The trials of being a 17-year-old boy are undeniably painful. The awkward longing, the insecurities, and the confusion of adolescence can feel overwhelming. Yet, for John Patrick McHugh, these experiences serve as fertile ground for both humor and a deeper exploration of masculinity. In Fun and Games, McHugh’s debut novel, the pains and complexities of being a teenage boy come to life in a thoughtful and often poignant way.
The novel follows John Masterson, who finds himself in the limbo between school exams and the rest of his life. A summer spent playing football and working at a hotel becomes a backdrop for his complicated relationships with friends, family, and a 19-year-old colleague, Amber. Fun and Games shares thematic and geographical ties to McHugh’s 2021 short-story collection, Pure Gold, which also dealt with the turbulence of young men on an island off the coast of County Mayo. However, this novel pins us firmly in the summer of 2009, a time when smartphones were not yet ubiquitous, and communication occurred through low-resolution images shared on older mobile phones.
A key moment in the novel revolves around an ill-fated sext sent by John’s mother, which leads to the breakdown of his parents’ marriage. As a result, John earns the nickname “Tits” from his male peers. This episode encapsulates the pain and awkwardness of adolescence, with its shifting boundaries between friendship and enmity, and serves as the catalyst for the novel’s exploration of male relationships.
The core of Fun and Games lies in its portrayal of John’s interactions with those around him. His relationships with other boys, particularly with his best friend, Studzy, are marked by a mix of bullying, camaraderie, and dependency. The boys’ place on the island’s senior Gaelic football team further complicates their dynamics, as they vie for their roles within the group of adult men. This sense of competition extends beyond sports, as John’s growing relationship with Amber becomes another battlefield, one where power and desire are in constant negotiation.
John’s motivations, particularly regarding his relationship with Amber, are driven by a toxic and unspoken desire for sexual conquest. He views sex almost like a “league table,” with winning being the ultimate prize. This desire pushes him forward through a relationship that’s more transactional than emotional, yet McHugh handles this internal conflict with subtlety. The awkwardness of their interactions, including painful scenes of text exchanges and social tension, highlights John’s confusion and vulnerability.
However, it is the male relationships that stand out most in the novel. John’s complex feelings toward Studzy, who is more athletic and outgoing but less academically inclined, highlight the intersection of class and masculinity. John both protects and feels dominated by Studzy, a dynamic that shifts throughout the summer as the boys approach the end of their schooling. This tension between physical dominance and social advantage is a recurring theme that McHugh examines with nuance.
While the novel excels in its exploration of these relationships, the final third of the story loses some of its earlier bite. The central triangle between John, Amber, and Studzy is not fully challenged, and Amber, in particular, at times feels less like a fully developed character and more like a means for John to test his desires and prejudices. Despite these shortcomings, McHugh’s writing remains sharp, particularly in moments where John’s introspection reveals his sensitivity. For example, during a football match, the narrator vividly describes the ball changing colors, an image that later ties into John’s interest in art history and his sensitivity to light and color.
In the end, Fun and Games offers more than just a chronicle of teenage angst. McHugh presents a complex portrait of a young man grappling with the contradictions of growing up. The novel is marked by warmth, sensitivity, and a skillful humor that elevates it beyond a simple coming-of-age story. As John faces the consequences of his actions, McHugh paints a portrait of the cruelty and vulnerability inherent in young men, while also showing the tenderness and hope that exist amid the pain. Fun and Games captures the messiness of adolescence with both wit and compassion, making it a remarkable debut.
