I love this book. I think you can tell it's from a debut author, as there is wiggle room for improvement in style and narrative, but it's really really good.

The main character is Jules, a 17 year old who comes out as gay on twitter "accidentally". His life is turned upside down as he deals with what it means and he worries about his future. Jonny tells his story with another gay teen, Mat, who lives, you guessed it, 1500 miles away.

The two characters are adorable. Not just in appearance, but in their personalities. They seem very authentic. Jules is the only point of view we get, but Mat comes across as equally thought out and developed, as are Jules' friends and family. You will root for them all (except the jerks). Jonny has written it so you understand decisions, fears and victories so well.

The supporting cast is fantastic. Each with their own vibes and equally as authentic as the main guys. They tease each other like a group of friends and family would do and it feels a little like you are spying on a real group of people.

The story, while I won't spoil it, is touching. I cried a couple times. I cheered a couple times. I nodded in understanding a couple times. And I enjoyed the range of emotions while reading it. The plot was simple, but the book isn't just the plot. It's really a story about Jules and his support system and it doesn't need to be flashy. It also wasn't completely predictable. There are a lot of moments that something could go either way, and you will push yourself to read faster to find out how they resolve.

This is my first gay YA book. I would call it romance, but it is lacking in detailed sex scenes. To me, it didn't feel like they were left out. I'm not sure if this is a YA thing or a non-romance book thing. It didn't affect the efficiency of the plot or the authenticity of the characters. If you are only looking for m/m sex scenes, this book isn't for you. But there isn't hetro sex either.

I love ranting about this book and I hope everyone gives it a chance. It's so soft.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is at times heartbreaking but always has a lot of heart. Julián knows he is gay but his Mexican-American dad will never accept that. So he keeps that part of himself hidden from family and friends until one night he drinks too much and comes out on social media. The story of Julián was all too familiar to me. As a cis-gendered straight woman, it was clear that in my immigrant family it was not ok to be gay. I saw cousins struggle and endure abuse from the people that were supposed to protect them. This was tough to read and reflect on because there are still many Juliáns out there and we need to collectively do better for them. I teach in a school with a primarily Latinx population and I still see and feel the homophobia. Things are changing but they need to change faster and we need to do better now.

Clearly the book has had an impact on me and I think there is an audience for it and stories like these.

There was a romanticization of California and Los Angeles that I think is not a reality. However, Julián needed Los Angeles to play that role for him and so I do see the usefulness of that in the story.

CWs: Verbal and physical child abuse; physical assault; homophobia; homophobic slurs (English and Spanish); bullying; non-graphic allusions to suicidal ideation; disownment; descriptions of PTSD, panic attacks, and depressive episodes; some exploration of grief; references to underage drinking, some graphic allusions to sex

Jonny Garza Villa really and truly didn't have to write the perfect book. But they did, and I'm forever grateful.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun very much feels like a successor to Ari & Dante, especially in its deliberate, slow pace. This is a story that meticulously takes you through the seasons of Jules' senior year, reveling in moments of friendship and love while also confronting homophobia head-on. It's a story about love in all its power and its limitations—exploring what love can do and what it can't. Love can support you, protect you, and keep you going when things get tough, but at the same time, love can't make up for everything when it's not supported by action.

Whether that means a father who refuses to acknowledge his son's queerness or a long-distance boyfriend who's struggling to figure out how to show up for someone when you can't physically be there, the story deftly explores both love's power and its failings. Even though this is a book that's not afraid to acknowledge the hardships queer people face, it's also largely about finding out which friends are true and learning to find joy in the communities we build for ourselves. This is a story that perfectly captures those high school friendships where buying a $2 soda from a fast food drive through on your way to the beach after school is an adventure you'd take over and over again and where piling onto the same bed together is an appropriate response to someone's depressive episode—those ride-or-die friendships that make your soul sing.

Not only that, but FHMFTS is a love story for the ages and exactly the love story we need right now. It's very rare that we get to see a story that both understands and celebrates online, long-distance romance. Not only is this a story that validates long-distance relationships, but it shows how integral online relationships can be in day-to-day life. Besides his physical presence, you miss nothing of Mat throughout this story. He is every bit as vibrant and present in Jules' life as Jules other friends from school are. He supports Jules, cheers him on, and wants the best for him, all while trying to maintain clear and open communication.

