reviews_and_ramblings | Loving Nate by S. Wales

Loving Nate is an example of “inspirational” romance. Usually this type of romances are worthy more for their messages than their story, but I think that Nate and Tate’s story, even if maybe a bit too naïve, it’s a nice one.

Nate is the spoiled son of a very wealthy family; only son and a bit neglected, he is used to take care of himself: don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about money, Nate has plenty of money, but he has no love in his life, and so, he is growing up with the idea that he doesn’t need it, that he can be good alone. Then his parents decide to send him on a summer labor camp, not since they particularly care for the volunteering nature of the initiative, but since it will look good among the parishioners of their church.

Nate is suddenly sent living with the Nelson’s family in New Orleans, the purpose of his presence to help the Nelson’s son, Tate, to build their new prefabricated house. The Nelsons have not much, but they are plenty rich: of love, friends and warm. Nate falls in love with the family through Tate; probably Nate is not even gay, he has not particularly forbidden feelings for boys, but he for sure, even if unconsciously, envies to Tate his family, and probably he believes that, loving Tate he will gain also the family that Tate has behind. Probably Tate instead is gay, and he loves Nate as a boy, not for what Nate represents; Tate is not interested in Nate’s money, he has never seen Nate in his habitat, he falls in love for him since he is a boy and Tate likes boy. From this perspective, Tate’s love is truer, but I believe that also Nate will be faithful to his own way of loving.

There is a point that it’s not developed and that I would have not minded to better understand: to whose Church Nate and Tate belong? It seems that their innocent love will no be reason of trouble, but it sounded strange to me, and truth be told, no one of the adults is aware of what is blossomed between the boys, so maybe the author simply decided not to venture in this field, that is a very delicate one.

The final chapter, almost an essay on how the New Orleans’s tragedy had not the same footage of 9/11 is maybe a bit too strong if put in the mouth of a teenager like Nate, but nevertheless it’s probably a message that the author, rightly, wanted to convey.

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Cover Art by Dvorak Designs