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The Big Summer
Will is gay and struggling with it. Belittled, ridiculed, and beaten down by his so-called friends, he is pushed to his breaking point. He must make a change. With his quirky aunt Nellie by his side, Will moves to the sunny town of Seaside City, where he embarks on a journey to reinvent himself, discover first love, and maybe find a little bit of happiness along the way.
Hannah is Seaside City’s resident extrovert—but behind her façade of confidence, she is riddled with insecurities. When she meets Will, Hannah decides to take him under her wing and become his guide. For a girl who desperately needs to be heard and understood, Will just may be exactly the friend she needs.
Daniel is Hannah’s gorgeous twin brother—the perfect combination of funny, charming, and intelligent. Even though he should be off limits, Will cannot help but fall for him. But will a devious girlfriend and the confusion of sexual identity come between them?
The Big Summer is a witty and touching tale that explores the ups and downs of first love, the struggles of self-acceptance, the value of friendship, and the true meaning of happiness.
Hannah is Seaside City’s resident extrovert—but behind her façade of confidence, she is riddled with insecurities. When she meets Will, Hannah decides to take him under her wing and become his guide. For a girl who desperately needs to be heard and understood, Will just may be exactly the friend she needs.
Daniel is Hannah’s gorgeous twin brother—the perfect combination of funny, charming, and intelligent. Even though he should be off limits, Will cannot help but fall for him. But will a devious girlfriend and the confusion of sexual identity come between them?
The Big Summer is a witty and touching tale that explores the ups and downs of first love, the struggles of self-acceptance, the value of friendship, and the true meaning of happiness.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2014
About the author
Jamie B. Laurie
1 book78 followersJamie B. Laurie is a young writer from Montreal, Canada. He is currently pursuing a degree in clinical psychology, and enjoys jamming to musical theatre albums and quoting extensively from RuPaul's Drag Race. "The Big Summer" is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 13, 2025
hypnotically 2014
nobody should ever be described as sexy while wearing black skinny jeans and a v neck
nobody should ever be described as sexy while wearing black skinny jeans and a v neck
November 12, 2018
I’m not trying to be mean, just honest. Obviously, young Jamie Laurie’s intentions were to write an interesting and somewhat humorous debut novel, but....
The story had probably the weakest beginning to any book I have ever read. Am I supposed to believe that Will was so devastated by his parents’ death ten years earlier that it left him hollow and friendless, without personality, no self-confidence, no backbone and no self-respect? That Will’s only “friends” are five asshole jocks, who constantly tease and torment him? Even the lowliest nerd finds company with other nerds.
Then, there’s this party that spineless Will was coaxed into going to by his aforementioned asshole jock friends. This was built up to be the incident that pushed Will over the edge. Will was thrown into the backyard pool fully dressed. That’s it!
Apparently, this traumatic event was the final straw in Will’s life that it easily led to his Aunt Nellie agreeing to a summer vacation at a furnished apartment in New Jersey, with the only deal breaker being that Aunt Nellie’s ratty chair come with them. The significance of this chair is never revealed.
So, the journey begins and one hour in, Aunt Nellie comes off as a whiny child begging her nephew for a bathroom break. So, they pull off the road at some rest stop, which incongruously has a restaurant and a Starbucks. Of all the road trips I’ve taken, I’ve never encountered a rest stop that contained more than some vending machines and restrooms.
None of this is even close to believable.
The story is rife with over-the-top descriptions that don’t come off as haha funny as intended, the assumption being that the most far fetched and ridiculous equals funny. Some examples:
- After Will is hit in the face with a camera flash, “my sight returned by an act of divine intervention”
- “the cash register was so ancient it predated the Neanderthals”
- “a pair of fall 1994 rubber gloves and a lovely apron sure to be seen on Parisian runways in the near future.”
- Why would the word ‘beach’ bring to mind “images of lovely white sand, finer than flour”? So, like white dust that coats your sweaty body?
- Why would a lovely beach scene remind me of commercials for Hepatitis vaccinations?
- “I grew somewhat lightheaded vicariously through her.” Meaning Will became lightheaded because SHE was lightheaded? Quoting from The Princess Bride, “I do not think [that word] means what you think it means”.
- “the staff room, which contained a wall of lockers, two round tables, a few chairs, a tiny refrigerator, some sad houseplants, and oh my God a water cooler!” What’s the deal with the water cooler? Is it trés gauche, an ancient artifact or is Will just exceedingly thirsty? The author apparently had some mental picture in his head when he wrote this line, but it just doesn’t convey his vision to me, the reader.
