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Daniel, Deconstructed
A nerdy high schooler learns to embrace his main-character energy in this witty and heart-healing ode to movie tropes, meet-cutes, and LGBTQ+ love.
Photographer and film buff Daniel Sanchez learned a long time ago that the only way to get by in an allistic world is to mask his autism and follow the script. Which means he knows that boisterous, buff, and beautiful soccer superstars like his best friend, Mona Sinclair, shouldn’t be wasting time hanging out with introverts who prefer being behind the camera.
So when Daniel meets a new classmate, Gabe Mendes, who is tall, mysterious, nonbinary, and — somehow — as cool as Mona, Daniel knows exactly how this is going to play out. Mona and Gabe will meet cute, win their nominations for Homecoming Court, and ride off into the sunset together. Daniel just needs to do a little behind-the-scenes directing.
But matchmaking means stepping into the mystifying and illogical world of love, dating, and relationships, where nothing is as it seems and no one knows their lines. And when Daniel finds himself playing a starring role in this romance, he’ll question everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in the world.
Photographer and film buff Daniel Sanchez learned a long time ago that the only way to get by in an allistic world is to mask his autism and follow the script. Which means he knows that boisterous, buff, and beautiful soccer superstars like his best friend, Mona Sinclair, shouldn’t be wasting time hanging out with introverts who prefer being behind the camera.
So when Daniel meets a new classmate, Gabe Mendes, who is tall, mysterious, nonbinary, and — somehow — as cool as Mona, Daniel knows exactly how this is going to play out. Mona and Gabe will meet cute, win their nominations for Homecoming Court, and ride off into the sunset together. Daniel just needs to do a little behind-the-scenes directing.
But matchmaking means stepping into the mystifying and illogical world of love, dating, and relationships, where nothing is as it seems and no one knows their lines. And when Daniel finds himself playing a starring role in this romance, he’ll question everything he thought he knew about himself and his place in the world.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2024
15 people are currently reading
4308 people want to read
About the author
James Ramos
5 books151 followers James Ramos (he/they) is a nonbinary, unapologetically dorky Minnesota native who now calls Arizona home. Weaned on a steady diet of science-fiction, comic books, and classic literature, James wrote his first story at eight years old and hasn’t stopped writing them since. He counts Jane Austen and Frank Herbert as his biggest literary influences, and believes in the unifying power of the written word. James is passionate about storytelling, particularly stories that give voice to marginalized people, especially those within the LGBTQ community and people of color. When he isn’t writing he can usually be found cosplaying with his friends or surrounded by his amazing family of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
November 13, 2023
Daniel, Deconstructed is a very easily readable diverse YA story about a queer, half-Cuban boy on the autism spectrum.
Daniel is autistic, and he's aware of it all too well. Even though he's tempted, too, he knows he can't simply throw out everything he knows about a particular subject, such as his camera. It would feel like info dumping to allistic people. He knows he should smile to connect with other people, especially as a Black man, so he smiles when he talks to neurotypical persons and of course makes eye contact because that’s needed too. He knows he can't stim in front of others, so he only does it in his room. Daniel loves roleplaying, and he's good at it, so he always wears a mask. Even when his best friend Mona, a beautiful soccer superstar, is around. And then there's his queerness, including his crush on his mysterious non-binary classmate Gabe, who he actually wants to match with Mona because, well, they're both so cool (and Daniel isn't).
Using the camera in this story is a great choice. Daniel hides who he really is and does it literally with the camera. He excludes himself from the scenes, constantly making himself a spectator instead of participating in the images he takes. He even does it in his crush on Gabe.
Don't think this story is a heavy one because it's not. It's light and humorous, and at the same time, it touches on heavier topics. In addition, it's very informative and provides lots of background information about being autistic. Therefore, I think this book is not only a great one for autistic or neurodivergent readers but also for those who want to learn more about autism.
I liked one thing less. Daniel loves Live Action RolePlay (LARP), and in a few chapters he was playing his role. I immediately dropped out in these chapters, despite smiling at the interactions with Zee-Four and understanding the importance of roleplaying for Daniel (participating instead of watching and putting on a mask where he was in the lead). It went over my head and my brain simply got lost. It's clearly a me-thing, so please don't mind my opinion!
Overall, Daniel, Deconstructed is a sweet, entertaining, AND informative story. Actual rating 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Thank you, Inkyard Press and NetGalley, for the ARC!
Daniel is autistic, and he's aware of it all too well. Even though he's tempted, too, he knows he can't simply throw out everything he knows about a particular subject, such as his camera. It would feel like info dumping to allistic people. He knows he should smile to connect with other people, especially as a Black man, so he smiles when he talks to neurotypical persons and of course makes eye contact because that’s needed too. He knows he can't stim in front of others, so he only does it in his room. Daniel loves roleplaying, and he's good at it, so he always wears a mask. Even when his best friend Mona, a beautiful soccer superstar, is around. And then there's his queerness, including his crush on his mysterious non-binary classmate Gabe, who he actually wants to match with Mona because, well, they're both so cool (and Daniel isn't).
Using the camera in this story is a great choice. Daniel hides who he really is and does it literally with the camera. He excludes himself from the scenes, constantly making himself a spectator instead of participating in the images he takes. He even does it in his crush on Gabe.
Don't think this story is a heavy one because it's not. It's light and humorous, and at the same time, it touches on heavier topics. In addition, it's very informative and provides lots of background information about being autistic. Therefore, I think this book is not only a great one for autistic or neurodivergent readers but also for those who want to learn more about autism.
I liked one thing less. Daniel loves Live Action RolePlay (LARP), and in a few chapters he was playing his role. I immediately dropped out in these chapters, despite smiling at the interactions with Zee-Four and understanding the importance of roleplaying for Daniel (participating instead of watching and putting on a mask where he was in the lead). It went over my head and my brain simply got lost. It's clearly a me-thing, so please don't mind my opinion!
Overall, Daniel, Deconstructed is a sweet, entertaining, AND informative story. Actual rating 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
Thank you, Inkyard Press and NetGalley, for the ARC!
May 27, 2025
I love stories about autistic black teens finding love and friendship! teen queer love will always get me.
October 25, 2024
this was so weird
December 3, 2023
Rep: MC is cuban-american, cis, and autistic. Side trans characters, side autistic characters (trans and cis), side POC.
I felt like I was being lectured this entire book.
I felt like I was being lectured this entire book.
