In truth I’m sick of “crappy parents” YA trend.

This book is full of happiness and good feelings. It’s a perfect story to curl up on the sofa in the evening after a tiresome day.

PS. Best knitting analogies!

“I’ll tackle the rest later. One stitch at a time.”

You can find my reviews:

...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Apr 21, 2015 Bronwyn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2015

First of all, my library holds this in Juvenile Fiction. I will be having a chat with the librarian when I return this book. I am relieved I didn't let my 6-year-old read this! The very first page talks about the parents using food-based double entendres with each other. While my son doesn't know the term yet, he knows that wieners and buns can also be names for certain body parts. And as an adult reading them, it got old really fast. The main character gets in trouble for stealing alcohol to sn ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2015 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: you-are-smart-clever-and-adorbs, realistic, romance, when-boys-become-men, boys-boyz-boys-boyz, feel-the-bromance, humor

I love this book so much. ~~In my head this was John Oliver's voice narrating his memoirs.~~

channeledjohn

I love it even more because I'm such a bad knitter and can appreciate that some people can BE REALLY GOOD AT IT. It's just not going to be me.

What I DIDN'T LOVE is the back and forth between UK/American vernacular, which I notice happens in Australian released novels as well. I'm pretty sure the editors change U.K specific words and make it more Americanized (because I went to this workshop about it hosted ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2015 Kathy Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was a funny, quirky story about seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher who could win an Academy Award for worrying. Ben is fussy and funny and marches to the beat of his own drummer. After an bicycle accident involving a crossing guard and a Porsche Cayenne Ben finds himself on probation. He needs to keep a diary which we are privileged to read. He also has to find an extra-curricular activity to keep him out of trouble. Rather than taking the auto mechanics class taught by his dad, he signs up fo ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Mar 10, 2020 Samantha (WLABB) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, outside-us, ya

I absolutely loved Easton's Girl Can't Hit, and couldn't wait to read more of his books. I am happy to say, that Boys Don't Knit was an utter delight!

Ben was a good kid, but trouble always seemed to find him. After an unfortunate string of bad decisions, Ben was forced to do a series of tasks as per the terms of his probation. One of his assigned tasks was keeping a journal, which was how the story was told. I love a journal format, and Ben's entries was honest and hilarious.

Another part of his ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2021 Alaina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, 2021, chick-lit, humor, romance, contemporary

I don't even know why I add books to my TBR anymore. Mostly because this was added back in 2016 and I just came across it now?? Not sure how that makes sense but at least that's one more book off of my never ending TBR shelf. Woohoo!

Now Boys Don't Knit (in Public) was a pretty quick read for me. I wasn't expecting to laugh so much with this one either but I did. Which was a nice surprise for me. Personally, not a big fan of knitting because my mom knits EVERYWHERE. The car, the table when we are ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 02, 2013 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-my-twenties, young-adult-fiction

Boys Don't Knit was the second book I read in June for #aryaclub, a young adult book club. Tom Easton read from Boy's Don't Knit back in March at the Drink Shop Do Speakeasy. I rarely find books that are 'laugh out out'-funny, but Tom's reading was so hilarious that it made everyone on my table want to read the book even more – so we did.

After Ben Fletcher gets into a kerfuffle with a lollipop lady, which isn't really his fault at all, he narrowly avoids the Young Offenders Unit by pledging to G Boys Don't Knit was the second book I read in June for #aryaclub, a young adult book club. Tom Easton read from Boy's Don't Knit back in March at the Drink Shop Do Speakeasy. I rarely find books that are 'laugh out out'-funny, but Tom's reading was so hilarious that it made everyone on my table want to read the book even more – so we did.

After Ben Fletcher gets into a kerfuffle with a lollipop lady, which isn't really his fault at all, he narrowly avoids the Young Offenders Unit by pledging to Give Something Back to the community. He has to take an extra-curricular activity at the local community college, choosing between Car Maintenance (run by his Dad – no way), Microsoft Office (boring), Pottery (embarrassing) and Knitting (even more embarrassing). He reluctantly chooses Knitting because it's taught by his favourite teacher, Jessica Swallow, only to find out there was a mistake in the scheduling. It's run by a different teacher (the mother of a girl he quite likes), so now he's going to have to convince her not to mention it to anyone. Ever. Ben starts lessons only to find that he has quite a knack for it. Not telling anyone starts to become tricky when he actually begins to enjoy it...