They run into pitfalls along the way, and the distance definitely tests both of them in different ways, but their relationships is every bit as real and beautiful as any other romance out there. They have A-plus level chemistry and banter, yes, but I think their relationship is so memorable because they're both learning not only how to see the other person for everything they are, but how to allow themselves to be seen in return. Letting yourself be known, in all your messiness and in all your mistakes, is an act of love and bravery, and that is ultimately what makes their relationship so satisfying to read.

Oh yeah, and they're funny as fuck.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is a book that will make you laugh, a book that will make you smile right after it makes you cringe, and a book that will make you feel above all else. Trust me when I say you do NOT want to miss this book. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to absolutely everyone.

i'm sure a lot of you will fall in love with this one. it's a very heavy read, but it's also full of strong friendships, romantic phone calls and supportive siblings!

the mc is mexican-american, the love interest ist vietnamese-american and there are a lot of latinx side characters, as well as other queer characters and BIPoC.

i was very happy to see that there were trigger warnings included before the first chapter. i'll say it again and again, but this should be the standard for all books.

even though our mc is facing a lot of problems regarding his homophobic and abusive father, he still has a support system (friends, sister and grandfather). however, be aware that homophobia and abuse play a huge role in this book. there's a lot of casual homophobia, but also physical violence against the mc.

the romance is cute, but i have to admit, it felt a bit rushed. nonetheless, i think that a lot of people will be able to relate to it (me too!), because a lot of relationships and friendships nowadays start through social media.

i wish the side characters would have had stronger arcs and stronger subplots though. i feel like this was missing.

if you're into ya romances, i'd definitely recommend it!

This was a super cute book and I definitely recommend! I really enjoyed the characters and the story was really creative!

What you’re in for:

- Sweet and sappy gays
- Long-distance dating after your crush slides into your DMs
- Latinx Mexican-American protagonist and Vietnamese-American love interest
- Coming out narrative
- Trigger warnings for parental abuse, physical abuse and homophobia

Review:

“I— I’m glad you’re here right now. That you’re safe. And alive. And I know that you have all the willpower and determination to get through anything in life, Jules. But I hope you know now that you can tell me anything. Always. Everyone needs somebody, and I want to be your somebody. I want to be your person. And I want you to be mine.”

Be right back, I’m in my feels.

After a rocky start to the book where I wasn’t quite sure whether this was going to be heavy or fluffy, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun turned out to be what I’d call a cleansing reading experience for anyone who’s on the LGBTQIAP+ spectrum. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is a story about coming out, falling in love for the first time and acting on it, and figuring out how to be yourself when there are outside forces telling you to do everything but that. Villa captures the good and the bad about coming out and perfectly balances the sad with the fluffy content.

My favourite part of this book was, of course, what will be known as the internet romance of a lifetime. It was just so enamouring to read about this digital dating between Jules and Mat because it reminded me not only of the friends I’ve made in the LGBTQIAP+ community online, but also of that feeling when you find someone online who seems to speak your language, the way you become dependent on them and how hard it can be when they cut you off out of the blue. Jules and Mat’s relationship—from the insta-love to the slowly falling in love for real part to finally meeting officially for the first time in person—is rocky and all-encompassing, complex and deceptively easy at times and it perfectly captures first love in my opinion. Things are messy and Villa doesn’t shy away from showing the advantages and struggles that come with dating someone who lives hours away from you. Thank God for the internet, am I right?

Besides the whirlwind romance that will take readers by storm, there is also the found family trope in this book and I loved Jules’ group of friends. They’re all so diverse and have their own struggles, whether it’s about love or their plans for the future and I enjoyed how they kept teasing Jules about his relationship but also (for the most part) being supportive about it.

Also, can we take a second to talk about how supportive, genuinely kind and strong-willed Mat is? He’s basically the poster boy of what you want your first boyfriend to be. I loved all the discussions he and Jules had about coming and being out to the world, how family can both protect you and make you feel like you’re alone, and most of all, how Mat fought for Jules time and again. There are so many moments where I wanted to clutch the book to my chest and just smile at the sheer adorableness of it all. Steadfast and honest and so dreamy, I can see readers falling in love with Jules and Mat all over the world.

One of the hardest aspects of this book to stomach is the relationship between Jules and his father. For the longest time, Jules has kept being gay to himself because his father doesn’t accept “that lifestyle” and it is incredibly sad yet impactful to read about how Jules adjusts his performance around his father to escape physical and verbal abuse. When his father eventually learns about Jules and kicks him out, even going so far as blackmailing him to keep him on the straight path, my heart was breaking for Jules and any kid who has ever experienced this sort of shunning. While Jules’ and Mat’s families are largely supportive and believe that love is love, Jules’ father’s reaction was jarringly realistic and definitely not for the faint of heart. I think what I love most about this book is that Jules takes his time to come to terms with what his father’s ignorance means for their relationship in the future and that he realises that blood does not always mean family. It’s one of the hardest decisions to make to put yourself first even at the cost of a love you thought— and hoped—to be unconditional, and Villa portrays this with such a careful hand that it stays with you even after you close the book.

An homage to finding your tribe on the interwebs, Villa’s authentically tender debut Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun brings a cleansing gay happily-ever-after to any reader who’s ever found their soulmate online— only to find out they live half a world away.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a sweet, happily ever after story that I needed during this year. I laughed, I cried, it was written stunningly with well-done characters, and this book did not disappoint. I could not help but adore this book and all it stands for.

An honest, explorative book about first love and long-distance relationships that paints a hopeful picture of gayness and teen romance. This book doesn't pull punches around the heavy elements, but it leans into a happy angle, giving gay teens of color a chance to see themselves in a story that ultimately shows the love that they deserve. With a cast of fun, unique, and vibrant characters and easy but heartfelt narration, this is definitely one of the best books I've picked up in a long time!

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun saw me. So much of this book was hilarious and relatable while some parts were serious, emotional, and sadly still relatable. Jonny balanced the story so well that even though you saw pain, you also saw immense joy. A lot of that had to do with how great Jules' friends and sister are. They add so much character to the story, and I couldn't get enough of them. They made me miss my own group of friends.

I love that the book didn't have every Spanish sentence and phrase translated. It felt unapologetically Latinx. I was wearing out google translate and had no problem with that! It's also so current that I know teens will eat it up. It mentions Troye Sivan, Elite (though Lucrecia > Carla), TikTok, and memes. And any book with karaoke in it is a winner to me.

Mat and Jules' relationship was so cute from the beginning. It was in no way easy, but it was beautiful to see them deal with the ups and downs of long distance while also navigating their personal lives. It was raw and messy at times, but all worth it for the ending.

I can't say everything I want to about this story for fear of being perceived too deeply, but please read this. Buy it. Borrow it from your library. I need publishing to know that readers need books like this. Also take the author's note at the beginning of the book to heart.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was a heartwarming poignant story. It was excellent for its diverseness!
The plot followed Jules as he struggled to come out to his dad and everyone else.

The characters were well rounded and quite witty. Itzel and Jordan's subplot was brilliant. I loved the character to Lou and how supportive she was. There were a lot of friends and side characters but they all felt realistic.
Overall this was a brilliant book and I would recommend it!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc!

FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is one of the most touching coming-of-age queer stories that I have ever read. MAGICAL!

NOTE: I was provided an arc in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

After hearing such good things about this book, I decided to request it because I wanted something happy. This book certainly served me joy in the midst of bad situations. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was an adorable story about finally getting to be yourself.

For years, Jules has known that he’s gay; he hasn’t publicly come out, but he knows that other people suspect it. He can’t wait to graduate and go to college in LA, especially when he forms a crush on Mat, a boy from LA he met on Twitter. One night after getting drunk at a party, Jules posts a coming-out tweet, which Mat responds to and they begin to talk more.

My favorite part of this book was the friendships. Jules has such a tightknit, supportive friend group, consisting of Itzel, Jordan, Rolie, and Lou. I really loved their bond and how there for him they were during the rough parts of this book, including standing up for him against homophobes and egging him on with Mat. Jules also has a great relationship with his sister, Xo, who has always tried to be there for him.

I also thought the romance was so cute! Jules and Mat had some great dialogue, and even though they’re fifteen hundred miles apart from each other, you can tell how much they like one another. Also, I liked seeing a Vietnamese-American love interest!

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun takes place in Corpus Christi, Texas and has a Mexican-American protagonist as well as other side characters. As such, we see a lot of Mexican culture in this book, including holidays and a lot of food. I also liked how this book talked about how machismo is ingrained in Latinx culture and that so many people, Jules’s dad included, think that men have to be manly and tough in order to be a “man,” something Jules learns to confront.

This book does deal with some heavy issues. Jules’s dad is very homophobic and physically and mentally abusive toward Jules whenever he thinks he’s not “acting like a man.” This has caused Jules to be very unhappy with his life, and he feels so much freer when he comes out even if he doesn’t tell his dad at first. Again, while his dad is the cause of Jules’s worries, Jules still has such a great support system with his friends, his sister, and his grandfather, all of whom are always there for him.

I did enjoy this book and found it very cute, but unfortunately the pacing was a little off to me. I expected it to be a quick read, especially because I liked the writing well enough, but I kept putting it down out of boredom because it was a bit slow. That’s just me though! I still think many people will love this book.

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was a coming out story that found joy in every situation. I really liked the characters, and the romance was so cute. If you’re looking for a cute gay contemporary, you should check out Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun!

Following Julián through his journey of taking control of his identity and life was something so precious, because even though it captured a lot of the fear and panicking that comes from coming out, it also showed all of the light that comes with stepping into your true self. I’ve already talked about the author’s note, but once again, I’m reminding the universe that it’s so worth the read. Actually, even if you don’y read it (you should though) it’s clear what Jonny Garza Villa was intertwining in the story because it’s palpable thanks to many aspect of the story. From the writing style to the very cute and cheesy romance, one can see that this is the queer-YA-romance-lighthouse a lot of people needed and need growing up.

Firstly, the author does a great job at capturing the chaos that comes with being a teen, with a light and comedic tone. I loved Jules’ group of friends, they were the highlight of the book. Even though I will say that sometimes the book dragged a bit with continuous scenes that were just conversations between the characters. Nevertheless, most of the characters are charming and endearing so it’s a fun ride. The romance also being very teenage-y added to this a ton, I liked that. Moreover, all of this is framed by Julián’s amazing voice.

Furthermore with the romance, I thought it was cool how even if it was fluffy and cutesy, the story tackled the complexities that may arise from a long distance relationship and actually used them as challenges Jules and Mat overcome, strengthening their bond in my eyes.

But the one thing I appreciate the most about this book is how well it balances its joy and warmth, with the respect it has for the heavy issues it deals with. This book tells both a tale of queer struggles and heteronormativity, framed by machismo, and a tale of light and standing up for yourself. It was exactly what I expected.

In conclusion, great read. I truly think anyone could get something out of this novel. 3.5 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a little love-hate relationship with this book, with certain aspects winning my heart and certain leaving me disappointed. The things.I enjoyed about this book were the characters and the cultural representation that was rich and vivid. In certain scenes I could imagine myself surrounded by the smells, sounds and traditions that Garza Villa was bringing to life through his writing. The key thing that stood out to me in this book was the poignant exploration of Jules' coming out and the loneliness that he often has to grapple with. Garza Villa doesn't allow the story to delve in too much negativity, however doesn't shy away from revealing the harsh reality of hoping to be accepted and the struggle it takes to find your self identity. The book had lots of Spanish throughout it, which I think is fantastic for representation, however with no translations for many words, I struggled to understand certain phrases, which hindered the reading experience. I found the romance to be difficult to connect with and a little unbelievable considering it was formed online. I acknowledge that many people have found love online, but given the circumstances, how quickly it progressed and Jules' young age, I couldn't bring myself to accept the development. Overall, I felt it was a good book for various representation and an excellent effort for a debut novel!

