REVIEW: What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

 

 Author: Nyrae Dawn

Series: What a Boy Wants

Pages: 142

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Self

Amazon: What a Boy Wants

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

I am so pleased I am finally able to say I have read a novel by Nyrae Dawn!! I have wanted to read What a Boy Wants for a while now and it was just what I needed after recently finishing quite an intense book, it was a sweet and heartwarming with fun and humor which kept me entertained throughout.

17 year-old Sebastian Hawkins is a love-em and leave-em kind of guy; after watching his mother go through a number of bad break-ups he has resigned himself to never falling in love but having enough knowledge to help others, girls namely find their dream guys he has created an online venture known as the Hook-up Doctor.

I adored Sebastian and his humorous, witty and loving personality; his inner monologue had me laughing on so many occasions and the way he tried to talk himself out of certain situations was a crack-up; his love and devotion to his mother was also wonderful to read about. I really enjoyed reading from a male’s POV.

Aspen ‘woodstock’ was the most adorable BFF, you could tell the friendship she shared with Bastian was one built on trust and loyalty, she was a sweetheart and absolutely perfect for him.

Now Bastian/Aspen – watching him notice the little changes in her and realizing he was actually crushing on his best friend was beautiful and left me feeling giddy, there were so many ‘awwww’ moments that I loved but also quite a few miscommunications which had my head spinning.

I enjoyed each of the secondary characters, I was especially intrigued by Jaden and the little hints we are given that all isn't OK in his life; I am eager to read more about him.

For some reason, I really felt my age reading this book; although it contained some mature themes, the dialogue and banter were at times immature which was meant out of fun considering the characters close knit relationships and their playful natures but it’s something I don’t tend to notice when reading other YA novels.

All in all, I really enjoyed Nyrae Dawn's writing and What a Boy Wants was a fun, heart-warming and really sweet read. I will definitely be picking up the companion book, What a Boy Needs which is Jaden and Pris’s story.