This was such a fun look at teenage nostalgia and I enjoyed every minute of it! Highly
Enjoyed the fun look back at the 80s and a young teen on the cusp of it all

For such an incredibly rich literary experience, Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome, Episode I: Bad Boy, reads easily and beautifully. The book isn’t just a glimpse of the 1980s; it IS the 1980s. Readers from all adult generations (Gen X, especially!) will love every word, scene, and thought.

There is something (well, many things) distinctive and remarkable about Chris Orcutt’s magnum opus. He reaches the heart and mind in a way so natural that the reading process comes off like seeing one’s own original thoughts and emotions in print—this is very rare territory. He does things with Bad Boy that I cannot recall any other author doing, or doing nearly so well. Many of the 1980s period references are presented in novel ways that both explain the referenced elements and add ultra-realistic life to the story. Orcutt’s use of music is mind-blowing. All of his techniques, and his utter mastery of imaginative writing, add a relatability and “cannot put it down” fondness to his already fantastic plot and theme.

The plot, an introduction to the life and times of young hero Avery “Ace” Craig, flows like a roller coaster with action, drama, romance, humor, suspense, thrills, and more. It is all bound together in a simply mesmerizing fashion. There is a deep philosophy at work, magnified by a grounded psychology, an understanding of how men and women relate to each other, and a resonating dose of faith. In the end, readers are left with several concurrent cliffhangers: adventurous, potentially dangerous, and frantically passionate. All of it will leave readers predicting, picking sides, hoping, fearing, laughing, and holding on tight. Hurry up, Episode II!

Bad Boy is a genuinely encompassing and immersive adventure, one that will have the mind and heart buzzing, on multiple levels, and for some time once the reading stops. The book is fun, engaging, and staggeringly impactful. I suspect it will cement Orcutt’s place in the echelons of timeless literature. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

Reading Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome, Episode I: Bad Boy felt like stepping into a magical time machine—and I didn’t want to leave. The ‘80s setting is pitch-perfect, from the Walkman and mixtapes to the quiet chaos of figuring out who you are. Ace is such a lovable, messy character, and his coming-of-age story is both funny and incredibly moving.

There’s a deep nostalgia here—not just for the pop culture, but for that feeling of being on the edge of everything for the first time. It reminded me how strange, thrilling, and painful growing up can be. A heartfelt, beautifully nostalgic read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Have Pen, Will Travel for providing an eARC of Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome, Episode I: Bad Boy prior to publication.

I am not sure how well I can convey what an absolute delight this book is and how much fun it was to read.

Perhaps I am slightly biased. This book is set in the early part of 1986, where our main protagonist, Avery "Ace" Craig is days away from his 16th birthday. I also turned 16 in 1986 which makes me the same age as Avery and reading his adventures unlocked some happy and maybe some not so happy memories of my teen years. Every song, every event mentioned in this book I lived through and the songs were the soundtrack from my life even though I lived in a WASPy community in Toronto, these characters were the people I spent all my days with.

I love that this book is written from a male's perspective. And this is a coming of age novel but not YA lit, It's not going to be a starry eyed love story for the ages - this is how it was in real life, the confusion, the exploration, the time we were no longer kids but not adults. This is the secret life of teenagers, at least how I experienced it. My daughter is 16 and her world is very different.

Orcutt has been able to capture not only the music and dress and technology but the rituals and interpersonal relationships that we engaged in. Note passing was a big part of our culture. Phone conversations late at night under the covers so your parents don't hear you. Mail that included letters from friends that were just outside of your travel zone. The cigarette smoke. The left over 70s decor. The older generation that we've all lost now. The independence of teens of the times - Gen X is not kidding when we say were on our own unlike generations before or after us.

But to get a real feel for my love for this book is this reaction I shared with a discord server of well read ladies, of various ages and diverse backgrounds:

so, Avery, our 16yr old protagonist has just had an overnight glow up and is being noticed by all the girls. He has his eye on a cute, but shy girl and is talking to her, but she has a "bestie from elementary" with her who also thinks Avery is hot. She is also insanely jealous (inferred to the reader, Avery is clueless) She is "experience" and wears provocative clothing and every time he makes a move on her friend, she doubles down and pushes herself on Avery, like insisting she sit beside him at McDonalds, then proceeds to squeeze his thigh under the table. When he says "that was not cool" she says, oh, you just passed the test, I wanted to see if you'd cheat on my friend.
Now, Avery has just kissed shy girl, and it was her first kiss ever, so she goes and tells her bestie, and then bestie is cornering Avery in stairwell and grabs him and sticks her tongue down his throat and rubbing up against him, so of course he responds - he's not QUITE 16, and she says "she was doing it b/c shy girl said he was a good kisser and she's never kissed anyone before, so she had to check for herself" And then she says, I know you're into me, but I won't tell shy girl that you didn't STOP me from kissing you. But I might do it again!
Now, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT A 'FRIEND' DID TO ME TO A GUY THAT I LIKED AND IT HAPPENED ON A GRADE 10 TRIP TO NYC AND THESE KIDS ARE ON A SCHOOL TRIP AND SHE ENDED UP SLEEPING WITH THE GUY BECAUSE SHE WOULD AND I WOULDN'T.

Now I have a server full of women who are dying to read this book.

There are other quotes that i shared with my husband as well as my book girlies - things that are so real for 16 year old boys and yet we had no idea that was what was going on in their heads. (my husband confirms this was universal)

I am looking forward to reading more of Ace's adventures and how he navigates his way through the girls and upcoming adventures. it's been wonderful revisiting my own teenage memories through Ace's story.

I think the author really tapped into something that is missing from the super popular romance genre - not just a male perspective, which is always controversial because the audience does not appreciate men writing for women and the idea that a male protagonist cannot create that 'self -insert' feeling that makes romance popular. The other issue is how to write about young adults, romance and sexual that will appeal to an older audience and I think this fits well. I'm not sure if this book will find a niche in the romance genre, but gathering from the reactions from my romance reading (and writing) peer group this will be well received.

I read this because I grew up in the time period and wanted to see how the author managed to capture it. With the inclusion of references to music of the time and plenty of descriptions of fashion, they made the 1980s come to life. I really enjoyed this trip back in time, recognising it is not designed to be an account of the times but of one person’s experience of it - don’t be looking for a massive social commentary. It’s a fun read with the odd heart-string tugging moment. I think the author did an amazing job of capturing convincing dialogue, which really made it easy to engage with.

I loved this book! I’m about the same age as the main character so it really resonated with me. This book was full of nostalgia. So many references I’d forgotten. I loved the realistic language and references to music. It brought back a lot of great memories. Growing up in the 80’s was a roller coaster and this gave exactly that feeling of being back there. Thank you for the time traveling opportunity. I’d love some more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Bodaciously True and Totally Awesome by Chris Orcutt! This book was a true blast from the past. If you have any connection to the 1980s- or just want to experience that unforgettable decade- this is the book for you. The music references are spot on and seamlessly woven into the story. The 80s were the best decade, and this book perfectly captures its energy, nostalgia, and spirit.

Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome is the ultimate nostalgic journey for any 80's kids/teenagers.

It spoke to me in ways I can't describe. It's almost like an Adrian Mole for the 80's...

Avery 'Ace' Craig, is the ultimate 'nice' guy. He is a cool kid, but he has no idea how truly popular he is.

He is good looking, intelligent, polite and a hit with the opposite sex.

In this first installment of nine (!) we meet him just as he is about to turn 16.

A turning point in any teenager's life.

Avery of course is desperate to lose his virginity, but he is a guy who doesn't want to cheat on his girlfriend.

Not even with her super hot best friend who is constantly and sometimes literally throwing herself at him.

I'll admit it took me a little while to get used to the writing style of this novel, but once I was in I was hooked and I cannot wait to figure out Avery's future with him.

I have a feeling it's going to be a bumpy but enjoyable ride...

