BOOK REVIEW - DANIEL, DECONSTRUCTED by James Ramos

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I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to NetGalley, Harlequin Australia, and James Ramos for providing me with an eARC of Daniel, Deconstructed for review. I really enjoyed reading it!

The world that James created in Daniel, Deconstructed, is both familiar and entirely new, which I found very refreshing. As someone who tries to read diverse narratives, I felt that this book offered a unique perspective that will probably stay with me.

One thing that really stood out to me was the authenticity of Daniel's voice. As a narrator with autism spectrum disorder, his insights were both enlightening and deeply moving. I gained a profound understanding of the challenges and triumphs that come with navigating the world with autism. James's portrayal of Daniel's experiences was so genuine and humorously insightful that I felt like I was right there with him, experiencing each moment firsthand.

Daniel's journey towards self-acceptance was incredibly poignant. I loved how he explored personal internalized ableism, adding a layer of depth to the narrative and highlighting the importance of self-reflection. Seeing Daniel confront and overcome these internal barriers was both heartwarming and inspiring.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but I must admit that the ending left me wanting more. Despite that, I still found Daniel, Deconstructed to be thought-provoking and adorable, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.

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.

Thank you Harlequin Teen for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Daniel, Deconstructed is a lovely YA book, which proved an easy and relaxing weekend read. A slow start as it can take a bit to get used to the writing style is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. Once I got into it, all I wanted to do was keep reading and makes me miss my own school days. It was fantastic to see all the representation through the characters.

As someone who’s been out of school for a while now, this book brought me back to my school days and I reckon this would have been a great book to read while in middle / high school. It’s understanding how you're not alone at all in these big feelings and moments in life. Many people are in fact, facing similar struggles, and that there are so many people around you that care and want to help.

An important book to have in the world, thank you.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Never have I read a book where so many of my intersecting identities were all present, I am Autistic, Non Binary, A-romantic (and also ace haha).

I felt through all these characters a sense of belonging in seeing myself within the pages of this book, and that was a truly special experience.

Thank you James Ramos for writing this book, I’m truly grateful it exists ❤️