Gerald L. Nardella’s masterpiece, Playing Hurt, was featured in the February 2025 issue of The New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) magazine.
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly magazine supplement included in the Sunday edition of The New York Times, where current fiction and nonfiction books are reviewed by professional critics. It is considered one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the world. Essentially, it is a dedicated section within the newspaper that provides in-depth analyses of new books.
NYTBR is a highly regarded weekly magazine dedicated to literary criticism, featuring reviews, essays, and interviews about newly published books across various genres. As part of The New York Times, it plays a significant role in shaping literary trends and influencing readers’ choices. The magazine covers fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature, offering in-depth analyses by esteemed critics and authors.
One of its most notable features is The New York Times Best Seller list, which serves as a benchmark for commercial and critical success in the publishing industry. Additionally, its “By the Book” column provides insight into the reading habits of renowned writers. With its long-standing reputation and broad readership, NYTBR continues to be a major force in the literary world, guiding both casual readers and literary enthusiasts in discovering new and noteworthy books.
Gerald L. Nardella was born and raised in Livingston, Montana, and served in the U.S. Army. He married Peggy, his high school sweetheart, in 1962. They have two children, Michael and Terri. In 1968, Gerald earned a degree in accounting from Montana State University in Bozeman. He worked for a national CPA firm before establishing his own CPA practice in Billings in 1974. Gerald enjoys golfing, reading, and working on the family cabin in the Crazy Mountains.
Playing Hurt by Gerald L. Nardella, published by Author Reputation Press, was one of the nominees for the 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award. The book received high praise from Amanda Hanson of the US Review of Books, who highlighted that “Nardella uses a confessional technique popular in narratives by having her protagonist reveal these thoughts to her friend, Karen. Deanie then establishes a sharp contrast between Karen and herself. Karen was able to stand firm and refuse to sleep with her boyfriend, while Deanie feels that she gave up too easily. Deanie’s intense struggle with her thoughts and emotions helps make her relatable to the reader. Many will likely appreciate this book because the characters express their emotions with honesty.”
The Eric Hoffer Book Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by recognizing outstanding writing and celebrating the independent spirit of small publishers. Since its establishment, the award has become one of the largest international book honors for small, academic, and independent presses.
This masterpiece was also displayed at the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all.
Playing Hurt by Gerald L. Nardella is a romantic fiction novel about two teenagers navigating the challenges of adolescence. The story explores themes of peer pressure, struggles with intimate desires, betrayal, jealousy, insecurities, and fears about the future—issues every teenager encounters while growing up.
Recently, this masterpiece was among the books displayed by ARP during the 2024 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) at the University of Southern California on April 20–21, 2024. Additionally, the book reached an international audience when it was showcased by ARP at the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, on October 18–22, 2023. This prestigious book fair is recognized as the world’s largest trade fair for books.