When I saw the cover of this book and read the synopsis, I knew right away that I had to read it, and I haven't regretted it for a moment.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN is Jonny Garza Villa' debut novel but it was such a pleasant read that I didn't find any major flaws in this book, other than the fact that it kept making me hungry with the descriptions of dishes that all sounded delicious.

The characters are all more or less endearing and each one has its importance in this story, whether it's Julián's group of friends or his father, his sister or Mat: I let myself be carried away by their adventures, I was afraid for them at some moments, laughed with them at others and it was with difficulty that I had to part from them at the end of the book.

The author played around with the names and their meanings quite a bit and I found it absolutely brilliant.
For Julian I could easily guess because 'luna' ('moon' in Spanish) is very close to the French 'lune' but for Mặt Trời,('sun' in Vietnamese) I only understood it afterwards.
I only remembered a few words in Vietnamese and 'sun' was not one of them, but it's always fun to learn new things.
It was as if these two were meant to be and when I think back to all the sun and moon puns, it only makes the story more adorable.
I also wanted to thank the author for creating the character of Mat, because as an asian and queer person, I haven't read many books with lgbtqi characters of asian descent so far (I may have missed out on quite a few books so if you have any recommendations I'm all ears) and it feels so good to see such a representation, especially since Mat is just adorable.


I absolutely loved this book and hope to read more about these characters (the world needs a sequel, just saying...) and I highly recommend it.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Skyscape Publishing for sending me an arcbook in exchange for an honest review

Be right back, I’m in my feels.
After a rocky start to the book where I wasn’t quite sure whether this was going to be heavy or fluffy, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun turned out to be what I’d call a cleansing reading experience for anyone who’s on the LGBTQIAP+ spectrum. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is a story about coming out, falling in love for the first time and acting on it, and figuring out how to be yourself when there are outside forces telling you to do everything but that. Villa captures the good and the bad about coming out and perfectly balances the sad with the fluffy content.
My favorite part of this book was, of course, what will be known as the internet romance of a lifetime. It was just so enamouring to read about this digital dating between Jules and Mat because it reminded me not only of the friends I’ve made in the LGBTQIAP+ community online, but also of that feeling when you find someone online who seems to speak your language, the way you become dependent on them and how hard it can be when they cut you off out of the blue. Jules and Mat’s relationship – from the insta-love to the slowly falling in love for real part to finally meeting officially for the first time in person – is rocky and all-encompassing, complex and deceptively easy at times and it perfectly captures first love in my opinion. Things are messy and Villa doesn’t shy away from showing the advantages and struggles that come with dating someone who lives hours away from you. Thank God for the internet, am I right?
Besides the whirlwind romance that will take readers by storm, there is also the found family trope in this book and I loved Jules’ group of friends. They’re all so diverse and have their own struggles, whether it’s about love or their plans for the future and I enjoyed how they kept teasing Jules about his relationship but also (for the most part) being supportive about it.
Also, can we take a second to talk about how supportive, genuinely kind and strong-willed Mat is? He’s basically the poster boy of what you want your first boyfriend to be. I loved all the discussions he and Jules had about coming and being out to the world, how family can both protect you and make you feel like you’re alone, and most of all, how Mat fought for Jules time and again. There are so many moments where I wanted to clutch the book to my chest and just smile at the sheer adorableness of it all. Steadfast and honest and so dreamy, I can see readers falling in love with Jules and Mat all over the world.
One of the hardest aspects of this book to stomach is the relationship between Jules and his father. For the longest time, Jules has kept being gay to himself because his father doesn’t accept “that lifestyle” and it is incredibly sad yet impactful to read about how Jules adjusts his performance around his father to escape physical and verbal abuse. When his father eventually learns about Jules and kicks him out, even going so far as blackmailing him to keep him on the straight path, my heart was breaking for Jules and any kid who has ever experienced this sort of shunning. While Jules’ and Mat’s families are largely supportive and believe that love is love, Jules’ father’s reaction was jarringly realistic and definitely not for the faint of heart. I think what I love most about this book is that Jules takes his time to come to terms with what his father’s ignorance means for their relationship in the future and that he realizes that blood does not always mean family. It’s one of the hardest decisions to make to put yourself first even at the cost of a love you thought – and hoped – to be unconditional, and Villa portrays this with such a careful hand that it stays with you even after you close the book.
An homage to finding your tribe on the interwebs, Villa’s authentically tender debut Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun brings a cleansing gay happily-ever-after to any reader who’s ever found their soulmate online – only to find out they live half a world away

