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A Great Gatsby Remix
by Anna-Marie McLemore
Two young men with a common secret live and love during a time in American history when anything felt possible in this vivid retelling of The Great Gatsby, perfect for fans of The Chosen and the Beautiful and Last Night at the Telegraph Club.
New York City, 1922. Nicolás Caraveo, a 17-year-old transgender boy from Wisconsin, has no interest in the city's glamor. Going to New York is all about establishing himself as a young professional, which could set up his future―and his life as a man―and benefit his family.
Nick rents a small house in West Egg from his 18-year-old cousin, Daisy Fabrega, who lives in fashionable East Egg near her wealthy fiancé, Tom―and Nick is shocked to find that his cousin now goes by Daisy Fay, has erased all signs of her Latine heritage, and now passes seamlessly as white.
Nick's neighbor in West Egg is a mysterious young man named Jay Gatsby, whose castle-like mansion is the stage for parties so extravagant that they both dazzle and terrify Nick. At one of these parties, Nick learns that the spectacle is all meant to impress a girl from Jay's past―Daisy. And he learns something else: Jay is also transgender.
As Nick is pulled deeper into the glittery culture of decadence, he spends more time with Jay, aiming to help his new friend reconnect with his lost love. But Nick's feelings grow more complicated when he finds himself falling hard for Jay's openness, idealism, and unfounded faith in the American Dream.
This YA reimagining of The Great Gatsby centers trans love in a cast removed from its cishet white default, finally exploring those longing glances and wistful sighs between Nick and Jay.
"McLemore's triumphant retelling is for anyone who read The Great Gatsby and thought, this book needs to be much gayer ... In this satisfying, emotional journey that celebrates love, family, friendship, identity, and forging one's own path, McLemore captures the spirit of the original while adding nuance and depth, setting a new bar for what a great retelling can be." ―Booklist (starred review)
"McLemore cleverly and subtly weaves in imagery from the source material while crafting a unique look at queer relations in 1920s New York, and lush prose skillfully depicts the characters' yearning for freedom and acceptance. This is a compelling reimagining, and a stunner in its own right." ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Compelling and satisfying for Gatsby fans, critics, and neophytes alike, avoiding and subverting tropes and giving the main quartet the happy endings they deserve. In this absolutely stunning work, McLemore delivers their signature lyrical prose and rich symbolism. ... Richy imagined, fiercely tender, and achingly beautiful." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Stunning ... McLemore's depictions of richly hued fashion and lavish parties paint a vivid picture of this tony era. ... Self-Made Boys draws back the proverbial curtain to reveal the complicated, painful and desperately romantic yearnings of youth." ―Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"Anna-Marie McLemore cracks the Gatsby story wide open, breathing fresh life into these familiar characters with wisdom, honesty, and real tenderness. An all-time favorite―I was completely transported." ―Becky Albertalli, New York Times-bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
"Tenderly written and achingly romantic, Anna-Marie McLemore has crafted a romance for the ages. Their Latinx lens provides more nuance and depth to the classic story. With a breath of fresh life, Self-Made Boys shows us how queer love has flourished in quiet corners across history." ―Aiden Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of Cemetery Boys
This information about Self-Made Boys was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of The Weight of Feathers, Wild Beauty, Blanca & Roja, Dark and Deepest Red, Lakelore, Venom & Vow (co-authoredwith Elliott McLemore), and National Book Award longlist selections When the Moon Was Ours, The Mirror Season, and Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix. They have received the Michael L. Printz Award, the Stonewall Honor, the Otherwise Award, three Northern California Book Awards, and an Américas Honor.
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