"Aiden already knew he was sexy. There was no need to assault a helpless stuffed animal."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I have one MAJOR complaint about this book: EUGENE! Why isn't he on the cover? Why didn't we get chapters from his POV? Eugene is my favorite bro! The guy is a huge softie that cares about his friends. He's also a lover of gossip, liked among his peers, and willing to sacrifice his sanity to help out a fellow bro. I think it's terrible that he wasn't more of a focal point in the story, and wish for that to be remedied in future books. He's a part of the fencing team, had a lot of page time despite not having his own POV chapters, and was essential to the progression of the story. This series needs Eugene.

Why didn't I give this book five stars? Aiden and Harvard. Their relationship gave me ALL THE FEELS, but they kept missing their major moments. They've been best friends for most of their lives, they know everything about each other, they love the other more than themselves, yet they avoided the one topic and conversation I wanted them to have! They didn't talk about their feelings (specifically the feelings they have for each other), so I was left wanting more than I got at the end. I definitely think the author is intentionally dragging out the torture my heart has already endured, but I'm not a fan of delayed gratification. I wanted something more for those two by the end of the book - - they definitely deserved it. All the sweet, tender moments had me smiling into the pages, and I just adored how they were with each other. #RelationshipGoals

I'm not sure why the synopsis focuses on Nicholas, because I actually felt like he was given the least time to talk and grow throughout the book. Honestly, Aiden and Seiji seemed to be the two the story focused on the most. They're all incredible and interesting characters, but the synopsis makes you think one thing when it's really another. Yes, Nicholas is the illegitimate son of a famous fencer, but it's not something anyone else knows. It's also not something that's really addressed (other than in Nicholas' head) throughout the book. It's just a fact about Nicholas that he's not ready to share with the others. His half-brother, Jesse, played a more prominent role than their father did.

FENCE: Striking Distance will definitely pull at your heartstrings! They are just really good and decent characters. They don't lie (not really), they're not manipulative, and they genuinely care about others. They're also hilarious whether they intend to be or not (sooo many laughs)! Eugene and Harvard will do anything for their friends, Aiden will do anything for Harvard, Nicholas will do anything for Seiji, and Seiji is learning how to be around other people. They are such vastly different characters, but they all have heart and are willing to fight for what they believe in (even if that means fighting with themselves to let something go). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what happens next! (★★★★☆)

I was kindly given both an e-ARC and physical copy of Fence, as I very much enjoy the graphic novel series and it didn't disappoint!

It was super fun to get to see these characters written down in prose, rather than in the format of a graphic novel and get to know them better! I think it added a lot of depth to the story that I really liked learning, especially in regards to Aiden and Harvard, whom only truly start to become main characters of the graphic novel series within the third installment.

If I were to compare them, I'd say that, where the graphic novels are heavily focused on Nick and his path to become the best fencer at their school and eventually in the country, the prose novel focuses on Harvard and Aiden's story.

It definitely is aimed for a younger YA audience, so I had to keep that in mind as I was reading, as I'm on the older side of the YA genre at best these days, but the story was super fun to read! I can't wait to get my hands on the second one!

Fence: Striking Distance is a great read for longtime fans of the graphic novel or even for those just discovering the series (one does not need to read the comics to understand the characters/plot, but it elevates the experience nonetheless). The novel gives readers an in-depth look into the personalities and minds of the four main characters (Harvard, Aiden, Nicholas, and Seiji), each POV lends its hands into shaping their characteristics and building up a solid foundation for both central and side plots. Sarah Rees Brennan manages to given each of them such distinct and unique voices, though there were times when the writing felt a little juvenile/basic, it was still enjoyable.

Brennan somehow manages to capture the chemistry between the characters so well, whether there were non-or platonic feelings involved (both romance and friendship were key aspects to the story). There were also so many moments that had me laughing and slapping the table with how clever and funny everyone's interactions were. (Seiji the Master Thief will forever live in infamy.)

On another note, I do wish there was a bit more actual fencing happening in the novel, though I do appreciate that, as readers, we do not get bombarded with a lot of fencing terms. Other than that, Fence: Striking Distance was a wholly enjoyable and adorable read. If you are in need of a cute m/m book with fake dating (and not in the way you would think), great friendships and sports, then look no further than this wonderful series. Fans of the graphic novels will love this and those who are new to the series will greatly enjoy being introduced to a great cast of characters and their adventures.

I am a BIG fan of the Fence comic book series by C.S. Pacat (author) and Johanna the Mad (illustrator). But, if you're like me, I prefer my comics in trade paperbacks (makes it MUCH easier to buy/read), than in individual comics. Luckily, there are 4 trade paperbacks out for Fence, so if you read this review, and have no clue what I'm talking about, you can start there. Highly recommend: it is the queer sports rom-com of your dreams!

Now that I plugged the comic itself, let's talk novel. Fence: Striking Distance sets you in the world of Fence, following four of the fencing teams point-of-views. This is different then the comic, which follows Nicholas Cox (the main protagonist), but that's what I really liked about the book. I feel like we learn a lot about the other members of the team, which allows their characterization to grow beyond what is in Nicholas's perspective. To be honest, Nicholas wasn't my favorite in the book, but I think it's because we get to see more behind Seiji Katayama, Harvard Lee, and Aiden Kane. And if you don't smile every time Harvard Lee pops up, you have no happiness in your life. He is the epitome of happy.

Also, I did mention there is a rom-com happening here, right (maybe more rom than com, but still)? This is a love story, as well as a slice of life. While the boys are being pushed together by their coach to bond, you also follow their journey of navigating relationships, both romantic and platonic. I won't spoil anything, but I will say, that while Fence is set in a world without homophobia, just like all romance, it isn't all butterflies and rainbows. The romance is my favorite part (to be honest my favorite part of the comics) because I am a sucker for love.

However, I like that it wasn't the only thing explored. Questions of acceptance, self-discovery, and the growth of friendship as the boys learn even more about themselves and each other is great. But while there isn't homophobia, racism and discrimination in this world still exists. Harvard, and Seiji, being Black and Japanese alike, talk about the discrimination they face. And Nicholas, while White, is a scholarship kid, often bullied about his wealth, or lack there of, while attending such an elite boarding school. So there are trials, but sexuality (at least being discriminated against because of it) is not one of them.

The only critique I have, as a fan of the comics, is the minimal amount of fencing in the story. I don't know if you're an anime/manga fan, but sports-centered entertainment has always been a thing in Japan, and it is slowly gaining traction in the States (think Check, Please! for a recent equivalent - and amazing - comic series). So when I started the book, I thought there would be more fencing than there is. I get why this choice was more than likely made; Sarah Rees Brennan was focusing on character development and more internal emotions. But you have to admit, with a title like Fence: Striking Distance, there needs to be more fencing!

Overall, this was an excellent gateway for Fence universe newbies, and a welcomed edition for Fence fans! It was fast-paced with quick and snappy dialogue, relationship drama, and friendship strengthening. A great addition to the contemporary YA scene, Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan leaves you wanting to get the next installment asap!

Aw that was cute! An off-piste companion novel, so there isn't much fencing but there is a lot of these boys being ridiculous teenagers.
I wish the story was single pov... But that's because I'm getting grumpy about multiple povs in my old age. Clearly this book should have been written from Aiden's pov solely. It is obvious the fun Sarah Rees Brennan had with him. His arc was so developed, so touching.
Other reviewers are saying that this feels like fanfiction and it does, so basically fun and over the top and sometimes feeling like it's straying from canon. you'll have to read the 4 volumes of the comic to get a sense of what's going on, I don't know if it can be read as a standalone

Told from the perspectives of four boys on the fencing team at a private school, Fence: Striking Distance is a novel set in the world developed by C.S. Pacat and Johanna The Mad as a series of graphic novels. I'm coming at this having already read all the comics, so I'm not sure if the changing POVs would be confusing to someone not familiar with the characters, but this book really worked for me.

There's a gay romance, a lot of "what is friendship and how do I do it," and not much fencing. That last bit is where it differs from the comics, but it makes sense for a visual medium to have more fencing scenes. However, if you want fencing matches? Stick to the comics.

