Charlie-Man is a blast to the past, which brings readers back to a time of adolescence uninterrupted by the weight of technology. This coming-of-age story delves into youth at its core and what comes with being a teen in the 90s. The determinative experiences that Charlie goes through show how events in early stages of life shape humans even through adulthood. This layered story highlights the formative friendships and experiences made during one’s childhood and brings forth feeling of nostalgia for readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brandylane Publishing for providing an e-ARC.

A classically composed coming of age story about an all-American teen in a time before cellphones and social media. Charlie-Man might be more relatable to fifty-somethings than to today's teens. Sports sections might be more universal.

I didn't care for this one at all. It read like the author took diary entries and tried to make a narrative out of them. The emotions and motivations were very shallow, and nothing of substance happened in the book.