Boys Don't Knit takes place over 8 months and we see Ben Fletcher go from Knitting Sceptic to Knitter Extraordinaire. He's such a fantastic protagonist, with a realistic, stand out voice. His passion for knitting is contagious and it got us all talking about learning to knit (and trying to convince some of our friends to teach us). It's something that I've 'always' said that I 'want to learn', but never have. Reading about the impressive clothes Ben creates (plus he jots down all the knowledge that is needed in knitting!) shows just how much hard work goes into it. I loved hearing about knitting groups and knitting podcasts – it made me realise how it's not that different from when a bunch of book lovers get together. I also loved the Britishness (something which I hope isn't taken away when it's published in the US next year). I realised this year that I don't read as much UKYA as I should, and Boys Don't Knit shows how much fun a book can be when you recognise all the cultural references, no matter how tiny and insignificant they are. I read a lot of contemporary YA lately, but Boys Don't Knit offers something new and fresh – and not just because it has a male protagonist.

Boys Don't Knit is entertaining, silly and ridiculous – it's a lot of fun! But it'll also get your rooting for Ben Fletcher and for the right for boys and girls to take up any hobby they want, regardless of gender stereotypes. An English Boy in New York is the next book in the series, which I'm really looking forward to reading. I can only imagine what Ben Fletcher might get up to next as he continues to navigate the world of knitting and girls...

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!

I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2015 Jen Ryland added it · review of another edition

Funny, irreverent "lad lit" about a British teenager who joins a knitting class as a condition of his probation. While it lagged a bit in the middle for me and then ending was predictable, it had its laugh-out-loud moments.

Recommended for fans of Nick Hornby, the Inbetweeners, Adrian Mole and the like.

Full review soon. ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Aug 02, 2014 Ms. Yingling rated it liked it

I really wanted to like this, but it is very British and very vulgar. This would be great if I wanted to introduce my 6th graders to the British slang for naughty bits, but I think I will pass at this time. Drat. I knew some boys who knit and was looking forward to this one.

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 22, 2014 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Cute! A few parts were a bit cheesy and over dramatic but I enjoyed it. It was so adorable how into knitting he got. Buying magazines, listening to knitting podcasts, shopping around for the perfect wool yarn and patterns.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2021 Maria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, want_to_reread, ya

Ben is the funniest and sweetest character!

Don't worry about it? She's told me not to worry about it? She clearly doesn't know me at all.

God knows what I'm going to tell Dad. December 15th is s Sunday, maybe I'll tell him I'm going to church. He'll take that better than the knitting.

Knitting is more fun with company. Company is more fun with knitting. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2015 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: review-on-blog, own, favorites

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**

I can't even accurately convey how much I enjoyed Boys Don't Knit (In Public). This book is kind of my new obsession. It has everything. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it has an awesome male protagonist. I can't say enough good things about this book. Other than, I think everyone needs to read it. Ben is a high school student in the UK and he has a pretty typical group of friends. They always seem to be getting i **You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**

I can't even accurately convey how much I enjoyed Boys Don't Knit (In Public). This book is kind of my new obsession. It has everything. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it has an awesome male protagonist. I can't say enough good things about this book. Other than, I think everyone needs to read it. Ben is a high school student in the UK and he has a pretty typical group of friends. They always seem to be getting into very minor teen trouble, but what's funny is that is so not Ben. He is kind of the opposite of all his friends in that regard, but he goes along with them anyway. And of course, he is the one that gets caught red-handed. So off to probation he goes, where is gets a "give something back" community service punishment and he has to take a local class. With slim pickings available he chooses knitting, thinking at least it was taught by his young and hot high school teacher. (Spoiler Alert- It isn't.)

Boys Don't Knit is told entirely from Ben's point of view through the form of journal entries. With letters and excerpts of things thrown in as well. I loved that Ben narrated this book through his journal. He is the most adorable, great, quirky, and totally funny guy. I want to hang out with him. I want to be his friend. Ben's antics of his knitting class and his Give something back project had me smiling and laughing on every page. I put this book down multiple times, not because I was bored, but because I just didn't want it to end.

