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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I have something to say, but I can't seem to get it together. :/
Excellent look at grief and how it affects our friendships as well as our ability to move on. I liked the premise for this book and the friendship between the protagonists felt authentic. This book was listed on many banned lists a few years ago (teens having sex and drinking always seem to make people edgy). Ockler includes these scenes for good reasons and none of them feel over-the-top or voyeuristic. Frankly, the (few) sex scenes were done very well, felt realistic, and made sense with the characterization. That said, sex and drinking are such a small part of the story; the story is truly about two friends struggling to move forward when one's brother dies unexpectedly. How they remember him and how they react form the bulk of the book.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I can't wait to finish it to say that so far i absolutely LOVE this book. Even though the book is meant for younger readers and not for 24 years old:) it's so sweet, emotional, like watching some cute romantic movie... I hope it continues in the same way and looking forward to some GREAT emotional ending!
UPDATED: I read the book. The first 100 pages are delightful, the ending could have been better but all in all, 4,5/5 for YA readers:)
UPDATED: I read the book. The first 100 pages are delightful, the ending could have been better but all in all, 4,5/5 for YA readers:)
Summer. A perfect time to relax, go on vacation, and have a little fling with someone. That is exactly what Frankie had in plan for her and her best friend Anna. Anna lightheartedly agreed to the game Frankie came up with of having a ‘thing’ with twenty different boys the twenty odd some days they were in Zanzibar Bay. Only what Frankie did not know was that Anna already had a ‘thing’ with a boy. That boy happens to be Frankie’s older brother who died in a car crash one year earlier. Little SPOILERS can be found in the three paragraphs below.
The book starts off one year earlier at Anna’s fifteenth birthday party. It was there that she and Matt (Frankie’s older brother) shared their first kiss. From that night on Matt and Anna shared secret looks, touches and kisses away from others. Anna and Matt hated keeping this from Frankie, but Matt promise would break the news to her on their annual vacation in Zanzibar Bay. This did not happen when days before they were to leave Frankie, Anna and Matt got into a car accident. There Anna had gotten some bruises, Frankie a scar across her eyebrow, and Matt had unfortunately died. Matt died keeping their secret, and Anna swore so would she.
A year later the Matt’s family and Anna were still not over his death. Frankie turned to cigarettes and revealing clothes trying to act out to get her parents’ attention. But Frankie’s family has an idea that changes everything. They were still planning on going to their annual vacation house in Zanzibar Bay, but to fill the gap left by Matt, they invited Anna to come along. Anna goes along with it, and even settled to play Frankie’s twenty-boy game. For it was time for Anna and Frankie’s family to move on.
The Game started as soon as Anna and Frankie went to the boardwalk when they met two very manly boys who took interest in them right away. Two down, eighteen left. It was on morning two that Frankie and Anna met two extra-ordinary boys known as Sam and Jack. Sam was the boy that made Anna’s summer just short of perfect. The summer was going great with only small hiccups in the plan. It was not until Frankie read Anna’s diary that all hell broke loose. Anna cannot understand why Frankie is so angry. Anna hopes that there is a way she can fix it. Read along and see how hidden secrets between two best friends can truly bring it down in flames.
Sarah Ockler this is truly a different book. The whole concept is emotion as it is about have a thing with the older brother of your best friend, who died a year ago. That is a pretty deep topic. The one part I did not like about this book was the big deal of Anna’s virginity. Truly this is not a big deal between teenage girls, as this book gives the wrong message about it entirely. Losing your virginity to a guy you just met while still in high school is just… wrong. Other than that whole part the book was well written and had a true magical air about it.
The book starts off one year earlier at Anna’s fifteenth birthday party. It was there that she and Matt (Frankie’s older brother) shared their first kiss. From that night on Matt and Anna shared secret looks, touches and kisses away from others. Anna and Matt hated keeping this from Frankie, but Matt promise would break the news to her on their annual vacation in Zanzibar Bay. This did not happen when days before they were to leave Frankie, Anna and Matt got into a car accident. There Anna had gotten some bruises, Frankie a scar across her eyebrow, and Matt had unfortunately died. Matt died keeping their secret, and Anna swore so would she.
A year later the Matt’s family and Anna were still not over his death. Frankie turned to cigarettes and revealing clothes trying to act out to get her parents’ attention. But Frankie’s family has an idea that changes everything. They were still planning on going to their annual vacation house in Zanzibar Bay, but to fill the gap left by Matt, they invited Anna to come along. Anna goes along with it, and even settled to play Frankie’s twenty-boy game. For it was time for Anna and Frankie’s family to move on.
