This book was a cute YA story of a journey of 4 boys and their exploration journey. It does open with 2 boys in bed with each other which took me aback. While the story was very interesting, it was hard to get past certain things in the book. It was just a personal thing though.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, Bloomsbury YA, for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review,

In the summer before senior year, Gabriel, Reese, Sal and Heath are best friends, bonded by their queerness in their small rural town, good grades, competitions and big dreams, but this summer they have different plans and each of them will embark on an adventure.
Gabriel is volunteering at an enviromental noprofit in Boston, Reese will attend a design school in Paris, Sal as an intern to a senator on Capitol Hill and Heath in Florida to work at his aunt's arcade. They will be battle against nostalgia, dreams, disappointments in their own adventures, ready to explore the world and to have new experiences. Without losing each other.

I absolutely loved reading Golden Boys! The story is told by four different POVs, with their chat, messages and FaceTime transcriptions, while Sal, Reese, Gabriel and Heath live their own experiences and adventures and I loved how the author characterized them. Gabriel suffers from anxiety and he struggles to meet new friends, finding himself in a totally new enviroment, with new people and no way to avoid social interactions. Sal is following is political dreams and goals, while battling his mother's pressure and forced suggestions, while trying to understand what he wants to do in the future. Reese is facing new experiences in design, meeting new friends, visiting Paris and Heath is meeting his cousin and aunt, facing his parents' divorce and his upcoming move to another place, leaving his farm behind. Each boy will have an adventure, meeting new people, discovering things about themselves and their feelings, what they want to do in their lives and futures.

This is a perfect summer friendship story, with four queer boys as main characters, their dreams, goals and hopes and, mostly, their strong bond with one other. I loved how the author was able to describe their nostalgia, anxiety and fears, but at the same time their hopes and enthusiasm, their curiosity, while each of them visited a part of the world, sharing experiences and doubts, dreams and achievements, testing their bond and discovering new things.
Four queer boys, inseparable, loving each other immensily (some more than others) with their chemistry and friendships in this sweet story about growing up, facing the world, choosing for, proving and dreaming for oneself. It was, also, refreshing and inspirational, reading a story set after the Covid-19 pandemic and it was really hopeful and amazing.

Sweet romance, strong bond and amazing characters, this book made me dream and hope and I loved immensily.

Golden Boys is a young adult novel about four friends who are on the verge of their last summer before senior year. Each has a unique summer planned, ranging from Parisian design school to interning in D.C. to volunteering at a nonprofit to working at a family arcade. This is a summer to remember as the friends stay in touch with one another and grow independent through their individual experiences. They are bonded by friendship and their shared queerness, which makes them allies. Told through four perspectives, this is a book about friendship and growing up, a la The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book.

Okay. Phil Stamper has done it again. These four boys need protecting. I really appreciate the midwesst setting as the basis for them all. One of the most imporant aspects of Queer YA is that none of the characters are flawless and they are allowed to embrace growth while also having anxiety. There's hope, there's despair, there's change, but there's also screw ups. I truly enjoyed having them all spread around and how they communicat4ed and sometimes miscoummnicated. Every high schooler should have access to this book, and older people should read it not only to remember how they felt but also to remind yourself that joy can exist in a complex and not always joyful world. Basically grab this book and give it to everyone.

Overall: This gave me Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants vibes, but obviously, following queer boys and clearly it is so much better than that.

Pros:
Individuality. Each boy felt so unique in his story.
Friendship. The big thing that made me want to read this was the friendship angle and the friendship shone in this one.

Cons:
Sequel? This one is going to be a duology and while I can see where this is could go, I am not sure it needed to go. Not exactly a complaint, just an fyi really.

Got this book in exchange for review. What a fabulous story of four gay high school boys who find out there is more to life outside their town in Ohio. What Phil did wonderfully is weave and intertwine their stories and show the unbreakable bond these four boys have. It was wonderful to see a book about boys who are gay, just be gay! It was so normalized, and made for a wonderful aspect to the story. This book is sure to be a hit among YA. I also adore the cover, it is not cartoonish and really elevates the story!

3.5
The second half of this was definitely more enjoyable than the first, largely because four different POVs changing so quickly with characters introduced at the exact same time made it hard to differentiate between them. Which yeah, the way they can’t really grow until they’re apart is a big part of the story, but it was hard to care much at all at first. It took a while, but they did grow on me eventually.
I will say the first few chapters made several throwaway comments about covid which all felt very, very odd considering we’re a) not fully past the pandemic like it is in the book and b) there was no mention of it in the summary or promotional material. It was jarring to say the least and considering it’s an ongoing situation, not something fun to have out of the blue.

Reese, Heath, Gabriel, and Sal are as close as can be as the only out queer kids in their rural high school. They all depart on separate adventures the summer before their senior year, and it makes them test not only themselves, but their friendships and something much more blooming under the surface.

I liked this book. It was definitely a lighthearted story, with some more serious undertones about the brutality of overworking interns and the harsh realities about what is expected of you. I did like a few of the different plot lines, because it is split into each of the boys' point of views. I will admit that at first it was extremely hard to distinguish their voices. And even now after finishing the book, I still think it was hard to distinguish them. Sal was the one person who I could tell was speaking because he's more of the go-getter and refuses to admit that he's at his breaking point, which is like me.

I also liked that each story helps to develop each person for the better. The one person I didn't think really "improved" was Heath, but that's because he was in a more low stakes visit with family in comparison with the others. The others had good things to focus on and improve. What I thought was especially interesting was Gabriel and Sal's relationship, because it starts off with them already being friends with benefits and realizing that maybe it shouldn't continue. But when the time for that discussion comes, it felt really underdone? Like it's mentioned in the epilogue that it formed from a need, not something that was really "healthy," per say. But I do wish there would have been a bit more conflict there.

There was some hints of a potential homophobic altercation in the past, but it was never really truly in the forefront, which I appreciated. There are so many queer stories that put that trauma front and center, and to have a romantic book have it mentioned but not be a focal point was actually really refreshing.

I read this on my kindle so the formatting was really weird at times, especially with Reese's journal entries and the texts, but they were easy enough to decipher.

Golden Boys is a easy, queer-loving story perfect for anyone who just wants a quick romance and slice of life tale.

I received a copy of this story as an e-ARC from NetGalley. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

After reading a few heavy, postapocalyptic-type books, I wanted something lighter. Filled with ride or die friendships, found family, and dreams of the future, Golden Boys was exactly what I needed.

Don’t get me wrong – these boys are each dealing with their own problems and challenges. Gabriel is afraid he doesn’t know how to make friends outside their close circle and lacks self-confidence. Reese is secretly in love with his best friend and an ocean away from him for the summer. Sal is learning his path in life may not be exactly what he’d thought. Heath’s parents are divorcing, money is tight, and his childhood home is on the market. All of them are reluctant to be apart for the summer, afraid things won’t be the same after time away, but each has adventures and life lessons ahead of them.

Written in four different POVs, I struggled a bit at the beginning with keeping the names straight, but as I got to know and love these boys I knew exactly who was speaking without rechecking the chapter heading. As the only queer teens in their small school, they gravitated toward each other and have been tight friends for years. All are in the running for class valedictorian, but even that doesn’t threaten their strong bonds. On the verge of adulthood, the boys are excited for what’s ahead but also afraid of stepping outside their comfort zone in small town Ohio. The world’s a scary place filled with uncertainty. Will their relationships change after a summer away? Will they even be the same people?