January 18, 2025
I thought this YA contemporary romance was completely adorable, like a comforting cup of queer joy that never bored me. I don't know why I held off on it so long.
Daniel is autistic and has never felt like he belonged anywhere, except with his best friend Mona. But something's been off with her and he thinks the perfect solution is setting her up with the new kid in town, a nonbinary teen named Gabe. What could go wrong? Certainly not Daniel developing unexpected feelings for Gabe.
The two meet in a cyberpunk LARP group and sparks fly, which Daniel is first confused by. Gabe's also a drummer in a band and just as glamorous as Mona. In theory they're the perfect couple and he keeps getting frustrated by his futile efforts at bringing them together. Their oblivious slow burn was adorable.
I liked the details of Daniel's hobbies, like his LARPing and his other passion, photography, which he uses as a crutch to avoid awkward social situations. I found it fascinating how we got a deep dive into Daniel's experience with autism and how it affected his life and personal relationships, though it felt a bit info-dumpy at times. I loved a pan4pan M/X romance between Daniel and Gabe, and the representation of Daniel's Latine culture and Gabe's Black. Plus Mona is bisexual and aromantic - more identities I rarely see in fiction. I found it refreshing how Daniel had a loving, accepting family and a good, colorful group of friends. I did wish I had more character development for Gabe and more backstory on their personal life but the focus of this novel was Daniel and his journey of self-acceptance.
This was just cute and almost so sweet I got a toothache but with very little angst of the kind I usually can't stand in YA contemporary. It was a nice palate cleanser in between my heavier reads; so lighthearted and touching. This was an easy read without too many deep themes, and fairly conventional for YA romance with the exception of excellent autistic and nonbinary rep.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Daniel is autistic and has never felt like he belonged anywhere, except with his best friend Mona. But something's been off with her and he thinks the perfect solution is setting her up with the new kid in town, a nonbinary teen named Gabe. What could go wrong? Certainly not Daniel developing unexpected feelings for Gabe.
The two meet in a cyberpunk LARP group and sparks fly, which Daniel is first confused by. Gabe's also a drummer in a band and just as glamorous as Mona. In theory they're the perfect couple and he keeps getting frustrated by his futile efforts at bringing them together. Their oblivious slow burn was adorable.
I liked the details of Daniel's hobbies, like his LARPing and his other passion, photography, which he uses as a crutch to avoid awkward social situations. I found it fascinating how we got a deep dive into Daniel's experience with autism and how it affected his life and personal relationships, though it felt a bit info-dumpy at times. I loved a pan4pan M/X romance between Daniel and Gabe, and the representation of Daniel's Latine culture and Gabe's Black. Plus Mona is bisexual and aromantic - more identities I rarely see in fiction. I found it refreshing how Daniel had a loving, accepting family and a good, colorful group of friends. I did wish I had more character development for Gabe and more backstory on their personal life but the focus of this novel was Daniel and his journey of self-acceptance.
This was just cute and almost so sweet I got a toothache but with very little angst of the kind I usually can't stand in YA contemporary. It was a nice palate cleanser in between my heavier reads; so lighthearted and touching. This was an easy read without too many deep themes, and fairly conventional for YA romance with the exception of excellent autistic and nonbinary rep.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 14, 2024
This is so cute??? Autistic MC who is LARPing in a dystopian world meets his love interest while doing it? Heck yeah! I was not excepting this to be such and fun a cute read about best friends and dealing with relationships.
"Damn." "Reverse Damn" was probably the funniest joke of my life
Maybe it's my own tism just happy to read a book that's not only about but is written like someone who is autistic made me enjoy this book so much! (I have ADHD confirmed but never the other but do share a lot of the commonalities)
I felt the ending was a little stunted with there needing to be a bit more oomph at the end to keep people interested. I feel like the prom night should've happened at the end or the Mona situation should've been a bit more dramatic but that's just a suggestion and was okay without it.
"Damn." "Reverse Damn" was probably the funniest joke of my life
Maybe it's my own tism just happy to read a book that's not only about but is written like someone who is autistic made me enjoy this book so much! (I have ADHD confirmed but never the other but do share a lot of the commonalities)
I felt the ending was a little stunted with there needing to be a bit more oomph at the end to keep people interested. I feel like the prom night should've happened at the end or the Mona situation should've been a bit more dramatic but that's just a suggestion and was okay without it.
April 7, 2024
this was adorable it just didn’t hit the spot for me:(
loveeed gabe tho
loveeed gabe tho
February 5, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: potentially accidental misgendering
3.5
If you like autistic rep and nrdy meet cutes, there is something here for you.
The romance in particular, really shines in this book. Gabe is such a great love interest- nerdy, crafty, musical, and sweet- and their LARP meet cute is honestly everything. I love some good hidden identity, and there's a smidge of that here that makes the romance just that much more intriguing and hard not to cheer on.
I do think that this book may help some people understand identities- their own or others. Daniel's autism is described throughout the book, and Ramos seems to work hard to make Daniel's actions and experiences make sense for those who may not understand them. We also get a-spec representation, pansexual and biexual representation, and trans representation, all of which gets its chance to take stage and share information.
That can be good for those beginning a journey of understanding, those who don't have much experience of knowledge in this time, but at the same time, it's a bit much if you don't fall into that realm. I can completely get the comments of "this book kept lecturing me", because it info dumps a lot through the entire story.
The premise, also, had too many restatements and explanations to feel organic. I think that may be because it's actually very weak, and instead of trying to add support by showing aspects in this story, Ramos just "tells" by trying to remind us of the point by saying it 10 slightly different ways whenever there's a lull.
TW: potentially accidental misgendering
3.5
If you like autistic rep and nrdy meet cutes, there is something here for you.
The romance in particular, really shines in this book. Gabe is such a great love interest- nerdy, crafty, musical, and sweet- and their LARP meet cute is honestly everything. I love some good hidden identity, and there's a smidge of that here that makes the romance just that much more intriguing and hard not to cheer on.
I do think that this book may help some people understand identities- their own or others. Daniel's autism is described throughout the book, and Ramos seems to work hard to make Daniel's actions and experiences make sense for those who may not understand them. We also get a-spec representation, pansexual and biexual representation, and trans representation, all of which gets its chance to take stage and share information.
That can be good for those beginning a journey of understanding, those who don't have much experience of knowledge in this time, but at the same time, it's a bit much if you don't fall into that realm. I can completely get the comments of "this book kept lecturing me", because it info dumps a lot through the entire story.
