That Boy by Jillian Dodd

Name: That Boy
Author: Jillian Dodd
Genre: YA/Romance/Coming of Age
Publisher: Jillian Dodd
Release Date: May 2011

Summary: 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.

Review:
This book made me laugh OUT LOUD and it also made me cry. How often do you find yourself doing that in a GREAT book? I was not expecting this at all.
Starting out as children in this book you gain the idea Jayden (or JJ) is the girl next door and her neighbor is Phillip, a guy any girl would be nuts to not crush over. Then moves in her enemy, Danny. Danny thinks Phillip shouldn’t be friends, let alone BEST friends, with a girl and makes this point… a lot… until she punches Danny in the nose! He realizes he’s completely wrong about her and lets her in and together, all three play football. (I’m not sure where Ms Dodd came up with the idea of strip football but it is genius and wish I would have thought of it myself!)
Back to the review…
These kids grow up together from elementary into college (Huskers). They all look out for one another and it all is realistic. You don’t get the gushy gooy stuff (which I hate). The author kept the characters realistic and makes you want to relate to them. I find myself comparing my childhood to what I have read in “that boy” and how many similar situations I encountered.
I thought this would a fun book to read, a little outside what I would normally pick up… and that it was! I was pleasantly surprised and felt like I completely connected to the character, JJ. You are that girl and you want to be that girl. It is written in first person (the action is told from her point of view). You find yourself crushing on both boys. This would be a great weekend read and an even better summer or winter break read. I say go get it today and enjoy the story!