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This Book Will Make You Cry
A heartfelt and heartbreaking queer summer romance to remember, perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End.
Last year, Iggy almost drowned, losing all memory of their magical Mediterranean holiday. Determined to piece together the fragments of their forgotten summer, they return to Europe to retrace their steps, from the sun-drenched shores of St. Tropez to the colossal ruins of Rome.
When their paddleboard bumps into the gorgeous but mysterious Roscoe, Iggy realises that this trip is the perfect chance to make new memories - ones they'll always remember.
But as the sun sets on their summer romance, will Paris - the iconic city of love - be the start of a new life for Iggy and Roscoe, or their last chance to say goodbye?
Last year, Iggy almost drowned, losing all memory of their magical Mediterranean holiday. Determined to piece together the fragments of their forgotten summer, they return to Europe to retrace their steps, from the sun-drenched shores of St. Tropez to the colossal ruins of Rome.
When their paddleboard bumps into the gorgeous but mysterious Roscoe, Iggy realises that this trip is the perfect chance to make new memories - ones they'll always remember.
But as the sun sets on their summer romance, will Paris - the iconic city of love - be the start of a new life for Iggy and Roscoe, or their last chance to say goodbye?
- GenresContemporaryYoung Adult
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2025
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Tawse
5 books15 followersDaniel Tawse lives on the northeast coast. He spent his childhood going on adventures in the wilds of Northumberland, and teenage years writing diaries about how much he didn’t fit in. Nowadays, Daniel turns those diaries into stories and is an advocate for queer representation and visibility in the arts. Elsewhere, Daniel has studied Musical Theatre at the Arts Educational Schools, London, and holds a master’s degree in History from the University of Northumbria.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 14, 2025
Iggy suffered a traumatic accident on holiday last year and nearly drowned. They have no recollection of what happened but are determined to retrace their steps to hopefully trigger their memory. Iggy convinces their parents to plan another Mediterranean camping holiday including the place were tragedy struck.
While Iggy grapples with their past, Iggy must deal with the two guys in their life. Evan - a fellow holiday maker and family friend who has bullied them for years but now wants to be friends and Roscoe - a guy that literally bumps into them while paddleboarding. Evan brings pain and hurt into Iggy’s life while Roscoe brings fun, new love and a freedom they lost over the last year.
Iggy’s memories start to return which has unexpected effects on their new romance as well as how they view Evan and his sudden change of heart. Will Iggy’s holiday end with romance in Paris with Roscoe or will the truth about their past ruin any chance for happiness.
This was an emotional read to say the least. Even though I twigged early on what must have happened, it didn’t take from the overall sadness and heartbreak I felt when the unfortunate truth is revealed. The book’s title lives up to its name and it did in fact make me cry, to the point that I had to take a little time out to collect myself. This was such a beautifully written story of love, grief and emotional/physical trauma as well as self-discovery and finding inner resilience.
The characters were wonderfully vibrant, diverse and fully formed. Even the side characters added depth and important touchstones for Iggy through their journey that it made the story come alive for me. I loved Iggy’s parents (dad and pops) they were so different from each other but provided so much love and support to Iggy in their own ways that it was heartwarming to see them constantly reach for Iggy in their times of need. The book has joyful moments and ones of heart wrenching sorrow but overall, I think the message in this book is hope. A beautiful book that I highly recommend.
While Iggy grapples with their past, Iggy must deal with the two guys in their life. Evan - a fellow holiday maker and family friend who has bullied them for years but now wants to be friends and Roscoe - a guy that literally bumps into them while paddleboarding. Evan brings pain and hurt into Iggy’s life while Roscoe brings fun, new love and a freedom they lost over the last year.
Iggy’s memories start to return which has unexpected effects on their new romance as well as how they view Evan and his sudden change of heart. Will Iggy’s holiday end with romance in Paris with Roscoe or will the truth about their past ruin any chance for happiness.
This was an emotional read to say the least. Even though I twigged early on what must have happened, it didn’t take from the overall sadness and heartbreak I felt when the unfortunate truth is revealed. The book’s title lives up to its name and it did in fact make me cry, to the point that I had to take a little time out to collect myself. This was such a beautifully written story of love, grief and emotional/physical trauma as well as self-discovery and finding inner resilience.
The characters were wonderfully vibrant, diverse and fully formed. Even the side characters added depth and important touchstones for Iggy through their journey that it made the story come alive for me. I loved Iggy’s parents (dad and pops) they were so different from each other but provided so much love and support to Iggy in their own ways that it was heartwarming to see them constantly reach for Iggy in their times of need. The book has joyful moments and ones of heart wrenching sorrow but overall, I think the message in this book is hope. A beautiful book that I highly recommend.
January 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It had a really interesting story and I like the twists and turns...however, I didnt cry and didnt feel any signs of crying hahaha
November 5, 2025
This Book Will Make You Cry” truly lives up to its title. It’s an emotional and heart-touching read that beautifully blends teenage romance, trauma, and friendship. The story begins with Iggy, the main character, attending therapy sessions to heal from a traumatic incident that happened during the previous summer vacation.
Despite the pain of the past, Iggy doesn’t want to break their family’s yearly summer vacation ritual. So, the family decides to go on another summer trip to Europe in a caravan — exploring new places, enjoying camp life, and trying to move past their painful memories. But the shadows of last summer still haunt them.
Iggy suffers from partial memory loss due to PTSD and can’t recall exactly what happened the night they almost drowned — a night that changed everything for the family. This summer becomes a journey not just across countries, but into Iggy’s own mind, as they try to uncover the truth and face the trauma they’ve forgotten.
During the trip, Iggy meets Rosce, a boy whose presence adds warmth, love, and unexpected twists to the story. Their connection slowly unfolds amidst healing, self-discovery, and buried memories.
Overall, This Book Will Make You Cry is a touching, emotional, and engaging read. It captures the rawness of pain, the sweetness of young love, and the strength it takes to move forward after tragedy.
Despite the pain of the past, Iggy doesn’t want to break their family’s yearly summer vacation ritual. So, the family decides to go on another summer trip to Europe in a caravan — exploring new places, enjoying camp life, and trying to move past their painful memories. But the shadows of last summer still haunt them.
Iggy suffers from partial memory loss due to PTSD and can’t recall exactly what happened the night they almost drowned — a night that changed everything for the family. This summer becomes a journey not just across countries, but into Iggy’s own mind, as they try to uncover the truth and face the trauma they’ve forgotten.
During the trip, Iggy meets Rosce, a boy whose presence adds warmth, love, and unexpected twists to the story. Their connection slowly unfolds amidst healing, self-discovery, and buried memories.
Overall, This Book Will Make You Cry is a touching, emotional, and engaging read. It captures the rawness of pain, the sweetness of young love, and the strength it takes to move forward after tragedy.
August 10, 2025
This book will have you feeling all the emotions as we follow Iggy on their journey to finding out the truth. The previous summer, they had a terrible accident, which left them with no recollection of what happened. So this summer, when their parents start planning their yearly road trip across Europe, they ask to go back to the very place where it all began.
The story is character focused with queer representation, which the author did a fantastic job at normalising, so this was really refreshing.
Iggys fear and pain radiates off the page, and I really hoped they would recover some memories so they could find some peace and then have the ability to move on. Their meeting with Roscoe was cute and romantic. It made me root for Iggy even more. There was a certain kind of energy between Iggy and Evan, but I couldn't quite figure out how these two would end up.
It's a truly wholesome story that's certainly heartbreaking at times. Maybe make sure you've got the tissues ready.
The story is character focused with queer representation, which the author did a fantastic job at normalising, so this was really refreshing.
Iggys fear and pain radiates off the page, and I really hoped they would recover some memories so they could find some peace and then have the ability to move on. Their meeting with Roscoe was cute and romantic. It made me root for Iggy even more. There was a certain kind of energy between Iggy and Evan, but I couldn't quite figure out how these two would end up.
It's a truly wholesome story that's certainly heartbreaking at times. Maybe make sure you've got the tissues ready.
August 4, 2025
Can this book make you cry? Challenge accepted!
From the moment this paperback landed in my hands—gifted alongside a stunning art print postcard and a sweet little packet of tissues—I knew expectations were high. The title itself dares you to feel deeply, and I stepped in determined not to cry. Challenge failed. I cried. Twice. In the last ten pages.
