First published 2019
Jake arrives at college as a studious freshman grappling with social awkwardness. He weighs how far he'll go to find the brotherhood that promises lifelong friendships and social belonging. Meanwhile, Oliver works as chapter president of a misunderstood fraternity, struggling to keep his organization out of trouble despite repeated police encounters. Their parallel journeys unfold over an academic year as both young men navigate the complicated transition from boyhood to manhood. Jake must decide whether joining a fraternity will solve his social struggles or compromise his values. Oliver fights to prove that his brotherhood can be a healthy space for men, even as scandals plague Greek life nationwide. Through their candid discussions about sex, friendship, social media, drinking, and peer pressure, both characters confront what it means to be male in a climate that often stigmatizes masculinity itself. Their stories reveal why students join fraternities in record numbers despite negative headlines, and explore the vulnerable age when boys live independently for the first time, seeking guidance through their coming-of-age journey.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, college, academia
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, social-belonging
Setting: College
Period: Academic Year
366 pages · Hardcover · E P Dutton
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse