I had no doubt that AM McLemore would write a fantastic retelling. I loved how unapologetically queer this novel was.

I found the characterizations of the characters to be well done and the plot to be fast paced. I felt like this remix added some great nuance to this beloved classic and dove into topics relevant to now and even in the past. I particularly liked the topic of colorism when it came to Daisy. I rarely see colorism as a topic of discussion in books and it was refreshing to read a YA narrative that depicted such. It is something that was relevant then and now. Portraying Daisy in this manner added a new layer to this classic tale. McLemore presented us a complicated character who goes to great lengths to conform to white beauty standards. Daisy frustrated me but only because I felt for her and wanted her to realize her own beauty and strength.

Nick and Jay were great characters as well. Each of their character arcs had me smiling and giddy. I loved how McLemore gave the phrase “self-made man/boy” a whole new meaning with these two characters.

I mentioned that The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite US lit classics and McLemore gave us an amazing and fresh retelling. They are the reason why I even enjoy retellings in the first place, so I knew this one would be no exception.

This book is a brilliant reimagining of Gatsby. Seeing my own identity in a classic retelling was such a fresh and fun experience and I will for sure be recommending it to many people.

This was a lovely retelling of the Great Gatsby story and both characters being trans as well as Nick and Daisy being Latine added an extra level to how the story reflects the reality of living in America for so many people.

A queer, YA retelling of The Great Gatsby in which Nick and Gatsby are both trans boys and Nick has on-page, actual feelings for Gatsby.

Such a beautiful book. It was so well written, so touching, the characters were so real and visceral. I cried and I smiled and I had to buy my own physical copy.

There is absolutely nothing that this book could do to stop me from loving it. Gatsby + McLemore? A perfect recipe. Add in what we all knew was true about Gatsby and Nick in the first book and you have me enthralled. I loved everything about this.

I’m so excited to use this book to compare the original and the “remix”!! 🩵😀🏳️‍⚧️

This was an amazing and fresh take on the Great Gatsby, which I have had to read and pull apart many MANY times as an English teacher. Absolutely beautiful cover first of all! I’ve read Anna-Marie’s books before and was mesmerized by their writing as usual! In this version, both Nick and Gatsby are trans and Daisy is lying to everyone saying Nick (Latino) isn’t her cousin—because she is white passing in her new society. I think this is an excellent YA discussion about race and queerness to be had with such a well known novel. The pining and slow burn between Jay and Nick was masterfully written. This story is so important and so happy it exists!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC🩷💫

As a middle school teacher, I appreciate the modernity and inclusivity of "Self-Made Boys," but I have some concerns about the comparisons made to a seminal text like "The Great Gatsby." The book introduces contemporary themes and diverse characters, which can engage and resonate with young readers. However, it is important to approach these comparisons with caution, as it may set up unrealistic expectations for students who are not yet familiar with the original text. It is crucial to ensure that students understand the context and significance of both texts, allowing them to appreciate the unique qualities of "Self-Made Boys" while also recognizing the literary impact of "The Great Gatsby."

Reading both "Self-Made Boys" and "The Great Gatsby" can enhance the reading experience of each text individually. While "Self-Made Boys" offers a contemporary and inclusive perspective, "The Great Gatsby" is a classic work that explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream in the 1920s. By reading both, students can gain a broader understanding of different time periods, literary styles, and social contexts. Comparing and contrasting the two texts can deepen their critical thinking skills and allow them to make connections between past and present. It is important to approach these readings as complementary rather than as direct comparisons, as each text has its own unique merits and insights to offer.

I think this should be required reading for high school students who are being taught The Great Gatsby. This is a queer retelling that will help enrich the teaching of the original.

This was the Great Gatsby retelling we always needed! I loved the cast of characters, the queer rep, and the fun nods to the original. McLemore can do no wrong in my book.

This is how Gatsby retellings should always go. Gay, fun, and not a single “old sport” in sight

I've always felt that Daisy and Jordan should be together, and anyone who has ever read the OG Gatsby can tell Nick is infatuated with Jay so to make this a queer retelling feels so natural.

the only complaint I have with this retelling is that it was forced to remain YA, because having Jay be only 19 and Nick be 17 did take me out of the experience a little bit as they kept throwing these raging parties and rolling in all this self made money.

