Camp Boyfriend (Camp Boyfriend Series #1)

First off, I thought I would love Camp Boyfriend from the book summary.  But then I started to read the book and found that I didn't enjoy the immaturity and stereotypical characters.  Overall, the novel lacked drive and substance and the feel of the book felt more suited for younger teens.   One of my major problems with Camp Boyfriend is the main character Lauren acted petty and childish.  She made snide comments about Matt frequently and failed to be straight with either Matt or Seth.  So, when Lauren whined and complained about her troubles, I didn't feel any connection or compassion towards her. The other problem was her long time friends from Camp Jupiter.  If Lauren had known them for the past couple years, why did they turn their backs on her so easily and without any real provocation?  Furthermore, their whole, "I'm better than you," attitude was tiresome and their pushiness towards Lauren's dating was immature.   I liked the camp counselor Emily with her 80's outfits and bringing the girls back together.  One of my favorite scenes was the "good deed" cup Emily came up with.  The humor was lighthearted and helped the book greatly. Overall, I had a hard time finishing the novel because of the immaturity, shallow plot, and the mediocre love triangle.  If you're looking for a fluffy, light, summer read Camp Boyfriend is for you.   Note: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Disappointed that the summer is almost over? Relive it all over again by reading CAMP BOYFRIEND. This is a thoroughly adorable read and I LOVED it! <3

As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I wanted to read it. Seriously, camp? Cute boys? It sounded like the perfect read. When I read the novella, Camp Kiss, I was convinced I'd like this book. It deals so well with growing up and growing into yourself as you deal with change. I love how the authors challenge the main character's preconceptions-- it's nice to see more books where the popular kids aren't all evil and cheerleaders/football players are as nice as D&D players (oh, Julien, I'm stealing your cape!.) I found myself falling in love with a lot of the supporting cast as well-- I'm TOTALLY TEAM EMILY, since she's the best camp counselor, ever. I would have liked to see more of the camp experience and hope it will shine through in the next books in the series. Another plus? a main character who happens to be a cheerleader but also wants to go into a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career. As an engineer, myself, I love anything that shows girls science is an option for them and that encourages dreaming about STEM careers. I'd give another 1/2 a star to this if the system let me.

When I first heard about Camp Boyfriend I doubted I wanted to read it. While it sounded good, the blurb also made it obvious there would be a love triangle and I don't like love triangles in books. After reading Camp Kiss I changed my mind and I decided I had to read Camp Boyfriend. Since then I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Camp Boyfriend and when my paperback copy finally arrived I finished my current read and started reading Camp Boyfriend that same day, because I just had to read this book and I couldn't wait! I am so glad I picked up this book, I have to say I absolutely love the camp setting and I am so sad I never had the chance to go to camp, because it sounds like an awesome experience and I love being outside surrounded by nature. This book is full of emotions, it is fast paced, original and with a lot of teenage angst and drama. And I really enjoyed all of it. There is so much more to the story and characters than I thought at first. I was totally team Seth starting this book and couldn't wait till they would get together again and I couldn't understand why Lauren had Matt as a boyfriend, but then after reading a lot I actually started to doubt who was the best boy for Lauren. The ending does wrap it all up nicely and I kept quessing who Lauren would end up with and the authors kept me quessing till the last chapter. The story sometimes has a bit too much drama and sometimes I just wanted everyone to be friends and wished they stopped making such a big deal out of it, but the again being a teenager really is like that. This book remembered me about my own teenage years and while I love reading about teenagers at the same time I am really glad I am not a teenager anymore. There is a lot of time that Lauren tries to figure out her feeling, but that also means there aren't as many sweet romance scenes as I expected. Also some of her friend's actions surprised, both in a good and a bad way, although I did like the way the book ended. This book is not only about romance, it is also about self discovery and friendship. The characters are another things that really made this book. I really liked Lauren, she is a great character and while she had some big problems in this book and lost herself for a while, at the end I think she is excatly where she is supposed to be. I also liked all the side characters, I felt like they really came to live and each had their own personality. I really liked Emily and there is a great scene with her at the end, but also some of the other side character seriously surprised me. I really liked getting to know Lauren and her camp friends. To conclude: I really enjoyed Camp Boyfriend, I finished it in a day, because I just couldn't stop reading and wanted to know what would happen next. Sometimes there was a bit too much drama for my taste, but I really did enjoy the story. Also I liked the fact that it wasn't only about romance, but also about self discovery and friendship. I wish I could go to camp and experience camp for myself, but as that isn't possible I am really glad I got to experience camp through the awesome writing of JK Rock. I can't wait to read the next books in this series!

