Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Series: N/A
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 290
Source: Won

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

 

Going into this I was expecting something that was going to rip my heart out, I didn't get that. Sure the book was a sad one but I just didn't really get that into it. We start off with Frankie, Anna and Matt. They're all best friends and Matt and Frankie are brother and sister. Anna and Matt end up kissing and she thinks it's all going to be great until it isn't. Matt was going to tell his sister about their relationship but he didn't get a chance before he died. Anna not wanting to betray him doesn't say anything. You can see where the drama's going to start right?

 

The writing was fantastic, it really was. I just think it was me who wasn't a huge fan of this one. The choices that are made throughout this novel just really bothered me and I absolutely hated one of the characters.

 

Let's talk about Anna first though. She's a doormat. Honestly, she just lets Frankie push her around and tell her what to do because she's afraid of hurting her. I get it, Frankie's brother died, but she's really hurting as well and she doesn't say anything. And Frankie was the most vain, controlling, manipulative character. She really got on my nerves and I honestly thought Anna would have been better off without her.

 

I do however recommend this for a quick read. Sure it's got some touchy subjects but it's also got it's moments of pure fluff.