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Golden Boys #1
Golden Boys
National bestselling author Phil Stamper crafts the perfect summer friendship story, starring four queer boys with big hearts and even bigger dreams.
Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends, bonded in their small rural town by their queerness, their good grades, and their big dreams. They are about to embark on the summer before senior year of high school, where each is going on a new, big adventure. Reese is attending a design school in Paris. Gabriel is going to Boston to volunteer with a environmental nonprofit. Sal is interning on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator. And Heath is stuck going to Daytona Beach to help out at his aunt’s beachfront arcade.
What will this summer of new experiences and world-expanding travel mean for each of them—and for their friendship?
Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends, bonded in their small rural town by their queerness, their good grades, and their big dreams. They are about to embark on the summer before senior year of high school, where each is going on a new, big adventure. Reese is attending a design school in Paris. Gabriel is going to Boston to volunteer with a environmental nonprofit. Sal is interning on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator. And Heath is stuck going to Daytona Beach to help out at his aunt’s beachfront arcade.
What will this summer of new experiences and world-expanding travel mean for each of them—and for their friendship?
372 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2022
298 people are currently reading
25.5k people want to read
About the author
Phil Stamper
11books1,724followersPhil Stamper grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. While it could be seen as a boring lifestyle to some, he kept himself entertained by playing the piano and writing stories that stretched his imagination. He has a B.A. in Music from the University of Dayton and an M.A. in Publishing with Creative Writing from Kingston University.
When he first left his home state, he landed in Washington, DC with no job prospects, $800 in graduation money, and the promise of a walk-in closet to live in. Not long after—and he’s not totally sure how—he was jumping headfirst into a career in non-profit PR and sleeping in a real bed. He loved writing for a living, even if he was writing press releases and news stories... and hundreds of emails to annoyed journalists. But after a while, the dry writing started to get to him, so he thought he’d finally work on that book he always wanted to write.
Years later, Phil is now the bestselling author of The Gravity of Us, As Far As You’ll Take Me, and other queer books for kids and teens. He works in author development for a major book publisher in New York City, where he lives with his husband and their dog. Golden Boys, the first book in his upcoming young adult rom-com duology, comes out in February 2022. Small Town Pride, his debut middle grade novel, publishes in Summer 2022.
--
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When he first left his home state, he landed in Washington, DC with no job prospects, $800 in graduation money, and the promise of a walk-in closet to live in. Not long after—and he’s not totally sure how—he was jumping headfirst into a career in non-profit PR and sleeping in a real bed. He loved writing for a living, even if he was writing press releases and news stories... and hundreds of emails to annoyed journalists. But after a while, the dry writing started to get to him, so he thought he’d finally work on that book he always wanted to write.
Years later, Phil is now the bestselling author of The Gravity of Us, As Far As You’ll Take Me, and other queer books for kids and teens. He works in author development for a major book publisher in New York City, where he lives with his husband and their dog. Golden Boys, the first book in his upcoming young adult rom-com duology, comes out in February 2022. Small Town Pride, his debut middle grade novel, publishes in Summer 2022.
--
Note: I no longer accept friend requests due to Amazon blocking reviews from ŷ friends. It's not personal! Please connect with me on Twitter/IG/Tiktok at @stampepk. Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 882 reviews
December 22, 2022
This was such a fantastic YA contemporary! It brings in four vastly different perspectives keeping the story entertaining from beginning to end. While the boys are all different they're connected through their friendship and it was *beautiful* seeing them find themselves on their own and then be able to come back to the friend group for support.
April 22, 2022
3.5/5
SO SWEET
the most inclusive book i’ve read in terms of diversity :))
each boy was so lovable and was working through problems that are very relatable
i really enjoyed the blend of friendship, romance and also self reflection!
deffo a book perfect for summer ☀️�
SO SWEET
the most inclusive book i’ve read in terms of diversity :))
each boy was so lovable and was working through problems that are very relatable
i really enjoyed the blend of friendship, romance and also self reflection!
deffo a book perfect for summer ☀️�
February 8, 2022
This might be Phil Stamper’s best thus far! Four boys on the cusp of adulthood, friends since forever, all queer, spreading their wings, even if it means letting go.
Do you know that feeling? A warmth that starts glowing in your chest while reading. And then you find yourself musing after a few pages, reading again, and lingering on a page. Wanting to read more, and at the same time wanting to slow down and take it all in. Maybe even getting a bit melancholic. That’s what happened to me. In the middle, that feeling waned a bit, but in the end, it all came tumbling back. Hard! It made me smile and my eyes prickle with tears.
Golden Boys starts with two boys in bed together. Oh, yeah! From that very first page, this story held my attention. It’s written from multiple points of view, and the boys� voices were all so distinctive: Gabriel, the anxious one, delicate, afraid he wouldn’t make friends in the summer. Sal, the confident one, flamboyant, always having his guards up. Reese, the artsy one, structured, secretly in love with his best friend. And Heath, the masculine one, an anchor, desperately longing for a warm family.
Golden Boys is about friendship, looking forward to new opportunities while leaving your regular life behind. A story about meeting new people and at the same time wanting to hold on to the ones you’ve always relied on. But most of all, it’s a story about personal growth and finding yourself. Phil Stamper did a marvelous job making those Golden Boys step outside their comfort zones and overcome hurdles. I wanted each of them to grow and bloom, and oh boy, bloom they did! Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath, I loved you all and can’t wait to read the Golden Boys sequel!
Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five because after finishing the book, I still have that warm feeling in my chest.
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Do you know that feeling? A warmth that starts glowing in your chest while reading. And then you find yourself musing after a few pages, reading again, and lingering on a page. Wanting to read more, and at the same time wanting to slow down and take it all in. Maybe even getting a bit melancholic. That’s what happened to me. In the middle, that feeling waned a bit, but in the end, it all came tumbling back. Hard! It made me smile and my eyes prickle with tears.
Golden Boys starts with two boys in bed together. Oh, yeah! From that very first page, this story held my attention. It’s written from multiple points of view, and the boys� voices were all so distinctive: Gabriel, the anxious one, delicate, afraid he wouldn’t make friends in the summer. Sal, the confident one, flamboyant, always having his guards up. Reese, the artsy one, structured, secretly in love with his best friend. And Heath, the masculine one, an anchor, desperately longing for a warm family.
