What do you think?
Rate this book
Come Home to My Heart
Gloria Forman and Xia Harper go to the same high school in a small South Carolina town, but they couldn’t be more different. While Gloria is part of the popular, Christian crowd, Xia sleeps through class, antagonizes anyone who dares talk to her, and buries herself in books that help her pretend she’s somewhere else—anywhere that being lesbian wouldn’t be a waking nightmare.
When the two form an accidental friendship, they begin noticing each other in ways they promised themselves they’d avoid. After all, Xia’s isolation is self-imposed for a reason, and the last thing Gloria needs is more upheaval, especially after her parents kicked her out of the house for being gay. Ever since, she has spent her nights under the stage in the school auditorium and her days terrified of being discovered.
Xia just wants to keep her head down until the end of senior year. Gloria just wants to keep her living situation quiet until her parents come around. But as their feelings for each other intensify and the truths they’ve hidden work their way to the surface, what they truly want will change forever.
When the two form an accidental friendship, they begin noticing each other in ways they promised themselves they’d avoid. After all, Xia’s isolation is self-imposed for a reason, and the last thing Gloria needs is more upheaval, especially after her parents kicked her out of the house for being gay. Ever since, she has spent her nights under the stage in the school auditorium and her days terrified of being discovered.
Xia just wants to keep her head down until the end of senior year. Gloria just wants to keep her living situation quiet until her parents come around. But as their feelings for each other intensify and the truths they’ve hidden work their way to the surface, what they truly want will change forever.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2025
12 people are currently reading
3329 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
March 12, 2026
**'It's hard to figure out how to really tell a story whether it's about you or a subject matter -- because for one thing, stories are architectures that are navigated into something meaningful on paper..'
Average read!
It's kinda 'pray the gayness' out of you sort of storyline involving teenagers coming to terms with/about their sexuality but having to deal with religious homophobic parents.
**** btw, the title does not match the storyline..
Average read!
It's kinda 'pray the gayness' out of you sort of storyline involving teenagers coming to terms with/about their sexuality but having to deal with religious homophobic parents.
**** btw, the title does not match the storyline..
October 15, 2024
not to be insane, but this book fundamentally altered my brain chemistry.
xxx
“I wanted to find books that broke down the doors into my heart, gut, or mind, then take them apart piece by piece until I could see the clockwork that poured them. When the world felt flat and ugly, I wanted to drown in gorgeous language; when the world felt numb and anesthetic, I wanted to be lacerated by insight; when the world seemed determined to squeeze all emotion out of me, I wanted to be startled and frustrated and understood. I wanted to bury myself so deep in fiction that I could stay there forever.”
this is what this book makes me feel like. startled and frustrated and understood. to read a book description that talks about two girls in a small south carolina town while one deals with their religious family, i knew it was something i had to read. to invest myself into.
come home to my heart is like a warm hug in the sense that to be loved you have to be known. it knows me. understands those small intricacies about living in a town that is against you and what you know deep inside. that you’ll never change, despite the fear that’s instilled in you.
i know gloria. i know what it’s like to love a community that hates you. a community you’ve grown up it. a community that is all you know. i know what it’s like to be fearful of being queer.
i know xia and what it feels like to have your parents understand you and not understand you at the same time. to secretly wonder if their past comments, their imaginary fears, their real fears, is something they hold against you.
i know what it’s like to have mr. avery’s in your life. to try and find a community of people that are marginalized within the greater community. to secretly wonder if they’re a safe space for you, and to trust your gut when the time comes.
this book woke something up in me. a part that i thought i’d dealt with or pushed aside. xia and gloria are the perfect and imperfect, beautiful and ugly parts that the southern churches try to keep hidden. i hold both of them so dear to me.
“My eyes were burning hot now. Gloria looked stricken, but she was looking at me, the first time our eyes had met since November. I looked at her shoulders set back and the fall of her hair and the crucifix still sitting there between her collarbones. It felt insane that none of these people would ever know that she had been everything to me.”
xia and gloria are everything to me!!! their joy, found even in the smallest parts of the darkness that shrouded them, kept me hopeful towards the end. kept me flipping the pages. this book is addicting and intoxicating.
the care, the understanding, the very details riley redgate puts into these words is why it is so important that the southern states continue to get the support for marginalized communities. so frequently we are looked over and voted over, because our states are seen as futile. living in south carolina as a queer woman brings the very same challenges that xia and gloria face. it’s unfair. but to know that there is people here, living the same life i am, is hope. is faith in and of itself.
“As I looked into her eyes, I felt an irrepressible smile spread over my face as big and uncontrollable as what I felt. ‘I’m sure,’ I told her. ‘I’m awake.’”
to riley redgate: thank you and i love you!!! if you have no fans, i am dead!!!
to everyone else: pick up this book as soon as you can or else.
as riley redgate states in the author's comments, queer people make up a heavy percentage of the homeless population. this book's profits will go towards projects that help these very people, specifically in the areas talked about in this book, or homes that redgate has had. please, please, please support this book. it is all i ask!!!
xxx
“I wanted to find books that broke down the doors into my heart, gut, or mind, then take them apart piece by piece until I could see the clockwork that poured them. When the world felt flat and ugly, I wanted to drown in gorgeous language; when the world felt numb and anesthetic, I wanted to be lacerated by insight; when the world seemed determined to squeeze all emotion out of me, I wanted to be startled and frustrated and understood. I wanted to bury myself so deep in fiction that I could stay there forever.”
