The Boys of Summer

The Boys of Summer
Summer Book One
Written By C.J Duggan
Contemporary, Romance
Published December 17th 2012
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★★★★★

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 in high school. Quiet, reserved with an asshole of an ex - boyfriend who has the school referring to her as tic - tac - tess, a name she loathes. Tess, along with her two best friends, start summer jobs at the local bar and eatery. Adam, who found Tess and Ellie the positions at his uncle's business, breaks his arm and is forced to spend the summer out of town, finger knitting and watching Mattlock.

Ellie is a natural, she's outgoing and commands attention in any room, and that's fine with Tess, who prefers to blend into the background. Until the 'Onslow' boys notice her. The Onslow boys are a group of early twenties boys who frequent the bar, including the breathtakingly handsome Tobias. Tess has had a crush on Toby since she first spotted him during her high school orientation. It was love at first sight for Tess, with the boy with the high wattage smile.

As the Onslow boys start to include Tess and Ellie into their circle of friends, Tess finds herself falling once again for Toby. By the penetrating stares and brilliant smiles, it seems Toby feels the same way. Only one problem, Angela, Toby's girlfriend.

A brilliant story of the great Aussie summer. I love Australian slang in books and our unique pop culture references. C.J Duggan is brilliant. The Boys of Summer is hilarious, touching, inspiring and a beautiful coming of age novel, exploring adult relationships and discovering yourself.