I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is a stand alone book which seems so weird coming from Lani Lynn Vale. I am so used to her having series. On top of that there is an Author's Note right at the beginning. All I thought as I read that was son of biscuit eater! She was gonna leave me with questions that I would have to wait until her new series started to find out about. That means that while this one is a stand alone read it will be the bridge to a new series. It also answers some questions from Maybe Swearing Will Help(Ford & Ashe's book), which is where we first met Banner.

I love just how much of both Trance and Viddy we see in Banner. His parents are one of my favorite LLV couples so learning more about their children is so great. Banner has to move to a new school after his father shots and kills his best friend's father. Vance, the friend, can't seem to let it go. Trance is a cop so he didn't just willy nilly shoot the guy. Banner ends up in Kilgore and on his first day of school he meets Perry.

Perry seems like the one girl that Banner would never be attracted to. She isn't the most popular but she does play various sports. She is simply herself which is why Banner falls head over heels for her. That is until his trouble follows him to his new home.

There is so much to love in this book. While high school kids are normally what Lani Lynn Vale writes abut she knocked this one out of the park. She brings in characters to help with the trouble (such as Ford and Trance) yet gives us new characters to drool over. I love how his new friends stood up for Banner. They didn't question his version of what happened. They took it for the truth that it was. She also gave a bit more Sloan but did say in her author's note that his book wouldn't be coming until the new series. I just need to know more about him now.

This review was originally posted on Wickedly Romance

What an absolutely amazing story. Lani Lynn Vale never fails to make me fall in love with her books. They are a pure joy to read. I think this just might be my favorite. Banner and Perry are a shear delight. The by play between them, the chemistry is off the charts. From the first paragraph I was hooked.
This is a very simple story, not super complex, but still so entertaining. The story is told is dual POV, with a little extra thrown in. I was disappointed though that there wasn’t more by play between Perry and her nemesis. You can’t make everyone happy though.

3.5 Stars
We’ve got a sweet, high school romance here- full of bullies, some drama, insta-love, and the over the top devotion that comes with that first love intensity. I love this type of story- it brings back the nostalgia of how epic and dramatic everything felt when you were a teen, and this one is a juicy, quick page turner with ample sweetness and steam. Seems that the high school angst is the perfect vehicle for some of Lani’s writing charms.

Our story is about Banner, the new senior escaping to a new school given some drama at his old one, who immediately is drawn to Perry, the leader of my new favorite girl crew and talented school athlete. All your favorite cliches come to play- adorably done- the random sitting next to each other in first period meeting, him defining her against yucky bullies, all the swooning, and the fake date turned real interest. The two start to develop af tentative romance that speeds up quickly- not too much drama as it evolves, just really cute and sweet, very INSTALOVE, which is just how it felt when you were young. But, Banner’s past and his future create some dramatic moments and potential barriers.


I loved the relationship here- it was cute and sweet. They just fall together naturally are are both so genuine and authentic with each other. I also appreciated that Perry is an AAPI character, although I wish this had been more than just a toss out mention since her ethnicity most certainly would influence her as a character. This seems a bit under-explored.

What kept me from rating this higher was that the book couldn’t decide what the REAL conflict was going to be. It is not a long read, but there are two big dramatic conflicts squeezed in on top of the budding relationship, and as such, both felt short changed- not developed enough, not letting us see the impact and emotion of our characters, not even having them interact much about them, and both resolving lightning fast. With a lot of secondary characters swirling around, too (all of whom were interesting), the story just felt rushed and surface level in places.
Still, a super enjoyable read and brings back all those fun high school first love butterflies. The relationship really does shine- and is truly very adorable and charming.

Stages of the Lani Lynn Vale Obsession:
Stage 1: You haven't read anything by her, but get an ARC for KPD SWAT 2.0 and are immediately hooked.
Stage 2: Decide to read the books in the series and discover there's a whole world out there you didn't know about.
Stage 3: Go back and start with Boomtown, OHMIGOODNESS!
Stage 4: Now you've read Boomtown, Heroes of the Dixie Wardens, KPD SWAT, Kilgore Fire, Uncertain Saints, Dixie Warden Reject, The Hail Raisers, and are on The Simple Man series.
Stage 5: You see a Lani Lynn Vale ARC, and you jump on it with both feet!

