It’s been 10 years since Becky Flowers has seen or heard from high-school sweetheart Reed Stewart. Now a professional golfer, Reed’s life has taken him far away from his small home-town, but when his parents get into a spot of bother, Reed can’t put off the inevitable any longer. For Becky, life is going well, she has built up her father’s relocation business and has a steady relationship with boyfriend Graham, so Reed’s return is absolutely, definitely, of no interest whatsoever(!). So when Becky gets roped into helping Reed’s parents relocate, she is determined to maintain a professional front at all times with the man who stole her heart. Easier said than done! It is over a decade since Meg Cabot’s last book in this series, and boy have I missed her. This latest book shows just what Cabot is all about, with a funny, irreverent style, a cute romance and her original, eccentric storytelling method. Told entirely in emails, IMs, texts and some really well-pitched, entertaining product reviews, Cabot masters the form brilliantly and tackles any shortcomings head on. Although this unconventional approach to telling the story can take some getting used to and may not be to everyone’s taste. Her cast, particularly the wider family, is wonderfully kooky and unique and though the plot may be a bit thin on the ground, it is as delightfully quirky as the rest of the set-up. The incident that came between Becky and Reed felt a bit undercooked and the ending and love story were perhaps a bit hasty, but these are just minor quibbles in what is, all in all, a total treat. My only request, please, Ms Cabot, don’t make us wait so long next time. (JC)
Meg Cabot has added another title to her "Boy" series with The Boy is Back. The summary says: "Reed Stewart thought he'd left all his small town troubles - including a broken heart - behind when he ditched tiny Bloomville, Indiana, ten years ago to become rich and famous on the professional golf circuit. Then one tiny post on the internet causes all of those troubles to return ... with a vengeance.
Becky Flowers has worked hard to build her successful senior relocation business, but she's worked even harder to forget Reed Stewart ever existed. She has absolutely no intention of seeing him when he returns - until his family hires her to save his parents.
Now Reed and Becky can't avoid one another - or the memories of that one fateful night. And soon everything they thought they knew about themselves (and each other) has been turned upside down, and they - and the entire town of Bloomville - might never be the same, all because The Boy Is Back."
The other books in the series - each standalones with the story told via emails, letters and diary entries - are Boy Meets Girl, The Boy Next Door and Every Boy's Got One. The Boy is Back is out in October 2016.