3.5 stars, rounded up

I loved Dear Martin, and I really liked Dear Justyce, but for some reason, Dear Manny just didn't hit me quite like the other two did.

This new story is told from the point of Jared Christensen, the rich white boy whose character we have watched grow and evolve over this series of books. I've enjoyed seeing Jared's character growth, but to be honest, he's never been my favorite character, so I was hoping that this book would endear me more to him, and unfortunately, it really didn't.

Don't get me wrong, though, this book is still good, and I think there will be a lot of people, especially younger readers, who will really love it. It just wasn't MY favorite, especially when there are two previous books to compare it to.

I think the decision to tell this story from Jared's perspective was interesting, and it definitely switched things up, but I had a harder time connecting with this one, and I wish there had been a little more depth to things.

Dear Martin was super special to me. It is the first book we reviewed / read in our Read Woke book club and our students loved it. I have followed Justyce from Dear Martin to Dear Manny and I am so proud of him! This character has come full circle and I love the fact that he has enough kindness in his heart to be friends with Jared. Only Nic Stone can make me like a character that I so strongly hated in the first book; yes, hated. Because Jared embodied everything that was wrong with the "new normal" of saying the quiet parts out loud, with blatant and open racism and many of my students encountered Jared's in their journey. While I am not at a school anymore, I continue to speak up and give hope just like Justyce .

I loved being back with Justyce, Jared, SJ, and references to other characters I loved from DEAR MARTIN and DEAR JUSTYCE. These powerful books gave me new insights into the horrendous experiences faced by Black people - especially Black men/boys - as they navigate a criminal system and police forces that are prejudiced, biased, unfair, and even violent. This book is no different, although it centers around Jared, a White man who is now at a prestigious college and wants to support civil rights, affirmative action, and other policies and actions but often experiences the subtle and specific privileges that come from being part of a rich legacy family with power and influence. His best friend and roommate is still Justyce, who has taught him many things about the experience of Black people that have influenced how he navigates the world.
When Jared runs for Junior Class President at Yale against a super conservative, racist student, John IV and Dylan, a liberal, justice-focused Black woman who consistently advocates for what she believes and those with less power. This book is often cringe-inducing as despite Jared's desire to do the "right thing," and advocate for those with less privilege, he continually gets advantages like getting out of a DUI because his Dad makes a phone call. The tension between characters from different backgrounds and the description of the rich White boys who are right out of a "MAGA" endorsement are exactly what you might see when turn on the TV or read an article today. Jared continues to make mistakes and do things that he should be punished for - but seems to get away with - makes him a less sympathetic character than many of the others. This is an important book that Nic Stone was able to get into the universe in an incredibly timely way to call out the issues facing our society today between people with different levels of power, privilege, and opportunity based on race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, etc. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary realistic fiction that delivers a punch.

A powerful, emotional read. Timely and full of strength.

Honestly, this book made me cry and you should read it because crying helps.

Nic Stone is back with a third book to follow up Dear Martin and Dear Justyce. Following the death of his best friend Manny, Jared Peter Christensen has grown quite a bit from his first appearance. Now a sophomore in college, Jared is running for junior class president against a right wing business major. He knows what he values: diversity, equity, and inclusion. But so does his other opponent, Dylan, a transfer student from an HBCU. She’s beautiful, Black, and also his partner for class. He’s got White Boy Woke mentality. Can he overcome his privileged background to stand his ground and to hold his beliefs?

Dear Manny is a fast paced book that continues a story that continues to be banned for speaking the truth. It’s hard to deny that reading is political. Nic Stone does an amazing job in each book highlighting the real world and problems that everyday people may face, the inherent privilege or racism that affect many. Was this one different than her previous books? Sure! Jared is not like Stone’s previous protagonists, but that’s what makes this story unique. It tells another side of stories that have become all too familiar and shows that people can learn from their mistakes and grow. Has Jared always been a great person? No. Has he learned better? Yes. Does he still make mistakes? Yes. Does he try to make self-improvements? Also yes. And those are lessons everyone needs. Read this book - this series - if you too believe reading is political and can help people learn to change the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love, love Nic Stone. I love who she is as a person, and I love what she writes about. I will continue to read everything she writes forever and always.

This book just wasn’t it for me. There wasn’t really anything I can put my finger on as to why. Maybe it was the format? It never really seemed to draw me in like I was hoping.

I always respect how short she makes the books in this series, but maybe it felt like something was lacking?

I wish I had a better explanation, but this book just didn’t wow me like the others, but I’ll happily read anything she writes.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I read the other two books in this series so I was excited to read this and intrigued that the author would be writing from the perspective of a white boy. This was a good read. Well written and honestly I wished nothing but the worst for the MMC. HA. However there was a redemption arc to his character which I liked. I wish it did not end so abruptly. All in all a great read.

