Review: Jordan vs. All the Boys by John Goode

Title: Jordan vs. All the Boys

Author: John Goode

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press

Length: 180 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Teen Fiction

At a Glance: I have said this before but it bears repeating: John Goode is able to tap into the emotions, fears, and dreams of teenagers like no other Young Adult novelist.

Reviewed By: Sammy

Blurb: There’s a time when life changes, when childhood is left behind and the first fumbling steps are taken into adulthood. One group of friends sets out for a summer of adventure and discovery. Jordan, Brandon, Ethan, and Dominic are ready to grow up and test themselves. But will their friendship buckle under the strain as they face the inevitable misunderstandings and conflicts? If they can hang on to their bond, it will see them through to the ultimate victory….

Finding love.

Review: It never ceases to amaze me how John Goode can channel the voices of high school boys so incredibly well. Having taught high schoolers for many years, I can always rely on this author to flawlessly imitate their particular conversation style in his novels. Because this genuine dialogue is so very often mated with an entertaining and captivating storyline, I find myself more often than not giving his work a solid five star rating. His latest release, Jordan vs. All the Boys is no exception and I think will not only thrill his fan base but I have no doubt will draw in many more new readers as well.

Focusing on Jordan and his posse of fellow gamers Brandon, Ethan, and Dominic, the story relates the summer all the boys decide to try serious dating for the first time. Deciding to visit a nightclub/bar, set up specifically for teens and featuring Red Bull cocktails and other interesting concoctions, the squad follows Jordan as he visits a gay club, for its side benefit—all those straight female best friends. Just from that sentence alone, I hope you can get a sense of how amusing this novel turned out to be. Jordan goes through one dud after another trying to find the guy of his dreams, and is about ready to give up, just as most of his friends have found their girls and are happily dating. But then he finds someone, and after they turn out to be just as wonderful in person as online, Jordan can call the summer a success.

This novel is just about as funny and tender-hearted as a story can be. Between the incredible nerdiness and naivete of these boys whose lives have essentially focused on gaming online prior to this foray into the real world, and all the pitfalls that accompany such a journey, I found myself repeatedly reaching for the tissue box. Between bouts of laughter at their craziness and the real moments of heartache as Jordan experienced rejection for the first time, I have to say I was highly entertained by the sweetness of this book. This novel was so much more than a coming of age story; it felt like I was experiencing a life-changing event through the eyes of teenage boys who relied on each other to have their backs, and continually remind themselves that they were not alone despite how scary putting yourself out there can be.

I have said this before but it bears repeating: John Goode is able to tap into the emotions, fears, and dreams of teenagers like no other Young Adult novelist. He does so with humor, sincerity, and unflinching honesty, and never fails to encourage teens everywhere that life does get better and love is worth pursuing.

You can buy Jordan vs. All the Boys here:
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