This is a great book! It covers a lot of issues that young people face from first loves to fitting in. I highly recommend this book. In fact my daughter is now reading it.

Wow, so in love with this book! From Camp Kiss, we learn that Lauren and Seth were only together during the summers. But this summer is going to be different. She's already changed, straight hair, no braces, a cheerleader to boot! And as Lauren goes back to camp, she's hoping that nothing changed. JK Rock has given us a story where outside appearances don't always reflect the inside! And the best friends, are the ones who stick with you. I will tell you one thing, the ending wasn't what I was expecting!! Which guy will Lauren end up with? Well, you need to pick up a copy of Camp Boyfriend to find out!

I Wish I Could Go To Summer Camp! This was such a fun book to read! It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made wish I wasn't too old (and married) to go to summer camp! Lauren is a fantastic female character who, despite struggling with choices about friends, family and boys, still has a good head on her shoulders which comes in handy when her heart gets caught between two equally swoontastic boys, Seth and Matt. It's obvious both boys care about her and both are definitely worthy of a FCK (First Camp Kiss) but only one will earn Lauren's heart. (And rightfully so for...ALL THE SWOONY REASONS!) Lauren expected Camp Juniper Point to be it's usual summer full of fun but it's turning out to be a summer full of suck. Her family's issues have followed her to camp, her friends are being major drama llamas and the boys aren't making it easy for her either, what with Seth reminding her of all the summers they've spent together and Matt constantly taking his shirt off or you know, displaying his mad rain dance skills. (Baseball anyone? O.O) Camp isn't a total loss though, because it's during this time that Lauren finally discovers who she is which is something no boy can give you, regardless of how smart he is or how great he looks without a shirt on. Lauren also learns that people have a way of surprising you and while life is full of tough and unpleasant things, how a person handles those situations is a sign of their true character. This really is a great read and I loved the characters, the witty writing and how J.K. Rock made Lauren the true hero of this story. They also made me cry (in a good way) because I came into CAMP BOYFRIEND rooting for one boy, fell in love with the other one and ended up waving my giant foam finger for Lauren! Read it!

