YA Review: The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay (Ryan Douglass)

Seventeen-year-old Nick Carrington wants nothing more than to leave Greenwood, Oklahoma, behind and make a name for himself in the papers. But when tragedy strikes, dreams turn into a twisted reality. Forced to start anew in Harlem, only a letter of acceptance from the prestigious West Egg Academy is able to pull him back into the world.

But the supposedly integrated private boys’ school is more of a catchy headline than a fact, with the same prejudices Nick left behind back home. And his secret but growing feelings for the founder’s wickedly charismatic son, Jay Gatsby Jr.— who dances past society’s conventions with practiced ease—only add more complications.

When Nick’s cutting pen exposes dangerous truths about West Egg and leads to perilous consequences, he and Jay must decide whether to spend a lifetime outrunning trouble or be the ones to light the match. Can they not only fight back but triumph? Or will the powers that be win yet again?

After reading Douglass’ prior novel, The Taking of Jake Livingston, I knew I was in for a treat with this Great Gatsby retelling. Douglass does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the original story while also adding new elements that readers will enjoy. Set during the roaring 20s, the novel follows Nick Carrington who leaves Oklahoma after tragedy and meets Jay Gatsby while starting a new life in New York. Though the young men come from very different worlds their newfound relationship connects them on a deeper level. But when truths of their world at West Egg become exposed it’s a dangerous race against time to expose the truth to world.

This novel is a highly immersive read from the authors great descriptions of the glamour of the era but also doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of racism, bullying, social class, among other issues the main cast of characters face. Douglass allows his readers to get lost in Nick and Jay’s world while also balancing the thin lines they teeter through every day. Each chapter is detailed and engaging making sure that the plot never loses steam throughout the novel.

Though the novel is stated as a retelling of Great Gatsby, I feel like this novel does so much more than that. It feels like such a fresh and imaginative read overall. The characters have a life of their own and feel separate from the original source material. Douglass does a great job of centering queer Black experiences during the early 1920 on top of the story’s great emotional depth because of the Tulsa tie-in at the beginning of the tale. The characters and romance plotline were handled with great care.

This is fantastic read that explores themes such passion, ambition, trauma, and the meaning of family. It’s a well-written queer coming-of-age story that is more than just a retelling and I recommend this to readers who enjoy historical fiction.