Stefanie's Thoughts: The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot

Sometimes to move forward, you have to go back…

One post. That’s all it took to destroy the care free, glamorous life of pro golfer Reed Stewart. One tiny post on the Internet.

Then again, it’s not like Reed’s been winning many tournaments lately, and his uncle isn’t the only one who says it’s because of the unfinished business he left behind back home in Bloomville, Indiana—namely Reed’s father, the Honorable Judge Richard P. Stewart, and the only girl Reed ever loved, Becky Flowers.

But Reed hasn’t spoken to either his father or Becky in over a decade.

Until that post on the Internet. Suddenly, Reed’s family has become a national laughingstock, his publicist won’t stop calling, his siblings are begging for help, and Reed realizes he has no other choice: He’s got to go home to face his past . . . the Judge and the girl he left behind.

Becky’s worked hard to build her successful senior relocation business, but she’s worked even harder to forget Reed Stewart ever existed—which hasn’t been easy, considering he’s their hometown’s golden boy, and all anyone ever talks about. It was fine while they were thousands of miles apart, but now he’s back in Bloomville. She has absolutely no intention of seeing him—until his family hires her to help save his parents.

Now Reed and Becky can’t avoid one another…or the memories of that one fateful night.

Can the quirky residents of Bloomville bring these two young people back together, or will Reed and Becky continue to allow their pasts to deny them the future they deserve?

Happy November!

Meg Cabot is my favorite author ever, so naturally when a new book of hers gets announced I’m over the moon excited for it. Then I go and pre order it three months in advance, forgot about it until I get the shipping notification email from Chapters telling me it’s shipped from the warehouse. Then I forget about it because it’s October and I’m trying to read as many Halloween related books I can get my hands on. Then I realized it’s November, this book hasn’t been read yet and I get the feeling that I’ve just wasted the last month away because I haven’t read the book yet…does this happen to anyone else or is that just me?

The Boy is Back is the fourth book in the Boy series by Meg Cabot, but each book can be read on its own as a standalone. If you haven’t read the series before, each book is told through emails, texts, journal/ blog entries and sometimes personal advertisements. I think that’s why I love this series so much because I’m always drawn to books told in alternative formats to the traditional book. I also think it gives a more personal insight into the characters because you are reading exactly what they are thinking.

Reed Stewart never thought he’d come back to Bloomville, Indiana the town he left ten years ago after heartbreak and his father kicking him out. Now that he’s found fame through the professional golf circuit he’s summoned back by his sister-in-law to help his family’s name.

Enter Becky Flowers, the girl Reed left behind, who now owns the only moving company for seniors within the area. She’s hired by Reed’s family to help relocate Reed’s parents (the Honorable Judge Richard P. Stewart and his wife) after a public town scandal leaves the family embarrassed and in shock.

I absolutely loved the family dynamic between the Stewarts. Marshall (Reed’s brother) and Carly (Marshall’s wife) were my two favorite characters and I loved the texts between them the best. I loved how Carly wouldn’t put up with any of the family’s shenanigans (and in this book the shenanigans were endless) and call out both Marshall and Reed when necessary.

The small town atmosphere was another great perk. You really get the 'whole town knows your business' feeling in this (mostly because Becky’s mom at one point gets involved and publicizes the Stewart’s business), which only complicates the relationship (and adds awkwardness) between Reed and Becky, but we as readers benefit from witnessing this all.

I can’t give The Boy is Back enough praise or love. This is exactly what I want from a Meg Cabot book; something that makes you feel good, laugh and when you close it you can’t help but feel like that fairytale romance actually exists.

A very solid 5 out of 5 for The Boy is Back (if I could I would have given it ten out of five stars).

Until my next review,
Stefanie