Today I’m sharing my review of this wonderful coming-of-age story, The Drowners, by Irish author, David Anderson. Coming on March 17, 2025 and ready for pre-order.
ASIN: BODYK363NJ
PUBLISHER: Whipsnade Publishing
PUB DATE: March 18, 2025
Your past can mold you, or deform you.
For Aaron, this world is an unfathomable puzzle. Haunted by disturbing dreams, he drifts through empty days, shielding himself behind sarcasm and cynical wit. After being expelled, he sees an opportunity to rewrite his future at a new school. Connecting over a shared love for De Niro films with Robbie, an aspiring actor of Jamaican descent, he unexpectedly finds his companion piece, one person who truly understands him. Together, they navigate the chaotic waters of adolescence, from dramatic first dates to sociopathic bullies, iconic concerts, a dead body, and spaced-out streaking.
With adulthood fast approaching, the crushing weight of societal pressures and devastating revelations threaten to shatter their unique bond. Confronted by the ghosts of his past, Aaron must choose whether to blaze bright or fade away.
A funny and poignant meditation on the forces that shape us and the value of true friendship.
**** Pre-Order ****
Many adults dismiss young adult fiction as being only for teens, but I’ve always enjoyed a good Y/A novel. The Drowners is up there as one of the best I’ve read in a long time, and I was lucky enough to snag an ARC so I could read and review.
The characters of Aaron and Robbie we’re so fascinating from the get-go, and the rapport between the friends is painted with a large brush of humor at times, as a balance to the more serious aspects of their relationship. I was hooked as I met them when they were young teens and enjoyed following them as they sorted out who and what they were. It was an added bonus that the dialogue matured as they did, although they never forgot how to tease each other and continue their enjoyment of films starring Robert De Niro. Writing dialogue that sounds true to the voice of a character who ages in a story isn’t always accomplished as well as it was in this story. I could “hear” the maturity in conversations when Aaron and Robbie were adults.
The author relates this story of a boy struggling with his sexuality and afraid to come out of the closet with respect and a great deal of heart, Adolescence is hard enough without adding that struggle, and Aaron’s stumbling attempts to perhaps not be interested in boys instead of girls is very real. Every gay man that I’ve known has followed a similar path of denial, some even attempting to end their life instead of having to live with being the person they really are.
Aaron’s journey toward acceptance takes him through a maze of emotions and experiences as he reaches manhood and realizes that Robbie has always been more than a buddy to him. Following him through that maze evoked a lot of emotions in me, and that’s the mark of a good story and a good story-teller – the ability to pull the reader in and make a strong emotional connection.
One of the other characters in the book, Niamh, a girlfriend who has her own trauma to deal with, is the one who ultimately helps Aaron break through his reluctance to accept his queerness. At one point she tells him, “You need to stop worrying about some outdated notion of masculinity. Instead of trying to be a real man, focus on being a good person.”
And Aaron thinks, “The best advice in life is free and comes from those who love us. All we have to do is listen.”
Simple words that don’t convey the drama of that moment in the story. That moment works because the reader knows what came before this, and the deep friendship between Aaron and Niamh that formed while they worked together at a supermarket. Next to Robbie, she’s probably his best friend.
Not only is the book enjoyable on so many levels of well-executed craft, I appreciated the fact that there’s nothing gratuitous in terms of physical intimacy in the story. What little that’s on the pages is presented with good taste, so don’t shy away from trying the novel because of the subject matter. The struggle with accepting his sexuality is only a piece of the story about Aaron finding his way through the turbulence of adolescence.
I highly recommend this well-written novel for readers of all ages. It’s a reminder of what life was like when we were teens – with the need to belong, the bullying, and all the rest. And in truth, nothing much has changed in what teenagers face today. They can find hope and inspiration in Aaron’s story.
David Anderson is an Irish writer. Hailing from the cold, wet streets of Dublin. Like a Hummingbird, after college, he migrated south to warmer climes. Namely, sunny Spain, where he currently teaches English. He was in his early thirties when he caught the writing bug. He has written several articles for the GMS website about his other obsession in life, football. In 2021, he won a YA Watty award for his novel The Art of Breathing Underwater.
That’s all from me for today folks. Hope you enjoy this review and will consider checking out the book.