“But sometimes these life-changing moments aren’t poetic or perfect. Sometimes they’re memorable just because they literally change your life.”
If I had to sum up my reading experiences of Phil Stamper’s books in one word it would be solid. That might not seem like a compliment at first glance but judge me all you want, I actually enjoy when I know that an author provides—and will provide—me with solid entertainment, book after book. No matter the subject matter, no matter the setting, I always find something entertainable and engrossing in Stamper’s writing that will make me devour his books in a single sitting and to a mood reader like me who rarely knows what they’ll like, that means a lot. But I digress.
Golden Boys follows four queer 16-year-old boys Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath who’ve been best friends since they were little. Bonded by their queerness in a small rural town, they’ve relied heavily on each other and been at each other’s side 24/7. This summer, they’re about to be separated for the first time: Reese is heading to Paris to attend a design school, Gabriel is going to Boston to volunteer for a non-profit organisation, Sal is interning at Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator and Heath is heading to Daytona Beach to help out his aunt at her beachfront arcade. What will a summer separated from the people you’ve spent every day with so far mean for these four boys?
Golden Boys is a book filled with adventures, first missteps, first kisses, and a whole lot of growing up. Initially, I had a hard time differentiating between the four POVs. Gabe, Sal, Reese, and Heath start out sounding very similar, so I floundered for the first chapters until about a third into the book where their voices began to sound more different. I also liked that we get to “travel the world” alongside the four boys as they head off to Paris, Boston, D.C., and Daytona Beach. It was sweet to see everyone have their individual storyline—either influenced by the setting, the people they were staying with or the issues they faced at home that followed them—but have their friendship as the common denominator throughout the book.
Speaking of individual storylines, I loved the way Stamper included some subtle commentary about teenagers in the workplace in here. Without taking too much away, there is a storyline where one of the boys is exploited by their employer and basically has to take on too much responsibility way too soon in life and wow, been there done that. I thought that was so refreshing and eye-opening to see how teenagers (or any interns, really) can often be completely taken advantage of yet made to feel like it’s “normal”? So that was definitely one of the highlights for me. Beyond that, this book really addressed the ways in which we’re scared to change yet also fear the opposite—what if everyone around us changes and grows and we…don’t? That is such a common fear and I felt like it was portrayed so well in this story.
Also, Golden Boys isn’t necessarily a sad book but there were many moments while reading where I had to put down the book because it was just so realistic. Stamper dives deep into friendships and the way they transform when you’re growing up—and sometimes grow apart. And sometimes there isn’t a big bang or a reason for things to fall apart. Life simply gets in the way and suddenly you’re almost scared to reach out to the people you’ve considered your family because you don’t know what they’ll think of you or whether the bonds you’ve created when you were glued to each other’s side will stand the test of time when your thousands of miles apart. In that way, Golden Boys is a bittersweet exploration of growing up and I’m sure readers will want to squeeze in an extra hug with their friends after reading this book.
Funnily enough, the one complaint that I’ve pointed out in my last two reviews of Stamper’s books doesn’t ring true in this one: instalove is nowhere to be seen. Instead, we have some excellent sweet romances interwoven into the narrative and a mutual pining situation that will make you bite your nails in a will-they-won’t-they context. There are mistakes made and some choices that made me want to shake one of the boys but it’s as messy as teenage years are supposed to be. Besides, while this book featured romances and followed four queer boys, the focus here isn’t on romantic relationships and instead on friendship which, in my opinion, made this book even better. We so rarely get to see queer friendships without romance being more important than the friends who’ve stood by you through literally everything and in Golden Boys, the opposite is the case. Each of the four boys values their friendships so much and it made my heart glow with appreciation for this kind of representation because I know what that would have meant for me as a queer teen.
All in all, this might just be my favourite by Stamper so far. I can’t wait to see how this duology ends in the next installment and where the four boys will end up once all is said and done.
A tribute to queer friendships, Golden Boys is a bittersweet exploration of what it means to grow up and to grow apart yet ultimately affirms the power of true friends. With tender romances and a summer of new beginnings, this book will take readers’ hearts by storm.
Golden Boys is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 8th 2022.
Will you be picking up Golden Boys? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
National bestselling author Phil Stamper crafts the perfect summer friendship story, starring four queer boys with big hearts and even bigger dreams.
Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends, bonded in their small rural town by their queerness, their good grades, and their big dreams. They are about to embark on the summer before senior year of high school, where each is going on a new, big adventure. Reese is attending a design school in Paris. Gabriel is going to Boston to volunteer with a environmental nonprofit. Sal is interning on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator. And Heath is stuck going to Daytona Beach to help out at his aunt’s beachfront arcade.
What will this summer of new experiences and world-expanding travel mean for each of them—and for their friendship?
