Loverboy
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Andersen Press
Age 12+
Family Break-Up Personal & Social Issues: Sexuality & Relationships Personal & Social Issues: Self-Awareness & Self-Esteem, Romance & Relationships Stories Personal & Social Issues: Divorce, Separation
Alfie puts the hopeless into hopeless romantic. Perfect for fans of Holly Bourne, Sophie Gonzales and Michelle Quach
Alfie thinks Maya might be the One, and he's desperate to tell her ... until she reveals she's got a new, older boyfriend. Crushed, Alfie starts hanging out with Maya's shy best friend Gwen - and develops feelings for her. But Gwen's hiding something, and Alfie's confused.
As Alfie looks for love within his friendship group, things get complicated - until Alfie makes a big mistake. Can he score with the girl of his dreams - or is he onto a losing streak?
A sweetly funny romance about a boy looking for love in all the wrong places.
Creators
Ben Tomlinson lives in London, and has loved writing stories from a very early age. He is a graduate of Sussex University and the Creative Writing MA at the University of East Anglia. He worked for many years as a theatre facilitator, leading workshops and directing youth theatres with young people of all ages. When he is not reading and writing he loves watching football, street-dancing, people-watching and exploring London.
Reviews
All the characters, especially Alfie, are engaging and clearly delineated, and the perils of teen relationships are explored with a light-hearted touch
The School Librarian
Loverboy oozes authenticity through its convincing teenage dialogue and accurately and sensitively chronicles such issues as self-esteem, sexuality and the complexities of school and family life. . Tomlinson has a sure touch when exploring the thoughts and emotions of young male teenage characters and this is a reassuring and empowering facet of the book.
Books for keeps
Loverboy is about discovering love in unexpected places and learning from the mistakes along the way. This sweet and relatable story captures the essence of teenage uncertainty. Alfie navigates the messy terrain of crushes, friendships, and personal growth with awkwardness, naivety, and occasional mistakes. Recommended for readers aged thirteen and over, the novel is perfect for those looking for a light-hearted, heartfelt romance with a dose of humour.”
Childrens Book Council of Australia - Reading Time
Remarkably this is a teen-romance novel with a male central character who manages to look for love in all the wrong places. A bitter-sweet journey! Ben Tomlinson has managed to create a romance-oriented story without it becoming about teenage sexual experience. Alfie is a hopeless romantic, and perhaps the target audience of 14-17 year-olds would need to share that quality, or at least be open to the insights of a teen romance
ReadPlus
Tomlinson delves into the complexity of teenage relationships, fighting for the characters to recognise their feelings and find the freedom to express themselves without judgement. This novel is truly insightful and will have you gunning for the underdog throughout the whole journey. Firmly recommend.
Kids’ book review
