Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Date Released: June 1st 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 290 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Borders

Summary

"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 her best friend Frankie, twenty days in ZanzibarBay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever 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 that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

My Review:

It shattered my heart to pieces, It gave me the deepest wounds, It made me stronger than ever, And it put me back together. Those are the words I have to say about this book.

At first, when I bought the book, I really didn’t know what I was getting into, I mean, 20 boys? One each day? I thought it would be a simple comedy and a fun read for the summer, How wrong I was.

Twenty Boy Summer follows Anna through her summer, where she grieves the dead of the brother of her best friend and boyfriend Matt, the only problem, no one knew they were together. So Frankie’s family – and Matts- decide to take a trip to California, where they used to go every summer when Matt was alive, and Anna goes with them, carrying her grieve around, for no one but herself to share, She carries around her journal, where she talks to Matt and pours everything of her. And then there’s Sam, one of the guys they meet during their 20-boy-summer lookout, Handsome, Intelligent, Understanding, and he grows to love Anna, But Anna is so scared to love him back, for the fear of forgetting Matt. I just found it Heartbreaking, and reminded me a lot of Jandy Nelson’s “The Sky Is Everywhere” in many ways.

The only thing I didn’t liked much about the novel was Frankie, her best friend, who acted nothing like. Though its easy to understand, but she still seems to selfish, shallow and ignorant to me. But you do get why she is necessary in the story, aside from the fact that she adds a little spark and humor to it.

Anna was simply a character that leaved a mark in me, and a total opposite to Frankie.

This is Sarah Ockler’s first novel, and reminded me of Sarah Dessen’s novels, which is a compliment of the highest kind. Twenty Boy Summer is a story in which I loved to live, and leaved a mark in my heart. Gorgeous, beautifully written, and full of Love. I highly recommend it.

"Every story is part of a whole, entire life, you know? Happy and sad and tragic and whatever, but an entire life. And books let you know them."

"I just swallow hard.
Nod and smile.
One foot in front of the other.
I'm fine, thanks for not asking"

"Don't move, Anna Reiley. Right now, everything is perfect."