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Sunset Year
The sun will rise, and we will try again.
Will Grześkiewicz believes his life is over. Magnolia Castillo knows her sister’s is. Feeling that the world is crashing down around them, individually unsure of what else to do, Will and Maggie both retreat to watch the sunset in a place they’ve previously found solace, a park settled on the river a few minutes’ drive from campus.
What starts as an attempt to get away from it all becomes an evening routine to watch the sunset with a new friend, and Will and Maggie realize that simply showing up—for themselves and for each other—might have the power to change everything.
Will Grześkiewicz believes his life is over. Magnolia Castillo knows her sister’s is. Feeling that the world is crashing down around them, individually unsure of what else to do, Will and Maggie both retreat to watch the sunset in a place they’ve previously found solace, a park settled on the river a few minutes’ drive from campus.
What starts as an attempt to get away from it all becomes an evening routine to watch the sunset with a new friend, and Will and Maggie realize that simply showing up—for themselves and for each other—might have the power to change everything.
108 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2025
2 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2025
i cried real tears. this is so beautiful and heartfelt and i can't wait for it to be out in the world and touch others like it did me.
May 8, 2025
A poignant debut that feels like the warmth and hope of a slow sunrise, SUNSET YEAR invites readers into the delicate space between endings and beginnings. As Will and Maggie find themselves drawn together by shared silence and sorrow, their evening sunsets become more than routine—they become a promise. Ellison expertly reminds us that even when the sky darkens, light still lingers.
August 21, 2025
what a phenomenal book (and debut!!!) the prose was extraordinarily written and the story and characters were so well done. i have so many thoughts but 10/10 would recommend - absolutely worth the read ❤️
January 7, 2026
This was my first read of 2026 and what a read it was! What a great way to start off the read. Hopefully this is a good indication of more great reads to come.
This book is short but there is so much heart and emotion packed into it. I loved every second of it. It had me in tears. Will and Magnolia are beautifully written. This book deals with a lot of very difficult topics and they're all handled with care. I appreciated every word on the page. I hope to see more from this author soon! Can't wait to read more.
Content warning: suicidal thoughts/ideation, mention of past suicide, grief, death of sibling, car accident mentioned, transphobia, parental abandonment
This book is short but there is so much heart and emotion packed into it. I loved every second of it. It had me in tears. Will and Magnolia are beautifully written. This book deals with a lot of very difficult topics and they're all handled with care. I appreciated every word on the page. I hope to see more from this author soon! Can't wait to read more.
Content warning: suicidal thoughts/ideation, mention of past suicide, grief, death of sibling, car accident mentioned, transphobia, parental abandonment
June 19, 2025
Did I consume this beautiful novella in one sitting or did it consume me? Ellison has lovingly crafted a story that is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. I couldn't help but root for Will and Magnolia and I adored the vulnerability they shared under pink-hued skies. SUNSET YEAR is a story that will leave you wanting to believe that there is something to look forward to once the darkness passes — and that it will pass.
June 18, 2025
Thank you to the author, C.J. Ellison, for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review! It's been an honor to be a part of the street team!
"Sunset Year" was a very cute and quaint novella about grief, and the idea that "no person is an island." It's about how we *need* other people in order to heal-- it's nearly impossible to do that work alone. No matter if our own brains tell us we're better off on our own, this story reminds us that that isn't true.
"Sunset Year" was a very cute and quaint novella about grief, and the idea that "no person is an island." It's about how we *need* other people in order to heal-- it's nearly impossible to do that work alone. No matter if our own brains tell us we're better off on our own, this story reminds us that that isn't true.
September 15, 2025
Such a great story! I loved the two main characters and their connection
November 5, 2025
Honest, raw, and tender, with the most beautiful message. "Even the worst nights turn into new mornings." So, so glad to have read this.
November 15, 2025
I wanted a quick, heartfelt read about queerness, trauma, and the power of friendship. Happily, I got just what I wanted! <3
July 21, 2025
“You can be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.”
One of those stories that finds you when you need it. One that loves you back.
Ellison’s SUNSET YEAR draws you into the space between light and dark, holds your hand, and reminds you that life is worth the weight of it—but you aren’t meant to carry the burden alone.
“I knew that if I didn’t make my body a suitable home, I would never have another home.”
As a trans reader who struggles with suicidal ideation, this novella hit home for me. Will especially resonated, speaking authentically of his experience as a trans man in an unaccepting family. But despite Will’s pain, Ellison prompts us to remember that there’s so much joy in trans creation and reinvention. Our bodies truly are the homes we make for ourselves, and we get to quilt them to suit our vibrant identities.
“From the outside, they’re not comparable. At all. From the inside, you’re both experiencing the deepest pain you’ve ever felt. Even if that pain is different, neither of you know how to handle it, because it’s more than it’s ever been.”
All queer people have unique stories, but almost all of us share a common experience: the feeling of being unseen.
Will and Magnolia remind readers of the power in finding those who do—who choose to see you, who choose to love you, who choose you.
I’m very excited to see what CJ does next.
(tl;dr SATIP (Survive And Thrive In Peace), Will, you would love jean moreau)
One of those stories that finds you when you need it. One that loves you back.
Ellison’s SUNSET YEAR draws you into the space between light and dark, holds your hand, and reminds you that life is worth the weight of it—but you aren’t meant to carry the burden alone.
“I knew that if I didn’t make my body a suitable home, I would never have another home.”
As a trans reader who struggles with suicidal ideation, this novella hit home for me. Will especially resonated, speaking authentically of his experience as a trans man in an unaccepting family. But despite Will’s pain, Ellison prompts us to remember that there’s so much joy in trans creation and reinvention. Our bodies truly are the homes we make for ourselves, and we get to quilt them to suit our vibrant identities.
“From the outside, they’re not comparable. At all. From the inside, you’re both experiencing the deepest pain you’ve ever felt. Even if that pain is different, neither of you know how to handle it, because it’s more than it’s ever been.”
All queer people have unique stories, but almost all of us share a common experience: the feeling of being unseen.
Will and Magnolia remind readers of the power in finding those who do—who choose to see you, who choose to love you, who choose you.
I’m very excited to see what CJ does next.
(tl;dr SATIP (Survive And Thrive In Peace), Will, you would love jean moreau)
May 19, 2025
Sunset Year is a poignant, intimate story of the life-saving power of being seen and understood. In such a short time, Ellison masterfully crafts a friendship that is both heart-wrenching and healing in one, leaving you not just rooting for Will and Magnolia, but also for yourself.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews