Twenty Boy Summer - Sarah Ockler

Young Adult
Pages: 304 pages
Publisher:Little, Brown Young Readers
Release Date: June 1, 2009

"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 Zanzibar Bay 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.

What a great read. After so many supernatural books in a row this was like a summer break. It's a wonderful story. A story about friendship and love, specially about grief and letting go. Ockler has a magic gift when she writes. It's amazing how words seem to have sounds and backgrounds and you're wondering around in her young world seeing things through Anna's eyes. I feel like I felt the book more than read it. I could see every single scenario. Amazing.

It also has this refreshing sense of humor, ironies and splendid sarcasm, so characteristic of teen years. I laughed out loud several times during reading and felt that sting before crying several times as well. A beautiful debut.

Anna's character feels so real, it was hard for me to remember it was not me. All the characters are wonderful, specially Frankie's. Plus, the cover! I loved the cover before reading the book, and after reading it, I think there is no other way to make this book more perfect than with that gorgeous cover. If you like fun/sad, growing up-romance books you shouldn't hesitate to read this right now.