i was moved!

sean hewitt just does a brilliant job of dealing with those two fleeting, coveted things: time, as he on one hand suspends thornmere in eternity with tendrils of lyrical prose and on the other emphasizes its melancholic passage, and desire, as he deconstructs the particular imagination and longing and delusion that is required by the act of loving a boy. and really much of the book’s draw is in hewitt’s writing style, its propulsive vividity and insistent reflectiveness, since the narrative itself is simple and straightforward. the novel’s ultimate message about a love like this—not quite requited yet intensely formative—is a familiar one, but it does nicely painting the figure of a yearner so much so that i don’t mind the cliché. but i think what made this so much more than the typical coming-of-age romance (or lack thereof) was its tender portrayal of village and family, of james’s juggling of familial love with the electricity of his desire, of being anchored to a place and people despite wanting more than anything for passion to freewheel you away. which is what makes james’s ultimate return to thornmere so much more poignant—that he has been carried away, but not in the way he hoped. sad yearners rejoice in being seen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC of this beautiful little gem. Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt was among my most anticipated books of 2025. What's not to be excited about: a queer coming of age tale, set in rural Ireland, written by a poet? Yes, please. And I'm so thrilled (and relieved) to say it didn't disappoint! This is a beautiful little story about James, a queer teenager who, while clear about his sexuality, struggles with the small-town reaction and his family's growing isolation as a result of his coming out.

Early in the story, James is roped into a job helping deliver milk. James is on the job when, one fateful morning, he catches sight of Luke, an older boy who has been dumped on his aunt and uncle's farm. James is immediately attracted to handsome, broody, scruffy and disheveled Luke. Luke, for his part, exudes trouble and recklessness, but the reality is, he's a lonely boy who craves affirmation and love from his father.

This is a brief novel - just over 200 pages - and I fear if I say too much more, I won't leave enough for readers to discover. I want everyone to read this book. It's a rare treat.

A quiet, tender coming-of-age story about first love, longing, and figuring out who you are. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, you can tell Hewitt is a poet, and the atmosphere is dreamy and melancholy.

Not a lot happens plot-wise, it’s more about mood, emotion & vibes. Beautiful, bittersweet, and quietly devastating. I really enjoyed it!

This book was beautiful. A true testament to the absolute overwhelming experience of growing up- the themes of shame regarding coming into one’s sexuality were so poignant. “I think part of me was afraid that it would betray me in front of Luke, that it had been watching me as I had been watching it.” Hewitt masterfully encapsulates the deep pit of shame and fear of the new landscape of adolescence. The representation of a young, queer man in a small town and his inner turmoil between friends, family, and the one he loves is captured in magnetic prose. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this!!

It's the early 2000s, and life is trudging on in a small village in the north of England. Between the isolation of the town and James's family's difficulties and his own sexuality—which is by and large tolerated, but not really accepted—James is feeling pretty isolated himself. He dreams of connection, of meeting another boy like him. And then a new boy, one who doesn't know James or how he doesn't quite fit into town, arrives, and things start to change.

"Our summer should have seemed open-ended. Almost every day was hot, with endless blue skies and the deep green of woods and meadows, but I knew that, before the autumn came around again, Luke would be gone." (loc. 2201*)

File this one under slow-moving, character-driven, beautiful language. James spends so much of his life daydreaming—about boys, mostly, or about men; I've never particularly wanted to be in a teenaged boy's head, but this does rather take us there. But there's quite a bit else going on in his life, including a younger brother whose health is uncertain and a more general desire for connection. As much as James is a ball of unfortunate teenage hormones, a lot of what he dreams of is much less about sex than it is about wanting someone to be close with, someone to touch, in a way that he can't fully articulate. Everything is constantly on the cusp, about to change but not always in ways that James can predict.

I was a bit nervous about the direction the book was taking, but the ending sold this for me—3.5 stars, I think, rounded up. No spoilers, but the plot very much builds toward that end of summer, and there are a number of ways the plot could go. The level of restraint bumped this up for me. One to read when you're in the mood for something introspective and dreamy.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

When a poet writes a novel, the language used is often mesmerizing. That’s definitely the case here; thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance copy of this!

“I had thought it would be painful to be reminded, but what I felt instead was a sort of collapse in time, or a possibility: a curious but strong sense that my old life might still exist there, that if I went back I might find those people, that summer, all going on there still, unharmed and unchanged.“

In 2002, James is 16. He’s gay, which makes him an object of curiosity in his small English town. His parents don’t quite know how to treat him, but it saddens them that James is a loner. What they don’t understand is just how much he wants to belong and how much he wants to find someone just like him.

And then Luke arrives, the nephew of James’ parents’ friends. Luke has come to stay at his aunt and uncle’s farm just outside James’ village because he has no one else to care for him—his mother has moved to Paris to be with another man, and his father is in jail. Luke has a reputation for being a bit of trouble, a bit out of control, and James is immediately smitten.

The story is told 20 years later. James is an adult and is looking at property that is for sale—the farm where Luke lived that year. James looks back on this not-quite-relationship that had such an impact on his life. It’s amazing how much our interactions with a person—particularly for a short time—can change us.

This was a beautifully told coming-of-age novel. James isn’t entirely sympathetic but his struggles, his longing felt very familiar to me. I’m amazed that this is a debut novel and can’t wait to see what comes next for Seán Hewitt.

The book will publish 4/15/2025.

A poignant tale of coming of age and unrequited love. James is reflecting on the summer he was 16 and met Luke-and his world changed. James has only just realized he is gay, something not to be discussed in his small farming community. Luke has been sent to stay with relatives for the summer and he captures James' imagination and heart. There's a lot of longing (which will be familiar to everyone, regardless of orientation). I found myself caring about both of these teens (as well as about Eddie, James' brother). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's one that will make you sigh.

I liked this novel but I didn’t love it. The sexual tension between James and Luke was very palpable and heartbreaking. I think the writing style wasn’t my cup of tea. The prose was too long-winded. I didn’t feel strong emotions and the character development felt lacking and contrived.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this incredible book early!

Atmospheric, heart-wrenching, and poignant, this book will surely be one that I push on other people constantly. The lyrical writing immediately immersed me in the story and only enhanced the feeling that you were experiencing the exact same things as the characters. A story of seeking belonging and falling in love for the first time, I couldn't help but be utterly moved by James and Luke. Experiencing first love is a beautiful thing, but often there are forces at work that can either drive a wedge between two people, or bring them closer together. For this book, the boys' histories--both familial and personal--and the remote village setting, with its community and culture, influence their decision-making and their feelings. I loved this book for its portrait of complex characters and their emotions, the excitement and fear of first love, and the desire to find unconditional love.

For fans of Douglas Stuart and Ocean Vuong, this book cannot be missed.

Open, Heaven explores the poignant story of unrequited first love through James, a man reflecting on his past and his obsessive feelings for Luke, a rebellious boy from his youth. The novel delves into the complexities of desire capturing the bittersweet experience of one-sided affection and the idealization of unattainable love. It is beautifully written and deeply emotional.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Seán Hewitt for allowing me to read this lovely story before its publication date in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 rounded up.

A stunning queer coming-of-age novel, that I genuinely had to be put down several times as it felt too realistic and personal. James, a sixteen-year-old, narrates a journey of yearning and the intense love you can feel for a single person, who frankly, might not even want you. There were so many moments in this book where James was anticipating touch and narrating the feelings that overwhelmed him, and it felt so real, and raw, and personal. The entire time I was reading it felt like I was watching a high-school version of myself, and I just wanted to hug him. Every queer man will find so much to resonate with within this novel.

If you, like me, are a fan of Lie With Me, Swimming in the Dark, or Call Me By Your Name, you will absolutely fall in love with the prose that jumps off the page and fills your entire being with melancholy and nostalgia. I cannot recommend this novel enough. In fact, I am already making my friends pre-order it as it comes this month!

A remarkable debut novel from the author of the stunning memoir ‘All Down Darkness Wide’.
It follows James as he explores his sexuality with other boy—Luke— for a summer. I can’t believe I was able to read this in advance, it was such an honor. James and Luke are SO three-dimensional and fleshed out it’s honestly scary. James’ reflection on his sexuality and desires were so honest and brutal that it made me flinch; Hewitt doesn’t care if he makes you uncomfortable with his descriptions, because it’s James’ real feelings. The prose was majestic and oozes with expertise, it flows like butter.
A desolate and eloquent novel about longing and desires.
It felt close to the classic ‘Call Me By Your Name’ by André Aciman because of its intense longing and want.

4.5 rounded up. A stunning new favorite for me! Gorgeously written and deeply observant, Hewitt perfectly captures the ache and yearning of first love. The prose shines off the page, the setting is vivid, and each sentence is evocative. Hewitt’s background in poetry glimmers behind each line.

With nuanced explorations of isolation, queerness, love, and friendship, the novel folds us into a quiet coming of age story that is as bittersweet as it is beautiful.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

"..𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮."

Still coming off the high and glory of this one. Gay. Sapphic. Adolescent. Poetic. Shameful. Full of love. The impossible kind. The one we only find in the movies. But the one necessary to aid us through our reality. At the liminal lines of fantasy and pleasure, all we want is to be wanted until we become needed.

Oh god the yearning and the longing. Some of this book hurt so bad I wanted to vomit.

This is the story of two teenage boys in the early 2000s on the country side who are neighbors and family friends. The one boy has a troubled life and is staying at his extended family’s house for a year while his father is in prison, the other is our narrator who is gay and recently out. We watch over the one year they live near each other all about their story. This book truly shows the difference between a romance and a LOVE story. This is a love story because it has no definitive ending, no closure, no satisfaction. It is purely a story about what love can look like for different people, coming of age, and dealing with feeling like an outcast because of your sexuality, and reckoning with your place in the world. This book was heart shattering. The writing style is gorgeous and read like poetry. Get ready to feel shattered.

Recommended to anyone who never got over their first love✌🏼

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

Debut novel by award winning poet Sean Hewitt. 2002 in a small rural village, two 16-year-old boys meet. One a somewhat troubled young straight man, that seems older than his years…and yet not, shipped to his aunt and uncle in the country when his parents can’t care for him. The other a quiet reserved young gay man, that both seems much younger…and yet not, finding himself alone most of the time and his parents dependent on him to help care for a sick little brother. Both are lonely, and they find in each other what they need. This is one of those books that you read just as much for the great writing as the storyline. It is gentle and thoughtful.

With striking and heartbreaking prose, Hewitt dives into the isolation of an out queer teenager. He describes the beauty of the land around this tortured mind, and you just want to hug the kid and, using some good old early aughts terminology, it gets better. I want to talk about this book with people ASAP, especially with queer folks. Highly recommend this one. Stunning.

This is a beautifully written story about teenage first love and obsession. The main character, James, age 16, has come out to his family and meets Luke who’s staying with his aunt and uncle nearby. James falls in love with Luke and desperately wants him, but doesn’t know if the feeling is mutual.

I thought the teenage angst felt real and right on point. What didn’t work for me was the characterization of James 20 years later. This is a man who should have had serious psychotherapy but seemingly has major unresolved adolescent issues. That part of the story just didn’t seem believable.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There’s something about a queer coming of age story that I’ll always be a sucker for, so I knew I was going to enjoy @seanehewitt’s #OpenHeaven the moment I read the book’s description. While just as reflective and introspective as many other types of these reads, there’s a long-lingering melancholy all too familiar especially to queer people about those missed opportunities of our youth.

James is a shy and protected gay 16 year old living in rural northern London. While the community doesn’t quite seem to understand his sexuality, it’s fine if they just don’t speak about it. When James meets Luke, an older boy visiting his extended family due to issues at home, James is thrilled to find someone whom he may finally be able to connect with. But when things don’t go exactly as planned, James finds himself at a loss for understanding something he was so sure was real.

While the book focuses predominately on a younger James, it opens with him returning to his hometown later in life to check out a parcel of land Luke lived on. Framed this way, this coming of age novel takes on a new light, inviting the reader to step back to that time with James and reflect, with all these years experience, on what exactly that year meant to him. He is a likable character, frustrating in his youth, but equally understandable. For anyone who ever had a crush on someone and didn’t know if it was reciprocated, the read is sure to resonant. Luke’s presence—or lack thereof—throughout the book is easily reminiscent of the first love that so many gay people don’t get to act on, or even recognize, adding a welcome layer of mourning or grief or release, depending on how you see it.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. The concept of a boy finding his way through his teenage years in a small town while coming out to his family seemed heartwarming and is a theme I typically enjoy. While I did find the main characters internal dialogue intriguing and enjoyed the overall storyline of him figuring out what attraction meant to him I did find the story lacking in excitement or true intrigue. There were many topics just circled around without a clear reason why it was brought up.

The underlying guilt and loneliness was well characterized but I would say I found my mind drifting a lot during this book and it was tough to find the motivation to continue with it.