Summer Boys

Hailey Abbott is the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the SUMMER BOYS series. She grew up in California but now lives in New York City...but still loves nothing more than writing while on the beach.

Grade 9 Up–In what could almost be the novelization of a yet-to-be-produced WB series, three cousins embrace summer romance in their pursuit of various hot guys while vacationing in Maine. Characterization relies heavily on teen-magazinelike descriptions ("she was more an Avril than a Christina"), and most chapters begin with lengthy wardrobe summaries. Despite the superficiality, however, each of the girls' situations holds some interest, particularly in the realistic ways they mature throughout. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and sexuality are contextualized in a matter-of-fact way, with only a hint of after-school-special didacticism. Don't look for substance, but this is nonetheless an acceptable addition for teens looking for escapist beach reading.–Rhona Campbell, Washington DC Public Library
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