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Out In Greenwood: The most anticipated YA novel for 2025
Out in Greenwood is a Taylor Swift song trapped in the body of a gay teenager.
Fifteen-year-old Tim Johnson believed that coming out as gay would immediately lead to a whole new multi-coloured life, yet so far not much has changed. Yes, he may now have a boyfriend (sort of, but not quite), and be open about his sexuality (well, to four people), but he still faces the everyday teenage tribulations of an embarrassing family, insecurity, homophobic classmates, and low-paid jobs.
As the Greenwood Secondary summer holidays started, Tim befriended fellow paper boy Johann, who had arrived from Sweden, and they grew to realise that they were more than just friends. As the relationship develops, a family emergency hits Johann, and he is sent to Newcastle leaving Tim with best friends Lydia and Leo, and irritating Instagram influencer, Callum.
The annual marquee event, the Greenwood Secondary School Fete, is just six days away, and Tim must navigate his way carefully through social activities so he is not the centre of attention for once. When things seem to be on track, a mysterious graffiti artist starts to target him.
Fifteen-year-old Tim Johnson believed that coming out as gay would immediately lead to a whole new multi-coloured life, yet so far not much has changed. Yes, he may now have a boyfriend (sort of, but not quite), and be open about his sexuality (well, to four people), but he still faces the everyday teenage tribulations of an embarrassing family, insecurity, homophobic classmates, and low-paid jobs.
As the Greenwood Secondary summer holidays started, Tim befriended fellow paper boy Johann, who had arrived from Sweden, and they grew to realise that they were more than just friends. As the relationship develops, a family emergency hits Johann, and he is sent to Newcastle leaving Tim with best friends Lydia and Leo, and irritating Instagram influencer, Callum.
The annual marquee event, the Greenwood Secondary School Fete, is just six days away, and Tim must navigate his way carefully through social activities so he is not the centre of attention for once. When things seem to be on track, a mysterious graffiti artist starts to target him.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2025
14 people want to read
About the author
James A. Lyons
5 books10 followersJames was born in Oxford, England and now resides in Bournemouth, writing young adult and adult fiction. He is represented by Intersaga Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2025
ARC Review
Coming-of-age, heartfelt, and delightfully rancy.
Sometimes, you just want to read teenagers being teenagers—navigating friendships, first loves, awkward family moments and all the chaos in between. Out in Greenwood delivers exactly that with humour, heart and a cast of characters that mostly feel alive on the page.
The story follows Tim Johnson, a fifteen-year-old navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in a small town. He’s out, but life hasn’t changed as much as he expected. Between summer jobs, family drama, and complicated friendships, he’s still figuring out who he is and what he wants. When a new friendship begins to stir unexpected emotions, Tim finds himself at the center of a whirlwind summer filled with self-discovery, personal challenges, and the kind of moments that define growing up.
There’s a rawness to the story. It doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of growing up—the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the awkwardness of relationships (romantic and platonic), and the moments that feel like the end of the world but turn out to be just another step toward figuring things out.
Although sometimes the novel leans into semi-unrealistic yet highly entertaining conversations, with dialogue-heavy storytelling, it makes it feel like you’re right there, listening to a group of witty, dramatic and seemingly charming teens. And honestly? I think that is part of its magic.
It’s refreshing to see a story that embraces both the highs and lows of teenage life—more so a queer teenage life—without trying to fit into a perfect mould. I believe these experiences also matter.
I’ll be honest—this isn’t the kind of book I would usually pick up on a shelf. Perhaps because it is a little too YA for my taste? But if it were a movie, I’d absolutely watch it (maybe a movie adaption for this too? It would be swell!) That said, it was a nice read. The book balances lightheartedness with emotional depth. It’s fun, heartfelt, engaging and leaves you with that nostalgic feeling of remembering what it’s like to be young and full of possibility.
I will recommend.
Coming-of-age, heartfelt, and delightfully rancy.
Sometimes, you just want to read teenagers being teenagers—navigating friendships, first loves, awkward family moments and all the chaos in between. Out in Greenwood delivers exactly that with humour, heart and a cast of characters that mostly feel alive on the page.
The story follows Tim Johnson, a fifteen-year-old navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in a small town. He’s out, but life hasn’t changed as much as he expected. Between summer jobs, family drama, and complicated friendships, he’s still figuring out who he is and what he wants. When a new friendship begins to stir unexpected emotions, Tim finds himself at the center of a whirlwind summer filled with self-discovery, personal challenges, and the kind of moments that define growing up.
There’s a rawness to the story. It doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of growing up—the uncertainty, the self-doubt, the awkwardness of relationships (romantic and platonic), and the moments that feel like the end of the world but turn out to be just another step toward figuring things out.
Although sometimes the novel leans into semi-unrealistic yet highly entertaining conversations, with dialogue-heavy storytelling, it makes it feel like you’re right there, listening to a group of witty, dramatic and seemingly charming teens. And honestly? I think that is part of its magic.
It’s refreshing to see a story that embraces both the highs and lows of teenage life—more so a queer teenage life—without trying to fit into a perfect mould. I believe these experiences also matter.
I’ll be honest—this isn’t the kind of book I would usually pick up on a shelf. Perhaps because it is a little too YA for my taste? But if it were a movie, I’d absolutely watch it (maybe a movie adaption for this too? It would be swell!) That said, it was a nice read. The book balances lightheartedness with emotional depth. It’s fun, heartfelt, engaging and leaves you with that nostalgic feeling of remembering what it’s like to be young and full of possibility.
I will recommend.
April 10, 2025
Cosy easy to read mystery surrounding Tim Johnson and graffiti matching his initials appearing around his neighbourhood in Greenwood, some distance from London. Tim and his mates become amateur sleuths, but the graffiti follows him around like a bad smell, making him anxious and feeling helpless. Social media influencers from London, school holiday obstacle courses, a spell of tortoise-sitting and absent almost-boyfriends are thrown in the mix and the dilemma is resolved without too many red herrings to confuse mid-teens, the target audience of this book. Tim's family is very supportive of his sexuality, despite Greenwood being remote and conservative-sounding. The cover is colourful, mimicking a school book, yet may need a face or two to attract visual teens after a book which will appeal to them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews