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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
I had loved the previous two books in the Better Nate than Ever series so I was so happy when I found a copy of Nate Expectations in a local charity shop - I hadn’t known there was a third one in the series. I always love it when fate gives you a little bit of happiness.
I don’t know what it was but when I first began Nate Expectations, I struggled to get lost in the book and Nate came across as whiny and a little arrogant and self-absorbed which made me sad. I’m so glad I took a day off from it, reminding myself that I had really enjoyed the previous two and I wanted to know how Nate’s story would come to an end. That was the key and I spent the next day chuckling at the author’s ability to breathe life into the cast of characters, especially Nate’s best friend Libby.
We start at the end of Nate’s run on Broadway when unsurprisingly E.T. the Musical run had come to an absent end, which to anyone reading it whether young or old, will not come as a surprise. I loved how Nate however was amazed at this revelation, and it had me giggling because I cannot imagine anything so bad as a musical adaptation of this classic eighties movie. (I love E.T. btw.) Saying goodbye to not only his dreams but also the boy he’s been kissing and an Aunt who Nate’s grown close to is hard as is the adjustment to normal school for the young dreamer. I liked how you see these moments of realism for Nate because he’s got to live a life few ever accomplish and showing the small moments of day to day life he now has to adapt to in his hometown is well-written. From I imagine tutors to full-time school and all that involves for Nate is hard and his charm offensive and the ‘norm’ of talking to adults as if he’s equal won’t work - his inner monologue had me laughing out loud because he knows he can’t say what he wants.
The core part of the story is as the title may explain, Nate deciding to use his skills to bring Great Expectations to the stage as a musical in a bid to win over the English teacher who wants something different from his pupils. Once again, I couldn’t imagine how an adaptation of such a dark and often maudlin book could work but Nate is indeed a dreamer (and perhaps a little too arrogant at times) and he is convinced he can do it with help from Libby. With a cast of self-proclaimed nerds, the niece of the gym teacher who is a theatre kid in a school where the arts are lost in favour of sports and a boy who initially seems disinterested and the polar opposite of the vivacious Nate? Great Expectations slowly begins to take shape against all the odds…
It’s not just a story of the theatre kid fighting for success, and perhaps a B+ as a mark in English, but of Nate himself growing up and seeing he’s worthy of more in general, especially in regards to kissing boys. I think the reader sees the writing on the wall of Nate and the star of E.T, Jordan’s ‘relationship’ long before he does and I wanted to reach into the book and give him a good shake. He’s the boy that was there rather than the boy who is wanted and it’s sad to see - Nate deserves much more and slowly we get to see him grow and see that the grass can indeed be better on the other side.
I’m so glad I got to read this final book in the series, it came together in such a lovely way and it felt like we had gone on the journey to and from New York with Nate and we got to see him realise he’s not just the theatre kid. He’s a good friend, perhaps a boyfriend and can stand tall on his own and with those who love him all around.
Nate is basically my favorite (realistic) fictional person. He's got this way of talking--like a burned-out, smoking crater of an old movie starlet--that really jabs me right in the funny bone.
"...sometimes I feel like I'm like three life choices away from having my own signature wig line."
"and they smile at each other like two female senators who are only nice to each other for the sake of the women's movement."
my only real problem with this book is that Jordan turns into a completely different character. Where's the vulnerable kid from book 2?
Jesus, I f-ing love Tim Federle. Reading the text of his books is great, but I really urge you to listen to the audio books. He is literally the only author who I sign off on reading his own (non autobiographical) books. I'm looking at you, Neil Gaiman, Chris Colfer, and Jason Segel. Cut it the f*** out.
"...sometimes I feel like I'm like three life choices away from having my own signature wig line."
"and they smile at each other like two female senators who are only nice to each other for the sake of the women's movement."
my only real problem with this book is that Jordan turns into a completely different character. Where's the vulnerable kid from book 2?
Jesus, I f-ing love Tim Federle. Reading the text of his books is great, but I really urge you to listen to the audio books. He is literally the only author who I sign off on reading his own (non autobiographical) books. I'm looking at you, Neil Gaiman, Chris Colfer, and Jason Segel. Cut it the f*** out.
Nate Expectations is the third and final book in this series, picking up a few months after the end of Five Six Seven Nate. He is still in the Broadway production of ET The Musical but all good things must come to an end and he returns to his home town and high school. With his friend Libby, he decides to stage a musical based on Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, bringing together other kids who feel like outsiders. He tries to maintain his relationship with Jordan, the former star of ET, but grows close to another kid on the block. With a gay 14-year-old lead character, this is the kind of young adult book I could never have imagined existing when I was a teenager. It’s fun and silly but throws in a bit of wisdom about growing up and working out who you are.
A lovely, funny, poignant conclusion to this delightful trilogy. [a:Tim Federle|5446689|Tim Federle|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1330661042p2/5446689.jpg], thank you for this gem of a book. Sixth-grader approved--my kiddo was almost in tears there wasn't another Nate book to read.
Tim Federle has created a third installment to the Better Nate Than Ever series. Nate has returned home now that his time on Broadway is over, and he is attending high school for the first time in his life. Nate decides to create a musical of Dickens's Great Expectations for his English project, and he enlists the help of his new friends in doing so. Meanwhile, his Broadway boyfriend is starring in a television show, and they are attempting a long-distance relationship. Oh, and Nate hasn't come out to his parents yet.
I thought the first book in this series was adorable. This book is also adorable, but it's losing some of that simply because the main character is now in high school. Normally, a book with a main character in high school is considered young adult, but this book still definitely reads like a tween book. Nate has a chatty, stream-of-consciousness narrative voice which can be trying at times if a reader simply wants to know what happened next. The Nate books haven't been popular at my library, but I think that is due to the library's location rather than the writing quality of the books themselves. I recommend this book where the first two in the series are popular, or where a librarian sees the need to add more queer literature to the tween section.
Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: One homophobic slur on Nate's first day at high school
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Edelweiss for the purpose of review.
I thought the first book in this series was adorable. This book is also adorable, but it's losing some of that simply because the main character is now in high school. Normally, a book with a main character in high school is considered young adult, but this book still definitely reads like a tween book. Nate has a chatty, stream-of-consciousness narrative voice which can be trying at times if a reader simply wants to know what happened next. The Nate books haven't been popular at my library, but I think that is due to the library's location rather than the writing quality of the books themselves. I recommend this book where the first two in the series are popular, or where a librarian sees the need to add more queer literature to the tween section.
Recommended for: tweens
Red Flags: One homophobic slur on Nate's first day at high school
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Edelweiss for the purpose of review.
This wasn't my favorite Nate book...but it was fun to read and see what happens to Nate when he unexpectedly has to move back to his hometown and attend high school. I love Federle's humor, and it's nice to read a fun and fast book.
I hadn't read the previous ones but was given a copy of this one to try and I'm glad to have a feel for them now. It was surprisingly sweet and charming and while few background characters got much time, it felt like they were well formed for the sketches they had.
I received an early copy of this book through NetGalley.
As a big fan of Federle's first two books about Nate ("Better Nate Than Ever," and "Five, Six, Seven, Nate") I was eager to read this final book in the trilogy. It certainly did not disappoint. Nate is everything you want in a main character: charming, silly, lovable, awkward, but most importantly, relatable. I believe all kids who love the performing arts will see themselves, or someone they love, in Nate. This is an excellent book for kids who are beginning high school and feeling overwhelmed.
The relationships Nate has with his peers, teachers, and family are extraordinarily realistic. Readers will feel their hearts twist at Nate's romantic relationship dramas, and they'll feel their stomachs drop with his school woes. Federle excellently portrays the ups and downs of high school through Nate, from assignments, to friends, to discovering who you are and letting others know who you are. It was a great joy to read "Nate Expectations," and I look forward to reading more from Federle in the future.
As a big fan of Federle's first two books about Nate ("Better Nate Than Ever," and "Five, Six, Seven, Nate") I was eager to read this final book in the trilogy. It certainly did not disappoint. Nate is everything you want in a main character: charming, silly, lovable, awkward, but most importantly, relatable. I believe all kids who love the performing arts will see themselves, or someone they love, in Nate. This is an excellent book for kids who are beginning high school and feeling overwhelmed.
The relationships Nate has with his peers, teachers, and family are extraordinarily realistic. Readers will feel their hearts twist at Nate's romantic relationship dramas, and they'll feel their stomachs drop with his school woes. Federle excellently portrays the ups and downs of high school through Nate, from assignments, to friends, to discovering who you are and letting others know who you are. It was a great joy to read "Nate Expectations," and I look forward to reading more from Federle in the future.
4.5 stars
Super cute book that shows you what life is like for a theatre kid! In this book, Nate comes back from Broadway after ET the Musical doesn't receive any Tony nominations and ends up closing. The school has torn down the auditorium and is replacing art and music with more sports, and his relationship with his parents is pretty much the usual. He is expecting the usual bullying, and lots of grief from the teachers, especially his brother's old coach. Except his English teacher assigns them a Great Expectations presentation where they have to read the book and present it in a creative way and he decides he needs to present Great Expectations in musical form. He teams up with his BFF Libby and everything goes perfectly, right? I love how the more Nate embraces his true self, the more it affects the people around him in a positive way. Libby is the perfect complement to Nate and their efforts end up attracting all the marginalized kids, which is really awesome. Tim Federle does it again and makes me wish I had been a theatre kid in high school! There were some surprises with the adults around him, but my favorites were the English teacher and the Coach. If you haven't read this series yet, you need to read all of them starting with the first one! Each of them are quick reads and so much fun!
Super cute book that shows you what life is like for a theatre kid! In this book, Nate comes back from Broadway after ET the Musical doesn't receive any Tony nominations and ends up closing. The school has torn down the auditorium and is replacing art and music with more sports, and his relationship with his parents is pretty much the usual. He is expecting the usual bullying, and lots of grief from the teachers, especially his brother's old coach. Except his English teacher assigns them a Great Expectations presentation where they have to read the book and present it in a creative way and he decides he needs to present Great Expectations in musical form. He teams up with his BFF Libby and everything goes perfectly, right? I love how the more Nate embraces his true self, the more it affects the people around him in a positive way. Libby is the perfect complement to Nate and their efforts end up attracting all the marginalized kids, which is really awesome. Tim Federle does it again and makes me wish I had been a theatre kid in high school! There were some surprises with the adults around him, but my favorites were the English teacher and the Coach. If you haven't read this series yet, you need to read all of them starting with the first one! Each of them are quick reads and so much fun!