I really liked this book and I'm looking forward to the second, but I do want to note that one main character is (I believe) autistic and Japanese and one is Black. There are other secondary characters of color as well and while I didn't notice anything terrible I can't speak to the rep. One character figures out his sexual/romantic orientation and that was really well done.

Audio Notes: The audiobook is narrated by Will Collyer, who covers all four POVs and doesn't do much at all to differentiate between characters. Again, I didn't find it difficult to figure out which POV I was in (mostly because of SRB's writing) but I think that may be a stumbling block for some listeners. Otherwise the narration is good.

Content Warnings: bullying related to socioeconomic status, strained family relationships, mentions of mother's abusive boyfriends

I received a digital copy of this book for review but read it on audio through my library. I also purchased a paper copy.

I've not read the original Fence graphic novels but I didn't feel like I was missing anything when reading this one.

We get four points of view in Fence that include Aiden, Nicholas, Harvard, and Seiji. All of them play key roles in this story. Aiden has a crush on Harvard who he's been roommates with since they were younger and Nicholas is doing his best to impress Seiji while also getting to know the rest of his fencing teammates.

Aiden is the playboy of the team. He doesn't always follow the rules and is kind of the catalyst for the coaches recommendation that they all need to work on team building. He wasn't the most likeable character for me but he grew on me by the end of the story and I liked his relationship with Harvard.

Harvard is the captain of the team and has a difficult time building a social life outside of Fencing so he is encouraged to start dating to create a good balance. He is probably my favorite character and I enjoyed all the little dates he went on.

Nicholas is the poor boy at school on scholarship who is doing his best to impress Seiji. He is the most insecure of the bunch because he doesn't come from money and it seems like that is a topic for the more unsavory characters we meet. He's also the illegitimate half brother of Seiji's rival Jesse. He has the hardest time fitting in but is so sweet.

Seiji was a bit more difficult of a character for me to connect with. He has a very direct personality and it was hard for me to relate to him in a lot of ways.

Overall this book was adorable. I enjoyed the individual dynamics between each character and felt they were well developed. I would definitely recommend it. I also really want to learn how to Fence now! It sounds like a blast!

I love Fence, so I was so happy to see a novel coming out.

First of all, the characters are amazing. We hear from Harvard, Aiden, Nicholas, and Seiji. Eugene is in the book a lot, but no chapters on him. Most of the book seemed to focus on Harvard and Aiden. The coach tells them to write an essay on their childhood and that they are going to do team bonding. Each of them looks back and sees things that they don't want to share. The reader gets a lot of insight into Aiden and why he's the way he is. Aiden's dad was married eight times. He never cared about the women and taught his son to be that way. Aiden was also afraid to get attached because everyone has always left him. It was pretty sad to read. Aiden realizes that Harvard is the only one who is always there. And he cares about him more than just a best friend.

Harvard tries dating and it doesn't go well. Aiden has an idea for them to fake date so Harvard can learn how. I'm sure you can imagine how that went. I adore Harvard, but he's clueless. Seiji and Nicholas also bond a lot. I love that Nicholas pushes him out of his comfort zone so much.

The only real negative was that the writing felt a bit off at times. I definitely prefer this series as graphic novels. It just flows better. But I was still happy to read more and get a lot of backstory.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for my review copy.

Warnings for abandonment, fake dating, theft.

FENCE: STRIKING DISTANCE is a charming YA contemporary fiction that takes place at a boys' boarding school. We follow different members of the fencing team in alternating chapters. The team is not really a winning team, but they have so much potential. Their coach is trying to get them to work better as a team- a feat that may seem impossible- with some team-building exercises.

Throughout the book, we get individual character insights into their pasts, their presents, and their motivations. This deep internal dive into each individual is what makes the writing so highly compelling. Each of the boys is easily endeared to the reader when we see the world through his eyes- even when they seem difficult at first. I loved getting these perspectives and really studying each character. Brennan really has a gift for presenting such unique and full characters with such depth. In these dives, we fall in love with each of the boys and truly grasp who they are.