this is what this book makes me feel like. startled and frustrated and understood. to read a book description that talks about two girls in a small south carolina town while one deals with their religious family, i knew it was something i had to read. to invest myself into.
come home to my heart is like a warm hug in the sense that to be loved you have to be known. it knows me. understands those small intricacies about living in a town that is against you and what you know deep inside. that you’ll never change, despite the fear that’s instilled in you.
i know gloria. i know what it’s like to love a community that hates you. a community you’ve grown up it. a community that is all you know. i know what it’s like to be fearful of being queer.
i know xia and what it feels like to have your parents understand you and not understand you at the same time. to secretly wonder if their past comments, their imaginary fears, their real fears, is something they hold against you.
i know what it’s like to have mr. avery’s in your life. to try and find a community of people that are marginalized within the greater community. to secretly wonder if they’re a safe space for you, and to trust your gut when the time comes.
this book woke something up in me. a part that i thought i’d dealt with or pushed aside. xia and gloria are the perfect and imperfect, beautiful and ugly parts that the southern churches try to keep hidden. i hold both of them so dear to me.
“My eyes were burning hot now. Gloria looked stricken, but she was looking at me, the first time our eyes had met since November. I looked at her shoulders set back and the fall of her hair and the crucifix still sitting there between her collarbones. It felt insane that none of these people would ever know that she had been everything to me.”
xia and gloria are everything to me!!! their joy, found even in the smallest parts of the darkness that shrouded them, kept me hopeful towards the end. kept me flipping the pages. this book is addicting and intoxicating.
the care, the understanding, the very details riley redgate puts into these words is why it is so important that the southern states continue to get the support for marginalized communities. so frequently we are looked over and voted over, because our states are seen as futile. living in south carolina as a queer woman brings the very same challenges that xia and gloria face. it’s unfair. but to know that there is people here, living the same life i am, is hope. is faith in and of itself.
“As I looked into her eyes, I felt an irrepressible smile spread over my face as big and uncontrollable as what I felt. ‘I’m sure,’ I told her. ‘I’m awake.’”
to riley redgate: thank you and i love you!!! if you have no fans, i am dead!!!
to everyone else: pick up this book as soon as you can or else.
as riley redgate states in the author's comments, queer people make up a heavy percentage of the homeless population. this book's profits will go towards projects that help these very people, specifically in the areas talked about in this book, or homes that redgate has had. please, please, please support this book. it is all i ask!!!
October 30, 2024
Having a hard time putting together coherence because this is my favorite Riley Redgate so far and it broke me. Religious rupture, family collapse, closeted fear, youth homelessness, queer community, tender and sincere teen romance. Absolutely wonderful characters, handled with care. This is not a public read if you want to maintain your dignity. I cried a lot. It's good.
February 1, 2025
My girlfriend got the ARC of this and I finished it over the course of two days. This is the type of book I wish so badly I could give to myself ten years ago to help me survive highschool. I resonated so strongly with both characters and felt seen in ways I realized a younger me needed too. Definitely one I'm going to recommend going forward.
September 30, 2025
Come Home to My Heart by @rileyredgate - recommended to me by @jackiekhalilieh and wow was she right, this book was right up my alley. A story of friendship and love and self discovery and secrets and first loves and religious upbringing with a side of trauma… I wanted to just hug Gloria and her parents infuriated me. I felt so badly for her and was crying throughout the story. Xia was such a steady presence for Gloria, and brought out her true nature. The ending made me weep with happiness for Gloria to be loved, finally, as she deserved with a family and young woman who chose her. Found family in queer books never fails to make me cry happy tears. @natalienaudus and @grshalan did an incredible job with the narration on this one. A truly gorgeous story.
January 10, 2026
THIS BOOKS NEEDS TO BE READ BY MORE PEOPLE 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
“She was the single coordinate of my happiness”
“I wanted to find books that broke down the doors into my heart, gut, or mind, then take them apart piece bye piece until i could see the clockwork that powered them”
the writing is incredible, the characters are soooo well written and the story sometimes made my heart constrict and at other times soar ❤️🩹 so glad I found out about this book but so mad that queer people have to go through hard times for the sole reason of falling in love in an “unconventional” way. fck conventional, love is love 💖
“She was the single coordinate of my happiness”
“I wanted to find books that broke down the doors into my heart, gut, or mind, then take them apart piece bye piece until i could see the clockwork that powered them”
the writing is incredible, the characters are soooo well written and the story sometimes made my heart constrict and at other times soar ❤️🩹 so glad I found out about this book but so mad that queer people have to go through hard times for the sole reason of falling in love in an “unconventional” way. fck conventional, love is love 💖
Want to read
February 4, 2025looks like the "we should make book titles obscure song lyrics" girlies graduated from taylor to lorde
November 11, 2025
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽-𝓻𝓲𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓰𝓪𝓽𝓮
♡💜♡ 4.5 stars ♡🧡♡
🧡13+💜 (no spice)
⊹ ࣪ ˖triggers-homophobia, child abuse, child rejection, homelessness
࿐𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: romance
࿐𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓸𝓯: heartstopper
♡💜♡ 4.5 stars ♡🧡♡
🧡13+💜 (no spice)
⊹ ࣪ ˖triggers-homophobia, child abuse, child rejection, homelessness
࿐𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮: romance
࿐𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓸𝓯: heartstopper
June 19, 2025
holy shit this book.
