81 books
—
14 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Boys of Summer” as Want to Read:
Boys of Summer
by
Choose your own boyfriend in this breezy beach read about love, family, and the true meaning of friendship.
Meet the Boys of Winlock Harbor…
Grayson Cartwright: Golden Boy. Football Prodigy. Troublemaker.
Mike Metzler: Local Heartthrob. Surfer Boy. Hopeless Romantic.
Ian Handler: Army Brat. Musician. King of Sarcasm.
Best friends since they were kids, Grayson, Mike, and Ian ...more
Meet the Boys of Winlock Harbor…
Grayson Cartwright: Golden Boy. Football Prodigy. Troublemaker.
Mike Metzler: Local Heartthrob. Surfer Boy. Hopeless Romantic.
Ian Handler: Army Brat. Musician. King of Sarcasm.
Best friends since they were kids, Grayson, Mike, and Ian ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
April 5th 2016
by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Boys of Summer,
please sign up.
Recent Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Boys of Summer
Who needs romance when you can have BROMANCE? ;)
Also:
#TeamMike
...more
Also:
#TeamMike
...more
Boys of Summer was a breezy and mostly enjoyable summery contemporary but the major problems I had with two of the protagonists stopped me from enjoying the book as a whole.
Grayson: I wish I had liked Grayson more than I did but I struggled to empathise with him. He was responsible for so many of his own terrible decisions that it was hard to feel sorry for him, especially when he kept lying to his friends when he knew that waiting to tell them would make it worse. I just wanted him to stop his ...more
Grayson: I wish I had liked Grayson more than I did but I struggled to empathise with him. He was responsible for so many of his own terrible decisions that it was hard to feel sorry for him, especially when he kept lying to his friends when he knew that waiting to tell them would make it worse. I just wanted him to stop his ...more
2.5 Stars
I am feeling rather divided about Boys of Summer.
I really like the idea of it, and in many ways I liked the plot. Well, mostly anyway. I love that each of the guys is at a turning point in life and each of them have to overcome some difficulty. I also really liked how they fixed things between them.
But I am not a fan of the writing style. First of all this is written from the POV of the three male MCs.
They are supposedly all quite different, but they all sound exactly the same. So muc ...more
I am feeling rather divided about Boys of Summer.
I really like the idea of it, and in many ways I liked the plot. Well, mostly anyway. I love that each of the guys is at a turning point in life and each of them have to overcome some difficulty. I also really liked how they fixed things between them.
But I am not a fan of the writing style. First of all this is written from the POV of the three male MCs.
They are supposedly all quite different, but they all sound exactly the same. So muc ...more
I loved the design of this book. The margins told you which boy was narrating and had a little picture of a guitar, a surfboard, or a football so you could keep them straight in your mind as you read. Such a cool idea. I was right there on the island with them. I think I identify with Mike the best. Though I could have easily fallen for any of them. This book would be great to read at the beach sitting under an umbrella while you sipped a frosty bottled Coke.
Another hit from Jessica Brody! Here's what I loved most about Boys of Summer:
-It spotlights male friendship! (which is entirely too uncommon in YA)
-It takes place in a beach town, but not every character is an uber-rich tourist. Some of the characters are locals, and economic struggles play a key role in the storyline.
-Not every character chooses to attend a four-year university after high school—the characters have diverse career ambitions, all of which are treated as equally valid choices.
-I ...more
-It spotlights male friendship! (which is entirely too uncommon in YA)
-It takes place in a beach town, but not every character is an uber-rich tourist. Some of the characters are locals, and economic struggles play a key role in the storyline.
-Not every character chooses to attend a four-year university after high school—the characters have diverse career ambitions, all of which are treated as equally valid choices.
-I ...more
This book was so ANGSTY. These three guys really didn't treat each other well at all, let alone like "best friends."