Golden Boys is about friendship, looking forward to new opportunities while leaving your regular life behind. A story about meeting new people and at the same time wanting to hold on to the ones you’ve always relied on. But most of all, it’s a story about personal growth and finding yourself. Phil Stamper did a marvelous job making those Golden Boys step outside their comfort zones and overcome hurdles. I wanted each of them to grow and bloom, and oh boy, bloom they did! Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath, I loved you all and can’t wait to read the Golden Boys sequel!
Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five because after finishing the book, I still have that warm feeling in my chest.
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February 8, 2023
Kocham tych chłopców i ich przemianę.
April 8, 2022
I loved Phil Stamper's upcoming YA book,
Golden Boys
so much. I wish my life (and the world) could’ve been like this when I was in high school!
The four of them are best friends—Sal, Reese, Heath, and Gabriel. They’re the only out queer students in their Ohio high school, so they naturally gravitated toward each other. And while all are inseparable, Sal and Gabriel have hooked up from time to time, while both Reese and Heath would like to, but neither has the courage to say so. They've seen each other through good times and bad, including a bullying incident at school that still haunts two of them.
This summer will be different, though. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator; Reese is going to Paris to attend design school; Gabriel will be volunteering for a Save the Trees-type organization in Boston; and Heath will be spending the summer in Daytona Beach, working at his aunt’s arcade as his parents navigate a divorce.
How will the summer change them and their relationships? When senior year of high school rolls around, will they be able to recapture their friendship or will everything be different? What will their future ambitions look like?
I thought this really was a fantastic book. When I was growing up, nobody was out, so there was no one to truly commiserate with who got what I was feeling. I'm so glad that kids today have it (at least somewhat) different, and have books like this to remind them that everything can be okay!
Stamper is one of my favorite YA authors, but I loved this new book best. Thanks to Storygram Tours and Bloomsbury YA for inviting me on the tour for this book and providing me a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!
Golden Boys publishes 2/8/22.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at .
Follow me on Instagram at .
The four of them are best friends—Sal, Reese, Heath, and Gabriel. They’re the only out queer students in their Ohio high school, so they naturally gravitated toward each other. And while all are inseparable, Sal and Gabriel have hooked up from time to time, while both Reese and Heath would like to, but neither has the courage to say so. They've seen each other through good times and bad, including a bullying incident at school that still haunts two of them.
This summer will be different, though. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator; Reese is going to Paris to attend design school; Gabriel will be volunteering for a Save the Trees-type organization in Boston; and Heath will be spending the summer in Daytona Beach, working at his aunt’s arcade as his parents navigate a divorce.
How will the summer change them and their relationships? When senior year of high school rolls around, will they be able to recapture their friendship or will everything be different? What will their future ambitions look like?
I thought this really was a fantastic book. When I was growing up, nobody was out, so there was no one to truly commiserate with who got what I was feeling. I'm so glad that kids today have it (at least somewhat) different, and have books like this to remind them that everything can be okay!
Stamper is one of my favorite YA authors, but I loved this new book best. Thanks to Storygram Tours and Bloomsbury YA for inviting me on the tour for this book and providing me a complimentary copy in exchange for an unbiased review!
Golden Boys publishes 2/8/22.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at .
Follow me on Instagram at .
August 23, 2021
[sunglasses emoji]
October 19, 2021
GOLDEN Thank you @bloomsburyya for this gifted copy of Golden Boys, releasing February 2022!�
�
This coming of age story features four overachieving gay sixteen year olds—all taking a summer to explore opportunities for their future—while also coming to terms with who they are. I don’t normally read YA books, but when I do, they are usually this genre. I definitely think Golden Boys should be a book in high school libraries and on their summer reading lists—it’s safe and not explicit so educators and parents can relax, while it also doesn’t pretend that sex doesn’t exist. Books like Golden Boys would’ve been so important for me to read as a kid—I wish we had them in my library growing up. This book would be perfect for any teenager, especially one who doesn’t identify as straight.
�
This coming of age story features four overachieving gay sixteen year olds—all taking a summer to explore opportunities for their future—while also coming to terms with who they are. I don’t normally read YA books, but when I do, they are usually this genre. I definitely think Golden Boys should be a book in high school libraries and on their summer reading lists—it’s safe and not explicit so educators and parents can relax, while it also doesn’t pretend that sex doesn’t exist. Books like Golden Boys would’ve been so important for me to read as a kid—I wish we had them in my library growing up. This book would be perfect for any teenager, especially one who doesn’t identify as straight.
December 16, 2021
I honestly just found this boring. None of the characters interested me and there stories weren't exciting. The one thing that kept me reading was the writing quality.
And I do wish there was some more diversity in the main cast, all 4 of the boys were cis, gay, and white. I wish there was a bit more in terms of their identities and giving them more differences.
And I do wish there was some more diversity in the main cast, all 4 of the boys were cis, gay, and white. I wish there was a bit more in terms of their identities and giving them more differences.
February 18, 2022
Esse livro é tudo de bom! É sobre um grupo de quatro amigos gays, e cada um vai viver uma experiência diferente durante as férias de verão. Reese entra para uma escola de design em Paris (inveja). Gabriel se voluntaria em uma organização ambiental em Boston. Sal começa a estagiar para uma senadora dos EUA. E Heath vai para Daytona Beach ajudar no fliperama de sua tia à beira-mar.
Pontos positivos
� A amizade dos quatro garotos é perfeita e tem um friends to lovers se desenvolvendo durante todo o livro que me matou de amor;
� Tive medo de que parecessem quatro histórias jogadas, mas elas funcionaram muito bem juntas porque os protagonistas estavam constantemente conversando e compartilhando experiências;
� Cada um dos protagonistas tem uma insegurança, ou está indeciso sobre o futuro, ou ainda está se descobrindo... Acho que Phil Stamper conseguiu trazer personagens realistas para essa história. Desde o garoto que se sente deslocado por não poder viver um verão tão incrível quanto o dos colegas aparenta ser até o garoto que se sente ansioso em conhecer novas pessoas e fazer amigos;
� O audiobook é excelente, full cast e tem efeitos especiais que contribuem bastante para a experiência de leitura!
