BOYS LIKE YOU by Juliana Stone-a review

Boys Like You
by Juliana Stone
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Genre: young adult, contemporary, romance

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 6, 2014

One mistake. And everything changes. For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that…

Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that… Captivating and hopeful, this achingly poignant novel brings together two lost souls struggling with grief and guilt – looking for acceptance, so they can find forgiveness.

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REVIEW: BOYS LIKE YOU is a contemporary, young adult storyline that focuses on two teens who have experienced more heartache and pain than many adults.

Sixteen and half year old New Yorker Monroe Blackwell is spending the summer with her Grandmother in Louisiana. Still grieving from a loss that will haunt her the rest of her life, Monroe will meet seventeen year old local bad boy Nathan Everets-a young man whose life took a sudden turn when a car accident left his best friend in a coma and near death. With  Nathan as the driver, the blame has been placed squarely on the shoulders of a teenager who thought he was okay to drive. Choices were made and consequences were delivered. Now two lost souls will find one another in a summer of romance, resolutions and love.

Juliana Stone pulls the reader into a heartbreaking storyline about two teens who have had to experience loss and the startling realization that one mistake can snowball with fatal results. BOYS LIKE YOU is a story that is emotional in its’ presentation, traumatic in its’ content, and passionate in its’ ideals. Monroe and Nathan are your average teenagers, with families, friends and hobbies until one day each will experience the horrific loss that will result in two broken souls who have no hope of ever finding peace in their own little corner of the world.

The characters are relatable, likeable and you can empathize with the pain and suffering for two families whose losses are different but no less traumatic. The storyline is fast paced, well structured and told from alternating first person points of view (Monroe and Nathan). The building summer romance between Nathan and Monroe will culminate with a Labor Day goodbye but one that will see promises made forever.

Because this is a young adult storyline, there is no graphic sex but sex does happen behind the scenes and it is implied. And unlike many YA storylines there is NO love triangle to interfere with this reader’s enjoyment of the book. BOYS LIKE YOU by Juliana Stone is a tale taken from many of today’s headlines. Where choices are made without forethought or implication; and where guilt overrides any sense of self worth when the family left behind must face the ones who have survived every day of their life. This is a story of letting go and allowing a stranger to catch you when you fall.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

The Delighted Reader

Guest Post: Boys Like You

I’m happy to be here today and chat a bit about my book, BOYS LIKE YOU. First off, in case you don’t know I’ve been writing adult romances for a few years now. Started off writing paranormal romance and branched into contemporary romance. (I also write new adult under the pen name Julie Bale)

So, I’ve been around the block, but throughout this process I’ve always wanted to write a young adult novel, and for one reason only, my daughter. She’s a voracious reader and I wanted to be able to give her a book she and her friends could read. Voila, BOYS LIKE YOU was born!

When I set out to write this book I knew that music had to play some part in it. Growing up in a musical home, it was always an important part of my life and still is. Back when I was younger (much younger if you want to know the truth ☺ ) I was the lead singer in an all girl rock band and that’s in fact how I met my husband. He was a guitar player, so I guess for me, there’s always been a part that gravitates toward music and well, hot guitar players!! We still gig on occasion though the big hair, spandex and shoulder pads are (thankfully) a thing of the past.

In this book, my main character Nathan is a guitarist, but for several reasons his joy of music is much diminished. That’s the thing about music, it’s effect on us can be powerful. How many times have you listened to a song and cried? I can listen to a piece of instrumental music and if there is the right combination of minor notes? The melancholy and sadness they evoke can be just as powerful as watching an intense and emotional scene in a movie.

Although music is more of a metaphor in this book, (Nate’s inability to truly enjoy it until he faces his past) it’s still a powerful thing. I hope you all enjoy Nathan and Monroe’s journey as they slowly learn to forgive themselves for the choices they made. Side note, the original title of this book was called, Back To Good, and yes it was based on the Matchbox Twenty song of the same name!

Juliana

Juliana Stone and Sourcebooks is offering a paper copy of BOYS LIKE YOU to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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7. The giveaway runs from May 5 to May 10, 2014