The writing is perfect for the story. Very conversational, and packed with pop culture references and jokes galore. I can't imagine anyone not getting a chuckle out of something from Boys Don't Knit. If you don't laugh while reading this book, I don't trust you. (unless you are a robot)Readers will fall in love with Ben. They will fall in love with his ragtag group of friends, and with all of Ben's knitting creations. I love the pattern names he comes up with. I love how much of a worrier he is. (he takes a wholistic approach to worrying- that is, he worries about everything all the time.) I loved absolutely everything about this book, even the excerpts from his friends "novel"- "50 Shades of Graham" Not to mention I thought the way everyone in Ben's life came together was a really nice heartwarming message. This book just worked for me on every level. I think there is something for everyone in Boys Don't Knit. The book comes out March 24th so you should pre-order your copy today because this is one that you will not want to miss. Quirky fun and humor at its' finest!

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2014 Anna Kay rated it really liked it

This was actually really funny (if somewhat unrealistic near the end). Full review to come.

FULL REVIEW

Let's just lay it all out on the line: I know absolutely NOTHING about knitting! I have a couple friends who know how, and I've always thought it would be cool to learn, but I know nothing about it. Also, I don't read a lot of YA books with male protagonists. Mainly because I feel like a lot of the ones I've picked up have protags that are either complete assholes or so unrealistic that they This was actually really funny (if somewhat unrealistic near the end). Full review to come.

FULL REVIEW

Let's just lay it all out on the line: I know absolutely NOTHING about knitting! I have a couple friends who know how, and I've always thought it would be cool to learn, but I know nothing about it. Also, I don't read a lot of YA books with male protagonists. Mainly because I feel like a lot of the ones I've picked up have protags that are either complete assholes or so unrealistic that they might as well be the next Disney Prince! Yes, nice guys exist and so do awful ones. Most REAL guys (adult, teenage and child) are some combination of the two though, rather than one extreme or another. T.S. Easton really captures that fact with Ben Fletcher. Not perfect by any means, 17 year old Ben allows himself to get into sticky situations by going along with his harebrained friends. After an incident with some stolen liquor, a lollipop lady and a damaged vehicle, Ben is on probation. He has to keep a diary to hand in to his caseworker and complete community service to show his reform. Part of this is a college class. Not wanting to be in his dad's mechanic class, Microsoft Office (too easy/boring), or pottery, he goes with knitting (the teacher is supposed to be a hot, younger woman). Turns out the teachers listed were wrong and it's his crush's Mom and now Ben's stuck. But guess what, he's a natural knitter - and he really enjoys it!

Basically, this book is set over the course of eight months and told through Ben's diary entries. We get to meet his soccer/car obsessed Dad, his often on tour magician Mom and his crazy little sister Molly. Also in supporting roles are his very memorable friends (one of whom he's editing an erotic book called "Fifty Shades of Graham" for!) who get him into plenty of trouble, Mrs. Frensham i.e. the lollipop lady he practically ran over, Megan (the girl he likes), the hot teacher Miss Swallow, and the women from his knitting class. Everyone is well characterized, and we see Ben grow from someone unsure of himself and more of a follower, to a young man who has found something he loves to do and refuses to apologize for it. Along the way he makes friends with some unlikely people and we get to see his big heart and hilarious turn of phrase. I laughed out loud mutliple times while reading this, especially at Ben's mounting lies and the box of "shame" he hides under the bed with his knitting stuff. The knitting competition at the end is the stuff comedies should be made of! All in all, I super enjoyed it. I am beyond the high school angst and Facebook obsessing over a crush, so I did roll my eyes a little. But I highly recommend this book, because it's so much more than that. Can't wait to read the next one!

VERDICT: 4/5 Stars

**I reviewed this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is March 24th, 2015.** ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2014 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Cute! A few parts were a bit cheesy and over dramatic but I enjoyed it. It was so adorable how into knitting he got. Buying magazines, listening to knitting podcasts, shopping around for the perfect wool yarn and patterns.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 28, 2015 Estelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, male-pov, 2015-new-releases, international-setting

This was so adorable, funny, and completely won me over.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 19, 2018 Sarah Hadd rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

This was a simple, quick YA book that was laugh out loud funny in a few parts. I had no expectations but I’m pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed it!