I would probably give it a 2.5/3 recognizing the series' popularity with a teen audience because Stone's characters resonate with the world they see around them. Dear Martin and Dear Justyce are perennial favorites in our high school library and I love when students choose it for independent reading, personal reading, and in a few instances as a small classroom read/lit circle. Stone is an author FOR teens and she's a marvel to have in person-- just what teens need.

That being said, this book fell flat for me because of formatting. The flow was constantly disrupted as a reader with the way conversations in the classroom were presented, then the letters that Jared writes to Manny, the narrative in between, and other text features. It was too much, visually and for the story to bounce back and forth between them all. With my second issue being (as an adult reader which will be different than the teen reader) that it's heavy-handed. Stone doesn't leave any nuance to what she wants for/of/about her characters because it's literally on the page which I think shortchanges the reader into finding their nervousness, frustration, voice, embarrassment, and anger at what happens around them.

I applaud the story, but I wanted a stronger approach to the writing of the story.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7343736556

I loved this book and the way Stone finished this series. Her open mindedness and empathy in writing Jared’s character is a model for all!

Nic Stone does not hesitate to discuss difficult topics that teens face and in the last installment of the Dear Martin series, it's no different. This book discusses white privilege and classism in such a gentle and nuanced way. I can't wait to see what Nic does next.

Dear Manny is a beautiful wrap-up to the Dear Martin series. I appreciate Nic Stone's hesitation in writing Jared's story; however, I feel as though it was an important bookend to the three books. Although white Americans will never understand what it is to live day-to-day as an African American, it is still important to recognize that there are people out there who are genuinely trying to navigate our social landscape and history in the. most meaningful way possible.

I love how Nic embraced Jared's imperfections as a way to show self-reflection and growth. The way he grappled with not wanting to ignore his privilege but also realizing he didn't want to give it up is a dichotomy that is relatable in many different ways and situations. I appreciated that Jared's friends, especially Justyce and SJ, allow him to make his own decisions even if they know the consequences will be difficult for him to face. Jared is a character that has to learn from his own experiences and mistakes, which allows for the reader to learn right along with him.

Dear Manny is just as impactful as Dear Martin and Dear Justyce as it ties together everyone's experience in order to show that all perspectives and experiences are valid as long as we're willing to do the work.

Thanks so much for the ARC - great addition to this trilogy and raises so many important issues as Jared runs for class president, struggles to stand up to his father and and navigates mistakes and redemption. You desperately want him to be the character and person he can be. This is a must buy for any classroom even though it’s set at college.

another smash hit from nic stone that made me feel all the feelings and tears run down my face. she continues to knock it out of the park, addressing real world issues in an easy-to-understand way.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Manny is a great YA novel. It talks about tough truths in our lives through the eyes of a white privileged male. Great book will definitely recommend to my coworkers/middle school teachers!

Having read all three books in the "Dear" series, I have to say this is a powerful trilogy! In working with middle-grade students I often come across titles that I believe should be read by them all, and these books fit in the arena. The characters are ones that they can relate to and also ones that they can learn from. Nic Stone is able to reach out to these students before they become dead set on their opinions on other races. Most kiddos this age just repeat what they hear at home, but this book offers them a glimpse at what it's like to form their own opinions! I will certainly recommend this book to all my middle school students and also my book club readers. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book! It definitely will be added to my classroom library along with the other two "Dear" titles.

This was an excellent revisit into the Stone's "Dear Martin"world. The story takes on the perspective of a college aged character who at come to grips with his best friends death all while unlearning his former racist ideals.

Great addition to the series! Especially fitting as it shows the perspective of a white male growing from his biases and learning how minorities still receive more negative consequences and responses verses him as a while male. Highly recommend the whole series as a means of exploring this much needed progress among races.

Jared has decided to run for junior class president and knows his opponent, a far-right business major who flaunts his white privilege. He wants to keep the momentum of progress in his college and believes he is the best candidate. That is until a third person enters the race. Jared quickly finds out that this recent transfer student has brains as well as beauty. As he struggles with his own white privilege, he starts writing letters to his dead best friend, Manny.

Dear Manny is the third book in the Dear Martin series. Stone continues the format of the first two books while also portraying the white view of the story. She mentions at the beginning in an author’s note that she never planned to write a white guy book, but this story was calling for her to write. The story can be read on its own for those who pick it up first, but the overall story is more enjoyable with the first two books read ahead of time. Dear Manny is an easy yet thought-provoking read for everyone.

Excellent third book in this series from Nic Stone! Realistic characters with faults who are not “wrapped up in a bow”. Reflective and introspective, this book is a fantastic discussion book for teens looking to make some sense of things that don’t make sense at all.

Another must read by Nic Stone. Dear Manny is the third book in the Dear Martin series (go back and read Dear Martin and Dear Justyce first), and honestly every one should be reading this book.

5 stars