Nate Plus One

By: Kevin van Whye

Narrated by: André Santana

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Boy plus boy. Two weeks in Johannesburg. A summer of music, adventure, self-discovery...and definitely not love. What could go wrong?

Nate needs a date to his cousin’s wedding. Jai is Nate’s best friend and secret crush. Could Jai be Nate’s plus-one—and only?

Nate Hargraves is a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. That’s why he dreams of being a songwriter instead of a singer. But things change the summer after junior year as Nate gets ready to fly to South Africa for his cousin’s lavish destination wedding. The trip is bound to be epic. Except—Nate just found out that his ex-boyfriend will be at the reception. Ugh. He does not want to face this one solo.

Jai Patel, Nate’s best friend (and secret crush), has his own problems. The lead singer of Jai’s band, Infinite Sorrow, quit weeks before a contest that promised to be their big break. But Nate rocks Jai’s world when he agrees to sing with the band. Even though Nate’s not one for the spotlight, he knows this is the kind of stuff you do for...friends. In return, Jai volunteers to be Nate’s travel buddy around South Africa, a buffer against his ex, and his plus-one at the wedding.

Maybe this summer will be epic after all. Now that Nate’s crush is on board, will love crash the party? Fall in love with this joyful, swoon-worthy rom-com by the author of Date Me, Bryson Keller.

©2022 Kevin van Whye (P)2022 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Hits all the right notes." —Kirkus Reviews

A sweet and light read

Though it has some heavier moments the story overall is sweet and hopeful. Perfect for a break from reality, reminds you of high school crushes and the roller coaster of emotions they come with.

It’s ok

"Nate Plus One" is a heartwarming tale perfect for those seeking a delightful distraction and fans of the best friends-to-lovers trope. Initially, I was thrown off by a misinterpretation of the blurb, envisioning Jai as Nate's ex-boyfriend and mixing up their band affiliations. However, the story quickly unfolds to reveal Nate's crush on Jai and his lingering feelings for his former partner. Despite this initial confusion, the narrative flows effortlessly, inviting readers to immerse themselves in Nate and Jai's endearing bond. While the blurb hints at two boys from different worlds colliding, the portrayal leans more towards Nate's dual life in the US and South Africa, showcasing author Kevin van Whye's affection for his homeland. Although I appreciated the insight into South African culture and the incorporation of apartheid into the narrative, I couldn't shake the feeling of missing out on exploring other socio-economic aspects. Additionally, while Jai's character exudes sweetness, I longed for more depth and perspective from his point of view. Nevertheless, my overall enjoyment of the book outweighs these critiques, and I rounded up my rating accordingly. "Nate Plus One" is undeniably a feel-good read, perfect for basking in the warmth of its charming narrative.

loved it, was hard toward the end, but loved it

The first 7/8 of this book was nothing short of healing and engaging for me. I’m a queer man from the south and deeply empathize with a number of shared feelings experienced and shared between Nate and his grandmother. I can identify with deep-seated homophobia and “othering” of a certain sense just because I exist. It is one of the deeper impacts for growing up that I still feel today.

As a writer, I understand structurally what the author was going for with the final conflict and resolution. It thematically makes sense, and I think for some, the specifics of the circumstances may even feel close to home.

It was hard for me because it wasn’t really ever afforded the chance to have normal teenage jealousy and anger in the way most straight couples feel. What is amazing about this story is it normalizes a lot of the tumultuous and hightened feelings that go along with teenage relationships. It’s something I desperately wish had been possible for me.

Listening to the specific circumstances that make up the final conflict make me angry. I know it’s supposed to be related to volition teenage feelings, but it feels grossly exaggerated and way blown out of proportion compared to what actually happened.

I am glad that the main character and his love interest make up before the end. It does help that there is some context as to why the love interest acted the way they did.

I feel settled having gotten to the end. That said, while I didn’t write this book and have no say in its story, I wonder if it would have been possible to choose a different circumstance to make up the final conflict.

At the very very end, I would have enjoyed seeing a glimpse into the main character and his love interest’s future. Something akin to a short epilogue given it was hinted at that they both had long term feelings about the relationship.

Whole-heartedly recommend. My opinion about one part of the story aside, it’s a story I would love to see made into a movie and think many would get a lot out of, regardless of who you might love.

It was healing and comforting at the end of it all.

I was expecting more after the high of Bryson Keller

I must admit I was truly disappointed by this book. This felt like a let down after the engrossing story line of Date me Bryson Keller. I didnt feel the connection with Nate like I Did with Kai. I did appreciate the poignant points about the injustices of apartheid and its utter ridiculousness. Hat off to the voice actor who did a great job playing various characters and their accents.