And so this finds me just finishing Something About That Boy. In many reviews, I've seen reviewers talk about how much they love reading a new book by LLV because it's like reconnecting with old friends. I wholeheartedly agree with that. It's quite touching to learn about the child of a character you got to know several series ago. Trance (Killian Red) Spurlock and his wife Viddy are from Heroes of the Dixie Wardens, and Banner Spurlock is their youngest. Banner goes to live with his brother Ford in Kilgore because of a conflict with another student. Banner is a good kid and a talented athlete. He meets Perry, and the attraction is immediate, and they connect. Perry is the adopted daughter of a bi-racial couple, and Perry herself is Asian. I LOVED THIS! I think this was one of the best attributes of the book was the breakdown of racial barriers, and just family love was the theme.

Banner and Perry fall in love. There are suspense and some danger (love that about LLV's books) and a whole lot of family togetherness. Perry is not a big fan of the military (no spoilers). Banner has a dream of becoming a Navy SEAL, which causes some conflict, but Banner and Perry handle it well. This book lists as standalone I feel there are characters here that have stories to be told. I am hoping we get more stories from this wide-ranging group of characters as their children come of age. I feel like I know all these people from Kilgore, Benton, Hostel, Longview, Uncertain, and other points. You don't have to go through all the Stages of the LLV obsession, but I highly recommend it. You, too, will become engrossed and want to hang out in the Lani-verse.

Somethin' About That Boy is the newest laugh out loud, sexy, sweet romance from Lani Lynn Vale. It's a YA/High School romance, but the characters are mature for their age and I loved it. We met Banner in Maybe Swearing Will Help, he's Ford's younger brother, and I was so excited to hear he was getting a story! He's not your typical teenage boy. He was raised with respect, manners and kindness. He's sweet, sexy, nice and loyal and as soon as he sees Perry, he's hooked. She's beautiful, but she's also cute, a little prickly, athletic and funny. Banner had to move to Kilgore to get away from a kid who wants to make his life hell. He's not happy about it, being his senior year, but he gets to play football, meets new friends and as soon as he meets Perry, he's all in. She's just it for him. Period. He has dreams he wants to live and he's going to make sure he gets the girl and the life he's wanted since he was four. I loved watching these teenagers fall for each other. It was just so sweet and fun and I wasn't bothered by their age at all. And we already know Slone (we're going to get his story in a spin-off) and I know we'll be seeing Banner's football friends again! (Thank you, Lani). Overall, I loved it! I finished it in a few hours, laughed, cried, swooned and wished there were more boys out there like Banner! Parent goals for me to raise my boys like him :)!

People say I act like I don't give a shit. Newsflash, I'm not acting - Perry's secret thoughts.

"I'll give you more as soon as you're ready for it," he murmured. "Don't want to terrify you to the point of never doing this again. You're like potato chips."
"You can't have me just once?"
"Exactly."

This is not friendship weather. Stop inviting me to places. - Perry to Blue.

Banner Spurlock!
Admittedly it took me a few minutes to realise who he was then i was well away.
I really liked the change in pace in this one. The age was different but i just loved Banner and Perry's relationship and spark between them.
Perry i liked she had that take no s*** attitude and she wasn't falling all over Banner's feet when he first came.
I honestly love it so much with Lani's books that you get to see previous characters and see how their getting on after their books.
I'm looking forward to what's to come!

❤

Banner Spurlock is pissed he has to transfer schools because his ex-best friend has turned into a tormentor and it is escalating with each passing day. Having to transfer to Kilgore High School is not how a senior wants to spend his last year in school. What he didn't plan was to meet Perry Street, she is sassy and intriguing. Banner decides that he wants to get closer to Perry, what he doesn't plan is his tormentor to transfer as well and set his sights on Perry as well.

Great read, a different type of story for this talented author. I liked Banner, he was in high school but he acted like a man with strong values which was refreshing to read. Perry is a hoot, I enjoyed her character and those of her friends. Can't wait for the next book.

Loved this! I loved that Banner fell in love with Perry at first sight. This one is fixed in a high school setting with bullies and drama all around!

Their dynamic with each other had me turning the page because i couldn’t get enough of them!

Definitely loved the angst and how the story played out!

4 stars