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monarchsandmyths's review against another edition
4.0
thank you to Soho Teen and Recorded Books for providing me with early copies in exchange for an honest review
“I was a skater, he did ballet.”
This book was such an enjoyable read and honestly hard to put down once I started reading it. I shouldn’t be surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it considering the books it’s comped to but I truly didn’t expect and loved so much the depth and heartfelt element of Wes’s story. I’m a big fan of the way that it seeks to dig into and deconstruct what being queer means and what it looks like, while being more broadly about a teenager figuring out where they’re headed in life. In an author’s note, Nerada says this isn’t a coming out story even if it does involve coming out, and I loved how he broadened the story into one about queerness while also being about so many other things. Wes is, in lots of ways, not the typical YA protagonist, but I think that there’s still so much to gain from his story and from a character who is labeled one way but also exists as a whole and passionate human being outside of those labels. SKATER BOY is absolutely worth the read (or listen!)
As for the audiobook specifically, I think Michael Crouch did a fantastic job of embodying Wes’s character while also telling the story at large. The audiobook was virtually unputdownable for me and made 8+ hours of content feel like it flew by (in the best way possible!)
We’re introduced to Wes as a troublemaker (or punk) and his dislike of that (though not because he isn’t exactly doing some of the things he’s being told about). But as the story continues, that label unravels to reveal so many things about Wes’s character, of strong familial ties, a love for photography, complicated relationships with his friends and with himself, and a question about what the future holds. Nerada writes a complex and intrinsically human character outside of how society usually paints gay teenagers while also just being an interesting story. Wes is flawed, and so are those around him, but you still want to see how they succeed in the end.
This book is absolutely an homage to pop punk and its music, and to being a gay teenager who doesn’t quite fit in. It’s a joy to read and has fantastic human narratives enmeshed with the endearing and occasionally slightly cheesy song references throughout. I highly recommend reading it!
“I was a skater, he did ballet.”
This book was such an enjoyable read and honestly hard to put down once I started reading it. I shouldn’t be surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it considering the books it’s comped to but I truly didn’t expect and loved so much the depth and heartfelt element of Wes’s story. I’m a big fan of the way that it seeks to dig into and deconstruct what being queer means and what it looks like, while being more broadly about a teenager figuring out where they’re headed in life. In an author’s note, Nerada says this isn’t a coming out story even if it does involve coming out, and I loved how he broadened the story into one about queerness while also being about so many other things. Wes is, in lots of ways, not the typical YA protagonist, but I think that there’s still so much to gain from his story and from a character who is labeled one way but also exists as a whole and passionate human being outside of those labels. SKATER BOY is absolutely worth the read (or listen!)
As for the audiobook specifically, I think Michael Crouch did a fantastic job of embodying Wes’s character while also telling the story at large. The audiobook was virtually unputdownable for me and made 8+ hours of content feel like it flew by (in the best way possible!)
We’re introduced to Wes as a troublemaker (or punk) and his dislike of that (though not because he isn’t exactly doing some of the things he’s being told about). But as the story continues, that label unravels to reveal so many things about Wes’s character, of strong familial ties, a love for photography, complicated relationships with his friends and with himself, and a question about what the future holds. Nerada writes a complex and intrinsically human character outside of how society usually paints gay teenagers while also just being an interesting story. Wes is flawed, and so are those around him, but you still want to see how they succeed in the end.
This book is absolutely an homage to pop punk and its music, and to being a gay teenager who doesn’t quite fit in. It’s a joy to read and has fantastic human narratives enmeshed with the endearing and occasionally slightly cheesy song references throughout. I highly recommend reading it!
mriou310's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
char055's review
emotional
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
4.25
nightlight_reader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
4.75
Another book where the chapter titles are all bangers, they brought me a lot of joy along the way.
These characters all felt rich and layered, and this story kept throwing punches. My heart hurt, I was uplifted, I loved every character, I loved the use of Authority Figure™️ because that’s so damn funny to me, it’s all just good content. This was great for me.
These characters all felt rich and layered, and this story kept throwing punches. My heart hurt, I was uplifted, I loved every character, I loved the use of Authority Figure™️ because that’s so damn funny to me, it’s all just good content. This was great for me.
graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
4.75
I loved this book so much. We often judge kids or put them into boxes without thinking about it.
I loved the romance a lot and Wes learning to grapple with his past and the person he wants to become—figuring out who he is and learning that he doesn’t just have to be one thing or be defined by other people’s expectations. This was just such a beautiful and needed book❤️
I loved the romance a lot and Wes learning to grapple with his past and the person he wants to become—figuring out who he is and learning that he doesn’t just have to be one thing or be defined by other people’s expectations. This was just such a beautiful and needed book❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, and Racism
_booksandcoffee_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
km_loves_books's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
juniperhope's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Abandonment
juli_g's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.25