The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King

by Harry Trevaldwyn

Overview

Heartstopper meets Derry Girls in this wonderfully hilarious rom-com about finding your first love when your personality might be too big for the world around you.

Patch Simmons has decided that this is the year he will get a boyfriend, so it's goodbye to his French pen-pal Jean-Pierre and hello to the world!

Unfortunately, the only other "out" boys in his school year are dating each other, so finding a boyfriend isn't going to be easy... Until fate finally intervenes and two new mysterious boys join drama club: Peter, who’s just moved from New York (very chic) and his best friend, Sam.

Patch is confident that one of them (although either of them will do!) will be his first boyfriend. So armed with his single mum’s outdated self-help books, his over-supportive best friend Jean and an alarming level of self-confidence, Patch is confident that this mission will be a complete success. Whether or not they actually like boys or him is a problem for later.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King is a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud comedy from rising star Harry Trevaldwyn, a story about boldly being yourself, going for what you want, but never losing sight of who truly has your back.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250366788
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/28/2025
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Harry Trevaldwyn is an actor, comedian, and writer born in Oxford. His acting credits include Ten Percent, The Outlaws, and How To Train Your Dragon, and he has multiple writing projects in development with leading production companies. He is also the author of The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King, which is surprising when you find out how long it took him to spell his last name.

Editorial Reviews

★ 2024-10-11
A gay, British 16-year-old decides that this school year, it’s time to get a boyfriend.

Patrick Simmons has rebranded himself as Patch (“more characterful and mysterious”), taken wisdom from his single mum’s self-help books, and is determined to have a boyfriend before Prom (which is really just an after-party for the Drama Club), all with his incredibly supportive best friend, Jean, by his side. Drama Club is the perfect place to find potential prospects, and although Patch’s mood is soured at first by the arrival of his former-friend-turned-nemesis, Tessa, it perks back up when two new boys, Sam and Peter, join as well. Both seem like good options to Patch at first, but as the club’s production ofSweeney Todd gets underway, Patch’s usual exuberant confidence is shaken by shifting friendships and crushes. Patch’s first-person narration is laugh-out-loud funny, and although he can be self-involved, his big heart shines through, making him an endearing and engaging lead as he learns and grows. The story succeeds as a sweet romance while also subverting expectations and giving equal weight to the importance of friendships in a thoughtful and moving way. This tale is distinctly and charmingly British, yet it's an ode to queer theater kids everywhere—particularly those with big personalities. Main characters present white.

A winning debut: the perfect blend of hilarious and heartfelt.(Romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

Forbes, "Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books Of 2025"

Paste, "The Most Anticipated YA Books of 2025"

The Guardian (UK), "The books to look forward to in 2025"

The Guardian (UK), "Children’s and teens roundup – the best new novels"

Goodreads, "Peek Ahead at 2025’s Hottest New Romances"

The Nerd Daily, "The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2025"

The Nerd Daily, "New YA Books To Read In January"

LGBTQ Reads, "Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fiction: January-June 2025"

School Library Journal, "31 Stellar Titles to Finish Up the Year | Starred Reviews"

Dylan Mulvaney’s February Book Club Pick!

"The story succeeds as a sweet romance while also subverting expectations and giving equal weight to the importance of friendships in a thoughtful and moving way... A winning debut: the perfect blend of hilarious and heartfelt." - Kirkus (starred review)

"This reads like a car wreck sitcom: impossible to look away from in the best way possible. It is difficult to imagine fans of Heartstopper not loving Patch and his larger-than-life personality on the quest for love." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"A hilarious, heartfelt debut about a gay teen in small-town England, who dreams of both being an actor and finally getting a boyfriend. Come for the laugh-out-loud funny narration as Patch sorts through his options, stay for the warm and heartfelt ode to being yourself." - Paste

"Actor Trevaldwyn crafts a sparkling debut starring an aspiring teen actor living in small-town England." - Publishers Weekly

“Readers will take Patch to their hearts.” - Booklist

"One of the funniest, warmest YAs to be published this decade." - Charlotte Eyre, The Bookseller

"Beyond hilarious and totally brilliant ... filled with so much heart, humour and warmth, it is THE perfect teen romcom! A total delight to read." - Beth Reekles, bestselling author of The Kissing Booth

"My favourite genre of book is 'Charming Lunatic Complains About Life,' and this is a wonderful entry. Funny and full of heart, Patch is up there with the great whingers Adrian Mole, Georgia Nicolson, and Bridget Jones" - Monica Heisey, bestselling author of Really Good, Actually

"The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King is nothing short of perfect, a joy from start to finish. Patch is Gen Alpha's Adrian Mole." - Rebecca Humphries

"Funny, voicey and fresh. Patch makes Georgia Nicolson seem demure and composed" - Elle McNicoll, author of Some Like it Cold

"A rarity of a novel that had me laughing out loud from the very first page. I loved it." - Tanya Reynolds

From the Publisher