What do you think?
Rate this book
Max
I want to let her know that choosing something is the entire problem.
How do you choose something without feeling the undeniable loss of everything you rejected?
Max is about to finish high school. On the surface it appears he has everything, but underneath he is floundering. Grappling with questions about his birth parents and his sexuality, he feels that there is a seed of badness deep within him that will inevitably be exposed.
After an incident at the end-of-year party sets Max's world to crumbling, he must finally figure out who he is and where he came from - and who he is allowed to love.
Max is a vivid and insightful coming-of-age novel about the ways we weave the threads of our adolescent identities into a cohesive adult self.
How do you choose something without feeling the undeniable loss of everything you rejected?
Max is about to finish high school. On the surface it appears he has everything, but underneath he is floundering. Grappling with questions about his birth parents and his sexuality, he feels that there is a seed of badness deep within him that will inevitably be exposed.
After an incident at the end-of-year party sets Max's world to crumbling, he must finally figure out who he is and where he came from - and who he is allowed to love.
Max is a vivid and insightful coming-of-age novel about the ways we weave the threads of our adolescent identities into a cohesive adult self.
- GenresFictionComing Of AgeLGBT
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2024
8 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 27, 2025
This book was difficult to rate. But after a good robust discussion at bookclub, I say a solid 3⭐️.
A coming of age story set in the time just before the internet as we know it today. Max is trying to work through who he is, struggling with his sexuality and seeking to meet his birth parents.
On reflection, there were some really silly bits of the plot, and some implausible characterisation. Having said that, the writing was excellent and carried me along gently in the night. The use of the cliffs as a plot device was kinda cool.
A coming of age story set in the time just before the internet as we know it today. Max is trying to work through who he is, struggling with his sexuality and seeking to meet his birth parents.
On reflection, there were some really silly bits of the plot, and some implausible characterisation. Having said that, the writing was excellent and carried me along gently in the night. The use of the cliffs as a plot device was kinda cool.
May 23, 2024
Thank you Affirm Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
Teenage years are the most emotionally heightened, formative and fragile as a child turns into an adult.
Join Max on a tumultuous and evocative encounter of life with both the speed bumps and glories.
Max is about to finish his final year at school.
A good looking lad who has a girlfriend, loving family and good social circle.
A place and time where he should feel self assured and the world is at his feet. Identity issues are brewing as he battles on the sexuality front and wants to piece together his biological heritage.
An end of school celebration pivotal in a turn of events that will test, define and make him face the demons that are tormenting.
A lot of dark days in bed and emotions to work through are illuminated by hope.
A coming of age and coming out story that has elements every one can relate to as they navigated the journey into adulthood.
It’s raw, heartfelt and addictive.
A perfectly blended cast that anchored the narrative and enhanced the emotional dynamics.
Teenage years are the most emotionally heightened, formative and fragile as a child turns into an adult.
Join Max on a tumultuous and evocative encounter of life with both the speed bumps and glories.
Max is about to finish his final year at school.
A good looking lad who has a girlfriend, loving family and good social circle.
A place and time where he should feel self assured and the world is at his feet. Identity issues are brewing as he battles on the sexuality front and wants to piece together his biological heritage.
An end of school celebration pivotal in a turn of events that will test, define and make him face the demons that are tormenting.
A lot of dark days in bed and emotions to work through are illuminated by hope.
A coming of age and coming out story that has elements every one can relate to as they navigated the journey into adulthood.
It’s raw, heartfelt and addictive.
A perfectly blended cast that anchored the narrative and enhanced the emotional dynamics.
July 19, 2024
Max is such a beautiful and poetically written novel. There's something about the writing that creates such a vivid and emotional connection between yourself, the characters, the setting and you in your own teenage years.
I felt everything in this book so deeply. It is a novel that truely captures the complexity of identity and how difficult it can be to find your way to yourself.
A new found favourite book of mine.
Also I loved Busby as a character - if only we all had a Busby!
I felt everything in this book so deeply. It is a novel that truely captures the complexity of identity and how difficult it can be to find your way to yourself.
A new found favourite book of mine.
Also I loved Busby as a character - if only we all had a Busby!
January 10, 2025
Some parts of this book were hard to read (SA) but this book provided a look into how some of our young adults/students may navigate their sexuality, uncertainty and lives.
Some really beautiful, lovely parts and was easy to read in the way it was written.
Some really beautiful, lovely parts and was easy to read in the way it was written.