i read the description right before i started it and i was like hmmm this seems like it’s gonna be intense but ppl like it and i enjoyed one of the authors books once. welp it was so intense and not something i’d normally read but god was it beautiful. like, the writing was some of the best writing i’ve read in a really long time. beautiful and starkly terrible. when i tell you i sobbed over this book like i’ve never sobbed over a book before (except for making it). i spent most of the book crying because it was so difficult and things were just awful and the characters kept living through it. but i’m glad i read this (also things resolve well and there’s lots of beautiful moments in between the awfulness) and if anyone wants to read a book that will destroy you… here it is
actually more thoughts:
the romance was literally so wonderful and even tho she wasn’t the main focus of the story, i really loved xia and her POV. and just the way that they both thought about things and interacted with each other was so breathtakingly real and interesting. also the descriptions, the details, god fucking damn. i also really like the message about queerness and christianity (and was glad that she didn’t have to give up religion in the end). also just the way she thought about her sexuality in the beginning was heartbreaking and just like… realistic? like you could tell the author really really thought this book and the characters through
anyways. yeah. this was so good
i read the description right before i started it and i was like hmmm this seems like it’s gonna be intense but ppl like it and i enjoyed one of the authors books once. welp it was so intense and not something i’d normally read but god was it beautiful. like, the writing was some of the best writing i’ve read in a really long time. beautiful and starkly terrible. when i tell you i sobbed over this book like i’ve never sobbed over a book before (except for making it). i spent most of the book crying because it was so difficult and things were just awful and the characters kept living through it. but i’m glad i read this (also things resolve well and there’s lots of beautiful moments in between the awfulness) and if anyone wants to read a book that will destroy you… here it is
actually more thoughts:
the romance was literally so wonderful and even tho she wasn’t the main focus of the story, i really loved xia and her POV. and just the way that they both thought about things and interacted with each other was so breathtakingly real and interesting. also the descriptions, the details, god fucking damn. i also really like the message about queerness and christianity (and was glad that she didn’t have to give up religion in the end). also just the way she thought about her sexuality in the beginning was heartbreaking and just like… realistic? like you could tell the author really really thought this book and the characters through
anyways. yeah. this was so good
June 3, 2025
Read this in one sitting. Tears may have been shed.
June 17, 2025
(rounded down from 4.25)
Another excellent YA story about young adults dealing with conservative religious communities and parents. In this case, I absolutely hate Gloria's parents for literally dumping their kid on the street and not giving a shit about her safety or life for months. That said, this is emotional and sweet as a story for religious kids coming to terms with being gay and living their lives.
Another excellent YA story about young adults dealing with conservative religious communities and parents. In this case, I absolutely hate Gloria's parents for literally dumping their kid on the street and not giving a shit about her safety or life for months. That said, this is emotional and sweet as a story for religious kids coming to terms with being gay and living their lives.
November 15, 2025
I was ENTRANCED while listening to this. At some points of this (audio)book, I would literally just stare at the Libby webpage on my computer, watching the that little tick move along the bottom edge of the screen.
!!!!!SPOILERS!!!!!
Loved this so much. Intense, devastating plot, especially Gloria's part of the story, that had beautiful character development, relationship development, and focus on the issues that some queer kids are forced to face, manage, and overcome. Gloria's acceptance of herself and coming to terms with her lesbianism in a way that mattered to her (through her faith) was well-paced and thoughtful. One of her lines that stood out to me was when she was reckoning with being back with her parents (after they had kicked her out the first time...yes, the first time) and how she was going to have to go through life asleep since she couldn't live her life as the person she was. The last line of the book, after she ended up in a stable housing situation with the goated Mr. Avery and was preparing to go to university, was Gloria proclaiming that she was awake 🥹 I do wish she got to blow up on her parents a little bit more.
Xia's development was my favorite. There's a part at the beginning, before she becomes friends and then girlfriends with Gloria, where Xia says that she wants to be buried so deep in fiction that she stays there forever, a coping mechanism she used to get through her school life, where she's ostracized and disliked, and her home life, where she feels her parents don't care about how she's feeling about moving to the small town the story takes place in. The feeling that overcame me during the scene of the winter dance where Xia was waiting for Gloria in that closet, tried to distract herself by reading on her phone, and found that she couldn't because she was too distracted and excited by real life 🥹🥹🥹 TOO GOOD!!!
At first, I did not want Xia and Gloria to like each other and instead wanted them to support each other through their respective struggles, be it with their parents and loneliness (Xia) or with their queerness and home life (Gloria). I'm not really a big fan of overt romance in books but... oh my god I loved their relationship. I loved it so much. Was literally on the edge of my seat. Their relationship was so romantic, given their situation and the struggles they faced.
!!!!!SPOILERS!!!!!
Loved this so much. Intense, devastating plot, especially Gloria's part of the story, that had beautiful character development, relationship development, and focus on the issues that some queer kids are forced to face, manage, and overcome. Gloria's acceptance of herself and coming to terms with her lesbianism in a way that mattered to her (through her faith) was well-paced and thoughtful. One of her lines that stood out to me was when she was reckoning with being back with her parents (after they had kicked her out the first time...yes, the first time) and how she was going to have to go through life asleep since she couldn't live her life as the person she was. The last line of the book, after she ended up in a stable housing situation with the goated Mr. Avery and was preparing to go to university, was Gloria proclaiming that she was awake 🥹 I do wish she got to blow up on her parents a little bit more.
