The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman
Reviewed by Jess
📕📕📕📕

I read this book a few years ago, peak mid-20s. I was trying to date (and failing), all guys in my age bracket were assholes, and Tinder was just terrifying. Then I read this book and realised Nathaniel is all of those horrible guys rolled into one, and we all were going through the same stuff. It was perfect reading at the time. It's a modern Brooklyn romance, one which finally doesn't give the man the role of the hero and exposes Nate for what he really is - shallow, self absorbed and really incapable of expressing his own feelings. It's interesting that the book is written through the male gaze, and you find yourself also picking flaws in the women he chooses too, which can be difficult to get to grips with as Nate is so flawed himself. Every character could easily be someone you know, and the very realistic and devastating break up conversation between Nate and Hannah is one I for sure had definitely heard before (annoying, pathetic and weak by they way!!!). Nate was a very frustrating character to follow. Four years on and reading it again, it still stands true. Recommend this to all your friends going through the dating dramas - it helps!