Thursday, April 17, 2014

Review: Camp Payback by J.K. Rock

Title: Camp Payback
Author: J.K. Rock
Series: Book Two in the Camp Boyfriend Series
Published By: SpencerHill (April 29, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Contemporary
My Rating: 4 Stars!!

Book Description:
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?







This is such an incredibly cute series. One that holds true to adolescents, the pains of growing up and trying to find who you are, who you want to be and all the struggles and firsts that come along with it.

So far I have loved every single book and novella that has been released and I am happy to say this second addition to the series is no different. Gosh, I really loved Alex and Javier. Maybe even more so than I have the other characters so far.

Their story was such a heartfelt one. I loved how rough and tough Javier was. The bad boy exterior with a heart of gold. It seems I am a sucker for a bad boy whether that is in YA novels or NA or even adult, I just can't resist them. 

I have said this before but it bares saying again, I just love the camp dynamic is this series. The camaraderie, the friendship all of it. The authors make you want to go to camp, to be there and experience it all yourself, the good, the bad and even the ugly. I think that feeling is what really makes this series stand out and make it so much fun to read.

All of the friends are different from one another, each bring a unique and complex dynamic into the bunch and each stand out in their own way. 

Alex has always been one that stood out for me since starting this series and I was eager to get her “wholesome” view on things. I was eager for her story. Throw in a new hot troubled boy into the camp and you have one fun story, maybe even my favorite yet.

I love how real these books feel. They all have a very realistic insight into what it means to be a teen today. The struggles with friends, family and even ourselves and I think that is yet another thing that makes this series so great. It is real. It isn't all carefree camp fun but instead very much so a coming of age story and all the good and bad that comes with that. With growing up and finding our own, standing up for ourselves and not letting what is “in” or “popular” rule our life but instead what is right and best for us.

This was very well done and I really do look forward to continuing on with this series until all the girls stories are told.




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this  review.*

26 comments:

  1. Great review!!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  2. I love books based on summer camp! I keep meaning to start this series, but haven't gotten around to it yet . . . sigh. Soon, I hope ;)

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  3. I have the first book of this series on my tbr list and I can't wait to read it :)

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    1. Yay, so glad you are going to give it a try.

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  4. We went to summer camp every summer for two week and I have such fond memories of it. This sounds wonderful and I love how realistic the characters seem. I bet Christy @ Books of Love would adore this series.

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  5. I've never ever ever been to a summer camp ._. For some reason they're not that popular where I live (or maybe I'm just blissfully ignorant of the things going on around me... this sounds like a more sounder reason lol) In any case, you sold me on this one. A cute series that tackle familiar struggles is always something to look forward to. Thank you for sharing!

    Faye at The Social Potato Reviews

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    1. They aren't as popular here either so I am glad I am not the only one! We did go to a cabin every summer though on the weekends and it was pretty awesome.

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  6. "The bad boy exterior with a heart of gold."

    I have an extreme weakness for the bad boys with a heart of gold Ali, so I'm thinking this is definitely a book for me! I really love the camp setting as well, there's just something intriguing about the dynamics of it and the relationships that are formed in a relatively short amount of time. Adding this series to the list!

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  7. This sounds like a really great series! I might have to look up the first book!

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  8. I love the summer camp setting and the series sounds really cute. And Javier with his bad boy exterior with a heart of gold sounds like a perfect foil for Alex. Wonderful review:)

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  9. I rarely read 'fun' books, but I'm loving all these great reviews for these books. So glad you enjoyed it, because I'm going to look them up right now!

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  10. I keep eyeing this series because it seems fun and summery. I am glad though that it is realistic and pertinent for teens today.

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    1. It would make the perfect summer read Heidi. ;)

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  11. This sounds like such a fun book and something that I would totally love. Wonderful review. I can't wait to read it.

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  12. Oh I love cute books like that, it's always so nice when we want something a little different. thanks for making me discover so many books!

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  13. I've wanted to read this series for a while and am so glad they were up on NetGalley. I'll be reviewing both books in the series in the next week or two, closer to release day. I'm so glad that you really liked it!

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    1. Glad you were able to grab them both!
      The prequel and novella is awesome too!

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  14. I'm a huge sucker for a bad boy with a heart of gold, so I think I'm going to love Javier! I haven't really read any books about camps, at least not in the recent past, and this sounds wonderful! Lovely review :-)

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    1. Thanks Lauren and this really is one you can read as a stand alone, better if you don't but you could.

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