Brianna, My Brother, and the Blog

by Jack Weyland

Brianna needs a friend, someone to keep her from being lonely while she’s waiting for her missionary, Robbie, to come home. And who better for the job than Robbie’s brother, Austin? He can keep the other men at bay while giving Brianna guy-type help, like hauling her harp around on weekends to play at wedding receptions.

Austin needs a friend, too. And Brianna is the perfect choice since there's no romantic involvement-of course not, how could there be, she's waiting for his brother, after all. As a friendship develops between Austin and Brianna, Austin is free to learn what it means to be "true and faithful friends" with a girl. He begins posting his findings in blog entries that quickly gather a following of interested readers. But what will happen to his friendship with Brianna when she finds out who the real author of the blog is? Because the truth is, Austin isn't looking for just a friend anymore, but something more. Will he have the courage to tell Brianna the truth-before Robbie comes home?

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Lds, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Jack Weyland is the best-selling author of young-adult fiction for the Latter-day Saint market. In fact, the modern genre of Latter-day Saint-themed popular fiction is one he is largely responsible for creating with his overwhelmingly popular novel Charly. His interest in fiction began with a correspondence course in creative writing taken during a summer at BYU where he was doing research work. Since then he has published more than two dozen books, and over fifty of his short stories have been published by the LDS Church magazine The New Era.

Born in Butte, Montana, Jack received a B.S. degree in physics from Montana State University and a Ph.D. in physics from BYU. Currently he teaches physics at BYU-Idaho. He formerly taught physics at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Jack and his wife, Sheryl, are the parents of five children and have four grandchildren. His hobbies include racquetball and singing.

Reviews

[Lacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read a Jack Weyland book in quite a while, but for some reason this one intrigued me. I'm not sure what to rate it though. Because there were some aspects of the book I liked....but then again there were some that I thought were terrible. It was so dramatic....a little to dramatic for me. And it went to fast. Three months went by in one paragraph. I could not stand the brother, (Robby). He was a complete idiot. Jack Weyland has a very unique writing style..and for some reason I still read his books even though they are all the same.

[Lacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay for what it was... a Jack Weyland book. I really enjoyed his books when I was a younger teenager, but now not so much at all. No real detail or character development. Just a plot line. Meh.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick and easy read. Austin just got back from his mission and along with his families welcome at the airport is a girl, Brianna. She gives him a hug that he's not expecting and his mom introduces her as his brother's girlfriend, who is waiting for him on his mission. That is the start of a fast "faithful friendship" between the two. Austin helps her friend Sophie overcome her fear of men from a past tramatic experience and also becomes Brianna's shouffer for the harp at wedding receptions. They spend alot of time together that helps the relationship grow. Austin has a hard time remembering that this girl is his brother's girlfriend even when he wants it to be more, the same is true for brianna. Austin agrees to keep up a website for a friend while he's on his mission in exchange for the upkeep of the website advertising for a auto body shop and later becomes an advice site for men on relationships. Austin gets his topics from experiences with Brianna and the things he is learning or wants to get advice on. The two friends are faithful to the end of the brother's mission, but then things that were planned don't always turn out how you expect.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd ward book group in aug. Cute fasr read

[Dlora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in a day--easy and fun. I've always enjoyed Jack Weyland, one of the first good LDS novelists for teens. However, when I read this novel after years of not reading a Weyland, I realized that they are sort of like screen plays--lots of dialogue and not a lot of scene setting or action. They are also romances from a masculine viewpoint, which is intriguing. This one particularly, is about a boy falling in love with his brother's girlfriend; she's waiting for him to come back from his mission. Awkward. As Austin becomes her friend, he learns a lot about what some of the jerky things guys do without realizing how they are impacting the girls they are dating. Austin is roped into writing a blog as advertisement for a friend's auto body shop, and he ends up turning it into advice to guys about how to be a better friend to the girls they date. The humor is great, the insights are pretty good too, and although it's probably girls who will read the book, the guys would benefit from the blog advice from "Steve-O from Schenectady."

[AnnaMay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I'd already reviewed this, but it appears I haven't.

Really lame return missionary brother. Jack Weyland seems to be about two or three decades behind in his perception of LDS reality. The cultural circumstances on which he bases some of his characters are really outdated. I think he should have quit writing while he was ahead, because now he's just perpetuating some 'bad things' that the prophets and apostles have worked so hard at weeding out. (Think: your mission being the ground for meeting someone to marry, etc.) They've raised the bar, kiddo. Things aren't what they used to be.

The LDS church I'm 'growing up' in is strikingly different and more diverse and culturally aware than the LDS culture Weyland writes about. I'm done with his writing for good. Too bad, for I remember liking 'Charly' and 'Sam' and others.

I'm curious if the 12-year-olds of today like his writing, or if they find him old and inaccurate as well.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit it. I am a 30+ year old woman who checked out a Jack Weyland book from the library. I'd just finished a massive biography and needed something light to read. Boy did this fit the bill. Do you remember reading Jack Weyland as a teenager and thinking it was just wonderful? Well, this book was a super easy, super light read. Nothing life changing here. I laughed a few times and came away hating the returned missionary brother who was truly lame. If you feel that Jack Weyland longing go back and re-read Charlie. Or read this one, just don't have high expectations.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Weyland uses humor well. Sometimes it is easy to laugh and miss just what is important that Mr Weyland it trying to convey. This book is about a brother, Austin, who meets his younger brother's girl and falls hard. They decide they can be friends while waiting for the younger brother to return from his mission. The real message of the book is in the blog Austin writes, about how to treat women, from things he learns from Brianna. Lots of things young men, and women, need to know.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick read. Weyland has a way of making his characters real, without overdoing the description or dialog. For the most part, I found the characters realistic. Robbie was a bit over the top. Some of the events were a bit over the top, but what the heck, it's a good clean read for your teenage girl. And the blog advice, while a bit mature for a college kid, is quite good advice for any guy--dating or married! (Although I think this is definitely a "chick book.")

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one with my girls. They loved it and I had a laughing fit with the birthday present chapter. I hadn't read a Weyland book in years and enjoyed this one.

Austin returns home from his mission to meet his brothers girlfriend, who he ends up becoming good friends with while she waits for his brother to return. I loved that this book emphasized the importance of friendship in anyserious relationship.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick, easy, enjoyable book about Austin who falls in love with his brother's girlfriend, Brianna. His brother is on a mission. So although they love each other, they try really hard to not do anything they'll have to tell Robbie about. It has very funny parts--like the birthday presents. There were a few things that didn't make sense to me, like why he made Brianna clean the garage and fill in the cracks on the sidewalk. I really liked his blogs. Every man should read them.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful Jack Weyland book. I went into the local LDS bookstore and found this and a second Jack Weyland book, and although I had started the other one first, I misplaced it during packing and so I opted for this instead.

A great read. I love a lot of the books he writes (Although nothing will top the three books involving Charly).

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very light, easy, simple story. I was almost wondering why it wasn't listed in the YF category, instead of adult. Brianna meets Austin when he comes home from his mission. He is her boyfriend's brother---and she's waiting for him. They became very good friends and the story takes off. There wasn't a lot of depth to the story, but sometimes a big of fluff/mind candy is in order.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at this book. I kept laughing out loud so much that my hubby asked me to read it aloud and later he started reading it! That is a huge compliment! Funny dialogue. The only thing I didn't like about the book was Brianna's friend- she freaked me out big time. She was a little scary. But it ended up well.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been probably a decade since I've read a Jack Weyland. I enjoyed them immensely during my teenage years, and so picked one up for a quick entertaining read over a vacation. I may have been able to enjoy this one when I was an older teenager, but not so much now. Sorry Jack. Still love you though.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading Jack Weyland since I was a young awkward teen. His books never disappoint. So, when I was at the library recently I found Brianna, My Brother and the blog on the shelf. It tickled my fancy that I had found a new one to read. I read it in one day, a couple of hours to be exact.

Very cute story. Another book I will let my girls read.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

CUTE story!! I really loved it and laughed a lot, but wasn't fond of the lame ending, so I marked it down a star. Great advice for husbands, men and boys in it, so I will HIGHLY encourage my hubby and son to read it. They already want to though, since I have read them parts that I was laughing about. Clever, cute and well written.

[Shavonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy, light read; I read it in a couple of hours. I thought it was very predictable, though I didn't mind because it was entertaining and had me laughing. The things Austin wrote about in his blog were mostly things I learned in family relations classes so they're good advice. If you could convince a teen boy to read it, he should because it talks about dating and how to treat girls.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what made me absolutely love this Jack Weyland! I read it in about 2 1/2 hours and laughed and giggled throughout it. It is what MANY twenty-something men should read - who aren't married and really want to! It's about thinking about the "woman" first and I agreed with it! Great stuff! Thanks Jack!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutly LOVE this book at times it made me want to scream because of Austin or Robbie but other times it made me laugh out loud. I read it in one sitting, it was so captivating I just could'nt put it down.I love romatic books so I liked it, but If you don't like romance this is most definantly NOT a book for you. *sigh* It had the ending I wanted so I was pretty happy with it.

[Gkeller123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for work, not expecting to really like it. It sounded sort of cheesy. But, once I started it last night, I couldn't stop. It is about more than romance, quite a nice story. Somewhat predictable, but a few twists and turns to add interest. A good young adult read.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know, it's way too cheesy and dramatic, but it was just a fun, easy read! I literally read it in one sitting--started it at 11pm and the next thing I knew it was 1:30am, and I had finished it. Just a cute, easy, clean book.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love reading Jack Weyland books so was excited when a new one came out. Unfortunately, I think I have out-grown them as I didn't like this one as much as I have others of his, but still an alright read.

[Candicelynnelamb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ifeel like there wasn't enough of a connection between Brianna and Robbie, or Robbie and Brianna, ect. Easy read, pleasent and simple. I Kind of wish Ryan would read it so he could take some of the advice to heart :)

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like Jack Weyland on a "lazy Sunday." I guess that's why it's never bothered me that his writing is, itself, rather lazy. This one was cute, predictable, and easily read in one sitting. Sometimes a book like that is just the ticket, don't you think?

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely written for a pre-teen audience, yet the principles he tried to teach in it are more for the dating world. It had a few humorous moments, but for the most part was pretty cheesy.

[Jessica Bryson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear. This book was predictable and pathetic. The storyline was very unrealistic and simple. I would not recommend this to a twelve year old who wants to learn about weird, Mormon, BYU students.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, very easy fast read. I laughed and really got into the story, but it wasn't life-changing. I didn't feel like a better person after reading it, and that's something I want to feel after taking the time to read a book!

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't sleep one night so I read this book cover to cover. It was a really cute book! It was nice to read a book where I didn't have to worry about any swearing or other stuff. Sometimes it's hard to find books like that.

[Stevie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick and easy read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed his earlier books. I wonder if it's because I'm older now? I'm not sure I would have enjoyed this as a young adult either though. It just didn't have much substance to it.