This is a silly little read that was such a fun time. Was Patch annoying? Yeah, but he's a 16-year old high school boy. It was funny, cute, and overall just a good time. Was it the best book ever? No, but it was pretty accurate to a teenager's experience, and it was a quick, fun read. Definitely give it a shot!

This was a good one! It was very funny and I definitely related to the drama of it. But it took a while for the book to grow on me. Overall I'm glad I stuck with it. 3.5 rounded down

2.75/5 Stars

16 year old Patch is on the hunt for a boyfriend before Prom. With the help of his best friend Jean, he has his eyes on two boys from Drama club, Sam and Peter.

I was not a big fan of Patch at the beginning of the book, which made it a bit hard to care for the romance. He's very melodramatic, self-centered and obnoxious, but he did grow on me by the end. I'm glad he seemed to mature a little bit as the story progressed, and he learned some valuable lessons along the way. I did like Sam, and thought he was very sweet, but I didn't care too much for Peter, right from the get go. I liked the friendships in this, especially between Jean, Tessa and Patch. I listened to this on audiobook, and I do think that was the way to go with this story for me as I feel like I may have ended up DNFing otherwise.

This was so cute and funny! I could totally see this as a teen rom-com. Full of tropes and I was here for it!

3.5/5 (rounded down to 3)

CW: bullying, toxic friendship, child abuse (recounted), blood

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for inviting me to review a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King wasn't the greatest book I ever read, but it's not bad. One of the shining points of the book is that it's absolutely hysterical and I just couldn't stop laughing at some of the hijinks that Patch finds himself in throughout the book. The characters were easy enough to like and there's some meaningful character development that occurs in Patch. However, the writing, while absolutely funny at times, wasn't as memorable when Trevaldwyn isn't trying to make the reader laugh.

Nevertheless, if you want a British YA rom-com that will have you almost laughing your butt off and you're fine with books that have decent writing styles, you may like The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King. However, if you find main characters that constantly contradict themselves in every other chapter, you might want to reconsider if this is the book for you.

I loved this book SO MUCH! I loved that the author read the audiobook as well. I feel like it brought the story even more to life.

I did not finish this book, I could not get passed the main character's personality. It was a lot of whining and not enough drama king vibes.

Have you ever read a book and had a moment of "Oh shit, was this me in high school?" I thought this for a millisecond, and then I remembered a friend in our friend group and was like, "OMFG close call, I wasn't quite this dramatic.

I loved the title of this one, so when the publisher reached out with a galley last October, I jumped at it.* It only took me five months to get to versus the much longer wait many of the others I've finished recently. This was the last one though, I've officially cleared my galley/ARC TBR pile.

Being fully honest, though it was a bit of a struggle to get into. I'm not sure if it was the main character giving too much MC energy or what, but it definitely took me a few chapters to get used to the over the top excessiveness of Patch. And once I did, his truly wholesomeness and obliviousness was endearing and adorable. As I was adding the quotes I highlighted at various places below I really felt that I could probably re-read it due to how much Patch matures throughout the story.

Of course if there's a Jane Austen shoutout I'm definitely here for it:

I've brought a copy of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen which I've never read, but I found in a charity shop so it looks like I've read it tons. Jean has brought a copy of Twilight: Breaking Dawn which would be absolutely fine if not for the movie poster as the front cover which, I'm sorry, is tacky. (Ch. 8)

Even if it's just in passing, this one came back (see the Ch. 19 quote below) in the most adorable way and I was just like OMFG swoon. That was when I for sure knew which way the book was going and I was HERE. FOR. IT. Sam as an Elinore and Patch as a Marianne and the two of them somehow figuring out it could work was just squeal inducing.

Trevaldwyn also did a great job of making sure Patch wasn't perfect. I mean there were so many ways he wasn't perfect, but he was (somewhat, some of the time) self aware. And he did it in a self-deprecating humorous way that made it fun to read even in those moments that were excruciatingly awkward:

'And what about Maddison? Doesn't Peter already have a girlfriend? So, what? He just has two now?'
'I don't know.' She strokes my back.
'It's not very bi of him to have two girlfriends.'
'Patch, remember, being bi isn't a statistical game. You can identify as bi and never have a same-sex relationship . . .' she gently reminds me and I don't have the energy to be annoyed that, once again, Jean is proving herself a better queer ally than I am a queer person. (Ch. 14)

I mean, COME ON! The humor in that line, the humor throughout the book was so good. There were definite moments where it was too much, but that was in line with the character and when Patch was toned down or was being super self-reflective it just clicked perfectly.

Plus, I mean, we all have that one friend, right?

Then there was this:

Getting over someone is hard. Especially when you were never even together, because then you have the added struggle of getting over a potential relationship which is even more perfect than the actual relationship you were going to have. (Ch. 15)

There was something so endearing about this quote, that even though we weren't even to the full turning point of the novel, you knew something was going to change and Patch was going to find a new lease on life and either be less over the top or at the very least more self aware and open to possibilities. Trevaldwyn did a great job of making you laugh at the top of a page and then making you think/gasp/tear up a few paragraphs later. This was a balancing act that even well-seasoned authors often struggle with, but in this debut he did an awesome job.

Recommendation: Overall, this was a great read. It took a while to get going for me because Patch is A LOT. Like WAY too much, but we all know those people that are just like him, and some of us may have bordered on being him at some points. That being said, the evolution of his character in this one school year felt both real and authentic and I very much enjoyed it once I got into it. Giving vibes like St. James' Freak Show and Rosen's Camp, I think we have a lot to look forward to from Trevaldwyn and I can't wait to see what he writes next.

