As a result of my various committee appointments and commitments I am unable to disclose my personal thoughts on this title at this time. Please see my star rating for a general overview of how I felt about this title. Additionally, you may check my GoodReads for additional information on what thoughts I’m able to share publicly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this and any other titles you are in charge of.

Not really the book for me, I didn’t realise that it dealt with themes of death, will not be finishing as it is not to my personal taste, however someone who reads YA and can resonate with these feelings will find this book the right book for them as they will resonate with his story

Dane is having difficulty coping with the death of his dad. His mom has moved on, and Dane feels betrayed by this. He’s angry and depressed and has tried committing suicide and failed. He feels invisible and hopeless. His mom has him start therapy and slowly the therapist gets Dane to open up, to realize he needs goals to feel important and to not give up on joy. His sadness is crippling him and as he begins to spend time with Ophelia, the girl next door, he realizes that he might have a reason to get out of bed. As time passes, Dane begins to forgive his mom. and realizes he needs to work on relationships. He sees life is not just a beginning and an ending. He needs to look at what’s in between those beginnings and endings. Profound read.

This book has really stuck with me. I find myself thinking about the characters all the time and I can't wait to read more by this author!!!

Advanced copy provided by Net Galley

I absolutely loved this book and I wish that there was more of it or a sequel to read.

The book is told from the perspective of Dane Riley, who, while a bit of an unreliable narrator, is likeable from the first page. It follows him as he struggles with depression and grief that is overwhelming him after the loss of his father. Spears manages to find the perfect balance between internal reflection (read existential crises) and external dialogue. This book had the potential to either rush through Dane's process of healing or drag on but it does neither and it represents mental health in a realistic way. The complexity of the supporting characters help this book shine because they bring Dane's situation to life and they show that everyone handles their circumstances in different ways.

Thank you to Kat Spears for writing this beautiful book. I will forever be wondering if Ophelia really is that amazing or if her amazingness is reserved for Dane only.

Additional reader warning: this book is based heavily on Dane's thoughts surrounding depression and suicide is mentioned a few times so if this may be triggering for you then I would not recommend reading.

What can I say about this novel? Firstly, the cover alone pulls you right into Dane's grasp. He'll hold onto you, and he won't let you go. Secondly, the characterizations in this novel are just amazing. You have Dane, his mom, his mom's boyfriend, and the boyfriend's son. I would also add Dane's dad because the dad would still be a reason as to why Dane is struggling. Dane's dad was the reason why Dane is who he is. These influences have a structural and cultural effect on Dane, pushing him on his journey to becoming who he is. Thirdly, the plot was very well written. There were stakes, tension, ups and downs. The story tackles very heavy topics, i.e. mental health, which everyone needs to pay attention to. I really enjoyed all of it. I would highly recommend this YA novel to readers who love YA and stories about mental health.

Dane Riley's struggling. He's struggling with the fact that his died has died of cancer. He's struggling with his complicated feelings for the beautiful girl who lives next door. He's struggling with his mom's new, all-too-soon relationship with his dad's former law partner. He's struggling to find a meaning to life.

Dane's mom takes him to see a therapist in the hopes of helping Dane talk through all that's going on in his head, but talking about things only brings more to the surface. He's normal for feeling so much, isn't he? Or does he feel so much that he just might not be able to handle it?

This is a story that every high schooler should read. Heck, this is a story that anyone who has ever felt like the world was too much, or too little, should read. Dane experience loss, love, pain, healing, and a whole lot of unknowns in this poignant book. The title, The Tragedy of Dane Riley, begs the questions: Is Dane Riley's life a tragedy? and also how can it be seen as anything but? I think your answers will surprise you.

I absolutely loved The Tragedy of Dane Riley by Kat Spears. I was so impressed by the writing of Kat Spears that I went out and located and bought a copy of all her previous YA books. As I read some of the reviews for her previous books, one word kept coming up again and again. It is a word that I felt while reading The Tragedy of Dane Riley. Authentic. The voices of her characters are so authentic. That is what sets this book apart from most YA writing. None of the characters here were completely good or completely bad. They were all "real" in that they were treated with the compassion of being allowed to be human. There were no gimmicks in this book. No wise cracking teenage heroes or heroines dominated the stage with their super wisdom of life. This was a sense of real people with real frailties and real struggles. And that was what I liked so much about this book. As a high school teacher, I have known a lot of teens over the years. It was refreshing to read about these young people who are so believable. Thanks, Kat. Keep writing!

"The Tragedy of Dane Riley" is a beautiful and poignant story about coming of age while dealing with loss and mental health.

17 year old Dane Riley's life has been far from easy over the last year as he struggles to come to terms with the death of his father, his mother moving on, his own mental health, and, of course, a love interest.

Even though the budding romance exists, it takes a back seat to Dane working through many issues that face teenagers today - family problems, feelings of inadequacy, etc. Dane's emotions are raw and relatable, and there were many times throughout the book I just wanted to give the kid a hug. I love that Spears chose to make her protagonist a male and spotlight that boys and men have emotions and depth. It is exciting for a book like this to exist in the world that other young male readers will be able to identify with.

"The Tragedy of Dane Riley" is a story that will stick with me for a long, long time. I can't wait to purchase a copy to put in my high school classroom!

CW: death of a parent, suicidal thoughts, drug use

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely heartbreaking. I cried most of the book and at points it was tough to read because of how real the words felt. The character is more than just words on a page. The author did a fantastic job of making you feel for him and just how tough his life is.
Trigger warning: death, suicide attempt, depression

I loved Kat Spears other book, Breakaway, so I was so excited to read this! It broke my heart over and over again and I was in tears more than once. I had high expectations since I loved Breakaway so much (I've read it like three times!) and I was not disappointed by The Tragedy of Dane Riley. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley follow seventeen year old Dane Riley, who's just about to graduate high school and is dealing with the death of his father, his mother's new boyfriend and a previous suicide attempt. He's not exactly the most popular guy at school, though he does have a solid group of friends and has been getting closer to Ophelia, the girl next door. He's sad and angry and hopeless and medication and previous therapist haven't been much help. He's not looking forward to seeing his newest therapist, Dr. Lineberger, who he thinks will be the same as all the therapist before.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Tragedy of Dane Riley. My heart broke and grew with Dane as I watched him progress through out the novel. This has locked Kat Speaks as one of my favorite authors and I'm looking forward to read whatever she comes out with next!

***Full review to be posted on Goodreads and blog one month before publication date, unless otherwise requested. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.