This book was such a perfect summer read! It was fun, entertaining, and full of that teen drama that you expect from people this age. I had been looking forward to this book since I participated in the cover reveal for it and it was so worth the wait. Though not perfect, it was very realistic, and made me really think of my teen years when things were complicated and seemed so harsh. As much as Lauren annoyed me at times, and so did all of the girls at camp, it was things that I could see really happening. I like when books keep things believable. Lauren has been going to camp for years. She is super smart, loves science, and loves Seth. He is her camp boyfriend. The only thing is, he breaks it off every year, and now she's at a new school with a new look... and a new boyfriend. A boyfriend who is into sports, a total jock, and super popular. She wants to break it off with Matt before going back to camp so she can try to be with Seth full time, but when she finds out Matt is coming to camp too, that changes things. She has been very superficial about things up until now, and she needs to find a way to balance her old life with her new one. She wants to do the right thing, but she finds that all the lines are beginning to blur. I was so irritated at her about some of her decisions, but I totally got it. She wasn't just trying to figure out who to be with, she was trying to find herself. So, I need to touch on the friendships. She has been in the same cabin with the same girls year after year. They are all close friends and can depend on each other. Now that Laurel is more like The Divas, then The Munchies, things get tense there too. She is having a hard time with her relationships, and with her friendships. The girls all get super catty at one point or another, give up on their friendships and trust, and struggle with the changes that Lauren has gone through. Yes, it seemed harsh, but I remember being a teenager, and we weren't always nice or logical. Friendship is strong though, and even despite some hard times, you know you can depend on friends. Whether new ones or old ones, friends are there for one another. Now onto the romance. Or should I say, romances. Yes, there's a love triangle. BUT WAIT!! Before you run away, hear me out. This one makes sense. Seth is Lauren's camp boyfriend. Her first kiss, her first love. Of course she is torn. Matt is her current boyfriend, from her new school, where she is popular. Not a science geek. She thinks he is just a jock and it benefits her to be with the popular boy while at school. She cares about him, but not the way she cares about Seth. That is, until he comes to camp. She sees a different side of him that she never knew. She finds out that she was being as superficial with him as he was with her. They realize that they like the people who they both have hidden underneath. But the question is, will she choose Matt or Seth. She tries to distance herself from both to get her mind in order, but that's easier said than done. Especially with a whole camp in your business. I thought this was such a great story, and it felt very real. I loved getting to know not only the main characters, but all of the secondary characters too. This was fun and entertaining, but also packed some emotion in there too. I was so torn for a lot of the book on how I wanted things to end, and honestly at the end I had a suspicion that I knew how it would end up, but I really wasn't sure. I felt a connection to the characters, and it made me think of my summers when I was in high school. I definitely recommend this to fans of contemporary. I know that I will be eagerly awaiting then next book in the series. *An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation.

3.5 stars Did I enjoy this book: I did. It was cute, sweet, quick, and gave a decent lesson. I never went to camp when I was younger. It sounds like a good time. I think it would be interesting to go away for a few months and hang out with friends from all over that you grew up with at camp but don’t go to school with. It was neat to watch Lauren realize that her camp friends, and enemies, were a lot like her and her friends at school. Lauren and some of the other girls really grew up during this summer. She also learned quite a bit about herself, her boyfriend, her camp boyfriend, and the girls in the enemy cabin. It’s the cliche — don’t judge a book by its cover.(Not the book itself, the characters. You know, everyone has a story and they may not be as they seem on the outside.)  Cliche or not, it rings true and sinks in. Camp Boyfriend is a fun read, perfect for a summer day. Would I recommend it: Sure! I want to read Camp Payback and catch up with the camp kids. (I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

I'd recommend this book to new readers of the ya genre (12yrs. - 14 yrs.). I enjoyed Lauren's character and her confusion with love. It is a hard to date one boy let alone make a decision between two. She did not deceive them or toy with them which made her a character you can like through the whole book. Which ever boy she picks is the right choice. They both have their pluses and minuses. I liked that about the story. Too many books the love triangle has one that goes bad. If there was less teaching in the story I'd give the book a five, but that brought me out of the book. That was my only problem with the book. If your interested in a fast, fun read I'd pick this one up. 

I was thrilled with the message behind this book. I thought the authors did a great job of showing how a girl needs to know and understand herself before she can really relate to those around her. This was a delightful, fun story that kept my attention throughout. I was anxious to know what comes next. I was thrilled with the resolutions between a number of the characters. I was also a bit disappointed with some of the language and encounters between the guys and girls in the book. While I know that I am more conservative in this area than many others, I though the language could have been kept a lot cleaner. The authors did a great job showing how important it is that there not be pressure to have sex before one is ready,but I thought the characters were still a bit too physical with one another. Again, I have high expectations in this area. Others may not have the same concerns I do. I really like that Lauren needed to learn to relate to the girls around her and not just the boys. In fact, I actually cried near the end about the actions between Lauren and a girlfriend, and not between her and either of the guys that she adores. I also like how Lauren comes to understand her family better in the end. This is a positive uplifting story about relationships.