The Game started as soon as Anna and Frankie went to the boardwalk when they met two very manly boys who took interest in them right away. Two down, eighteen left. It was on morning two that Frankie and Anna met two extra-ordinary boys known as Sam and Jack. Sam was the boy that made Anna’s summer just short of perfect. The summer was going great with only small hiccups in the plan. It was not until Frankie read Anna’s diary that all hell broke loose. Anna cannot understand why Frankie is so angry. Anna hopes that there is a way she can fix it. Read along and see how hidden secrets between two best friends can truly bring it down in flames.
Sarah Ockler this is truly a different book. The whole concept is emotion as it is about have a thing with the older brother of your best friend, who died a year ago. That is a pretty deep topic. The one part I did not like about this book was the big deal of Anna’s virginity. Truly this is not a big deal between teenage girls, as this book gives the wrong message about it entirely. Losing your virginity to a guy you just met while still in high school is just… wrong. Other than that whole part the book was well written and had a true magical air about it.
Wow... just wow! This novel was so beautiful and heart-warming and heart-tearing it was difficult to put down. I know what its like to have your best friend change right in front of your eyes (though not from her brother's death, or any death for that matter), so I feel Anna's pain over her best friend Frankie. The title is misleading though because (and no big secret here) they never get to 20 boys and simply stick with #5 and #6 for most of their vacation in California. Anna's mental growth throughout this whole thing was amazing, and the whole process was interesting to watch. Out of something completely devastating comes something new and beautiful and life renewing, and that was the main appeal of this novel. This one deserves my full 5 stars, and if you want a great summer read this is it.
**SPOILERS!!!**
This is really one of the saddest books I've ever read. It wasn't the kind of sadness where I just wanted to cry all the time, but it had many moments where I either felt close to tears or it was just painfully difficult to read. Everyone changed so much, but each change was breathtaking and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
I live in California and I was trying to figure out where this beach was that they were at. I mean with all the hot boys mentioned it was hard not to wonder. But at one point, I figured out that it didn't matter that it was California. Anywhere far away from her parents and the death of her sort-of boyfriend was good enough. This book was predictable enough, but the fact that I knew certain things were coming still didn't prepare me enough for them.
The virginity thing was kind of funny in a sick, horrible-best-friend way. How could you not tell your own best friend that you really hadn't had sex for your first time on the school soccer field with some guy? That's what best friends do: they keep your most embarassing secrets! I suppose I have to give her the benefit of the doubt because it wasn't long after her brother Matt had died from a dormant heart deffect. It's not a very good excuse after all that time and there was no reason for Frankie to keep up the charade by telling Anna that she had already had sex with Jake as well. I just don't understand...
Anna and Sam were cute and serious, but unserious at the same time. They both knew that it wasn't going to last because Anna wouldn't be coming back any time soon, but what they had was still beautiful and more real than any fantasy she would have had about Matt coming back. She needed to move on, and Sam was a main contributer to that. He was perfect for her and exactly what she needed. She didn't exactly need to lose her virginity to him, but that might have been some of Frankie's doing too. And maybe it truly helped her move on from Matt.
This was one of the best summer reads I have had the pleasure of diving into.
**SPOILERS!!!**
This is really one of the saddest books I've ever read. It wasn't the kind of sadness where I just wanted to cry all the time, but it had many moments where I either felt close to tears or it was just painfully difficult to read. Everyone changed so much, but each change was breathtaking and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
I live in California and I was trying to figure out where this beach was that they were at. I mean with all the hot boys mentioned it was hard not to wonder. But at one point, I figured out that it didn't matter that it was California. Anywhere far away from her parents and the death of her sort-of boyfriend was good enough. This book was predictable enough, but the fact that I knew certain things were coming still didn't prepare me enough for them.
The virginity thing was kind of funny in a sick, horrible-best-friend way. How could you not tell your own best friend that you really hadn't had sex for your first time on the school soccer field with some guy? That's what best friends do: they keep your most embarassing secrets! I suppose I have to give her the benefit of the doubt because it wasn't long after her brother Matt had died from a dormant heart deffect. It's not a very good excuse after all that time and there was no reason for Frankie to keep up the charade by telling Anna that she had already had sex with Jake as well. I just don't understand...
Anna and Sam were cute and serious, but unserious at the same time. They both knew that it wasn't going to last because Anna wouldn't be coming back any time soon, but what they had was still beautiful and more real than any fantasy she would have had about Matt coming back. She needed to move on, and Sam was a main contributer to that. He was perfect for her and exactly what she needed. She didn't exactly need to lose her virginity to him, but that might have been some of Frankie's doing too. And maybe it truly helped her move on from Matt.
This was one of the best summer reads I have had the pleasure of diving into.
I really liked this book.
It was really sad yet beautiful. I could relate to the pain of losing someone so close to you and when they're gone, it's just hard to continue and think of life the same as it was before.
I really liked Anna, I could relate to her a lot and I really liked Frankie and I felt sad for her a lot. This book really got to me, it's just so painful to read but it's just a really beautiful story to read that I highly recommend.
It was really sad yet beautiful. I could relate to the pain of losing someone so close to you and when they're gone, it's just hard to continue and think of life the same as it was before.
I really liked Anna, I could relate to her a lot and I really liked Frankie and I felt sad for her a lot. This book really got to me, it's just so painful to read but it's just a really beautiful story to read that I highly recommend.
What happens when your best-friend-who's-a-boy turns out to be your boyfriend? What happens if he happens to be the brother of your best-friend-who's-a-girl? Before Anna and Matt can explain to Frankie, Matt's sister, that everything's changed, everything really DOES change. Matt dies suddenly, leaving the secret behind.
During the next summer Frankie and Anna try to avoid dealing with their grief by declaring this the summer of 20 boys.
Along the way, Anna and Frankie learn so much about life and death, of grief and recovery. They learn the old friendship may not be working, and they may need to forge a new, stronger relationship.
Ockler gives readers so much to think about, from the silly to the serious. Frankie wants Anna to deal with Anna's Albatross: her virginity...as in lose it. There's so much more involved than just the act itself, and Ockler does a good job of letting Anna discover that for herself.
This book was attacked as 'soft core porn,' proving to me the attacker never read this. It's a redemptive story of loss and growth.
During the next summer Frankie and Anna try to avoid dealing with their grief by declaring this the summer of 20 boys.
Along the way, Anna and Frankie learn so much about life and death, of grief and recovery. They learn the old friendship may not be working, and they may need to forge a new, stronger relationship.
Ockler gives readers so much to think about, from the silly to the serious. Frankie wants Anna to deal with Anna's Albatross: her virginity...as in lose it. There's so much more involved than just the act itself, and Ockler does a good job of letting Anna discover that for herself.
This book was attacked as 'soft core porn,' proving to me the attacker never read this. It's a redemptive story of loss and growth.
If you want a light hearted summer novel to pass the time, maybe this wouldn't be the best place to go.
Twenty Boy Summer did have its moments though, especially during the beginning and parts of the end. However be warned, at times the plot kind of backtracked and repeated itself at times.
I found the narrator, Anna, very relatable, I loved both Matt, Sam and Frankie. I liked the fact I could really sympathise most of the characters throughout book. My only negative with these such characters is not knowing more about them. It just seemed to me that too much was being empathised on Matt's death and not enough on the plot. More tales about Matt, Anna and Frankie's childhood could have been very much needed, to connect with Matt more so, but I kinda see why the Author did it.
On the whole, I found parts predictable and difficult to read, strangely enough in a good way. I knew what was going to happen but I wished it wouldn't for the characters sake.
Despite my obvious issues with this book, I still think it is one that people should check out and read. It would be more interesting to see what someone else thinks of it, as I feel it is one that the issues would effect people differently.
Twenty Boy Summer did have its moments though, especially during the beginning and parts of the end. However be warned, at times the plot kind of backtracked and repeated itself at times.
I found the narrator, Anna, very relatable, I loved both Matt, Sam and Frankie. I liked the fact I could really sympathise most of the characters throughout book. My only negative with these such characters is not knowing more about them. It just seemed to me that too much was being empathised on Matt's death and not enough on the plot. More tales about Matt, Anna and Frankie's childhood could have been very much needed, to connect with Matt more so, but I kinda see why the Author did it.
On the whole, I found parts predictable and difficult to read, strangely enough in a good way. I knew what was going to happen but I wished it wouldn't for the characters sake.
Despite my obvious issues with this book, I still think it is one that people should check out and read. It would be more interesting to see what someone else thinks of it, as I feel it is one that the issues would effect people differently.