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renpuspita's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I just recently finish The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova that give me migraine (a good book to be honest, only too long winded) and I'm in a dire need to read some romance with humor on it. Stat!
Meg Cabot didn't disappoint in this one.
The Boy is Back is the fourth installment of Boy series. Although I read the first 3 book (Indonesian translation version) back at 2010-2011, I'm grateful to know that I don't need to reread the first 3 just for the trip down of memory lane (aka refresh it) since this one can be read as a standalone. The only similarity is the novel format. Write totally in epistolary format, this books told by e-mail, phone chat, skype-chat, newspaper article, Facebook wall & invitation (the book written in 2016, mind you), pamphlet, blessing journal (more like diary), chat app, interview by application that apparently can transform your talk to written words (I kid you not. Is that even exist?) and reviews about bought goods. The latest is not a joke, because I often rambling about my daily life or rants about anything that not totally connected to the books I review, lol.
The story of this book is pretty simple to be exact. Reed Stewart is a prodigal son of Stewart family, a black sheep hero that totally one of Cabot's archetype hero and Becky Flowers was his ex-girlfriend. Actually, those two seems like can't forget each other although Reed never reply Becky's email with the reason that will explained later. The one that got away (Reed) is now finally back to Bloomville, Indiana, because his parents just become an internet laughingstock because they try to paid their meal in restaurant only with stamp (I kid you not). Turn that the parents just become hoarder, Reed's sibling and his sister in law, Marshall & Carly are hysterical because Carly know that their parents in the curb of the bankruptcy but Marshall is always in denial. So, Carly need Reed help. Although, Reed didn't know at first that Carly also ask Becky as an owner of senior relocation business to help them and..hello old love. To said that the spark between Reed and Becky didn't rekindle as soon as they meet each other is the understatement.
The book make me laugh so hard and bordering hysterical because the witty remarks, sarcasm or outright deadpanned humor between its characters. I always know how Cabot like to write a messed up family and of course Stewart families are messy af. Although, there was a reason too behind that. This book not only deal with the one that got away, to be honest the romance is seems to be shoved to the back although reading about Reed constantly quoting Jane Austens's work to woo Becky is amusing. The Boy is Back actually is about family, how to deal with our seniors and how to help them in the time of need even maybe they don't want it at the first place. Both Reece parents are hoarders and it's hard to convince them to move and dispose their collections. I like the way Cabot address this issue with her humor but also make it somehow a little bit meaningful. However, the weakness is maybe because its epistolary format, both Reed and Becky is not that fleshed out, although we get Reed's woefully email about his predicament and Becky's frantic help to her friend because she finally accept that she still want Reed.
The Boy is Back is perfect for one sitting read, especially if you want a humorous contemporary romance with unique epistolary format that set in small town.
Meg Cabot didn't disappoint in this one.
The Boy is Back is the fourth installment of Boy series. Although I read the first 3 book (Indonesian translation version) back at 2010-2011, I'm grateful to know that I don't need to reread the first 3 just for the trip down of memory lane (aka refresh it) since this one can be read as a standalone. The only similarity is the novel format. Write totally in epistolary format, this books told by e-mail, phone chat, skype-chat, newspaper article, Facebook wall & invitation (the book written in 2016, mind you), pamphlet, blessing journal (more like diary), chat app, interview by application that apparently can transform your talk to written words (I kid you not. Is that even exist?) and reviews about bought goods. The latest is not a joke, because I often rambling about my daily life or rants about anything that not totally connected to the books I review, lol.
The story of this book is pretty simple to be exact. Reed Stewart is a prodigal son of Stewart family, a black sheep hero that totally one of Cabot's archetype hero and Becky Flowers was his ex-girlfriend. Actually, those two seems like can't forget each other although Reed never reply Becky's email with the reason that will explained later. The one that got away (Reed) is now finally back to Bloomville, Indiana, because his parents just become an internet laughingstock because they try to paid their meal in restaurant only with stamp (I kid you not). Turn that the parents just become hoarder, Reed's sibling and his sister in law, Marshall & Carly are hysterical because Carly know that their parents in the curb of the bankruptcy but Marshall is always in denial. So, Carly need Reed help. Although, Reed didn't know at first that Carly also ask Becky as an owner of senior relocation business to help them and..hello old love. To said that the spark between Reed and Becky didn't rekindle as soon as they meet each other is the understatement.
The book make me laugh so hard and bordering hysterical because the witty remarks, sarcasm or outright deadpanned humor between its characters. I always know how Cabot like to write a messed up family and of course Stewart families are messy af. Although, there was a reason too behind that. This book not only deal with the one that got away, to be honest the romance is seems to be shoved to the back although reading about Reed constantly quoting Jane Austens's work to woo Becky is amusing. The Boy is Back actually is about family, how to deal with our seniors and how to help them in the time of need even maybe they don't want it at the first place. Both Reece parents are hoarders and it's hard to convince them to move and dispose their collections. I like the way Cabot address this issue with her humor but also make it somehow a little bit meaningful. However, the weakness is maybe because its epistolary format, both Reed and Becky is not that fleshed out, although we get Reed's woefully email about his predicament and Becky's frantic help to her friend because she finally accept that she still want Reed.
The Boy is Back is perfect for one sitting read, especially if you want a humorous contemporary romance with unique epistolary format that set in small town.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Sexual content
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