Our Beautiful Boys

'A profound meditation on class, privilege and masculinity' Observer 'An insightful, nuanced story ... I couldn't put it down' Charles Yu 'Timely and timeless ... A book about the lies we knowingly or unwittingly tell ourselves' New York Times I know my son. I know what he is and what he's not capable of. Revelling in the triumph of a high school football win, MJ, Vikram and Diego find themselves at an ill-fated party, on a night that ends with the school bully in hospital. When no one comes forward with the truth of what actually happened, all three teenage “all stars” are suspended for the rest of the season, their futures suddenly uncertain. In the aftermath, the families gather to assess the damage to their children's prospects, their reputations and their own relationships. As other secrets begin to bubble to the surface, each parent attempts to navigate the crisis at hand, confronted with their own inner turmoil and the question none of them want to face: how well can you ever truly know your own child? Our Beautiful Boys is a page-turning and incisive novel about masculinity, race, education and privilege, and the conflict that arises when all these collide.

About the Author :
Sameer Pandya is the author of the novel Members Only, a finalist for the California Book Award and an NPR “Books We Love” of 2020, and the story collection The Blind Writer, longlisted for the PEN/Open Book Award. His cultural criticism has appeared in a range of publications, including the Los Angeles Review of Books, Atlantic, Salon and Sports Illustrated. A recipient of the PEN/Civitella Fellowship, he is currently an associate professor of Asian American studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Review :
Timely and timeless ... Carefully plays with assumptions, expectations and subversions ... Pandya presents flawed but understandable people trying to navigate a murky situation with high stakes: the futures of these boys. The second thing that stands out is Pandya's gorgeous yet understated storytelling ... Above all else, Our Beautiful Boys is a book about the lies we knowingly or unwittingly tell ourselves. This is a book that highlights how we internalize and project certain perceptions, and what we're willing to do and say so we can feel accepted ... I was reminded with every twist and turn in this story – and they are plentiful – that each of us is a cave of our own Compelling ... Gets under the skin of his three principals , their hopes, aspirations and uncertainties, contrasting these with the ideals and politics of their parents. Our Beautiful Boys reveals the inequality of America's education system – how it rewards those with money and infl uence – and makes for a profound meditation on class, privilege and masculinity Pandya writes with elegance and empathy, weaving together these characters' lives into an insightful, nuanced story of class, identity and friendship. Our Beautiful Boys is as thought-provoking as it is compelling. I couldn't put it down Compassionate and propulsive, Our Beautiful Boys imbues a page-turning thriller mystery with moral force ... A deftly woven tale of fraying loyalties and family secrets A kaleidoscopic marvel, at once sweeping in scope and intimately detailed. Sameer Pandya delivers a blazing portrait of the contemporary American family Flat-out remarkable ... A sports story – sure. But one that reaches deep into the souls of its characters to excavate complicated and necessary revelations about race, loyalty, and the complexity of masculine identity. Pandya is a graceful and elegant writer whose stories are unforgettable Our Beautiful Boys is such a tight spiral, knitting together themes of identity, sports, and what-would-I-do? moral ambiguity ... A triumph, by turns, of literature, sports writing, cultural criticism, and ethical philosophy Engrossing and suspenseful ... Pandya deftly reveals the vulnerability beneath the swagger of not just our teen football players but their parents ... A compulsive read that explores the fragility of trust and how bad decisions set off a chain of irreversible consequences Tense and tender ... I would have read it in one sitting, but I had to set it down to call my son Investigating masculinity, ethnicity, education, privilege and social standing, Pandya has delivered an incisive and thoughtful novel that not only speaks to our contemporary culture, but also unearths some timeless truths about the good – and bad – kids inside us all Pandya perfectly balances tension and nuance, crafting a narrative that is as much about teenage recklessness as it is about the pressures of adulthood ... A sharp examination of power and complicity. Pandya does not offer easy answers but instead challenges readers to consider the ways systemic inequalities shape everything from high school athletics to parental ambitions. The novel's tension builds steadily, culminating in a conclusion that is both unsettling and resonant. With its intelligent prose and morally complex characters, Our Beautiful Boys is a timely and compelling read At its most vulnerable places, Our Beautiful Boys takes on the complexity of privilege, racial passing, stereotypes, discrimination, hierarchies, and the model minority. Sameer Pandya goes where few writers do ... There has never been a more important time for a writer to tackle the everyday realities of racial reckoning