I can wholeheartedly say and without any shred of a doubt that The Sunflower Boys is one of the best books I read this year.

Incredibly touching and deeply moving. I couldn't keep the tears from falling. Had I had a physical copy, it would have been drenched in tears.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read "The Sunflower Boys." I truly appreciate the chance, though I’m sorry to say I wasn’t able to finish the novel and therefore can’t offer a full review. It’s clear the story was written with a meaningful and admirable purpose at its heart. However, for me, that intention seemed to shape the structure and emotional tone in a way that felt somewhat constrained.

The Ukrainian names, settings, and cultural elements are presented with great pride and weight, but this sometimes left other narrative aspects—such as clarity, character development, and pacing—feeling secondary. The style struck me as pared-down and urgent, which created a sense of emotional distance despite the passion behind it.

I was also a little surprised to find the tone and themes more aligned with young adult fiction than I had anticipated. I couldn’t help but wonder whether the novel’s message—and its emotional world—might have deepened through a quieter exchange with an adult reader’s sense of tone and nuance. I don’t think the characters’ ages preclude this kind of approach, especially since the intended audience seems to extend beyond children.. That said, I’m confident the book will resonate with readers who are more attuned to its voice and focus.

'The Sunflower Boys' is a gripping and tender debut that brings together the intimacy of a sibling bond with the stark realities of war. Sam Wachman's novel centers on Artem and his younger brother Yuri, Ukrainian boys forced into a harrowing journey after the Russian invasion disrupts their lives. What unfolds is part survival story, part quiet meditation on identity, grief, or resilience.

Wachman writes with an eye for detail and an unmistakable empathy for his characters. Artem, caught between childhood and the precipice of adolescence, is a particularly moving narrator - his longing, confusion, and courage feel unflinchingly real. The author doesn't shy away from depicting the trauma of war, but he also allows space for beauty: moments of quiet connection, the gentle persistence of hope, and the ever-present image of sunflowers offering both memory and metaphor.

The novel's exploration of Artem's emerging feelings toward his best friend Viktor adds emotional complexity and delicacy to the story, especially in the context of a culture shaped by repression and fear. Wachman handles this aspect of the plot with sensitivity and depth, never letting it overshadow the brother's journey, but allowing it to resonate powerfully beneath the surface.

Heartbreaking yet ultimately affirming, 'The Sunflower Boys' is a timely and affecting novel that lingers. It speaks not only to the scars left by conflict, but to the enduring strength of love - familial, platonic, and romantic - in the most unlikely places.

Highly recommend for readers of contemporary YA and literary fiction who appreciate emotionally rich, character-driven stories that reflect the world we live in with honesty and grace.