This coming of age story was a delight, and I enjoyed every page. One review I read demands a movie, and I’m one hundred percent on board with that idea. According to Goodreads there will be a sequel to this novel, and you can be sure I’ll snatch it up. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Phil Stamper has nailed it again! Gabriel Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends. As the few queer boys out in their very small Ohio town, they have bonded together in a tight-knit friendship. They have good grades, big dreams, and being the summer before senior year nothing is going to get in their way. Gabriel heads off to what he thinks will be his dream internship saving the trees in Boston parks. Reese is off to Paris for a design internship. Sal is headed to Capitol Hill to intern with a senator and Heath is headed to work at his family's arcade in Florida. Each has its own stories and struggles and I couldn't help but fall in love with each character. This book brought everything to the table from family drama and trauma, coming of age, romance, and strong friendship. I really didn't think Stamper could top The Gravity of Us but this is officially tied as my favorite Stamper book.

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.

Golden Boys is easily Phil Stamper's best work. Its heartwarming and fun while also covering heavy topics. There's a balance that hasn't always been there in his previous works, and its perfect. Also perfect are all four main characters. They are so unique, and there's no concern over mixing them up. Each of them go on their own journeys, and struggle to balance their friendships along the way. It feels very true to how high school friendships are, with the constant worry of using each other. Also, each of their plots holds something of value to teen readers: they deal with anxiety, burnout. romantic failures and making new friends. My favorites were Reese and Heath, but all the boys have something to love.

Also lovable is the way this book lets us explore the world. We spend time in Washington D.C, Boston, Daytona and Paris. As someone who doesn't travel a lot, this was great, and it'll be even better for teens who feel stuck in their hometown! So yeah, this was pretty perfect for me, and while it might be too old for my middle schoolers, I'll still recommend it to students who can handle it, and encourage our high school to get it. Can't wait for book two!

Golden Boys is a YA contemporary novel that follows the lives of four close friends as they embark on their own personal summer adventures. I frequently got the boys confused in the first few chapters, but it became easier once I got further into the story. While the book kept my attention, I can only give it a three-star rating because I enjoyed some of the characters more than others and I thought the plot was a little predictable.

I really, really loved this book. The characters were all interesting, their stories were compelling, and the writing was fantastic. This book felt like four contemporaries all wrapped up into one, in a good way. I found myself being generally interested in every POV and excited for what would happen in the next chapter. This story was a quick read and it certainly was my favorite of Stamper's. So excited to see what he puts out next!

Four gay teenage best friends from a small town in Ohio are about to spend their last summer before senior year completely separated. A summer of self discovery, growth and a little fun for everyone!

Sal, Reese, Gabriel and Heath have totally different aspirations for their futures and this summer is important to 3 of them for moving forward. Sal is headed to DC to intern for a senator, Reese is in Paris perusing his dreams and Gabriel is in Boston volunteering for Save-the-Trees. For Heath, his summer away is less exciting in his mind, he's off to Daytona to spend the summer working at his aunt's arcade while his parents sort out their divorce and selling their family home.

Will this summer change them so dramatically that their friendships will forever be changed? Will they be as close when they all return for their senior year as they were before they left? Will this summer change their outlooks on the futures they had so carefully planned out?

This was such a great book, it was a quick and easy and oh so fun read. I'm making a conscious effort to read more books in different voices and loved jumping into this LGBTQ+ voice. The characters are so lovable you can't help but root for them all. This is a great coming of age book that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy when you're done - and truly, who doesn't need more of that these days?

This is a story about friendship.  It focuses on four close friends in a small town in Ohio, all queer and all with big plans for their futures -- but each struggling, in their own way, with what their life will look like when it is no longer defined by their friendship.  

Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are all good students, about to enter senior year at their high school which is not always the most welcoming to its queer students.  But first, they each have plans that will take them far away from Ohio and each other for the summer.  Sal will be interning for a senator in Washington, DC.  Reese is traveling to Paris to attend design school.  Gabriel will be volunteering for a nonprofit focused on environmental issues in Boston.  And Heath will be working at his aunt's arcade/bar on the Florida boardwalk. Each, for different reasons, has apprehensions about their summers.  But as they navigate their summer experiences, complete with surprising professional challenges, new friends, and unexpected romances, each learns more about what they want from the future -- and what they want from each other.

