Recensioni
I had loved the previous two books in the Better Nate than Ever series so I was so happy when I found a copy of Nate Expectations in a local charity shop - I hadn’t known there was a third one in the series. I always love it when fate gives you a little bit of happiness.I don’t know what it was but when I first began Nate Expectations, I struggled to get lost in the book and Nate came across as whiny and a little arrogant and self-absorbed which made me sad. I’m so glad I took a day off from it, reminding myself that I had really enjoyed the previous two and I wanted to know how Nate’s story would come to an end. That was the key and I spent the next day chuckling at the author’s ability to breathe life into the cast of characters, especially Nate’s best friend Libby.We start at the end of Nate’s run on Broadway when unsurprisingly E.T. the Musical run had come to an absent end, which to anyone reading it whether young or old, will not come as a surprise. I loved how Nate however was amazed at this revelation, and it had me giggling because I cannot imagine anything so bad as a musical adaptation of this classic eighties movie. (I love E.T. btw.) Saying goodbye to not only his dreams but also the boy he’s been kissing and an Aunt who Nate’s grown close to is hard as is the adjustment to normal school for the young dreamer. I liked how you see these moments of realism for Nate because he’s got to live a life few ever accomplish and showing the small moments of day to day life he now has to adapt to in his hometown is well-written. From I imagine tutors to full-time school and all that involves for Nate is hard and his charm offensive and the ‘norm’ of talking to adults as if he’s equal won’t work - his inner monologue had me laughing out loud because he knows he can’t say what he wants.The core part of the story is as the title may explain, Nate deciding to use his skills to bring Great Expectations to the stage as a musical in a bid to win over the English teacher who wants something different from his pupils. Once again, I couldn’t imagine how an adaptation of such a dark and often maudlin book could work but Nate is indeed a dreamer (and perhaps a little too arrogant at times) and he is convinced he can do it with help from Libby. With a cast of self-proclaimed nerds, the niece of the gym teacher who is a theatre kid in a school where the arts are lost in favour of sports and a boy who initially seems disinterested and the polar opposite of the vivacious Nate? Great Expectations slowly begins to take shape against all the odds…It’s not just a story of the theatre kid fighting for success, and perhaps a B+ as a mark in English, but of Nate himself growing up and seeing he’s worthy of more in general, especially in regards to kissing boys. I think the reader sees the writing on the wall of Nate and the star of E.T, Jordan’s ‘relationship’ long before he does and I wanted to reach into the book and give him a good shake. He’s the boy that was there rather than the boy who is wanted and it’s sad to see - Nate deserves much more and slowly we get to see him grow and see that the grass can indeed be better on the other side.I’m so glad I got to read this final book in the series, it came together in such a lovely way and it felt like we had gone on the journey to and from New York with Nate and we got to see him realise he’s not just the theatre kid. He’s a good friend, perhaps a boyfriend and can stand tall on his own and with those who love him all around.