Ponto negativo
� O livro poderia ser maior e se aprofundar ainda mais no verão de cada protagonista. São muitas histórias para pouco espaço e, como a viagem de cada um demora um pouco a acontecer, gostaria de ter visto mais!
Em geral, Golden Boys é um excelente YA que cumpre exatamente o que promete! Me deixou feliz, me fez dar gritinhos e foi uma ótima experiência de leitura!
Pontos positivos
� A amizade dos quatro garotos é perfeita e tem um friends to lovers se desenvolvendo durante todo o livro que me matou de amor;
� Tive medo de que parecessem quatro histórias jogadas, mas elas funcionaram muito bem juntas porque os protagonistas estavam constantemente conversando e compartilhando experiências;
� Cada um dos protagonistas tem uma insegurança, ou está indeciso sobre o futuro, ou ainda está se descobrindo... Acho que Phil Stamper conseguiu trazer personagens realistas para essa história. Desde o garoto que se sente deslocado por não poder viver um verão tão incrível quanto o dos colegas aparenta ser até o garoto que se sente ansioso em conhecer novas pessoas e fazer amigos;
� O audiobook é excelente, full cast e tem efeitos especiais que contribuem bastante para a experiência de leitura!
Ponto negativo
� O livro poderia ser maior e se aprofundar ainda mais no verão de cada protagonista. São muitas histórias para pouco espaço e, como a viagem de cada um demora um pouco a acontecer, gostaria de ter visto mais!
Em geral, Golden Boys é um excelente YA que cumpre exatamente o que promete! Me deixou feliz, me fez dar gritinhos e foi uma ótima experiência de leitura!
March 8, 2023
OCENA: 4,5 ⭐️
January 13, 2024
Segunda lectura: 11/01/24
*3.5*
Me sigue gustando mucho! Si creo que el angst a veces es demasiado y que hay ciertas cosas que se me hacen suuuuuper teens, pero siento que Golden Boys sigue siendo uno de mis coming of age queer favoritos, porque me encanta como se exploran lo 4 povs y las 4 historias individuales.
Primera lectura: 07/01/22
*4*
Բ/貹ñDZ
EN:
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ever since I heard what Golden Boys was about I immediately added it to my radar and I couldn’t be happier for getting the chance to read it a little bit earlier.
We follow four queer teens: Gal, Sal, Heath and Reese. The summer before senior year promises to be one of the most important of their lives since each of them will be going on individual journeys of self-discovery and maturing. And I loved every second of it.
I really loved the plot of this book, because it let the characters develop individually. I’m a huge fan of coming-of-age stories, specially ones with queer characters, and the author delivered 4 strong character arcs for his protagonists. Even though they are a close group of friends they don’t blend together; they stand individually and each of them was very well constructed.
I saw a lot of myself in the characters, specially in Sal. I remember all the doubts and feelings I had about college and adulthood, and this book made me feel seen in a way. I could something about each character that felt personal. These four boys stole my heart and left me feeling happy. And I know this may sound cheesy, but I can’t help feeling like a proud dad every time a queer teenager starts feeling comfortable in the skin, and I will never get tired or reading that.
The only thing that leaves me a little confused is the ending. Everything wraps up pretty nicely and, if I’m not mistaken, this is the first book in a duology. I can easily see Golden Boys as a stand alone, so I’m intrigued to see what will happen with the characters in the sequel. I could’ve also been fine with less pop culture references though. RuPaul’s Drag Race was mentioned a few times too much.
Anyhow, I adored this book and Phil Stamper looks like a potential favorite author, so I’ll definitely check his other works.
ESP:
Desde que me enteré de que trataba Golden Boys lo agregué a mi lista. No necesitan decirme mucho, con el simple hecho de saber que una historia sobre cuatro amigos queer y el verano antes de su último año de prepa yo ya sabía que me iba a encantar. Y dicho y hecho, terminé muy fascinado con este librito.
Si hay algo que me gusta son las historias coming-of-age, puntos extra si son con personajes queer, y este libro me dio cuatro versiones de eso. Los personajes son super distintos entre si y agradezco que se les haya dado el enfoque justo a cada uno de ellos para desarrollarlos. Incluso siendo un grupo de amigos cercano en ningún momento sientes que entre ellos se mezclan, ya que cada uno se defiende individualmente y siento que al terminar este libro si conocí bastante bien a los cuatro.
Algo que me gustó mucho del libro (aunque en partes hacía que me dieran crisis) era que me proyecté mucho. Hace un par de años este libro habría sido mi favorito, porque cuando estaba en mi último año de prepa necesitaba justo este tipo de historias. Ver a los personajes tener miedo del futuro, dudas sobre la universidad me recordó mucho a lo que estaba pasando y este tipo de historías, incluso cuando ya no estoy viviendo eso, me siguen impactando mucho.
Lo único que me deja duda es que fregados va a pasar en la secuela. Todo se resuelve bastante bien en este libro y me gusta mucho el final, pero hasta donde tengo entendido este es el primer de una biología. Por supuesto que leeré el siguiente porque me encariñé mucho con los personajes, pero no creo que sea necesario. Igualmente, me hubiera gustando que hubieran menos referencias de la pop culture. RuPaul’s Drag Race se mencionó unas cuantas veces demasiadas para mi gusto.
En fin, creo que Phil Stamper tiene potencial de convertirse en un autor favorito entonces estoy emocionado por seguir leyendo su trabajo.
*3.5*
Me sigue gustando mucho! Si creo que el angst a veces es demasiado y que hay ciertas cosas que se me hacen suuuuuper teens, pero siento que Golden Boys sigue siendo uno de mis coming of age queer favoritos, porque me encanta como se exploran lo 4 povs y las 4 historias individuales.
Primera lectura: 07/01/22
*4*
Բ/貹ñDZ
EN:
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Ever since I heard what Golden Boys was about I immediately added it to my radar and I couldn’t be happier for getting the chance to read it a little bit earlier.
