Review by Booklist Review
Nathaniel takes his freshman year at Hartland University as a fresh start; he may not be able to play lacrosse, but no one has to know if his stories about shoplifting and robbery are real or part of his new larger-than-life persona. So when he jumps out a window at a party and literally runs into classmate Celeste and her teammate Tasha, they're drawn to figuring out what's real and what's misdirection. Struggling with diametrically opposed desires--hiding the truth, even from himself, versus being seen, and thus having his pain acknowledged--plays out as Nathaniel becomes a model for Tasha's photography and reconnects with his ex--best friend and former partner-in-crime, Max. Graziadei's second novel, after Printz Honor Book Icebreaker (2022), is a deep exploration of trauma responses, queerplatonic relationships, and the need for community, and Icebreaker readers will appreciate cameos from Mickey and Jaysen. Characters are intersectionally diverse, and the book includes content warnings for implied child sexual abuse, dissociation, and suicidal ideation, among others.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Italian American 18-year-old Nathaniel Conti has had a reputation of being a troublemaker since high school. The constant attention helped to distract him from the guilt and self-hatred--and the self-harming methods through which he managed these feelings--caused by a childhood trauma. Now in college and no longer stealing or breaking and entering, he hopes to cultivate a fresh start. New friendships with Mexican American lesbian Celeste and nonbinary Korean American Tasha, as well as a reunion with white former best friend Max push Nathaniel to slowly open up and begin to embrace the hard work of recovery. Graziadei (Icebreaker) vividly portrays the physical effects of trauma, such as bodily dissociation, and handles both Nathaniel's and the supporting characters' challenges with nuance; even when Nathaniel regresses and hurts those around him, his and his friends' feelings are rendered with compassion and understanding. Nathaniel's relationship with Tasha is particularly poignant in how it explores the ways in which sexual trauma can complicate romance. Via acerbic and vulnerable prose, Graziadei presents an empathetic portrait of a young person learning to do better for the people he loves and for himself. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (May)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A queer college freshman struggles with trauma. Nathaniel Conti starts his second semester as a Hartland University freshman determined not to repeat his first, when he isolated himself from campus life. Now, he wants to be seen. He's hard to miss: His hair is dyed à la Cruella de Vil. When he meets fellow students Celeste Hernandez and Tasha Seo, who are Mexican American and lesbian and Korean American and nonbinary, respectively, he feels they're "queerplatonic soulmates." Plus, his new friends are on the women's lacrosse team, the sport he'd excelled at in high school. Nathaniel is up front about some--but not all--of his troubles, like how he got kicked off his lacrosse team and earned his criminal record. He's also in crisis, experiencing dissociative states and insomnia. And then he bumps into Max Palazzola from high school, formerly his best friend, lacrosse teammate, and partner in crime. The two white boys haven't spoken since they were both in handcuffs, and Nathaniel is riddled with conflicting emotions; it's possible he's missed Max even more than he's missed playing lacrosse. Nathaniel hides in bed, avoiding everything, but Max is persistent in his efforts at reconciling. The deep bond between them is portrayed with patience, care, and empathy. The sharp, fluid prose propels readers further into Nathaniel's complex frame of mind as the story is uplifted by its touching characters. A thoughtful rumination on the power of friendship, trauma, and healing. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