Xia's development was my favorite. There's a part at the beginning, before she becomes friends and then girlfriends with Gloria, where Xia says that she wants to be buried so deep in fiction that she stays there forever, a coping mechanism she used to get through her school life, where she's ostracized and disliked, and her home life, where she feels her parents don't care about how she's feeling about moving to the small town the story takes place in. The feeling that overcame me during the scene of the winter dance where Xia was waiting for Gloria in that closet, tried to distract herself by reading on her phone, and found that she couldn't because she was too distracted and excited by real life 🥹🥹🥹 TOO GOOD!!!
At first, I did not want Xia and Gloria to like each other and instead wanted them to support each other through their respective struggles, be it with their parents and loneliness (Xia) or with their queerness and home life (Gloria). I'm not really a big fan of overt romance in books but... oh my god I loved their relationship. I loved it so much. Was literally on the edge of my seat. Their relationship was so romantic, given their situation and the struggles they faced.
June 8, 2025
Honestly and truly spectacular. I am not a crier but I felt myself welling up in parts. It’s raw and real and lived in and important and sensitive and careful around the frayed edges of these characters feelings and experiences. I just … loved it doesn’t feel like enough. This should be mandatory assigned reading. Talk about fiction as a vehicle for empathy! Woof! I am flattened - in a good way.
May 10, 2025
Riley Redgate's Come Home to My Heart is one of those rare novels that manages to capture both the crushing weight of teenage displacement and the ethereal lightness of first love. As someone who has followed Redgate's work since Seven Ways We Lie, I can confidently say this is her most mature and emotionally nuanced offering yet. Where her previous novels showcased her talent for ensemble storytelling, this dual-POV narrative allows her to dive deeper into the psyche of two young women navigating impossible circumstances.
The Heart of the Matter: Plot and Structure
The story unfolds through alternating perspectives between Gloria Forman and Xia Harper, two seniors at Fisherton High School in small-town South Carolina. Gloria, a seemingly perfect Christian girl on the Homecoming Court, harbors a secret that has already cost her everything—her family has kicked her out for being gay, leaving her to survive undetected in the school auditorium. Xia, the school's notorious outcast, has built walls so high that even she sometimes forgets what it feels like to be human.
When these two worlds collide in the dusty aisles of the Book Alley, Redgate masterfully sets in motion a love story that feels both inevitable and impossible. What sets this novel apart from other LGBTQ+ YA romance is its unflinching examination of:
- The intersection of religious trauma and queer identity
- The hidden epidemic of youth homelessness
- The way love can flourish even in the most inhospitable conditions
- The complex dynamics of family rejection and chosen family
Characters That Breathe and Bleed
Gloria Forman: The Girl Behind the Crucifix
Gloria's character arc is nothing short of masterful. Redgate could have easily written her as a one-dimensional victim, but instead, she creates a protagonist whose strength emerges from her vulnerability. Gloria's internal struggle with her faith and sexuality is portrayed with remarkable nuance—she doesn't simply reject Christianity but grapples with reconciling her beliefs with her identity.
The author's depiction of Gloria's homelessness is particularly powerful. Rather than sensationalizing her situation, Redgate shows the quiet desperation of trying to maintain normalcy while sleeping under a school stage. The scene where Gloria discovers the secret entrance to the orchestra pit reads like a moment of divine intervention, perfectly capturing the thin line between survival and spirituality.
Xia Harper: The Armor That Conceals
Xia's character provides the perfect counterpoint to Gloria's carefully constructed facade. Where Gloria hides behind politeness and perfection, Xia weaponizes her reputation as the school's resident misanthrope. Redgate excels at revealing the soft underbelly beneath Xia's thorns, particularly in her scenes at the Book Alley and in her evolving relationship with Mr. Avery.
The author's decision to make Xia half-Chinese adds another layer to her outsider status, though this aspect could have been explored more deeply. Still, the way Xia navigates her family's expectations versus her own identity resonates authentically.
The Symphony of Style
Redgate's prose has evolved significantly since her debut. Where Seven Ways We Lie occasionally relied on clever dialogue to carry scenes, Come Home to My Heart demonstrates a newfound confidence in quieter moments. Her descriptions of Gloria's secret life beneath the stage are particularly evocative:
"I curled tighter in my bag, trying to calm my nerves enough to rest. But falling back asleep took what felt like an hour, and on Sunday morning, I slept later than I'd meant to."
The author's ability to capture teenage voice without resorting to internet slang or forced colloquialisms deserves special praise. Both Gloria and Xia speak with distinct voices that feel authentically seventeen without being clichéd.
Romance That Feels Real
The slow-burn romance between Gloria and Xia unfolds with the kind of organic pacing that makes you believe in the possibility of their love despite the odds stacked against them. Redgate wisely avoids the common YA pitfall of instant attraction, instead building their relationship through shared books, stolen moments in Xia's car, and the gradual revelation of their true selves.
The scene at the Winter Dance, where they carve out a secret space in a custodian's closet for their own private celebration, captures the bittersweet joy of hidden love with heartbreaking beauty. It's in these moments that Redgate's writing truly shines, finding poetry in the mundane while never losing sight of the larger stakes.
Where the Story Stumbles
While Come Home to My Heart succeeds on multiple levels, it's not without its flaws. The pacing occasionally lags in the middle section, particularly during some of the classroom scenes that, while realistic, don't always advance the plot or deepen character development.
Additionally, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, especially Ellis, Gloria's former best friend. Her role in driving a wedge between Gloria and her family feels somewhat convenient rather than fully motivated.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives a bit too neatly. Mr. Avery's intervention, though touching, risks veering into the "magical gay mentor" trope. However, Redgate avoids this pitfall by giving him a full personal life and agency beyond helping the protagonists.