We follow four queer teens: Gal, Sal, Heath and Reese. The summer before senior year promises to be one of the most important of their lives since each of them will be going on individual journeys of self-discovery and maturing. And I loved every second of it.
I really loved the plot of this book, because it let the characters develop individually. I’m a huge fan of coming-of-age stories, specially ones with queer characters, and the author delivered 4 strong character arcs for his protagonists. Even though they are a close group of friends they don’t blend together; they stand individually and each of them was very well constructed.
I saw a lot of myself in the characters, specially in Sal. I remember all the doubts and feelings I had about college and adulthood, and this book made me feel seen in a way. I could something about each character that felt personal. These four boys stole my heart and left me feeling happy. And I know this may sound cheesy, but I can’t help feeling like a proud dad every time a queer teenager starts feeling comfortable in the skin, and I will never get tired or reading that.
The only thing that leaves me a little confused is the ending. Everything wraps up pretty nicely and, if I’m not mistaken, this is the first book in a duology. I can easily see Golden Boys as a stand alone, so I’m intrigued to see what will happen with the characters in the sequel. I could’ve also been fine with less pop culture references though. RuPaul’s Drag Race was mentioned a few times too much.
Anyhow, I adored this book and Phil Stamper looks like a potential favorite author, so I’ll definitely check his other works.
ESP:
Desde que me enteré de que trataba Golden Boys lo agregué a mi lista. No necesitan decirme mucho, con el simple hecho de saber que una historia sobre cuatro amigos queer y el verano antes de su último año de prepa yo ya sabía que me iba a encantar. Y dicho y hecho, terminé muy fascinado con este librito.
Si hay algo que me gusta son las historias coming-of-age, puntos extra si son con personajes queer, y este libro me dio cuatro versiones de eso. Los personajes son super distintos entre si y agradezco que se les haya dado el enfoque justo a cada uno de ellos para desarrollarlos. Incluso siendo un grupo de amigos cercano en ningún momento sientes que entre ellos se mezclan, ya que cada uno se defiende individualmente y siento que al terminar este libro si conocí bastante bien a los cuatro.
Algo que me gustó mucho del libro (aunque en partes hacía que me dieran crisis) era que me proyecté mucho. Hace un par de años este libro habría sido mi favorito, porque cuando estaba en mi último año de prepa necesitaba justo este tipo de historias. Ver a los personajes tener miedo del futuro, dudas sobre la universidad me recordó mucho a lo que estaba pasando y este tipo de historías, incluso cuando ya no estoy viviendo eso, me siguen impactando mucho.
Lo único que me deja duda es que fregados va a pasar en la secuela. Todo se resuelve bastante bien en este libro y me gusta mucho el final, pero hasta donde tengo entendido este es el primer de una biología. Por supuesto que leeré el siguiente porque me encariñé mucho con los personajes, pero no creo que sea necesario. Igualmente, me hubiera gustando que hubieran menos referencias de la pop culture. RuPaul’s Drag Race se mencionó unas cuantas veces demasiadas para mi gusto.
En fin, creo que Phil Stamper tiene potencial de convertirse en un autor favorito entonces estoy emocionado por seguir leyendo su trabajo.
February 16, 2022
DRC provided by Bloomsbury YA via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: gay white protagonists, gay white protagonist of Eastern-European descent, pansexual white tertiary character, gay white tertiary character, non-binary white tertiary character, queer white tertiary character, lesbian tertiary characters.
Content Warning: parental pressure, anxiety, homophobia, internalised homophobia, overworking, mentions of a homophobic incident, alcohol, mention of a slur.
Golden Boys by Phil Stamper is a contemporary novel about getting to know yourself without the safety of security nets; getting in touch with your feelings and deciphering them; facing your fears while staying true to who you are.
Gabriel, Reese, Sal and Heath are spending the summer before their senior year apart. Heath is staying at his aunt’s place in Florida while his father in Ohio sets out to sell the family home after the divorce. Sal is interning for a senator in Washington. Reese is attending a design school in France. And Gabriel joined a philanthropic organisation in Boston whose objective is the safekeeping of parks. While apart, the boys will have the chance to grow and discover new aspects of themselves.
My very first thought when I started reading this book was that it so clearly reminded me of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants�, only with no “magic� pants involved, and one hundred percent queerer (and yes, that does mean better in my book). Sadly, I did not particularly enjoy reading Golden Boys though.
I certainly do not think it is a bad a book. I dived into it with no expectations whatsoever because it was my first book by Phil Stamper, so I could not compare it to his previous works. I found it to be a completely fine a novel. One that will have rocked my world around seven years ago, the time when I first started reading in English and reading queer books with actual queer joy depicted.
I am so happy that book like this exists though, especially for the younger generations and the queer kids who are only starting to look into themselves. So, I would define this as a starter novel, a book I would recommend to queer people who are just peaking inside the doors of the community.
What I appreciated most about the novel itself were definitely the characters. My favourite characters were Heath, Gabriel and Diana. They felt like the more genuine characters and the boys had the most interesting introspective journeys among the protagonists.
Lastly, while Golden Boys was not an exceptional read for me, it definitely could be for you, so do not let my thoughts refrain you from giving it a go!
Representation: gay white protagonists, gay white protagonist of Eastern-European descent, pansexual white tertiary character, gay white tertiary character, non-binary white tertiary character, queer white tertiary character, lesbian tertiary characters.
Content Warning: parental pressure, anxiety, homophobia, internalised homophobia, overworking, mentions of a homophobic incident, alcohol, mention of a slur.
Golden Boys by Phil Stamper is a contemporary novel about getting to know yourself without the safety of security nets; getting in touch with your feelings and deciphering them; facing your fears while staying true to who you are.
Gabriel, Reese, Sal and Heath are spending the summer before their senior year apart. Heath is staying at his aunt’s place in Florida while his father in Ohio sets out to sell the family home after the divorce. Sal is interning for a senator in Washington. Reese is attending a design school in France. And Gabriel joined a philanthropic organisation in Boston whose objective is the safekeeping of parks. While apart, the boys will have the chance to grow and discover new aspects of themselves.
