A review by mandrea
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman

4.0

Even though this was not a very plot-driven book, I still really enjoyed it. I feel like the author really understands and captured the mindset of a certain, specific group of New Yorkers very well. Or, maybe it's more accurate to say that I believe that the real-life counterparts of the men in her story do actually think and behave in this way. Nate was a dbag most of the time, but was also at times not a total villain, and really only as shallow and vain as we all fear we are at some point. Waldman really captured how small cracks in a relationship become chasms when one half of the pair doesn't want to address them. And the fact that Nate's so self-righteous about his role (or lack thereof) in the thorniness of the relationship is spot on. I sort of hate that I agreed with and understood his point of view as often as I did (but am ultimately glad that I was on Hannah's side basically the entire time).