Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an excerpt in exchange for an honest review.

Boy, where do I even start with this?

When I first read the first novel in the series; Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, specifically March 2016, I fell in love. Since then, the book has become a comfort read and according to Goodreads, I have read said book 6 times which is the most I’ve read a book aside from a childhood book of mine. There is and was something about Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s writing that captivated me so much that made me begin a journey to search and read his other novels (which I would 100% recommend just, by the way). When this was announced, I was excited but nervous to see what would happen. When I got the notification I got approved for an arc, I began reading it roughly 3-4 hours afterwards—to say I was excited about this arc is an understatement.

The book is about Aristotle and Dante living their last year at high school, while being closeted, while also still trying to know who they are and love themselves and while hearing about the AIDS pandemic and living through it. There is one thing that Benjamin Alire Sáenz knows how to write in a way that is heartbreaking and it’s when the book mentions AIDS. It never beats around the bullet, both characters mention the pandemic multiple times and their feelings. They feel scared and afraid. I know Benjamin Alire Sáenz rewrote this book when COVID-19 hit and, once you read this book, you get why and boy does it hit you like a brick.

The book’s topics deals with the AIDS pandemic but also deals with internalized homophobia. In actuality, I would say this is one of the two biggest topics in the book itself. In the first book, you see a glimpse of Dante’s internalized homophobia, wishing his future sibling was a boy so he could be straight unlike him. Here, you see both Dante and Aristotle dealing with this, it's an incredibly personal experience with both seeing the characters like this and to the audience. (If the audience has had internalized homophobia that is) I saw someone on Goodreads comment about how this book is heartbreaking but so full of love. They’re right but most of the heartbreaking moments come from the scenes and thoughts mentioning said internalized homophobia.

And yes, this book is so full of love. Benjamin Alire Sáenz succeeds so well in making you love all the characters in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and succeeds just as well in Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. You will love Ari and Dante even more so, you will love their parents so much more, will love Ari’s friends even more so. (spoiler tag) There is even a scene where Aristotle meets his brother and in the end, he finds himself loving himself more so. (spoiler tag) I told a friend of mine I got approved for an arc and she said to tell me how I thought of the book. I said in non-spoilers but the way this books hugs you, smothers you, comforts you in love, there is no better way to say it than this quote from myself:

“(...) that’s the more heartbreaking part but god it's so so so full of love and love and love and love. and love”

I think when it comes to Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s books, I can have 1000 words to say and be able to say another 1000. He truly makes me and I’m sure many other readers feel the same; feel emotions for a book/for books I never have felt for a book before. If you loved Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, please do not feel nervous or anxious or afraid to pick up this book. I encourage you to pick this up in the bookstore because you will fall in love with it like how you fell in love with the first book. I encourage you to read this book, think about this past year, think about our history, think about the 90’s, the 80’s. I encourage you to read this book and hope you find yourself smothered with the love that Benjamin Alire Sáenz has written into this book because you simply will not regret a single moment of it.

I was so excited to continue Aristotle and Dante's journey with them in this highly anticipated sequel. The characters are just as lovable as they were before and you just feel every single emotion you are meant to feel. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking and everything in between. Anyone who loved the first book will be jumping at the opportunity to read this one.