The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears is a raw and emotional YA novel that dives into the life of Dane, a troubled teen trying to find his place in the world. The book touches on heavy topics like loss, guilt, and self-discovery, all while capturing the messiness of growing up. Dane’s voice is honest and relatable, making it easy to connect with him despite his flaws. It’s a gripping read that doesn’t shy away from life’s tough moments, but still leaves room for hope and personal growth. If you’re into stories with real characters facing real struggles, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

This is another one of those books I’ve had on my TBR for several years now, and I’m so glad to have finally read it. It’s definitely an emotional read, but it’s also one full of hope.

The teenage years are an anxiety-filled time for many. But Dane’s life is utter torture. He’s mourning the death of his father, who used to make Dane believe in himself and what he could do. To add insult to injury, his mother is now dating Chuck, his father’s best friend. And Chuck’s son Eric enjoys getting high and tormenting Dane.

In his head, Dane is tremendously articulate, but that never seems to translate into conversation. He’s profoundly emotional but he cannot seem to express the things he wants to, which leads to conflict with his mother, Chuck, and Eric. He’s been to a number of therapists but no one seems to get him or how he feels.

The person Dane is most at ease in communicating with is Ophelia, his next door neighbor and fellow teen. Ophelia shows him that it’s okay not to be okay, but also, you have no idea what another person may be going through, so it’s important to have compassion. She also helps Dane see beneath the surface of a person rather than taking them at face value.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley takes a frank look at mental health, particularly in teenagers, and the struggles many of them deal with. At times I truly felt for him, although at times I had to remember he was just a teenager, and his behavior was frustrating. But to watch him finally start to deal with his problems and express his feelings was gratifying.

Kat Spears did a great job with this story. I’m sorry it took me so long to read it, but I think I could appreciate it more now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy!

This is a heavy on the character growth and focuses more on their story rather than actual plot. It follows a teen as he copes with grief, growing up, acceptance, first love, and the other trials and tribulations teenagers go through. I enjoyed Dane's journey and seeing how he pulled through. I think the author did a fantastic job and would recommend this to teens in high school.

This is an example of a time where I am reading a book at the timing I was meant to read it. I have been losing my dad for several years now. I’ve watched his physical and mental decline and while in the book it happened really fast, in real life with my dad it’s been painfully slow. My struggles with my dad have not manifested in any suicidal ideation or as self-destructive of behavior as Dane displays in this book, but I share some of the fascination with death and the depression that Dane experiences.

Grief is no joke. It can make everything in life feel like a void and the desire to do anything at all gets completely sucked away. The fact that this book came into my path has left me feeling like that day where I lose my dad forever is closer then it ever was and I’m scared. I’ve been grieving my dad for the way he used to be for years now, but I’m not ready to lose him completely.

I am afraid that when I do lose my dad that I will be like Dane. He loses himself in his grief. He doesn’t participate in school, he uses vaping to cope, he set part of his house on fire (although that partially was for a reasonable thing and was an accident, but still), he continues skateboarding while he is injured, and he’s horribly self depreciating. I understand him though. I understand why he feels and does what he does. I know that I would probably even be friends with him if I met him in person. He reminds me so much of my guy friends in some of his more adorable dork ways that it’s hard for me not to like him. However, I don’t want to become him.

I know grief will manifest however it needs to. I know I won’t be in control. I know that it’ll cause a hole in my heart that already aches because of how hard it is to see my dad suffer everyday. Reading this book it shows how ugly grief can be and it’s even harder when your family grieves differently and it feels lonely when you can’t find common ground to be understood. It doesn’t completely absolve him from the mistakes he makes in this novel, but it makes him fully human. Dane is messy, hurting, and he is well intentioned. Reading his story made me want to scold, try and talk to, and just hug this guy. He’s a likable dummy (in a good way).

All in all, if you want to read something that shows a whole lot of character development, revelations about life and death, cringe behavior, awkward first love, and a whole lot of grief, you’ll want to pick up ‘The Tragedy of Dane Riley’. As much as it hurts it helps too.

"The Tragedy of Dane Riley" by Kat Spears is a poignant exploration of a teenager's struggles with mental health, grief, and the challenges of growing up in the aftermath of a family tragedy. Dane Riley's story is emotionally charged, delving into the complexities of his relationships and the internal battles he faces.

The novel effectively captures Dane's deteriorating grasp on reality and the emotional turmoil he experiences in the wake of his father's death. The portrayal of grief is raw and authentic, allowing readers to empathize with Dane's pain and confusion. The exploration of Dane's strained relationships, particularly with his mother's new boyfriend and his son, adds a layer of tension and conflict that enhances the narrative.

