It has been a very long time since I’ve read an entire book in a single day, but with this one, I couldn’t bear to stop. It was beautiful.

To be honest, it is slim pickings out there in the YA world for good LGBTQ books. There are noble efforts, don’t get me wrong; but so often the characters are two-dimensional, flimsy things whose sexuality becomes their entire personality. They are a cringe fest to read, and they leave me feeling disheartened for the rising generations of LGBTQ teens who aren’t being allowed to see that while their sexuality and gender identity is so incredibly wonderful and a crucial part of them, finding romance is not their sole purpose in life.

This book was indeed about romance. But it was also about the anxiety of transitioning to college, of trying to understand the different coping methods and growing processes of people you only want the best for, but grow frustrated with when they take more steps backward than they do forward. It was about art and expression and learning what choice and freedom are.

In recent history (and isn’t it so inspiring, to physically be a part of history?) the LGBTQ community has made incredible strides in obtaining power and equality and acceptance. But there is still so much cruelty, and erasure, and it is nothing short of bravery to go out in a world that is still so dangerous. This book acknowledges that, and yet gives an unbreakable backbone of utter joy in finding yourself and the people and things that make you happy.

This book took my breath away, and broke my heart, and also gave me so many huge reasons to smile. Please read it.

It’s a dark world out there. But light always finds a way to pour in.

(P.S. Also give I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson a read and a hearty round of applause. Yet another wonderful LGBTQ book where a sexual identity is not a singular identity, like, you know. Real people.)

xx,
Meg