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2018 Jake rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, comedy, uk-reads

Fluffy and light, funny at times, and so good for talking about the gendering of activities. Boys should knit, and shouldn't feel ashamed of it. Will recommend to 7th and up. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2015 Alex Baugh rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: randomly-reading

Ben Fletcher, 17, really wants to go to the party his crush Megan Hooper will be at. Trouble is, it's for older kids and you need a bottle of booze to get him. Under age and with no money, Ben and his friends Gex, Freddie and Joz decide to steal what they need. But when Ben gets caught stealing a bottle of Martini Rosso and injuring a crossing guard in the process (a lollipop lady in England because of the sign she holds up), he ends up on probation.

Now, as part of that requires that he keep a d Ben Fletcher, 17, really wants to go to the party his crush Megan Hooper will be at. Trouble is, it's for older kids and you need a bottle of booze to get him. Under age and with no money, Ben and his friends Gex, Freddie and Joz decide to steal what they need. But when Ben gets caught stealing a bottle of Martini Rosso and injuring a crossing guard in the process (a lollipop lady in England because of the sign she holds up), he ends up on probation.

Now, as part of that requires that he keep a daily journal, which he already does anyway, and that he gets involved in a "suitable extracurricular activity." He is given a choice of classes at the community college, and thinking he is going to pottery with a teacher he likes, he discover too late that he has been registered for knitting, a class taught by Megan Hooper's mom.

After the first class, Ben decides to stay, but finds himself making up all kinds of stories so his dad and his friends don't find out. It is something they might not be able to deal with very well, but Ben especially doesn't want his bullying tormenter, Lloyd Manning, to find out.

The third part of his probation is to give something back to the community and his probation officer decides it would be a good thing for him to help the widowed, elderly lollipop lady, Mrs. Frensham, doing some chores around her house.

Needless to say, this is a perfect set up for all kinds of more mayhem and misunderstandings, particularly when it turns out that Ben is not only learners to knit quickly and moves on to more difficult pieces, but he also really enjoys doing it - finding it to be a very relaxing and helps take him away from his worries, of which he has many.

Before long, Ben is dropping into knitting stores to look and buy yarn and reading knitting magazines (you might remember that in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince it was revealed the Dumbledore was also quite fond of knitting pattern magazines) As if liking to knit isn't enough, Ben discovers that he has a very competitive streak about it, so it is inevitable, then, that he should decide to enter the All-UK Knitting Championship regional heats.

Boys Don't Knit takes place over an eight month period, beginning in July and ending in February. And becasue we are reading Ben's journal, the whole story is told through his journal enteries, in his very conversational tone, and we really get to know him. It turns out that knitting not only gets Ben in touch with his feminine side, but over the course of eight months Ben learns a lot about himself and about the people around him, who are not always the kind of people we think they are. In fact, I think knitting is a nice metaphor not only for the way Ben's story weaves together, but the way the events he describes 'knit' together a group of disperate people.

This is a fun book, definitly a book of today with its many current references to pop culture icons, and Ben is a very likable character. And you have to admire him for sticking to a class he really didn't want to be in. The book is a little British, but if you got throuh Harry Potter and all the other great books coming out of Britain these days, this will be not problem. Boys Don't Knit is the first book in a series and I am curious to see the further adventures of Ben Fletcher and his wondrous knitting needles.

This book is recommended for readers age 13+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley

This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2013 Michelle Sedeño rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-5-stars

Originally reviewed on The Escapist.

***

When I started reading Boys Don't Knit, I thought it was the kind of book that would disappoint me. Because there's a part of me that unconsciously expected a certain story and voice for the main character, but as I continue reading, I realized it would never happen. It turns out Ben Fletcher's story and voice sounds more like MG (middle grade) even though this book is YA (young adult). And with my history on some MG books, I'm afraid that I wouldn't end up Originally reviewed on The Escapist.

***

When I started reading Boys Don't Knit, I thought it was the kind of book that would disappoint me. Because there's a part of me that unconsciously expected a certain story and voice for the main character, but as I continue reading, I realized it would never happen. It turns out Ben Fletcher's story and voice sounds more like MG (middle grade) even though this book is YA (young adult). And with my history on some MG books, I'm afraid that I wouldn't end up liking this book. Or worse, I wouldn't even finish it.

