That Boy (That Boy #1) by Jillian Dodd

TITLE: That Boy

AUTHOR: Jillian Dodd

RATING: 4 STARS (4.5 STARS)

PUBLISHED: May 2011 - Jillian Dodd

SERIES: Yes; Series Still in Progress

• That Boy (May 2011)
• That Wedding (February 2012)
• That Baby (Unknown)

Purchase on Amazon Kindle

"That Boy is a contemporary romance about falling in love with the boys next door. You know, being friends with two cute boys does have its benefits. There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist, not even me. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for. He’s pretty much irresistible. Equally crush worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth.  Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me.  And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no. One boy will give me my very first kiss. One boy will teach me to make out. One boy will take me to prom. And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him. They will both be my best friends. But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with. Only one of them is That Boy."

MY REVIEW:
That Boy by Jillian Dobb was absolute perfection!!

In fact, it’s my new obsession.

Every chapter in this novel is an important moment in Jadyn’s life, beginning when she is in fourth grade. Every section is a glimpse at events that happened throughout her life; some were milestones and others were just precious little moments. Throughout the novel, Dodd also added illustrations that are almost exact replicas of my grade school and high school notebooks. Do you remember drawing Ms. (Your First Name) (Fill in the Blank with you crushes last name) or I HEART (Insert your crushes name)? I do. Yes, I was definitely one of those girls. Dodd's doodles added to the story and took me back to the good ole days.

Going into That Boy, I expected a love triangle. I thought Danny and Phillip would be at odds throughout the entire novel fighting over Jadyn. That’s not what this novel is about. Phillip, Danny and Jadyn are best friends. They play together as children, hang out together in high school and live together in college. Jadyn has many crushes, dates and boyfriends throughout her life, but Danny and Phillip are always around. In fact, they share some of the most important moments in Jadyn’s life.

“One boy will give me my very first kiss.
One boy will teach me to make out.
One boy will take me to prom.
And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.
They will both be my best friends.
But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.
Only one of them is That Boy.” – Taken from goodreads.com

After reading this novel, I really want Jadyn to be my best friend. She's hilarious, sarcastic, tough, adorable, relatable, and a little tomboyish. She’s confident, but she’s not self-absorbed. She’s just flat-out awesome. You really become apart of Jadyn's life while reading this novel.

This is a wonderful story that will make you feel every emotion.

Overall, That Boy is a happy story that will have you cracking up and squealing in delight, but it also has some extremely touching and emotional moments that will break your heart. There were a few scenes that had me bawling like a baby. I think the reason this story affected me so much was because it was so realistic.

I gave That Boy by Jillian Dodd 4 STARS (4.5 STARS). I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL! It’s the perfect book for older young adults and adults looking for a hilarious and precious contemporary romance novel. I know $9.99 is a little on the pricey side these days (or maybe I'm just cheap), but I honestly think this novel is worth every penny.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“How come a boy can be so stupid, but a Daddy, who actually used to be a BOY himself, can be so wonderful?” – JJ Reynolds, 5^th Grade

“Hot guy. Hot boy. Hot car. Trifecta. Triple Threat.” – JJ Reynolds, 11^th Grade

“If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.” - Jadyn, 12^th Grade – One more week till prom

“Do I want to make Jake jealous?

Yes.

Do I want to make him apologize and beg me for forgiveness?

Yes.

Will I take him back if he asks?

Absolutely Not.”

-       Jadyn, 12^th Grade – One more week till prom

“College is so awesome! It’s really too bad they try and ruin it with classes!” – Jadyn Reynolds, College Freshman

“Somewhere, my prince is waiting.

Ha.

Actually, I don’t think he’s waiting. I think he’s hiding from me.” – Jadyn Reynolds, Engagements Rock! Finals Suck! Lets just party!

“You know my history. I always lose the guy!”

“Yeah, well that’s because they’re always the wrong guy.” – Jadyn Reynolds, Way too early!