June 16, 2024
A story of identity, spanning from the suffocation of the South Island to the grittiness of New York, all the while maintaining an integral intimacy to the protagonist. Max’s personal journey is deftly intertwined with descriptions of the NZ coast that are gorgeous and cruel. A bright, sensitive and immensely sympathetic novel - my favourite release of the year so far!
January 1, 2025
I picked this one up on ebook from my local library, I guess the theme of coming of age and being written by a Kiwi and mostly located in New Zealand appealed to me.
Max is finishing up high school, has a long term girlfriend and surfs with his best friend Fletch a lot. He lives with well off adoptive parents who treat him very well. He's been accepted to Uni, has had good grades and is an artist, but Max feels lost.
Max kind of implodes at a year ending party, goes into a funk and decides to seek out his birth mother in the US and his birth dad up North in NZ. While sometimes interesting and introspective, the narrative gets lost and I often found myself bored with the story and presentation. Pretty good, 2.5 stars for me rounded up.
Max is finishing up high school, has a long term girlfriend and surfs with his best friend Fletch a lot. He lives with well off adoptive parents who treat him very well. He's been accepted to Uni, has had good grades and is an artist, but Max feels lost.
Max kind of implodes at a year ending party, goes into a funk and decides to seek out his birth mother in the US and his birth dad up North in NZ. While sometimes interesting and introspective, the narrative gets lost and I often found myself bored with the story and presentation. Pretty good, 2.5 stars for me rounded up.
June 18, 2024
I sat on this review for quite a while. Not because I didn't like this book - I did - but because I feel that the 'coming of age' concept just feels a little stale and doesn't hold surprises anymore. But, I say that from the point of view of a heterosexual woman who has never had to wrestle with defining her sexuality or trying to fit into a concept of self that wasn't authentic.
In that way I felt a disconnect with the narrative. But Max is beautifully written and some of the scenes made me feel uncomfortable, which I think is testament to the effectiveness of the prose. I felt an appreciation for the New Zealand landscape, I loved the descriptions of New York, and couldn't help but want to dip my feet in the ocean.
Traces of Craig Silvey and Christos Tsiolkas at their best.
In that way I felt a disconnect with the narrative. But Max is beautifully written and some of the scenes made me feel uncomfortable, which I think is testament to the effectiveness of the prose. I felt an appreciation for the New Zealand landscape, I loved the descriptions of New York, and couldn't help but want to dip my feet in the ocean.
Traces of Craig Silvey and Christos Tsiolkas at their best.
December 18, 2024
This book only took me a while to finish because every time I put a book down I somehow convince myself I hate reading and I should never pick it back up but that’s a lie and reading is one of gods treasures. Every time I did pick it back up I was transfixed and devoured chapter after chapter.
Max is a gorgeous book and deeply relatable. The honesty of his character and his turmoil is so genuine it is so beautifully crafted. I cried a LOT. I am definitely the right demographic for this book but I really think absolutely everyone can learn a thing or two from Max.
P.s. I love when books have little bits of poetry scattered throughout. Loved the artist max was !
Max is a gorgeous book and deeply relatable. The honesty of his character and his turmoil is so genuine it is so beautifully crafted. I cried a LOT. I am definitely the right demographic for this book but I really think absolutely everyone can learn a thing or two from Max.
P.s. I love when books have little bits of poetry scattered throughout. Loved the artist max was !
December 30, 2024
An impulse library loan that paid off! Well written, wholesome, emotional. It was a little more reserved than I was chasing, very much a young adult book that adheres to young adult themes. Very sweet and happy to have read.
February 19, 2025
This book has so much potential but it simmered and never cooked through.
July 7, 2025
I feel like it bubbled along without reeeeaaaalllllyyyyyy hitting the mark. Liked that it’s set in NZ. For some reason I pictured his family home in my high school bf’s house. Anyway. It’s alright.
June 24, 2024
Beautifully written book that transported me right back to that unnerving time of transition between school and the rest of your life. Loved the NZ imagery that made me home sick for a place and time I related to in my own life which was captured brilliantly.
August 10, 2024
belated review. read this waiting to see if i’d get on a flight to bali. (had to go jumpseat hahahah!)
i picked up this book at paradox in devo and read the blurb and thought i could be keen to read a aristotle and dante esque coming of age! i haven’t read one in quite a long time and coming of age novels always did something to my psyche.
the beginning of this book was super strong and was very visceral. i was like yup this is pretty on. and then it got kinda meandering and the self discovery in nyc was like quite far removed from anything previously and the last part of the book was also kinda random.
idk got less and less visceral? i didn’t feel super attached to the characters unlike the beginning. it was okay. i think maybe the author would benefit from not constantly changing the supporting characters and backdrop.
i liked the first bit. that was good.
i picked up this book at paradox in devo and read the blurb and thought i could be keen to read a aristotle and dante esque coming of age! i haven’t read one in quite a long time and coming of age novels always did something to my psyche.
the beginning of this book was super strong and was very visceral. i was like yup this is pretty on. and then it got kinda meandering and the self discovery in nyc was like quite far removed from anything previously and the last part of the book was also kinda random.
idk got less and less visceral? i didn’t feel super attached to the characters unlike the beginning. it was okay. i think maybe the author would benefit from not constantly changing the supporting characters and backdrop.
i liked the first bit. that was good.
July 18, 2024
This was the latest book sent to me by my online book club, WellRead. I enjoy coming of age stories, learning about new cultures and reading authors I haven’t heard of, so I was looking forward to starting ‘Max’.
Our main character is Max and we join him as he is about to finish his final year at school in New Zealand. On the surface, Max seems like a ‘normal’ adolescent, he’s a good looking lad with a girlfriend, loving family and good social circle. The world is at Max’s feet and his life is about to begin but his identity issues are brewing as he battles with his sexuality and wants to piece together his biological heritage.
I enjoyed this journey with Max and, despite some uncomfortable scenes and decisions, I liked Max and all that he stood for. I felt how lost he was and how he was searching and uncertain. The storyline flows well and I enjoyed the descriptive scenes and the characters were great fun. The support of a good teacher was shining through and if we were lucky, we all had that one teacher at school. Fletch is a brilliant best mate and sidekick and I loved all the scenes that he was in. My only niggle was that I felt that the pace of the book was a bit slow in parts and I would have loved more scenes in New York as I loved the Max that he was there.
Overall, a very well written book. I felt the discomfort, joy, highs and lows of Max.
Our main character is Max and we join him as he is about to finish his final year at school in New Zealand. On the surface, Max seems like a ‘normal’ adolescent, he’s a good looking lad with a girlfriend, loving family and good social circle. The world is at Max’s feet and his life is about to begin but his identity issues are brewing as he battles with his sexuality and wants to piece together his biological heritage.
I enjoyed this journey with Max and, despite some uncomfortable scenes and decisions, I liked Max and all that he stood for. I felt how lost he was and how he was searching and uncertain. The storyline flows well and I enjoyed the descriptive scenes and the characters were great fun. The support of a good teacher was shining through and if we were lucky, we all had that one teacher at school. Fletch is a brilliant best mate and sidekick and I loved all the scenes that he was in. My only niggle was that I felt that the pace of the book was a bit slow in parts and I would have loved more scenes in New York as I loved the Max that he was there.
Overall, a very well written book. I felt the discomfort, joy, highs and lows of Max.
December 29, 2024
ending off 2024 with a smooth, soulful native read! this book was written incredibly well, paced perfectly and did not lack in the captivating aesthetics. nevertheless, the plot occasionally plummeted because i feel like this story has been told before. i mean: closeted young boy makes a humiliating mistake, takes a journey across the world to reunite with his birth mother, only to be disappointed by his poor misjudgements of her, return home, meet his birth father who is just as dire, blah, blah, blah? every coming of age storyline EVER… satisfying ending though! although i would have never had picked it up if it wasn’t young New Zealand fiction, i felt rejuvenated by this read, no matter how much Max naturally pissed me off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2025
Our Review...
Raw and honest, Max is one of the most tender insightful reads of the year.
It’s the end of Year 12 and Max, who finds solace in his art and surfing, and in company of his wild best friend Fletch, he appears to have it all…good looks, entry into the best colleges, and a caring girlfriend.
Yet beneath it all, his head is frantic and his heart is churning. When an end of year party goes wildly astray, Max’s entire world comes to an abrupt reckoning where he must decide who and what he is, and who he may be allowed and willing to love.
A mighty read, haunting and lyrical, Avi Duckor-Jones portrays boyhood and human sexuality with respect and tenderness, Max was an exceptional novel.
Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books
Raw and honest, Max is one of the most tender insightful reads of the year.
It’s the end of Year 12 and Max, who finds solace in his art and surfing, and in company of his wild best friend Fletch, he appears to have it all…good looks, entry into the best colleges, and a caring girlfriend.
