Book Recap: That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Cover Inspection:
Cute cover!
Like those doodles at the start of ever chapter.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
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.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	2.5
Characters	3.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
The story is set in a small town in Nebraska. It is formatted like a diary - beginning fourth grade up to the present day.

MAIN CHARACTER:
The main character is Jadyn. She's not your typical heroine. She's not a girly girl. She's basically a tomboy. She's plays sports like a guy, and is tougher than most boys her age. But this doesn't mean she's not hot. She is. She's got a killer body, and a killer personality to go with it. She has everything. And... she's best friends with the two hottest guys in town.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
Danny and Phillip are Jadyn's next door neighbors. She grew up with them and she's known them forever. This book is basically a timeline, a diary, a recording of Jadyn's friendship with Danny and Phillip, and how that friendship (with one of those boys) blossomed into something so much more.

LOVE:
Okay... let me enumerate the things I loved about this cute little book.

First, the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter.
They're not really illustrations in the strict sense of the word. They're more of doodles. But they're really cute, and they made the book attractive.

Second, the diary format.
I love these kinds of books because they're really easy to grasp. No need for flashbacks. The character development - how each character became the way he or she is at present - is also very easy to trace and understand.

Third, the heroine is not anorexic.
I love Jadyn because she eats. She has a love affair with food and her stomach is like a bottomless pit. You can even bribe her with food. I love these kinds of heroines. They show girls (and even women) that food actually makes you healthy... and sexy.

Lastly, the romance.
One word: Phillip. He's THE modern fairytale prince. He's handsome. He's thoughtful. He's devoted. He's romantic. He will make your dreams come true, or at least he will try to. This book is just so filled with moments that will make girls go "aww" and "ohhh" and even "ahh!"

NO LOVE:
I found these lazy words: "cuz," "wanna," and "gonna" all over the book I think that when a story is as engaging as this book, there's no need to resort to the use of these informal words.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS:
I have two favorite characters in this book. And they are Danny and Phillip. As I've said, there are Jadyn's best friends, but these two boys are complete opposites.

• Danny acts before he thinks. Phillip thinks before he acts. 
• Danny is aggressively sexy. Phillip is understated sexy. 
• Danny is man slut. Phillip is a forever kind of guy. 
• Danny is a storm. Phillip is a calm breeze.

But they do have one thing they have in common, they're both hot.

FAVORITE SCENE:

My doctor, Dr. Daniels, steps in and tells me to start thinking of whom I may have had close contact with recently.
He hands Phillip a little hospital notepad.
“How close of contact?” I ask him.
“Physical contact,” he says simply, as he reads my chart.
Maybe I'm delirious from the fever, but it seems like he's making this difficult.
So I ask for more clarification, “Like just being around them or actual physical contact?”
He stops reading my chart, looks at me like I'm blonde and says, “Physical contact. Like kissing.”
“We may need more paper for that, Doc,” Phillip, the comedian in the corner says.
“Shut up, Phillip,” I glare at him.
But he continues, “Just bring in the student directory. We can use a highlighter, might go faster.”
I try to ignore Phillip and ask the doctor another question.
“How far back does this contact have to go?”
“Oh, just a couple of weeks,” the doctor says.
“Why?”
“Well, meningitis can be very contagious and dangerous. It can spread quickly at colleges, but we can treat anyone you've been in contact with if we need to. We'll have a better idea of what we're dealing with when your tests come back.”
“What about Phillip?” I nod toward the comedian.
“I doubt a kiss on the forehead counts,” Phillip says with his bratty voice.
“Are you two related?” the doctor smiles and asks Phillip.
“No, we're roommates,” I say, before Phillip has a chance to make another smart ass remark.
“You're right,” the doctor tells him. “A kiss on the forehead should be safe. How are you feeling? Any symptoms?”
“Well my back is pretty sore from carrying this lug in here,” Phillip responds, nodding at me.
“Shut. Up. Phillip.” He is so embarrassing me.

MUSINGS:
At first glance, this book may seem very shallow. The first few chapters are just filled with Jadyn's escapades and mindless chatter about her male conquests. (Yes, this tomboy LOVES boys.) But right in the middle, one event hit me hard. That event was just so unexpected and heartbreaking.

So is there a love triangle in this book? No, not really. A love triangle is not the focus of this book. This book is more of a "childhood friend turned sweetheart" kind of story. Also, I think it's pretty obvious in the beginning who Jadyn will choose. This is not to say that there is no attraction between Jadyn and Danny. There is. They actually lust for each other, but that's all there is. They both know that it will never work out for them, and that it's better for them to just remain best friends. So you see, it was always Phillip for Jadyn. She might have jumped from one guy to another, but she always comes back to Phillip. Phillip is her home.

Like I said earlier, this book is a modern day fairytale. Phillip is the KING of romance, and if you have a thing for big romantic gestures, then this book is for you! I was blown away by Phillip's proposal.

Usually, the love interest just pops the question: "Will you marry me?" 
And the girl answers: "Yes!" 
And we all go: "awww...." 
And they lived happily ever after.
But not in this book.

Phillip's proposal took an entire chapter! 

And you would have to read this book to find out how.

All in all, this is a very charming book. It's the ultimate funny, witty, romantic chick lit. There is a sequel entitled "That Wedding." Yes, I will read the sequel, but not right away. This first book choked me with too much fluff to last me at least three months. I would probably read a horror book next.

DOODLES:
no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Jillian Dodd

SIMILAR READS:
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: moderate
violence: none
sexual content: moderate to heavy
mature themes: moderate
age recommendation: 14+