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The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay by Ryan Douglass

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The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay

Ryan Douglass

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · January 27, 2026

Reading lane: YA Transgender

A Historical Fiction pick for readers exploring The Great Disillusionment of Nick and Jay.

At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Why This Clicks

A layered, warm-toned historical YA read with an easy pull for following Ryan Douglass.

Come here for

  • historical-leaning YA mood
  • warm, layered read with romance edges

Expect

  • sustained immersion
  • genre blend with LGBTQ+ romance signals

Book Details

Authors
Ryan Douglass
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
January 27, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
YA Transgender · African American YA
Reading lane
YA Transgender

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • 20th-Century US YA

  • African American YA

  • Historical YA Romance

  • YA Romance - LGBTQ+

Show all 5 publisher categories
  • Class & Inequality for Teens

About This Book

“Douglass sets a classic on fire with an inspired recasting that strips away time and all expectations." — Rita Williams-Garcia, New York Times bestselling author of A Sitting in St. James From New York Times bestselling author Ryan Douglass comes a gripping and tender reimagining of The Great Gatsby about the pursuit of happiness—and love—in a society built on cruelty and secrets. Seventeen-year-old Nick Carrington wants nothing more than to leave Greenwood, Oklahoma, behin...

Read full description

“Douglass sets a classic on fire with an inspired recasting that strips away time and all expectations." — Rita Williams-Garcia, New York Times bestselling author of A Sitting in St. James From New York Times bestselling author Ryan Douglass comes a gripping and tender reimagining of The Great Gatsby about the pursuit of happiness—and love—in a society built on cruelty and secrets. Seventeen-year-old Nick Carrington wants nothing more than to leave Greenwood, Oklahoma, behind and make a name for himself in the papers. But when tragedy strikes, dreams turn into a twisted reality. Forced to start anew in Harlem, only a letter of acceptance from the prestigious West Egg Academy is able to pull him back into the world. But the supposedly integrated private boys’ school is more of a catchy headline than a fact, with the same prejudices Nick left behind back home. And his secret but growing feelings for the founder’s wickedly charismatic son, Jay Gatsby Jr.— who dances past society’s conventions with practiced ease—only add more complications. When Nick’s cutting pen exposes dangerous truths about West Egg and leads to perilous consequences, he and Jay must decide whether to spend a lifetime outrunning trouble or be the ones to light the match. Can they not only fight back but triumph? Or will the powers that be win yet again?

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