Regardless of whether readers have read the comics, FENCE: STRIKING DISTANCE is a highly compelling and character-driven YA contemporary that deserves a read. Prepare to fall in love with these young men and cheer for them as they fence, love, and grow in this enchanting read.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for your kindness and generosity for sending me my first ever ARCs of Fence: Striking Distance in both eARC and Physical in exchange for an honest review! You made my love for C.S. Pacat’s works extra special. <3
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The novelized Fence explores the characters, their inner thoughts and their relationships, in ways that graphic novels are sometimes unable to. "Fence: Striking Distance", digs further into character, social, and class issues that ordinary teenagers face growing up. It is a touching story of 4 teenagers: Nicholas, Seiji, Harvard, and Aiden as they journey through self-discovery, overcoming challenges, forming closer bonds, and eventually learning what they would do and up to what extent they would be willing to do for one another in trying times.
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Sarah Rees Brennan gave C.S. Pacat's characters their own version of their personalities that they read quite differently as compared to how they were portrayed in the original graphic novels and instead focused on giving them complex stories as they move forward in their own lives. While the story focuses on the characters and forming deep and meaning relationships with each other, there are also fun familiar tropes that make this book a page turner such as fake dating between 2 of the main characters, as well as a heist. All of which make it an adventurous ride and a complete collection of emotions that makes it more than just a novelized version.
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Combine C.S. Pacat's ever so charming characters with Sarah Rees Brennan’s lively and charming writing, this is something that will stay in my thoughts for a long time.
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Contrary as to how it can stand on its own, the novel continues where the graphic novels left off. I would recommend reading the graphic novels first to get better backstory and understanding of the world and characters, and to support C.S. Pacat's graphic novels.
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Overall, a highly recommendable read to all Fence graphic novel lovers as well as to those just getting in to the world of Fence!

Sarah Rees’ Brennan’s addition to the Fence universe is the novel of the year, I’m calling it! I’ve loved C.S. Pacat’s fun graphic novel series since the very first issue and even celebrated along with her during the launch party back in 2017. Fence: Striking Distance takes everything that is delightful, exciting and addicting about the comics and puts it into book form, imbued with Brennan’s unique style.

Fence: Striking Distance follows Nicholas, Seiji, Aiden and Harvard, the loveable characters of the comic series, as they navigate high school, fencing matches, dating, friendship and learning to become a team. Coach Williams knows the boys can win the state championships, but they’re not going to do it until they learn to bond and trust one another. So she sets them the task of doing just that: connecting as a group of friends so they can become stronger as teammates. Along the way, the boys purposely commit a crime, fail to talk about their feelings properly, and forge lifelong friendships.

Nicholas, the protagonist of the comics, is on a scholarship at Kings Row and is doing everything he can to prove that he belongs there, especially as his fencing needs a lot of work. Nicholas comes from a poor background and struggles to relate to his peers, although some of them go out of their way to make sure he knows he belongs there. I have to say that Nicholas really is just the purest character: he has such a light in him and can always see the best in situations, no matter how many times he’s beaten back.

Seiji is the fencing virtuoso who has focused a majority of his life on fence training and ignoring everything else, including cultivating friendships. But as he’s Nicholas’ roommate, he soon discovers that he doesn’t really have a choice in becoming Nicholas’ friend — Nicholas basically forces his friendship on him. Seiji very soon stops complaining about this and even begins to enjoy Nicholas’ company, and it isn’t long before the pair start to get in trouble together. I’m not kidding when I say that Seiji and Nicholas literally share one braincell — the boys are ridiculous and silly and absolutely terrible at picking up on social cues! Be prepared to laugh until your sides hurt.

Even though Nicholas is the central protagonist of the comics, Fence: Striking Distance is Aiden and Harvard’s novel. From the moment they appeared in the comics, I knew I’d love Aiden and Harvard, and boy was I right! Aiden is the school playboy and dates as many boys as he possibly can because he can’t have the one person he’s actually in love with: his best friend, Harvard … who is completely oblivious to this fact. So Aiden puts up a wall between his feelings and Harvard and tries so desperately to not allow himself to cross that barrier, because he can’t abide anything ruining their friendship. As a result, he’s angry a lot of the time, pretty mean to anyone who is not Harvard, and disappoints the team time and time again. But Harvard’s the only one who is able to see behind the mask Aiden puts up for the world.