Here's the thing. We all grow up, make new changes, and grow apart. I'd hate to think that something like the (major climactic moment) would suddenly bring everyone back together again. And even if it did, how long could such a fragile relationship last? I know you can point to the boys' long history of friendship, but we all change. We grow up and we grow apart. Heck, Grayson men ...more
Here's the thing. We all grow up, make new changes, and grow apart. I'd hate to think that something like the (major climactic moment) would suddenly bring everyone back together again. And even if it did, how long could such a fragile relationship last? I know you can point to the boys' long history of friendship, but we all change. We grow up and we grow apart. Heck, Grayson men ...more
Feb 26, 2016
paula
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
read-for-publication
HUGE UP-SIDE: Nobody gets raped.
Seriously, looking at this cover, I was SURE somebody was going to get raped. I've just gotten sucker-punched too many times by the idyllic cover and the title that could mean anything, and then there's a party and it's Veronica Mars walking home with her shoes in her hand all over again. But not here. So whew!
Gr 8-Up -- It’s gearing up to be another perfect summer in Winlock Harbor, the only town on a tiny Northeastern resort island. Grayson, Ian, and Mike are lo ...more
Seriously, looking at this cover, I was SURE somebody was going to get raped. I've just gotten sucker-punched too many times by the idyllic cover and the title that could mean anything, and then there's a party and it's Veronica Mars walking home with her shoes in her hand all over again. But not here. So whew!
Gr 8-Up -- It’s gearing up to be another perfect summer in Winlock Harbor, the only town on a tiny Northeastern resort island. Grayson, Ian, and Mike are lo ...more
after reading the hell that was “Stealing Snow”, this book provided me with much relief . I know I’ve always loved Jessica Brody, but the last book I read by her, MY Life Undecided, felt somewhat juvenile to me and didn’t go into much depth. This book was much better, the characters were well thought out and the plot flowed somehow perfectly between the three characters, which seems would be hard to do or difficult to read but ended up working really well .
I liked Mike’s storyline the most, but all three narratives fit together well. This is definitely unusual for a ya contemporary - three male narrators - but Jessica Brody pulled it off well.
I was a second away from buying this.
To say I was heavily disappointed by this is an understatement, but maybe I was expecting too much. Look at the blurb. Clambakes and bonfires and seashells and late-night swims in the ocean. The synopsis makes it seem like an absolute blast, and it really isn't.
Winlock Harbor - or "The Locks" - is the place to be. Grayson, Mike, Ian are anticipating their next summer filled with fun and flings.
Unfortunately, everything doesn't go exactly as planned. Mike's ...more
To say I was heavily disappointed by this is an understatement, but maybe I was expecting too much. Look at the blurb. Clambakes and bonfires and seashells and late-night swims in the ocean. The synopsis makes it seem like an absolute blast, and it really isn't.
Winlock Harbor - or "The Locks" - is the place to be. Grayson, Mike, Ian are anticipating their next summer filled with fun and flings.
Unfortunately, everything doesn't go exactly as planned. Mike's ...more
3.5 Stars
It's not often that I read a YA novel from a male perspective or three male perspectives to be precise. This novel drew me in with its summer island locale (think Martha's Vineyard) and its carefree vacation atmosphere. It's the story of three young men right on the cusp of adulthood. Mike, Ian, and Grayson have been best friends for twelve years. Mike lives on the touristy island year round while Grayson and Ian come every summer. Their friendship ties and traditions keep them bound to ...more
It's not often that I read a YA novel from a male perspective or three male perspectives to be precise. This novel drew me in with its summer island locale (think Martha's Vineyard) and its carefree vacation atmosphere. It's the story of three young men right on the cusp of adulthood. Mike, Ian, and Grayson have been best friends for twelve years. Mike lives on the touristy island year round while Grayson and Ian come every summer. Their friendship ties and traditions keep them bound to ...more
Jessica Brody's latest is a swoonworthy read teens are sure to love! Told in three alternating POV's, three best friends are reunited for the summer with potentially explosive results as the secrets that they hold between them threaten to tear their friendship apart. Although romance abounds, each of the boys is grappling with some serious personal issues that give the novel substance and depth and will keep readers turning the pages.
...more
This is the first book that I have read by Jessica Brody. I loved the Boys of Summer... especially meeting them in the middle of winter! Jessica Brody's characters are awesome and complex. I'm an almost thirty-four-year-old woman who loves young adult novels as well as adult. Anyone looking for a brilliant read that is smart, funny, snarky and sexy will love Boys of Summer.
