Lemon8Lifestyle community
Renn | Millennial Mama
Renn | Millennial Mama

1230 followers

Follow
Follow
Follow
A graphic titled "FEBRUARY Just Finished Reading" displays six book covers, including "That Boy" by Jillian Dodd, "The Housemaid," "Boys from Biloxi," and a Viola Davis book. "That Boy" is rated 2 stars, described as a "typical 'boy next door' trope that felt like a really long blog post."
A text-based image presents a book review for "That Boy" by Jillian Dodd. The review criticizes the book's lack of character development, poor writing, and a specific plot point involving a scavenger hunt, leading to a low star rating.
1/3

You may also like

No content
See more on the app
See more on the app
See more on the app
0 saved
2
10

Book Review: That Boy by Jillian Dodd

One of my worst qualities as a reader is that I refuse to DNF in case it gets better. This book never got better. The first chapter read as a very obnoxious MC complaining, but it was just the prologue. Of course the actual book is better… right?

The first few chapters follow JJ throughout childhood, so the writing style feeling very young and long winded almost felt like an intentional creative choice. But again… it never got better. The book follows her entire life, from kindergarten to post-college, and the entire book reads as though she’s recalling a story verbally. There is absolutely zero character development. Everyone is “hot” and “muscular”. Jadyn, or JJ for short, is completely oblivious and vapid.

The kicker for me, football pun intended, was when she was sent on a 2 hour scavenger hunt with zero communication. Ladies… don’t fall for this nonsense. Communication is key, and that was the exact moment I dropped this book from 3 lousy stars to two. A woman writer thought this was romantic? It’s not.

Also, I don’t find the word “Nazi” to be funny. Do better.

#lemon8bookclub #lemon8bookchallenge #BookReview #bookwormsoflemon8

2024/2/11 Edited to

... Read moreOkay, fellow bookworms, can we talk about the sheer disappointment when a book, especially one that's part of a popular series like "That Boy" by Jillian Dodd, just doesn't live up to the hype? It's tough, right? We invest our time, hoping for a captivating story, and sometimes we're left scratching our heads, wondering what everyone else saw in it. One of the biggest draws for many readers, myself included, is the classic "boy next door" trope. There's something inherently charming about a love interest you've known forever, someone who sees the real you. It's supposed to be comforting, filled with tender moments, and a slow burn of realization. But in "That Boy," as my friend mentioned in her review, it felt like the trope was there, but the heart of it was missing. When characters are described as merely "hot" and "muscular," and the protagonist, JJ, comes across as oblivious and vapid throughout the entire book (even into adulthood!), it makes you wonder if the author truly understands the depth this trope can offer. We crave emotional growth, internal struggles, and characters who learn from their experiences, not just passively exist through them. Then there's the infamous "scavenger hunt" scene. Oh, the cringe! As someone who loves a good romantic gesture, I'm all for creativity, but a two-hour scavenger hunt with *zero communication*? That just screams red flag, not romance. In fiction, just like in real life, healthy relationships are built on communication and respect. Presenting such a scenario as romantic can be genuinely misleading, and it pulls you right out of the story. It makes you question the characters' intelligence and the author's understanding of healthy dynamics. It’s details like this that can make a book feel less like a well-crafted novel and more, as the OCR text aptly put it, like a "really long blog post." What truly differentiates a gripping novel from a simple recounting of events? It's usually the depth. A novel delves into character motivations, explores complex themes, and builds a believable world, even if it's a contemporary one. When a story glosses over crucial character development, skips explanations for significant events, or presents relationships without genuine emotional stakes, it loses its power. It can feel like you're reading a summary rather than experiencing the journey alongside the characters. For those of us who picked up "That Boy" hoping for an engaging journey through childhood to adulthood with compelling characters, the reality can be a letdown. My personal advice, if you're venturing into a series like this, is to always check out a few diverse reviews. And if a book isn't working for you, it's totally okay to DNF (Did Not Finish)! Life's too short for books that don't spark joy or offer some kind of valuable escape. Sometimes, a critical review isn't just about hating a book; it's about dissecting why it didn't work and what could have made it a truly memorable experience. It helps us find the next great read that much faster!