Speaking of Harvard, has there ever been a sweeter or lovelier character in the history of YA fiction? I seriously doubt it. This boy is so charming, you just want to give him a massive hug. I mean, he calls his mum everynight and ends each call by telling her he loves her! You really can’t get any better than Harvard, and Aiden is well aware of this. Which is why Aiden gets extremely jealous and anxious when Coach suggests that Harvard should start dating. Aiden and Harvard’s story is my favourite element of Fence: Striking Distance and I guarantee it will be yours too. You will laugh and cry and squeal with happiness — and then desperately desire the next book in the series.

As usual, Brennan’s writing shines in each story she writes and Fence: Striking Distance is no exception. She has a great gift for capturing the teen voice and taking the reader on a nostalgic journey of first romance, heartbreak, friendship and all the ups and downs of adolescence, as if we ourselves are back in high school again.

If you’re a fan of fake dating, silly jocks befriending a horrified notorious loner, thieving escapades, bullies get their just desserts, characters passing one braincell between each other, and the slow dawning realisation of love, then you’re going to love Fence: Striking Distance. Get your hands on a copy as soon as it’s out!

Fence: Striking Distance is an entertaining YA novel that features- fake dating, romance, friendships in denial, team spirit, and heartwarming characters. In other words, the book of my dreams!

Fence:Striking Distance is told from the perspectives of Seiji Katayama;fence extraordinaire who comes across cold at first but is actually a marshmallow. Nicholas Cox; cinnamon roll who just wants to become best friends with his roommate, and be the best fencer he can be. Aiden Kane; gay- rich- asshole with a secret heart of gold- it’s buried deep but it’s there. Harvard Lee; sweetest oblivious sunshine EVER, the captain, and the heart of the fencing team.

Can you already tell the characters stole my heart? I loved them all so much. Seiji and Nicholas really bring the humour to the book. They were funny as enemies but they’re even funnier as friends. They bounce of each other but they clearly need one and another and I loved watching them bond.

“”I’ll come with you and protect you from the bros’ friendship,” Nicholas promised. “I will be your social bodyguard.” “

AIDEN AND HARVARD!! Have you ever shipped a ship before you even got content on the characters?Because me either, until these two. I’ll never forget the day we got the hints into the characters before the first Fence Comic issue released and I KNEW!! The book focuses so much on their relationship and I loved it so much. These two are the definition of the grumpy x Sunshine trope and the Character A is an asshole to everyone but soft to character B. Harvard and Aiden made me laugh, cry, and scream but I adored every second.

“Aiden didn’t have many rules he lived by, but this was one. He didn’t ever hurt Harvard.”

I also appreciate that Aiden definitely gets the most growth throughout the novel.

While the plot of the book revolves around an exercise the coach set the team to make them bond more, the book highlights significant issues such as privilege, bullying,and classism.It’s the perfect example of a light, fun read, that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues.

I love that the world of Fence and the characters are built more in the book. Popular side characters such as Bobby,Dante,Tanner, Kally, and Eugene have roles throughout the novel and YES!! In addition, we find out more about the elusive Jesse!

I think I’m terms of fencing- we don’t get as much as I expected. However, this is the first book in a series and it set the characters and their upcoming plot lines up very well. To say I’m excited to see what it to come, is a bit of an understatement.

In conclusion: I LOVED FENCE STRIKING DISTANCE. Books that make my emotions go around like a hurricane are always special to me and with this book: I laughed, I cried, I basically highlighted all 368 pages.

The characters are phenomenal and the book is written so well; Sarah Rees Brennan really knows how to develop the characters so they act and read like their ages.

Personally, I recommend everyone read this, no matter your age group- it’s a gem of a story.

On a side note: While I you don’t have to read the Fence graphic novels to follow the story. If you ever were going to read them, I think reading the graphic novels definitely (1-3) first, might be best, just because if you read the book straight away you’ll be spoiled for who makes the team. However, if you don’t mind that, then read them in any order because I guarantee once you read one, you’ll want to read the rest.

