The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass
on January 27, 2026
ISBN: 0063312484
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

“The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay” by Ryan Douglass is a reimagining of the Great Gatsby with a queer romance. Nick is a young adult who is forced to leave Oklahoma after his father is killed in the Tulsa Race Massacre by white supremacists. He tries to find his place in Harlem and gets a scholarship to West Egg Academy, where he meets Jay Gatsby, Jr. and starts to fall for him. The premise is interesting and fits a lot of history into it, but at times the characters felt a bit thin. A suggested purchase for YA collections, especially where historical fiction is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.