As Far As You'll Take Me is for all the music enthusiasts, for everyone struggling in toxic friendships, for anyone searching for some bravery to be ourselves. From the beginning, this book twisted my heart with how cute it was. Marty's narration feels casual, like someone, your best friend, is confiding in you. Because of that, the pages kept flying through my fingers. Marty is endearing, compassionate, and vulnerable on the page. His love of bullet point lists, extensive use of Google, and need for preparation struck a chord within me.

As Far As You'll Take Me delivers conversations about toxic friendships, about the people we love hurting us the most, and found family we continue to choose. Marty's story begins with his first opportunity to stretch his own wings and possibly fly. On his own, Marty embarks on an adventure of self-discovery, agency, and friendship. It's about realizing when things need to end. Realizing we need better. Seeing the words on the wall and being honest with ourselves.

As Far as You'll Take Me tells the story of Marty as he moves to London to start a new life. Overall, I thought this book had an interesting plot and important themes. The idea of leaving a suffocating life behind and starting over new somewhere else, while cliched in some media forms, feels like new territory for YA novels. Additionally, the ways Marty had to struggle to understand his desires and mental health issues was very important.

However, overall I found the writing to be lacking. It felt messy and a bit all over the place. Many of the characters felt superfluous and one-dimensional and could have been left out entirely and not affected the plot at all. Additionally, some things really took me out of the story. One, and this may just be me, how did Marty get British citizenship if his mom is Irish? It isn't specified that she is Northern Irish (and thus British). All Irish people aren't British, to my knowledge, but this is never explained. Two, some things seem wrong. When busking is introduced, Marty acts like this is a British thing. Uhhh, people busk in the US and we use that word to describe it... And just, all the cliche British-American confusion in general. Three, Marty describes Shane as having a thick Irish accent although he says he's lived in London almost all his life. That's just...not how accents work, no matter where your parents are from. This might now bother other people, but they really take me out of the story, especially as it is supposed to be realistic.

I'm obsessed. Phil Stamper can do no wrong in my eyes. This book was everything and I am SO excited for it to be in the hands of the queer community. The way he writes about toxic friendships felt so real and something everyone needs to read about. And the anxiety rep hit home. Hit deep and felt raw. This is a book that will mean so much to so many and I can't wait to see it happen.

The characters are interesting, the anxiety feels so real, and the relationship serves a real purpose. A good companion novel to “How It All Blew Up” by Arvin Ahmadi. A solid sophomore novel by Phil Stamper.

If you haven’t read his “The Gravity of Us” you are really missing out and you should run and buy it.

I positively adored the first third of this book and overall enjoyed the rest. Marty is such a relatable character. At seventeen, he is ready to escape his homophobic town and family, which he does with a one way ticket to London. There is a lot of conversations in this book about homophobia, religious trauma, toxic relationships (both romantic and platonic), disordered eating and body image, and found family. Any current or former band geeks will also appreciate the numerous music references throughout the book.

There were a couple of things that brought down my rating. For one, there were definitely some pacing issues-the middle dragged and the ending felt rushed. This was really not helped by dialogue, which was my second issue. It was difficult to tell who was speaking at times, which led to me having to reread multiple parts in order to understand.

Trigger warnings for toxic relationships and eating disorders (specific weight and BMI mentions; restriction; unhealthy self-image).

Hmm. I’m not sure what to think, on one hand I really understood the main character and feel like the author’s writing has really grown since The Gravity of Us (which I didn’t like), but on the other hand, I think the book still needed a lot more development, especially with the main romance and the relationship between Marty and his parents. It tried to tackle a lot in a very small amount of pages and I think that’s where it struggled. Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s a good book, but I do think it could use a bit of work.

I did really like the discussion of religion and homophobia, especially with how Marty's parents were both accepting and not accepting at the same time; they didn't kick him out but they didn't show him real love and acceptance either. I think it's important for books to show this because this is a very real situation for many queer teens. Oftentimes it's not the extremes, but this home situation can be just as harmful to them.

Anyway, I definitely appreciated this book and enjoyed it, but there was some work that needed to be done. A solid three star.

