This is the debut novel from Anthony Nerada, which was named a Kids Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Anthony holds a BA in psychology and two diplomas (one in public relations, the other in publishing).
Wesley Mackenzie is the resident bad boy and bully at Stonebridge High. He has regular outbursts of anger, rowdy friends, a tendency to ditch his homework for skateboarding, and a secret photography obsession. When his mother drags him to a local ballet production of The Nutcracker, Wes is irritated until he sees Tristan Monroe, the principal dancer. Wes feels an immediate attraction for Tristan but is hesitant to act as he is extremely closeted. But after the production, Wes is introduced to the cast and is invited out with them. After a rocky start to their relationship, Wes and Tristan become friends. But Wes can’t seem to get Tristan out of his head and soon professes his feelings for him. The two become boyfriends, but Wes still can’t shake his internal anger, stemming from past trauma, and doesn’t feel like he belongs in Tristan’s world. When Wes is invited over to meet Tristan’s parents for dinner, all his insecurities come crashing down, and he leaves the dinner in a rage, telling Tristan that it’s over. Wes’ anger issues then spiral out of control, and he’s expelled from school and loses his part-time job. With his future looking bleaker than ever, Wes must finally face his inner demons and take a stand at being himself. To make things right, he also must put an end to the bad-boy reputation he never wanted in the first place!
This is a strong debut novel. The story is fast-paced, unique, and interesting throughout. Wes is a very likeable character, despite his obvious flaws. From the very beginning, his inner voice conflicts with his outside bad-boy image. Internally, he is worried for his mother and his own future, and he has a lot of compassion for his friends. When he suspects his friend has a drinking problem, he immediately tries to intervene and help him. Wes feels an instant attraction towards Tristan and immediately wants to date him, which is quite realistic for a first adolescent gay relationship. However, their relationship becomes unbelievable when they agree to become boyfriends after just a few outings together, and even more so when they decide to plan a future together. Despite their strong chemistry, they have very different personalities and interests, and in reality, such a relationship would end in due course. The story is much more than a typical YA Romance, as it incorporates more mature subjects including depression, addiction, abuse, anger management, and self-acceptance. There are several dark scenes in the novel when Wes’s anger gets out of control and he becomes abusive towards others. Realistically, someone with such issues would need therapy, especially given the childhood trauma he experienced at the hands of his father. The story’s conclusion would have been more effective if Wes took steps towards healing himself instead of running after Tristen to salvage their relationship. On the positive, the story does culminate with some hopeful messages.
Narrator Michael Crouch does an impressive job portraying Wes with plenty of emotion and well-placed outbursts, especially during Wes’ physical altercation with his friends. Crouch seamlessly alternates between characters, using very distinct voices and personal swagger for each, making for a very entertaining listen. Overall, this is a very impressive debut novel that sets itself apart from the genetic YA Romance narrative. The fact that it’s been inspired by Avril Lavigne’s hit single “Skater Boy” definitely adds to the book’s cool factor!