The premise, also, had too many restatements and explanations to feel organic. I think that may be because it's actually very weak, and instead of trying to add support by showing aspects in this story, Ramos just "tells" by trying to remind us of the point by saying it 10 slightly different ways whenever there's a lull.
June 8, 2024
DNF - I can’t rate 0 stars so I chose to rate 1 I saw it advertised on HQ’s Insta and sounded but it’s just not living up to expectations.
It’s very convoluted, hard to read, it drags on, definitely not written easily for kids. I just found it hard to read. I don’t like how the author writes.
It’s very convoluted, hard to read, it drags on, definitely not written easily for kids. I just found it hard to read. I don’t like how the author writes.
February 11, 2024
i love james ramos. that could be the entire review but it wouldnt perfectly describe my love for this book. nothing i say can describe my love for this little universe james created. the characters felt so real to me and whenever i closed the book (metaphorically, because i read it on my kindle) i would have a moment of surprise that the world stopped existing.
daniel, mona, and gabe were such unique characters that fit into each others lives so well despite how different they are. adding in phoebe and bridge and aisha, the character dynamics were perfect. this book has autistic rep (in male and female characters, as well as trans characters), as well as aromantic rep that wasn’t dependent on asexual rep.
mona and daniel’s friendship made me feel so seen in a way i hadn’t expected. truly a perfect book.
daniel, mona, and gabe were such unique characters that fit into each others lives so well despite how different they are. adding in phoebe and bridge and aisha, the character dynamics were perfect. this book has autistic rep (in male and female characters, as well as trans characters), as well as aromantic rep that wasn’t dependent on asexual rep.
mona and daniel’s friendship made me feel so seen in a way i hadn’t expected. truly a perfect book.
February 16, 2024
3.5
I liked the story, but I do think it meandered a bit without having the intensely incredible characters to be successful in that meandering. I would have loved it if for example, if the LARPing was more of the story, or the wedding was more of the story, or the photography was more of the story. Instead, we got bits and pieces of everything, without a core, interesting story being developed.
I did enjoy the characters, but they did come off as a bit surface level at some points. 'I'm the non binary character', 'I'm the sporty best friend character', 'I'm the nerdy neurodiverse character'.
One thing I did take personally was the photography. Right at the beginning, Daniel tells us how he uses this very specific - model and make named - film camera, and how he develops it himself....then every instance of camera use until the last maybe 6th of the book, he's talking about sd cards, and showing people the back screen, and flicking through the photos. I couldn't tell whether the author just didn't know anything about photography, or if after that one specific conversation with a random person about using a film camera, Daniel just didn't use it again. It seemed like the author was trying to say 'look, his autism makes him tell this random person too much information about this camera that they don't care about' and then just didn't have him use that camera after that event because the conversation had happened so it wasn't needed anymore. Then right near the end, he randomly develops a film roll, just to prove he does use it, even though not once did he have a film camera.
There's definitely a lot of important conversation about neurodiversity, gender and sexuality, but I don't think the story went beyond that enough to be a truly great book.
ARC copy.
I liked the story, but I do think it meandered a bit without having the intensely incredible characters to be successful in that meandering. I would have loved it if for example, if the LARPing was more of the story, or the wedding was more of the story, or the photography was more of the story. Instead, we got bits and pieces of everything, without a core, interesting story being developed.
I did enjoy the characters, but they did come off as a bit surface level at some points. 'I'm the non binary character', 'I'm the sporty best friend character', 'I'm the nerdy neurodiverse character'.
One thing I did take personally was the photography. Right at the beginning, Daniel tells us how he uses this very specific - model and make named - film camera, and how he develops it himself....then every instance of camera use until the last maybe 6th of the book, he's talking about sd cards, and showing people the back screen, and flicking through the photos. I couldn't tell whether the author just didn't know anything about photography, or if after that one specific conversation with a random person about using a film camera, Daniel just didn't use it again. It seemed like the author was trying to say 'look, his autism makes him tell this random person too much information about this camera that they don't care about' and then just didn't have him use that camera after that event because the conversation had happened so it wasn't needed anymore. Then right near the end, he randomly develops a film roll, just to prove he does use it, even though not once did he have a film camera.
There's definitely a lot of important conversation about neurodiversity, gender and sexuality, but I don't think the story went beyond that enough to be a truly great book.
ARC copy.
February 17, 2024
I found this book by accident on Libby and decided to give it a chance. I’m glad I did!
Things I enjoyed about this book:
There is a lot of great representation here!
Daniel and his inner monologue was so great to see and watching him develop throughout the book was awesome.
There’s no one way to show autism and I liked that multiple characters were shown in this book with different neurodivergent perspectives.
Loved using the camera as a storytelling device.
Daniel’s family was so supportive and loving. His parents were cheesy and fun and it was great!
Gabe was a fun love interest! I liked them a lot. They were sweet, understanding, and vocal which Daniel needed.
Loved the friendship between Mona and Daniel.
That cute ending 🥹
It was a quick, sweet read for a Saturday morning.
Things I enjoyed about this book:
There is a lot of great representation here!
Daniel and his inner monologue was so great to see and watching him develop throughout the book was awesome.
There’s no one way to show autism and I liked that multiple characters were shown in this book with different neurodivergent perspectives.
Loved using the camera as a storytelling device.
Daniel’s family was so supportive and loving. His parents were cheesy and fun and it was great!
Gabe was a fun love interest! I liked them a lot. They were sweet, understanding, and vocal which Daniel needed.
Loved the friendship between Mona and Daniel.
That cute ending 🥹
It was a quick, sweet read for a Saturday morning.
May 7, 2024
This one fell a bit flat for me. I was really looking forward to the autistic representation, and did feel this was done well and I really did understand Daniel's autistic view point. But I felt like the story didn't really have a plot and kind of threw in many representations in relation to gender, sexuality and neurodiversity just for the sake of it. The I like the way Daniel's family was accepting of everyone and the relationship Daniel had with his siblings. I also thought Gabe and Moana were fun character's. At the end I took away that the book was about Daniel learning to enbrace being himself.
June 9, 2025
This was a lot of fun. I've grown pickier about contemporary YA because I'm an adult now, but it is still so nice to read about young queer love.
I loved the pan autistic MC and how all the misinterpretations in the relationships were linked to him seeing himself as a side character in his own story. Loved the LARP elements, the non-binary LI, the aro side character and emphasis on the importance of friendship as well!
It does have a lot of misinterpretation/miscommunication stuff that can get a little bit much, but it was framed in such a way that I didn't mind that much. Great contemporary queer YA :D
I loved the pan autistic MC and how all the misinterpretations in the relationships were linked to him seeing himself as a side character in his own story. Loved the LARP elements, the non-binary LI, the aro side character and emphasis on the importance of friendship as well!
It does have a lot of misinterpretation/miscommunication stuff that can get a little bit much, but it was framed in such a way that I didn't mind that much. Great contemporary queer YA :D
April 14, 2024
Thank you to Harper360YA for giving me the opportunity to review Daniel Deconstructed by James Ramos.
This book was such a cute read. Daniel is such a sweetheart. The autism representation was very well written and to know that the author is also autistic makes it feel all the more authentic.
The characters were all fun to read. But Daniel by far was my favourite. Reading how his thought process works and somewhat relating to how he reacts in certain situations.
A very heartwarming easy read and would definitely recommend.
This book was such a cute read. Daniel is such a sweetheart. The autism representation was very well written and to know that the author is also autistic makes it feel all the more authentic.
The characters were all fun to read. But Daniel by far was my favourite. Reading how his thought process works and somewhat relating to how he reacts in certain situations.
A very heartwarming easy read and would definitely recommend.
March 17, 2024
4/5
Daniel has autism and sees the world differently to neurotypical people. He tries to set up his best friend Mona with his new friend Gabe, who's non-binary. But Daniel doesn't see the signals that others see.
This is a very Gen Z book: maximally diverse and accepting. Putting the reader in Daniel's head is important - I learned a lot. The lack of significant plot doesn't stop you rooting for the characters. These kinds of stories warm my heart and give me hope.
Daniel has autism and sees the world differently to neurotypical people. He tries to set up his best friend Mona with his new friend Gabe, who's non-binary. But Daniel doesn't see the signals that others see.
This is a very Gen Z book: maximally diverse and accepting. Putting the reader in Daniel's head is important - I learned a lot. The lack of significant plot doesn't stop you rooting for the characters. These kinds of stories warm my heart and give me hope.
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January 31, 2024Young Adult Coming of Age, LGBTQ+, Young Adult Romance
June 19, 2025
such a good book!!!
February 20, 2024
Got this from a giveaway, sorry the slump made me take longer to read than I wanted. The writing was so smooth, and when my brain let me read I was flying through it. Daniel is such a sweet kid, but what I loved most was the way he looked at the world. He was always willing to learn and look at things in a new light. Such a good read, I highly recommend it.
September 12, 2023
This book had a great grasp on neurodivergence and the reality of having multiple identities. We see Daniel who is autistic and queer who is trying to so hard to understand the world around him he misses a lot of big clues others see about his building relationships. Masking is a huge aspect of many autistic individuals daily life, especially at that age and his past trauma only highlights that.
I loved the character development in this story and the plot was fun to follow as it was not too predictable. The way you use film to show how Daniel sees the world was a very interesting perspective. It is almost like the only way he can view the world is through the eyes of a camera otherwise it slides right by him,
I wish we could have seen a little more of Mona's development in her identity but it was a great twist I did not expect.
I would like to thank Inkyard Press and James Ramos as well as NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the character development in this story and the plot was fun to follow as it was not too predictable. The way you use film to show how Daniel sees the world was a very interesting perspective. It is almost like the only way he can view the world is through the eyes of a camera otherwise it slides right by him,
I wish we could have seen a little more of Mona's development in her identity but it was a great twist I did not expect.
I would like to thank Inkyard Press and James Ramos as well as NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2024
4 out of 5 stars
Rep: Afro-Cuban autistic pansexual MC, Black non-binary pansexual love interest with two moms, bisexual BIPOC side character, gay side character, trans autistic side character, two other Black autistic side characters
Content warnings: Internalized ableism, overstimulation, disassociation, misgendering, past bullying, friendship distancing
This is an adorable story with possibly the best autism representation I've ever encountered! I felt seen from the very first paragraph. It's so important to let autistic authors tell autistic stories; there's just no way an allistic writer could capture nuanced feelings like squashing the urge to info-dump or knowing you need to watch your facial expressions. Everything Daniel describes is so, so relatable (particularly being hyperempathetic, not understanding the purpose of wedding showers, and assuming that everyone either dislikes or is ambivalent toward you) — it genuinely felt like getting a hug to see my own experiences on the page. I really hope more books continue to get published about people who don't feel like the main character in their own story.
The only part I didn't love was Gabe. They felt like such a manic-pixie-dream-them. As an enby myself, I don't enjoy having to admit to disliking a non-binary character. Although I sympathize with their dysphoria and admire that they aren't shy about being themself, they're also just...cringey. Every time Daniel observed that Gabe iSn'T LiKe OtHeR tEeNs in some way, I found myself rolling my eyes. And I have to admit to having mixed feelings about readers being told Gabe's assigned gender at birth. On one hand, it's always nice to have a character explain misgendering, and the brief plotline about the homecomnig court nomination was cool. On the other, that plotline only lasted a chapter or two, which to me seems too irrelevant to justify revealing such sensitive information. If 1) Gabe had come out over the course of the book, 2) it was dual-POV so we also got to see all of their interactions, 3) it featured sex scenes, 4) Gabe chose to medically transition, or 5) it was more about the trans experience, I would agree with including that. But that's not the case. We're told Gabe's full name, the features on their body, and the exact ways in which they're misgendered. It's tricky because of course that's something they'd complain about — I do too in real life to people I trust. For the purposes of a book, though, I feel like there might have been slightly better (but still meaningful) ways to include that type of conversation without revealing Gabe's biological sex.
However, that’s just *my* opinion! I’m sure other characters I dislike are someone else’s favorites of all time, and vice versa. Plus, the author is non-binary just like I am — and we aren’t a monolith! My preferences don’t speak for an entire community and also don’t reflect Ramos’s talent. They write extremely well and I look forward to reading what they write next!
Also, I would happily read an entire book about Bridge just, like, grocery shopping.
**HUGE thank you to Inkyard Press for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
Rep: Afro-Cuban autistic pansexual MC, Black non-binary pansexual love interest with two moms, bisexual BIPOC side character, gay side character, trans autistic side character, two other Black autistic side characters
Content warnings: Internalized ableism, overstimulation, disassociation, misgendering, past bullying, friendship distancing
This is an adorable story with possibly the best autism representation I've ever encountered! I felt seen from the very first paragraph. It's so important to let autistic authors tell autistic stories; there's just no way an allistic writer could capture nuanced feelings like squashing the urge to info-dump or knowing you need to watch your facial expressions. Everything Daniel describes is so, so relatable (particularly being hyperempathetic, not understanding the purpose of wedding showers, and assuming that everyone either dislikes or is ambivalent toward you) — it genuinely felt like getting a hug to see my own experiences on the page. I really hope more books continue to get published about people who don't feel like the main character in their own story.
The only part I didn't love was Gabe. They felt like such a manic-pixie-dream-them. As an enby myself, I don't enjoy having to admit to disliking a non-binary character. Although I sympathize with their dysphoria and admire that they aren't shy about being themself, they're also just...cringey. Every time Daniel observed that Gabe iSn'T LiKe OtHeR tEeNs in some way, I found myself rolling my eyes. And I have to admit to having mixed feelings about readers being told Gabe's assigned gender at birth. On one hand, it's always nice to have a character explain misgendering, and the brief plotline about the homecomnig court nomination was cool. On the other, that plotline only lasted a chapter or two, which to me seems too irrelevant to justify revealing such sensitive information. If 1) Gabe had come out over the course of the book, 2) it was dual-POV so we also got to see all of their interactions, 3) it featured sex scenes, 4) Gabe chose to medically transition, or 5) it was more about the trans experience, I would agree with including that. But that's not the case. We're told Gabe's full name, the features on their body, and the exact ways in which they're misgendered. It's tricky because of course that's something they'd complain about — I do too in real life to people I trust. For the purposes of a book, though, I feel like there might have been slightly better (but still meaningful) ways to include that type of conversation without revealing Gabe's biological sex.
However, that’s just *my* opinion! I’m sure other characters I dislike are someone else’s favorites of all time, and vice versa. Plus, the author is non-binary just like I am — and we aren’t a monolith! My preferences don’t speak for an entire community and also don’t reflect Ramos’s talent. They write extremely well and I look forward to reading what they write next!
Also, I would happily read an entire book about Bridge just, like, grocery shopping.
**HUGE thank you to Inkyard Press for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
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December 28, 2023disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I absolutely adored this young adult/teen fictional coming-of-age with a romantic subplot from James Ramos.
We receive the first-person POV of Daniel, a Cuban, autistic, queer senior in high school who is passionate about photography/videography and is still navigating the ever-evolving chaos of high school microcosms. His bisexual best friend Mona is a soccer player and popular high school athlete, and he is constantly questioning why she is friends with him, since they are seemingly polar opposites. He is an introvert who attends LARP (live action role-playing) sessions and she is invited to the stereotypical high school parties, so he wonders what they have in common.
Daniel ruminates on how one day, Mona will simply leave him behind and in order to self-destruct and feel as in control of the situation as he can, he tries to set her up with someone so that he can move the process along. It's as if he is grieving the friendship before it is over, and when he meets Gabe (Black non-binary hottie in a band!), he feels they are the perfect match for Mona, so he decides to set the two up!
Amidst the hijinks of Daniel's attempts to set his two friends up, he begins to unpack more of his own beliefs about himself, his sexuality, his neurodivergence, and his place in the world. I felt Daniel's uncertainty, anxiety, confusion, giddiness and more throughout this book; Daniel's journey is one of quiet ruminations, gentle epiphanies, and surrounded with so many compassionate folks who so deeply care about him.
The subplot of the romance was so sweet and tender! I adored Daniel's realization that he was worthy, lovable, and wanted just as he is. Though his specific realization was tied to his nervousness about revealing his autistic identity, I think that is a message that can be universally shared, since many of us are fearful that our full, authentic selves will not be accepted, appreciated or loved.
The way that characters navigated defining sexuality, such as asexuality, aromantic, or pansexuality, was full of curiosity, kindness, and hope. This book should be a prime example of how YA is not silly nor is it only for young adults. It contains healing qualities that invite us to imagine a world where every conversation with a loved one could have this much empathy, active listening, and validation.
Honorable mention to Daniel's family - his parents, his brother Miles & his fiance Shante were so wholesome & I loved the open conversations they had with Daniel, free of shame and only full of honesty and love.
Thank you James Ramos for such a beautiful story, and I can't wait to read what you write next!
cw: internalized ableism, internalized ace/arophobia
I absolutely adored this young adult/teen fictional coming-of-age with a romantic subplot from James Ramos.
We receive the first-person POV of Daniel, a Cuban, autistic, queer senior in high school who is passionate about photography/videography and is still navigating the ever-evolving chaos of high school microcosms. His bisexual best friend Mona is a soccer player and popular high school athlete, and he is constantly questioning why she is friends with him, since they are seemingly polar opposites. He is an introvert who attends LARP (live action role-playing) sessions and she is invited to the stereotypical high school parties, so he wonders what they have in common.
Daniel ruminates on how one day, Mona will simply leave him behind and in order to self-destruct and feel as in control of the situation as he can, he tries to set her up with someone so that he can move the process along. It's as if he is grieving the friendship before it is over, and when he meets Gabe (Black non-binary hottie in a band!), he feels they are the perfect match for Mona, so he decides to set the two up!
Amidst the hijinks of Daniel's attempts to set his two friends up, he begins to unpack more of his own beliefs about himself, his sexuality, his neurodivergence, and his place in the world. I felt Daniel's uncertainty, anxiety, confusion, giddiness and more throughout this book; Daniel's journey is one of quiet ruminations, gentle epiphanies, and surrounded with so many compassionate folks who so deeply care about him.
The subplot of the romance was so sweet and tender! I adored Daniel's realization that he was worthy, lovable, and wanted just as he is. Though his specific realization was tied to his nervousness about revealing his autistic identity, I think that is a message that can be universally shared, since many of us are fearful that our full, authentic selves will not be accepted, appreciated or loved.
The way that characters navigated defining sexuality, such as asexuality, aromantic, or pansexuality, was full of curiosity, kindness, and hope. This book should be a prime example of how YA is not silly nor is it only for young adults. It contains healing qualities that invite us to imagine a world where every conversation with a loved one could have this much empathy, active listening, and validation.
Honorable mention to Daniel's family - his parents, his brother Miles & his fiance Shante were so wholesome & I loved the open conversations they had with Daniel, free of shame and only full of honesty and love.
Thank you James Ramos for such a beautiful story, and I can't wait to read what you write next!
cw: internalized ableism, internalized ace/arophobia
April 19, 2024
Daniel and his best friend Mona have always been close. When Daniel thinks that there is no romance in Mona’s life he decides to change that. Cue Gabe appearing on the scene who appears to be the perfect match for Mona. So Daniel decides to play Cupid and try to match them up. But is this process as straightforward as Daniel thinks?
This was such a quick and easy read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Essentially this is a story about friendships and relationships. Daniel was a very interesting character and one that was hard not to like. He’s a character I would describe as having a good heart. He sees that his best friend Mona’s life could do with a romantic partner especially because Mona’s last love interest didn’t go as planned and decides it’s time to change that by creating a meet cute between Mona and Gabe. In theory it sounds like a brilliant idea. However, one of the biggest pieces of information that Daniel doesn’t have is whether Mona and Gabe like each other or have an interest in each other. But then things become complicated because the more time Daniel spends with Gabe he starts to think of Gabe as something more than a friend.
I really liked the representation in this book because there were so many diverse characters. Daniel has autism, so sees situations in a different way and also interacts with people differently. What I really liked is the fact that the reader has the opportunity to get to know Daniel because Daniel talks very openly about his autism and how it affects not only his daily life but his relationships with other people. I also really loved that the book includes characters from the LGBTQIA+ community.
The friendship between Daniel and Mona was lovely. Mona is someone who I would describe as very popular at school and is also an athlete. At times Daniel can’t understand why Mona would want to spend time with him because they are so very different. What I respected about Mona’s character is the fact that Mona doesn't give in to peer pressure and sees Daniel as a true friend and doesn't care where Daniel falls within the school hierarchy. I thought the connection between Daniel and Gabe was very sweet. It's clear that they have a lot of interests in common but Daniel doesn’t initially see this because he's very much focused on bringing Mona and Gabe together. But then Daniel starts to realise that maybe he's making the wrong decision and that actually Daniel likes Gabe more than he should.
One of my favourite aspects of this story was definitely the inclusion of LARPing because I've never read a book where it has been included in so much detail. It was brilliant to see Daniel coming into his own and getting into character when he attended LARP sessions. In some ways the reader sees two sides to Daniel. When Daniel is at school he keeps to himself and can become slightly withdrawn. Whereas when he is role playing he's much more confident, thinking strategically and happy to interact with people.
This was such a quick and easy read which I thoroughly enjoyed. Essentially this is a story about friendships and relationships. Daniel was a very interesting character and one that was hard not to like. He’s a character I would describe as having a good heart. He sees that his best friend Mona’s life could do with a romantic partner especially because Mona’s last love interest didn’t go as planned and decides it’s time to change that by creating a meet cute between Mona and Gabe. In theory it sounds like a brilliant idea. However, one of the biggest pieces of information that Daniel doesn’t have is whether Mona and Gabe like each other or have an interest in each other. But then things become complicated because the more time Daniel spends with Gabe he starts to think of Gabe as something more than a friend.
I really liked the representation in this book because there were so many diverse characters. Daniel has autism, so sees situations in a different way and also interacts with people differently. What I really liked is the fact that the reader has the opportunity to get to know Daniel because Daniel talks very openly about his autism and how it affects not only his daily life but his relationships with other people. I also really loved that the book includes characters from the LGBTQIA+ community.
The friendship between Daniel and Mona was lovely. Mona is someone who I would describe as very popular at school and is also an athlete. At times Daniel can’t understand why Mona would want to spend time with him because they are so very different. What I respected about Mona’s character is the fact that Mona doesn't give in to peer pressure and sees Daniel as a true friend and doesn't care where Daniel falls within the school hierarchy. I thought the connection between Daniel and Gabe was very sweet. It's clear that they have a lot of interests in common but Daniel doesn’t initially see this because he's very much focused on bringing Mona and Gabe together. But then Daniel starts to realise that maybe he's making the wrong decision and that actually Daniel likes Gabe more than he should.
One of my favourite aspects of this story was definitely the inclusion of LARPing because I've never read a book where it has been included in so much detail. It was brilliant to see Daniel coming into his own and getting into character when he attended LARP sessions. In some ways the reader sees two sides to Daniel. When Daniel is at school he keeps to himself and can become slightly withdrawn. Whereas when he is role playing he's much more confident, thinking strategically and happy to interact with people.
February 11, 2024
This is a wonderful story that depicts and Afro-Cuban autistic queer teenager figuring out social dynamics as well as love. There's a lot of explanations for the reader about autism and Daniel as a narrator rambles and goes on a lot of explanations but I wasn't personally bothered by it as I felt the book would be a great introduction for younger teens who do not know autism and are encountering it in this book for the first time. The narration style also seems very reflective of Daniel's personality and I can see a lot of similarities of Daniel's voice in the story to my autistic friends.
The explanations throughout the book of how Daniel experiences autism rings true to what I've compared and contrasted with my friends while still not saying that it is the only way to experience autism. It was definitely clarified that autism was a spectrum and all the symptoms were how Daniel experiences it while other autistic characters in the novel seemed to show to most likely experience it differently as they all had their unique voices and interactions with Daniel.
The approach to the love triangle was unique as it didn't truly end up as a love triangle but everyone in the book and even the reader assumed that there was more going on with Mona. In the end everyone seemed happy and even though it wasn't said, a queerplatonic and a romantic relationship solidified by the end it seems since all three characters were happy and supporting each other side by side.
I would highly recommend this book to young teenagers or teenagers who are being introduced to autism. There isn't any coarse language and even the LARP described in the book isn't imagined as violent as well. The only triggering parts of the book is a misgendering a character but it appears more so as a learning lesson for the characters and it's not a malicious confrontation so comfortability will depend on the reader.
Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
#indigoemployee
The explanations throughout the book of how Daniel experiences autism rings true to what I've compared and contrasted with my friends while still not saying that it is the only way to experience autism. It was definitely clarified that autism was a spectrum and all the symptoms were how Daniel experiences it while other autistic characters in the novel seemed to show to most likely experience it differently as they all had their unique voices and interactions with Daniel.
The approach to the love triangle was unique as it didn't truly end up as a love triangle but everyone in the book and even the reader assumed that there was more going on with Mona. In the end everyone seemed happy and even though it wasn't said, a queerplatonic and a romantic relationship solidified by the end it seems since all three characters were happy and supporting each other side by side.