CWs: Allusions to alcohol abuse (parent), mentions of child neglect, allusions to long-term illness (parent), some instances of bullying, incurred classism

First thing's first: do you have to read the comic series before reading this book? Strictly speaking, no. There's enough recap built in that pretty much anyone could pick up this book and have enough context to enjoy it. That said, I think people who have read the comic series will get so much more out of this story. It takes place right after volume 4, so if you do read the series, make sure you're caught up!

With that out of the way: hi, I love these dumb fencing boys a lot and this book brought me so much happiness. The whole premise of this book is building team work through team shenanagins, and that's exactly what it is!

It kind of starts off as a joke, this idea that the team has to do all those horribly cliché team building exercises like writing personal essays and reading them out loud, or doing trust falls, or suffering through night runs together in order to build camaraderie. But then you realize that there is a deeper disconnect between these fencers. In some ways, they often talk past each other (which is usually played for laughs with pitch perfect comedic timing), but at the same time they see the flaws and weaknesses in each other that they try to hide from everyone else.

So it becomes about closing that gap, about how they can respect each other's perspectives and strengths along with understanding those weaknesses. And the best part is that they avoid the actual assigned team exercises by concocting their own extremely stupid team bonding experiences. They grow closer to each other almost by accident, which is what makes it all the more endearing.

I just love that these Kings Row boys share one collective braincell in total, and that braincell contains a solitary love of fencing. But the second they get off-piste, absolute chaos and idiocy breaks out.

The actual fencing is more decorative than anything else in this novelization, but if you enjoy these characters half as much as I do, that won't be an issue for you. And because the story cycles through four main POVs, there's not necessarily one major overarching conflict to carry the story, since each character is dealing with smaller conflicts.

What I did notice, though, was that the backstories for these characters felt a little stereotypical and surface level. For example, the fact that Aiden is this ultra playboy because his rich daddy cycled through women and never showed him what love was, or how Nicholas grew up poor with a negligent, alcoholic mother. These are things hinted at in the comics, and they are real enough issues, but I kept waiting for the story to go deeper and to get beneath those issues, but it never quite got there.

But overall this was fun, hilarious, surprisingly romantic (and devastating?), and it left me feeling incredibly satisfied and hungry for even more "Fence" content! To see these friendships continuing to grow and these teammates continuing to push each other's boundaries, both athleticially and emotionally, just does so much good for my heart.

"Fence" fans will not be disappointed by the gift that is this book come September!

Rainbows and Sunshine
June 1, 2020

This book might be one of my absolute favourites this year!! Striking distance is surprisingly hilarious and also heartbreakingly sad. There were times when I didn't know if I should laugh or cry.
I'm hurting and I'd give anything to read the 2nd book right now!!!!!!! And this one isn't even out yet!!😭😭

I would highly recommend reading the comics before this one. It is so much better if you know the backstory. Unlike the comics, the amount of fencing in this book is really minimal. It focuses a lot more on team building and the individual relationships.

This book is written in multiple POV(Aiden, Harvard, Seiji and Nicholas) and I love that each character has a distinct voice. I knew Aiden and Harvard were going to break my heart. I hurt every time I read Aiden's POV. The trope idiots-in-love? Aiden and Harvard are the reason this trope EXISTS!! Why?????Aiden is putting up a façade and pretending he isn't hurting and Harvard is probably the sweetest person I've ever come across. How could you end it this way?? I'm so frustrated with these two!

Their story is only the beginning and I can already see this series is going to a huge slow burn. Seiji and Nicholas are progressing at a snail's pace but I love them so much!! Seiji's deadpan delivery is one of my favourite things ever. Seiji is adorable. I'm super glad we are getting more graphic novels too in addition to these. Give me the next book ASAP!!

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Fence is a series of very popular graphic novels created by C.S. Pacat (author) and Johanna the Mad (illustrator)! Three volumes have been published so far and now we are getting a YA novel inspired by said comic, written by Sarah Rees Brennan!

Now if you're a fan of Fence, you already know most of our main players, but in this book we learn more about their lives in Kings Row, including their families to relationships and aspirations! I've been following Fence graphic novels for a while now and when I got the chance to read and review this novel, I jumped at the chance (with a lot of enthusiasm and screaming, may I add).