*I received a copy of The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

I’m giving 4 stars and that generous for ME. Why? I thought this would be a cute little queer romcom(ish) and but there was very little rom or com. Patch, the MC, was a bit…dramatic—like TOO dramatic at times.

And that’s okay! I just didn’t really connect with him and all readers know if you don’t connect, you don’t connect.

It was a fun read, just not what I was hoping for! Great writing though!

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

This is a rather precious book with a very dramatic protagonist, but Patrick "Patch" does a pretty good job of winning you over.

He's over-the-top and melodramatic, but that's just his way. Patch is a teen, learning to be a gay teen, a better friend, and a good person. And--most importantly to him--he's on a quest to get his first boyfriend. With the help of his best friend, Jean, he's looking at two options from his Drama Club: quiet and shy Sam and Sam's American friend, Patrick.

As Patrick and the club work on putting together a production of Sweeney Todd, Patch and Jean rankle at the fact that their friend turned nemesis, Tessa, is back in the club too--and catching Patrick's eye. Patch's way of approaching the world is filled with confidence and drama, with the writing almost coming across as satire at times. It makes you laugh though and shines with humor and realism.

It's great to read a YA book filled with queer teens (and allies, as Jean would be quick to point out). It's a sweet story, with plenty of teen theatrics--both literal and emotional. There's a full cast of side characters, including Patch's aggrieved English teacher who must listen to his rants, and Jean deserves her own book.

Oh how I loved The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King!
This book was such an unexpected delight. Patch is an endearing, darling of a mess and I adored him. His journey was so entertaining, I loved every minute of being in his brain. At times hilarious and other times heartfelt, this book has become an all-time favorite.

Patch is looking for a boyfriend but it's not easy with the limited number of other gay guys at his school. The only other one's are already dating each other. One day, two new boys join the drama club - Peter & Sam. Patch a drama king- literally. He's apart of the school's drama club. Unfortunately, so is his ex-best friend now, too.

This book was a funny and enjoyable read!

A lovely, humorous and heartfelt debut that captures the chaos of teenage romance. Patch Simmons' dramatics and relentless pursuit of love are both endearing and a little exhausting at times; but ultimately entertaining. This is a great choice if you're looking for a quirky, light-hearted coming-of-age story with a lovely queer MC.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨ The Vibes ✨
Bridget Jones if she was a high school theater kid

📖 Read if…
✨ You were a theater kid
✨ You love YA novels with a distinct narrative voice
✨ You’re looking for a rom com full of heart and hilarity

I’m not one to go into books without reading the summary, but the only thing I knew about The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King before starting it was that the main character was a theater kid, which honestly was the only motivation I needed to dive in.

Patch is a teenager who has decided to reinvent himself and land a boyfriend with the help of his mother’s self-help books. You can probably guess that hilarity and hijinks ensue from there.

These days it feels like even lighthearted books come with a tiny bit of trauma, so I was pleased to find that this one was just pure joy. Patch faces obstacles, but they are your classic rom-com type problems, which keeps the story light and fun throughout. He’s such a funny narrator, and Harry Trevaldwyn writes with such a unique and distinct cadence, it almost feels like Patch is sitting next to you recapping these stories. And the inclusion of the self-help books gives the story a slight Bridget Jones vibe, and who doesn’t love Bridget Jones.

If you’re looking for a light and quick read, either as a palette cleanser between heavier books or just as an escape from the current state of the world, this book is a delight and will have you grinning from ear to ear.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King is available now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I know that this book has drama king in the title but I really didn't expect him to be such a drama king. I actually got pretty annoyed by how dramatic he was being throughout the book. The further I got into the book, The more I just wanted to be done with it. I was so over Patch. To me Patch was just not a likeable character and I just couldn't get past that so I wasn't rooting for him. I was also struggling because his romantic interest in the first half was just so lack luster. So overall it had great potential but it fell flat for me because of how much I didn't like the main character. So not my favorite read

This book was a delight! I laughed so hard.

Patch is such a drama king, I loved how just himself he was. Like this reminded me a little of the short story The Drama Bug by David Sedaris, but in full length YA novel form.

There’s high school drama, theater drama, boy drama, best friend drama, but like so heartfelt and fun. The dialogue was so quick and funny.

This was just overall such a fun novel to listen. I recommend picking it up if you need a light read.

Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The spirit of this book is perfectly aligned with our main character Patch himself. You're so endeared by all of the most outlandish things casually being done whilst also getting so much secondhand embarrassment that you could cringe out of existence. I'm not usually a theater kid narrative reader, but this really hooked me with the writing style quite immediately. There's such a charm to how Patch and his friends view the world. A charm that persists even when Patch has his insufferable moments. Even during those frustrating instances, you really do root for Patch, especially with a character arc as satisfying as his. Although I did end up predicting very early on how the romantic plots would go it didn't make it any less enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this one! Patch is such a fun MC. I loved reading along as he embarks on his journey to find a prom date and ultimately love. He’s over the top dramatic, funny and quite endearing. Definitely recommend this one if you are looking for some early 2000’s romcom vibes like Lindsay’s 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻!

This was so much fun! I loved how dramatic Patch was and how he actually felt like a teenager. Often books staring 16-year-olds make the characters seem more like they're in their 20s, but Patch definitely did not. He's super dramatic and self-absorbed and not always a great friend, but it all felt believable. He was also really funny and I laughed out loud multiple times.

The book isn't just about romantic love, either. It also shows the importance of platonic love and it was wonderful.

I'll definitely read more from Harry Trevaldwyn.

What a fun romantic comedy. I loved Patch, and would have loved to be friends with him when I was younger. I literally giggled out loud a few times throughout this book. Great literature? No. But it was just what I needed at the time. Great story and characters.