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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing
This book made me frustrated, angry, laugh, all at the same time. Great read!
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
aunt lori count your mf days
This book broke my heart. The main characters (Nate and Cam) and the relationship between them was realistic and complicated and the way that their circumstances impacted their bond was handled really well. There is some good bisexual representation, and some nuanced exploration of the internal and external factors that influence our journeys of self-discovery.
This is not a light read, but it is a good one.
This is not a light read, but it is a good one.
Content Warning: Homophobia, Hate Crime, Child Abuse,
Deposing Nathan is testimony on how difficult sexuality and homophobia can be, even for the more privileged.
Let me get the one personal preference bit out the way first: I’m an atheist. I’m as anti-religious as possible without being an asshole. Thus, I did not connect with Nathan’s love and struggle with the Church. I kept thinking, “but WHY?” At least until the Mom connection was explained.
Now for the one unfavorable bit: I was justifiably pissed off in the beginning. I literally made a note that if SOMEONE didn’t start pointing out how awful and unreasonable SOMEONE ELSE was being, I was going to quit because fuck pretending that shit is okay.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to quit.
AS FAR AS HOW THINGS WENT….
->Bi boys!
->Love the dialogue between Nate & Cam
->Confronts the bi’s are cheaters head on
->Friends to lovers to….?
->Love the dichotomy between the loving sheltering and the punishment protection.
->Flew by, couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it. Sticks with you afterwards too.
->I really did not expect basically everything after the gayness jumped out. Almost a Tiffany D. Jackson level of revelation. The difference being, looking back is a perturbing quiet “ohhhhhhhhhh shit” rather than Jackson’s signature “wait, WHAT?” mind fuck. If things turned out worse, it’d be more like the latter.
I’m not going to lie to you. This is not a HEA. This is not a “fun” coming of age and coming out. Don’t go reading this wanting fluff.
I was not expecting to love all the characters so damn much. Even Though Nate and Cam would’ve been assholes in other novels. Hell, Nate would’ve been one in this book without his POV. Well, he is at times, but an understandable asshole. Not a justified one, but you know.
I love how everything flips and I can’t even pinpoint where things turned around. Like Cam says, “I think that how you feel toward someone doesn’t really change. More like, your feelings eventually get to where they were always going to end up. You evolve.”
four-half-stars
I re-read the ending and damn it made me tear up all over again. If I could include it without spoiling, it’d be on my favorite quote list for sure.
Deposing Nathan is testimony on how difficult sexuality and homophobia can be, even for the more privileged.
Let me get the one personal preference bit out the way first: I’m an atheist. I’m as anti-religious as possible without being an asshole. Thus, I did not connect with Nathan’s love and struggle with the Church. I kept thinking, “but WHY?” At least until the Mom connection was explained.
Now for the one unfavorable bit: I was justifiably pissed off in the beginning. I literally made a note that if SOMEONE didn’t start pointing out how awful and unreasonable SOMEONE ELSE was being, I was going to quit because fuck pretending that shit is okay.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to quit.
AS FAR AS HOW THINGS WENT….
->Bi boys!
->Love the dialogue between Nate & Cam
->Confronts the bi’s are cheaters head on
->Friends to lovers to….?
->Love the dichotomy between the loving sheltering and the punishment protection.
->Flew by, couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it. Sticks with you afterwards too.
->I really did not expect basically everything after the gayness jumped out. Almost a Tiffany D. Jackson level of revelation. The difference being, looking back is a perturbing quiet “ohhhhhhhhhh shit” rather than Jackson’s signature “wait, WHAT?” mind fuck. If things turned out worse, it’d be more like the latter.
I’m not going to lie to you. This is not a HEA. This is not a “fun” coming of age and coming out. Don’t go reading this wanting fluff.
I was not expecting to love all the characters so damn much. Even Though Nate and Cam would’ve been assholes in other novels. Hell, Nate would’ve been one in this book without his POV. Well, he is at times, but an understandable asshole. Not a justified one, but you know.
I love how everything flips and I can’t even pinpoint where things turned around. Like Cam says, “I think that how you feel toward someone doesn’t really change. More like, your feelings eventually get to where they were always going to end up. You evolve.”
four-half-stars
I re-read the ending and damn it made me tear up all over again. If I could include it without spoiling, it’d be on my favorite quote list for sure.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly really loved this book, it is about friendship, love, toxic family members and about letting go of a person you love because it is better for the both of you. I really love the meaning of that, to love someone enough to let them go. But this was just overall amazing, I definitely recommend this book.
TBH this is more of a 3.5 ⭐️ because although I hated the ending and some of the characters were flat, I did think the writing was really well done.
DEPOSING NATHAN is expertly paced, unflinching, and emotionally evocative. Nate's coming-of-age is provoked by extreme religious guilt regarding his sexuality, familial abuse, and deep-seated grief. His relationship with new-kid-at-school Cam becomes the catalyst for a junior year that's marked by personal growth and personal shame. The novel is framed with real-time scenes set in a video deposition after a violent act that leaves Nate stabbed with a piece of ceramic, but the true plot rests in Nate's detailed account of the year's tumultuous events. A hard read, but a rewarding one.
3.5 stars. It's not quite a four star but it isn't a 3 star either!
This book was not what I expected but it was very good. I was riveted; I think the dual timeline served this book very well. The suspense of finding out the ending and the stress of the deposition kept me turning pages.
The characters in this book were definitely the strong point. Both boys were unique, clear people, but you also saw them grow and struggle and act like teenagers. They were very well written.
The ending is SUPER spoilery- so stop reading if you don't want to see my thoughts on the ending and be spoiled.
*I warned you*
I HATED Lori this entire book and was so glad she finally! was recognized for what she was. The whole book I was just thinking "How is no one saying anything about Lori?" but it made sense once we got to the end and saw that she was the one who stabbed Nathan, not Cam.
Cam and Nathan not ending up together was just... sad. I felt Nathan's pain, he finally was able to accept how he felt about Cam! They had those wonderful days in the cabin! But Cam is probably logistically right. It was very mature of him, which is not typical in a YA novel.
I enjoyed this quick read and would definitely read another book from this author if another is released! This is a solid debut and I feel like Smedley will do great things.
This book was not what I expected but it was very good. I was riveted; I think the dual timeline served this book very well. The suspense of finding out the ending and the stress of the deposition kept me turning pages.
The characters in this book were definitely the strong point. Both boys were unique, clear people, but you also saw them grow and struggle and act like teenagers. They were very well written.
The ending is SUPER spoilery- so stop reading if you don't want to see my thoughts on the ending and be spoiled.
*I warned you*
I HATED Lori this entire book and was so glad she finally! was recognized for what she was. The whole book I was just thinking "How is no one saying anything about Lori?" but it made sense once we got to the end and saw that she was the one who stabbed Nathan, not Cam.
Cam and Nathan not ending up together was just... sad. I felt Nathan's pain, he finally was able to accept how he felt about Cam! They had those wonderful days in the cabin! But Cam is probably logistically right. It was very mature of him, which is not typical in a YA novel.
I enjoyed this quick read and would definitely read another book from this author if another is released! This is a solid debut and I feel like Smedley will do great things.