Reviews

"This is a great read, an energetic story told through an electric current of dialogue and narrative, with a collection of compelling characters that you'll probably recognize from the outer edges of your own family and friends. The author gives you an encyclopedic knowledge of Staten Island family life, rock 'n' roll song lyrics, food, wines and liquors, small-time bookies and collectors, (Sal "Sally Toast" Tosterelli??) Manhattan in the '90s -- and I may have missed a few. And underneath it all runs a thread of Dante's Divine Comedy and a story of the love and faith that holds us all together. An exciting book that I can't recommend enough. There aren't enough stars for this one."

- Dr. Allen Ascher

"A close-knit group of friends struggles through the growing pains of pre-teen and teenage years in DeConzo’s novel.

Giulia Stringer, Ralphie Molinaro, and Johnny Romano were all born and raised in the seaside town of South Beach on Staten Island, New York, while their friend, Luke, moved there when he was 14 years old. Each has pinpointed what they want to become as adults, dreaming of lives as writers, actors, and teachers. As they move toward those goals, they navigate typical and sometimes harrowing adolescent experiences like being teased, bucking against authority, and experimentation with drugs and alcohol while dealing with the pressures of familial dynamics that include death, abandonment, and divorce. Throughout, the friends never fail to have each other’s backs. Their mostly Italian neighborhood is populated by colorful characters who expose the leads to aspects of life that school and family life do not, including Joey C., a troubled and misunderstood Vietnam vet; Dinino, the Italian-speaking owner of the local video arcade; and Mary the Blonde, Johnny's feisty grandma, a department store detective (“When I was four, my grandmother Mary the Blonde walked me into the arcade, put me on a milkcrate in front of Whirlybird, and handed me a stack of quarters. Dinino’s been calling me ‘Pucchiacha’ ever since”). The author also grew up on Staten Island, and, if the short author bio is any indication, he clearly writes from a place of humor and love for his hometown, blemishes and all. DeConzo’s ability to reveal important details strategically, with well-paced and unexpected timing, draws readers fully into the world of each character. He beautifully renders teenage pathos and the internal confusion it inflicts upon the four friends and deftly captures the unique voices and concerns of Johnny, Giulia, and Ralphie. While Luke is a pivotal character, he receives less attention, and when his story does get told, it is in a question-and-answer format that feels tacked on. Still, following the overall trajectory of the four friends is a rewarding investment.

A video game arcade becomes a refuge for an inseparable group of Staten Island teens."

- Kirkus Reviews

"Two Nickels" is a must-read novel. I have read this remarkable book twice in three days and am starting it again tonight. It is both allegory and cautionary tale. It is both prose and (spoiler alert) poetry. The characters captivate and fascinate right from the beginning and the story’s allure grows with each page. DeConzo is truly a gifted writer, a meticulous craftsman who possesses a filmmaker’s appreciation for character, imagery, and drama. He effortlessly weaves together the best elements of a thriller, a love story, and dare I say historical (1997 NYC) fiction. Johnny Romano’s descent into the underworld is so vividly drawn that it feels almost auto biographical. It will enthrall you, delight you, surprise you, and leave you wanting more."

- Joseph Russo

"DeConzo's first novel, "Two Nickels", takes us to a place that some of us have surely forgotten, and others weren't here to experience: a last look at NYC as it exited the 20th Century. The novel moves quickly between Staten Island, Manhattan and New Jersey, the "metro area" familiar to so many who call Staten Island home. It goes beyond shallow "Staten Island Italian" stereotypes into the complexities of having a foot in one's traditions while being pulled (if not yanked) into everything else "the city" has to offer. And it does all this with downright lovely language and funny dialogue, for example, when one character cries out, "Madon!" (an exclamation of surprise) as he's "praying" (chatting) over the casket of a deceased friend. DeConzo draws us into the unraveling and education of his protagonist with a fresh, insightful voice."

- Lisa Pillarella

"Johnny Romano celebrates his thirtieth birthday in true Italian style, a sinfully delicious meal prepared by his mother, surrounded by his slightly dysfunctional family. This milestone birthday is pretty bittersweet for Johnny. A struggling actor, his only claims to fame are a one-man production of Waiting for Gadot and sneezing in a cold medicine commercial, Johnny is still fighting to make a name for himself. But an out-of-work actor cannot pay the bills by refusing pretty much everything his agent throws at him, which is how Johnny found himself in a bookmaker partnership with a whopping $30,000 debt to local mobster Sally Toasterelli. When his partner Jackie interrupts his birthday dinner with the odd request to bail a homeless man out of jail, Johnny successfully pisses off his girlfriend and love of his life as he runs out to rescue a stranger. The two form a peculiar pair as they embark on a journey to self-discovery that takes the reader on a sight-seeing tour of Manhattan, Staten Island, and New Jersey with even a mention of Hoboken or two. Two Nickels is the incredible debut novel from Staten Island native Michael DeConzo. It is impossible not to fall in love with this brutally authentic cast of well-developed, eccentric characters that jump right off the page. Full of humor and witty banter, Two Nickels will quickly become one of your favorite reads this summer."

- The Hoboken Girl

"Two Nickels is beautifully written book full of wild stories and even wilder characters. The dialogue is so crisp and punchy, and most of all authentic. I was hooked right from the start and identified with and found myself laughing at the role of family in Mr. Deconzo’s tome. Meet a vast array of sometimes unhinged eccentric but honest characters who seem to be, like most of us are, searching and reflecting on their life, the past, and the unknown. Wonderful book - a must read from an author with an important voice. 5 stars!"

- Mike Figliola