Review of "Being Friends with Boys"

"I could have tried to argue or beg, but I know--better than anyone--that once someone's made up her mind to leave you, there's nothing you can do to make her stay."

     Terra Evan McVoy's Being Friends with Boys turns high school girl drama on its head. Charlotte is done with girls--a history of backstabbing BFF's and a house full of stepsisters have sworn her off female relationships entirely. Instead, Char spends her time with Sad Jackal, an all-boys band made up of her best friends: Oliver, Trip, and Abe. Together, the foursome have made it through a golden summer of guitars, drums, and beginner gigs. Then, just when they've got their sights set on the Halloween dance, Trip drops the band, leaving Sad Jackal scrambling to find a replacement. To make matters worse, the new guitarist is hot, and he seems to like her. With the pressure on to revamp Sad Jackal completely, can Char hold it all together? Or will being friends with boys prove to be just too complicated?

     Can I just take a moment to note how refreshing this premise is? In almost every book featuring a female protagonist in high school, two factors can be found within the first five chapters: a female BFF and a super-cute boy. If she does have a guy-friend, it's almost a given that they'll fall for each other. Not so in McVoy's novel. From the first chapter, the characters make it obvious that Char is one of the guys. She writes their songs, hangs out at Oliver's house, and has deep conversations with Trip in a spiral-bound notebook. No romance, no drama. Just honest, meaningful friendship.

     But drama is heading their way. At first, it's a little thing: Trip leaving the band. This gives readers a chance to explore the characters in a slightly agitated state, which casts more insight into their personalities. Then, after a few chapters, we're thrown into the plot. McVoy's writing perfectly captures each boy's presence and the niche in which Char easily fits. It turns out that having a bunch of boys as friends isn't as drama-free as it sounds, and Char experiments with a couple different friend groups before finally settling on one. She also doesn't stick with one guy, and gets to know the various stereotypes at school. Char is the ultimate average girl, which makes her easy to relate to and fun to read.

     The plot in this book is spellbinding. Sympathy for Charlotte, along with curiosity about her odd role as best friend/songwriter/mother duck in a pack of boys, catches the reader’s attention, and the rest of the story doesn’t disappoint. From bickering stepsisters to a tangible relationship with three boys who leap off the page, it’s natural to get swept up in this novel. Sad Jackal goes through a lot of development over the course of the book, as a whole and as individuals. It’s easy to feel the tension as they struggle to make things work in the face of hardship and deadlines. There is romance, both sweet and awkward, which never goes beyond kissing. Characters swear a bit, but the worst is a written “WTF?” Everything is well-balanced and supports the plot nicely.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an unconventional look at boy-girl friendship. Although there's some mild romance, it primarily focuses on fitting in with the people who understand you, regardless of gender. Family life and friendships are balanced nicely, and the presence of the band grounds the story a reality while also providing something for the plot to revolve around. The prose is simple but fitting, and Terra Evan McVoy's grasp of her characters is astounding. All in all, Being Friends with Boys fully deserves five out of five stars.