Then Ben Fletcher surprised me. I began to like him, his hilarious family, his idiot friends (sorry for the word; he approximately call them that! XD), him alone, and his knitting desires. I also found myself laughing most of the time and looking forward in each day he writes his diary (book was told in his diary. Long story.) This is the point where I asked for more pages of his story and was glad when I found out there'll be a book two!

Boys Don't Knit may be a good laugh out loud and entertaining read, but it didn't stopped there--it also had a heart. I liked the progress of Ben's relationship with the lollipop lady. From strangers to enemies to friendship. And other friendships he earned during his entire journey on knitting. Ben wasn't the kind of what mostly YA main guy characters are. Yes, he liked girls, but he's not self-absorbed, jerk, or mysterious. He maybe young and innocent for that, but I really liked that about him. His character brings the brightest in this book--and also knitting. This book makes wanna knit. I shall learn how to knit after my board exams. XD

With a eye-catching cover, fresh concept, cute and eventful story, and hilarious characters, Boys Don't Knit is sure a worthwhile read. I loved it and I cannot wait for An English Boy in New York (Boys Don't Knit #2)! I would highly recommend this book to everyone. Boy or girl--in all ages! I promise it will take your stress away. ;)

P.S Did I mention how adorable Ben Fletcher is? Super!

*Thank you so much Olivia and Hot Key Books for the review copy of this book! And shout-out to T.S Easton! Thanks again for following me on Twitter. :D ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 07, 2013 Lucy Powrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, ukya, own-books, debut, physical-review-copies, to-review, review-books, bbc-ukya-2013-read, hot-key

You can read more of my reviews at Queen of Contemporary

I don’t think you can go wrong with a book that makes you laugh. The thing is, though, Boys Don’t Knit didn’t just make me laugh. It made me ROAR with laughter, so much so that my shoulders shook. I haven’t read such a hilarious book in a long time.

After an unfortunate incident involving a lollipop lady and a bike, Ben Fletcher is on probation. This means that he has to choose a course to attend at the local college as part of his rehabilit You can read more of my reviews at Queen of Contemporary

I don’t think you can go wrong with a book that makes you laugh. The thing is, though, Boys Don’t Knit didn’t just make me laugh. It made me ROAR with laughter, so much so that my shoulders shook. I haven’t read such a hilarious book in a long time.

After an unfortunate incident involving a lollipop lady and a bike, Ben Fletcher is on probation. This means that he has to choose a course to attend at the local college as part of his rehabilitation. So, believing the gorgeous teacher from school is taking the class, Ben starts knitting. Hilarity ensues as Ben tries to hide his new hobby from his family, his friends, and also has many other problems at him.

I think the thing I liked most about this book is that, although it may seem like it’s only for boys, anyone, of any age or gender, will enjoy it. The protagonist, Ben, is someone you can’t help but warm to, and he wasn’t your stereotypical teenager. There was a lot more depth to him and Easton has really captured that. As a teenager myself, I’m often frustrated by unrealistic portrayals of teenagers so Boys Don’t Knit was a very refreshing read.

There was so much packed into this novel. There wasn’t a moment throughout when I wasn’t completely hooked and I want to read more books like it now because I feel like there aren’t enough books like this that I’ve read.

Although I’m absolutely hopeless at knitting, I felt myself learning through Ben’s eyes and I still managed to connect to the story even though it was new territory to me. I think this is an incredible skill to achieve on the author’s part and I just know other people will enjoy it too.

The contrast between Ben and his friends really intrigued me. They were very different characters and, whilst they had fallings out, were still loyal to each other. Through each of them, we got a very good picture of teenage life, and I enjoyed that we got to see how everyone differs. I think it’s something that can be forgotten by quite a few people sometimes.

I cannot wait for the sequel to Boys Don’t Knit because I know it won’t disappoint. I’ll definitely be re-reading this if I’m feeling a bit down or want to read something that will have me chuckling because this book put a massive grin on my face. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2016 Tom rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2017

3.5 stars

Who knew knitting could be so compelling to read about?

The only thing I ever knitted was a headband in middle school. It was supposed to be a hat, but I never made it that far. I won't pretend that I gave it my best; there were other things I was more concerned with at the time than paying attention in arts and crafts.

In this book, Ben Fletcher is put on probation after a part-terrible, part-comical incident with a lollipop lady, which apparently is a British term for someone helping k 3.5 stars

Who knew knitting could be so compelling to read about?

The only thing I ever knitted was a headband in middle school. It was supposed to be a hat, but I never made it that far. I won't pretend that I gave it my best; there were other things I was more concerned with at the time than paying attention in arts and crafts.

In this book, Ben Fletcher is put on probation after a part-terrible, part-comical incident with a lollipop lady, which apparently is a British term for someone helping kids cross the road. Ben's probation dictates that he is to keep a diary (the book is structured as diary entries), take up a hobby and give back to the community (this is where the knitting comes in.)

Overall I thought this was a fun story about a teenager who tries to hide from his friends that he has taken up a rather "unmasculine" hobby. It excels at being subversive about gender stereotypes, and my favorite parts of the book were about Ben and knitting, often featuring the aforementioned lollipop lady. Ben's voice is appealing, especially when he's doing what makes him happy and discovering new things about himself.

My biggest problem with this novel was that the supporting characters were severely underdeveloped. Some of this may perhaps be blamed on the diary format, but there are plenty of examples of similar books where this was done better. One example, though a novel of letters and not diary entries, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which through Charlie's voice managed to flesh out other characters in a great way. In this novel, Ben's friends and his crush(es) never truly arrive as three-dimensional characters for me. His friends also aren't very likable (but I suppose that's quite realistic—boys at that age and all.)

Another issue that kept this from being a 4-star book is that it got off to a bit of a slow start. It took a while to find its groove and it was first when the knitting was introduced that things started to become truly compelling. If you're looking for a quick and fun YA read that subverts gender stereotypes and gets detailed on knitting in all its unexpected glory, I think you'd like this one.

Boys Don't Knit actually made me want to take up knitting. Which after the fiasco in middle school, with my ugly navy blue headband, might be the highest compliment I could give. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2014 Pop Bop rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

Deadpan Teen Humor, With A Heart

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to note the Adrian Mole reference in this book's blurb, since that was exactly who came to mind as I read this. It has the same deadpan delivery and the same sort of funny throwaway bits and lines as the Mole books. It also has a decent hero, Ben, who is smart, dumb, oblivious, insightful, horny and shy in all of those endearing, distressful ways that teen boys can be.

Like most of the best teen social humor books, both Brit Deadpan Teen Humor, With A Heart

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to note the Adrian Mole reference in this book's blurb, since that was exactly who came to mind as I read this. It has the same deadpan delivery and the same sort of funny throwaway bits and lines as the Mole books. It also has a decent hero, Ben, who is smart, dumb, oblivious, insightful, horny and shy in all of those endearing, distressful ways that teen boys can be.

Like most of the best teen social humor books, both Brit and American, this one can go right up to the edge of offensive or crude, but then back off before actually going over that edge. And, again as in the best of these books, there is an underlying sweetness that saves the character from himself and keeps us interested in him and rooting for him. You are always confident that things will come out alright in the end even if the hero is sort of a hot mess.

The author has framed this book very cleverly. Ben is on probation because of an incident, (which is described early on and is quite amusing), and he has to engage in a community activity. He chooses knitting because the leader of the activity is a school teacher who Ben believes is "hot". (That's pretty much the extent of the lascivious day dreaming, but be aware that our narrator is a teenage boy). Ben also has to keep a journal of sorts, and it is this journal that frames and organizes the narrative. The beauty of this approach is that the author doesn't have to construct some sort of forced plot; the journal allows for a wandering, anecdotal and almost sometimes stream of consciousness approach that serves Ben and the reader very well.

So, it's funny, it's perceptive, it's sometimes sort of manic but just as often touching. Ben's conflict about discovering his "feminine" side is particularly well done. I found it all around entertaining, clever, good natured and satisfying. Fine by me.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2014 Samantha Trillium (Just Reading in the Rain)☂ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was FANTASTIC!!!! I read it in one sitting, honestly just so lost in the humour and storyline that I didn't even realize how late it was, and that I should actually be thinking about turning in...

