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sbaw's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hecyah8's review against another edition
@ tay
good ol queer coming of age story! but cw: dc (specifically the mall and the hill) is very much romanticized by one of the characters lololol
good ol queer coming of age story! but cw: dc (specifically the mall and the hill) is very much romanticized by one of the characters lololol
thopp84's review against another edition
5.0
A book about four best friends, all of whom are gay? Oh, where was this book when I was a teenager?! Seriously, Stamper has crafted a book that is so warm and wonderful that I wanted to hug all the characters after it was over. It's a book about gay teens but it doesn't deal with coming out or bullying or suicide or HIV or any of the many other tropes that so many LGBTQ books fall prey to. No, in this book the gay characters get to do what their straight counterparts do. Go on adventures; have summer flings; fall in love; work too hard; party; find themselves and their voice. And most importantly, maintain their friendships in spite of the distance.
A lovely book precisely because the main characters get to have a normal summer vacation experience. No one dies. No one experiences a traumatic event. No one contemplates suicide or self harm. No one has to come out of the closet to their parents who may or may not approve. And honestly, that was just so refreshing. What a treat to get to witness four gay kids just living their lives and enjoying themselves. They make mistakes. They act irrationally. They say and do the wrong things. Ugh, this book was just the balm I needed. Too many queer stories are about trauma. So it was good to read one that wasn't about that. A simple book but well told.
A lovely book precisely because the main characters get to have a normal summer vacation experience. No one dies. No one experiences a traumatic event. No one contemplates suicide or self harm. No one has to come out of the closet to their parents who may or may not approve. And honestly, that was just so refreshing. What a treat to get to witness four gay kids just living their lives and enjoying themselves. They make mistakes. They act irrationally. They say and do the wrong things. Ugh, this book was just the balm I needed. Too many queer stories are about trauma. So it was good to read one that wasn't about that. A simple book but well told.
lilyheron's review against another edition
2.0
Golden Boys follows Sal, Gabriel, Reese and Heath, four friends who go their separate ways one summer to take part in various internships/volunteering/summer programmes/work-related activities. Each of them has a different idea of how they want their futures to look, and varying levels of confidence about getting there. The story is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Personally I really enjoyed seeing Sal and Gabriel, and Reese and Heath, and all four boys, together on the page, but because they split up in four different directions for most of the novel, there was little chance to see them together. I think that's what limited my enjoyment of the book, because it was well-written, and I liked the characters, but for me they were strongest as a team and group dynamic, so I didn't find myself particularly interested while reading most of the novel.
ndpen's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful story of friendship and growing up. My favorite Phil Stamper book by far.
susiedunbar's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely, sweet, funny, moving, special book. I adore the Golden Boys. I want to know the Golden Boys and I feel like I sort of do now. I also really appreciate the wonderful development of the secondary characters, as they made the story so much richer and more real. I loved it. So much.
rhubarb22's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jackwabbit's review against another edition
2.0
finally finished, it was a sweet story! kinda boring and very cliche, but in a good way.
pedrolazaro's review against another edition
4.0
Take your time, enjoy it. It's mostly introspective, we get to know each character very well. There is also space to understand the dynamics of peers and the group as a whole. I felt like there was a lack of a little spice or tea that would help you want to read more and quickly, but, overall, it was good. I can't wait for the sequel!