Now that I’ve thoroughly bashed this book, though not vindictively, not everything about this book was terrible. There were hardly any spelling errors.
The story had probably the weakest beginning to any book I have ever read. Am I supposed to believe that Will was so devastated by his parents’ death ten years earlier that it left him hollow and friendless, without personality, no self-confidence, no backbone and no self-respect? That Will’s only “friends” are five asshole jocks, who constantly tease and torment him? Even the lowliest nerd finds company with other nerds.
Then, there’s this party that spineless Will was coaxed into going to by his aforementioned asshole jock friends. This was built up to be the incident that pushed Will over the edge. Will was thrown into the backyard pool fully dressed. That’s it!
Apparently, this traumatic event was the final straw in Will’s life that it easily led to his Aunt Nellie agreeing to a summer vacation at a furnished apartment in New Jersey, with the only deal breaker being that Aunt Nellie’s ratty chair come with them. The significance of this chair is never revealed.
So, the journey begins and one hour in, Aunt Nellie comes off as a whiny child begging her nephew for a bathroom break. So, they pull off the road at some rest stop, which incongruously has a restaurant and a Starbucks. Of all the road trips I’ve taken, I’ve never encountered a rest stop that contained more than some vending machines and restrooms.
None of this is even close to believable.
The story is rife with over-the-top descriptions that don’t come off as haha funny as intended, the assumption being that the most far fetched and ridiculous equals funny. Some examples:
- After Will is hit in the face with a camera flash, “my sight returned by an act of divine intervention”
- “the cash register was so ancient it predated the Neanderthals”
- “a pair of fall 1994 rubber gloves and a lovely apron sure to be seen on Parisian runways in the near future.”
- Why would the word ‘beach’ bring to mind “images of lovely white sand, finer than flour”? So, like white dust that coats your sweaty body?
- Why would a lovely beach scene remind me of commercials for Hepatitis vaccinations?
- “I grew somewhat lightheaded vicariously through her.” Meaning Will became lightheaded because SHE was lightheaded? Quoting from The Princess Bride, “I do not think [that word] means what you think it means”.
- “the staff room, which contained a wall of lockers, two round tables, a few chairs, a tiny refrigerator, some sad houseplants, and oh my God a water cooler!” What’s the deal with the water cooler? Is it trés gauche, an ancient artifact or is Will just exceedingly thirsty? The author apparently had some mental picture in his head when he wrote this line, but it just doesn’t convey his vision to me, the reader.
Now that I’ve thoroughly bashed this book, though not vindictively, not everything about this book was terrible. There were hardly any spelling errors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
November 16, 2018I got around 40% of the way through. It's corny and cheesy, and not in the good kind of way. The world and characters felt so fabricated it wasn't enjoyable.
But if I were like 10, I think I would appreciate this book a lot more, and I also appreciate the attempt to represent more gay characters.
But if I were like 10, I think I would appreciate this book a lot more, and I also appreciate the attempt to represent more gay characters.
April 24, 2014
I discovered "The Big Summer" by reading an article about the book as well as the young author in the local newspaper and was instantly drawn by the fictional story. I soon had a review copy from Jamie and was very eager to read the novel I knew would be unlike anything I had ever read beforehand. I had high expectations and can say with all honestly that I was not disappointed.
This book was original in the sense that it was a romantic tale about a teenage boy falling in love with somebody of the same sex rather than the typical lovey dovey boy meets girl story. You don't see many books like this, and that is exactly why the author wrote it. He wanted to write a story the way he would have liked to read it and I admire him for staying true to himself rather than trying to please everyone else, although I doubt that anyone I interested in reading this book would be displeased by its content. If anything, they might be sad when the book comes to and end the same way they would not want the last day of a pleasant summer vacation to arrive. Although the story was conclusive, it personally left me with the idea of possible new adventures to come.
I find that the best stories are the ones written from the heart, and I sensed that this one was inspired by parts of the author's real life and fantasies. We all wish our lives could be different at times. The author teaches us to make the best of it. Like any human being, The main character has his ups and downs.
This book is very well written, reads like a diary, and is full of emotions. I could feel exactly what the main character Will felt throughout the entire story, even if I could not always relate, because the author did a very good job at expressing the roller coaster of anger, frustration, sadness, and joy that a teenager society tagged as being different would go through. This soul searching story felt very real. Some parts of the book made me feel sorry for Will and want to give him a big hug and yell at some of the other characters, while other parts made me laugh out loud and become nostalgic about the fun times I shared with my close friends in the past. The way this book was written, I am sure that any reader would be able to easily put themselves in the shoes of the main character, because lets face it we all had a desire to fit in and be accepted for who we are at one point in our lives.
