The Tragedy of Dane Riley

by Kat Spears

Dane Riley's grasp on reality is slipping, and he's not sure that he cares. While his mother has moved on after his father's death, Dane desperately misses the man who made Dane feel okay to be himself. He can't stand his mother's boyfriend, or the boyfriend's son, whose favorite pastime is tormenting Dane. Then there's the girl next door: Dane can't quite define their relationship, and he doesn't know if he's got the courage to leave the friend zone.

An emotional novel about mental health, and dealing with grief and growing up, The Tragedy of Dane Riley is the story of a teenager looking to make sense of his feelings in the wake of tragedy, and finding the strength he needs to make life worth living.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Mental Health, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2021

About the author

Kat Spears grew up moving every few years and is still looking for her hometown. Kat writes realistic, edgy, honest, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny books about and for young people. Being a teenager sucked for Kat, and she’s still trying to write her way out of it. She spends her free time rearing caterpillars, vacuuming up dog hair, and writing letters the old-fashioned way. Her favorite job, ever, is being the mother of three perfect and hilarious humans.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is a really good character study of grief, coping, growing up, acceptance, first love, and everything else a struggling teenager goes through. i think it handles a lot of heavy topics realistically, with some good humour and writing thrown in there.

and i know i would have enjoyed this more if i had been in the mood for such a book. i was wanting something more plot based, so a story that focuses only on character growth wasnt quite hitting the spot for me. not at all an issue of the books, but just a personal preference at the time.

however, i have no doubt that many readers will be able to connect with the story of dane riley.

thanks wednesday books for the ARC.

↠ 2.5 stars

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Dane is grieving the loss of his best friend and mentor, his beloved father. His mother quickly takes up with his father's best friend, Chuck, which Dane views as a betrayal to his father's memory. Another reviewer astutely pointed out that this story has parallels to Shakespeare's play, Hamlet - and not just because of the names of the characters. I also agree with her that a lot happens in this novel and that although there is plenty of introspection, Dane's emotional reactions needed to be more fleshed out in some cases. Conversely, some scenes drag on too long for this same reason. (I am thinking of that scene where Ophelia is drunk and Dane describes, at length, the colour and texture of her barf SEVERAL TIMES. Enough already! The repeated use of the words "pink chunks" started to wear on my last nerve pretty quickly!



What bothered me most is that Dane is infatuated with Ophelia, and shortly after the Infernal Vomitus scene, Ophelia whines that she only went to the party to make Dane jealous. This declaration appears to have ZERO effect on Dane - he does not act on this hint from Ophelia. He deflects any hope or possibility of a relationship between them despite this startling declaration of interest on Ophelia's part. Whaaaaaaat? I get that Dane is deeply depressed, but hey, if someone tells you they are seriously interested you, you'd probably feel a TWINGE of happiness or hope, right?

And even though Ophelia is in deep trouble with her Dad, and grounded for life, she plays hooky from school with Dane the very next day. Granted, during that outing, they have a deep discussion about the meaning of life:

..."You mean you feel as if your life has no meaning?"
"Yes."
"Is that what you're worried about?.... Of course your life has no meaning. Unless you do something meaningful, life is meaningless."
"That's depressing."

Then she takes this lofty debate in the opposite direction. Ophelia points out that squirrels don't look for a reason to live, a squirrel just "is." I'm all for people learning to be happy with themselves and stop torturing themselves by comparing their life with someone else's, but Ophelia had better not join the debating team.



Don't get me wrong: this story has a lot going for it, and Kat Spears writes well. Grief and depression and suicidal thoughts have crippled Dane, and all the king's horse and all the king's men cannot seem to put Dane back together again. Many reviewers gave this novel four and five stars. I'm going to confess that Shakespeare's Hamlet tired me out (he was MOROSE!!!) and I wanted to tell him to "snap out of it already" like Cher's character did in the movie Moonstruck. I had the same impulse here, but in this case, I wanted Dane to grab his MANY opportunities with Ophelia and run! I'm rating this one a 3.5 out of 5.

[BookNightOwl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tragedy of Dane Riley By Kat Spears deals with a teen who loses his father to cancer and him coming to terms on how to deal with it and move on.

This book deals with family, mental health, grief, friendship and loss. I felt Dane's grief. I could understand why he felt the way he felt and did the things he did. While his mom is moving on with her life he feels like he is being left behind. This was a very emotional book.

Thank you Netgalley, st martins press and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book I'm exchange for an honest review.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poignant story of a grieving teen, Dane Riley, really moved me. His powerful reactions to the loss of his beloved father to cancer are deeply felt, as is the outrage he feels when his mom hops into a new relationship. Add the push-pull relationship with neighbor teen Ophelia and you have an adolescent in full angst mode. Clearly, Hamlet vibes abound!

Kudos to author Kay Spears for dealing with loss and depression so openly. The story can be heavy at times, but its deft treatment softens the blow. A must-read for mature teen/YA readers.

4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 22 Jun 2021
#TheTragedyofDaneRiley #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press,
and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is YA realistic fiction.

The narrator is high school senior Dane (1st person POV). He is a troubled teen who is grieving the loss of his dad. We see how he deals with life, school, girls and therapy.

This book is at times not easy to read. Dane has problems. And they are not always fun to read about it. But I think that this book is important. And it deals with many important topics. And after reading the author's comments (on goodreads in her review) I am in awe. She tried to do show readers certain things and I think that she was succesful.

There were definitely things that I really liked about this book. I loved Ophelia and everything to do with her friendship with Dane. I enjoyed everything to do with therapy/his therapist. And I actually liked the family dynamic between Dane, his mom, Chuck and Chuck's son.

I also absolutely loved how the more that I looked at this cover, the more that I discovered new things about it that were somehow related to the story.

This is a quick read. But some of it just wasn't overly enjoyable to me. I feel like this could be super helpful to teens (which I am not). So it's difficult for me to rate. But ultimately I decided to go with 3 stars.




Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday books for allowing me to read this book.

[Jessica Reads It · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you sometimes question your existence in the world?

For Dane Riley, this existential crisis has been an ever-present reminder, at the back of his mind. When Dane’s dad dies, the floodgates open and all his repressed thoughts and emotions fly to the forefront- is he worthy of life?

Some people may describe this book as morose or depressing, to them I say yes, it is both of these things, but it's so much more, it is thought-provoking and brings to the forefront very uncomfortable yet realistic issues on grief, suicide, and death.

"She told me it was better if I moved on, but where I’m supposed to be moving on to?"

When I read this I couldn’t help but think- money, status, position, beauty, what is it all worth in the grand scheme of things? Who are we truly as a person?

"It's a vicious pattern. Society conditions us to want the things we can't have."

To say I did some inner reflection after this book is truly putting it mildly, I thoroughly enjoy books that make me look at myself and the world around me differently and I think this book accomplishes that. If it's one thing I have learned from Dane it's that sometimes in life, it's ok to be lost, it's ok to feel small and insignificant in comparison to the great big world because life isn't just a series of beginnings and endings, it's about all the stuff- good or bad in between that matters.

"Things can be funny even if you aren't happy. Happy is just a state of mind."

Kate Spear has penned some truly complex characters, who have such a dismal yet hopeful outlook on life that you can't help but route for them. Her writing is sharp with a synergistic balance of dark taboo topics and fresh witty humor. The Tragedy of Dane Riley was such a psychologically compelling read, that forces you to challenge the status quo. It's a coming-of-age story, about a young boy who questions his existence in the world and his life’s purpose.

Thank you to Wednesday Books, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing story.
I love that it's messy and dark. Dane is struggling - struggling with reasons to get up in the morning, get dressed. Why finish high school? Why go to class? Why eat in the morning? Why does any of this matter? Because Dane has recently lost his dad and life feels. . .like a series of pointless activities.

It was dark and angry to be in Dane's head but it resonated as so realistic. The anxiety of the big life choices and the pointlessness of the little ones. The frustration of not understanding others and not really being sure they are worth understanding. That realization that high school is really a sea of people you don't like but are forced to spend all day with. I just wanted to hug Dane and tell him the same platitudes that would have made him mad.

Ophelia was a great addition to the story - she's this anomaly you don't really get to start knowing until about 1/2 way through the book. I also liked the additions of the therapy sessions, both as family counseling and individual. The more we grapple and tackle and talk about mental health, the more we'll search to try to understand and know more.

I can see this story really reaching a lot of people right now who are struggling with the big scary things they can't solve and give them just a glimmer of sunlight under the big dark door. I loved it.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Spears delivers a raw, funny, and heartbreaking look at grief in The Tragedy of Dane Riley. Told in Dane’s sharp, sarcastic teenage voice, the novel captures the messy mix of loss, anger, and awkward humor that comes with growing up after tragedy.

The pacing can wander, and Dane’s voice may grate at times, but the honesty of his perspective makes the story hit home. A tough yet tender YA read that balances darkness with just enough hope.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Tragedy of Dane Riley
Author: Kat Spears
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC.

This book was a very difficult read. No, I don’t mean it was a bad book by any means. The subject matter of this is pretty heavy and that carries throughout the book. Our main character, Dane, is dealing with his father’s death. He is depressed and grieving. We get to see him try to make sense of what is happening and seeing everyone around him move on-making him feel like his father is being replaced. The book deals with a lot of Dane’s inner thoughts. There are times that we really don’t know what is going on, because Dane doesn’t. Everything that we experience in the story is through Dane’s eyes only. There is one scene in here that jumps to mind. We think everything is okay while we are reading that scene and then we find out something different. I really can’t go into that much more detail because of spoilers, but you will see it whenever you pick this book up.

With that being said, this book is more about the characters than the plot. While there is a plot, the in-depth look we get into Dane is what the focus of the book is. We get to experience the world through Dane’s eyes as he tries to make sense of a really complicated situation. Yes, everything is very one sided, but you can’t help but to feel somewhat sorry for Dane. He sees the world as a very ugly place and that no one understands. This is something that we all can relate to in some point in our lives. We have a character at his lowest and we see him struggle to rebuild.

Dane also asks some very difficult questions and trying to hold it together through it all. We see how he views his mother, which isn’t good, trying to deal with death, and really wondering if life is even worth it. I did like the role of his mother. We see Dane’s point of view, but in the dialogue we get to see what his mother is going through as well. We see both sides of grief and how they are both struggling to hold it together-though Dane thinks she is trying to forget about his father. While she does take Dane to counseling, she does seem rather aloof to what he is going through. Again, this is all told from Dane’s point of view, but in the dialogue we can see what she is dealing with.

If you can’t tell by now, this book does deal with some pretty heavy themes. We have depression, lack of parental guidance, grief, romance, and so much more. There is a mixture of humour woven in as well. So, it’s not all gloom and doom. The way that it is all presented though shows us just how very isolating mental illness can be and trying to make people under is very difficult. We see Dane feel very lonely and isolated, which puts him into his darkness of times. Only when he finds someone who can see more to him does he start to recover, but it’s not a full recovery. The effects are still there and they may never go away.
For all of those reasons, I do think this is a must read. It bring mental illness to the forefront and shows what it is like though the eyes of someone going through it. A lot of books are told from the eyes of a family member of someone with mental illness. The fact that the roles are reversed makes this a must read.

The only reason I gave it a four star was I felt the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked to see that fleshed out a little bit more.

Anyway, this book comes out on June 22, 2021.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/tVL1DE_Wq8M

[Charisse Moritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Kat Spears. She digs right into the gritty truth, uncertainty, pressures and sometimes ugliness of teenage existence. Her characters are often tragic, always resilient and wonderfully unique and relatable. She brings both realism and humor to her stories. I caught myself laughing as often as I wanted to hug and comfort Dane.
I highly recommend giving The Tragedy of Dane Riley a read. Then look up Kat Spears's catalogue. Make sure to start with Sway. I have such a soft spot for that book.

[Alexina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC -- SO happy having the opportunity to read this so early!

This book happily reminded me of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," which just so happens to be one of my favorites or, maybe, a bit of Holden Caufield (Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, which I actually didn't love as a teen and maybe need to reconsider reading as an adult).

It centers on Dane Riley, a teen struggling with his mental health after the death of his father to, what I inferred was, cancer. Dane still texts his Dad's phone number and, oddly enough, still receives texts in response. Dane is shuffled to a number of therapists, by his mom, and the relationship between Dane and his mom are strained, to put it lightly. Mom is now dating the best friend of her late husband and Dane can't stand him nor his son, Eric. And, if that's not enough to add to the mix, Dane has a crush on the girl next door and he doesn't even know how to handle all that.

At its heart, this is a book about grief and learning how to be move forward. On the surface, it's a conversation about mental health, dark humor, and family relationships.

I loved it. And, it absolutely didn't hurt that it was very reminiscent of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Not so subtle clues, like the fact that Dane's crush is named Ophelia and the book is broken into Acts, help define this link. But, look more closely and more deeply... It really talked to the nerd in me.

[Roger Hyttinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It often takes me quite a while before I get into a book, but the utterly compelling central character in this one sucked me right in. The writing flowed so well that I was deeply immersed in the story before I knew it.

The novel is told from the point of view of Dane, a senior in high school, who is overcome with grief after the death of his father from cancer one year prior. To add insult to injury, his mother began dating his father’s former business partner and best friend Chuck shortly after the funeral, which Dane sees as not only disrespecting his father but also her forgetting him and moving on.

Additionally, Chuck’s “evil” son, Eric, seems to delight in tormenting Dane. To help him deal with his depression (and his new family dynamic), his mother has shuffled him through a plethora of therapists, most of whom have proven ineffective.

Dane is also infatuated with Ophelia, the girl next door who he believes is way out of his league. This is despite the fact that she seems to be regularly dropping odd, almost flirtatious hints that only manage to confuse him further.

What we end up with then is an in-depth character study of a complex young man who has a difficult time coping with life and communicating with the people who are close to him. In the process, he is searching for answers to some pretty tough questions while trying to maintain his sanity through it all. Through that process, the novel examines some pretty hard-hitting themes such as grief, depression, suicide, first love, relating to others, lack of parental support, insecurity, and the meaning of life. It also looks at the pain, difficulty, and at times, anguish in simply growing up.

Though there are certainly some dark and weighty topics in the novel, the author does a brilliant job of balancing them out with plenty of humor, wit, and banter. Dane is quite a sarcastic and amusing character, and I enjoyed getting to know him as the story progressed. His comments caused me to cackle out loud on more than a few occasions. I especially loved seeing his transformation from heartbroken and overwhelmed to stepping up and taking control of his life.

But at its core, this is an intense coming-of-age story about grief and figuring out how to cope. In this way, it ends up being poignant and heart-wrenching in many places. Simultaneously heartbreaking and heart-mending, The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a poignant tale about finding oneself in the midst of chaos. This gem of a story is as thought-provoking and hopeful as it is emotional and sobering, and I enjoyed every single moment. I’ll definitely read more by this author.

A huge thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday Books for providing a review copy of this book.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a young adult contemporary romance written by Kat Spears. In this contemporary twist on Hamlet, 17-year-old Dane Riley struggles with depression after his father's death.

After seeing a coyote wandering in his upscale suburb of McLean, Virginia, Dane starts to imagine it's the reincarnation of his father, who died from cancer less than a year ago. He occasionally still texts his dad and receives kind messages back from whomever now has that phone number. He's angry and resentful of his mother for moving on too quickly and dating his father’s best friend and business partner, Chuck.

An unmotivated student who’s not planning on going to college, Dane ponders what there is to live for. He lacks support from his mother, but has positive influences in his life in the form of his therapist and one of his teachers. A crush on Ophelia, the girl next door, is one of the only things that fuel him, but she's warned him that any relationship she enters will have a pre-planned end date so no one can get hurt.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley is written moderately well. Dane's emotional ups and downs are conveyed realistically and present a moving depiction of grief and mental health. While the book starts off slowly and the plot never quite comes together, the ultimately hopeful ending may satisfy readers.

All in all, The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a modern tale of an existential crisis that will resonate with many teens.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the course of this novel we follow our main character Dane Riley. Dane is a 17 year old who is learning to deal with the death of his father. Along the way, there is romance introduced into his life and he isn't so sure how to take it. I loved the writing and the way this novel was set into acts like it was a Shakespearian play. I highly recommend this to everybody.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dane was struggling in his day-to-day following his father’s death. He resented his mother replacing his father so quickly, while he dealt with this hole in his life. Could he come to terms with his grief before his life unraveled?

If I had to compare the experience of reading this book to something, it would be like watching a Wes Anderson film. It was a little weird, but at the same time, really engrossing and thought provoking. Spears painted an interesting portrait of a young man dealing with grief, changes in his family situation, depression, and unrequited love. I appreciated his journey, which I found very honest and authentic.

I know people are going to come down hard on Dane’s mom. Picking up with her husband’s partner so quickly following her spouse’s death had me side-eyeing her, but I was also disappointed in her for not being very supportive of her son. Not to fear, Dane had a couple of people in his corner. His friends, teacher, therapist, and neighbor were all sources of support for Dane. There was also someone answering the text messages he sent to his father’s phone, which was a source of comfort for Dane.

Spears took on some heavy topics, but did a beautiful job balancing it all out with humor, wit, and a touch of romance. She explored Dane’s grief and depression with care and depicted it in a very real way. I felt his pain, anger, despair, and loneliness. My heart ached for him, and I worried about him. His struggle was real, and his road to recovery was winding and long.

I enjoyed getting to know Dane. He was an intriguing character. The ending left me a bit wanting, but it did seem as though things were looking up. Dane was moving in the right direction, and I was left feeling hopeful for him.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears is going to be one of my top books of the year.

"Dane is a senior at a high school he really doesn't want to attend. His father died right before Christmas and Dane misses hum terribly. What makes it worse is that his Mom doesn't seem to care that his Dad is gone. She's even started dating his Dad's business partner. No one understands his grief. Not even the girl next door that he has a big crush on. Dane's not even sure he can find a reason to go on living much less graduate."

This book is about grief - the incredible burden of trying to fill a hole in your life. It's about broken families trying to figure out a way to put things back together. It's about the impact a simple conversation with a teacher can have. It's about love and hope. And taking a leap.

Maybe you're not a 17-year-old guy but Spears, through Dane, asks a lot of the same questions we all ask. I always thought that made me feel less alone knowing someone felt the same way.

Add this book to your list this summer. Great read from Spears.

[Diana (Reading While Mommying) Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much thanks to NetGalley for the eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest reviewq.

A YA book for ninth grade and up, this well-written and affecting book explores some pretty serious topics with realism, humor, and emotion.

Dane Riley is a high school senior who's survived one suicide attempt and is contemplating it again as his depression gets worse with the unexpected death of his beloved father. Dane's livid that his mother has already moved on by allowing her new boyfriend, his father's best friend, Chuck, to move into the family home. Chuck's nasty son, Eric, goes to school with Dane and torments him. Dane's in love with his next-door neighbor, Ophelia but doesn't know how to make his feelings known. Dane tries to numb his emotional pain by hanging out with his friends and smoking weed, but the lure of suicide continues to beckon. With allusions to Hamlet, this novel explores Dane's serious mental health struggles and the relationships he has with his family and friends.

The frankness of this novel is laudable. I haven't read any of Spears' previous books, but her ability to realistically portray the actions, thoughts, and voices of disaffected teens has been highlighted in every other review I've read. I commend that in this novel, too. Dane's chats with his therapist and his mom, his texts to his Dad's old number, and his discussions with Ophelia and his friends were authentic and engrossing. Spears shows a deft ability to authentically portray all the characters (save Dane's mom--she seemed lacking) that are part of this complicated and serious situation.

At the same time, these portrayals, particularly Dane, may have been too real for me. I absolutely appreciate it, but I felt the depths of Dane's anger, disillusionment, and emotional pain were explored at great length yet not balanced out by enough time spent on redemptive or cathartic moments. I know real life doesn't always wrap up in a bow, but I felt like too much was left unresolved at the end, especially the texts to his "Dad." That plot point in particular seemed to be built up just to fizzle out. The slight resolution to the entire story seemed rushed, too.

Spears has a talent for writing teens, so I will definitely check out her other books. There's absolutely value and a need for serious young adult books like this; however, the exhausting emotional content in this one and its lack of a stronger resolution might be too overwhelming for some kids, particularly those who are dealing with similar mental struggles.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a great coming of age story in the vein of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Dane is a senior in high school who is feeling lost, his father has recently passed away, his mother is now dating his father's best friend and he's in a new school. He is every kid with teen angst but his has been tripled due to crippling grief and life instability. This book will make you feel so many emotions. There were pages where I wanted to shake him, passages where I wanted to smack him and chapters upon chapters where I just wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be ok.

Dane struggles with communication issues, in his mind he is so profound and his feelings are so deep but what comes out when he tries to communicate he just never quite gets his meaning across. This leads to a lot of conflict with his mother, her boyfriend and his son. He is slightly better with his friends who understand the teen angst and who are trying to understand his grief. We see him as he has some breakthroughs with his therapist and how they translate through to his day to day interactions and his sense of purpose and future.

His most revealing relationship is with his beautiful next door neighbor who he worships and begins to teach him, not everything is what it seems on the surface. She teaches Dane that it's ok to be open and sensitive but that you also need to be aware that others may be having their own battles and you should be sensitive of that too.

Just a lovely story with some profound coming of age lessons. I especially adored the reveal of who was communicating with him via his late father's cell phone.

Thanks to St Martin's Press for access to this novel. All opinions above are my own.

[Energy Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dane isn’t handling the death of his father well. It doesn’t help that his mother moved on so quickly, with his father’s best friend. As we watch Dane try to cope with the changes and pressures at school, his world seems to be falling even more apart. The only bright spot in his life is Ophelia, the girl next door. Instead of telling Ophelia he’s in love with her, he’s rude and pushes her away. But the hurt he’s carrying inside is spreading to his relationships. Dean needs some help healing and fast.

This story was a mixed bag for me. I appreciated how the author showed Dane’s struggles, but I felt the story’s pacing was off. Sometimes we spent time on relatively insignificant things and then raced through some important things. It was a bit jumpy from chapter to chapter, but I feel that reflected the turmoil that was going on in Dane. I think there’s a good message in this story, and many readers will benefit from reading it. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, for sending this along.

[Caitlyn (delightful.reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't for me.

This novel had elements of Hamlet. Dane Riley's dad just died and his mom is dating his dad's best friend. There's the ghost element and the love of his life, Ophelia. I liked the casual nods to Hamlet. It was nice, but this book was a little too much for me. (Yes, I know Hamlet, the source material is a bit too much, as well.)

I also wanted more closure when it came to Dane and Chuck, the maybe-future-step-dad. There was a big reveal about Chuck and it just got left behind.

But overall, this was a nice story about a young man struggling with many different things finding himself and a place in the world. I just didn't love it, but many people probably will adore this novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for this e-ARC! I really appreciated the opportunity to read this novel.

[book bruin]

DNF at 30%. I actually enjoyed the writing quite a bit. There is a lot of (dark) humor woven into this very emotionally heavy story. There isn't anything wrong with the novel per se, but I just don't think I'm in the right mood to appreciate it. I've decided to put this one down for now.

CW's I encountered up until this point: death of parent, suicide attempt (off page), suicide ideation, grief, depression, drugs (marijuana), alcohol, mentions of: bulimia/eating disorder, unprotected sex, and abortion

[Martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Wednesday books for sending me a book, all thoughts are my own.

Lately I have been really into books that deal with grief. This book had maybe too much of it for me.

Dane our main character is grieving the loss of his father. We get to experience everything with him. While I understand Dane is going through a lot, I found him so unlike able. So many times I wanted to stop reading. I only kept going because I was curious as to what would happen with him. That was another let down honestly.

Overall I didn’t love it, it was an okay book.

[Katie Bokan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked parts of this book but overall it was pretty meh. I liked Dane - he was a sympathetic character and was well-written as an authentic, angsty, depressed teenager. I felt like this book was interesting at the beginning but went downhill, and by the end I didn't really feel very invested in the characters. I also thought Ophelia's speech at graduation was lackluster and trite, not inspiring like it was supposed to be.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review soon

[Grace Gimbel · Rating 2 out of 5]

very “meh” book, I feel like nothing actually happened throughout the whole book

[Craftshley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because NetGalley made it a ‘read now’ title at the perfect time. I was just about to finish the book I was reading and didn’t know what to read next and The Tragedy of Dane Riley just fell in my lap. I’m so glad it did.

Dane Riley’s father died some months ago, I think about six months, though there’s no firm timeline given. It was a long illness, cancer, which Dane only found out about when he got back from boarding school prior to summer. His father died only two months later and Dane still feels absolutely blindsided. By that, and by the fact that his mother almost immediately hooked up with his dad’s best friend and business partner, Chuck. This book is a rollercoaster ride of Dane grieving, coming to terms with his mother’s relationship, struggling through his senior year of high school, and just generally trying to find something in life worth living for.

The way Spears deals with grief is so on point. It’s perfect and conversational and just so heart wrenching sometimes. Dane just doesn’t know how to deal with his feelings, like so many of us. There’s a lot going on and his mom doesn’t support him at all, pretty much treating him like his feelings are invalid or otherwise wrong. I mean, she fully supports his therapist prescribing him with antidepressants and anxiety medications because she thinks his feelings are wrong, that he shouldn’t be grieving for his father as hard as he is. And she gets mad at him for being upset. The intrusive thoughts are also very accurate, jarring and unexpected.

There’s a lot of stress and anxiety, particularly about Dane’s mental state. He’s not in the best frame of mind, yet he continues to insist that he’s fine. And then he does something completely off the wall and I’m like, oh no; he’s definitely not okay. The slow progress to recovery is not linear in the least and doesn’t always make sense. It’s not some formula where you suffer from a trauma, talk about the trauma, time passes, you see a therapist, and suddenly, you’re better. Grief rises and falls for no apparent reason. Sometimes a place or memory triggers you into it, and sometimes it comes out of nowhere. His emotions are raw and so authentic it hurts.

Dane comes out with some wonderful gems of advice. He’s a romantic, and a deep thinker. He’s fairly lonely, despite having some friends that he’s known for most of his life. The writing is so easy, so matter of fact. Though this book dealt with such deep topics, the writing flowed so well and I read it quickly, so absorbed into Dane’s inner thoughts and grief. I wish the ending had been more, but I think it was supposed to be that way. It makes me want more, yet I also know the story was brought to a really wonderful conclusion. Hopeful, but not too much. The world isn’t fixed and it’s not perfection, but it’s an improvement and Dane has the resources to continue to improve.

The world is such an overwhelming place and finding our purpose in this world is so hard. This book is something I will highly recommend to anyone who needs a little more hope. Realistic hope, not some magical cure for all ills. High school students, in particular, should find comfort in this book. It’s super relatable and authentic. Highly recommend!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Reading The Tragedy of Dane Riley is like taking a deep dive into the teenage brain… it’s uncomfortable, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s utterly beautiful.

Dane Riley is desperately trying to hang onto his sanity whilst also mourning the loss of his dad. Everyone around him, his mom included, seems to have to moved on, and be completely okay. But Dane feels the exact opposite of okay. In fact, he’s starting to feel nothing at all. He’s starting to feel like there isn’t a place in his life for… well, him.

One of the most compelling elements of this novel is the way that author Kat Spears gives us a front row seat to the thoughts of her protagonist. We as readers understand his anguish, his confusion, and his sadness in an immersive way. And that makes this read as difficult as it is edifying. I appreciated how Spears was able to encapsulate the insecurities of youth in a way that honors and validates them. I especially enjoyed the unfolding of Dane and Ophelia’s relationship. It’s authentic and flawed and an utter joy to read.

One caveat I’d add is that if you’re sensitive to talk of suicide and mental health, this might prove to be triggering for you. But for those who are able to mine this novel’s depths, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this novel courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.

[kglibrarian (Karin Greenberg) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this page-turning YA novel, Spears tackles the difficult subjects of depression and grief in a way that is accessible to teenage readers.
*Full review in a future issue of School Library Journal

[Gisselle C. Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of The Tragedy of Dane Riley can also be found at The Young Folks website!

The Young Folks | 'The Tragedy of Dane Riley' review: Kat Spears introduces a study of grief and mental health

I would like to extend a bit of a trigger warning for The Tragedy of Dane Riley: this book delves deeply into a grieving teenager’s mind, and there are parts of this book that introduce topics such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.

Dane Riley, the titular character of the novel, has been coasting through life ever since his father passed away the year before. As if that weren’t bad enough, his mother is now dating his father’s best friend Chuck, and Dane is saddled with a pseudo-stepsibling who loves to cause him misery. Everyone in his life appears to have moved on, but Dane remains stationary, struggling to come to terms with the death of his father, the only person who made Dane feel like it was okay to be himself. An emotional novel about mental health, loss, and growth, The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a book that forces you to reflect on your meaning of life and what (or who) you live for.

This book was an incredibly difficult read, as it fixates on extremely heavy content that can be hard to digest. Losing a parent is something that happens to everyone; whether you have a close relationship with them or not, whether it has happened in your life or not, this happens to everyone and will happen. Although it has not yet happened to me, I imagine that it is an unbelievably harsh reality to navigate.

The character of Dane Riley goes through a lot, especially within the condensed time frame that the novel presents. The upheaval that his father’s death and his mother’s new relationship causes does not help with his deteriorating mental health, and he slowly begins losing his grip on reality and his desire to keep going, whether it is graduating from high school or identifying the purpose to continue living. The text is particularly draining; Dane’s mind is a cesspool of dark thoughts, hopelessness, and so much anger.

There are moments where we can come up for a breath of air, such as when Dane gradually relaxes when working at Mr. Edgar’s Grocery Store, or when he is with Ophelia, the girl next door and his first love. Wry humor is also stamped in various places to help balance out Dane’s despondency, but for the most part, readers are quite literally forced out of their comfort zone as they share a space with Dane’s musings.

Yet, this is the compelling nature of Spears’s writing. Readers are not only immersed in the Dane’s story, but also Dane’s state of mind. Dane even mentions it multiple times in the novel: everything that he feels is exhausting, and sometimes there are only brief moments of a reprieve before he sinks back down, similar to how depression and/or anxiety may feel to others (I don’t wish to speak generally, but based on my own experience, this is comparable to how my emotions drained me at my lowest lows). Spears does an excellent job at tying this element into her novel to interact with her audience and encourage empathy toward her character and those who are like Dane.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a heartbreakingly raw examination of mental health and coping with loss. Spears does not shy away from Dane’s reality, and she also takes care to implement brief instances of differing realities from the characters around him. Everyone’s walk through life is different, and being sad or depressed is a perfectly acceptable response to life and its many punches. Spears’s novel manifests this concept in an honest manner, and while it doesn’t have a traditional “happy ending,“ I was left with a message of hope alongside the debilitation that there is something to live for for everyone. It may take others longer to identify it, but it is there, and it is waiting.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE TRAGEDY OF DANE RILEY is a compelling YA contemporary read about family, grief, depression, and mental illness. Dane is spiraling, feeling so much sadness from his father's death and anger at his mother and her new boyfriend. His mother has gotten him to see a new therapist, who wants to decrease medications and try talk therapy. Dane is starting to feel like his life is pointless and does not understand what he is heading towards. He is letting school get away from him and will not make a move on the beautiful girl next door that he is sure he loves.

As he navigates his life and does therapy, he begins to have some realizations about himself and the people around him that bring new perspectives.

What I loved: This was, at times, a challenging and emotional read - Dane is drowning in his grief and anger. His emotions and thoughts are central to the story, where we read in an almost stream-of-consciousness style. This really pulls the reader into his life and challenges. He is flawed and struggling, and I appreciated that with those elements, we also see the power of those around him to effect change in his life and reach him. Dane is relatively lucky in that he lives in a wealthy area, has a mother who takes him to therapy and friends and a teacher who are in his corner. These sorts of resources are always important to see.

Beyond these central themes, there were several others that I found thought-provoking within the story. For instance, his mother's boyfriend's son, who is a predator and takes advantage of girls, also bragging about abortions he has paid for. He feels like a caricature, but he conveys some themes around shaming, rape culture, and privilege that allows him to escape consequences.

There are also some intriguing conversations about reincarnation and the afterlife that Dane has as he processes his father's death. His and Ophelia's understandings and thoughts about romantic love were also both interesting and heart-breaking. This is definitely a read that makes you feel it all.

What left me wanting more: I wanted to see a bit more and find out what happens after the book ends. It does complete most of the threads of plot, but I always love to know more. The ending felt a little sudden to me, but maybe this was just because I was so wrapped up in Dane's emotions and life. I also wanted to see more about his suicidality and a little less stereotypes and stigmatizing of mental illness from main characters (around another character who has bipolar).

Final verdict: Immersive and emotional, THE TRAGEDY OF DANE RILEY is a YA contemporary that is sure to stick with the reader after the last page is turned. Recommend for fans of THE LUCKY ONES, WHEN THE STARS LEAD TO YOU, and EVERY OTHER WEEKEND.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.