Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock (Review, Giveaway, & Guest Post)

Welcome to the final stop along the official Camp Boyfriend blog tour! I hope you've had fun the last couple of weeks hearing about the book, learning about J.K. Rock (dynamic duo, Jennifer and Karen), and winning giveaways! Today I get to wrap things up with my thoughts on the the book, and will then turn things over to J.K. for some fun summer hair tips. And make sure you enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post! You have two chances to win!

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Title: Camp Boyfriend
Author: J.K. Rock
Series: This is the first book in a new series, and the prequel novella was released in March.
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Source: The publisher. (thanks!)
Buy It: Amazon
(You can order signed copies by calling Anderson's Book Shop in Larchmont, NY:  914-834-6900)
Add It: Goodreads

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

When I was younger, pretty much my favorite movie ever was the original Parent Trap with Hayley Mills. It wasn't because of the romance or anything like that, it was because I was always fascinated by summer camp! I loved the cabins and the activities and minimal adult supervision. I always wanted to go, but got homesick way too easily. Camp Boyfriend excited me for the same reason Parent Trap did, and I loved it so much! 

I kind of loved the idea of Lauren's double life: popular cheerleader at school, nerdy astronaut wannabe at camp. It's kind of like Danny Zuko in Grease. He's a hardened, greasy hair, leather jacket dude at school and a romantic khakis-wearing guy during the summer he and Sandy fall in love. When you think about it, this phenomenon is so common. You're one person with your parents, another with your friends. You're on person at your job, and another one at home. Even in this book blogging world, so many of us are VERY different online than off. My friends don't even really know about my book blogging, and the ones who do know are surprised I'm such a book nerd. We all have different personalities for different times, and Lauren's two lives collide this summer. I loved watching her world cave in when she realizes what's going on, because I just know how that would feel. Just as Lauren gets ready to reunite with her sweet, camp boyfriend, her popular boyfriend crashes her fun. And craziness ensues. I couldn't help but laugh at her predicament. Busted!

Amidst all the summer camp-ness, drama, falling in and out of love over and over again, and trying to keep her old friends and make new friends at the same time... Lauren has to figure out who she really is. Now that her two worlds are one, she has to figure out how to mesh them together. She has to choose who she loves, and what she wants to do with her life. And what HARD choices! I really liked both Seth and Matt, I liked everyone at camp, and I really loved watching everyone try to get along and figure out what's going on.

This book is, plain and simple, adorable. The writing is perfect, and I SO want to go to summer camp now!

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Summer Hair 101
Guest post by J.K. Rock

The day I was born, my parents oohed and ahhed over my brown curls… so much so that they took endless pictures, dragged nurses over to admire me, and called in every friend and relative to see the child destined for shampoo commercials. HAH. Those curls have been the bane of my life, especially when at summer camp. Spending extended amounts of time outdoors, in the water, without frequent access to hair products, takes my semi-intentional, messy, curly look to a hairdo that resembles a Brillo pad- and a used one at that! Yikes. Lauren, the main character in my co-authored novel, Camp Boyfriend, suffers a similar fate (poor thing!). Luckily, her older sister/fashionista, Kellianne, teaches her some tricks to tame her mane. Read on for some fun, stylish ways to deal with summer hair. Take THAT Mother Nature!

Foolproof style for your next getaway or day at the beach. Here’s to good hair days ahead!

1. Before heading to the beach or the pool, wash and condition your hair thoroughly.
2. Towel dry and put hair in a ponytail at the top of your head.
3. Twist hair around the ponytail and secure in a spiraled bun.
4. Spritz strands with a soft-touch hairspray.
5. After your day in the sun, let the bun fall to form smooth waves, and finish with a mist of hairspray to keep locks in place.

See? Now it looks like you meant that messy, beachy look

Tame the Beast: (otherwise known as your summer hair)

T-Shirt Dry – resist the urge to towel dry your wet hair when you get out of the shower. Towels’ thick, rough texture can damage the hair cuticle, so instead reach for an old (clean) t-shirt to soak up moisture.  


Don’t Brush – instead of brushing your wet hair, comb through with a wide toothcomb or just your wet fingers. This will help prevent damaging the hair shaft. You can use a brush to blow dry your hair straight, but avoid brushing dry hair as it can stretch out the hair cuticle.

Skip Shampoos – In order to prevent frizz, it’s key not to wash your hair every day. This can deplete the natural healthy oils your scalp produces making your hair even frizzier. Try rinsing with water and applying just conditioner. 

Treat it – For an extra benefit, reach for the jojoba or coconut oil once a week. These apply the right amount of moisture and frizz control without weighing hair down.

When it doubt- Braid it out!!

Sometimes the best way to deal with the frizz and heat is to hide it in a messy side bun, top knot, or a braid. It’s a style you can wear to the beach, in the water, on a hike, and still look ready to go to a camp dance like Lauren and her bunkmates at Munchies’ Manor. There are so many styles to choose from. Here one that goes beyond the typical French braid (which I still have yet to master…)

Wave the White Flag- or at least a head scarf.

Head scarves and hats are great ways to look good and not worry about summer locks. Scarves can double as head wraps, head bands, ponytail holders and a weapon when your friends make you want to strangle them as Lauren’s sometimes do! Hats help prevent future wrinkles, but more importantly, they also make you think of Bruno Mars. Who doesn’t want to think about him?!


Go big or Go home!

Sometimes you just have to embrace who you are- frizz and all. Confidence is attractive no matter what. Think about all the rock stars you’ve screamed for in a dark concert hall. Put the same celebrity in daylight and you’ll scream for a different reason- unless it’s Keith Richards and then you’ll know it’s not a mask. Regardless, let your hair be wild and free and when people gently offer you a ponytail holder just smile smugly and say, “And hide all of this awesomeness away… I think not.” In Camp Boyfriend, Seth loves Lauren’s curly hair. In fact, he adores everything about her 



Camp Boyfriend is all about individuality and accepting yourself and others. So wave your frizz flag proudly. It’s who you are. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Summer Hair. What’s your favorite summer hairstyle?

Author Website / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Karen's Twitter / Joanne's Twitter

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Giveaway
(There are two types: a daily prize and a grand prize.)

Daily Prize: Camp journal, pen, bookmark, friendship bracelet and I <3 Camp temporary tattoos - colors and style may vary (see picture).

Grand Prize: Elkeles,The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt, That Summer by Sarah Dessen, Always You by Kirsty Moseley, an autographed Arc of Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout as J.Lynn and autographed copies of Camp Boyfriend and Camp Kiss along with 'I <3 Camp' temporary tattoos, a 'I <3 My Camp Boyfriend' t-shirt, a Camp Boyfriend bookmark and friendship bracelets- puppy not included :)Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols, Perfect Chemistry by Simone

  

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And make sure you visit the other tour stops as well!

7/1 - Aeicha @ Word Spelunking

7/2 - Aseel @ My Crazy Book Obsession 

7/3 - Amy @ Book Loving Mom 

7/4 - Kazhy @ My Library in the Making

7/5 - Joli @ Actin’ Up With Books

7/8 - Nicole @ Books Complete Me

7/9 - Taherah @ Books As You Know It

7/10 - Jen @ Jenuine Cupcakes

7/11 - Lisa @ Dizneeee’s World of Books

7/12 - Heather @ Nightly Reading

7/15 - Hannah @ The Irish Banana Review

7/16 - Cindy @ Princess Bookie

7/17 - Jenna @ Coffee, Books & Me

7/18 - Jess @ Book Passion for Life

7/19 - Jana @ The Artsy Reader Girl