A review by hollymbryan
Tradition by Brendan Kiely

5.0

I devoured this in about 4 hours, starting reading before bed and ending up staying up until about 2 a.m. (and *bawling* in my bathroom at one point, trying to be quiet and not wake my husband or son!!). This novel was compelling, fascinating, and incredibly timely, particularly since I read it here in September (it came out in March or April) during the senate confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court. If you've paid attention to the news on that at all, you'll be amazed at the similarities between what happens in Kiely's book at a co-ed elite prep school in New England and what is alleged to have happened at the all-boys elite prep school Kavanaugh attended in DC, Georgetown Prep. Obviously Kiely wrote this book well before all of this news, but it's eerily similar and speaks to just how much has NOT changed. This is so worth the read, and Jules and Bax are incredible characters, both of whom I just wanted to hug for different reasons. Both characters have their flaws, to be sure, but Jules was the girl I wanted to be - the girl I hope I was - 25 years ago in college, and Bax is the type of guy I truly hope I am raising my 10yo son to be. One thing I loved most about this book was being able to read about the pressures on boys, especially football and hockey player Bax, in a sensitive and empathetic way, but without ever feeling like Kiely was apologizing for him. And Aileen and, especially, Javi were wonderful supporting characters.

I think Kiely did an incredible job with the story and the subject matter, and it is clear to me that he truly learned the lesson he says his parents tried to instill: LISTEN. Thank you, Brendan Kiely, for this incredible read.