Marty feels trapped by his hometown of Avery, Kentucky. So, when he graduates high school a year early, he hatches a plan with the help of his cousin, Shane, to spend time in London, England, under the guise of studying at the Knightsbridge Academy of Music. With his oboe and his dreams of freedom, Marty boards the plane and doesn’t look back. From the outside, his life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he’s made new friends, he’s getting closer to his first ever boyfriend, and he’s even traveling around Europe. But when his façade starts to wither, Marty wonders if he truly belongs, and if he’ll ever find a place that feels like home.

*content warning for crash dieting, religious-motivated homophobia, and outing without consent*

As someone who has both been a band geek in middle/high school and has been to London to study abroad, this book had so much I could relate to. I was especially excited to see Gloucester tube station make an appearance, as that was my go-to station during my stay. Back to the book, I found several important topics discussed in a intricate and well-described way – these include Marty finally being able to explore his identity freely, a new-found source of independence, trying to figure out “feelings” and “firsts,” and struggling to deal with friendship breakups and realizing someone you love has been hurting you far too much. In regards to toxic friendship, it was very interesting to see how Marty’s perspective on his relationship with Megan changed when people in his life forced his to realize he deserved to be treated better. I also appreciated the discussions regarding Marty’s religious parents – we learn from diary entries sprinkled throughout the book that Marty’s coming out, and being near London pride, did not go well, and Marty suffered some pretty hefty consequences because of it. However, due to events that occur back in Kentucky, they truly begin to realize how much their actions, or at time inactions, were affecting Marty negatively, and we see growth. The past cannot be rectified in a day, but making changes so the ones you love know you care and are supportive is a step in the right direction.

I did have a few issues with pacing, and thought some things happened too abruptly, as the main action of the story happens over the course of just a few weeks. I also wish some of the side characters were developed a bit more – I found Shane an interesting perspective, and most of the time Marty is just jealous of his cousin’s success in comparison to his lack thereof. I guess the main critique is that I wish it was longer so we could have explored the cast of characters better, so I’ll call that a success on the part of the author.

If you were a fan of Phil Stamper’s debut, The Gravity of Us, be sure to pick up his sophomore novel next February. As Far as You'll Take Me is a sweet and simple story of a teen boy who escapes to find freedom in a foreign country and, with the help of his family and friends, discovers more about himself in the process. I highly recommend.

I feel so bad for DNFing this book but the writing just wasn't for me! I really enjoyed the story and the plot, but wasn't able to push through.

I was given an eARC from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. As Far As You’ll Take Me follows Marty as he moves to London, lies to his parents, makes not so great choices, and finds a place where he really feels like he could be happy.
Marty has told his parents he got accepted for a spot in a music school so that they would let him travel to and stay in London for the summer. The truth is that he bombed his audition and didn’t get accepted. But he has a plan to go anyway and get a job. He plays the oboe and is hopeful that he will be able to find a job so that he doesn’t have to move back to the mid-west to his hometown filled with people that don’t approve of a big part of who Marty is, his sexuality. So, Marty stays with his cousin Shane and meets Shane’s friends. Marty immediately feels at home in London and gets swept up in the excitement of trying new things and seeing the sights of London. He also gets swept away by Pierce.
Pierce is where the problems start. Marty is excited to have his first boyfriend, but this leads to Marty dropping most of his other priorities. I really didn’t like the romance, but that was sort of the point. It wasn’t a good relationship. This was a story centered on Marty as he tries new things, makes mistakes, learns from those mistakes, and grows so that he will try do the right thing in the future. I think Marty’s growth was natural and really well done. He does, understandably, dumb things. But when he realizes his mistakes he makes the needed apologies and asks for help.
I think this is an important story. It’s about a young man that’s discovering who he is, what he wants, and how to get there. He doesn’t always make good choices, which is the reality for many people in their formative years. I do want to specifically mention that Marty struggles with food and body image. So, at one point he’s barely eating so that he can lose weight quickly. It was very unhealthy and he knew it, but I wanted to mention it because I know that can be a triggering topic for some.
Overall, I didn’t like this as much as Stamper’s first novel, but I still enjoyed it. It’s a great story for young adults learning how to make their way in the world. I think many people will really adore this book.

I received an advanced copy of As Far As You’ll Take Me from the publisher so I could share my review with you!

Content Warnings: This book contains scenes involving eating disorders, anxiety, homophobic comments, outing of sexual orientation, and an unhealthy romantic relationship.

Marty has finally escaped to London, armed with nothing but his oboe, his wits, and a newfound sense of freedom after fleeing his parents. Sure, leaving behind his home and family is scary, but Marty had little choice after his family repeatedly expressed their inability to accept that he is gay. Now that he's finally out of the closet and out of their grasp, he will have to determine who he really wants to be, and which of his boundaries are worth breaking. Marty must deal with his often overwhelming anxiety while being plunged into a new environment, but it will all be worth it when he proves to the world that he is able to make it- as a musician and as himself- in a city as vast and old as London.

You can get your copy of As Far As You’ll Take Me on February 9th from Bloomsbury YA!

As a musician, I found this book especially fun to read, as it was chock full of the sorts of experiences and performances I've only dreamed about! I was unsurprised to learn that Phil Stamper has a background in music, as he wrote about Marty’s musical career with both nuance and expertise. The story itself had a thread of ambition and desire that wove beautifully with Marty's sense of discovery. It speaks to the heart of chasing something without quite understanding what it is you're looking for, a struggle faced by nearly every young adult transitioning through the phases of their life.

My Recommendation-
If you love books full of self-discovery and international exploration, you will not want to miss out on As Far As You'll Take Me! This story is a departure from the traditional contemporary romance which instead focuses on what it means to find yourself. As Far As You’ll Take Me would be a great read for fans of Adam Silvera and Nina LaCour!

Like Stamper's debut, I couldn't put As Far As You'll Take Me down! The way that he crafts a story that makes the reader emotionally invested in his characters is unparalleled. It's been days since I finished the book and I still want to know more about their stories and what happened after that fateful summer.

This was a really sweet story about a teenage boy who moves to England to try to escape his small town where he wasn't able to be fully out and himself. While in England he makes new friendships and discovers more about himself. Definitely recommend this one!

as far as you'll take me and i might not have completely vibed, if i want to be honest. i don't know if it's really stamper's writing (because i also didn't love the gravity of us), or maybe the stories he tells. i was really looking forward to this one, was really excited to receive an arc, but some things just fell flat for me.

however, just because i didn't love it, doesn't mean i didn't find some things i did enjoy along the way. here's a list:

•a queer ensemble cast! i love reading about groups of friends where all or most of them are queer. there’s strength in that, and our protagonist marty needed it especially. he left home to find home, and we all love a good found family.
•an exploration of a friendship breakup. i’ve gone through too many of those, and really nothing else hurts like it. it’s not something that’s fun, but reading about it reminds me that my heartbreak is just as real.
•music!! marty plays the oboe and is surrounded by other musicians. music transcends. i love friendships and relationships based on music because that’s how i met and got so close with so many of my best friends.

one of the things i really didn't like ended up being subverted at the end, but i still had to have the bitter taste of it on my mouth while reading. i may pick up a copy (that will be borrowed from the library) in the future just to see the redaction of HP references that the author tweeted about.

a solid 3 stars, but just not the book for me.

Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes books fade into the past after you finish them, other times they stick with you. Either for the characters, the plot or what they taught you. If you’re really lucky, it’s all three. With this, it’s all three. Phil does a fantastic job with making this book one that should be a staple recommendation for years to come.

Following Marty, a young man barely out as gay, as he runs off to London to make it as an Oboist. When he gets there, he meets people who have the potential to shape him and that they do.

Not only is the lead in this a fantastic protagonist, the ensemble (pun intended) cast is just as great. Each person brings something new and exciting to the group as they help Marty grow and learn. Not only does this include a diverse cast full of LGBTQIA+ characters, it tackles some pretty tough topics I don’t see many YA books talk about and cover in the way Phil did. Talking about eating disorders, not being out, or being outed by someone you consider a friend can be done very poorly, but this knocks it out of the park. It doesn’t shy away from having these characters having these conversations and showing the depths of true friendship. I fell in love with each character and the challenges they brought for Marty. But I also loved that each of those characters taught him something. It was a beautiful blend of growth, hardships and learning who you are.

I’ve read some really great books, but this is definitely on that list. If you’re looking for a quick read that packs a punch, teaches you how to grow and hard lessons, look no further than this.

Phil Stamper has done it again with another fabulous LQBTQIA+ YA book! This time we follow Marty a recent high school graduate who has gone to London to escape his suffocating non-accepting parents and a town where he can't be himself. He quickly falls in with Shane's friends and begins to embrace his authentic self. Excited to start his new life to many he looks as though he is living the perfect life but in reality, he is struggling with his first relationship, mounting anxiety, lies, and a whole host of other problems. The book touches on important topics including family acceptance, homophobia, and eating disorders.

