This was so cute and fun and thrilling! I didn't really investigate what I requesting, just saw that JVN wrote it and was sold so I thought I was opening a memoir. This was even better! It pulled me right out of my longest reading slump yet and I couldn't put it down.

I loved how this book had a great blend of humour and queerness. I loved following Sullys journey throughout,

The cover and author drew me in right away! It was a unique and creative book set up to have a ghost serving as our guide thru LGBT history. As an adult reader, I felt too old to follow and enjoy the trendy dialogue, but I imagine young teens will gobble it up. Roar!

I was really excited to read *Let Them Stare* because I love Jonathan Van Ness and had high hopes with Julia Murphy involved too, but honestly, this just wasn’t it. I expected something empowering, heartfelt, and impactful, but it felt more surface-level than anything. The message didn’t fully come through, and the whole thing just felt kind of rushed and disconnected. I wanted to love it, but I ended up pretty disappointed—it just didn’t deliver what I thought it would.

Let Them Stare is a fun read. It has a great mystery in it as Sully tries to solve the origin of the purse and Rufus’ story. The additional love interest of Bread, 😂I mean Brad, is a great touch.

Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy give a human face to what many went through back then. My grandmother was one who was put away and received numerous shock treatments and other “treatments” to “cure” her. I have another friend who got shock treatments everyday for a year because her father didn’t approve of who she loved. I know someone else who received shock treatments so much she no longer knows her kids. All of these treatments in the name of “curing” them. This still goes on today, don’t be fooled that history has changed. I know of one hospital, in a chain of hospitals, that uses it actively. The authors putting history on the page is important because we need to know and that knowledge gives us power.

I’m not a huge fan of the ghost part of the story. I think Rufus’ story is important, but the ghost didn’t work for me. A gimmick wasn’t needed to tell an important story or a love story.

Let me give you a heads up that there is a lot of bigotry in this book - just as there is in real life. Language is a problem for cis-het people, even those who are allies. Sully thinks at one point that they don’t want to lead the way for others and that they just want to live. I so get that. I’m tired and I cannot imagine Sully’s life because I pass for cis-het. I related to Sully on so many levels.

The secondary cast seemed surface to me. I didn’t make any connections to them. They were really there just so that Sully could speak. I do love Eleanor though, if only we all had an Eleanor.

There is also a weird instance in the story where it states that Sully wakes up at 3:00 a.m. (Chap. 13) and answers texts to Emma and Brad texts them and asks if they still need a ride. Sully then says, “pick me up in an hour?” So they are going to the records hall at 4:00 a.m.? Then it goes on to say that when they get there that Eleanor is already at work for the day. City Hall does not open at 4:00 a.m. Just saying.

The enemies-to-lovers trope works here. I was hoping once I saw Brad and Sully together that Sully’s trip would get canceled 😂(yes, I once again did not read the blurb). I love their interactions. Brad is beyond cute and the perfect foil to Sully.

Let Them Stare is a really good realistic fiction book. I applaud the authors for tackling tough history in a palatable way. I just wanna say: Sully and Brad forever. ♥️

Let Them Stare, is a fun queer delight!!
Julie and JVN are an incredible duo—their chemistry and humor shine through every page. I was instantly captivated by Sully, the nonbinary protagonist, whose voice is both refreshing and relatable. And can we talk about Bread? Absolutely hilarious!
This book is perfect for a quick, delightful summer read, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to a wide range of readers. Queer, clever, and completely charming.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This book was so adorable! Sully is a whole vibe, and I was 100% rooting for them. Brad? Sweet, hilarious, and the kind of sidekick we all need. And Sully’s mom?? Pure mom goals. I wanted to give her the biggest hug. I still have beef with their uncle though—apology or not.

But let’s talk about Rufus. I sobbed when the truth came out. And the letters along the way? Yeah, those broke me a little. This story balances humor, heart, and healing so beautifully. If you’re into stories about identity, finding your people, and the choices that shape us, this one’s for you.

What You Can Expect:
🏳️‍🌈 Queer in a small town
👻 Ghostly drag queen
👜 Haunted vintage bag
💔 Messy family feels
🤝 Friendship drama
🏡 Finding home + self


📅 Pub Date: May 20, 2025
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Do you know JVN? And Julie Murphy? If so, then you can probably picture a book that has the energy of JVN (and some of his vernacular) with Julie Murphy's general writing style. If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, you probably will!

This book is about Sully, who is non-binary; they aren't understood by most anyone in their town. Their best friends Emma and Guy (who is also their cousin) aren't enough to keep Sully staying in the town of Hearst, PA after high school graduation. Sully lands a job with an influencer in New York until they get an email literally the morning of the flight rescinding the offer. Now Sully is stuck in Hearst after a big blow up with pretty much everyone on the night of their graduation party; they also no longer have their car after selling it to Brad, the only other queer kid in Hearst. At least they got their first kiss with Brad in the car first. Then there's the haunted Butler bag... and Rufus... and all of the hijinks with Brad to follow. Sully discovers a lot about the town trying to track down how Rufus wound up as a ghost in a pristine vintage bag - let the adventures begin.

This is categorized as a YA/teen book; if you have concerns about the content, I honestly think that the most adult part is the true historical discussions of treatments of queer individuals from the early to mid-1900s. It's pretty horrific but is part of history and, let's be honest, the world can be pretty brutal in its treatment of those they think are "other". It isn't super graphic, it just could raise some opportunities for discussion. I think the authors did a great job of talking about where the US was and where we are today with respect to how queer and LGBTQIA+ persons are treated.

Overall, I'd recommend and would rate about 3.75 stars. I think the hardest part of the book for me was Sully trying to be low-key with talking to Rufus but really not being low-key at all... like haven't you learned after the first few times that people may be starting to question your sanity?? Anyway, thanks to NetGalley and Storytide for the advanced reader's copy!

I loved this book! It had so much going on in the best way possible. I went in knowing there’d be queer representation, paranormal vibes, haunted handbags, and a bit of romance. However, what I wasn’t expecting, and was so happy to see, was a significant amount of depth as the story explored queer history within our main character, Sully’s, hometown.

This book acknowledges how far we’ve come as a society by reflecting on the past. Yet, it also gently reminds us that we still have work to do when it comes to honoring the queer community so they may exist as they are openly and without prejudice. Considering the current social climate, especially in the United States, this story is timely. I applaud its candor and honesty! Many will benefit from this book, and I hope readers—especially young queer readers—find comfort and hope in its pages.

Every young adult should read this book, especially kids in small towns who never feel like they’ve fit in because they’re different. The non-binary protagonist gives a perspective many are unfamiliar with and can learn a lot from. Even though I’m anti social media for teens, this book reminded me that for some kids the only place they see kids like them is online. Part coming of age, part paranormal mystery, this was a fun one with an important lesson.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc!

If you're looking for a cheesy read with queer history, a haunted handbag, poking some fun at influencer culture, and a little romance, this is it for you. It's giving Schitt's Creek vibes and alllllllllll the current slang. I feel like this book could be difficult to read in the near future when some of these phrases disappear from the vernacular, bestie. Honestly, I love Julie Murphy and Jonathan Van Ness and wanted to love this book, but I couldn't get over the aggressive cheesiness. For me, this book was mid.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access.

What a wild ride! I went into this blind, so I definitely had some moments of "what the heck am I reading?" But this was a really fun and empowering YA read with LGBTQ representation, lots of small town drama, and even an element of paranormal activity I really enjoyed this one!

YA romcom/ non-binary MC/ small town ghost story with fab drag culture history. Loved getting caught up in MC Sully’s drama and heart of gold but self obsessed ways. Would love to see this come to life on screen. Thanks to NetGalley and Storytide for an advanced reader copy for an honest review.

A queer coming-of-age story with a paranormal twist! Rufus the ghost provided comedy and perspective for the main character, Sully. I think they struck the perfect balance of seriousness and drama. My favorite part was the evolution of Sully's relationship with Bread/Brad and a close second favorite part was learning about queer history.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

3.5 Stars! Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Sully is our main character, who is a non-binary individual living in a small Pennsylvania town. They're getting ready to embark on an exciting internship in New York. that is, until it's cancelled and they're forced to stay in their hometown for the summer. Sully's luck appears to change when they find a priceless vintage bag. To Sully's surprise, this bag sets them out on a journey to discover more about their hometown and its history.

In a time when books about LQBTQ+ individuals are being banned and removed from libraries, books like these are more important than ever. The entire cast of characters is extremely diverse, and I enjoyed the book. This was a refreshing take on LGBTQ+ history, woven in with a modern day story.

My one critique is that I felt like a lot of Sully's dialogue was like how older people think younger people speak and it took me out of the story. Looking past that though, it's a very sweet book about finding one's place in their town's story and taking steps to make our worlds a more inclusive place for all.

Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness
Cover: 1000/10 — amaze

Story: I’m not sure I’ve ever read a queer story I didn’t love — maybe because every one feels like a lifeline to someone. This one is no different. The fact that people work so hard to ban stories like this only proves how powerful and necessary they are.

Rufus might’ve been a little silly, but the heart of this story? Unmissable. Be your full, unapologetic self — and let them stare.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!!

An oddly interesting tale of a young gay man who is not ashamed of his identity. This is not the case with his family. He is off to NYC to take an internship that he hopes will make him stand out to people who really understand him. Life has other ideas as he is about leave town when he gets a call that ends his internship. Now he has to get himself back together and move forward living in his home town. Unable to get his old job back,he finds something that will change his life. His adventure is exciting, funny and gives the reader a history lesson which I feel is quite informative.

I knew as soon as I saw the cover that I would end up loving this book. It is the perfect hallmark movie book if hallmark told really awesome stories about LGBTQ+ history and love stories. Sully is a wonderfully flawed person and they come to learn a lesson that they didn’t even know they needed. If you’re looking for just a happy, fun read with a side of YA romance then this is the book for you.
I’m honestly not sure you can do anything except smile and laugh a bit while reading this book.
Easily 4.5/5 stars for me!
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for this arc.

I discovered quickly that I'm not the best reader for this book. It's YA but it read even younger. I was also annoyed by MC Sully. Despite being (rightfully) upset and angry at being misgendered and people using wrong pronouns for them, it took far too long for Sully to own up to the silly and hurtful nickname they used for Brad. And Sully knowing seemingly nothing about the history of LGBTQIA+ struggles? I know that educating Sully is a way to educate readers but seriously? The style in which it's written is going to date it quickly.

The cover is gorgeous and eye catching. I was on board to see someone stick up for their truth in the face of being put down. Sully's parental support is lovely. I know the story is supposed to show Sully's character growth but I just couldn't put up with them to the finish. I know the book will find its audience and hope that it will help people live authentically and accept others who are different from them.

"Let Them Stare" was a fun and unique story about Sully who feels like they don't fit in, in their hometown of Hearst. That is until, until they meet someone unexpectedly and it turns their whole prospective around. With supernatural aspects throughout story, at first I thought that that would throw the whole book off for me. But it actually made it more fun and exciting. As an adult, not a teenager reading this book, some of the sayings and words went a little over my head (I'm far from Gen Z!). But overall, this was a very special book about fitting in where you least expect it.