What a fun trip this was! To say this is nostalgic is a complete understatement. I was giddy taking a trip down memory lane but with a fresh perspective--because it's not me. This is fun and silly, a little ridiculous at times, because teenage boys are often ridiculous. The main character is flawed but he's finding his way. I was entertained throughout and look forward to the next volume. The title and cover art are fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Dust off your Walkman, grab your Trapper Keeper, and race home to watch MTV. If you know what I’m talking about, then you are going to love the first installment of a 9 book series by Chris Orcutt titled Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode 1, Bad Boy. This trip down memory lane to 1986 is totally righteous and anything but bogus.

What I Liked About Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome:
Nostalgia:

I can’t think of a better time to be a teenager than in the 80s (other than the 50s maybe), and this book brings back all of the nostalgia from that time period. This is the first book of nine installments that brings back the memories of making mixtapes for your friends, and living with parents who smoked all of the time.

I laughed at the memory of answering the home rotary phone in one room, running to your bedroom to lift the receiver in your room, and then running back to the other room to hang up the other receiver. It brought back memories of my sister listening in on my phone calls, my mom getting on the line to tell me to go to bed, and then screening my calls once we got an answering machine.If you can’t relate to any of this, then this probably isn’t the book for you. If these moments ring true for you, Orcutt’s novel will be a total blast!

Playlist:

One of the book’s most brilliant features is the music playlist built right into the story. Orcutt scores each chapter with iconic 80s hits that serve as a clever ‘soundtrack’ for the plot. Instead of just reading the lyrics, I actually sang them to the tune in my head! It was so much fun to treat each song like a puzzle, hunting for hints about what would happen next. Tell me, which 80s song always gets you singing along?

The Characters:

Avery “Ace” Craig is your normal teenage boy. What I enjoy about his character is that he smart and respectful. He may be “hunky,” but his newfound status of “good-looking” among the girls happens almost overnight. I remember when I came back to school in the 10th grade and all of a sudden, the guys were taller than me and had muscles! It was the strangest thing. Avery is shocked by all of the girls’ attention, as well.

Since this is a coming-of-age story, you get the down and dirty mind of a teenage boy also. This is definitely not a young adult book that I would recommend to my students. This book is SPICY! I actually had to ask my husband if this is truly how a teenage boy’s mind works. I’ll let you guess what he said.

There is a wide range of female characters also. They are pretty common of what you would see in any normal high school. The sweet, the slutty, the smart, the shy, and the scrupulous. I wonder which character you are going to cheer for when it comes to who is best for Avery?

My Rating:
I enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read the next installment when it comes out in April. It’s a lot of spice (if that bothers you, don’t read it), a lot of humor, and very relatable. I wish the first book had ended in a different way, but it helps to know the next one will be out soon. This is why I gave it four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chris Orcutt for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome is sharp, slightly erratic and is incredibly bold, as it leans heavily on satire, yet is able to capture some genuine aspects of masculinity, obsession, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Reading this book has been much like being dropped into the chaotic inner monologue of another person. It was funny, uncomfortable, and unexpectedly thoughtful all at once. Orcutt does not soften the edges of his characters, which I think is wonderful. His characters are imperfect, occasionally ridiculous, and occasionally painful to witness; however, they are honest in ways that feel intentional rather than theatrical.
It is loud, biting, and self-aware; however, that is precisely why I believe it works. Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome challenges you to laugh, cringe, and reflect simultaneously, and I left this book with a sense that I had just read something very distinct. This is a true GenXers dream book.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc!

This book was a true blast from the past. If you have any connection to the 1980s- or just want to experience that unforgettable decade- this is the book for you. The music references are spot on and seamlessly woven into the story. The 80s were the best decade, and this book perfectly captures its energy, nostalgia, and spirit. This is the story of Avery "Ace" Craig, a most excellent dude and a true 80's hero!
This is episode 1 and I can't wait to hear more about Ace and his adventures!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Have Pen, Will Travel for this digital e-arc.*