Something Like Summer

By: Jay Bell

Narrated by: Kevin R. Free

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Love, like everything in the universe, cannot be destroyed. But over time it can change.

The hot Texas nights were lonely for Ben before his heart began beating to the rhythm of two words; Tim Wyman. By all appearances, Tim had the perfect body and ideal life, but when a not-so-accidental collision brings them together, Ben discovers that the truth is rarely so simple. If winning Tim's heart was an impossible quest, keeping it would prove even harder as family, society, and emotion threaten to tear them apart.

Something Like Summer is a love story spanning a decade and beyond as two boys discover what it means to be friends, lovers, and sometimes even enemies.

©2011 Jay Bell (P)2013 Jay Bell

Stick with it.

At first, I thought this was the typical teenage coming of age story. It definitely started out that way. The first half is tender and sweet, young love at in all it's glory. In the second half, the book grows up, just like the characters. Life gets in the way, there's tragedy, loss and reward. Can you love more than one person at a time? Do first love's last? I ended up enjoying the book more than I thought I would. So, stick with it. Its rewarding in the end.

22 of 22 people found this review helpful

More than meets the eye...

From the book cover I assumed that this was a ‘coming out’ or ‘coming of age’ story akin to the many tales of teenage angst already described in a variety of other books but I was pleasantly surprised. Within this book a story of desire, lust, love, friendship, realization, acceptance, delusion, and growth set to describe the life of Ben, our protagonist. Ben’s own inner growth as well as his relationships with Allison, Tim, and Jace make this tale one that must not be missed. I actually loved this story…an entire gambit of emotional responses were elicited by the words of the author, Jay Bell. Kevin Frees’ narration brought the characters to life in such a way that one’s imagination was able to be transported to the world with which they exist. I do not wish to give too much away, but the dynamic of the three principal relationships—Ben & Allison; Ben & Tim; and Ben & Jace—and how they became intertwined makes this a very enjoyable journey. A MUST!!!

36 of 37 people found this review helpful

Wonderful Treat.

Would you listen to Something Like Summer again? Why?

Yes I would, it was a wonderful story of self discovery and how love can survive despite a shaky start. Also, be warned, quite a tear jerker.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Something Like Summer?

Probably when Tim finally realizes how much he loves Ben.

What does Kevin R. Free bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Free has a wonderful voice and really brought the story to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both.

Any additional comments?

I believe this is slated to be made into a movie and I can't wait. It will make a wonderful movie if they capture the spirit of the book.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

You will easily see yourself in these characters

If you could sum up Something Like Summer in three words, what would they be?

Romantic, Improbable, Warming

What did you like best about this story?

I related surprisingly well with the main character, Ben. More than once I found myself thinking how much I could relate to the feelings of longing, sadness, and excitement portrayed by him. This not only helped me connect more with the story, but also made me realize that other people probably feel the same way about certain topics in the book as I do (being gay, this was an important realization). Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to gay individuals who would like a "realistic" portrayal of a normal gay relationship. That being said, many of the circumstances in the book were slightly improbable and it was often easy to see them coming. Even so, the suspense created was enough to propel you through the book and keeping you listening late into the night.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Best Gay Book Around.

What did you love best about Something Like Summer?

I love how this book focuses on a homosexuals life and doesn't portray it negatively or stereotypically, mostly. It a love story that spans a lifetime and just so happens its with two guys which is brilliant. It wasn't anymore sexual than common books of similare standing with a hetero story.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great Book

What does Kevin R. Free bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't know why, but his voice strikes me as what Ben would sound like.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hot and Heart Felt

Any additional comments?

Great story, great characters and excellent narration

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

It Gets Better (Poster-Book for Everyone)

I liked the span of this book, it was broader than I originally expected. The pace was a little on the fast side, but that meant I was never bored as each new plot twist and emotion was introduced. I loved the sex - well written, hot but not overly dramatic. The character interactions were believable and I liked that no one was all bad or all good. It dealt with a lot of difficult life events without becoming melodramatic or ridiculously apathetic.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good Story, A Little Amateur In Some Spots

What did you love best about Something Like Summer?

