Last Summer Boys

A Novel

By: Bill Rivers

Narrated by: Michael Crouch

In this rapturous coming-of-age debut, a naive-yet-determined Appalachian boy will go to any length to save his family over the course of one life-changing summer.

“If you’re famous, you don’t have to go to war.”

Summer 1968. When thirteen-year-old Jack Elliot overhears the barbershop men grousing, he devises a secret plan to keep his oldest brother, Pete, from the draft. If famous boys don’t go to war, he’ll make his brother their small town’s biggest celebrity. Jack gets unexpected help when his book-smart cousin Frankie arrives in their rural Pennsylvania town for the summer. Together, they convince Jack’s brothers to lead an expedition to find a fighter jet that crashed many winters ago—the perfect adventure to make Pete a hero.

But with a greedy developer determined to flood their valley, a beautiful girl occupying his middle brother’s attentions, a wild motorcycle gang causing trouble in town, and a disturbed neighbor setting fires, Jack realizes it isn’t just Pete who needs saving.

Set during a single, tumultuous summer, this beautifully told tale is a heartwarming tribute to innocence, first love, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood.

©2022 William J. Rivers III (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing. Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This well-woven novel will keep you captivated and immersed in the politics and family struggles going on at that time. I recommend this book to anyone interested in beautifully written coming-of-age stories or in Vietnam-era fiction set in the US.”—Historical Novels Review

“A wonderfully evocative coming-of-age tale about a young boy’s determination to hold on to all he holds dear during the tumultuous sixties in rural America. The setting and the time period are perfectly captured, but it was the characters in Last Summer Boys that really pulled me in. I found myself rooting for these boys from the first page to the last in this unforgettable debut novel that’s sure to capture your heart, too.”—Lesley Kagen, New York Times bestselling author of Every Now and Then and Whistling in the Dark

“Over the course of one life-changing summer, one boy will do whatever it takes to save his oldest brother from the draft. But when other hurdles arise that threaten his family, he’ll summon every ounce of his courage and strength to try to protect them all. Part coming-of-age tale, part adventure narrative, this heartwarming and uplifting debut is perfect for fans of William Kent Krueger’s This Tender Land or the beloved film Stand by Me (adapted from Stephen King’s The Body).”—Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell and The World Played Chess

Heartwarming and real!

As the mother of boys, who are now grown men, I can tell you this novel is the real deal. It doesn’t have a forced relationship in it. The boys are endearing, earnest, and funny as only that unaffected age group can be. Read this book! Not only will you love the characters, but the storyline is amazing as well!

Pure Excellence!

Excellent, nostalgic, wonderful book that is so well performed it comes alive with characters with a world class narrator who really gets it!!!

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.

I love wholesome books with a story line that keeps you engaged with twist, turns and surprises. You fall in love with the rich characters and yearn for simpler times.
So good. Top ten.

Awesome

This was a beautiful, awesome and heartwarming book. Between my laughs and tears I did not want it to end. I am looking forward to listening to it again. I will definitely share it with my friends.

Lovely

Nowadays, the values once held dear, are so often being trampled on. The Last Summer Boys gave me a sense of peace. It was beautifully written. I could feel the worries and joys of a country boy growing up in the 60s, a boy who learned that everyone has worth. Thank you, Bill Rivers.