Yet beneath it all, his head is frantic and his heart is churning. When an end of year party goes wildly astray, Max’s entire world comes to an abrupt reckoning where he must decide who and what he is, and who he may be allowed and willing to love.
A mighty read, haunting and lyrical, Avi Duckor-Jones portrays boyhood and human sexuality with respect and tenderness, Max was an exceptional novel.
Review by Nicole @ Great Escape Books
December 19, 2024
Max is 17, likes girls, and goes to school in Aotearoa. During the course of the book, he’ll leave school, kiss his best mate Fletch, have sex with men, experience depression, and track down his natural parents – one in New York, one in the Far North. A prime example of finding the grass is not greener on the other side, Max’s struggle is one for identity on many levels. What is unconditional are his adoptive parent’s love for him. What isn’t is his opinion of himself. His Uncle, whom he stays with in New York, his art teacher from school, and Fletcher all are well-rounded, redeeming characters. His natural parents are a bit of a mixed bag, both in character and in presentation.
July 23, 2024
It was a nice coming of age story. I really like Max and vouched for him. But I disliked reading about when he went to visit his birth parents because they treated him poorly and never cared to know him and he already had 2 of the greatest parents so it annoyed me. I think Max’s relationship with Fletch could have been touched on in more detail at the start so it made sense why Max loved him so much, cause to me he just seemed kinda standoffish. I loved the dynamic between Max and his family, his teacher and Busby, and his character growth was good
July 28, 2024
This was an engaging coming of age story about a young man finding himself and his purpose upon completing high school. The writing was poignant and I enjoyed the metaphors of the cliffs and water interspersed throughout the novel - in many ways I related to key elements of Max’s experience. That said, the ending felt somewhat rushed and underwhelming- almost as though the writer felt pressured to finish the story which has reduced my rating from 4 stars to 3.
August 4, 2024
Oh wow 🥲 this is so special. I love that there are teachers out there like Avi who see their students as the individuals they are - what a great role model. A beautiful coming of age story grappling themes of sexuality and friendship. I think this one would feel relatable to a lot of young folk who have questions about where their life is heading one school is over with. I loved this, so special. Max is a likeable character and fletch is an incredible friend.
May 12, 2025
This book hasn’t heard of show, don’t tell. Story lacks any clear direction, stretching meaningless events into chapters long sagas and the more meaningful events taking up half a page. The climax of the story - a conversation - is built up for so long and then takes up about five exchanged sentences and nothing more. Best thing about this book was that it was short.
Don’t want to sh*t on a kiwi author or a book about the queer experience, but this just ain’t it.
Don’t want to sh*t on a kiwi author or a book about the queer experience, but this just ain’t it.
June 5, 2025
What a book! Coming out at any age is hard. Finding ourselves, let alone for people with high numbers of intersections can be made harder at times. But being able to find people who see us is so valuable and incredible. It’s been fun having a New Zealand author narrate their own book! Especially for someone getting into audiobooks and getting familiar with different accents sharing various stories.
July 2, 2024
A beautiful novel exploring the difficulties of growing up, a self identity crisis and ‘fitting in’. Avi masterfully puts the reader inside Max’s head, and ties everything in eloquently. An important novel in NZ fiction
September 26, 2024
"But that's just it. There are too many versions. I dont know which to choose without loosing the others..... so be them all"
- stream reading... some books just pull you from page to page. Was all the way with max 👍
- stream reading... some books just pull you from page to page. Was all the way with max 👍
September 29, 2024
read in one sitting. interesting and compassionate take on a young man’s struggles with identity and growing up in new zealand. a bit predictable but otherwise a good story and well written - particularly liked the motif of the cliffs appearing throughout the story.
January 20, 2025
This book was alright. Coming of age in a similar time and questioning my own sexuality I feel part of Max’s journey feels a bit theatrical and over the top and ultimately unbelievable.
Even when characters reconnect it feels false and fake, saving the climax till the very last pages of the book.
Even when characters reconnect it feels false and fake, saving the climax till the very last pages of the book.
June 12, 2025
An interesting read but not one I always found easy. A coming of age story based around Max and how he began to move through the world after navigating changes from high school into adulthood. Complex relationships drove this novel and there was a range of characters that popped up throughout.
September 3, 2024
Coming of age story about a NZ teenager coming to terms with his sexuality.
September 8, 2024
I wasn't expecting to be as moved by this as I was. A beautiful coming of age story, I think it strength is in the second half so I am glad to have stuck with it
October 7, 2024
Rollercoaster of emotions with Max through out the book, and the reminder of no family's perfect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews