Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I'll put it simply: Self-Made Boys is the best retelling I've ever read. Not only does the book retain the key plot points and themes of the original, it also achieves a rare feat of improving upon a modern classic, where even more complexity and layers are added to the themes and characters.

To be honest, just the premise itself seems to good to be true - a canon Nick & Gatsby where both are trans and gay in a book made gayer and more diverse! - yet the novel still exceeds my expectations. The themes and characters are tackled with aplomb; what I think I know about Fitzgerald's original, McLemore plumbs the depths even further, adding even more nuance and characterization to their main cast in a way that amazingly connects to their own version. There were several times I had to pause upon stumbling upon such an instance, awed at how they shed a completely new light or perspective on a character and/or their actions. It's a marvel, really.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is the themes and how they're explored. There are the original themes further scrutinized through Nicólas' non-white and non-cis lens, in addition to new ones examined like race, gender, queerness. It's a lot, yet McLemore somehow succeeds in their balancing act, exploring all the themes inidividually while also bringing intersectionality into play. This also makes the characters more layered, with the most prominent example perhaps being Daisy who's deliciously complex, at once infuriating yet understandable.

I only wish there were more scenes of Nicólas and Gatsby after they get together, even just them lounging in the pool and talking or something; currently the focus is turned immediately to Daisy afterwards and it feels a little abrupt. The explanation for Gatsby's endless pursuit of Daisy personally feels a little forced as well, reading mildly like a cop-out. I just don't understand why he's in such a hurry for a lavender marriage, though maybe that's also due in part to Daisy's situation.

In sum, however, this is not merely a great retelling of a well-known classic but also a smartly plotted, layered and complex book that stands on its own, examining the American dream through the POVs of those not traditionally seen or heard in mainstream society.

Content Warnings

melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you to Fierce Reads and Netgalley for an ALC of this one!

Great Gatsby remix with two trans leads? Umm....yes! Written by one of my all time favorite authors, Anna-Marie McLemore? Double yes. Also includes a sapphic relationship??? YES.

I am so happy I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this in advance. I preordered this one way back before it even had a cover because I am a simp for anything McLemore writes. I was not at all disappointed with this one!

Nick and Jay are so perfect. T4T romance and discussions of race and the whole title Self-Made Boys being used for trans boys and everything everything everything about this retelling. The Great Gatsby is one of those books that I absolutely loved reading years ago but looked back on and saw all the problems with it, so it is so incredibly nice to be able to read something that takes so much of what I love from the classic and updates it in a way that is thoughtful and meaningful. McLemore's voice is beautiful and elegant as always, and I also loved the narration of the audio!

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brokenbodybitch's review

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5.0

I absolutely loved this remix, I never read the original gatsby, well I tried but never got far, however I saw the newer movie and my partner knows a decent amount about the original so I went in with a fairly base/basic knowledge of the source material.

I really enjoyed the relationships between the main characters and how their friendships/relationships developed/changed/grew over the story, as well as the way the characters queerness presented and grew in the eyes of nicolás and the reader over the course of the book. I adored the ‘self made boys’ bit, and the way the trans experience was explained was relatable and beautiful. Kinda off of that; the writing in this book was really well done and beautiful in my opinion and I loved the way the pov’s were structured to enhance to the story. This was a beautiful ya book with heavy themes of embracing your culture despite what the society around you is saying and be who you are. If classics were like this growing up I can guarantee I would’ve read them all!

I will 100% be getting myself a physical copy of this book and most likely the audiobook as well, so far these remixed classics have been fantastic and I can’t wait to see what else is to come!

Additionally; Avi Roque, and Kyla Garcia narrated the audiobook, they did a fantastic job (I love Avi Roque already) and their narration added to the story so well

Graphic: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Racial slurs, War, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Initial thoughts;
I did not plan on feeling this emotional tonight….the way this explains the trans experience in internal dialogue was 🥲

Content Warnings

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

It's New York City in 1922 and Nicolás Caraveo, a trans boy, is making his way there to earn money for his family back in Minnesota. It's also a chance for him to completely re-invent his life as a man. At the encouragement of his cousin Daisy, he takes the leap of faith and rents a house in West Egg.

Nick's neighbor happens to be a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby, known for the elaborate parties he throws. After going to one of Gatsby's parties, Nick learns that they're just to win back Daisy. Nick also learns something else: Jay is also transgender. The two form a friendship, a friendship that eventually evolves into something more for Nick. But will Jay ever reciprocate?

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel and Friends for an advanced copy of Self-Made Boys to review! I love Anna-Marie McLemore as a writer, and I was excited to see what they did with the Gatsby story. So happy to say that I wasn't disappointed!

Honestly, I could take it or leave it about The Great Gatsby; read it for school, and it's fine. Not my favorite classic. But let me tell you, McLemore absolutely nails the feel of that book in this one. I read in another review that this isn't so much a Great Gatsby retelling as much as fanfiction. I'd say that's accurate. McLemore took liberties with the story, and I actually appreciated the changes that were made.

At the end of the book, McLemore does explain that they tried to be as historically accurate as possible while also allowing Nick and Jay to be themselves. Their evolving relationship was probably my favorite thing about the book. That and Nick's oblivious nature. There was so much going on under his nose that he didn't even realize. When he finally realizes it, it was great.

Daisy gets a redemption arc in this, too! the explanation for everything at end was just great. They're all supporting each other in a society that wouldn't accept them. And they all deserve their happy endings. One hundred percent.

All in all, if you're excited about diverse re-tellings of classics, definitely pick this one up in September!

Content Warnings

booksdogsandcoffee's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The story captivating and a wonderful reimagining of Gatbsy
The narration was music to my ears
The representation, spot on.

This was as such a phenomenal reimagining of Gatsby. It was a coming of the age story and about embracing your culture and who you are even when white culture tells you not to. The rewording of the “Beautiful little fool” quote was perfection! The reworking of the green glow across the lake was fantastic. I really enjoyed the ending changes it feels like a better ending overall than how the original ends in my opinion. It was just soooooo well done and everything I could want in a reimagining of Gatsby. Please be sure to read the authors note it is just fantastic!

Rep
Trans rep both Gatsby and Nicholas
Latinx rep
Skin lightening of latinx women
Jewish
Sapphic

Cw
Colorism
Transphobia
Classism
Racism
Colonization
Ptsd
gun violence
infidelity
homophobia

Spoiler:

JORDAN AND DASIY TOGETHER GIVES ME LIFE

Content Warnings

patricktreads's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a great retelling of gatsby. I really appreciated the quite literal look at “self made boys” and how that and the background of the characters gave a lot to the story. I also really appreciated the authors content warnings and the context notes as both helped the reader with some of the topics discussed.

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