The Summer of Kicks by Dave Hackett

The Summer of Kicks
Written by Dave Hackett
Contemporary, Comedy
Published August 27th 2014
264 Pages
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★★★★★
Starrphyre is your average sensitive meets dorky 16 year old, with a tragic hippy name thanks to his parents, a live to air radio sex therapist mum and a bass player dad from a one hit wonder 80s metal band.

All Starrphyre wants is one date with his dream girl, Candace McAllister. Or at least a meaningful conversation. But how can he get her to notice him when she’s the leading lady of every other high school guys’ fantasies?

For Starrphyre, starting a band seems like the natural solution, but when your bandmates have the combined musical ability of a gang of armless monkeys, you really need a backup plan.
Life has dealt sixteen year old Starrphyre his fair share of knocks. His parents naming him Starrphyre for one. He isn't popular, and most of his peers would consider him the token nerd, that's if they'd even notice him that is. It still doesn't stop Starrphyre from dreaming about making popular girl Candace his girlfriend, but apart from a brief and awkward conversation when Starrphyre was only eight years old, she doesn't know he exists. He needs a plan to make her notice him, so when your dad is a former eighties one hit wonder and your mother is a radio sexual therapist, it's only natural that starting a band is surely the answer. if only he could play an instrument.

With friends as equally as uncool and unpopular, not to mention the lack of musical talent, Starrphyre had no option but to enlist the help of the very cool Scene, who runs the local record store. But rather than gaining just a guitarist, Starrphyre finds himself now with a part time job thanks to his vast, obscure musical knowledge and a pair of well worn Converse kicks.

But as a new plan takes shape to win over Candace, Starrphyre finds himself torn between the girl he's always wanted and the girl he actually needs, as he gets to know coworker Ellie. Suddenly being named Starrphyre is the least of his problems.

Kelly's Thoughts

The Summer of Kicks is hilarious, beautifully written and incredible Australian that awkward teens world wide can relate to. It follows the woes of Starrphyre, upbeat dork, musical genius and faithful friend. He's in love with a girl who doesn't know he exists, and now is forced to share his bedroom with his sisters thug boyfriend, simply known as The Tool. Including friends with affectionate nicknames such as Reece Polar Fleece, he decides that with his vast musical knowledge, his only option at being noticed is to start a band. What ensues is a brilliant roller coaster ride of hilarity, viral videos, a musical he'll never forget and an awkward first kiss that was more teeth than tongue. It was phenomenal and by far the most entertaining and comical young adult book I've read. Ever.
I'm now lying on the stage. On top of my mother. And we're face to face. The entire auditorium is staring... 'And this', Mum says, attempting to make light of the situation, 'is the missionary position'. Instantly the whole place is in hysterics. Sheila Sweet, celebrity sex therapist, is in session...
And although The Summer of Kicks is a humorous take on teen life, there are moments of seriousness that are emotional, touching and incredibly heartwarming as well. This isn't just another teen romance, this is comedy at it's brilliance. From selecting band names from a bingo barrel, the Grease musical that never should have been and grabbing a Led Zepplin shirt, only to realise you're actually proudly wearing Bert and Ernie. I laughed from cover to cover. This isn't just a book, it's a feel good experience and I absolutely adored it.

20 comments

  1. I did enjoy this book :) it was a three star read for me, but there were moments when I really did laugh out loud. I just wasn't that emotionally connected, I guess? Trying not to spoil anything, but that sad bit at the end just felt like it was tacked on, and none of the reactions seemed right. But LOL, the band names :P

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    1. Yeah, the ending was a little on the disappointing side, but I loved the main bulk of the book so much that I couldn't imagine giving it less than five stars. It was such a feel good book that I think adult YA readers will probably find even funnier than teens. It really could have been set even in my era.

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  2. This definitely does sound like a feel good experience, and not just a book! I can't say I've ever read a contemporary comedy since they tend to scare me for some reason. Actually, with all the books of different genres you seem to read, I feel like I need to explore much, much more. (Which I hope to do soon.) Anyhow, great review! You've succeeded in sparking up my interest. :D

    - Naban @ The Literary Oracle


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    1. I tend to read a wide variety, and especially love genre fusions. This one is so incredibly funny, not just funny, snorting, hiccuping kind of laughter. Definitely add it to your to read lists, it's brilliant.

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  3. OH HAHAHAHA. Your excerpt made me laugh so hard that I woke up my beastly cat. She gave me the stink eye! *tries to stop laughing* I've been craving for a comical read. I don't think I've ever read a YA novel that really made me laugh. I'm so happy to know that there's depth as well beyond its hilariousness. I'd surely check this one out, Kelly! Lovely review.

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    1. Thanks Sarah. If you're looking for something to lure you out of a book funk, this one would be it. I honestly couldn't stop laughing. From the characters dialogue, to the situations that the main character finds himself in. It was just too funny.

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  4. This includes music and theatre you say? And a hilarious, adorable romance? I AM SO IN! This sounds like a really nice light, entertaining read and I am definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing Kelly, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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    1. It's so incredibly funny Zoe, you'll love it. One scene is where the boys are deciding on a band name, and use an old bingo barrel and throw random words in. The barrel spits out two words at a time and I nearly peed with the names it was spitting out. It's full of those moments that are just too funny for words.

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  5. Starrphyre is definitely not a name I've seen around in YA novels, plus the premise for this one sounds like fun! Fantastic review Kelly, this one's definitely going on my TBR :)

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    1. His name is something he really despises in the book and wishes he had a common and less girly name. His dad is an eighties one hit wonder, and his mother is a free and liberal radio sex therapist so he's probably lucky he didn't end up with something far worse.

      Although I'm not sure if that's possible.

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  6. Oh, this sounds incredibly adorable and I love the sound of it already. I saw you recommending this at PTAChat and now I know what it is about. I love the upbeat dork, lol.

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    1. Jeann, you'll absolutely laugh your ass off. I was snorting at one point on the verge of peeing myself. It's utterly brilliant.

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  7. This sounds so fun, I'm sure there'd be lots of laughs involved. Sorry I haven't been stopping by your lovely blog much lately, but I'm back! YOUR BLOG LOOKS BEAUTIFUL BTW. Great review, I'll surely be checking this out :)

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    1. No need to apologise, I can only imagine how busy you poppets are with school and assignments. It's getting towards that part of the year.

      Thanks Sunny, and looking forward to seeing what you think of The Summer of Kicks, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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  8. Starrphyre, AS IN STARFIRE? FROM TEEN TITANS. WhaT. Ok, I know that has nothing to do with it, but it's still cool. And I love the whole dorky, nerdy thing going on. And comedy! Thanks for the review Kelly! I will be adding this to my list :D

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    1. Teen Titans? You've lost me there. I'll have to Google that one.

      Starrphyre is an adorable nerd, but it's actually all the other characters around him that bring the entertainment and humour. But their lines are so natural and realistic. It's a brilliant read.

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  9. Oooh, this book sounds so awkward yet brilliant at the same time! Teenage life is full of ups and downs, so it's always good to see people having a laugh when things don't work out in life sometimes. Yay for Aussie authors too, they're bringing some amazing Aussie fiction to the table this year xx

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    1. They certainly are Joy, and this one is among one of the best I've read. Both teens and adult will relate to the struggles of teen life and how awkward it can be, but the humour is incredible and made for an entertaining and now one of my favourite reads.

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    1. It's brilliant. If you love Aussie coming of age books that are incredibly fun and lighthearted, you'll love this one Shellyrae. Thanks for stopping by.

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