MY RATING 4/5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This book starts out with an author’s note that goes on to explaining the different things the book was going to talk about. Even though this book is supposed to be uplifting and has a lot of joy, we also get a warning about how it is still going to be exploring many themes that can be triggering such as physical abuse by a parent, homophobia, and how all these things are going to affect the main character Julián’s mental health.

Overall, this book was pretty realistic and sadly shows the very real struggles some people go through when they decide to come out to their family members. Even though many people today don’t think coming out is that big of a deal, we here get to see why so many people are hesitant to share that part of themselves, since they know that not everybody in their lives are going to be accepting of who they are.

It was also really hard to read about the struggles Julián went through when he had to had to hide his identity from his father, since he was, rightly, affraid of what would happen if he decided to share that part of himself. However, even though this was hard to read about, it is also super important to show these very real struggles some teens are going through, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.

I loved all the friendships in this book and how all of his friends essentially became his new found family who all accepted him for who he was. I also loved Xo, Julián’s sister, who was always there for him, and supported him in all the ways she knew how.

The relationship between Julián and Mat was also super cute and adorable, and I absolutely loved seeing their relationship evolve from the beginning when they were strangers on the internet to becoming so much more. However, I had some small problems with how Julián ghosted Mat on two different occasions, and how it was a bit glossed over with Julián just promising he wouldn’t do it again. I felt like they never really dealt with how this was affecting Mat.

Another thing that was a bit weird to me was the time jumps. The book went from each chapter being hours/days apart to the next chapter being weeks/months later. However, I also see that since this book almost stretches across a whole year, it would be hard to write it any differently.

In the end I can only say that I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a cute, but also hard-hitting story.

It's heartwarming and the main characters are super lovable.

I love how quiet the story started and then the progression became more and more interesting.

The group vibe is also something I definitely enjoyed because it added an appeal to the whole coming-of-age plot.

Overall, enjoyable read and recommended.

This book made me so hungry, honestly! The recipes and descriptions are absolutely amazing. Add to that an engaging main character and a lot of representation, and this book is for you!

Five stars, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun follows Julián, a gay teen living in Corpus Christi, planning to leave for college in California once he’s finished high school. While drunk, he comes out on his public twitter, and with this all of his plans for his final nine months in Texas are changed in an instant.

Julián as a character was well developed and over the course of the book I really felt I got to know him. In fact, one of the things I loved most about this book was the characters, and how Jules’ relationships with all of them were portrayed – especially those with Mat, his boyfriend, and Xochi, his sister.

Near the beginning of the book, a relationship develops between Julián and Mat, a boy he meets on twitter. Overall, I found their relationship to be really cute and comforting (and also very well paced) to read – though they were long distance, they did really care about each other and then come to love each other. Although the home lives of Julián and Mat were relatively different, Mat did try his best to support Julián, and understand as well as he could what Julián was going through.

It’s important to note that homophobia, internalised and otherwise, is a theme often present in this book. Along with this, Julián’s father is abusive towards him, and this is again a prominent theme in the narrative. While the story does not, in my opinion, get incredibly dark, it did feel very personal and did not shy away from dealing with the abuse Julián faced and how he began to tell people and eventually began to heal.

Despite the fact that some of the themes in the novel were heavy, Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun was overall a heartwarming read, with just the right amount of moments that had me laughing or crying happy tears, to balance out those moments of pain and sadness. The overall message was one of hope, of light persevering in darker times, and this was something I, as a reader, appreciated.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s certainly one that will stay with me and I will doubtlessly come to revisit it in the future. It felt like looking through a window into someone else’s life, rich and honest, and I’m so grateful to have been able to read it pre-release.

Trigger warnings: homophobic slurs, homophobia, internalised homophobia, n word, anti black racism, internalised homophobia, emotional and physical abuse by a parent, gaslighting, hate crime.