A review by linda_1410
Something Like Summer by Jay Bell

3.0

This book started out good and was a lot of fun to read for about the first 90% of it. There were still some things that were hard to believe, most especially Jace, the impossibly perfect boyfriend. And yet, it's easy to see why Ben would love Jace - not quite so easy why Jace would put up with Ben. Ben could be at times wise beyond his years and then extremely juvenile in the next instant. Ben's parents were way too open-minded, giving their teenage son free reign to do as he pleased, and that attendance system in Ben's high school was laughable at best. But for everything that felt contrived, there was a lot that was genuine, such as Ben's growing crush, his growing relationship with Tim, the meeting with the parents, and best friend's domestic troubles with her father to name a few.

The first two parts were well-structured and well-paced, but I have to say I ended up hating Tim by the end of part II and couldn't have cared less if he and Ben got back together or not. Frankly, I was hoping they wouldn't. Then the last part was far too rushed. It covered the longest period of time and yet was barely more than a few chapters. It felt contrived, and an "obstacle" in Tim and Ben's relationship is "conveniently" removed in the most melodramatic way possible. There is no HEA here, not that I necessarily require that, but the wrong couple won out at the end, leaving this reader feeling dissatisfied.