The foreword alone sets the emotional tone beautifully, and I appreciated its care in flagging triggering themes—particularly around trauma. The story follows Iggy, the deeply relatable and emotionally nuanced main character, who lives with their loving same-sex parents—Dad and Pops. That representation was not only refreshing but beautifully normalised.
Iggy identifies as gender non-conforming. Their voice as a narrator is compelling: vulnerable, witty, and achingly honest. You feel everything they feel—from the trauma of a past holiday incident (alluded to with sensitivity) to the slow-burning, quietly devastating journey through memory, grief, and identity.
The book is structured into distinct parts—Prologue, This Summer, Last Summer, Truth, and Joy—which works perfectly with the themes of fractured memory and healing. Though this is a medium-paced, largely character-focused story, I found it completely engrossing. You can’t help but root for Iggy and desperately hope their pain will give way to some form of peace.
The meet-cute with Roscoe adds lightness, though there’s a deeper, unspoken thread between Iggy and Evan—a character I found particularly compelling. Evan is both misunderstood and just a touch underdeveloped, and I would have loved more time with him and more development on the situation with Grandma Edith. Their potential was rich.
The world-building is another standout. The scenes set in France are vivid and tangible—I could easily picture the setting just from the author’s prose. French phrases are peppered throughout, which adds authenticity, though some aren’t translated, and I did have to look up a few. Still, it felt immersive rather than alienating
While I did predict a central plot point early on, it didn’t diminish the emotional impact. The story still hits hard. My only real disappointment lies with the resolution of the hate crime subplot. I would have liked to see those responsible held more accountable. It felt like a missed opportunity to challenge bigotry within the narrative.
That said, the emotional payoff is strong. Iggy’s inner journey is heart-wrenching and healing. And a special mention to Dad and Pops—exemplary parenting and the kind of wholesome representation the world needs more of.
A moving, gorgeously told story that left its mark.
From the moment this paperback landed in my hands—gifted alongside a stunning art print postcard and a sweet little packet of tissues—I knew expectations were high. The title itself dares you to feel deeply, and I stepped in determined not to cry. Challenge failed. I cried. Twice. In the last ten pages.
The foreword alone sets the emotional tone beautifully, and I appreciated its care in flagging triggering themes—particularly around trauma. The story follows Iggy, the deeply relatable and emotionally nuanced main character, who lives with their loving same-sex parents—Dad and Pops. That representation was not only refreshing but beautifully normalised.
Iggy identifies as gender non-conforming. Their voice as a narrator is compelling: vulnerable, witty, and achingly honest. You feel everything they feel—from the trauma of a past holiday incident (alluded to with sensitivity) to the slow-burning, quietly devastating journey through memory, grief, and identity.
The book is structured into distinct parts—Prologue, This Summer, Last Summer, Truth, and Joy—which works perfectly with the themes of fractured memory and healing. Though this is a medium-paced, largely character-focused story, I found it completely engrossing. You can’t help but root for Iggy and desperately hope their pain will give way to some form of peace.
The meet-cute with Roscoe adds lightness, though there’s a deeper, unspoken thread between Iggy and Evan—a character I found particularly compelling. Evan is both misunderstood and just a touch underdeveloped, and I would have loved more time with him and more development on the situation with Grandma Edith. Their potential was rich.
The world-building is another standout. The scenes set in France are vivid and tangible—I could easily picture the setting just from the author’s prose. French phrases are peppered throughout, which adds authenticity, though some aren’t translated, and I did have to look up a few. Still, it felt immersive rather than alienating
While I did predict a central plot point early on, it didn’t diminish the emotional impact. The story still hits hard. My only real disappointment lies with the resolution of the hate crime subplot. I would have liked to see those responsible held more accountable. It felt like a missed opportunity to challenge bigotry within the narrative.
That said, the emotional payoff is strong. Iggy’s inner journey is heart-wrenching and healing. And a special mention to Dad and Pops—exemplary parenting and the kind of wholesome representation the world needs more of.
A moving, gorgeously told story that left its mark.
January 6, 2026
I love a good blub. Heartwarming scenes - Cry. Death scene - Weep. Declaration of love. Sob. Therefore the title of this YA Queer story felt very me! It’s quite a strong title and already has an expectation to live up to.
