Blog Tour: The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan

Title: The Boys of Summer

Author: C.J. Duggan

Series: Summer (Book #1)

Format- ebook

Publisher- C.J. Duggan

Published- December 17th, 2012

Pages- 408

Source- YA Bound

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins. To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. 

It will be a summer she will always remember.

Tess is teased relentlessly by her ex-boyfriend and his posse. Luckily where she lacks in confidence in telling her ex off, her best friends more than make up in having her back. There is Ellie, the boy crazy, over-excitable, and confidant best friend. And then there is Adam the everybody-loves-him, somewhat silly, and ever sweet best friend. That ever sweet best friend got into her the job from hell that she and all of them have to work on the weekends during summer. Or so she thought. Enter Toby Morrison, her crush since forever, a boy five years older her and wouldn't even see her if she tried. But then he does and her crushing years come rushing back.

Toby is a part of the Onslow Boys group. They are the "elite" boys who were once pretty big in the Onslow community. They were revered and admired. All the girls want to be with them none more than Toby. That's why it isn't strange that Toby is taken by one of the most beautiful girls in their small town. But do the laughs, wide smiles, and glimpses that she gives him being returned or is she just being too much of a day dreamer? Even if they are not returned her summer with the Onslow Boys bring her confidence nevertheless. She is now saying and doing things she never would have before. The only thing that could make this summer even better would be if Toby Morrison was hers.

I'm actually pretty impressed with how well this book went. I don't know what I thought but I didn't think I would like this book so much. At first I was a bit worried about how the book was going in the beginning but just a little more into it and I saw who the characters were. I really liked that the book didn't start in the summer like I expected. There was background on the characters and the story. I didn't see why she was made fun of though. I understood the whole jerk of a boyfriend but the main character, Tess, had the wit and playful humor throughout the book. I guess she faded behind that shadow of her friend for a while but I saw how awesome she was even from the beginning.

I really just loved Tess. There were some little parts where she wasn't behaving very properly by lying about something pretty important and having sex prematurely. I always feel like that makes me sound like such a prude but she hardly spent time with a guy and she was in bed with him. It wasn't as bad as it sounds actually. I just hope that not all teenagers are as reckless as she was. Now I sound like a mother... Anyways I liked the way she was and her attitude for the majority of the book. I really just loved her as a person. I could connect with the story so much better because she was there.

Now Toby was a nice guy but I liked one of the Onslow Boys so much better. Sean? Now I would be crushing on him. I love that he will be one of the main characters in the second book. I can't wait to hear about Sean the Prince Charming (in my eyes). So Toby was really a nice guy but he was taken most of the book. When he got closer to her he wasn't around as much as I would have liked. He matched her silly humor and wit. I really loved all of the good characters banter. It was relaxing in a way. I could feel the new beginning and new bright feeling that Tess was feeling. It just felt... perfect in a way like these new friends with the old were home. Seriously a worthwhile book to read. I am so beyond excited about Sean! I can't wait for him to find the girl who will be his.

About the Author

C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia. The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.

For more info about C.J. Duggan and her book go to:

Website/Goodreads/Facebook/Twitter

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