In Dear Manny, the third installment of Nic Stone’s Dear Martin trilogy, Stone once again proves her narrative agility and deep understanding of character. Told through the eyes of Jared Christensen—white, wealthy, and "woke"—the novella grapples with questions of allyship, accountability, and identity on a college campus that mirrors our broader political and social divisions.

In the afterword, Stone expresses hesitation about writing from the perspective of a white male character. She needn’t have worried. Jared is rendered with complexity and honesty; Stone offers him grace without letting him off the hook. Jared is more aware of his privilege than he was in Dear Martin or Dear Justyce, but awareness doesn’t guarantee wisdom—and Stone never pretends it does. Jared stumbles. He fumbles. He misreads situations. And in doing so, he grows.

This novella reminds me of All-American Boys in its insistence on uncomfortable truths and its refusal to offer easy answers. Stone doesn’t sanitize the messiness of navigating privilege and performative allyship, especially when tangled up with love and ego. But she also never loses sight of the humanity at the center of her stories.

With Dear Manny, Nic Stone cements the trilogy as essential reading. Each installment builds on the last with increasing nuance, and Stone’s voice only grows more confident and layered with each new release.

The third in the "Dear..." trilogy and it did not disappoint.

This novel explored privilege and race in a powerful way, similar to the previous novels, but was written from a wealthy white male POV. Some parts felt a little rushed, but overall it was well written and ended with some satisfying redemption.

I'm disappointed to see that this is officially the end of the series, because I enjoyed it so much. I would highly recommend this series to anyone high school up, especially as it's becoming increasingly banned in schools.

Still grappling with how I feel about this book and Jared Christensen. He is the epitomy of white privilege and I am upset at how the story ended- I feel like he still hasn't learned his lesson and was rewarded and got away with something. The amount of backstabbing and secret criminal records from these college students is appalling! Lol. I'm genuinely interested if this 3rd installment will be banned as well, or if it will get a pass because the main character is white. Can't wait for more YA/adult books from Ms Stone. Thank you for the early Netgalley copy of this book.

Nic Stone did it again, this is an absolute must buy for an MG and HS library. It took me a little bit to remember the main characters, it's been awhile since I've read the other books in this trilogy, but my mind was quickly activated and the back story quickly came back to me. Stone writes all characters with realness and authenticity, something lack in a lot of YA novels. I applaud her for going the different route with this MC and love the growth and book. Stone always writes as if you're watching the story play out in front of you OR as if you're right there in the story, so believable and relatable. A must read!

I mean it's freaking Nic Stone do I need to say more?! I LOVE this woman!! I couldn't stand Jared in Dear Martin! And in for good reason too lol (If you read the book then you understand why) In Dear Justyce, he became a little bit more likeable (still couldn't stand him lol) but in his own book, we get a better understanding of why he was the way he was. I like how Nic took a step out of the box and wrote a book about a white boy and the POV of how privilege he is until the issue comes. Dear Manny, isn't one of my favorites from the "Dear" series, but it is a book I would be on my shelf to complete the collection.

This was a really powerful book and I appreciated seeing how far Jared had come even though it is clear from the beginning that he still has some ways to go even though it is clear he is trying based on how he questions himself. As a white person, I (with probably very clear privilege) have a tendency to hope that they will fully understand how they messed up, however that does not fully happen. It is unclear if, even when pointed out why the arguments against affirmative action are wrong such as the hypocrisy with the same people being fine with legacy admissions who aren't fine with affirmative action, Jared was able to fully take that in. It was also disappointing that he and Justyce never talked after Jared confessed and Justyce gave him much deserved brutal honesty. However, it is also realistic and helped me personally learn ways I could do better. I feel like this book was a kindness towards white people done by Nic Stone to help give them a chance to learn how to do better and a mirror to reflect against in Jared.

This was the ending I didn't know I needed for the "Dear Martin" series.

In this final book, we follow Jared as he navigates his journey of understanding his white privilege and racism in college. This was the best redemption arc for a character I've ever seen. Jared made so much progress since the "Dear Martin". Throughout this book, Jared would do things knowing the consequences weren't going to impact him as harshly due to his race. Did he make a lot of mistakes and fall back on old privileged ways? Yes, but this book showed how Jared was making changes and trying to learn and grow as a person. Nic Stone was able to truly show him as flawed and human. Someone who was trying to take the steps to being a better human in this already messed up society.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Dear Manny is the third book in the Dear Martin trilogy. When I first read Dear Martin, I never dreamed that it would end up the first book in a series, but I am so happy it did. Dear Manny, the third and final book, was every bit as insightful and socially conscious as the other two.

The first thing I noticed about this book is that the main character, Jared, is white. This is a change for Stone whose main characters are usually black. I was unsure who she would tackle writing from the white male perspective, but she nailed it. Jared struggles to be a better person as he runs for class president at his college. While he makes many mistakes along the way, he also learns a lot.

This is one of those books that will stick with you long after the last page.

