Book Review
Title: Something Like Summer
Author: Jay Bell
Genre: LGBT/Romance
Rating: *****
Review: Something like Summer opens in 1996 with Ben who has known he is gay since he was 12 and he is a crush on a guy in his neighbourhood and this crush is boarding on stalking behaviour. However, he does learn his crush’s name is Tim Wyman, but Ben knows he and Tim are around the same age, so he is hoping to be put in at least one of the same classes. So far, I was really liking Ben despite some of his behaviour he is honest about who he is and the way he feels. After school starts again Ben is eager to catch a glimpse of Tim but he hasn’t yet. However, his best friend does and when he tries to encounter Tim he learns that he is seemingly friends with the biggest bullies in the school. Fate intervenes one day when Ben decides to shake home instead of taking his bike and he accidentally crashes into Tim, seemingly twisting his ankle and while getting Tim home he gives away the fact that he already knows where he lives but as this novel spans a decade I am sure they are going to get to know each other very soon.
As we approach the ¼ mark in the novel, Ben feels guilty about heating Tim and goes to check on him resulting in him driving Tim’s sports car to the hospital to get his ankle checked out and as Tim’s parents are out of the country Ben volunteers to look after Tim for the next few weeks and I have a feeling things are going to get interesting. As Ben plays nurse he finds himself becoming more and more attracted to Tim despite knowing he is straight, but I have a feeling that isn’t going to last for long especially as they get closer.
As we cross the ¼ mark in the novel, Ben and Tim make the transition from friends to lovers, but Tim wants to keep it a secret which unfortunately Ben is used to, but I have a feeling that their relationship is only going to get stronger from here on out. While doesn’t come across as homophobic like many other characters he does conform to peer pressure as he is a jock and there is pressure for him to date female cheerleaders, not boys, but I genuinely felt both boys were sad about this.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, Tim and Ben are officially a couple although they are keeping it secret and I have the feeling that Tim is either gay or bi, but he hasn’t given himself a label. Their relationship although rocky when the subject of coming out is brought up is adorable and they really seem to have a real passion for each other that goes beyond teenage hormones, but Ben is still a great friend to Allison when her father lashes out and he even sorts that for her despite her father being one of the biggest homophobes we have seen. For weeks the boy’s seem to have developed a loving relationship but this comes crashing down around them for two reasons; Tim’s Catholic parents and the fact they are caught together by people they know from school.
As we cross into the second half of the novel, their relationship seems to have collapsed. And despite his efforts, Ben’s words fall on deaf ears but it is clear that Tim knew he was in the wrong but can’t bring himself to make things right between them. We then jump forward 3 years to 1999, where Ben is in college dating an idiot named Mason but as Christmas approaches Mason robs Ben and Allison’s father dies giving him an excuse to dump his boyfriend and come home from the holidays. Despite having a string of relationship Ben has never really gotten over Tim but he does meet a wonderful steward at the airport named Jace who he asks out on a date making me think there is some hope for Ben yet. Ben and Jace despite being a little awkward at first really hit it off and Jace’s attitude towards their sexuality is very refreshing to see and after talking with Allison Ben decides to move back to Texas and transfer to a college there but I have a feeling this might also be to stay close to Jace as well.
As we approach the ¾ mark in the novel, Ben and Jace’s relationship is moving very fast but they seem to have a genuine connection and despite Ben moving schools that don’t overlap with Jace’s flight plans they are going to make a go of being together as a couple. Jace’s open-mindedness about his sexuality is a 180 to Tim but I like him. Ben and Jace’s relationship is great despite having their rough patches, but they complement each other. The romantic trips and Jace moving to be closer to Ben were brilliant so I wasn’t sure how I felt when Tim makes a reappearance wanting to “talk” to Ben. When they meet it is clear that Tim has come to terms with his sexuality and come out but it’s too late as Ben has been with Jace for over two years and they are happy. However, Ben still has a loving for his first serious love and I have a feeling that by the end of this novel, they will be together again or well on their way to being together again. I have mixed feelings about this as Jace and Ben work so well together and have a healthy relationship, but Tim and Ben were so adorable, and I’d love to see that again.
As we cross into the final section of the novel, Ben and Tim are rebuilding their friendship although it is clear Tim wants more than that and when he asks to meet Jace I have a feeling things are going to go bad very quickly. Very quickly things spiral out of control, but Ben is beginning to see the person that Tim is; a liar and a good one, but I don’t think Tim wants to be this way, I think lying is all he knows. However, this drives Ben right back into Jace’s arms who is willing to stand by him and support it through it all. We then fast forward into 2003 so Ben and Tim’s on and off again relationship has spanned 7 of the 10 years we were promised.
All I can say about the last 25 pages of Something like Summer is oh hell, you know how to break my heart. I swear I was sobbing over the last 25 pages for so many different reasons. Although the book is a little difficult to get through at times I would highly recommend it as the way it looks at relationships is so realistic whether they are good, bad, heterosexual, homosexual or something in between.
Buy it here:
Paperback: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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