A wonderfully sweet and sad book about discovering who you are through ups and downs.

Marty is a gay teenage boy in a very conservative town... and family. While he has a couple of really good friends and his parents DO know he is gay, he is still stuck. Hating everything about small Kentucky life, he ventures off to stay with his cousin and aunt in London.

It all starts when a trip to London the previous year with his parents goes drastically wrong. He tanks his musical audition for entry into a London music school, but hides that info from his folks. He then uses that lie later to grant him a trip back to London... one he doesn’t plan on coming back from.

A whole new life opens up for Marty in Europe. He meets people he can feel comfortable around and a boy who he cannot stop thinking about. But when he begins to change parts of himself for this new life, he must stop and reanalyze what really matters. He needs to do the opposite of what the old Marty would do.

This was so fun to read. Marty is a wonderfully sweet and flawed character who you can immediately relate to. Watching him grow and become stronger was such a treat. Going along for the ride while he makes a mess of things and then to see if he can ultimately discover his worth was essentially EXACTLY what I was hoping for when I requested this book.

The email from his mother at the end made me cry. I felt all the emotions during my time reading this book. **Watch out for body and weight issues, anxiety and mental health, and religious homophobia triggers.

Trigger warnings for disordered eating, homophobia, outing out of spite.
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I’m so happy to have had the chance to read AS FAR AS YOU’LL TAKE ME by Phil Stamper early. Last year I devoured an ARC of Stampers debut, THE GRAVITY OF US and gave that one 5/5 stars. So I had very high hopes going into his next work. I’m so happy to say I was not disappointed!
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I loved our main character, Marty. Marty is a musician, and at such a young age, only 17, he is dealing with a lot. His religious parents aren’t supportive of his sexuality, his best friend is toxic and manipulative, he’s traveling to London from his small-town in Kentucky to start a new life, and his love life is.... complicated. Riddled with anxiety and struggling with a newfound eating disorder, Marty knows he needs to wake up and sort this out. With his cousin and his new group of friends at his side, he’s no longer doing it alone.
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I enjoyed this book. There’s a lot of heavy topics in here, so it feels weird to say I enjoyed it. It was hard to read at times, but it was a good story. I did wish to see Marty bond more with his cousin, and to have more of a conclusion with his eating disorder, but I left this book feeling hopeful for him. He had good character development through the story. I’m so glad he discovered his found family, it was nice to see him finally be surrounded by genuine people!
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4/5 stars. AS FAR AS YOU’LL TAKE ME is available February 9, 2021.
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Thank you to Bloomsbury YA and Netgalley for sending me an eARC to review!

This book follows Marty, a 17 year old oboist who lies to his parents and flies to London to escape his small-town life in Kentucky. He is still struggling with the effects of his disastrous coming out to his parents and must find a way to push past his anxieties in order to succeed in this new city. I think the story of moving from a small rural town to the big city is one that many people can relate to. I also think that the way Marty's anxiety was displayed felt authentic and real. I struggled with the pacing of this book. There were parts that felt so slow and others that felt very rushed. But I appreciate the representation in this book and think that others will enjoy it more than I did.

This was a ride. I enjoyed most of it. There was a subplot I wasn't too fond of, but I'll get to that in a moment.
This was very cute, but also incredibly bittersweet. That first taste of freedom, of love, of acceptance, I felt like Marty deserved so much more, but because he didn't get it, the book felt genuine. Sometimes books can give their main characters too much of what they want and it hurts the book, this one gave Marty a taste, and didn't exactly take it away, but isn't making him settle for the first thing. It just felt like a real experience.

I wasn't a big fan of the eating disorder subplot, because it didn't seem to fit. It didn't feel all the way fleshed to me, but I may be overthinking it. I also thought journal entries from the year before could have been better utilized, but I really liked revealing backstory that way.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this one. Phil Stamper is quickly becoming an author to look for in my book. I'm excited to see what he does next.

What a beautiful story. It is lovely to know that another LGBTQ novel has been published (there are not enough for today's society to read). I also love the themes of family and friendship, and how sometimes you have to leave your own family behind if they will not allow you to be the person you are meant to be. Also, the importance of true friendship is represented here, about how good friends end up becoming your chosen family. Very well written; I truly enjoyed it.