Loved this final book by Nic Stone. We use Dear Martin in our 9th grade class and I love being able to see not only Mannys growth but where they end up in college.

**e-arc provided by Netgally**

I think this is an interesting book and an interesting choice to switch the perspective in this last book - I do hope that Jared continues to grow and get better bit I feel like people were a bit too graceful with him when he did some truly horrendous things

Nic Stone can do no wrong in my eyes, but even I didn’t think she could make me love JPC…and she didn’t. I learned to understand him, respect his internal conflict and empathize with how hard it is to CHOOSE to do better. Flawlessly written to showcase Jared’s evolution, or lack there of (in some areas), Stone continues to make her characters robust, endearing and easy to connect with. I thought this book had more context explanation than usual, but I think that aligns with Jared representing the kid that recalls the moment they learned or understood urban vernacular. Dylan M. Coleman, stole by heart, simply from her unisex name and unexpected presentation - her name highlights how many parents are trying to give their kids a opportunity to “walk into the door”. A captivating read, I think this third books makes it come full circles and offers EVERYONES perspective…everyone that wants to do better at least. Election results carried the same weight as our recent presidential election, the concern that “do so many really agree with these thoughts/policies”. I want more…but I respect that no more is coming.

Justyce is now in college with his white roommate Jared who is coming to terms with the past and his white privilege. This is a thoughtful and thought provoking book. It will definitely join the rest of the series on my high school library shelves. I feel sure this addition will disappear from the shelves (and need frequent replacement) as much as the first three. I was a bit afraid that this would be more New Adult than YA. Thank you Ms. Stone for keeping this appropriate for high school.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This books lives up to the series! I have enjoyed these books and a look at the internal conflict of being who we want to be compared to what others around us want us to be. Then than conflict interferes with the world that is ever changing around us. Beautifully written!!

Thank you Random House Children's | Crown Books for Young Readers for the copy of Dear Manny by Nic Stone. I would love to have this book in libraries everywhere. I loved the glimpse into college life and the competitive lead up to the election. I loved learning more about Jared and how realistic his views seemed to be. Nic Stone has written an unflinching look at privilege and personal growth. Yes, this is a teen/YA book, but it will make readers of all ages think and hopefully learn a thing or two. Read this book, you won’t be disappointed. 5 stars

This book loosely followed the other 2 books. It has been 4 years since I read Dear Justice and I was afraid I wouldn't remember. Nic did a great job of reminding readers what happened in the previous books and I was able to clearly follow what was happening while also remembering previous events. This book really follows 1 character and made the reader understand what Jared was going through. It was written in such a good way that I was able to understand and sympathize with Jared as he experienced all different types of emotions, while also sympathizing with Dylan at the same time.

Dear Manny is Nic Stone's third book in the Dear Martin series. As it's the third book and the first book that's told by a while male protagonist, I wasn't sure if this one was going to hit in the same way that the others did. I'm thrilled to say that my fears were absolutely put to bed and this book is just as amazing as the others. While I was hesitant at first at putting Jared, a problematic white male, at the center of the story, I actually think I never should have doubted Nic Stone -- She KNEW what she was doing and she ate. The choice to make Jared the center of the story is so timely -- it allowed us to see how even the most problematic among us can change and can work through what they've learned and unlearn it, to work to be better. While this key element of the story (the main character and worldview) was different from her other books, Stone's characteristic accessible and engaging writing style shone as bright as ever. I really loved their conversations in their "Constitutional Law" class -- it really helped illuminate several issues from many different angles and perspectives while continuing to develop the characters. Stone is very talented at pulling together many different issues and contextualizing them. I appreciated her conversation about the justice system (as continued from the other books) and domestic violence. I appreciated the inclusion of social media and how that can filter/distort reality. This is a MUST purchase for any secondary collection -- school, public, or personal. I can't recommend this one enough!

Wow. Yes.
This book is incredibly timely.
Jared is a mess. He makes terrible choices. And he knows it. But he knows he needs to do better. This book is depicting his attempt to do better. He is growing, but doesn't come out and the end as being perfect, he comes across as real.
I hated and loved that the truly horrible person won the election, but we got to see a little flicker of light at the end.

This is the 3rd and last installment for this series, according to Nic Stone. A very timely novel, which focuses on Jared, Justyce's white roommate. This might be my favorite novel of the bunch because of the issues it tackled (Jared's privilege and his coming to terms with that was a huge part of this book). A MUST READ for fans of the series.

I didn't give Jared much thought in Dear Justyce, but it turns out he had a story to tell. I enjoyed the book as much as anyone can enjoy reading about tough and uncomfortable topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I am a huge Nic Stone fan and was happy to see one more installment in the "Dear" universe. Dear Manny tells the story of Jared, the boy we love to hate. He is now in college and running for class president. Navigating this forces him to confront his privilege and he stumbles a lot while doing so. I think this is an important book for teen (and adult) readers but I am not sure I loved the ending and how neatly everything wound up for Jared. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library and recommending it!