Before I go into more depth about certain parts of the novel, here are my general thoughts: Fence: Striking Distance is a fun and quick read, filled with witty one-liners, angst, friendships, and relationship drama! It was pretty heavy on that last bit, but I can't say I really minded that even if it was slightly unexpected.

Fence: Striking Distance reads like a cute LGBTQ+ contemporary and here's my only complaint: where is the sports component? As the name implies, our main protagonists are brought together due to being team members in Kings Row fencing team, but we don't see a lot of fencing being done. Apart from that I really enjoyed this novel and I just know every fan of the graphic novels will love it! Now let's look more closely to some aspects of this story!

What to expect from Fence: Striking Distance?

This novel has 4 points of view!

This came as a bit of a surprise, as we mainly follow Nicholas Cox in the graphic novels. But here we also come to know Nicholas's main rival, Seiji Katayama, and two other clasmates: Harvard Lee, the team captain, and his best friend and the school flirt Aiden Kane. Every point of view offers a new perspective on the events as a whole, and the author made a great job of making them sound distinct! All four narrators have unique voices and Brennan even plays with different writing styles and structures of sentences. While Aiden has a quick and witty mind and Nicholas is best known for his shorter and to-the-point sentences, Seiji sees the world very literally and Harvard is more poetic and introspective.

Another thing I simply have to mention is how my favourite point of view was definitely Aiden's! He is presented in Fence as this charming flirt who couldn't care less about fencing or feelings of others – and while this is still the front he keeps up in this novel, we also get to dig deeper with his chapters. We get to really know him and his past and you can't help but root for him (and break down at his failures). I also really loved Harvard's chapters, which are filled with so much sunshine that you can basically feel Harvard hugging you. Yes, he is that guy. As sweet as they get.

Seiji… Well Seiji is Seiji and his chapters are filled with that *something* that makes him such a one of a kind character! He is very literal, no-nonsense guy and I am really curious to see what will come of his friendship with Nicholas in the future books.

I must admit that I was slightly disappointed by Nicholas's chapters. He is the main focus of the graphic novels, but in this book, his voice didn't really carry. In his chapters, Nicholas comes off as childish and immature. Now mind you, he is only a freshman, but I guess reading a lot of YA, you get used to more mature voices. So I'm not really sure if this is an advantage... finally a teenage boy who sounds like you imagine a teenage boy would, sassy and saying 'bro' too many times. I refuse to believe that people use the word 'bro' that often. (please tell me I'm right)... or a disadvantage as it makes his chapters somewhat dull and repetitive.

To sum it up, all these distinct voices and writing styles make for a great and entertaining read!

New love interests!

This book brings forth some interesting developments in the love department. The main ship in Fence (as popularised by fans) are Nicholas and Seiji, but in this novel, we can see some other relationships evolving. There were tears and all, so now I need a sequel so I can find out if those certain characters are endgame or not! (No spoilers!)

Did you say fencing?

As I said already, despite this being a novel about fencing, there is sadly not a lot of fencing being done, which was basically the only let down for me. Sports fiction is still not as main-stream as some other subgenres, but series like All for the Game made a big break in it. Now personally, I am not much for sports, but I always love to read about sports in books – mostly fictional ones such as quidditch in Harry Potter and Exy in All for the Game. And as much as Fence graphic novels do widen your knowledge of fencing in general (I am a total newbie but those graphic novels do teach you some basics), this novel barely had any fencing in it.

All in all, Fence: Striking Distance was an entertaining YA novel with a diverse cast of characters and surprising depths when it came to certain topics such as love, family, and acceptance. There was also an inkling of a found family trope and I am super excited to see what comes from this! If you loved Fence graphic novels, you will love this book as well! So mark your calendars and get ready for these four badass fencers to swoop you off your feet! Happy reading!

Like many other reviewers have commented, Fence: Striking Distance reads like a fanfiction. Funny and full of heart, you look at it and say ‘maybe the real plot was the friends we made along the way.’ And I think that’s great! Striking Distance is Sarah Rees Brennan’s tie-in to the comic written by C.S. Pacat and illustrated by Johanna The Mad, which means that its focus is on relationships and backstory rather than plot progression. Striking Distance takes place after the events of the fourth volume of the comic, Fence: Rivals, after Kings Row’s first fencing match, when it’s clear some team bonding is necessary if they hope to make it to the state championship. And let it be known that bonding does happen, if not in the way Coach Williams envisioned.

If you, like me, love Fence and jump at every chance to spend some more time with our Kings Row boys, then Striking Distance is just what you need! No big plot points or romantic tensions get resolved—and why would they? We still have so much left to cover both in future volumes of Fence and future tie-in novels, but the look deeper into the lives and pasts of the characters was exactly what I wanted from this book.

Sarah Rees Brennan has a way of making me laugh out loud like nothing else can and Fence: Striking Distance truly held up to all the hilarity and shenanigans I was hoping for from the minute I found out she was writing it. I was laughing the whole way through reading and that’s something I love from a book. But, paired with her wit, Brennan offers a deeper look into the past of our favorite insouciant playboy that is both enlightening and upsetting, with the added bonus of slotting right into place with the hints we’ve glimpsed of Aiden’s home life thus far in the comics. One of my favorite aspects of this book was all the context for the characters we get from it, such as family dynamics, out-of-school activities, and a little more information on some of the cast’s childhoods.

Perhaps the most surprising magic trick of characterization Brennan pulled off for me was with Dante Rossi. In the brief scenes we got with him, Dante quickly became a favorite, where before I didn’t have a huge interest in him. Now I am fully convinced that Brennan’s next tie-in novel needs to be about Dante and his struggle living surrounded by annoying fencers.

Let me reiterate that I thoroughly enjoyed Fence: Striking Distance and, by my book, that earns it a 4/5 stars. I plan on rereading it—I’m crossing my fingers for an audiobook so I can listen to it, too. I had a great time with it. But, as much fun as it was, Fence: Striking Distance did not feel like Fence to me. It felt and read like really fun and compelling fanfiction. So let’s get into what I took issue with.

While Brennan deepened some characters, such as Harvard and Aiden, I felt that she flattened others down to a base idea of who they were, providing me with caricatures of characters I loved that were hilariously entertaining but didn’t ring true. An easy example of this is how Eugene—our lovable jock with a heart of gold—goes from being a jokester in the comic to being a joke in the novel. Seiji and Nicholas didn’t translate at all for me from Pacat and Johanna The Mad’s portrayal of them to Brennan’s take on them. I’ll be curious to see if the fourth volume of the comic can bridge the gap between the characters I know from the first twelve issues of the comic and the characters I feel like I was introduced to in Striking Distance.

There are a couple more nit-picky details that I only mention because Fence is so close to my heart, I couldn’t help but notice them. It was plainly obvious to me that Sarah Rees Brennan is not American, so the dialogue and thoughts of these American teenagers often read as strange and unnatural to me. There are also a couple of continuity errors along the way that caught my eye. They weren’t big enough to bother most people, but they did bother me—what can I say, I’m obsessive.

Overall, I highly recommend giving Fence: Striking Distance a read. It’s funny, packed with relationship drama sure to please Aiden and Harvard fans, and has some fun insights into characters. However, you should keep in mind that it’s a tie-in novel and therefore the book ends basically where it began with little to no plot or relationship progress. Sarah Rees Brennan’s writing is always a delight and Striking Distance was no exception. If you’re a fan of Fence or Brennan’s In Other Lands I think you’ll definitely enjoy Fence: Striking Distance!

Somehow, this book made me not only like but actively ship a childhood best friends to lovers pairing. I know; I'm shocked too. The way it was written though, with such care and the mutual pining, it somehow managed to steer clear of everything I hate about that trope. I just had a lot of Fun reading this book, and I cannot wait for the next one.

I was SO excited for this as I'm a fan of the comic. I gobbled up the arc soon after getting access and it lives up to expectations. Longer RTC near release date.

An absolutely delightful addition to the FENCE universe. Really enjoyed getting to know the characters better.