This book was excellent.  It is rare to see a story of friendship among those on the cusp of adulthood that feels authentic, much less such a story among a group of queer friends.  But this book more than succeeds on this front. 

The friendships among the group of four and among them in subgroups of three or two is nuanced and heart-warming, without ever tripping into being saccharine.  The author also does an excellent job of exploring ambition among high school students, and the pressure they often feel to have a clear path mapped out even at a young age.  With each character, we see how their summer experience allows them, in some ways for the first time, to seriously consider what type of future they want, away from their parents, their school, and their respective expectations. I so enjoyed spending time with Gabriel, Sal, Reese, and Heath -- and it would be terrific to find out the next chapters in their stories.

Very highly recommended!

This one was fun. It would make a good tv show or film. With four perspectives it was sometimes hard to keep up but otherwise enjoyed it. Reese and Heath are so cute.

What happens when four best friends, half of whom are in love each other, all split up for a summer and scatter to the winds?

Well, a lot.

Golden Boys by Phil Stamper, examines a tight-knit group of four queer boys, the summer before their senior year of high school. Sal and Gabriel (who are long-time friends with benefits) are going to be apart for the first time, Sal to complete an internship in Washington, D.C. and Gabriel to Boston to volunteer with an environmental organization. Then there’s Reese who is heading to a design school in Paris and definitely trying not to think about how much he’s in love with Heath, the fourth of this group who’s in Daytona for the summer to stay with his aunt and cousin while his divorcing parents settle things at home.

Like I said. It’s a lot.

But! It all works. Every single part of it. Four plot lines can seem daunting, especially when they’re scattered across not only state lines, but continents. Phil Stamper does something very smart, though. He includes text threads and FaceTime interactions between some/all of the boys. Plot and character development happen here and serve to help distinguish between the four voices in play. Because that’s where this book could fall apart, but doesn’t. Sal, Gabe, Reese, and Heath are all unique and have specific quirks and voices. Each one shows in this book. I love them all and want only the best for them.

I remember hearing this this will be a duology and I am totally jazzed for that. I can’t wait to see where these boys go. This is a great book for a high schooler who may be worrying about what next steps may be in their life, or what will happen with their group of friends when it’s finally time for them to go do their separate things. This will help.

Golden Boys makes its mark on the YA scene just like each of its main characters do in their own stories. I can’t wait for the second installment and to revisit these four boys and see what they’re up to.

4.5 stars rounded up!

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.

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of this to review! Ever since I read The Gravity of Us, Phil Stamper has been an author on my radar. Friendship, romance, summer adventure, what isn’t to like in this book? Plus, the summer vibes will be perfect to get you out of a February slump.

Let’s start out with the good. From start to finish, this book absolutely feels like a teen book. Honestly, even more than Stamper’s previous two books. Yes, the teens in it are generally more privileged than most. Especially lookiing at what they all have planned for the summer. But the choices they make, the overall voices in the story. They just felt really teen to me. Which isn’t easy to accomplish, so I applaud Stamper for that!

Additionally, the relationships felt natural throughout. Both the romance in the friend group and the romance that happens outside of it. They felt realy and authentic and accruately reflected teenage relationships. Each guy also develops new friends during the summer, and despite the number of characters in the book, I thought they were all pretty well developed. All four places had a distinct feel to them, which helps with the four points of view.

The beginning of this book was a bit rocky for me. I don’t think the story really picks up until all four boys leave for their summers. This is definitely a lot more of a character-driven story, and I’m not entirely sure how there’s going to be a sequel. The passage of time is also a bit unclear throughout the book, especially as we go between different characters.

Additionally, the COVID references just kind of threw me off. It made it unclear how far out after the pandemic this was happening, and some of the COVID scenes felt forced to me. In all honesty, I just kind of wish they weren’t included at all.

All in all, I felt a bit mixed about this book. It hit its stride by the end, but it took it a little while to get there. I think I did like the characters enough, though, to see where they go in a sequel!