Reviews

Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas

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amongst_the_bookstacks's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas is one of those rare books that feels like a classic, even though it was just published last year. It's like slipping into the world of those high school years that felt so intensely important, while bringing a fresh, contemporary vibe that resonates deeply with many millennials, especially LGBT. As someone who adores coming-of-age stories, this one hit all the right notes for me.

First off, I have to talk about the characters. They’re bratty, privileged, and, to put it plainly, kind of awful—and I loved them for it. Fay and Nell, with their messy, obsessive dynamics, are two of the most compelling teenage characters I've encountered in a long time. I found myself caught up in their codependency, the way they ruin each other, and yet, I couldn’t look away. The dark academia elements—elite private school setting, all the fanfiction, high school theater drama, the moody introspection—are perfectly weaved in, without ever feeling forced. It felt like the kind of world I used to dream of being part of, in all its cringe-worthy, dramatic glory.

The dialogue is another standout—it's sharp, funny, and incredibly real. It nails that mix of teenage arrogance and vulnerability in a way that makes you both laugh and wince. There's something about the way these characters speak, the way they interact, that feels so true to that age. Maybe it's the accuracy of how high school relationships and emotions are portrayed as the centre of the universe, because back then, they truly were. I loved that about this book—it’s almost like being transported back to a time when every moment felt like it had the weight of the world on it.

There’s also something so compelling in the way this story dives into queer identity, particularly with Fay. Fay's journey with his gender identity—his obsession with gay men, his struggle to understand himself—feels heartbreakingly raw. It's not just a story about figuring out who you are, but about the pain that can come with it. The complexity of his friendship with Nell, and how it’s all tangled up in his dysphoria, really packs an emotional punch. The tragedy of it, the inability to be what the other person wants or needs—it’s devastating and so beautifully done. The book doesn’t shy away from showing how much they harm each other, and that’s part of what makes it so real.

If I had to find any critique, it would be that the book drags a bit in the middle, and there’s a lot going on toward the end. But honestly, by the time I finished, those things barely mattered because Idlewild keep occupying my thoughts. This book is about longing, regret, and how we look back at our younger selves. It’s the kind of book that makes you think about your own teenage years and all the messy, painful, glorious things you did (or didn’t) do.

I’m genuinely protective of these characters now. They’re flawed, they’re messy, and they make terrible decisions, but aren’t we all like that at some point? Idlewild captures that perfectly, and for that reason alone, it’s a book I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves dark, introspective coming-of-age stories. If you’re into stories about intense, codependent friendships, the confusion of figuring out who you are, and all the heartbreak that comes with it, this book is an absolute must-read.

ezismythical's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nicolyn's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

mandygollaher's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oh god, this book.... this up there in the ranks for the most cringe-inducing, close your eyes and avoid looking at the page books that I think I've ever read. It's the epitome of "what do you think those weird gay theater kids were thinking?" in novel form and while I wasn't a theater kid, I was a little closeted lesbian and struggled to figure out my own sexuality in plenty of cringey ways so while the vast majority of Nell and Fay's experiences were foreign to me, the general idea of their kind of high school archetype is not. The characters in this book have absolutely no inclination of what is or is not politically correct and the book takes place in a time where being queer, if you were out, ended up defining you regardless of how outwardly vocal you were so why not just lean in and make the joke before anyone else can?

To determine if this book is right for you, you really have to take stock of who you are as a reader and how much sympathy you can hold for characters being kind of objectively gross in that horny, high school way that has more to do with what is supposed to be seen as "hot" and less to do with actual admiration and attraction. Think 16 y/o boy mindset unfiltered. Are you ready to hang out in that space for 400 pages?

Here are some things that the F&N unit do that are problematic and/or topics you can look forward to:

- constant f*tishization of gay men
- writing fan-fiction about their classmates s*x lives
- referring to all other classmates and their teachers with oftentimes derogatory nicknames
- idolization of school bullies and abusive behavior
- wishing that you were gay to justify your obsession with gayness
- taking advantage of people's love/attraction for you for personal gain

And look, this book is not entirely one big, exasperated OOF, it also touches on some themes that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to and which portray the characters in more of a sympathetic light. For example, the idea of transness is introduced to one of the main characters later in the novel, but it sheds a lot of light on the way that they act and how they think. I also liked that the role that theater and performance played in the book as well as all of the references to what it meant to be a kid in NYC in the days and years after 9-11 and the paranoia that came along with it. It also does a good job criticizing the proclaimed liberalness of small, private schools and the privileges of everyone within that system. The quiet reveals about some of the other characters at the end and the potential that Nell's life could have turned out so differently if it hadn't been for Fay.... that killed me.

Anyway, I actually did really like this book from a conceptual, artistic, and intellectual level, it was just a tough one to really say that I "enjoyed". That being said, if you can handle it, I do think it's worth checking out.

herbiehickmott's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced

4.5

A head-first dive into intense teenage friendship and adolescence.

The central characters of Idlewild are only a couple of years older than me, but I was still hit with a nostalgic gut-punch. James Frankie Thomas expertly captures what it was like to be a teenager in the aughts -- frantically connecting with friends over AIM, checking and updating various blogs, and finding a way to make every interaction as dramatic as possible.

I loved the alternating narrative threads. I loved the visceral way Thomas could capture the intense feelings for a queer (or closeted) teenager.