ablotial's review against another edition
3.0
This was a super quick read that I picked up from the library to complete a challenge - book with the word "twenty" in the title. I was expecting it to be a lighthearted summer read and although it fit the bill as a very teenager-y love story/coming of age/bffs fun summer story, it covers some difficult concepts (death, promises, losing virginity). I found it very enjoyable and even thought provoking at times, but it feels like one of those stories that I will have forgotten by next year. However, I'd definitely read more by this author.
MAJOR spoilers ahead:
MAJOR spoilers ahead:
Spoiler
I enjoyed ... see I've already forgotten her name. But the main character being kind of the loser in school and then Matt finally kissing her and giving her attention, but asking her to keep it a secret. Comes all-too-close to events from my real life. But with him dying, there is the possibility that he really did love her as opposed to just a summer fling or "practicing" with her or whatever bullshit. I found it interesting that she chose to have the accident I loved that the friend turned out to be lying about having sex... and hate that it caused the MC to do it when she may not have otherwise, even though it's incredibly believable. And that there didn't end up being 20 boys, and questioning whether the old creeper guy counted. I loved the relationship between the MC and Sam... .Sam was the best, and I'm sad that it seems like they discounted the possibility of ever seeing each other again. Even though I'm sure if they'd kept in touch it wouldn't have worked out in the end because it never does.booknerd777's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so cute. It was sad, and I felt bad for Anna and Frankie. This book really makes you think about life. Twenty Boy Summer was a cool summer read.
samantha_89's review against another edition
4.0
After reading, devouring and loving Fixing Delilah Hannaford I knew I had to get my hands on Twenty Boy Summer. I had seen it a lot, but had been really resistant to read it because it just seemed so sad. And the fact it, Twenty Boy Summer--despite the peppy, summery title-- is sad. But it's also beautiful. Sarah Ockler doesn't write in the typical sarcastic narrator voice that's so common right now. I love sarcasm, and quite frankly I thought I wouldn't get in to Ockler's writing because it's so literary. But it turns out to be such a breath of fresh air.
I loved the characters that Ockler presents us. Even characters that were only given about twenty to thirty pages of page time were easy to fall in love with. The entire story is heavily dependent on the friendship between Matt, Anna and Frankie and only about thirty pages is really devoted to showing the reader what their friendship is like. Still though, their friendship is easy to see, easy to love, and that's what makes it so easy to mourn. I wish Sam had been a little more alive, but he served his part.
Ockler captured being sixteen very well. Particularly in the matter of how you are on the edge of knowing there are more important matters than hair, make-up and virginity, but not really caring about those matters.
The downside of the book is that it's Ockler's first and it shows. Certain details are mentioned in the last half of the book that aren't mentioned in the first part. Scenes are left out, leaving out precious time that could have been devoted to developing certain characters. These things were obvious to me in this book, but absent in FDH.
Overall, lovelovelove this book. It is very sad, but don't let that stop you from reading it, it just shows what an amazing author Ockler is and is going to become.
I loved the characters that Ockler presents us. Even characters that were only given about twenty to thirty pages of page time were easy to fall in love with. The entire story is heavily dependent on the friendship between Matt, Anna and Frankie and only about thirty pages is really devoted to showing the reader what their friendship is like. Still though, their friendship is easy to see, easy to love, and that's what makes it so easy to mourn. I wish Sam had been a little more alive, but he served his part.
Ockler captured being sixteen very well. Particularly in the matter of how you are on the edge of knowing there are more important matters than hair, make-up and virginity, but not really caring about those matters.
The downside of the book is that it's Ockler's first and it shows. Certain details are mentioned in the last half of the book that aren't mentioned in the first part. Scenes are left out, leaving out precious time that could have been devoted to developing certain characters. These things were obvious to me in this book, but absent in FDH.
Overall, lovelovelove this book. It is very sad, but don't let that stop you from reading it, it just shows what an amazing author Ockler is and is going to become.
tbandlerjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
Main Idea: Anna and Frankie have to deal with their loss out loud instead of ignoring the truth, and the way Sarah Ockler writes the girls through their heartbreak and confusion is beautiful.
I certainly was expecting a LOT from this book as I went into it. I have been hearing so many good things about it. How it is heartbreaking but still so good. Well, I agree! (for the most part).
One year after the heartbreak of the loss of Frankie's brother and Anna's secret love, the girls head to California for a fresh start with Anna's parents. After her brother's death, Frankie has become completely self obsessed and tries to win the affection of any boy that turns her way. Anna is still dealing with the heartbreak of losing the one she loved and keeping it a secret from Frankie. They go with a mission to meet and flirt with twenty boys while hopefully losing Anna's "albatross" (virginity) along the way
Frankie's character really frustrated me as she was self obsessed and boy crazy. But apparently this is the "new frankie" and not how she used to be before Matt died. Anna was a pretty good character and acted as I think I would if I lost someone that special that suddenly. I just don't get going on a mission to seduce boys and lose your "albatross," but then again, I am very different from our main characters!
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The plot moves along quickly with plenty of heart-pounding late night sneak-outs, make out sessions, and boys. But the book goes deeper than that. Anna and Frankie have to deal with their loss out loud instead of ignoring the truth, and the way Sarah Ockler writes the girls through their heartbreak and confusion is beautiful.
I certainly was expecting a LOT from this book as I went into it. I have been hearing so many good things about it. How it is heartbreaking but still so good. Well, I agree! (for the most part).
One year after the heartbreak of the loss of Frankie's brother and Anna's secret love, the girls head to California for a fresh start with Anna's parents. After her brother's death, Frankie has become completely self obsessed and tries to win the affection of any boy that turns her way. Anna is still dealing with the heartbreak of losing the one she loved and keeping it a secret from Frankie. They go with a mission to meet and flirt with twenty boys while hopefully losing Anna's "albatross" (virginity) along the way
Frankie's character really frustrated me as she was self obsessed and boy crazy. But apparently this is the "new frankie" and not how she used to be before Matt died. Anna was a pretty good character and acted as I think I would if I lost someone that special that suddenly. I just don't get going on a mission to seduce boys and lose your "albatross," but then again, I am very different from our main characters!
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The plot moves along quickly with plenty of heart-pounding late night sneak-outs, make out sessions, and boys. But the book goes deeper than that. Anna and Frankie have to deal with their loss out loud instead of ignoring the truth, and the way Sarah Ockler writes the girls through their heartbreak and confusion is beautiful.
kcoccia's review against another edition
3.0
this book was pretty good but not the best book ever. I just don't have a lot to say about it. it was meh
aapueoreads's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve read this book three times. It still hurts every single time. This book is pain from beginning to end. Although it is very YA and we don’t see moments as dark as we might see in NA or other romance novels, it still hurts. I love Anna and everything about how she carries herself in this book. My heart aches still, but I absolutely love this book. I wish we got an epilogue to this book because I didn’t feel like it was quite finished, hence the 4 stars.
But still, it is the only book I’ve read 3 times and that says something.
But still, it is the only book I’ve read 3 times and that says something.
kittypaws9's review against another edition
4.0
After a horrible year, can two best friends make this the summer to remember? Tragedy strikes and leaves two families fighting just to have things back to normal again. Two friends travel to California, to both remember and forget.
I just love Anna. I think she is one of a few of main characters that I have truly been able to relate to. Her best friend Frankie can be trying, but she totally reminded me of a friend from childhood. The boy characters were generally a little too nice and rounded for me. Love generally tended to be a little too neat, but I still got sucked in anyway.
“Twenty Boys” is a realistic look at coping with loss. Don’t discount it because it has “summer” in its name. The book was nothing like I thought it was going to be, and that’s a good thing. Take a chance on “Boys” and you might find a nice surprise.
I just love Anna. I think she is one of a few of main characters that I have truly been able to relate to. Her best friend Frankie can be trying, but she totally reminded me of a friend from childhood. The boy characters were generally a little too nice and rounded for me. Love generally tended to be a little too neat, but I still got sucked in anyway.
“Twenty Boys” is a realistic look at coping with loss. Don’t discount it because it has “summer” in its name. The book was nothing like I thought it was going to be, and that’s a good thing. Take a chance on “Boys” and you might find a nice surprise.
narniaxisxhome's review against another edition
5.0
If you're looking for a quirky, cute, light read, look somewhere else. Despite it's premise of "the twenty boy summer", a different boy for each day on the beach that makes it seem cute and fun, this book is dark at times, depressing, and yet totally redeeming. (And, to clarify, it is cute and fun at moments, just mostly not.) It made me want to cry at times. It so fast paced and I loved every single page!
The characters. Frankie is probably one of my favorite characters of all time. She has such a great and unique personality, like mispronouncing "big" words. She was just so adorable and one of the many things that made me love this book.
One of the things I didn't really like was that Anna and Sam's relationship seemed totally rushed. Maybe if they had hung out as friends a few days before BAM! it hit her that she likes him, instead of just liking him on site. After all her talk of Matt and throughout the whole book feeling like she was making a mistake because of Matt, this was just so rushed. And, maybe she didn't have to tell Sam about Matt, but if she had just said, "I'm broken, I'm not going to open up right away," then I probably would have liked their relationship better.
Overall though, this was a book that tugged at my heart and I totally recommend it a million times over! It is so well-written and heartbreaking! Definitely a book to read more than once!
The characters. Frankie is probably one of my favorite characters of all time. She has such a great and unique personality, like mispronouncing "big" words. She was just so adorable and one of the many things that made me love this book.
One of the things I didn't really like was that Anna and Sam's relationship seemed totally rushed. Maybe if they had hung out as friends a few days before BAM! it hit her that she likes him, instead of just liking him on site. After all her talk of Matt and throughout the whole book feeling like she was making a mistake because of Matt, this was just so rushed. And, maybe she didn't have to tell Sam about Matt, but if she had just said, "I'm broken, I'm not going to open up right away," then I probably would have liked their relationship better.
Overall though, this was a book that tugged at my heart and I totally recommend it a million times over! It is so well-written and heartbreaking! Definitely a book to read more than once!
donttakemybooks's review against another edition
3.0
This was good. Well-written, atmospheric, bittersweet. My complaints are mostly ones that prove I'm not the audience for this book. The parents were awful, the girls lie and keep secrets constantly and while I know that's not totally unrealistic, really, how stupid are these parents? And then it was a book about grief, which made it feel very sad and heavy and I was just not in the mood for that exactly. Anyways, I liked it, but not enough to justify more than three stars.