What a wonderful conclusion to this series. Nic Stone created some amazing characters that felt real, and flawed, and that you can't help but root for. As a white reader, Jared's story has elements that feel extra relatable. I think book two of the trilogy, Dear Justyce, was my favorite, but for me each of these stories was important and well told.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Author Nic Stone does it again, with another real-life story discussing racial inequity. This time, unlike Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, the main character, Jared, is white, and has grown up with all the white privileges. However, he strives to do better and be better, for his best friend Manny who was unnecessarily killed by a cop. Jared decides to run for Junior Class President at his university in order to change some of the “old boys club” ways that things are run. Like her other books, this one is interspersed with letters (Jared to Manny) and adds a personal dimension to Jared’s character. I feel like we could have gotten to know Dylan a little better–maybe a book about her is forthcoming? Highly recommended–thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

Dear Manny

By: Nic Stone

Publish Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Random House Children’s/Crown Books for Young Readers

Politics and Current Affairs/Teens and YA

#DearManny#NetGalley

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book, and I gave it 4 stars. This is the third book in the Dear Martin series. I love how the author doesn’t shy away from tough topics. This book is about Jared. Jared is still learning himself in this book. In the past two books he still had somethings to figure out but now that he is in college, he is finally opening his eyes more. Is he perfect? No far from it and he is still scared to stand up for himself and his friends when it comes to his dad. He feels he needs to be somewhat quite because his dad is paying for his schooling and doesn’t want to rock the boat. This is causing him some inner debate with himself. I still like how his friends will stand by him even when he messes up and they will also call him out. I am not a fan of his dad or older brother. Jared is running for the junior class president at his college. He is up against two other people and has his work cut out for himself. He wants to make the campus a better place for all and isn’t sure how to put that into words. He also is trying to keep his GPA up and to help with his stress he is writing letters to his best friend Manny in his journal. I highly recommend this book because it makes you think and gives you some feelings to work through yourself.

Dear Manny is the third book in the Dear Martin series .
This time the story is written from the perspective of a white teenager.
Jared is a privileged white college student who decides he is going to run for junior class president at his school and beat the other candidate who is arrogant and obnoxious. What he didn’t count on is a new contender in the race,

The unexpected opponent is Dylan who is black and female. And she turns out to be his partner for a project in one of his classes. Unexpectedly Dylan and Jared become close. Still the race for office is on. Jared’s not so sure he will win this race and makes some questionable decisions with not the best of consequences.

Jared, in heartfelt detail, unfolds his feelings and thoughts in letters to his late friend Manny, who was killed in the 1st novel, Dear Martin.

Dear Manny Ia a compelling and quick read, with short and pointed chapters. The transcripts of the class interactions, make the discussions feel as they truly occurred.

The story is in a college setting where the dialogue seems quite thought out and mature and will raise awareness of your own position and privileges, personal to the reader.

This thought provoking book can read as a stand-alone but I feel readers will find greater meaning having read the first two books in the series.

This is the third installment in the Dear Martin series that author Nic Stone has just released. What’s interesting about this novel is that it is written by the perspective of a white teenager.

Jared is a privileged white college student who decides he is going to run for junior class president at his school and beat the other candidate who is arrogant and obnoxious. What he didn’t count on was another contender in the race - Dylan.

Turns out Dylan is black and also a female. And coincidentally also his partner for a project in one of his classes. As Dylan and Jared get closer, Jared’s not so sure he will win this race and makes some questionable decisions with huge consequences. He chronicles his feelings and thoughts in letters to his late friend Manny, who was killed in the 1st novel, Dear Martin.

I really enjoyed this YA novel and the flawed character that Jared is. I think the author did a decent job at showing the complexities of not only Jared, but also Dylan. This is a great read for teens and middle grades.

Thank you to @randomhousekids @netgalley and crown books for a digital review copy of this novel.

Set in the Dear Martin universe, Manny is in his sophomore year of college. Wanting to honor the death of his friend, Manny, Jared decides to use his white privilege for good. As such, he reluctantly joins the junior class presidential race. He has two opponents. One is a conservative named James LePlante IV. He wants the university to go back to 1869. The other a liberal Black female named Dylan. When Jared and Dylan are paired together for a project, the two don’t get along at first. However, as they get to know each other, Jared starts to have feelings for Dylan. Meanwhile, he tries to sort out his feelings and come to terms with his past. Will Jared find a way to use his privilege for good?

The plot is well written but doesn’t fully resolve. The characters are memorable and authentic. Readers who have liked the other books in the series or who like novels dealing with white privilege and racism will want to pick this one up. Recommended for libraries where such books are popular. Gr 9 and up, 4 stars

Dear Manny is book three in the powerful Dear Martin Series by Nic Stone.
The final installment of the series, is set in college. Jared (white, Justyce's roommate, woke) is running for Junior class president. With his antiracism platform.
But he's up against the new girl, Dylan (Black). Will Jared have to choose between his head and his heart?