My very first thought when I started reading this book was that it so clearly reminded me of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants�, only with no “magic� pants involved, and one hundred percent queerer (and yes, that does mean better in my book). Sadly, I did not particularly enjoy reading Golden Boys though.
I certainly do not think it is a bad a book. I dived into it with no expectations whatsoever because it was my first book by Phil Stamper, so I could not compare it to his previous works. I found it to be a completely fine a novel. One that will have rocked my world around seven years ago, the time when I first started reading in English and reading queer books with actual queer joy depicted.
I am so happy that book like this exists though, especially for the younger generations and the queer kids who are only starting to look into themselves. So, I would define this as a starter novel, a book I would recommend to queer people who are just peaking inside the doors of the community.
What I appreciated most about the novel itself were definitely the characters. My favourite characters were Heath, Gabriel and Diana. They felt like the more genuine characters and the boys had the most interesting introspective journeys among the protagonists.
Lastly, while Golden Boys was not an exceptional read for me, it definitely could be for you, so do not let my thoughts refrain you from giving it a go!
March 31, 2022
This was unfortunately not a fun time for me, which sucks because I was really looking forward to reading this book. I feel bad giving it a one star but for me there was just so little that I enjoyed. That being said, I do see how this is a book that a lot of other people can enjoy, so I hope this review doesn’t discourage anybody from reading this book if they’re interested in it.
My main issue with this book is that it’s a character driven book but I didn’t really connect with any of the four main characters. It took about a third of the way through the book for me to finally understand who I was reading and which character was who, and what they liked, because so much of their personalities meshed together to me. Also, being close to the characters� ages, I expected to find some sort of common ground, but they really didn’t feel like high schoolers at all. I didn’t mind the texting sections but they didn’t exactly feel like high schoolers based on their texts either�
With the multiple POVs, not only did it take me a very long time to get used to everybody, which was even harder since I kept having to change the voice I was reading in, I also feel like each story that the boys went through was not nearly developed enough. It meant that for their individual plot lines, there wasn’t even enough for me to feel like they really went through a drastic transformation. The overall plot wasn’t incredibly interesting to me either, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to continue reading throughout most of this book. That combination just makes for a very unenjoyable time.
The friend group itself didn’t really work for me either. I found myself confused with their dynamic, and not understanding how they were so close given certain conflicts that they had. Maybe I’m just basing it too much on my own experiences, but idk some parts were just iffy.
I really did not want to dislike this book, and it’s not like I hated every second of reading it, but I also really cannot think of much if anything that I liked about the book.
My main issue with this book is that it’s a character driven book but I didn’t really connect with any of the four main characters. It took about a third of the way through the book for me to finally understand who I was reading and which character was who, and what they liked, because so much of their personalities meshed together to me. Also, being close to the characters� ages, I expected to find some sort of common ground, but they really didn’t feel like high schoolers at all. I didn’t mind the texting sections but they didn’t exactly feel like high schoolers based on their texts either�
With the multiple POVs, not only did it take me a very long time to get used to everybody, which was even harder since I kept having to change the voice I was reading in, I also feel like each story that the boys went through was not nearly developed enough. It meant that for their individual plot lines, there wasn’t even enough for me to feel like they really went through a drastic transformation. The overall plot wasn’t incredibly interesting to me either, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to continue reading throughout most of this book. That combination just makes for a very unenjoyable time.
The friend group itself didn’t really work for me either. I found myself confused with their dynamic, and not understanding how they were so close given certain conflicts that they had. Maybe I’m just basing it too much on my own experiences, but idk some parts were just iffy.
I really did not want to dislike this book, and it’s not like I hated every second of reading it, but I also really cannot think of much if anything that I liked about the book.
November 22, 2022
All the stars. Full review to come.
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November 15, 2021Such a sweet book about a friend group of gay boys, and I love that while there are romances in the book, there's so much more focus on things like future plans, their individual passions, new friendships, and mental health - very trademark Phil Stamper!
March 1, 2022
I loved Phil Stamper's previous books so this one was an instant read. If you like his books you’ll love this, if you didn’t enjoy them you’ll probably don’t like this one either. It has all the typical ingredients but takes them to a next level. A friend of mine wrote in her review that this has to be Phil’s best book so far and I wholeheartedly agree.
This book is written from four different povs and while most authors struggle with two to make them distinguishable, Phil excels at this. It’s about four boys who couldn’t be more different, but all of them have one thing in common: they’re all gay and out in their small town. This made them best friends for life and they all hang out together all the time. It gives them much needed security but also some kind of stagnation. A summer apart helps them review their lives and relationships.
I really liked the four different povs and instantly fell in love with all the four boys. Reading this book feels like becoming friends with them and finishing this book comes with a certain pain of separation. Thankfully there’s going to be at least another book with them. This book has a satisfactory ending, so don’t worry about stupid cliffhangers or such. But it’s clear the coming-of-age journey of the four boys has just begun.
Apart from the great writing I love the style of the book. Beside the chapters with the four boys’� povs there are text group chats and text message transcripts and amazing pictures from Reese’s journal. This book is a real treasure.
This book is written from four different povs and while most authors struggle with two to make them distinguishable, Phil excels at this. It’s about four boys who couldn’t be more different, but all of them have one thing in common: they’re all gay and out in their small town. This made them best friends for life and they all hang out together all the time. It gives them much needed security but also some kind of stagnation. A summer apart helps them review their lives and relationships.
I really liked the four different povs and instantly fell in love with all the four boys. Reading this book feels like becoming friends with them and finishing this book comes with a certain pain of separation. Thankfully there’s going to be at least another book with them. This book has a satisfactory ending, so don’t worry about stupid cliffhangers or such. But it’s clear the coming-of-age journey of the four boys has just begun.
Apart from the great writing I love the style of the book. Beside the chapters with the four boys’� povs there are text group chats and text message transcripts and amazing pictures from Reese’s journal. This book is a real treasure.
October 21, 2023
Another heartwarming, stellar book by Phil Stamper!
Golden Boys follows the friendship quartet of Gabe, Sal, Reese and Heath, who are bonded together for years in their small town in Ohio, being the only gay kids in their school, and for the first time they have to spend a lot of time away from each other, during the summer between their junior year and their senior year.
Gabe is volunteering for an environmental non-profit in Boston, Sal is interning with a Senator, Reese is attending a summer design course in Paris and Heath is working at his aunt's arcade in Daytona, Florida.
The 4 boys are quite different, their voices are very distinctive and the dynamic of the group is fascinating :
- Heath is the ultimate comfort character: he is kind and loyal and loves his friends and has to deal with the breakup of his parents and the fact that he comes from a poorer background than the others and has to work during the summer. But he never gets petty or mean, he finds a way to deal with life, and life rewards him.
- Reese is the artistic boy with the huge, supporting family, the meticulate planner with the lists and the bullets and the drawings right next to them. He is also a bit insecure about critisicm and not being the best at something (all 4 boys are top students), he's dreamy and looks for his inspiration in life.
- Gabe is anxious about everything. He doesn't know what to do, he isn't sure who he is and who he wants to be-except for when he is with Sal. He isn't confident with meeting new people and volunteering for the tree-planting program is a new step for him. And the people he meets there open a brand new path fin life, especially cute Matt.
- Sal is the most distinctive of the group, because he keeps up a facade. He has grown under immense pressure by his mother and can't even consciously realise what he wants and what she has ingrained into him. He always feels the need to appear composed and unperturbed by circumstances. He is a born politician and diplomat, and one would say he is colder than the rest (in reality, he's just a good actor).
The dynamics are so good : Sal and Gabe are friends with benefits, but they are both aware they're not in love with each other in a romantic way. They're comfortable at what they have, but they know it sort of holds them back. Can they learn how to be just friends? Heath and Reese are ridiculously in love, but none of them has the courage to say it, afraid they could ruin what they already have. Maybe they just need a little nudge...
Friends to lovers and lovers to friends in the same book in such a wholesome way? Another plus for an already amazing story !
There are cross-dynamics as well : Reese and Sal share the more "composed and serious" aspect of their personalities, and truly understand each other. Heath and Gabe grow closer via texts and calls when their friends drop off the grid for a while: they are both each other's hype-man and radiate cuteness. Heath's cousin Diana is a meddlesome maelstorm with the best intentions. Reese's design school friend Philipp is the outside nudge he needs. Gabe's volunteering friend (at first..) Matt will make him see new possibilities.
One small complain: Covid references. I hope they're not gonna be a thing in contemporary YA books.
The book is sweet, deep, sappy, cute and I can't wait for the sequel !
Reread: I wanted to have this book fresh in my memory before reading Afterglow and it was a good call, I really like this group of boys!
Golden Boys follows the friendship quartet of Gabe, Sal, Reese and Heath, who are bonded together for years in their small town in Ohio, being the only gay kids in their school, and for the first time they have to spend a lot of time away from each other, during the summer between their junior year and their senior year.
Gabe is volunteering for an environmental non-profit in Boston, Sal is interning with a Senator, Reese is attending a summer design course in Paris and Heath is working at his aunt's arcade in Daytona, Florida.
The 4 boys are quite different, their voices are very distinctive and the dynamic of the group is fascinating :
- Heath is the ultimate comfort character: he is kind and loyal and loves his friends and has to deal with the breakup of his parents and the fact that he comes from a poorer background than the others and has to work during the summer. But he never gets petty or mean, he finds a way to deal with life, and life rewards him.
- Reese is the artistic boy with the huge, supporting family, the meticulate planner with the lists and the bullets and the drawings right next to them. He is also a bit insecure about critisicm and not being the best at something (all 4 boys are top students), he's dreamy and looks for his inspiration in life.
- Gabe is anxious about everything. He doesn't know what to do, he isn't sure who he is and who he wants to be-except for when he is with Sal. He isn't confident with meeting new people and volunteering for the tree-planting program is a new step for him. And the people he meets there open a brand new path fin life, especially cute Matt.
- Sal is the most distinctive of the group, because he keeps up a facade. He has grown under immense pressure by his mother and can't even consciously realise what he wants and what she has ingrained into him. He always feels the need to appear composed and unperturbed by circumstances. He is a born politician and diplomat, and one would say he is colder than the rest (in reality, he's just a good actor).
The dynamics are so good : Sal and Gabe are friends with benefits, but they are both aware they're not in love with each other in a romantic way. They're comfortable at what they have, but they know it sort of holds them back. Can they learn how to be just friends? Heath and Reese are ridiculously in love, but none of them has the courage to say it, afraid they could ruin what they already have. Maybe they just need a little nudge...
Friends to lovers and lovers to friends in the same book in such a wholesome way? Another plus for an already amazing story !
There are cross-dynamics as well : Reese and Sal share the more "composed and serious" aspect of their personalities, and truly understand each other. Heath and Gabe grow closer via texts and calls when their friends drop off the grid for a while: they are both each other's hype-man and radiate cuteness. Heath's cousin Diana is a meddlesome maelstorm with the best intentions. Reese's design school friend Philipp is the outside nudge he needs. Gabe's volunteering friend (at first..) Matt will make him see new possibilities.
One small complain: Covid references. I hope they're not gonna be a thing in contemporary YA books.
The book is sweet, deep, sappy, cute and I can't wait for the sequel !
Reread: I wanted to have this book fresh in my memory before reading Afterglow and it was a good call, I really like this group of boys!
March 1, 2023
This was really very good.
February 21, 2022
*Thanks Bloomsbury for a copy of this book in exchange for review!*
I literally flew through this book in no time at all and managed to read it in a single sitting. If that isn’t an ode to the fast paced nature of it, I don’t know what is. Despite being hundreds of pages long, it only took me a couple of hours to get through. It was aided by the little dashes of multimedia format throughout - text chats and notebook pages, which were a super nice touch.
The whole book dealt with growing up and moving away from everything you’ve grown to become comfortable with, and it did it really well. The chaos and anxiety of moving away from home and trying to find yourself was captured nicely. It also did a great job of exploring relationships, both platonic and romantic and the different feelings that can come with those. The exploration of sexuality and expressing yourself was handled well. It was just quite a wholesome read overall.
My main criticism of this book is the multiple points of view. I really don’t mind them, but here there are four and the four characters it flips between are honestly so similar I got constantly confused between who was doing what and who was dating who and who was in what part of the world. Honestly if you gave me a name even now and asked me what happened to them in this book, I’d be clueless. They all just kind of mushed together in my brain and they were all so similar they became one, which is a little disappointing. I think with less changes in perspective and more distinct personalities (as they all sort of just seemed to revolve around each other and not have their own lives) this wouldn’t have been the case for me.
My other tiny criticisms are the covid references (hate hate hate) and that one character who kept randomly bursting into tears. It grated on me a little bit. But these things didn;t impact my rating at all, just minor annoyances I can live with.
Though I got confused, the change in perspectives did add a quick pace to it though and the plot is consistently moving forward so it’s a quick and easy read. I liked how the characters had different interests so when you get to their chapter you’re reading something completely different which made for a nice change and kept the book interesting for me.
I literally flew through this book in no time at all and managed to read it in a single sitting. If that isn’t an ode to the fast paced nature of it, I don’t know what is. Despite being hundreds of pages long, it only took me a couple of hours to get through. It was aided by the little dashes of multimedia format throughout - text chats and notebook pages, which were a super nice touch.
The whole book dealt with growing up and moving away from everything you’ve grown to become comfortable with, and it did it really well. The chaos and anxiety of moving away from home and trying to find yourself was captured nicely. It also did a great job of exploring relationships, both platonic and romantic and the different feelings that can come with those. The exploration of sexuality and expressing yourself was handled well. It was just quite a wholesome read overall.
My main criticism of this book is the multiple points of view. I really don’t mind them, but here there are four and the four characters it flips between are honestly so similar I got constantly confused between who was doing what and who was dating who and who was in what part of the world. Honestly if you gave me a name even now and asked me what happened to them in this book, I’d be clueless. They all just kind of mushed together in my brain and they were all so similar they became one, which is a little disappointing. I think with less changes in perspective and more distinct personalities (as they all sort of just seemed to revolve around each other and not have their own lives) this wouldn’t have been the case for me.
My other tiny criticisms are the covid references (hate hate hate) and that one character who kept randomly bursting into tears. It grated on me a little bit. But these things didn;t impact my rating at all, just minor annoyances I can live with.
Though I got confused, the change in perspectives did add a quick pace to it though and the plot is consistently moving forward so it’s a quick and easy read. I liked how the characters had different interests so when you get to their chapter you’re reading something completely different which made for a nice change and kept the book interesting for me.
November 8, 2021
4.5 stars
This was such a fun read! There are four main characters so the story bounces around and keeps things moving all the time. I also liked the different settings, Paris, Boston, D.C., and Daytona Beach. Each place has it's own culture and vibe and watching the guys settle in and grow a bit over the summer was sweet and kept my interest.
Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath are best friends that are going in different directions for the summer. They're the only out guys at school and have leaned on each other for a long time, so it's hard for them to be separated. At first it's kind of sad that they're not talking much, but each of them starts relying on themselves to make new friends and explore possibilities for their futures.
There are a couple cute romances in this that I adored, especially one within the friend group. I'm glad that romance wasn't the main feature though and most of the focus was on the guys coming of age and making adult decisions. Each character had their own personal issues to deal with and I enjoyed the individual plots.
I think this could have used a bit more diversity, as at least three of the boys are white and most are middle to upper middle class. I did have a good time reading it and this is definitely a feel good book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Bloomsbury USA Childrens and NetGalley for the copy.
This was such a fun read! There are four main characters so the story bounces around and keeps things moving all the time. I also liked the different settings, Paris, Boston, D.C., and Daytona Beach. Each place has it's own culture and vibe and watching the guys settle in and grow a bit over the summer was sweet and kept my interest.
Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath are best friends that are going in different directions for the summer. They're the only out guys at school and have leaned on each other for a long time, so it's hard for them to be separated. At first it's kind of sad that they're not talking much, but each of them starts relying on themselves to make new friends and explore possibilities for their futures.
There are a couple cute romances in this that I adored, especially one within the friend group. I'm glad that romance wasn't the main feature though and most of the focus was on the guys coming of age and making adult decisions. Each character had their own personal issues to deal with and I enjoyed the individual plots.
I think this could have used a bit more diversity, as at least three of the boys are white and most are middle to upper middle class. I did have a good time reading it and this is definitely a feel good book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to Bloomsbury USA Childrens and NetGalley for the copy.
January 5, 2022
I had warm bubblies the whole time reading GOLDEN BOYS! What a game changer it would have been to have a core group of gay BFFs in high school. And my fave part is how we’re going to get Golden Girls-esque personality quizzes! Are you a Sal, Heath, Reese, or Gabriel?
April 15, 2022
The back and forth among characters in order to keep the story cohesive and entertaining was sadly lacking. It just didn't hold my interested very well. It was a nice effort and the story had promise, but it just fell short for me.
June 26, 2022
Four teen best friends from a small town in Ohio are having a very different summer, as each of them leave town, but not precisely to enjoy some holidays. This is a very cute story about friendship, romance and self-discovery. The book alternates between the four boys, who are quite different from each other and have different passions and situations to confront. Sal is quite confident which goes well with his interest in politics, he's having an internship in DC that seems like his dream come true, but he questions if he really wants to actually go to college in one year, plus the internship becomes quite stressing, and he has some unfinished business with his mum. Gabriel deals with anxiety and finds it hard to make friends, but in his volunteering job in Boston he meets awesome people that are as passionate as him about trees, and a particular boy catches his eyes, but he also wonders about what him and Sal have. Reese loves to draw and plans to study graphic design, but he really doesn't know what he wants to do in Paris, where he's going to study for the summer, and once there he finds not everything comes easy to him, plus it's hard to be so far away from the boy he likes... Which is Heath, the fourth friend of the group, spending the summer in Daytona Beach working in his aunt's arcade, making friends with his cousin while he worries about his parent's divorce and how everything is changing... But, there are definitely good things happening in his life, even if it's hard to communicate with his friends right now, especially with Reese in France, and considering all the feelings he has for him.
Yes, this book feels like a lot, many things are happening at the same time, but Phil Stamper did a good job because each of the characters definitely felt quite distinct, even if sometimes it can get a bit confusing to constantly jump between these four stories, it was still quite clear and enjoyable. I liked the characters, although Reese and his story were more boring than the rest, in my opinion, I still thought it was an okay story line, mainly because it felt down to earth.
The best thing of the book is how positive the relationships are, and there's a variety of them, friendship and love are very important, but also family bonds and the connections between co-workers or alike. I really enjoy when books don't focus on toxic characters and relationships, the lack of melodrama and misunderstandings is really something for the YA genre, so that made me like this book much more.
Yes, this book feels like a lot, many things are happening at the same time, but Phil Stamper did a good job because each of the characters definitely felt quite distinct, even if sometimes it can get a bit confusing to constantly jump between these four stories, it was still quite clear and enjoyable. I liked the characters, although Reese and his story were more boring than the rest, in my opinion, I still thought it was an okay story line, mainly because it felt down to earth.
"Before I go, I want you to know this." I turn to him and smile. "You were always amazing. And I'm sorry if I ever fed into your insecurities or anxieties or made you feel like you needed to change. You never needed reinventing, you know that now, I hope. The person you were tonight, the person you've been all summer? He's perfect."
The best thing of the book is how positive the relationships are, and there's a variety of them, friendship and love are very important, but also family bonds and the connections between co-workers or alike. I really enjoy when books don't focus on toxic characters and relationships, the lack of melodrama and misunderstandings is really something for the YA genre, so that made me like this book much more.
January 8, 2022
thank you netgalley, bloomsbury, and phil stamper for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review! golden boys is a super fun and easy read that i finished in one day.
this is a coming-of-age story focusing on four queer high school students as they take on summer internships and exploring who they are. it was really fun reading about the four boys - sal, gabe, reese, and heath - and their adventures. i really liked the four different settings and felt most intrigued by sal and his internship on capitol hill. it was also very heartwarming seeing them realize how much they mean to one another and watching them form new relationships.
overall, this was a very quick ya read that has great writing and likable characters. my only complaint is that i wish there were more diversity involved, as most of the boys are white and upper middle class. however, it was a fun book, and i recommend it for when it comes out on february 8th.
this is a coming-of-age story focusing on four queer high school students as they take on summer internships and exploring who they are. it was really fun reading about the four boys - sal, gabe, reese, and heath - and their adventures. i really liked the four different settings and felt most intrigued by sal and his internship on capitol hill. it was also very heartwarming seeing them realize how much they mean to one another and watching them form new relationships.
overall, this was a very quick ya read that has great writing and likable characters. my only complaint is that i wish there were more diversity involved, as most of the boys are white and upper middle class. however, it was a fun book, and i recommend it for when it comes out on february 8th.
September 5, 2022
I saw this comped to The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, which is one of my childhood favourites, and I feel like it really came through, I loved this!
September 26, 2022
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February 26, 2022
*3.5 stars
This is my third book from Stamper, and I'm still waiting for that 5-star book to knock it out of the park. This one's main problem for me was just that there's so many characters, so I found it difficult to relate to them. To be honest, I felt confused on who each of the characters were and what each was up to for the summer for the first ~50% of this book. There's four perspectives, and each is a queer boy headed off to another part of the country for the summer, and I thought two of them were the same perspective (and one was missing) for the first half. The confusion, I think, is where a bit of my enjoyment slipped. The romances were cute enough, though they didn't feel fully developed because there was just so much ground to cover. However, I think this is a fun summery contemporary that tackles love and friendship and change and major life decisions. I see that this is a planned series, and I will absolutely be picking up the sequel.
This is my third book from Stamper, and I'm still waiting for that 5-star book to knock it out of the park. This one's main problem for me was just that there's so many characters, so I found it difficult to relate to them. To be honest, I felt confused on who each of the characters were and what each was up to for the summer for the first ~50% of this book. There's four perspectives, and each is a queer boy headed off to another part of the country for the summer, and I thought two of them were the same perspective (and one was missing) for the first half. The confusion, I think, is where a bit of my enjoyment slipped. The romances were cute enough, though they didn't feel fully developed because there was just so much ground to cover. However, I think this is a fun summery contemporary that tackles love and friendship and change and major life decisions. I see that this is a planned series, and I will absolutely be picking up the sequel.
October 15, 2021
*I received an arc for this book at the Denver Book Con.*
Super cute, queer rom-com YA story about four boys trying to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and who they might love during the summer before their senior year.
Every character had a wit and a charm to them that was pretty irresistible to read. It was so easy to fly through the pages, trying to guess might happen next to this group of friends as they all went on their own personal journeys.
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Phil Stamper, but I don’t think it will be the last. 5 out of 5 stars!
Super cute, queer rom-com YA story about four boys trying to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and who they might love during the summer before their senior year.
Every character had a wit and a charm to them that was pretty irresistible to read. It was so easy to fly through the pages, trying to guess might happen next to this group of friends as they all went on their own personal journeys.
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Phil Stamper, but I don’t think it will be the last. 5 out of 5 stars!
January 19, 2022
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Golden Boys in exhange for an honest review.
I feel like everything Phil Stamper writes is so drastically different tonally and I should have known to expect that after the last two books but while there's literally nothing wrong with Golden Boys I think I kept waiting for it to turn into something it was never meant to be. I'd love to read this again when I have a bit more distance between it and my expectations.
I feel like everything Phil Stamper writes is so drastically different tonally and I should have known to expect that after the last two books but while there's literally nothing wrong with Golden Boys I think I kept waiting for it to turn into something it was never meant to be. I'd love to read this again when I have a bit more distance between it and my expectations.
November 27, 2021
I was accepted for an ARC on Netgalley. I enjoyed this so much! All four boys had distinct personalities, and the book was a real comfort read. It was predictable, but in a really good way
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