I used this book in my YA class last semester, and the 40 students LOVED IT. They are mainly future educators. We spent significant time talking about how they could use this book in their classrooms.

I had high hopes for this re-telling of the Great Gatsby but just couldn’t get into it. I understood the choices made and found the representation of gender expression and sexualities valuable and important. I just didn’t think that they added enough to the story to make it stand out. This isn’t to say that I completely love the original text. I did enjoy the developing love between Jay and Nick. The queer lens did make reading this novel completely different and reaffirming, especially given the increasing openness of queer people in the time period. I recommend giving it a chance and hopefully I can go back to it with a different mindset and try to enjoy it a little more.

Another great classic remix. I liked the spin on this. I already was a GG fan and this just made it ten times better. I love this version. I am such a fan of these remixes.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to the free advanced digital copy of this book.

This book was such a good twist on the original and so much more dynamic than the original as well. Its everything I saw underlying in the book while reading it in high school spelled out for me now. I will definitely be buying this book and hyping it up.

A queer retelling of The Great Gatsby full of a lot of heart, self-love, and friendship. Nick and Gatsby are trans boys, quite literally depicting the title. Daisy is a mastermind, playing the part of the perfect girl, while also giving her more character than the Daisy we all grew up to know (she has a lot of reasons for why she endures Tom for so long in this). Then, there is Jordan who is charming, loving, and supportive. What I loved most about this story was 1) the pacing was EXCELLENT (I read half of the book in one day) and 2) it was unexpected in the way the story unfolded to include a happy ending for our characters. It is what they deserve.

I read through this one so fast! This is a queer, remixed retelling of the Great Gatsby. First, I must admit I have never read the Great Gatsby nor do I have an interest in reading it lol but I HAVE seen the Leonardo DiCaprio movie like a million years ago so that's my frame of reference for this whole story. Basically in Self-Made Boys, Gatsby and Nick are both trans and [spoiler alert, but not really bc look at the cover] they fall for each other. Nick is also Latino in this story and concepts of race, gender, and sexuality during the time period are all explored. I loved the diverse cast, the rich characterizations, the compelling plot, and the well-developed setting! There was a lot to love about this book. The biggest complaint I had was the constant descriptions of language and fashion. This book was clearly well researched and I applaud the author on that, but occasionally the nuanced differences between language (upper class vs. lower class turns of phrase) felt a little pedantic and took me out of the story. It did contribute to the plot and the way that Nick had to perform a certain role to be accepted, but at times I was like "Okay, I get it, that's enough of that". Besides that I really loved the way the romance developed! And the amount of depth the female characters had, they were certainly not just supporting background characters. Overall, super queer, super trans, super fun to read 10/10 highly recommend.

The Great Gatsby is one of my all time favorite books. A queer, trans retelling of it? This was everything I wanted it to be.

Nicolás Caraveo is a trans boy from Minnesota who goes to New York to try and make a name for himself. He joins his cousin Daisy who he’s shocked to learned is now passing for white and erasing her Latina heritage. Through Daisy, though, Nick meets the mysterious Jay Gatsby who seems to have a very soft spot in his heart for Tom and his cousin. And the rest is a retelling of history.

As soon as I started this, I knew that this was going to be something so special to me. The Great Gatsby itself has so much gay subtext there with how much Nick idolizes Gatsby, so it lends itself to this story so seamlessly. To me, there being a trans main character seemed a natural extension. So many people in this story are reinventing themselves; why wouldn’t someone embrace themselves fully and live as they’ve always known the should be?

AM McLemore writes with such heart and such a keen eye for this story. They approach this with such precision and love for the characters and the story.

I adored Self-Made boys from top to bottom. If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

This was an incredible remix of the infamous story! I really loved this story and got to speak with so many of my teens who found it refreshing, too. And they loved it was own voices!

I always love Anna-Marie McLemore's poetic writing, and The Great Gatsby is the perfect story to accompany it, ripe with symbolism. I enjoyed seeing all of the elements of the original story represented here as well as the new twists and a wider view of who populated New York during that time. A lovely read.