...more
I really liked this! I felt like it was more realistic than teen romances usually are--it wasn't a perfect "and they stayed together forever, happily ever after" type ending. It really acknowledged that they were teenagers and their paths weren't really known and there's no way to tell what would work and what wouldn't, but it was hopeful and I really liked that.
...more
Light, fun summer young adult read.
who knew boys could be so dramatic. lol.
i actually quite liked the idea of this book. i dont think bromances get enough attention, so i was really excited to read this and thought it had a lot of promise.
however, i dont think this lived up to its potential. although each of the boys storylines were different, all of their voices/POVs sounded the same. other than distinct events happening in their lives, i couldnt tell them apart, which is unfortunate. and i thought the character developments we ...more
i actually quite liked the idea of this book. i dont think bromances get enough attention, so i was really excited to read this and thought it had a lot of promise.
however, i dont think this lived up to its potential. although each of the boys storylines were different, all of their voices/POVs sounded the same. other than distinct events happening in their lives, i couldnt tell them apart, which is unfortunate. and i thought the character developments we ...more
Actual rating 3.5 stars
So this book had an interesting concept. It follows three teen guys: Grayson Cartwright he's your typical teen athlete, star quarterback ready to head off to Vanderbilt in the fall on a football scholarship. However, an injury from a bad decision could end it all. Ian Handler your typical artsy guy, spends more time with his guitar than anything else. Avoiding his mother during her time of mourning after losing her husband (Ian's father). Mike Metzler (my favorite) is your ...more
So this book had an interesting concept. It follows three teen guys: Grayson Cartwright he's your typical teen athlete, star quarterback ready to head off to Vanderbilt in the fall on a football scholarship. However, an injury from a bad decision could end it all. Ian Handler your typical artsy guy, spends more time with his guitar than anything else. Avoiding his mother during her time of mourning after losing her husband (Ian's father). Mike Metzler (my favorite) is your ...more
I've never read anything from this author before, but I liked this book. Just picked it up at Target while browsing their book section. It looked like a good summer read. A bit predictable, but still entertaining.
3 boys, now graduated from high school and spending the summer at Winlock Harbor, where they all met 12 yrs. ago when they were all six.
Grayson: He's visiting for the summer, but the once talented football star got into a car accident and his arm will never be the same. His parents spl ...more
3 boys, now graduated from high school and spending the summer at Winlock Harbor, where they all met 12 yrs. ago when they were all six.
Grayson: He's visiting for the summer, but the once talented football star got into a car accident and his arm will never be the same. His parents spl ...more
I was provided an ARC of Boys Of Summer By: Jessica Brody in exchange for an honest review from Raincoast Books.
My Review:
I haven't been reading much young adult reads lately due to the fact nothing really pulled me in and the fact that I've been going hard reading erotic romance doesn't help (shh, don't judge me) But then I found out one of my fave YA writers had a new book coming out and it was on like donkey kong lol.
Jessica Brody's books have always been A+ in my book and Boys Of Summer did ...more
My Review:
I haven't been reading much young adult reads lately due to the fact nothing really pulled me in and the fact that I've been going hard reading erotic romance doesn't help (shh, don't judge me) But then I found out one of my fave YA writers had a new book coming out and it was on like donkey kong lol.
Jessica Brody's books have always been A+ in my book and Boys Of Summer did ...more
Boys Of Summer was a little challenging for me ever since I picked it up. When I started reading this book, it wasn't exactly the book I was looking for. In this book, the author creates a story with different perspectives of teenage boys. The concept that threw me off was that, each chapter was a new perspective and I felt like the chapters weren't introduced well enough at the beginning to know who was talking. So basically I would start a new chapter and say to myself, "Okay, I think this is
...more
This story intertwines the three lives of high school boys moving into the next stage of life. Are the rules the same or are we moving past those days of just playing, now feelings matter, and people are hurt by our games. Is there really a "man code" when love is involved? Is your ex really off limits and why is your sister so cute now? Brody does a great job of making you remember those feelings of that next step after high school and how friends and lives change dramatically.