Whether you are straight, gay, or bisexual, you will surely enjoy this heartfelt story (unless you are homophobic, but I recommend reading it anyways because you will at least LEARN something, which is that a person's sexual orientation is not a choice any more than your ethnicity.) I don't think the point of the story was to accept gays specifically, but rather to accept everyone in general for their differences. There are other valuable lessons in the book too. The author got his point across that everyone can make their own happiness and to not let others bring you down...
I highly recommend this book. It was a very good read and deserves more than just five stars.
This book was original in the sense that it was a romantic tale about a teenage boy falling in love with somebody of the same sex rather than the typical lovey dovey boy meets girl story. You don't see many books like this, and that is exactly why the author wrote it. He wanted to write a story the way he would have liked to read it and I admire him for staying true to himself rather than trying to please everyone else, although I doubt that anyone I interested in reading this book would be displeased by its content. If anything, they might be sad when the book comes to and end the same way they would not want the last day of a pleasant summer vacation to arrive. Although the story was conclusive, it personally left me with the idea of possible new adventures to come.
I find that the best stories are the ones written from the heart, and I sensed that this one was inspired by parts of the author's real life and fantasies. We all wish our lives could be different at times. The author teaches us to make the best of it. Like any human being, The main character has his ups and downs.
This book is very well written, reads like a diary, and is full of emotions. I could feel exactly what the main character Will felt throughout the entire story, even if I could not always relate, because the author did a very good job at expressing the roller coaster of anger, frustration, sadness, and joy that a teenager society tagged as being different would go through. This soul searching story felt very real. Some parts of the book made me feel sorry for Will and want to give him a big hug and yell at some of the other characters, while other parts made me laugh out loud and become nostalgic about the fun times I shared with my close friends in the past. The way this book was written, I am sure that any reader would be able to easily put themselves in the shoes of the main character, because lets face it we all had a desire to fit in and be accepted for who we are at one point in our lives.
Whether you are straight, gay, or bisexual, you will surely enjoy this heartfelt story (unless you are homophobic, but I recommend reading it anyways because you will at least LEARN something, which is that a person's sexual orientation is not a choice any more than your ethnicity.) I don't think the point of the story was to accept gays specifically, but rather to accept everyone in general for their differences. There are other valuable lessons in the book too. The author got his point across that everyone can make their own happiness and to not let others bring you down...
I highly recommend this book. It was a very good read and deserves more than just five stars.
April 10, 2014
[I originally wrote a review for the book when I first got it after going to a signing with the author, and like, binge reading it in days, so I'll see if I can remember everything I wrote about it.]
I wax poetic about this book almost constantly to people who are looking for a suggestion of something to read, because it honestly deserves the high praises.
I met the author because my best friend went to school with him and wrote with him in a writer's club and already knew his writing was excellent, she told me she was going to the signing and asked me to join. So, I gathered up the money to buy the book and went with her and I am so damn happy I went. The author himself was pretty awesome, didn't get to talk to him much but immediately upon meeting him, I knew I would just love the book.
I immediately started reading on my way home on the bus, and I loved it from beginning to end. Every single damn one of the characters was loveable and unique and REAL. Aunt Nellie, of course, is my favourite, because I always love parent/child relationships with people who are not actually parent and child. Especially when they're really close I FREAKING LOVE IT. And we get lots of Aunt Nellie action in this book, thank jesus.
The plot itself is well-developed and amazing, and the writing style was fantastic. Never has a book made me laugh so damn much, of course, I don't often read comedy, but I prefer watching/listening to comedy because in writing it's hard to portray the delivery of some of the jokes. But honestly, Jamie B. Laurie pulled it off in this one.
And, of course, I love LGBT friendly anything and this book was fantastic with it. A+++++
I love everything about this book, and when I first read it, I gave it my #2 favourite book spot, but it's climbed up to #1.
I should re-read this one.
I wax poetic about this book almost constantly to people who are looking for a suggestion of something to read, because it honestly deserves the high praises.
I met the author because my best friend went to school with him and wrote with him in a writer's club and already knew his writing was excellent, she told me she was going to the signing and asked me to join. So, I gathered up the money to buy the book and went with her and I am so damn happy I went. The author himself was pretty awesome, didn't get to talk to him much but immediately upon meeting him, I knew I would just love the book.
I immediately started reading on my way home on the bus, and I loved it from beginning to end. Every single damn one of the characters was loveable and unique and REAL. Aunt Nellie, of course, is my favourite, because I always love parent/child relationships with people who are not actually parent and child. Especially when they're really close I FREAKING LOVE IT. And we get lots of Aunt Nellie action in this book, thank jesus.
The plot itself is well-developed and amazing, and the writing style was fantastic. Never has a book made me laugh so damn much, of course, I don't often read comedy, but I prefer watching/listening to comedy because in writing it's hard to portray the delivery of some of the jokes. But honestly, Jamie B. Laurie pulled it off in this one.
And, of course, I love LGBT friendly anything and this book was fantastic with it. A+++++
I love everything about this book, and when I first read it, I gave it my #2 favourite book spot, but it's climbed up to #1.
I should re-read this one.
August 8, 2014
Oh my God! This book was everything! A fantastic debut novel.
The writing was very good, the characters were amazing! Every single one of them, Will was a very nice guy and his character development was fantastic, Hanna was hilarious, Daniel.. ohh Daniel I think he was my favorite, and Aunt Nellie.. BEST AUNT EVER.
When the main issue hit in the last third of the book I was like:
It's been a while since a book hit me like that. Jamie B. Laurie:
The writing was very good, the characters were amazing! Every single one of them, Will was a very nice guy and his character development was fantastic, Hanna was hilarious, Daniel.. ohh Daniel I think he was my favorite, and Aunt Nellie.. BEST AUNT EVER.
When the main issue hit in the last third of the book I was like:
It's been a while since a book hit me like that. Jamie B. Laurie:
June 21, 2020
Coming of Age
This was a very sweet and adorable coming of age. I don’t read as many YA books as I used to but this made me nostalgic for more. It’s predictable, it’s heavy on teenage angst and it has no sex just wishful thinking and the characters take me back to my tight circle of friends in high school. Bottom line: I loved it.
This was a very sweet and adorable coming of age. I don’t read as many YA books as I used to but this made me nostalgic for more. It’s predictable, it’s heavy on teenage angst and it has no sex just wishful thinking and the characters take me back to my tight circle of friends in high school. Bottom line: I loved it.
October 24, 2018
Amazing!!!! Couldn't put it down.
March 4, 2019
Unconventional but real
Couldn't put this book down kept saying maybe I should go to sleep because I work in the morning but no it hooked mr.
Couldn't put this book down kept saying maybe I should go to sleep because I work in the morning but no it hooked mr.
April 10, 2019
Loved it
Hope to read more of your books.great story read this in a day could put down laughed and cried thanks for a great read.!
Hope to read more of your books.great story read this in a day could put down laughed and cried thanks for a great read.!
March 9, 2014
In my opinion 'The Big Summer' is a 'must read'.. I found the characters to be relatable and thought they had depth. I loved the witty humour used throughout.
At various points in the book I felt quite emotional, which I enjoy while reading a book. This tells me that I'm taken with the story and the people within it.
I thought the story was skillfully and beautifully told. It emphasized to me, the reader, that relationships are relationships, whether gay or straight.
At various points in the book I felt quite emotional, which I enjoy while reading a book. This tells me that I'm taken with the story and the people within it.
I thought the story was skillfully and beautifully told. It emphasized to me, the reader, that relationships are relationships, whether gay or straight.
March 29, 2014
This book was amazing!
It is literally the best book to get into the summer vibe!
The story was short and sweet, the characters were amazing and funny! I read through this so quickly, i couldn't put it down (i was walking and reading- scandalous i know)
Its an amazing story about learning to accept yourself and making incredible friends along the way!
Completely and utterly loved it!!!
It is literally the best book to get into the summer vibe!
The story was short and sweet, the characters were amazing and funny! I read through this so quickly, i couldn't put it down (i was walking and reading- scandalous i know)
Its an amazing story about learning to accept yourself and making incredible friends along the way!
Completely and utterly loved it!!!
March 7, 2014
The story of Will O'Connor was a truly inspiring one, and really shows what teenagers, gay or straight go through. "The Big Summer" was an excellent read, and I'm so proud of Jamie on his first novel. I can't wait to read more of them.
January 7, 2015
I have no words to describe this book!! The best self published book I've ever read, definitely! I couldn't put it down at all! An absolute must read for anyone who loves a funny, cute story with memorable and relatable characters!
Want to Read
April 20, 2014This book has been on my TBR for two years. I really need to buy a copy!!
May 25, 2015
The author really understands the pain and difficulties some have in realizing who they are.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews