I grew up on a steady diet of teen romances in the 1980’s; Bantam’s “Sweet Dreams” line was my reading of choice.  To date, I’d never seen a book that reminded me of that series, and then I discovered Stephie Davis.  Her writing is certainly geared towards the issues that most young teens face—boys, looks, and fitting in!

Almost fifteen-year-old Allie Morrison is all set to spend her summer in California with her father and his new wife.  Only she receives a phone call stating that he is canceling, and Allie is now spending her summer alone.  Allie’s mother seems more intent on dating than spending time with her daughter.  Needing something to do, Allie arranges to work at her teacher’s farm.  After all, there will be boys there!

 Life on the farm isn’t as easy as Allie was imagining, but the hunky seventeen-year-old guy that she’s working with more than makes up for it.  Better yet, he seems very interested!  Unfortunately, Allie’s teacher pairs her up with a rude fifteen-year-old boy who treats Allie like dirt.  However, as she gets to know him, Allie realizes that she thinks she is actually more interested in the rude boy.  What’s a girl to do?

WHO NEEDS BOYS? isn’t heavy reading.  It’s light, fun, and mesmerizing.  I may be in my thirties now, but I can still remember the misery that boys could cause.  Do they like you?  Why are they being so cruel?  Why do we keep putting up with their juvenile behavior?  Stephie Davis captures all that and packs it into her absorbing book.