A Mirror to Our Times
Perhaps what makes Come Home to My Heart most remarkable is its unflinching look at issues that remain painfully relevant. The statistics Redgate includes in her author's note—that 28% of LGBTQ+ youth have experienced homelessness—transform this story from mere entertainment into a call to action.
The novel's handling of religious trauma deserves particular recognition. Rather than painting all religious people as villains, Redgate shows the spectrum of belief, from Gloria's parents' rigid fundamentalism to Lawrence and Paul's inclusive Christianity. This nuanced approach makes the story more accessible to readers from various backgrounds while still validating the real harm caused by discriminatory religious practices.
Final Thoughts: A Love Letter to Resilience
Come Home to My Heart earns its place among the pantheon of essential LGBTQ+ YA literature not just for its romance, but for its honest portrayal of the systemic failures that leave young people vulnerable. Redgate has crafted a story that acknowledges the darkness while insisting on the possibility of light.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. Gloria's journey toward self-acceptance isn't a straight line, and Xia's walls don't crumble overnight. Their love story unfolds against a backdrop of real-world challenges that won't disappear just because they've found each other.
The Heart of the Matter: Plot and Structure
The story unfolds through alternating perspectives between Gloria Forman and Xia Harper, two seniors at Fisherton High School in small-town South Carolina. Gloria, a seemingly perfect Christian girl on the Homecoming Court, harbors a secret that has already cost her everything—her family has kicked her out for being gay, leaving her to survive undetected in the school auditorium. Xia, the school's notorious outcast, has built walls so high that even she sometimes forgets what it feels like to be human.
When these two worlds collide in the dusty aisles of the Book Alley, Redgate masterfully sets in motion a love story that feels both inevitable and impossible. What sets this novel apart from other LGBTQ+ YA romance is its unflinching examination of:
- The intersection of religious trauma and queer identity
- The hidden epidemic of youth homelessness
- The way love can flourish even in the most inhospitable conditions
- The complex dynamics of family rejection and chosen family
Characters That Breathe and Bleed
Gloria Forman: The Girl Behind the Crucifix
Gloria's character arc is nothing short of masterful. Redgate could have easily written her as a one-dimensional victim, but instead, she creates a protagonist whose strength emerges from her vulnerability. Gloria's internal struggle with her faith and sexuality is portrayed with remarkable nuance—she doesn't simply reject Christianity but grapples with reconciling her beliefs with her identity.
The author's depiction of Gloria's homelessness is particularly powerful. Rather than sensationalizing her situation, Redgate shows the quiet desperation of trying to maintain normalcy while sleeping under a school stage. The scene where Gloria discovers the secret entrance to the orchestra pit reads like a moment of divine intervention, perfectly capturing the thin line between survival and spirituality.
Xia Harper: The Armor That Conceals
Xia's character provides the perfect counterpoint to Gloria's carefully constructed facade. Where Gloria hides behind politeness and perfection, Xia weaponizes her reputation as the school's resident misanthrope. Redgate excels at revealing the soft underbelly beneath Xia's thorns, particularly in her scenes at the Book Alley and in her evolving relationship with Mr. Avery.
The author's decision to make Xia half-Chinese adds another layer to her outsider status, though this aspect could have been explored more deeply. Still, the way Xia navigates her family's expectations versus her own identity resonates authentically.
The Symphony of Style
Redgate's prose has evolved significantly since her debut. Where Seven Ways We Lie occasionally relied on clever dialogue to carry scenes, Come Home to My Heart demonstrates a newfound confidence in quieter moments. Her descriptions of Gloria's secret life beneath the stage are particularly evocative:
"I curled tighter in my bag, trying to calm my nerves enough to rest. But falling back asleep took what felt like an hour, and on Sunday morning, I slept later than I'd meant to."
The author's ability to capture teenage voice without resorting to internet slang or forced colloquialisms deserves special praise. Both Gloria and Xia speak with distinct voices that feel authentically seventeen without being clichéd.
Romance That Feels Real
The slow-burn romance between Gloria and Xia unfolds with the kind of organic pacing that makes you believe in the possibility of their love despite the odds stacked against them. Redgate wisely avoids the common YA pitfall of instant attraction, instead building their relationship through shared books, stolen moments in Xia's car, and the gradual revelation of their true selves.
The scene at the Winter Dance, where they carve out a secret space in a custodian's closet for their own private celebration, captures the bittersweet joy of hidden love with heartbreaking beauty. It's in these moments that Redgate's writing truly shines, finding poetry in the mundane while never losing sight of the larger stakes.
Where the Story Stumbles
While Come Home to My Heart succeeds on multiple levels, it's not without its flaws. The pacing occasionally lags in the middle section, particularly during some of the classroom scenes that, while realistic, don't always advance the plot or deepen character development.
Additionally, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, especially Ellis, Gloria's former best friend. Her role in driving a wedge between Gloria and her family feels somewhat convenient rather than fully motivated.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives a bit too neatly. Mr. Avery's intervention, though touching, risks veering into the "magical gay mentor" trope. However, Redgate avoids this pitfall by giving him a full personal life and agency beyond helping the protagonists.
A Mirror to Our Times
Perhaps what makes Come Home to My Heart most remarkable is its unflinching look at issues that remain painfully relevant. The statistics Redgate includes in her author's note—that 28% of LGBTQ+ youth have experienced homelessness—transform this story from mere entertainment into a call to action.
The novel's handling of religious trauma deserves particular recognition. Rather than painting all religious people as villains, Redgate shows the spectrum of belief, from Gloria's parents' rigid fundamentalism to Lawrence and Paul's inclusive Christianity. This nuanced approach makes the story more accessible to readers from various backgrounds while still validating the real harm caused by discriminatory religious practices.
Final Thoughts: A Love Letter to Resilience
Come Home to My Heart earns its place among the pantheon of essential LGBTQ+ YA literature not just for its romance, but for its honest portrayal of the systemic failures that leave young people vulnerable. Redgate has crafted a story that acknowledges the darkness while insisting on the possibility of light.
The novel's greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. Gloria's journey toward self-acceptance isn't a straight line, and Xia's walls don't crumble overnight. Their love story unfolds against a backdrop of real-world challenges that won't disappear just because they've found each other.
May 5, 2025
*Spoilery*
Sometimes a book comes and knocks you off your feet and it will leave a mark. I wasn't expecting Come Home to My Heart to affect me the way that it has. There is a very real part of me that wants to open my home to Gloria or any other child her position. As a queer coming of age story that weaves the very real issues of family abandonment, homelessness and safety CHtMH is an important read.
This is a sincere, graceful and careful examination of the very real challenges facing some, or many, LGBTQi+ youth.
Come Home to My Heart takes the reader through the burgeoning high school relationship of Gloria and Xia. Gloria, on the surface, the picture of Bible-belt American good girl, yet at home the love provided is conditional, controlled and cloistered. Contrasted to Xia, the outsider from a big city, a choiceful misfit, feeling misunderstood by her flawed yet, parents. Her bookshop employer offers a space to 'just be'. I hope all young people have a Mr Avery at their backs.
I pray to an Athiest God that there will come a day that "coming out" is not required. As much as I wanted to wrap Gloria up and offer her a safe and supported place to lay her head, I have never felt such incredulity and anger as I did towards her fictional parents. The restrictive practices that were employed, encouraged and accepted within their church community in the face of the hypocritical nature of Gloria's parents was not lost on me.
I apprecitated the inner conflict that Gloria navigated in order to ultimately, let go of her family, hold strong to her faith but be safe to accept her queer side.
Xia has her own feelings of adriftness and loneliness. From an ostensibly loving home, her parents respect for her request for space became it's own double edged sword. The read as flawed yet, loving. I appreciated the unknown aspect of Xia's parents going forward and the open ended storyline.
This has generated a deep desire to learn more regarding the horrifying statistics included in the author's note.
Thank you to the author, Riley Redgate, Union Square & Co and Netgalley for the eARC of Come Home to My Heart.
Sometimes a book comes and knocks you off your feet and it will leave a mark. I wasn't expecting Come Home to My Heart to affect me the way that it has. There is a very real part of me that wants to open my home to Gloria or any other child her position. As a queer coming of age story that weaves the very real issues of family abandonment, homelessness and safety CHtMH is an important read.
This is a sincere, graceful and careful examination of the very real challenges facing some, or many, LGBTQi+ youth.
Come Home to My Heart takes the reader through the burgeoning high school relationship of Gloria and Xia. Gloria, on the surface, the picture of Bible-belt American good girl, yet at home the love provided is conditional, controlled and cloistered. Contrasted to Xia, the outsider from a big city, a choiceful misfit, feeling misunderstood by her flawed yet, parents. Her bookshop employer offers a space to 'just be'. I hope all young people have a Mr Avery at their backs.
I pray to an Athiest God that there will come a day that "coming out" is not required. As much as I wanted to wrap Gloria up and offer her a safe and supported place to lay her head, I have never felt such incredulity and anger as I did towards her fictional parents. The restrictive practices that were employed, encouraged and accepted within their church community in the face of the hypocritical nature of Gloria's parents was not lost on me.
I apprecitated the inner conflict that Gloria navigated in order to ultimately, let go of her family, hold strong to her faith but be safe to accept her queer side.
Xia has her own feelings of adriftness and loneliness. From an ostensibly loving home, her parents respect for her request for space became it's own double edged sword. The read as flawed yet, loving. I appreciated the unknown aspect of Xia's parents going forward and the open ended storyline.
This has generated a deep desire to learn more regarding the horrifying statistics included in the author's note.
Thank you to the author, Riley Redgate, Union Square & Co and Netgalley for the eARC of Come Home to My Heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2025
preliminary thoughts: this is healing & comforting me in ways i didn’t know were possible… rtc soon 🤍
full review:Come home to my heart is a heart wrenching story about two young girls falling in love with each other and trying to make sense of the changing reality around them. Xia misses Atlanta, her friends, the home she had made for herself. Now that her family has moved to South Carolina, she feels out of place. In fear of anyone of her classmates finding out she’s a lesbian, she started isolating herself and spending most of her time reading and working part-time. Gloria is one of the popular girls, although she would never dare to describe herself as one. She does her best to get good grades and excel as a student because she wants her family to be proud of her. Behind all of that, there is a girl trying to be herself, scared to admit who she is because of her family’s conservative views. The author was able to perfectly portray the thoughts and feelings of the two protagonists, showing a lot of care towards the themes of the story and the characters themselves. I would have appreciated to see more of the side-characters (especially Ellis, she didn't feel entirely flashed out and some of her decisions didn't make sense) and Xia (I would have loved to learn more about her outside of her relationship with Gloria, for example about her interests and the relationship she had with her parents). Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Come home to my heart is a novel I would have loved to find in the school library when I was younger. If you’re in the mood for something emotional and honest consider checking this out! (At times it can be heavy, so check trigger warnings beforehand.)
Arc kindly given by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
full review:Come home to my heart is a heart wrenching story about two young girls falling in love with each other and trying to make sense of the changing reality around them. Xia misses Atlanta, her friends, the home she had made for herself. Now that her family has moved to South Carolina, she feels out of place. In fear of anyone of her classmates finding out she’s a lesbian, she started isolating herself and spending most of her time reading and working part-time. Gloria is one of the popular girls, although she would never dare to describe herself as one. She does her best to get good grades and excel as a student because she wants her family to be proud of her. Behind all of that, there is a girl trying to be herself, scared to admit who she is because of her family’s conservative views. The author was able to perfectly portray the thoughts and feelings of the two protagonists, showing a lot of care towards the themes of the story and the characters themselves. I would have appreciated to see more of the side-characters (especially Ellis, she didn't feel entirely flashed out and some of her decisions didn't make sense) and Xia (I would have loved to learn more about her outside of her relationship with Gloria, for example about her interests and the relationship she had with her parents). Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Come home to my heart is a novel I would have loved to find in the school library when I was younger. If you’re in the mood for something emotional and honest consider checking this out! (At times it can be heavy, so check trigger warnings beforehand.)
Arc kindly given by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
This was a difficult read. In a good way, but still, difficult. Gloria's story is heartbreaking and feels very real, speaking as someone who has never experienced the kinds of things she did. I appreciated that the life she lived after she was kicked out wasn't glossed over or softened. There was no miraculous solution that saved her. Her love for Xia wasn't enough and I was so glad to read something like that.
I found Xia's journey a little less interesting, which isn't exactly a criticism because I think it might have been too much if both girls were going through similar things. It provided a nice counterpoint, and I enjoyed getting to follow them both as they tentatively fell for each other and then became consumed by the feelings they were feeling. There was just more meat to what was going on with Gloria.
Books like this, where religious bigotry is a central conflict in the story and there's a character struggling to accept themselves and overcome their upbringing, are pretty common right now, and I usually enjoy them, but something about this one hits harder. The writing didn't always do it for me and there were times when I was pulled out of the story or found my attention wandering, but that might be a me thing. I was always pulled back in. I've only read one other Riley Redgate and this is my favorite of the two, and I think it's going to be so important and impactful for so many queer teens in Gloria's position. I'm glad there are books like this for them now.
I found Xia's journey a little less interesting, which isn't exactly a criticism because I think it might have been too much if both girls were going through similar things. It provided a nice counterpoint, and I enjoyed getting to follow them both as they tentatively fell for each other and then became consumed by the feelings they were feeling. There was just more meat to what was going on with Gloria.
Books like this, where religious bigotry is a central conflict in the story and there's a character struggling to accept themselves and overcome their upbringing, are pretty common right now, and I usually enjoy them, but something about this one hits harder. The writing didn't always do it for me and there were times when I was pulled out of the story or found my attention wandering, but that might be a me thing. I was always pulled back in. I've only read one other Riley Redgate and this is my favorite of the two, and I think it's going to be so important and impactful for so many queer teens in Gloria's position. I'm glad there are books like this for them now.
December 20, 2025
wow. this book was intense in the heart wrenching and emotional way. I am running the risk of getting emotional and/or too personal if I talk about this book too much but,,, it was just really real. in a way that I don't know how to explain, I guess? most books that balance religion and queerness are bound to get me but this one in particular just... the things with the expectations from parents and everyone else knowing and saying things? knowing you can't be real with anyone? being in a small community where everyone seems to know everything about everyone but no one really knows anything about the real you? being the perfect girl for your parents and knowing it has an expiration. also side note I forgot my parents also used to look through a lot of my stuff which,, wow that sucked! forgot about that!!
but anyway I really really liked both POVs and characters a lot. I liked how sweet the romance was and I loved their interactions with each other and how it was done.
but anyway I really really liked both POVs and characters a lot. I liked how sweet the romance was and I loved their interactions with each other and how it was done.
May 8, 2025
Amazing book. When we finish it, the cover just takes such a deeper meaning. As a reader living in Chicago (indeed, this theme is so relatable to all major cities), I can't stop wondering about the stories of each homeless and their circumstances. This book has great pacing, and although it is sad, it is also hopeful. Makes me want to hug and protect these characters and volunteer more to do something for the youth of the city.
Congratulations to the author for such an honest and amazing novel.
Religion and community pressure can be devastating to those seeking guidance understanding, and love from their family. I can't understand how parents turn their backs on their kids.
Dual POV , a city girl that prefers to be on her own than to crowd please the others, a girl who has more than a secret and must learn to love herself.
Congratulations to the author for such an honest and amazing novel.
Religion and community pressure can be devastating to those seeking guidance understanding, and love from their family. I can't understand how parents turn their backs on their kids.
Dual POV , a city girl that prefers to be on her own than to crowd please the others, a girl who has more than a secret and must learn to love herself.
Did not finish
March 12, 2026Apologies to all those who loved this, but I found it impossible to suspend my disbelief. The bad girl's internal musings were far too mature for a high schooler, and the details of the good girl's lightning-speed ejection by her parents (don't worry - no spoilers - this happens very early on) struck a false note.
July 13, 2025
Sweet and moving story. The balance between difficult topics and young adult romance is well done. Both characters feel realistic and the character development is natural. I appreciated that the dialogue and dynamics don't feel cheesy or unnatural for the age group. Well done YA book!
January 9, 2026
very sweet, showed a realistic side to queer struggles
March 6, 2026
LOVED LOVED LOVED!
March 25, 2026
This book touched me in ways I haven’t felt in a very long time, and for that, I’m grateful. So incredibly poignant and heartbreaking and truly beautiful. To see how much I’ve grown into myself is a blessing and I just want to give younger me the biggest hug and tell her everything is going to be okay.
April 24, 2025
My girlfriend got me an ARC of this book and I read almost the entirety of it in a single afternoon. My heart was absolutely ripped out (and then put back together!) but I loved Xia and Gloria’s journey throughout this book, and also appreciated the inclusion of themes like homelessness and complex religious trauma.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
I cried.
June 8, 2025
“𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘨𝘶𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦; 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵; 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”
5✩
sapphic books that explore religious guilt are so personal and special to me, and this one? wow, incredible! i truly wish i had this book when i was younger, because this book made me feel seen, and understood, in ways not many books have.
this story is told in dual pov, and i resonated with both of our main characters so deeply. xia who isolates herself, and makes herself unapproachable, to protect herself from even further hurt, especially when they find out the truth; from being truly known, from being seen. gloria, who is so afraid of not being the perfect christian and daughter, she used to be willing to hide away big parts of who she is and sacrifice her own happiness. the growth both of these characters go through, individually and together, was beautiful— and made me emotional. i just couldn’t help but root for them both, and they’re so dear to me. i also loved mr avery, everyone deserves someone like him in his life!
the thing about this novel is that whilst it has sweet and wholesome moments, it also tackles so many serious topics within the story, and those are handled so tenderly. i loved how riley redgate emphasised the complexity and depth of these topics (in particular the religious trauma, and homelessness), and didn’t shy away from making the reader truly feel the emotions.
this will certainly be a book i recommend often, especially to those who are the target audience too, it was beautifully done!
5✩
sapphic books that explore religious guilt are so personal and special to me, and this one? wow, incredible! i truly wish i had this book when i was younger, because this book made me feel seen, and understood, in ways not many books have.
this story is told in dual pov, and i resonated with both of our main characters so deeply. xia who isolates herself, and makes herself unapproachable, to protect herself from even further hurt, especially when they find out the truth; from being truly known, from being seen. gloria, who is so afraid of not being the perfect christian and daughter, she used to be willing to hide away big parts of who she is and sacrifice her own happiness. the growth both of these characters go through, individually and together, was beautiful— and made me emotional. i just couldn’t help but root for them both, and they’re so dear to me. i also loved mr avery, everyone deserves someone like him in his life!
the thing about this novel is that whilst it has sweet and wholesome moments, it also tackles so many serious topics within the story, and those are handled so tenderly. i loved how riley redgate emphasised the complexity and depth of these topics (in particular the religious trauma, and homelessness), and didn’t shy away from making the reader truly feel the emotions.
this will certainly be a book i recommend often, especially to those who are the target audience too, it was beautifully done!
May 27, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the ARC!~~
So soon into the new year, and I wholeheartedly believe I found a top 10 read of the year.
This is such a tender, heartfelt story about queer two girls in a small town, one who's terrified by that part of her identity because of her bigoted parents and the other who wants nothing more than to get away so she express her queerness openly. It's only when the two girls meet and become friends do they begin to understand themselves so much more.
Ah, these two girls had my whole heart. Their friendship-to-romance wasn't technically a slowburn, as they did kiss halfway through the story, but the circumstances, particularly Gloria's homelessness, her parents, and the fear of scrutiny from the community at large, kept driving wedges between them that were so damn heart wrenching. Their chemistry and banter is genuinely so sweet; I just wanted nothing but the world to be given to these girls.
And Redgate's writing - oh, is it tender and sweet. The themes of survival, youth homelessness, the hard reality of being queer, she culminates all of this and makes it so quietly gut-wrenching in the best way possible. As someone who loved Alone Out There as well, Redgate's range of style in her works is truly astounding.
Amazing book. I wish May was here so I can hold the book to my chest and cry about it. Please, read this! And buy if you can, because Redgate will be donating half of the royalties of this book to projects benefiting queer homeless youth!
So soon into the new year, and I wholeheartedly believe I found a top 10 read of the year.
This is such a tender, heartfelt story about queer two girls in a small town, one who's terrified by that part of her identity because of her bigoted parents and the other who wants nothing more than to get away so she express her queerness openly. It's only when the two girls meet and become friends do they begin to understand themselves so much more.
Ah, these two girls had my whole heart. Their friendship-to-romance wasn't technically a slowburn, as they did kiss halfway through the story, but the circumstances, particularly Gloria's homelessness, her parents, and the fear of scrutiny from the community at large, kept driving wedges between them that were so damn heart wrenching. Their chemistry and banter is genuinely so sweet; I just wanted nothing but the world to be given to these girls.
And Redgate's writing - oh, is it tender and sweet. The themes of survival, youth homelessness, the hard reality of being queer, she culminates all of this and makes it so quietly gut-wrenching in the best way possible. As someone who loved Alone Out There as well, Redgate's range of style in her works is truly astounding.
Amazing book. I wish May was here so I can hold the book to my chest and cry about it. Please, read this! And buy if you can, because Redgate will be donating half of the royalties of this book to projects benefiting queer homeless youth!
March 22, 2025
Did not expect this to be so emotional! I think this is a really needed story right now, and it handled the issues carefully and beautifully. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews