Book Review: The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard by Samantha Robinson

It’s been a few weeks since I published a book review post. To be honest, I’ve been watching so many YouTube videos reviewing books. This caused me to suffer from book review burn out… and made me question if I really felt ready to review any of my read books in a post.

In order to get back into writing book review posts, I decided to review The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard by Samantha Robinson. This book, and it’s sequel, are published on Amazon’s print on demand service. Right now The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard is no longer in print and is no longer available to read including on Kindle. The sequel is still available to purchase and read, but in print version only. There aren’t a lot of reviews on The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard or it’s sequel, so I don’t know how my review may impact either book.

The book’s synopsis from Amazon is…

Carly Matthews’ life is a picture-perfect illusion. On the surface, she’s the envy of her high school—dating the most popular guy, best friends with the queen bee, living in opulence within a gated community. But beneath this glossy exterior lies a restless soul yearning for something more, something real.

Her seemingly flawless world begins to unravel after a clash with her best friend. In a moment of impulsive rebellion, Carly stumbles upon Alex. He’s not just another high school boy, he’s kind-hearted, charming, and sees the world differently. And while Carly is technically off-limits, their unexpected encounter sparks a journey of self-discovery and questions. Can a few hours with a stranger redefine your entire existence? Carly is on the brink of finding out, as she navigates through newfound emotions and the realization that predictability is not synonymous with happiness.

As Carly and Alex’s connection deepens, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and her place in the world. Is it possible for a few hours with a stranger to ignite a journey of self-discovery? Can real happiness be found in breaking free from the shackles of popularity and expectation?

“The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard” is more than just a story of teenage romance. It’s a journey into the heart of what it means to find oneself, to connect deeply with others, and to challenge the status quo. Carly’s story is a testament to the unpredictable twists of fate and the profound impact of those we meet along the way. Join her as she navigates the tumultuous waters of high school life, discovering that true contentment comes from within and often in the most unexpected forms.

I read this book a few years ago when it was released and enjoyed it. Last year I decided to reread it. I was going through some things at that time that caused me to see the book in a totally different light.

After rereading the book, I can honestly say I still enjoyed the book. It is a clean teen romance novel, but what it lacks in spice and open door romances it makes up in drama. That being said, the drama is the reason why I feel conflicted about the book.

Like I already mentioned, I was going through some things when I reread the book. (I usually reread old books when I going through life’s troubles. It’s a way for me to distract myself for a short amount of time from the real world.) The problems Carly goes through reminded me of my own problems. So, I struggled a lot while reading the book.

Even though I struggled reading the book a second time, the first time I really didn’t mind the drama. The book is written in a way that the drama is presented in a way that the reader can understand what is going on without actually needing to be told in vivid detail. This is the reason why I was so drawn to this book and enjoyed reading it the first time. I understood what was going on, but all I needed was my imagination to make sense of it.

Despite my problems with my second read, I like this book a lot. Sadly, it is no longer in print. Since it is now so hard to find, I find it hard to recommend due to it’s availability. Still, I do recommend it. It is a perfect book for teens or anyone looking for a clean romance novel that isn’t boring. The conflicts Carly must face, including meeting Alex, is something not all teens must face, but some do. This is why I like this book so much. It shows that no matter what someone’s social status is, it isn’t what makes them who they really are. The choices they make, like the ones Carly is faced to make, do. Even though I found certain parts of the book a little unbelievable, such as when Carly meets Alex’s family and the boys who live with them, (Thus why the book is called The Boys of Benjamin Boulevard) I still think the book is a great read.

That’s all for now! Thank you for reading!