Nic Stone’s Dear Manny is a compelling, introspective novel that invites readers to grapple with uncomfortable truths about privilege, power, and personal growth. Through the lens of a privileged white college student, the book chronicles a journey of self-awareness and accountability that feels both urgent and deeply relevant.

As the protagonist navigates running for junior class president, he’s forced to confront the unearned privileges that have shaped his life—his wealth, status, and ability to escape consequences that others, particularly students with more melanin, must constantly navigate. These realizations form the crux of his internal conflict: how can he reconcile the harm he’s unknowingly perpetuated and become a better version of himself?

Stone’s writing is unflinchingly honest, posing difficult questions that challenge readers to see the humanity in a character they might have initially dismissed or even despised. The novel doesn’t shy away from the complexities of privilege or the emotional labor that comes with self-reflection. Instead, it invites readers to sit with the discomfort and consider how societal systems of power affect us all—while offering a glimmer of hope for meaningful change.

At its core, Dear Manny is about empathy and transformation. It forces us to ask: Can we truly see and honor the humanity in someone who represents everything we’ve been taught to resent? By crafting a protagonist who is flawed yet striving, Nic Stone compels readers to reflect on their own biases and assumptions. The result is a story that is as challenging as it is necessary—a testament to the power of literature to foster understanding and growth.

Dear Manny is an unforgettable exploration of identity, accountability, and the shared humanity that connects us all. It’s a must-read for anyone willing to engage with the complexities of privilege and the potential for personal redemption.

No notes. Perfection.

All classrooms need this trilogy. But all white people need to read this book.

Thank you #netgalley and Crown Books for an ERC! I've read all the other "Dear..." books with my students in an Alt-Ed high school. We have a book club that's been going strong for 8 years now.

When I started this one, seeming to center on a white male, I didn't want to like it. I wanted to toss it aside and choose a book centered on a person of color. And then I remembered who the author was, and kept reading. And as a white woman, I'm glad I did.

Reading this book opened my eyes to the work white people need to do more than any of the other "Dear..." books. Being witness to the internal (and external) struggles that a white male goes through as he tries to understand and do better reminds me of a few things: 1. I'm far from perfect when it comes to centering people of color and being an ally, 2. This journey is not smooth, fast, or without accidents, 3. This book may actually make some of us white folk pay attention. We aren't alone in this journey, but we ALL need to be on it.

We'll definitely add this to the RE@ACH book club list.

Nic Stone is arguably one of the best young adult writers of this time period. It has been such a privilege to be able to read and learn from her stories. I hope one day to be able to teach her books to my students.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc.

Let me preface by sharing I adore Dear Martin. Years ago, I taught it at a privileged all boys school. It was a formidable experience for me as a new teacher, and I thank Nic Stone for the incredible conversations we were able to have. The second book wasn’t quite as good for me, but I did still really enjoy it. Lastly, this book…

I have to be honest. I didn’t like it much. I appreciate the challenge of taking on a character like Jared and showing someone who has to recognize his own privilege, but the story and the writing fell so flat for me. If it wasn’t so short, I would struggle to get through it.

2.5⭐️

The third book in Stone's Dear Martin series features letters from Jared, the clueless white boy from Dear Martin, written to his friend Manny who was killed in the first book. Don't let that scare readers off, however. If they haven't read the previous books they can still enjoy this story . . . and then go back and read the previous two. Jared and Justyce are now college roommates. Jared has matured since high school and he's ready to run for junior class president against a privileged bully who would take away any benefits to minority students. Jared gets a surprise when he finds out the third candidate for the position is his Black classmate and project partner. As he wrestles with who would be better for the job, he again confronts his own privilege and worldview in an effort to do better.
This is a timely novel that will resonate with many readers who would like do the work to make our world a better place.

Jared Peter Christensen has come a long way from his high school days. He and Justyce are now roommates in college, bonding over their shared loss in their friend Manny. Jared's class schedule and club involvement have generated a lot of feelings surrounding privilege and Jared's less fortunate classmates. When he decides to run for Junior Class President against the most privileged kid in his class who wants to eliminate anything that helps minority students, Jared is sure he will win. But an unexpected third candidate, transfer student (and his class project partner) Dylan, throws a twist in the election. Secrets and privilege abound in this last installment in the Dear Martin series.

I wanted to love this book just as much as Dear Martin and Dear Justyce. I wasn't opposed to Jared as a character, and I appreciate the analysis of his introspection and privilege. Unfortunately I think the book focused too heavily on the specific event of the election and felt rushed overall. I also think that Jared hasn't changed/learned enough to redeem him at the end, and I really wanted more consequences of some kind for him.

Thank you to the publisher, Nic Stone, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Dear Manny is so much more than a book.

Nic Stone passes the test she outlines in the Author’s Note. By using her power as a writer to carefully imagine...or reimagine...Jared (Dear Martin), she takes an unlikable, flawed person and shows the ways in which one can change and grow through life's most challenging experiences; the ways in which one can positively transform by asking hard questions and looking at oneself as others see us.

As an educator, these are the kinds of books that I want to put into the hands of kids. Books that tell them it’s never too late to reflect, apologize, and attempt to repair the places we harm.