I really like the slightly different take on the gay story line, it was intriguing and more real then others that I have read. It was nice to see real human flaws in these characters.

Any additional comments?

Overall I liked this book, some parts seemed a little bit like a junior author wrote them. The passage of time was rather clumsy and I don't feel like the characters aged or changed even though there was massive jumps in time. The first half of the book was great. The story kind of went off course later on, but it kind of pulled back in the end.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Don't judge it by the cartoonish cover

Very glad to have picked this up, and immediately started on "Something Like Winter" moments after finishing this one. Part one was pretty reminiscent of "The Geography Club" (which I also enjoyed - twice) except Ben has supporting and participatory parents. The entire story though is quite a roller coaster ride with Ben & Tim vs Ben & Jace. The only reason I didn't give the story five stars though is the very, very end. Trying to say this without becoming a spoiler, but if Ben was so excited at the chance to see Tim after more than two years, and if it was so easy for him to fall into it again, why had he waited so long? At least it squeezed in a potentially happy ending that I think every reader wanted and expected. Hoping "Something Like Winter" ultimately provides a little more from where this one ends.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved it

Would you try another book from Jay Bell and/or Kevin R. Free?

Yes

What do you think your next listen will be?

not sure

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I did love it

Any additional comments?

It was sweet, and at times Erotic.
Great read!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

loved it

loved every moment of this book, would highly recommend it to anyone interested in gay romance

Perfection!

This book is incredible, I’m so happy I’ve found the series. It’s impossible to relate to nearly all of this story, and it’s heartbreaking twists. I don’t think I’ve ever read/listened to a story which gives me so much hope for the future

Amazing

One of the greatest book I ever read.And the reader is amazing.The kind of love that we always want from movies,but also mix with the love we might have or had when we are young.It's so close yet so far away.If you're into romance then have to read this book!

great

Loved it. was absolutely amazing. couldn't ask for a better book. great story. really reccomend

Something Like...Brilliant!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

In a heartbeat! I couldn't fault this story, from beginning to end I was hooked. I found this title by chance and so pleased I did otherwise I would have been the loser! Wonderful characters who I found believable, more so because they weren't perfect.

What other book might you compare Something Like Summer to, and why?

I can't compare this to anything I've listened to, so in that respect quite unique

Have you listened to any of Kevin R. Free’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't, but I'm certainly looking forward to listening to his first class narration of further titles in this series

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Without a doubt, but the length makes it nigh impossible to do so (though I did give it a good try - as I was hooked)

Any additional comments?

You won't regret listening to this wonderful story!

Loved this Book

What did you like most about Something Like Summer?

Great novel - read narration. Loved it so much I listened to it twice.

Wow, just wow!

Any additional comments?

The story starts out much like any other teen coming of age story and over the first few chapters there is some great character work which gives the whole story a 3 dimensional feel.

By the time I got to the end of the story I was almost in tears.

Good book that goes from okay to great.

Stick with it, it gets better and better, layering more and more as the years go by.

Loved it.

Amazing

Any additional comments?

I love this book so much. It may be a soppy love story that I'm not usually a fan of (I could not stand Call Me By Your Name, for example) but this book was somehow different. It was well written, well read, really sweet and one emotional rollercoaster.

I got so addicted to this book I listened to it in one evening, staying up till 3 in the morning just to finish it. I can’t emphasise enough how much I relate to this book. I’ve even got the same name, height, physique, sexuality and age as Ben for god’s sake. But anyway, I read it in the midst of a breakup where I was in a very bad place. This book gave me honestly a completely new outlook on life and love.

Could not recommend it enough. Especially to the gay teenagers out there like me :)

0 of 1 people found this review helpful