Stone has a lyrical writing style and knows the racial injustice territory well.
Her style of writing really gets you in the character’s head. You don’t only see what they did, but why they did it.
Nic Stone is a YA author who is making an impact and everyone should read her work.
One of the best series I’ve ever read!

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours with Nic Stone a little over a year ago at an author talk and signing, and I remember her telling us about how the voice of Jared just wouldn't leave her alone. That she felt compelled to tell his story because he wouldn't shut up (definitely sounds like him)! Well, she did him justice--with all his privilege, poor choices, and kindness. It's his 2nd year of college and he's come a long way since his asshole-ish, racist ways in Dear Martin. He's rooming with Justyce, running for Class President, and still not loving his fraternity or his Dad's expectations. He's also not proud of a DUI last year that he knows his Dad's money and influence made go away. He's also crushing on one of his opponents--Dylan, a whip-smart transfer student from a HBCU (with her own issues that she is running from) who is making him think in his Constitutional Law class. Both are up against another opponent who is the epitome of a good old boy, back to the stone ages, racist mindset so prevalent in modern politics these days, but Jared and Dylan have their own dirt they don't want exposed. Jared begins to write letters to Manny, his best friend who was murdered by a cop in Dear Martin, as a way to cope.

All of this makes for a compelling and fast read, despite Jared screwing up over and over again. The chapters are quick, and I enjoyed the transcripts of the class discussions, as they often fleshed out or mirrored what Jared was wrestling with in his head. However, it takes him some time to truly understand that all he's got this life is himself, and he needs to be good person, not just an okay one. I love that Jared didn't give up himself, and that Nic Stone didn't give up on him. This is a much needed perspective on empathy for all that teen readers need to see--that when people need our empathy the most, we have to give it to them, even when we don't want to. Understanding and growth demand it. I'm excited for all the students at my school who have loved the Dear Martin series to get into this one, to wrestle with it, and share their thoughts with me!

Thank you to Crown Books & Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Look at me only reading this one day after publication all in one morning because of not sleeping!! Anyways, I'm a big fan of Dear Martin and Dear Justyce (and Nic Stone), so this was a cool arc to receive. I do think this is a bit different from the previous two, and it's almost like a novella compared to the others...but I still think it's so important in the stories. It's from a white lens a white viewpoint of Jared from the other the ones. It's also set in college, so it's a bit different from the others. I do think the fact that it feels like a novella takes away from its depth and complexity, but it still was a fantastic addition to this literature.

Definitely one of the best YA series out there. I loved seeing the growth of Jared throughout the book as well as how his relationships with both Justyce and Dylan changed throughout the book. I cannot say one bad thing about this series and the directions that Stone took with it!

As with the other books in this series, "Dear Manny" tackles modern conversations about privilege and who is afforded access to it, but this time from the perspective a young, white man. If you've read "Dear Martin", you'll maybe remember Jared, who is the protagonist of this new title. Now a sophomore in college with Justyce, his roommate, Jared finds himself again exploring his own privileges and perspectives about marginalized communities. While has certainly grown from his character in book one, he clearly has more growing to do to "sit with these uncomfortable truths".

I appreciated Stone's portrayal of Jared as flawed, but human. His character was complex and growing, with more growth to do even at the end. In her author's note, she worries about this decision: "Would readers hate me for not hating Jared? For caring about him, even? For loving him and holding space for him to be a person, too?" This is the message that the book communicates to me: we have to hold space for each and every one of us to be people, to hold space, especially in such divisive times as these.

Perhaps because I found that message to be so powerful throughout, I struggled with the characters who were most clearly portrayed as the villains of the story. John's character specifically felt a little underdeveloped and lacked a way for me to view him any other way than as a racist stereotype rather than a person. I won't defend him in anyway, please don't get me wrong there! But his character (as well as his father and Hunter) felt more allegorical than anything to me, which didn't make the book as immersive as it could have been. With its short length, overall I felt there could have been a little more development of the characters or the events of the story.

I'm glad Stone took the risk to write this, as I believe there are some important lessons for many readers in here. There may even be some readers who feel "seen" in new ways from this writer and be more willing to engage in more complex discourse.

Thank you to Get Underlined for the free book and to PRH Audio and LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

I have been anticipating this since the second I knew it was coming. And it completely lived up to my expectations.

Dear Manny is the third and final book in the series that began with Dear Martin. I strongly recommend reading Dear Martin and Dear Justyce first. Read them because they are amazing, and read them to help best understand this book.

This is a tough book in so many ways. All three of these books deal with difficult topics around racism. And this third book is told from the perspective of Jared. Readers know him from previous books in the series. And without revealing spoilers for those, I'll just say that he is a complicated character who inspires a lot of anger.

And those complicated feelings continued, as I read this book. There were times when I was so glad to see Jared's growth. There were times when he was so clearly in the wrong and utterly blind to his own privilege. And most importantly, there were times when I had to think about my own privilege and position on the issues raised by this book.

It's an incredibly powerful story and one that I hope gets read and shared broadly.