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and Netgalley.) 17-year-old Lauren is about to go off to camp for the summer, for the last time, but first she needs to break up with her boyfriend Matt, because her camp-boyfriend Seth will be waiting for her with her first camp kiss when she gets there. Things don’t go to plan though, and soon Lauren finds herself in a very difficult situation. Who does Lauren love most though? And should her camp boyfriend be her forever boyfriend? This was an okay story, but I didn’t really like the ending. Lauren was an okay character, and I understood why it was so difficult for her to break up with Matt after the bombshell he dropped, but when he asked her point blank if she loved Seth, I really wanted her to have the guts to tell him the truth. The storyline was okay, although I have to say for the record that the phrase ‘camp boyfriend’ could be taken two ways, and I was glad that it didn’t mean that Seth was ‘camp’! I understood why Lauren intended to break up with Matt, and I also understood why she wasn’t able to, but it didn’t stop me from wishing that she would. This book was obviously all about the romance/love triangle, and for me Lauren should really have been choosing Seth. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Matt, and I wasn’t impressed when things finally came out, and Matt then told her that he would fight for her! I wanted him to just bow out, but he just didn’t seem to get the hint! The ending of this also wasn’t really for me, and I didn’t like the way things turned out. I just hope that things change in the second book of the series now. Overall; okay YA contemporary romance, but I didn’t like the ending, 6.75 out of 10.

"But, in the words of the late, great rocker Kurt Cobain, 'Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.'" This book made me wish I had gone to summer camp when I was growing up. Now, the issue with this is that I have always had some, shall we say "diva tendencies," that lead me to not exactly enjoy the out-of-doors. Not that I think *all* of the outdoors is bad. I'm just not a fan of the bugs and creepy-crawly things and swimming in natural bodies of water and such. But, this book made me want to go to summer camp even as a 30-something year old woman. I just don't think that's an option. :) I picked this book up at the time there was a pretty large book blitz taking place because I read so many positive things about it. I'm so glad I did; I absolutely adored this book. Everything about the writing was totally believable and real. The setting was created so perfectly, I had no trouble picturing myself at camp. The characters had depth. There was more to them than met the eye. The romance(s) and friendships and conflicts were realistic. Sure, some of the big issues, especially with the friendships, seemed petty and illogical... but that's part of being a teen. "This is about me. I need to be on my own, to figure out what is going on." I liked Lauren. I could relate to her struggle of being someone different to fit in. I think most girls probably can put themselves in her place pretty easily. Sure, she was a bit wishy-washy and indecisive, but I could feel and understand why she felt that way. First love is a powerful thing. It's not easy to move past. I respected the way Lauren handled the love triangle. She didn't string both boys along. She took time away to decide what she really wanted. That, alone, sets this book apart from a lot of the YA genre and I appreciate that. "You make me the person I want to be, Lauren. Give me these four weeks before I leave for football to convince you that good times like that aren't a fluke. We'll be as good here as we were in Texas, as right for each other. I know it." "I don't want to risk hurting you." "It's my heart, Lauren. Let me decide what it can take." Now, for the boys. I wasn't sure about Matt as the book started, but my word, it didn't take long to convince me that he was so much more than "the jock." He broke the stereotypes. If I'm being honest, I wasn't ever a huge Seth fan. I didn't dislike him, but he didn't do anything for me either. I just never really connected with his character. He gave up too easily in the beginning. I wanted him to fight for Lauren more. I was so pleased with this book. It really was the perfect summertime read. So, read it now, before summer is over. :)

The teen years can be some of the most confusing and drama filled years of a person’s life. Perfect for an author to create wonderful stories but tricky to pull off in a realistic and enjoyable style. J.K. Rock, to put it in easiest terms, rocks it. Lauren Carlson cannot wait to go to her favorite summer camp, Camp Juniper Point, when her story begins. A lot has changed since last summer. She has moved across country, has a new look, became a cheerleader and is now part of the “in crowd.” Her new found popularity is tiresome and she really wants to recapture the way it was before all the changes. The biggest thing she wants is to tell Seth her “camp boyfriend” that she wants them to be a couple, full-time. No more breaking up at the end of summer for her! She is positive Seth is perfect for her. He understands the real Lauren unlike her school boyfriend, star quarterback, Matt. Lauren works up the courage to break up with Matt at the end of the school year only things don’t go as planned. Yikes! His parents surprise him with horrible news and he wants to go to camp with her to escape all the drama! How can she crush him when he’s dealing with a major family crisis? He needs her to be there for him. She understands how hard family drama can hit you since she is dealing with some of her own with her sister’s upcoming wedding and a father who is always working rather than being the dad she used to count on. Now what is she going to do? Hopefully, she’ll be able to explain everything to Seth before he finds out she has brought a boyfriend with her. Will he be cool about waiting for her until she finds the perfect time to break up with Matt? Lauren hopes so! Camp starts all wrong. Her friends aren’t sure about her new look or the fact that she is a cheerleader now. Seth is hurt and confusing things even more by showing interest in another camper but still kissing her. Matt refuses to give up on them once she finally tries to break things off and his kisses confuse her even more. The mean camp girls cause major issues between Lauren and her friends with their not-so-funny pranks. It just isn’t the summer she wished for. Will she ever be able to decide which boy is best for her? J.K. Rock had her hands full with this one. Lauren’s life has some pretty major changes and her makeover changed how people see her. A situation that is never easy, no matter what age. Camp Boyfriend quickly became a story of self discovery more than anything else. Her characters are likable even the mean girls. Well, most of them anyways. The situation is believable. She keeps the reader turning pages with perfect pacing. She’ll make you laugh. She keeps you guessing right up until the end which boy Lauren will pick. But most of all, Ms. Rock gives her readers hours of reading pleasure with her drama-filled teen romance.

From the moment I saw this book's blurb, I knew I would have to read it! After all, I was a camper myself and really wanted to see it portrayed in a book. And I was not disappointed at all! I love the concept of this book. Why, you ask? Because I lived it, albeit at a younger age. Yes, I went to sleep away camp. Yes there were cabin rivalries. And, yes, there were crushes and boyfriends at camp. So to relive this awesome time in my life was something I really wanted to see come alive. When we meet Lauren, she has transformed from what used to be a geek to a popular cheerleader who now runs with the in crowd. She's still got her geekiness about her (after all she has a dream of going to aeronautics camp) but she is different and she's not sure she likes it. She dreams of her camp boyfriend and the fun they will have, but doesn't expect the complication of another guy to even come into play. During the book we watch her grown and learn so much about herself. It's nice to see her come into her own. She battles in her brain, and also with her friends, to grasp a hold of who she has become. She's changed and her friends don't like it. This book follows her on her journey of change and acceptance, of learning who she is and who she is not. It's certainly a summer of discovery and coming to understand that your needs and wants have to come before anyone else's. It's hard to choose between Seth and Matt. I wanted to pick a team, but to be honest I just could not. Both guys were definitely into Lauren, although for totally different reasons. There is one scene that is quite steamy and that right there had me wanting her to end up with that guy But, in the end I knew I'd be ok with her choice, because she would be the one making it. It felt right and true to me. J.K. Rock have truly captured in their words what it is like to be away at camp. They show you the freedom that exists, but also the constraints. I loved how the characters interacted withe one another. Each one had their own development and their own true personality which made it so easy to tell them apart from each other. They all have their reasons for having become friends with one another and you can see that they truly care about what happens to one another. There are no rocky bumps during this story, it flows smoothly through Lauren's weeks of summer and you feel the climax of something coming as they near the end of camp. This story brought me right back to how I felt during summer camp. It hit the nail on the head with their field trips, their dances, cleaning the dining halls, right down to the showers. I truly felt like I was experiencing this time along with Lauren and her friends. And I am sure that is just what J.K. Rock wanted! So well done ladies! I am truly in love with these characters. And what I love best, that there will be THREE books in this series. I cannot wait to see what J.K. Rock come up with to keep me interested. I know it will be spectacular!