Jack Chandler’s The Higher Education of Matt Griffith is a heartfelt and honest exploration of identity, self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up. The story follows Matt Griffith as he navigates the complexities of college life, relationships, and coming to terms with who he truly is.
What I appreciated most about this book was how authentically it captures the awkwardness and vulnerability of young adulthood. Chandler’s writing is both sensitive and relatable, with moments of humor and tenderness that bring Matt’s journey to life in a compelling way.
The characters feel real and multi-dimensional, and the themes of acceptance, love, and personal growth are handled with care and nuance. This book is a meaningful read for anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world or understand themselves better.
Overall, The Higher Education of Matt Griffith is a beautifully written coming-of-age story that resonates with warmth and honesty. I highly recommend it to readers looking for a thoughtful and uplifting narrative about self-discovery and the power of embracing who you are.

Jack Chandler is a gifted and audacious writer. The first page of his debut novel features a posthumous endorsement of his book by none other than Oscar Wilde—via Ouija Board! Then there’s the racy, NSFW, titillating, dedicatory poem to his husband, followed by the most tongue-in-cheek disclaimer statements I’ve ever read. All of this before the story even starts.
Fine. Audaciousness is one thing. But can this guy tell a story? You be the judge. There are 9 characters packing secrets, all of whom create enough plot twists to make Charles Dickens proud. And here’s where Chandler excels: he unwraps these characters slowly, as happens in real life. Take William, for example. First glance: stereotypical queen. Then we learn a little more. And a little more. Suddenly, there’s no “stereotypical” to it. This is a guy whose past is crashing everyone’s present. And Debbie, the single cat lady? She practically hogs the stage!
There’s a love story here, too. Matt and Adam are two very damaged, very broken boys. Their first dance/first kiss (“Ringing in the New Year”) had me blubbering, reaching for a Kleenex! Their phone sex scene (“Staining Grannie’s Afghan”) left me in stitches. Their first sex scene? (“Happy Ending.”) Off the charts!
Chandler’s prose is sometimes lyrical. Almost literary. Not so much, though, that it pulls you out of the story. Personally, I liked the quirky mix of literary with realism. Matt’s first time bottoming? Hilariously literary. The locker room scene? So realistic I could smell the mildew!
The final scene alone is worth the cost of the book. A lip sync in a shower room—au naturelle, all with a winking nod to “The Sound of Music.” (“So Long, Farewell.”)
Admittedly, there are times the dialogue is a bit clunky. Not often. And the pacing is sometimes uneven. Is that brilliant quirkiness? Or evidence that a big corporate team didn’t scrub it enough? My verdict? Show me any debut novel that doesn’t have a few imperfections.
All I can say is that Oscar Wilde was right. This book will make you laugh and cry. “You’ll come to love this story!”

Thanks, NetGalley, for providing an e-copy of this book.

I'm at a loss for words. At the start, I assumed this book was going to be a random "glow up", I'm not at home, so I can be gay and proud stories. However, this book felt like a warm hug from Mom Debbie, one of the characters Matt Griffith encounters when he first sets foot into MCU, without his parents' help.

What we got is a year-long story of a gay teenager, Matthew "Mustang" Griffith, trying to find his own truth in life, after getting sexually assaulted by a young pastor and being victim-blamed by his father, that he brought it upon himself. Trying to hide his true sexuality from his parents and not being able to uphold the abstract standards his father placed on him, the freshman orientation opened a rainbow-painted door, allowing him to understand what he's been missing from his life, thanks to his fairy godmother.

While the story is filled with sex scenes, how can one discover oneself without sex? It does paint a realistic picture (pre-online connections and pre-Grindr) of how people tried to figure things out while maintaining some balance of living in the real world and living in the gay world. (In fact, with my own personal experience pre-Grindr, it was difficult to find people whom I could confide in based on the low visibility and/or interest. Very night and day from me being a first year and being a fourth year.)

In addition, we also see Matt play martyr, trying to make the college course-correct on issues that other first years probably wouldn't care about. Yes, it's a little over the top, him playing the hero and trying to find himself, but the way the story sets this up, it's like he's discovering that he can be the hero while finding out more about himself.