This book is about a 17-year old boy named Ben Fletcher. Ben has three friends that he is not sure he really likes, but then again, he is pretty unpopular at his school, and beggars can't be choosers. The only problem with these guys is that they are a magnet for trouble. The story starts off This book was FANTASTIC!!!! I read it in one sitting, honestly just so lost in the humour and storyline that I didn't even realize how late it was, and that I should actually be thinking about turning in...

This book is about a 17-year old boy named Ben Fletcher. Ben has three friends that he is not sure he really likes, but then again, he is pretty unpopular at his school, and beggars can't be choosers. The only problem with these guys is that they are a magnet for trouble. The story starts off at a local shop where Ben and his friends try to shoplift some alcohol so they can get themselves into a party one of their fellow students are having. They somehow pull off the heist, but on the way home Ben crashes into a Lollipop Lady on the side of the road and is caught.

His punishment is to be put onto probation. In his terms, he must attend a college class, do community service at the house of the lady he crashed into, and all the while documenting his day and progress through a journal.

When it comes to taking an extra class on top of his studies, (Ben is actually really smart, and is taking many advanced classes) there is really not a lot to choose from. But one of the classes is being taught by a teacher Ben has a crush on, so he signs up for it, thinking it will be a laugh. But when he gets to his first class, to his horror, he learns that there was a mix up with the teachers, and his crush is not taking his class. He is now stuck Knitting. And to add more to his horror, the teacher who is actually teaching this class, happens to be the mother of a girl in his school that he likes.

The shenanigans that Ben gets himself into to try and keep his secret that he is knitting, is really top notch. The book had me in stitches pretty much the whole way through. Ben's parents were a good source of slapstick, and his mates even more ridiculous.

This was such a fast read, and so funny, (honestly, I cannot stress how much funny there was!!!!) I really have no critique of this book at all. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2014 Gitte - Bookworm's Closet rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: english, 2014, laugh-out-loud, written-in-2010s, male-author

I’m starting to think that maybe knitting has healing powers greater than I ever imagined.

17-year-old Ben Fletcher becomes a criminal by accident, and has to join a programme to “Give Something Back”. One of the things he has to do is join an evening class. He accidently ends up in a knitting class – and finds that he loves it! Knitting is the only activity that helps him relax and forget about his problems. And he’s darn good at it. But knitting isn’t cool. So Ben desperately hides his ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2015 Brandi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ug, humor, realistic-fiction, romance

Ben Fletcher is a 17-year-old worrier. He worries about everything. He also is one of those rare high school boys who considers the consequences of his actions, although he usually goes ahead and does the wrong thing anyway.
When he gets put on probation for something stupid that his friends talked him into doing, part of his probation is to find a hobby. He has to take a class, and knitting turns out to be his best option. He knows if people find out, he'll be in for a lot of harassment, but ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 26, 2013 Luna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uk-authors, publisher-review-copy-arc

Allow yourself a few hours for reading Boys Don’t Knit because most likely you’ll end up like me, starting and unable to finish until the last page. From the very first page T. S. Easton had me hooked.

I loved Ben’s voice, the story is narrated as a diary and from the moment Ben tells us about his sister eating tadpoles I knew Boys Don’t Knit would be my kind of book. Due to the “unfortunate incident” Ben ends up in a knitting class, it’s a long story but instead of the hot teacher he expected th ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2014 Terri rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I won an advanced copy of this book in a giveaway on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is March 24th 2015.

I'm not really sure to make of this story as a whole lot does not happen throughout. I guess it can be described as a coming of age story where the main character Ben figures out to be his own person in spite of the prejudices surrounding his new found hobby.

It was humorous at times. Take a ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 18, 2014 Katey Lovell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is laugh out loud funny. From the scene where Ben and his friends try and steal alcohol (from Waitrose, no less) I was hooked. I loved Ben- he's a teenager bumbling through life, wondering how on earth he finds himself in the situations he does. He's a bit like one of The Inbetweeners, certainly not perceived as cool by the majority of his peers, yet desperate to fit in-or at least, not stand out.

Don't let the knitting bit throw you, this book is about friendship, family and challengi ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review