"What you don't seem to realize, however, is that everyone's road is their own, with its own individual twists and turns, that take them to their own destination." (Lyle Steward)
Here's the thing about Meg Cabot's books. They have a similar formula, tons of exaggeration, drama and things that under any normal circumstances would annoy the hell out of me. But, when I read her books, any normal circumstances get thrown out of the window. There are two reasons for this:
1)Meg Cabot was one of my most read authors in my tween to teen years. So, yay for nostalgia!
2)Her books are entertaining to read and they make me happy.
The Boy series books are told through a unique format where written forms of communication is used. The Boy Is Back is published 9-10 years after Every Boy's Got One and the written forms of communication have evolved with the times and are suited for the modern era. There are emails, newspaper articles, blessing journal entries, phone screens, chat apps, Facebook and online product reviews.
The Boy Is Back is a second chance romance story between Reed, a professional golf player, and Becky, a business woman who owns a senior citizen moving company. After Reed's parents are arrested, Reed returns home - after 10 years - to help his siblings deal with his parents. His sister-in-law, Carly, hires Becky to help her in-laws relocate, but Becky and Reed aren't on good terms after they broke-up during their senior year of high school.
In the previous Boy novels, the unique format did not stop the characters personalities from shining through. However, in The Boy Is Back, the character development is inadequate. I do like the characters, but I don't know enough about them to fall in love with them.
Reed and Becky's relationship development is enjoyable to read about. They have adorable and awkward interactions and they don't 'beat around the bush' about the way that they feel or pretend that they aren't still harboring unresolved feelings for each other.
The highlight of this book is Marshall and Carly, Reed's brother and sister-in-law. They are awesome and are even more developed than the main characters. Their emails and messages to each other are hilarious and the whole autocorrect thing on Marshall's phone... EPIC!
The Boy is Back is hilarious and entertaining, but it has more of a serious tone than previous books in the Boy series. There's a second chance romance and amusing characters. I just wish that the main characters were more developed.
"Fudge. I mean fudge. Stupid autocorrect." (Marshall Steward)