...more
This book was okay. It didn't really do anything for me. I thought the premise was really cool, how it switched between three guys' points of view, but the three voices all kind of sounded the same to me. I had to keep checking to remember whose chapter I was reading. The last 40 pages or so were the best for me.
...more
I can never get enough of Jessica Brody books! Grayson, Mike, and Ian are my new book boyfriends! Each one has something to add to a relationship, but I have to say I love Mike. Very cute summer read with more strong characters and plots that don't just have romances.
...more
This is a book that I'll forget all about it in a matter of minutes, but it was exactly what I was looking for in the moment. This is that easy, quick, perfect summer read sure to entertain, but not covering new ground or provoking many thoughts.
...more
This book was okay. I enjoyed reading it but all the characters read the same to me, all the girls were the same etc etc. It definitely improved towards the end.
I didn't think that writing in a narrative voice of a boy meant being vaguely sexist towards girls lool. ...more
I didn't think that writing in a narrative voice of a boy meant being vaguely sexist towards girls lool. ...more
What I really enjoyed is reading from a guy's POV! It was different.
...more
I picked this up for two main reasons: 1) It looked like a fun summer read, and 2) It gave a male POV twist to the typical summer romance.
The premise of the story is pretty simple, three guys who spend every summer together spending the last one before they move onto the next stage of life. Grayson is a football prodigy who's injured arm may cost him his scholarship to Vanderbilt. Ian has just lost his dad, a sergeant in the military who never made it back. Mike is planning on leaving the island ...more
The premise of the story is pretty simple, three guys who spend every summer together spending the last one before they move onto the next stage of life. Grayson is a football prodigy who's injured arm may cost him his scholarship to Vanderbilt. Ian has just lost his dad, a sergeant in the military who never made it back. Mike is planning on leaving the island ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2.5 stars.
This book wasn't bad, but I just can't seem to even give it 3 stars. I really liked The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody, so I grabbed this without even reading the description. Ya know how a lot of people get all bent out of shape when male authors write female main characters? Well, Jessica Brody decided to write this from 3 perspectives - Ian, Mike, and Grayson. Yep. Three teenage boys.
I think it's possible for a male to write good female characters, and I think it's possibl ...more
This book wasn't bad, but I just can't seem to even give it 3 stars. I really liked The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody, so I grabbed this without even reading the description. Ya know how a lot of people get all bent out of shape when male authors write female main characters? Well, Jessica Brody decided to write this from 3 perspectives - Ian, Mike, and Grayson. Yep. Three teenage boys.
I think it's possible for a male to write good female characters, and I think it's possibl ...more
Wow this book was horrible. Like really really really bad. Like the worst book I’ve forced myself to finish in a long time.
I read a sort of sad book earlier today so I figured I needed to read some kind of lighthearted summer YA book to get my spirits up, and this was not it.
This book is supposed to be about three best guy friends in summer, but it’s more like three guy friends who only still talk because they’re each other’s only friends on the island. I mean, they don’t actually ever talk. The ...more
I read a sort of sad book earlier today so I figured I needed to read some kind of lighthearted summer YA book to get my spirits up, and this was not it.
This book is supposed to be about three best guy friends in summer, but it’s more like three guy friends who only still talk because they’re each other’s only friends on the island. I mean, they don’t actually ever talk. The ...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Jessica Brody knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self “publishing” her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples, and electrical tape.
After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager ...more
After graduating from Smith College in 2001 where she double majored in Economics and French and minored in Japanese, Jessica later went on to work for MGM Studios as a Manager ...more
Related Articles
Mateo Askaripour is a Brooklyn-based writer whose debut novel, Black Buck—which Colson Whitehead calls a “mesmerizing novel, executing a high...
68 likes · 7 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Touche.
What does that mean? Jasper raises his eyebrows quizzically.
It means you're right.
Jasper rolls his eyes. Of course I'm touche. I'm always touche.”
—
2 likes
More quotes…
What does that mean? Jasper raises his eyebrows quizzically.
It means you're right.
Jasper rolls his eyes. Of course I'm touche. I'm always touche.”
