Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was an engaging read and had quite a unique premise that was very interesting, it is important to check the trigger warnings on this one as it deals with some deep subjects, but does this very sensitively

When I started this initially I just couldn't get through it because I didn't like the main character. I've tried to come back to it in the last few days but I still can't get behind it.

An exciting YA book. Incredible for fans of the Hunger Games or similar books, this is ideal for readers hoping to find another read.

Once a year, boys are auctioned off to the female elite. However, they only have until the age of 17 to be chosen. If not, then a life in the mines awaits - a short and cruel life. In a world that has not place for Jude, a world that has already taken so much, he must find the courage to avenge the death of his friend and gain his freedom.

I found Jude an interesting character. He's grown up in a world that sees him only as something to objectify (a nice genderswap perspective) and must use this disadvantage to try and manipulate and gain the trust of people who he dislikes and control him. His internal monologue, constantly reassuring himself by talking to his best friend Vik, shows his vulnerability and willingness to survive no matter what.

I also liked the exploration of typical gender roles, power and toxic masculinity and how the world can be shaped if various positions are reversed. It brought up a lot of interesting and insightful ideas that for the most part are well constructed and delivered well. Sexual exploitation, suppression and dehumanisation are not new concepts, but here we see them through fresh eyes and from a different gender. It's not a completely original idea in dystopian fiction, but it was insightful nonetheless.

I do think that the world building is a little lacking. We never really explore the House of Boys that Jude is in, or get any treat descriptions of the wider world and all its politics - which I think would have been fascinating. I also would have liked to have seen other perspectives. Sometimes I do think we get a little bit too much inside Jude's head, and the whole story feels very insular as a result.

Interesting gender swapped dystopian that examines important topics, but I can't help feeling I was missing some broader world building to make this more impactful.

I will always have a special place in my heart for YA dystopia. When I read the synopsis for The Boy I Am, I instantly knew that I had to try it as who wouldn't be interested in a gender-swapped take on the genre?!
These sorts of books are normally set in worlds led by men but in The Boy I Am boys are auctioned to women of the highest positions of society. If they're not selected then they face a life working in the mines.

The premise was fab and I really enjoyed the first 20%. I wouldn't say that it's an easy read as some of the scenes describing the treatment of the boys were really uncomfortable to read (as they obviously should!). The story does become quite convoluted and I couldn't get a grasp on the world-building. It was all quite confusing with lots of twists that I struggled to keep up with. I think adding in another POV would've really helped the flow of the writing and an extra viewpoint in the story is normally a bonus in my eyes.

A really interesting premise and a great take on a gender-bent dystopia. I wish that I could've gelled better with the writing but it still provided me with a good read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

as much as I really wanted to love this book, I felt a little bored from about half way through this book. the synopsis seemed great but it just wasn't it for me unfortunately.

Thrilling YA dystopian novel. Great for fans of the Hunger Games or similar series, this is perfect for hungry readers looking to get their teeth stuck into a new read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I just didn’t click with it and unfortunately found myself not wanting to read it any more after a few chapters

This had such a terrific and unusual premise and I loved the book trailer but this is sadly one I've been unable to finish - I just couldn't get on with it.

The Boy I Am is an ambitious debut with the potential to become the first book in a longer series. Following a boy called Jude who is part of the House of Boys, K.L. Kettle’s dystopian world explores the idea of a society where boys are treated as commodities and women hold all of the positions of power.

K.L. Kettle throws you into her world without hesitation. When we meet Jude, he is in the middle of plotting to kill someone called the Chancellor, hoping to get revenge on her for something that happened in the past. Not knowing anything about the House of Boys, the structure of the world or even who the Chancellor is, the start of this novel is so fast that it feels as though it’s trying to give you whiplash.

That’s both a blessing and a curse. If you’re a reader who doesn’t like to be handled with kid gloves and wants to be completely immersed in the world of the story as quickly as possible, this will end up being a new favourite for you. If you’re more like me – someone who finds it much easier to get absorbed by the story once you’ve got the rules and the structure of the world worked out in your mind – The Boy I Am becomes a much more difficult book to read.

That being said, difficult doesn’t mean unenjoyable, and I still gave The Boy I Am four stars. By the end of the story I was wholly invested in Jude’s life and in the world that K.L. Kettle created, and I sincerely hope that she decides to write more books set in this world. As well as the House of Boys there are so many other houses mentioned, and it would be brilliant to be able to take a peek inside them.

Jude’s story feels resolved when the book ends, but there’s still so much to explore in this world. K.L. Kettle has obviously thought long and hard about all of the aspects of the society she’s created, and some of the things mentioned in passing piqued my interest. You can bet your bottom dollar that if this does end up being turned into a series I’ll be first in line to buy a copy of book two. I also think that if I do reread this book, I’ll end up giving it five stars. Even though I was completely bamboozled for the majority of the story, I felt such an emotional connection with Jude. Reading it again and having a prior comprehension of the rules of this world can only increase my enjoyment of this story.

The Boy I Am is K.L. Kettle’s debut novel, and it should be the start of a hugely successful writing career. If you like dystopian novels but want to read one which attempts something completely new and fresh, The Boy I Am is a must-read.

A dark and dangerous dystopia novel, full of fast-paced action. Reminiscent of The Power and Only Ever Yours due to its exploration of gender roles. It's an exciting but thought provoking novel which you'll struggle to get out of your head.

This book features suicide, self-harm, eating disorders (including orthorexia) and sexual assault in the context of a dystopian sci-fi novel.
This is a book with a strong concept that it somewhat fails to deliver on. A matriarchal government rules over the inhabitants of a colossal climate-safe tower. Boys (they are always called boys) are trained simultaneously in menial labour (butchering, plumbing) and performance (weightlifting, swimsuit modelling, singing, dancing, pouring tea) If they haven't been sold as a 'companion' to the highest bidder by age 17, they're sent to be worked to death in the mines- big boys can't control their animal urges and should be kept as far away from women as possible. Some features of this society seem contradictory- boys aren't allowed to look at women's faces, so all women have to wear masks. Isn't that an imposition? The boys are taught to be 'good': obedient, pliable, non-violent- but many are pumped with steroids that lead to constant fights and mood swings. The timeline of the book is incredibly shaky and it's sometimes hard to tell what's happening in daydreams, inner monologues or out loud. Some characters took time to heal from injuries, while others were seemingly impervious to bullets. The story of the boy who danced (and was forbidden from dancing, and longed to dance again...) is cliched rather than poignant. A journey to the rebel base ends when the protagonists decide to turn right back. Some issues are more easily 'flipped' than others- I thought the author did a good job with 'solidarity versus competition' as well as internalised misogyny. By the end of the novel most of the old institutions remain intact. The focus seems to shift from outright rebellion to 'changing the system from within', and I'm not sure what I'm meant to take away from that. Ultimately I'm not sure I see the value in writing 'The Handmaid's Tale but with men'- is it supposed to make male readers sympathise more with women? Don't books about women do that? I balk at the idea that a man has to star in a book before other men can relate to it; I'm also tired of reading novels where women are endlessly brutalised. We've finally begun to teach that statements like "somebody's mother" and "what if she was your daughter?" should be unnecessary- every woman deserves respect and autonomy, regardless of her relationship to men. Is "what if it was you?" a step forward? I'm not sure. I'd like to pair this book with Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill and see which has the greatest impact on male readers.

After hearing about The Boy I Am, I was super excited, partly because I think the cover is one of the best ones of the year, but also as the concept really caught my attention. After consistently looking it on my bookshelves for a couple of weeks, I finally caved in a read the book. The Boy I Am is YA at its best and more people should definitely have this on their radar.

When I first started reading the book, it is safe to say that I was hooked. K.L. Kettle has built such a complex world that I was immersed in it. From the first page, the book sets up the thrilling elements and does not let the reader go. I think the elements of the world are so unique and creative and I have never read something like this before.

This is a credit to the writing because we are first met with Jude who I rooted for immediately. This is a common thread in the book as I wanted to protect him throughout as he offered a unique worldview and was the reader's guide to the world. Even though he does change in some ways throughout the novel, I feel like he remains a strong character and keeps his beliefs.

I also enjoyed the other characters in the novel, especially the Chancellor and Vik. All of the characters had so much depth and were complex, that I was able to root for them and despise all of their actions. I think having Jude as the main character offers a different side in the way that reactions and relationships form between them as we see the true reality of the world.

The book is obviously key in the themes that it discusses. The main thing that I gained from The Boy I Am is about power and the idea that power can corrupt whoever has it. It also discusses the stereotypes that come from women and men which I think that it accomplished. It made me think a lot and I love it when a fiction book does this.

I have to admit that I was in a bad mental health place when I read the end of the book and I know this had an impact on my reading experience. This is obviously sucky as I definitely did not connect to the end in the same way as the beginning.

Saying this, I did like where the ending went and thought that Jude is well-developed and I think that it still was a great way to end the story as a whole. The ending was also great at portraying the ideas that were woven throughout.

Basically, The Boy I Am is a very good YA book and I am excited to see what K.L. Kettle writes next.

The Verdict:

The Boy I Am is a thrilling and important read dealing with power and femininity where everything may not be as it seems.

Loved his genderbent dystopian. Fab characterisation and pacing - a really well-controlled thrill ride through a fascinating world.

This brutal world is has harsh as it is compelling. The rather disturbing masks the women wear disguise their faces from the boys to 'protect their innocence' until they are auctioned off to the highest bidder or sent to the mines to work to their death. Those in power are supposed to be the 'best people' because they are working on a merit system, but this is a world where power has corrupted regardless of a traditional gender reversal. It is a superb take on a dystopian story that has been done before. But the author putting women in the position of power has not meant that the violence and abuse power can feed is a topic she has shied away from. This book is disturbing, addictive and certainly has something important to say. Brilliant - age 13+

An interesting, inventive YA story set in a dystopian future. A future where male and female roles in society are reversed, the story twists and turns and is told from the perspective of Jude, a teenage boy.

An enjoyable read, though more of a slow burning storyline than an action packed thriller.

This is a really well thought and constructed story. It’s a dystopIan YA future where gender roles are swapped and it’s a matriarchal world. I like the role reversal in that the men face sexism, sexual assault, catcalls, all the things women face are turned on their head and it makes you realise as women how much is still accepted, how much are social norms still and really makes you think. It’s a gripping tale with lots of twists, it’s fast paced and hard to put down. I adored this book, a fabulous read and what an ending. I’m hoping for possible future books for Jude and Ro

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Set in a dystopian world where women rule all and boys/men are nothing, simply toys paraded in pageants to the highest bidder, The Boy I Am presents an interesting twist on the sexual inequalities faced in this world.

Although the physical world in which Jude lives is not explained in great detail it is instantly captivating and I quickly formed an image of it in my head and it soon became clear that it is a world where no one is safe. It is an incredibly insular society, with an in-built fear of the ravaged world outside meaning that there really is no place to hide or escape to.

Throughout the book there are lots of little nods to the role reversal from the world we know – the swimsuit round in the pageant, never asking a man their age, assuming men can’t understand science or politics, women manhandling men and laughing about it with their friends. Whilst these made me chuckle at times, they were also food for thought, as I realised that although some comments and actions addressed towards Jude and his companions shocked me as I read them, in real life I just accept them as the norm.

My own unconscious bias came into play whilst I was reading this, as I had assumed that the author was male and was really surprised to discover I was wrong. K.L. Kettle has created a world that is both thought-provoking and deeply unsettling, and I look forward to reading what she writes next.

The Boy I Am is set in a dystopian future where society is under matriarchal rule. This reversal of gender roles in society opens up new ways for people to abuse that power so we see boys being sexually assaulted or beaten by women. At first the almost exaggerated way in which the way the society worked and the way the boys lived felt a bit cheesy and unsophisticated but as the book went on I began to settle in to the idea and enjoy it. Boys are 'made' and raised in a surrogacy 'house and are seen as delicate and needing protection by the women'. They then are sent off to work in various 'houses' to do jobs that keep society functioning eg. the house of maintenance, the house of fashion etc The only way for boys to escape their lives of drudgery is to earn enough merits through their work to buy a place in the House of Boys. Here they will be trained in the etiquette skills needed to serve the women who purchase them. So the boys learn skills such as dancing, serving, makeup and more. There is a strong sense of rivalry in the House of Boys as each boy competes to look and be the best in the hopes that the wealthiest or most powerful women in society will buy them. The MC Jude is one of these boys competing but what others' don't know is that his motivation for being bought by the Chancellor (highest ranking woman) is not so that he can live a luxurious lifestyle but because she killed his best friend Vik after she bought him and Jude wants to get his revenge.
This is a super easy read and a really interesting take on what society could look like in different circumstances. Jude is a loveable character that is easy to get behind and root for. His determination to succeed and his care for others in a very loveless society makes him even more endearing. The way boys are treated and the violent scenes were hard to swallow but I feel like that's because as a society we are used to hearing about those things happening to females rather than males.
I ended up really enjoying this book and would highly recommend it to readers that love YA dystopian stories.