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A hilarious and heartwarming young YA comedy about an unlikely connection between two very different teen boys as they grapple with crushes, toxic friendships, and the true meaning of masculinity.
Anton Charles and his friends are the kings of the school, and they rule with an iron fist, intimidating classmates and maintaining a reputation built on fear.
But at home, Mum reigns supreme, and after one too many detentions, she cuts off Anton's internet and decides it's time for a serious change. She signs him up for the Happy Campers, a local activity group, and Anton's worst nightmare becomes a reality: Matthew, the school's biggest dork, is in it too.
Anton can't imagine anything worse than spending weekends sewing and singing campfire songs with Matthew and his band of geeks—how will he ever keep his reputation intact if anyone finds out? But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton's life, everything changes.
As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was true. Maybe there's more to life than what his friends think of him? Maybe it's time to rethink what being a "man" really means?
And maybe there are some things more important than being king.
"This highly entertaining coming-of-age novel won awards when it was originally published in the U.K. in 2024, and its humor, universal themes, and diverse, well-rounded characters will appeal to American readers...An accomplished mixture of wit, poignancy, and adolescent insight with an appealing cast of characters." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A superbly crafted story navigated by a character with a strong, authentic voice. It's sure to be a hit with teens." ―School Library Journal (starred review)
"Already shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Writing, Lessore's follow-up to Dropping Beats (2025) hits that younger YA sweet spot and packs a punch… Tackling toxic masculinity head-on, this hilariously written book explores one boy's battle between his imprisoned father's legacy and being the man his mom and grandma know him to be." ―Booklist
"As he navigates sometimes heavy experiences informed by the pressure of toxic masculinity, Anton's charismatic and comedic first-person narration details his reluctant friendship with Matthew, whose open vulnerability and willingness to connect with others models for Anton a previously unknown example of moving through the world." ―Publishers Weekly
This information about King of Nothing 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.
Nathanael Lessore is a British author who can prove it with his passport. His dad is French, and his mom is from Madagascar (the place, not the movie). Growing up on a block in Peckham, Nathanael's childhood was a vibe. The neighbors were fun, loud, unpredictable, and unique. But most importantly, they were a community. And Nathanael will always authentically represent South London's diversity and togetherness in the stories he tells.
When he's not writing, Nathanael enjoys stargazing at the moon, and standing in doorways. If he wasn't a writer, he would've joined the NFL if not for his lack of talent and basic understanding of the game. His first novel, Dropping Beats (Steady for This in the UK), won the Branford Boase Award and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
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