I would highly recommend this book to young teenagers or teenagers who are being introduced to autism. There isn't any coarse language and even the LARP described in the book isn't imagined as violent as well. The only triggering parts of the book is a misgendering a character but it appears more so as a learning lesson for the characters and it's not a malicious confrontation so comfortability will depend on the reader.
Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
#indigoemployee
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2024
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Daniel, Deconstructed, James Ramos’ second book, and in my opinion, better than their first. I’m always on the lookout for solid, nuanced neurodiverse rep, and I loved the way this book explored it through Daniel’s (and Ramos’) eyes.
Daniel has many insights about how being autistic impacts how he interacts with the world, and I related to many of them. I particularly liked how his interest in being behind the camera played a role in this, with him using it as a vehicle to hide “behind the scenes,” being an observer of the action going on around him, as opposed to an active participant. I also loved the way he referenced film a lot, showing his overall passion for the medium on multiple fronts.
And it was achingly relatable seeing him navigate the major conflicts of the book, from a potential new romance with a new nonbinary classmate, Gabe, and the confusing public perception around his bond with his best friend, Mona. A lot of the story is focused on him misreading intentions, and even trying to set Gabe and Mona up at one point, due to them being similar personality-wise. But in the process, he does get to know Gabe and realizes how comfortable he is with them…although there is also the issue that Mona becomes more distant. I rooted for all these characters to work things out, as they are all genuinely good people, and I was satisfied with how it all came together.
This was a nice, sweet read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a solid intersectional/diverse YA romance.
Daniel, Deconstructed, James Ramos’ second book, and in my opinion, better than their first. I’m always on the lookout for solid, nuanced neurodiverse rep, and I loved the way this book explored it through Daniel’s (and Ramos’) eyes.
Daniel has many insights about how being autistic impacts how he interacts with the world, and I related to many of them. I particularly liked how his interest in being behind the camera played a role in this, with him using it as a vehicle to hide “behind the scenes,” being an observer of the action going on around him, as opposed to an active participant. I also loved the way he referenced film a lot, showing his overall passion for the medium on multiple fronts.
And it was achingly relatable seeing him navigate the major conflicts of the book, from a potential new romance with a new nonbinary classmate, Gabe, and the confusing public perception around his bond with his best friend, Mona. A lot of the story is focused on him misreading intentions, and even trying to set Gabe and Mona up at one point, due to them being similar personality-wise. But in the process, he does get to know Gabe and realizes how comfortable he is with them…although there is also the issue that Mona becomes more distant. I rooted for all these characters to work things out, as they are all genuinely good people, and I was satisfied with how it all came together.
This was a nice, sweet read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a solid intersectional/diverse YA romance.
September 1, 2024
3.5/5
I think the true power of this book comes from its approachability for a young reader. I never read a book like this one when I was in middle school and I wish I had! Throughout this work we get to see the internal struggles of a young Afro Cuban queer person with autism. At its core this is a story about discovery, self-actualization, and of course love. Not every single piece of work needs to have some groundbreaking message, but rather, I believe placing people with historically marginalized identities in simple/everyday scenarios is equally as important.
I learned about so many cool things reading this. I had no idea what LARPing was but it seems like a wonderful community and space to be apart of. Furthermore I learned about the word ‘allistic’ which I had never heard before.
Throughout reading I mostly appreciated being inside Daniel’s mind and the way he worked through decisions and different situations. I believe it is so important for people like me who exist in the allistic world to delve into stories like Daniel’s so as to catch even a glimpse of their perspective and how it might differ from our own. Especially for young readers who are constantly taking in information about the world around them and internalizing it. This book is not only easy to understand but it is vital to understand.
I took away a few stars mostly for plot purposes. Sometimes I felt like we were being introduced to characters that felt a little pointless or there were moments that might have been a little too cringe for me (but this book wasn’t written for an older audience so that might just be a me thing).
PS I hope I meet a Gabe someday. I adore them.
I think the true power of this book comes from its approachability for a young reader. I never read a book like this one when I was in middle school and I wish I had! Throughout this work we get to see the internal struggles of a young Afro Cuban queer person with autism. At its core this is a story about discovery, self-actualization, and of course love. Not every single piece of work needs to have some groundbreaking message, but rather, I believe placing people with historically marginalized identities in simple/everyday scenarios is equally as important.
I learned about so many cool things reading this. I had no idea what LARPing was but it seems like a wonderful community and space to be apart of. Furthermore I learned about the word ‘allistic’ which I had never heard before.
Throughout reading I mostly appreciated being inside Daniel’s mind and the way he worked through decisions and different situations. I believe it is so important for people like me who exist in the allistic world to delve into stories like Daniel’s so as to catch even a glimpse of their perspective and how it might differ from our own. Especially for young readers who are constantly taking in information about the world around them and internalizing it. This book is not only easy to understand but it is vital to understand.
I took away a few stars mostly for plot purposes. Sometimes I felt like we were being introduced to characters that felt a little pointless or there were moments that might have been a little too cringe for me (but this book wasn’t written for an older audience so that might just be a me thing).
PS I hope I meet a Gabe someday. I adore them.
March 26, 2024
This was a really sweet, straight-forward story about a teenager navigating high school, with the added pressures of being queer and neurodiverse.
It was a very easy and comfortable read, drawing me straight in, and keeping me there until the end. I flew through it, and it was fun to escape to Daniel’s world for a little while.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The friendships between the three main characters were all really sweet, and it was lovely to see the different layers and complexities forming between them. While the plot was relatively simple and predictable, it was still really nice to see those characters interact and to explore their separate arcs.
There were a lot of aspects, though, that left me wanting more. Every obstacle or difficulty that was faced felt like it was resolved really quickly and easily, with most things coming up and being resolved within the same couple of chapters. As a result there wasn’t much drive, and beyond the romance and friendships not much to root for. There were some really touching moments that could have been a lot more impactful if they’d been built up more gradually.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, that ultimately left me wanting a little bit more.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
It was a very easy and comfortable read, drawing me straight in, and keeping me there until the end. I flew through it, and it was fun to escape to Daniel’s world for a little while.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The friendships between the three main characters were all really sweet, and it was lovely to see the different layers and complexities forming between them. While the plot was relatively simple and predictable, it was still really nice to see those characters interact and to explore their separate arcs.
There were a lot of aspects, though, that left me wanting more. Every obstacle or difficulty that was faced felt like it was resolved really quickly and easily, with most things coming up and being resolved within the same couple of chapters. As a result there wasn’t much drive, and beyond the romance and friendships not much to root for. There were some really touching moments that could have been a lot more impactful if they’d been built up more gradually.
Overall this was an enjoyable read, that ultimately left me wanting a little bit more.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
August 14, 2025
"Daniel, Deconstructed," by James Ramos is a stand-alone novel. My hardcover copy has a grand total of 304 pages.
Daniel Sanchez is dorky, autistic, and a very talented photographer for his high school. His best friend, Mona Sinclair, is truly one of his very best friends. They totally get each other and totally accept each other, exactly as they are and exactly as they are not. No one understands why they are friends, and that is totally OK.
Then, Gabe Mendes, who is non-binary, enters the chat, and Daniel thinks Mona and Gabe would really hit it off, romantically, and Daniel tries his hardest to make sure they meet and become a couple, but both Mona and Gabe have a few surprises in store for Daniel...
To say that I loved this novel is a massive understatement. Although I do not know if I could be autistic, I can honestly say I resonated with Daniel in so many ways. Seeing Daniel move through life, overcome challenges for allistic (non-autistic) people had me feeling so inspired and moved, and rooting for Daniel every step of the way.
Needless to say, I should mention that I have become a forever fan of James Ramos, and look forward to their first novel, "The Wrong Kind of Weird," as well as anything else they write. Also, one of the very first books I ever purchased from Harlequin (NOT your grandmother's Harlequin, but the more diverse and inclusive Harlequin), and expect to buy others, in the future.
Daniel Sanchez is dorky, autistic, and a very talented photographer for his high school. His best friend, Mona Sinclair, is truly one of his very best friends. They totally get each other and totally accept each other, exactly as they are and exactly as they are not. No one understands why they are friends, and that is totally OK.
Then, Gabe Mendes, who is non-binary, enters the chat, and Daniel thinks Mona and Gabe would really hit it off, romantically, and Daniel tries his hardest to make sure they meet and become a couple, but both Mona and Gabe have a few surprises in store for Daniel...
To say that I loved this novel is a massive understatement. Although I do not know if I could be autistic, I can honestly say I resonated with Daniel in so many ways. Seeing Daniel move through life, overcome challenges for allistic (non-autistic) people had me feeling so inspired and moved, and rooting for Daniel every step of the way.
Needless to say, I should mention that I have become a forever fan of James Ramos, and look forward to their first novel, "The Wrong Kind of Weird," as well as anything else they write. Also, one of the very first books I ever purchased from Harlequin (NOT your grandmother's Harlequin, but the more diverse and inclusive Harlequin), and expect to buy others, in the future.
March 10, 2024
I finished Daniel, Deconstructed a little while ago and I’ve honestly been thinking about it a lot ever since I did.
Daniel, Deconstructed is the story of Daniel Sanchez, a photography and LARP-loving autistic teen who sets out on a mission to set his best friend Mona up with the new kid in school, Gabe.
Daniel is absolutely CONVINCED that Gabe and Mona are meant to be, because Mona always seems to find something wrong with the people she goes out with, and Gabe seems to be just as cool as she is.
Of course, things are never that simple, and when it seems that Gabe is more interested in Daniel than they are in Mona–and Daniel realizes he might return those feelings–Daniel has to deal with the fact that his perfect plan might not be so perfect.
I absolutely adored this sweet coming-of-age story. It was such a fun read, especially when you got to step into the sci-fi LARP world with Daniel. I found myself identifying with Daniel a lot of the time and really felt for him as he tried to figure out the weird world of allistic dating. I especially loved the found family elements of this book, and found the friendship between Mona and Daniel so heartwarming.
All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels/felt a little weird in high school wants to feel seen!
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an e-arc of this book.
Daniel, Deconstructed is the story of Daniel Sanchez, a photography and LARP-loving autistic teen who sets out on a mission to set his best friend Mona up with the new kid in school, Gabe.
Daniel is absolutely CONVINCED that Gabe and Mona are meant to be, because Mona always seems to find something wrong with the people she goes out with, and Gabe seems to be just as cool as she is.
Of course, things are never that simple, and when it seems that Gabe is more interested in Daniel than they are in Mona–and Daniel realizes he might return those feelings–Daniel has to deal with the fact that his perfect plan might not be so perfect.
I absolutely adored this sweet coming-of-age story. It was such a fun read, especially when you got to step into the sci-fi LARP world with Daniel. I found myself identifying with Daniel a lot of the time and really felt for him as he tried to figure out the weird world of allistic dating. I especially loved the found family elements of this book, and found the friendship between Mona and Daniel so heartwarming.
All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels/felt a little weird in high school wants to feel seen!
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an e-arc of this book.
June 7, 2025
I read Daniel, Deconstructed by James Ramos, which follows a Black and Cuban American autistic, queer teen from a small town in Minnesota. I thought this was a really enjoyable read—Daniel was such a compelling character, and I loved watching his growth. At the start, he doesn’t really see himself as someone people want to be around, so he tries not to stand out. But it’s clear throughout the book that people do like him—whether as a friend or something more—and I liked seeing him slowly come to terms with that.
One of the funnier and more unexpected plot points is when Daniel tries to set up his best friend Mona with the new student, Gabe—but surprise! Gabe is actually into Daniel. What a twist! That moment really added to the humor and heart of the story.
What stood out to me most was Daniel’s perspective as a neurodivergent teen, especially as a queer teen of color navigating friendship, identity, and romance. I also appreciated how the story explored other queer identities, like Mona’s aromanticism and Gabe’s non-binary identity. Plus, this book was genuinely funny. Daniel’s inner monologue and the situations he found himself in had me laughing more than once.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories, neurodivergent rep, and layered, diverse queer representation.
I rated this a 3.5.
One of the funnier and more unexpected plot points is when Daniel tries to set up his best friend Mona with the new student, Gabe—but surprise! Gabe is actually into Daniel. What a twist! That moment really added to the humor and heart of the story.
What stood out to me most was Daniel’s perspective as a neurodivergent teen, especially as a queer teen of color navigating friendship, identity, and romance. I also appreciated how the story explored other queer identities, like Mona’s aromanticism and Gabe’s non-binary identity. Plus, this book was genuinely funny. Daniel’s inner monologue and the situations he found himself in had me laughing more than once.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories, neurodivergent rep, and layered, diverse queer representation.
I rated this a 3.5.
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