Josh Lanyon: Jefferson Blythe, Esquire (2015, Harlequin Enterprises ULC)
English language
Published Nov. 24, 2015 by Harlequin Enterprises ULC.
You can read my full review of “Jefferson Blythe, Esquire” at my web site.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I kind of wished I read this book a few years ago.
Jefferson Blythe, Esquire is a book with flaws, yet pulls through as a fun read about adventures and self-discovery. And because I'm a sucker for a good book cover, I have to say that this particular cover captured the essence of all this.
First off, I enjoy most of Lanyon's books. However, I feel her biggest flaw is writing young characters that feel real. I really enjoy Jeff's journey of maturation and self-acceptance, but let's be real: most 22 year olds do NOT behave like him. I read a review early on when the book was just released that described Jeff as an "old soul," and I believe that's a very correct description. And let's not forget George, who REALLY felt like he should be ten years older than his actual …
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I kind of wished I read this book a few years ago.
Jefferson Blythe, Esquire is a book with flaws, yet pulls through as a fun read about adventures and self-discovery. And because I'm a sucker for a good book cover, I have to say that this particular cover captured the essence of all this.
First off, I enjoy most of Lanyon's books. However, I feel her biggest flaw is writing young characters that feel real. I really enjoy Jeff's journey of maturation and self-acceptance, but let's be real: most 22 year olds do NOT behave like him. I read a review early on when the book was just released that described Jeff as an "old soul," and I believe that's a very correct description. And let's not forget George, who REALLY felt like he should be ten years older than his actual age.
That leads to another point: the romance. Some of the interactions between Jeff and George were enjoyable and understandable, considering the circumstances. But some of the issues between these two felt very silly and didn't really make much sense to me. The romance itself felt very lacking and some of the dialogue felt very mechanical instead of emotional. Perhaps writing young characters and young love isn't this author's strong point, but I would say this book isn't really about the romance so much as the beginnings of one.
At this point, you're probably wondering why I'm rounding my vote up to 4 stars. Despite all these flaws, I found that once I shifted my expectations of this book, I rather enjoyed it. I treated it as a light read involving a boy's adventure into manhood. Jefferson is a likeable guy despite his past flaws, and a person I think all of us can relate to in some ways. I put all my expectation on the adventure and his self awakening instead of the romance and other characters.
Overall, it was a rough ride, but well worth it by the end.