Iggy was in an accident last year, that has left him with memory loss and symptoms of PTSD. This summer, he’s determined to find out the truth behind his near-death experience by revisiting the place of the accident with his two dads. Along the way, he meets a guy who will change his life…
Plot wise, I enjoyed. Really cute queer-elements; likeable characters; a family which warmed my heart. I figured out the twist but I’ll leave that down to me being an adult reading a YA story! It’s pretty heartbreaking near the end.
It’s one of those stories that completely normalises queer identities and sexuality. There’s no coming outs - these characters happily exist and here they are. Wonderful. I always wish the teenage-me had these stories. Relatable and feels totally normal.
It’s a shorter story, and at 220 pages it’s easy to whiz through. Big selling point for anyone needing a quick in between story or a palette cleanser!
I won’t lie - it wasn’t as emotional as I was expecting. With the title and knowing how easily I’ll begin to cry, I did expect to sobbing come the end… but I wasn’t. I shed a tear, but that’s all. In that respect I did feel a smidge disappointed, but it’s also a YA story so given its ideal audience it was emotional enough.
Iggy was in an accident last year, that has left him with memory loss and symptoms of PTSD. This summer, he’s determined to find out the truth behind his near-death experience by revisiting the place of the accident with his two dads. Along the way, he meets a guy who will change his life…
Plot wise, I enjoyed. Really cute queer-elements; likeable characters; a family which warmed my heart. I figured out the twist but I’ll leave that down to me being an adult reading a YA story! It’s pretty heartbreaking near the end.
It’s one of those stories that completely normalises queer identities and sexuality. There’s no coming outs - these characters happily exist and here they are. Wonderful. I always wish the teenage-me had these stories. Relatable and feels totally normal.
It’s a shorter story, and at 220 pages it’s easy to whiz through. Big selling point for anyone needing a quick in between story or a palette cleanser!
I won’t lie - it wasn’t as emotional as I was expecting. With the title and knowing how easily I’ll begin to cry, I did expect to sobbing come the end… but I wasn’t. I shed a tear, but that’s all. In that respect I did feel a smidge disappointed, but it’s also a YA story so given its ideal audience it was emotional enough.
October 18, 2025
What a read! This was a book that was free on my kindle, so I was intrigued to what this story could be about. At first, I found it be a bit repetitive and boring. It was too much of the same thing with making sure Iggy remembers last summer, and she’s said, and then she meets Roscue. It took me longer to read, also due to me reading other books that in my opinion peaked my interest more. But once I got into the book, I was obsessed and I probably would have finished it in one day if I wasn’t reading other books at the same time. This book gave me a lot of questions, that were thankfully answered in the end, such as what is going on with Evan? I wondered if Roscoe was actually bad for Iggy, or if he will turn out to be the villain. I had no idea that he actually died the summer before. It actually made me emotional. The realisation that Roscoe hasn’t been around at all this year was so sad. I had no idea how the story would pick up after that. I’m glad it didn’t really turn happy straight away. The author made us sit with the fact that Roscoe is dead, and how this will affect Iggy. I am pleased with ending, as it leaves it up to interpretation how Iggy will progress or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
💬: "I think I'm beginning to understand the true meaning of falling for someone. It isn't gentle or subtle; it's sudden, it's abrupt. Like falling off a cliff, it happens all at once."
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
💜 What I liked about it 💜
💧Tawse takes us - and Iggy - on a heartbreaking, joyful and healing journey in this book, as we follow Iggy on a summer road trip with their parents, where they’re hoping to regain their memories of what actually happened the previous summer where they almost died
💧The scenes with Roscoe are delightful and it was heart-warming watching Iggy experience a magical summer romance and seeing how Roscoe brings out the best parts of themselves
💧The representation in this is great - Iggy is gender non-conforming and they live with their same-sex parents, Dad and Pops, who both seemed like brilliant, wholesome parents
💧I adored the world-building in this. Tawse sets the scenes so well - I felt like I was right there with Iggy in the various European cities, exploring the charming streets, indulging in warm, buttery pastries and feeling the sun on my skin
I did predict a key plot point in this book early on, but it didn’t dull the emotional impact the book had overall!
✨️ What to expect ✨️
☀️Summer holiday vibes
🚗 Road trip around Europe
🧠 Recovering lost memories
😔 Living with PTSD
🤍 Navigating grief and still finding moments of joy
💫 Many thanks to Pride Book Tours and BKMRK for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
💜 What I liked about it 💜
💧Tawse takes us - and Iggy - on a heartbreaking, joyful and healing journey in this book, as we follow Iggy on a summer road trip with their parents, where they’re hoping to regain their memories of what actually happened the previous summer where they almost died
💧The scenes with Roscoe are delightful and it was heart-warming watching Iggy experience a magical summer romance and seeing how Roscoe brings out the best parts of themselves
💧The representation in this is great - Iggy is gender non-conforming and they live with their same-sex parents, Dad and Pops, who both seemed like brilliant, wholesome parents
💧I adored the world-building in this. Tawse sets the scenes so well - I felt like I was right there with Iggy in the various European cities, exploring the charming streets, indulging in warm, buttery pastries and feeling the sun on my skin
I did predict a key plot point in this book early on, but it didn’t dull the emotional impact the book had overall!
✨️ What to expect ✨️
☀️Summer holiday vibes
🚗 Road trip around Europe
🧠 Recovering lost memories
😔 Living with PTSD
🤍 Navigating grief and still finding moments of joy
💫 Many thanks to Pride Book Tours and BKMRK for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2025
I took this title as a try not to cry challenge, and the book won...
I thought I had figured out the plot by page one hundred, but I was so wrong. Nothing could've prepared me for those last fifty pages.
I am unwell, staring at the wall, wanting to throw something out of my window for some reason? Maybe even go to the beach or waterfalls and scream into the water and throw a giant rock in it?
"I needed to forget him in order to remember him" WRAP IT UP RIGHT NOW.
Also on the side note, I definitely think this might have been a hate crime motive?
This queer representation is so beautiful because it is acknowledged, but it's not all that Iggy is or what their relationship is about.
I thought I had figured out the plot by page one hundred, but I was so wrong. Nothing could've prepared me for those last fifty pages.
I am unwell, staring at the wall, wanting to throw something out of my window for some reason? Maybe even go to the beach or waterfalls and scream into the water and throw a giant rock in it?
"I needed to forget him in order to remember him" WRAP IT UP RIGHT NOW.
Also on the side note, I definitely think this might have been a hate crime motive?
This queer representation is so beautiful because it is acknowledged, but it's not all that Iggy is or what their relationship is about.
September 20, 2025
this is a CRIMINALLY underrated book. i'm uuusuallllyy not the biggest fan of romance-focused books, but since I really enjoyed They Both Die At The End and the sequels, i gave this one a shot. it doesn't fit into the conventional category of what you'd expect from a "romance book".
i didn't know exactly what to expect when reading this, but (not to give any spoilers), the way the ending was presented, as well as the backstory as to why/how what happened happened, absolutely destroyed me :P
i didn't know exactly what to expect when reading this, but (not to give any spoilers), the way the ending was presented, as well as the backstory as to why/how what happened happened, absolutely destroyed me :P
August 3, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
I have no words!!!
This was a beautiful book!!!! It was written soooo sooo well.
The way it represented Queer in a subtle way the way it dealt with grief and loss the MH representation. The characters cast the main female character Iggy was such a strong individual I really liked following her story. The premise of the book was so interesting, it was super fun to follow a camping trip too. I’ve not read any book like this
An actual masterpiece in less than 250 words I am speechless and so so glad I read this book!!!
I have no words!!!
This was a beautiful book!!!! It was written soooo sooo well.
The way it represented Queer in a subtle way the way it dealt with grief and loss the MH representation. The characters cast the main female character Iggy was such a strong individual I really liked following her story. The premise of the book was so interesting, it was super fun to follow a camping trip too. I’ve not read any book like this
An actual masterpiece in less than 250 words I am speechless and so so glad I read this book!!!
January 8, 2026
I didn’t realise at first this was a YA novel, but it quickly became apparent. A bit too cheesy and dramatic for me, but it fits the bill for a good YA romance. The plot twist seemed a bit silly but I can see some people loving that.
October 30, 2025
Okay so i already predicted what would happen cause this story is similar to one I’ve already read. Still it was interesting but at the end it was kind of boring. It also did not make me cry :(
January 27, 2026
just a bit meh
February 5, 2026
it made me cry oml
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews