Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Wow. Just... wow. Don't let the fluffy title fool you into thinking this is just a silly, girly beach read. This book is a tear-jerking story that will 'break your heart and put it back together again'. 


Author: Sarah Ockler
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
My Rating: 4.5/5 ~ It was fantastic! Tissues may be necessary!


Goodreads Description:
"Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.


*Sorry if there's some minor spoilers... nothing drastic though.*

I think I've read this book three, four, maybe five times now. But as I don't have it on my bookshelf, I can't be sure.  But I have definitely read it more than once. It is that good. Anna's relationship with Matt was super romantic and sweet... it wasn't your classic 'forbidden' romance. It was more just their little secret. Although, I wondered at some points about why Matt was keeping it a secret from Frankie for so long... I get that he's a protective older brother, but seriously? Okay! So you like your little sister's best friend and she likes you! Just tell Frankie! She'll get over it! She is not THAT fragile! Well... here's the thing about Frankie. She was very one-dimensional in my opinion. Until the end, there was hardly anything going on in her head other than boys, boys and more BOYS!!! But then, there was the whole thing with the diary and I couldn't stand her and then I liked her again and... Anyways, I'm getting way off the tangent. I should talk about Sam. Oh, Sam. Every girl dreams of going to California and meeting someone like Sam. The boy who will sweep you off of your feet and let you forget all about your dead, secret boyfriend. (Alright, maybe that's not the case with every girl, but hey... it's Anna's story, right?) He's the guy that teaches you to surf, the one that you sneak out every night to go see, and eventually... gasp! Lose your 'V-card' to! Sounds like the most cliched summer-romance novel ever, right? In ways, yes it was. But it was also so much more. The emotions that you feel from Anna take over. I seriously thought I was vacationing in Zanzibar Bay at some points! (Don't I wish?) Towards the end was when I most needed a pillow to hug, or to curse silently at one of the characters (whom, I will not say). The author's writing flows amazingly, making you feel like you were part of the novel and I was left wanting so much more, even though the story ended very nicely. 


I realize that this review may be a little vague, but that is solely because I want anyone who has not read this yet, and who thinks that they will enjoy it -even the tiniest bit- to find a copy and READ IT! I don't want to give away much, as it is such an excellent story when you don't  know what is going to happen. (Says me, who's read it multiple times.) Okay, okay, it's an excellent read anytime you read it! Grab the tissue box... you'll be needing it!


Alright, that's it for now!
Good night everyone, I'm going to bed! 
~Kristy