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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
HIGH 3 stars
i think personally i would have liked to see cam as the main character but i understand the way this book had to happen. nathan is a really good (deep, flawed, learning) character despite my personal preference, and my god did it ever feel good for aunt lori to get hers
the fact that aunt lori stabbed him in the end, oh my gosh, i kinda knew but i didn't but i knew but i didn't, you know?
i think personally i would have liked to see cam as the main character but i understand the way this book had to happen. nathan is a really good (deep, flawed, learning) character despite my personal preference, and my god did it ever feel good for aunt lori to get hers
the fact that aunt lori stabbed him in the end, oh my gosh, i kinda knew but i didn't but i knew but i didn't, you know?
This book was shocking. Firstly, Zack Smedley is a terrific writer. Everything is so clear and easy to follow but there is so much emotion and personality packed into each character and each moment. And secondly, this book was gripping as hell. There was no doubt in my mind once I was 10 pages in that I wasn’t going to finish it today. Pages flew by and so much happened, but it never felt rushed.
The way this is told, as a deposition, doesn’t hinder it at all. In fact, I really liked that as a framing for the story. It was just one more additional layer that was so fun to get through.
Top 5 of 2020.
The way this is told, as a deposition, doesn’t hinder it at all. In fact, I really liked that as a framing for the story. It was just one more additional layer that was so fun to get through.
Top 5 of 2020.
3.5
I have to say this is a really strong debut novel. It kept me interested the entire time and was really easy to read. I couldn’t give it any more than 3.5, because although entertaining, it didn’t really hit me in the feels when it felt like it was supposed to and also I found some of the dialogue to be a bit unrealistic at times, but definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for one of those fast paced, easy to read contemporaries.
I have to say this is a really strong debut novel. It kept me interested the entire time and was really easy to read. I couldn’t give it any more than 3.5, because although entertaining, it didn’t really hit me in the feels when it felt like it was supposed to and also I found some of the dialogue to be a bit unrealistic at times, but definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for one of those fast paced, easy to read contemporaries.
i’ve read a lot of sad gay books in my day. they never get less painful but this ending really ruined me
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
good good good lgbt (B, tiny bit of L) content where it isn't all perfect and relationships aren't perfect just bc they're lgbt, a lot of religious stuff though
**I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Trigger Warnings: Internalized homophobia, homophobia, emotional and physical abuse
So to start with a small disclaimer that this book gave me so many emotions. Most of them were frustration. The type where you wish you could reach inside the book and just shake the character and tell them to make better choices!!
Deposing Nathan was fantastic, but I’ll be the first to say that Nathan is a real a**hole at times. Like he isn’t such a great person for most of the book which was the source of most of my frustration. Nathan is selfish and rude, and incredibly homophobic. Much of his homophobia sprouts from his firm religious beliefs. I wasn’t expecting religion to play such a big role in this book, but it does. Nathan and his family are devout Christians, and for Nathan, God is a very big part of his life.
You might be wondering why I’m giving this book such a good rating if the main character was such a douchebag. But that’s the point of the story, and that’s what makes it so much more meaningful. We’ve seen plenty of books where the main character struggles against the homophobia of others, people on the outside, but Nathan’s struggle is so much more meaningful because he’s trying to come to terms with himself. He’s realizing that what he’s feeling is against everything he believes in, and throughout the book, he struggles to consolidate one with the other.
You might think that the internalized homophobia and denial are the main themes of this book, but there is so much more that happens. Throughout his deposition, Nathan recounts his friendship with Cam. From the moment their friendship began Cam immediately starts challenging Nathan to expand his boundaries and break the rules a little. As great as it is to see Nathan make a genuine friend and break some of the extremely strict rules and guidelines set by his aunt, there are drawbacks. Drawback number one being Nathan's aunt.
From the get-go it's apparent that she's incredibly controlling, needing to be in charge of every aspect of Nathan's life. She disapproves of his friendship with Cameron, disliking Cameron's influence and the way he encourages Nathan to break some of her ironclad rules.
Besides the incredible plot and characters, I also really enjoyed the formatting of this book. I love when books mix the recounting of events that have already passed while mixing in events that are happening at the moment. I also love when books leave you guessing and trying to figure out what actually happened.
Deposing Nathan is a hard-hitting book which brings across a lot of important messages. 10/10 would recommend, but warning for immense frustration at all characters involved.