I think Kato by Otis West will be enjoyed by readers of writers such as Lee Cole. It captures a young male perspective.

I didn't realise until I was halfway through Kato that I’d missed novels like this. The early 2000s feels like a very different time to now, you had to knock doors to find out if your friend was in, you didn't have access to every one you know at all times and Otis does a great job capturing that feeling.

Kato is a time capsule and one I really enjoyed diving into. We have a fun, messed up cast of characters that all bring varying shades of disillusionment to the story. Keith (the MC) has a clear arch from being one of the missguided to someone who wants more from his life, and by the end, I wanted better for him, too.

The writing is clear, structured well and concise, characters are distinct, and the dialogue is strong. It reminded me of friends I had in school and made me wonder what they're up to now. It made me want to listen to Blink-182 and play Tony Hawk. Highly recommend!

Otis, great work! I hope Keith lived happily ever after, and Milo never had to eat cat food again!