Kat Spears tackles the sensitive subject of mental health with care, shedding light on the importance of understanding and addressing one's emotional well-being. The book serves as a platform for discussing the impact of loss on mental health, providing readers with insight into the challenges faced by individuals dealing with grief.

However, the novel has its drawbacks. At times, the pacing feels uneven, with certain parts of the story dragging while others seem rushed. The character development, while strong for Dane, leaves some of the supporting characters feeling underdeveloped and lacking depth. Additionally, the romantic subplot with the girl next door, while contributing to Dane's character arc, feels somewhat clichéd and predictable.

"The Tragedy of Dane Riley" is a compelling read that tackles important themes surrounding mental health and grief, making it a valuable addition to the young adult literature landscape. While the novel has its moments of emotional resonance and authenticity, its occasional pacing issues and reliance on familiar tropes prevent it from reaching its full potential. Overall, it is a three-star read that offers a sincere exploration of the challenges faced by a teenager grappling with loss and the quest for self-discovery.

I think this was supposed to be Hamlet (the only reason I picked it up and the only reason I continued reading it when it became clear I was not enjoying) but it wasn't a close adaptation plotwise (i.e., it didn't bring a lot of the events from the play over). I personally prefer a bit closer adaptations, but I could at least tell the author knew the source text they were working with, unlike a number of retellings I have read. Instead, it focused heavily on Dane's mental health with a modern "teenage" take on some of Hamlet's most well-known issues. The treatment of these topics also indicated to me that the author knew the play. Overall, it wasn't the worst retelling I've encountered, but not to my preference. Additionally, the book as a story in itself didn't really click with me and I didn't particularly enjoy the writing voice, though it was distinct and did fit the tone the author was going for.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

TBH, this book wasn't totally for me. It was heartfelt and emotional, but a little too angsty for my tastes. It was a heavy book and I can see it being wonderful for some readers looking for that poignant impact, but just didn't jibe with me.

This one was a DNF for me. Something about the writing style was not working for me, and it made it really hard to get into the story

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful YA novel that gets into hard but necessary subjects like mental health, grief, and friendships. The characters are realistic. The writing is edgy and sometimes it will break your heart. Luckily, there is some humor to break up the crying.

This book is hard to read. Not because it's bad but because the subject matter it broaches is tough and it's done in a way that makes the pain incredibly real to the reader. You have to go in in the right mindset - this isn't a plot driven story really, it's about the character growing and changing. If you have that as your expectation you're in for a treat. Dane's growth is realistic and painful, just like being a teenager.

There is a lot packed into this book that keeps the pages turning; friendship, heartache, mental illness. A good read.

A wonderful coming of age dealing with loss and mental health. Super important topics and felt very real. Thank you so much for a copy of this book!

The story was fine. I didn’t love it or hate it. It was just meh for me. I’m sure there’s some people that will love it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley was a did not finish book and I think it had expired before I was able to try to finish it.

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.

Wow! This was a doozy of a book. I don't know if it's because there were moments that felt a little too relatable or too dark but I was out of my comfort zone a lot. The main character, Dane, is a senior in high school and he's having a hard time. His dad just died of cancer and his mom is already dating and living with his dad's best friend, Chuck. Dane's had one suicide attempt and has seen a slew of therapists. He's on all sorts of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, but he still doesn't feel right.

For me it wasn't as though I finished this book and felt a since of completion, this felt like a snapshot into a teen's life. Dane has a bleak, in my opinion, outlook on life and afterlife. Many times his opinions made me uneasy and felt like I had to quickly read past ideas and theories that could send my brain into an existential crisis spiral.

TW: anxiety, depression, suicide, loss of a parent

I don't know if it's necessary to post this trigger warning, but honestly, I felt my anxiety spike a few times while reading this one and I'd like to give others the heads up. And if you feel up for it, I think it's a good read. I think it sheds light on mental health, high school, and grief.

What a beautiful story of grief, first love, friendship and mental health. It deals with heavy topics in a realistic way and you can't hep but be moved. With Hamlet vibes, this YA book is well worth your time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the copy to review.

Oh, this book. It's heavy, and it's so good.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley is a book about loss and what it looks like to cope with the grief. Kat Spears does not shy away from diving into deep topics of mental health. It's a book that should be read with tissues nearby.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with this book. All thoughts are my own.