The Burke Library regularly adds new books so students can have more engaging and enjoyable reading options—but are the new books actually any good?
One recent addition to the Burke Library is Dear Manny by Nic Stone, which was added on April 22, 2025. But the real question is whether the book is academically valuable for students, and whether even a brief summary might entice Burke students to give it a try.
Dear Manny takes on strong political themes, particularly around DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The story centers on Jared Peter Christensen, a wealthy, straight white student often seen as privileged. He finds himself in a heated race with Josh Preston LePlante IV, debating the value and fairness of DEI. Jared struggles to fully grasp both the benefits of DEI and what he would even do for the campus if he won. To process his thoughts, he begins writing letters to his deceased best friend, Manny, using the letters as a way to vent and reflect.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin, Nic Stone, returns with this provocative and timely novel.
“It’s not a point of view that I think we typically see, right?,” Jay Dalton said. “Usually, the protagonist fighting for equality and inclusion is someone from a marginalized community. But in this case, it’s someone in a position of privilege who’s trying to make things better for everyone—not just people who look like him or live like him. I think that’s really interesting and can be very powerful.”
On Goodreads, Dear Manny has 1,338 ratings, 238 reviews, and currently holds a 4.21-star overall rating. Many readers picked it up expecting it to be as compelling as Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, which form a trilogy with Dear Manny.
“I picked this up because I enjoyed the first book in the series,” Denise Lauron said. “This was a great story, told from a different point of view than the other books. My only complaint is that a reader couldn’t really jump into this one without at least some knowledge of the earlier books.”
While the book tackles serious issues like racism and privilege, is it actually a good book? Sometimes, being entertaining doesn’t necessarily mean a book holds up to critical standards.
One reviewer under the username Thindbooks wrote:
“I love how this book showcases white privilege and how the main character notices it,” two-star reviewer on Goodreads. “However, it felt more like a middle-grade or younger YA novel. The writing style didn’t work for me—the mix of middle-grade energy with college-aged characters just didn’t mesh well. I enjoyed the podcast and letters at the beginning, but then the story lost its pace. The romance subplot was cute, but it didn’t lead anywhere, which felt odd. I didn’t like the abrupt ending, and I think the series could have ended more strongly. The message was there, but I wish the writing style had been better. I’m excited to read more of Stone’s books, but I’ll be checking the first chapters first next time.”
Would reviews or recommendations make you more likely to try a book, or do you prefer going in completely blind? Everyone has different tastes in genres and writing styles, and what works for one reader may not work for another.
But the bigger question remains: Will the new books this school year be great—or maybe even better than Dear Manny? There’s only one way to find out: visit the Burke Library, pick up a new title, and see for yourself.
