‘Better Nate Than Ever’ by Tim Federle

Reading this book, I could thoroughly relate to the protagonist, Nate. I’ve never auditioned for a Broadway performance, but I’ve been on job interviews where a lot was at stake — including the chance to entirely change my career from that of journalist to librarian.

Coming from that background, I could appreciate the suspense as Nate went through the process — anxiously waiting for a call-back and wrestling with the anxiety of what would happen next.

I also sympathized with Nate for what New York seemed to represent, a place where boys didn’t have to live up to a narrow standard of masculinity, where they could talk about the things that Nate cared about, and could even dance together, without being targeted by bullying.

(Bullies frequently target Nate for his perceived sexual orientation, but he describes himself as having an “undecided major” at the College of Sexuality. As Nate puts it, “Macaroni and cheese is still my favorite food — how would I know who I want to hook up with?”)

Nate, himself, is exuberant and irrepressible, truly a delightful narrator.

This book speaks to a wide range of backgrounds and relateable circumstances that readers can bring to the experience of reading it. And I was intrigued to see that it is first volume in a series. I look forward to continuing with Nate’s adventures in the series’ subsequent books.