Title: The Boy Recession
Author: Flynn Meaney
Release date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Pages: 246
Source: Publisher
Reading level: YA
Challenge(s): None
The population of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, is shrinking as families move to cities and towns with greener pastures, and the local high school is hurting: nearly all of the area’s most eligible guys have moved or transferred schools.
With little competition, the remaining boys find their stocks on the rise, and even the most unlikely candidates have a good chance at making the team and getting the girl. Guitar-strumming slacker HUNTER FAHRENBACH has made an art of blending into the background, but now desperate coaches are recruiting him and popular girls are noticing his scruffy good looks. With a little help, Hunter might even by boyfriend material…
The Boy Recession is the first book I have read by Flynn Meaney but it will definitely not be the last. The Boy Recession is such a cute contemporary and I loved it.
First off, I love the idea of a boy recession. Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, where the story is set, doesn’t have a lot of boys to begin with but it gets even worse when most of the hottest, most popular guys in school start transferring to bigger, better schools. The boys that are left soon become extremely wanted by the female population and it doesn’t matter how nerdy/stonerish/weird they are. And the girls of Whitefish Bay are willing to do almost anything to get the guys.
One of my favorite things about The Boy Recession is the setting. I actually went to high school in a tiny village in Wisconsin and Whitefish Bay was definitely like my village. It seems like a lot of books these days are set in huge high schools, big cities, and other popular locations and it was really refreshing to read a book set somewhere like Whitefish Bay. The setting also made the book have an almost cozy feel. The story starts at the end of the summer and spans a whole year but a lot of the crucial parts of the story take place in the winter and just reading about it made me want to curl up under the covers with a cup of hot chocolate. The setting just added another layer to a great book.
The characters in The Boy Recession are some of the most real characters out there. These teens seem like people that I might actually meet in a high school and definitely befriend. Everyone was quirky, funny, and completely individual. Kelly was smart, funny, and kind of shy. She didn’t have experience with guys so she was a little awkward but it made her seem like a true teenage girl. Then there was Hunter. Hunter reminded me so much of my guy friends from high school. He was so clueless! He couldn’t see what was right in front of him. He did some stupid things but he acted like a true guy. Flynn Meaney really captured the spirit of the typical teenage guy with Hunter. He was clueless but he was still extremely cute and awesome.
Like I said, the story spans a whole year but it never drags. The chapters are quick and there is so much going on that you will never get bored with the story. There isn’t a whole lot of action to the story but that doesn’t matter. Once you get started and get to know Kelly and Hunter you will want to know how their story ends. And there are plenty of laugh out loud moments thrown in that will keep you entertained.
Overall, The Boy Recession is the perfect book for a rainy day.
It’s a great contemporary novel and while Flynn Meaney’s previous book is not contemporary, I will definitely be checking it out.
What others are saying about The Boy Recession:
The Bookish Babe’s review: “If you want a fun, mostly light-hearted story that will put a smile on your face, The Boy Recession just may be the book for you!”
Refracted Light Reviews’ review: “Overall, if you’re looking for a funny, lighthearted book that will induce spontaneous bursts of giggling from start to finish, then pick up The Boy Recession.”
Supernatural Snark’s review: “Ms. Meaney has a wonderful sense of humor, and will certainly be an author I seek out when I need a quick reminder of why reading is so much fun.”
This sounds great, I love the cover too. I’m definitely adding this to my stocking filler for christmas :D.
Georgie @ What She Reads
http://www.whatshereads.co.uk
Haha, I laughed when I read the summary of this story. It seems a bit overdramatic (I mean, The Boy Recession?) but I really like the concept, actually. I can safely say that I haven’t read something like this before in a contemp novel. 😉
I’m also loving the sound of this setting. It’s not often that we readers are treated to a real, cozy kind of setting, so this setting has me really excited. I grew up in a smaller town as well, so I’d love to see if there are any similarities between my home town and the setting here.
Also, it’s great that these characters are so REAL. I don’t think I’d really need any action if I was invested enough in the characters, and that seems like it’ll be the case here. It’s great that the author stayed so true to teenagers, making Hunter clueless yet adorable. Also, awkwardness is something I can relate to, so I can see myself really warming up to Kelly. 😉
Gorgeous review, Katie! <3
Glad to hear that you enjoyed this one!! (:
The concept is so fun, right?!! 🙂 LOVE the characters too – they’re real, as you say, and totally individual!
Glad it reminded of you your home town 🙂
Lovely review 🙂