I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have not had the time to read very many YA novels lately, so I was very excited about the opportunity to read Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist. I am not familiar with Sundquist’s work on YouTube, but YA is one of my favorite genres, and the description piqued my interest.

Will Porter is a visually impaired teenager who is fulfilling his desire to attend a regular high school instead of the school for the blind that he has attended up until now. After some awkward encounters, Will makes some new friends, including a girl named Cecily who is in several of his classes.

Just as Will is adjusting to his new life, he learns about an experimental surgery that could give him sight. As he weighs the pros and cons of receiving eyesight, he begins to question his relationship with Cecily and whether they are just friends- or if there is perhaps something more.

Love and First Sight is a cute story, and a quick read. Will is a very funny protagonist, and he deals with people’s preconceptions about blindness by using sarcasm to educate people when they say something ignorant. It’s clear that Sundquist spent a great deal of time researching the subject of visual impairment.

I would absolutely recommend Love and First Sight. This book is vaguely reminiscent of a John Green novel because it’s heartwarming and quirky. I think this will definitely appeal to the target genre. The ethical aspect of the surgery is very thought provoking, and I thought that Sundquist handled the matter gracefully. This is Sundquist’s debut novel, but I am certainly looking forward to reading more fiction from him.