Bookcomet

Camp Payback by J. K. Rock

Publication date: April 29th 2014

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Number of pages: 304

Series: Camp Boyfriend (2# – companion series)

Genre: YA Contemporary

Source: Received in exchange for review. This is my honest opinion.

Goodreads synopsis:

Alex has big plans for camp this year, starting with making it the best summer ever. Having fun and breaking some rules will get her the payback she wants against her parents and her ex-boyfriend. Because of his disgusting texts, she’s headed to a super strict all-girls school in the fall.

Then she meets Javier and revenge doesn’t seem nearly as important as getting to know the troubled loner determined to keep a low profile at camp. But Alex’s trouble-magnet personality and Javier’s need to stay in the background don’t mix nearly as well as their irresistible chemistry.

With her home life eroding under her feet and her last year of summer camp speeding to a close, Alex wants to make her mark on the world and squeeze every bit of fun out of her time with Javier. Too bad her old plans for revenge turn back on her just in time to ruin everything. Will she lose Javier too?

Review:

These books totally make my summer.

Actually, that’s not true, since it’s not summer for me. But it apparently makes me feel like it’s summer.

Past Me who finished Camp Boyfriend probably would scoff at Present Me if I was to tell her that I would enjoy Camp Payback more. But whether she believes it or not, I defintiely enjoyed Camp Payback more. Why, you ask?

Because with Alex as a main character came her amazing story. I have always had this strange addiction to reading about reality TV shows and famous people. It’s quite strange really, since I’m not really into that stuff in real life, but I am totally addicted to book versions. The story definitely didn’t let me down. In fact I love how much it was incorporated into the story, pretty much the perfect amount.

But it isn’t all about Alex’s story. We have to talk about her as well. I actually liked her better than Lauren of Camp Boyfriend, which really surprised me because I wasn’t Alex’s number 1# fan in the first book. I probably am now though. She had this great, fun personality that really made the book. Of course we can’t talk about Alex without talking about Javier. Come to think of it, I will not be talking about Javier because I don’t know if I’d ever stop.

I’m actually a little concerned about how much I remember about these characters. It sounds like a good thing but this is totally out of character for me. I have this tendency to forget everything between books. I adore the little “Voted most likely to…” sections at the begginnings of these books. They make me laugh.

My favourite character of all time in this series has got to be Emily. Her happiness is catching, even through electronic pages. She’s just really quirky and fun.

My only issue was that I thought it was a little predictable. Sure, I didn’t predict a certain incident to do with Vijay towards the end but I pretty much predicted everything else. It’s not a major criticsm, however.

If you’re looking for a really fun, cute, Summer read, then look no further. Even though you don’t have to read these books in order, I probably would recommend it. I can definitely see this being a good book to take on your own Summer camp. I can’t wait for the third book!

4.5/5 comets
KABOOM! That only leaves one continent. One little flaw…

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Author bio:

J. K. Rock is the pseudonym for YA writing partners – and sisters-in-law – Joanne & Karen Rock. After years of comparing notes on their favorites books and films, often dreaming up new endings to suit them, they decided to write their own stories. Their first Young Adult book, CAMP BOYFRIEND, is part of a three-book series. CAMP PAYBACK will be an April 2014 release, and CAMP FORGET-ME-NOT arrives in Fall 2014. Visit the Camp Boyfriend website at http://campboyfriend.net to learn more about the free novellas they are offering readers prior to each full length book. Individually, Joanne Rock is an award winning Harlequin author published in 26 countries and translated into 20 languages. Karen Rock writes critically acclaimed stories for Harlequin Heartwarming including her latest, HIS HOMETOWN GIRL.