Being Friends with Boys [Hardcover]

Terra Elan McVoy (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 2012

From the author of Pure and The Summer of Firsts and Lasts, a friendship story with one girl, several boys, and lots of complications.

Charlotte and Oliver have been friends forever. She knows that he, Abe, and Trip consider her to be one of the guys, and she likes it that way. She likes being the friend who keeps them all together. Likes offering a girl’s perspective on their love lives. Likes being the behind-the-scenes wordsmith who writes all the lyrics for the boys’ band. Char has a house full of stepsisters and a past full of backstabbing (female) ex–best friends, so for her, being friends with boys is refreshingly drama-free…until it isn’t anymore.

     When a new boy enters the scene and makes Char feel like, well, a total girl…and two of her other friends have a falling out that may or may not be related to one of them deciding he might want to be more than friends with Char…being friends with all these boys suddenly becomes a lot more complicated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“McVoy’s Boys is a fast and fun read, mainly because the author spends the extra time making each of Charlotte’s pals a textured teen. Benji, who McVoy could have written as a throwaway character, is sardonic and quietly wise. Fabian is crush-worthy despite what Charlotte describes as his Kermit the Frog voice….[Char is] clever and refreshing because she’s so in love with her music, because she’s so believably unapologetic about getting bad grades and having little ambition for college. By the end of Being Friends With Boys, Charlotte is forced to become the main character in a story that was supposed to be about her guys. She realizes that being a good friend doesn’t have to mean being a spectator.” –The Boston Globe

About the Author

Terra Elan McVoy has held a variety of jobs centered around reading and writing, from managing an independent children’s bookstore, to teaching writing classes, and even answering fan mail for Captain Underpants. Terra lives and works in the same Atlanta neighborhood where her novels After the Kiss, Being Friends with Boys, and Pure are set. She is also the author of The Summer of Firsts and Lasts. To learn more, visit TerraElan.com and follow her on Twitter at @TerraMcVoy.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442421592
• ISBN-13: 978-1442421592
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have been reading and writing, basically, ever since I learned how to, and everything I've done has pretty much been connected to those two things. I received my BA in English at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, and my MA in Creative Writing from Florida State University. I have worked as an event coordinator at a major chain bookstore; as a freelance writer; a composition instructor; an editorial assistant at an NYC publisher; as manager of an independent children's bookstore, in Decatur, GA, Little Shop of Stories; and as Program Director of the AJC Decatur Book Festival. When not writing or reading I really enjoy cooking and paper crafts. I live in Clarkston, GA with my husband, Scott.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Live To Read August 15, 2012

By Chels

Format:Hardcover

It's never easy to be friends with boys when you're a high school girl who doesn't necessarily consider herself to be a social butterfly. For Char, however, even her social ineptitude's don't stop her from being friends with boys. She has had trouble with backstabbing ex-best friends and harsh stepsisters and finds that boys are easier to get along with. Will she ever get tired of offering love advice, writing song lyrics, and being the "go-to girl?"

In a book full of major characters, it may have been easy for Charlotte to slip into the background. Instead, she grows with the story, maturing and altering slightly into an admirable character in the end. Charlotte isn't particularly mean or nice, sweet or sarcastic...she has her own freshness about her that is easy to appreciate. The other band members could have blended together, but the author sets them apart with different characteristics and actions that make them memorable. The characters, as a whole, were fun to get to know.

Terra Elan McVoy's style of writing is clear and fluid. The reader will have a hard time setting this book down, always needing to discover what will happen in Charlotte's life next. The best aspect of this book is its complete likability, it is easy to relate to. The reader will probably be able to picture scenes from this book occurring in real life. Overall, this book should not be missed and is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

*Complimentary copy received for review, this does not affect my opinion in any way*

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly disappointed because not what I expected... May 28, 2012

By Freak-YA-tastic

Format:Kindle Edition

This book is a stand alone novel that is mainly focused on the main characters' relationships with her friends and family. This book is also about music.

I wanted to read this book just because music is quite a big part of the novel. It creates this atmosphere in which I was pleased to imagine all the characters. But, even if I love when there's a music related plot, it doesn't mean I always love what I'm reading.

Here, I enjoyed this book even if I was a little disappointed that the author didn't dig more about the main character's parents issues. I mean, there is something here that could have brought a little more than just boys and friends drama.

But, it was fun to read how she struggles between her band, her boys friends and how to handle everything. Should it be that long though? I'm not so sure. I understand where and why the author made those choices, but somehow sometimes I was a little out of the story, wanting to shake the main character to bring some senses inside her stubborn head.

I really like Trip even if I would have loved to see him more. Maybe more "drama" between him and the main character instead of this silent treatment that forces the reader to nearly forget about him.
Benji cracked me up many times. He brings a fresh touch quite welcomed even if somehow his role stays quite in the fog when you think about it afterward.

Also, the Fabian issue is just a good thing. I enjoyed to read about it and even smiled sweetly a couple of times.

I won't list all the characters, but you get the idea. It's a really good book but not a must read for me. As I find it entertaining and a good read to relax, I'm not sure to remember about it in several months. It's cute, that's all.

So, if you want to read a young-adult contemporary book with band drama, boys dramas and a true voice, you should read this book. Don't expect too much and you shouldn't be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read! May 13, 2013

By love books

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It's adorable and honest. Buy it if most of your friends are boys! I enjoyed every page. It was fast paced.