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Exquisite Things: An Epic Queer Love Story of Immortality and Freedom Spanning 130 Years
From Stonewall Award–winning author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) comes the epic queer love story of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?
Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.
Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.
Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?
Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.
Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
35 people are currently reading
5840 people want to read
About the author
Abdi Nazemian
13 books1,068 followersAbdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment - winner of the 2024 Stonewall Award and 2024 Lambda Literary Award - and Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book and one of Time Magazine’s Best YA Books Of All Time. He is also the author of the young adult novels Desert Echoes, The Chandler Legacies, and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the television series Ordinary Joe and The Village. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online at abdinazemian.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 1, 2025
An eternal life. That’s what some of us sometimes wish for, right? I’m afraid to die. I want to stay in this world and see with my own eyes what happens. I want to make a difference. I want to be with my loved ones. But what if they’re all gone and I’d be the only one still living? Hmmm, the world might be incredibly lonely by then.
Shahriar has huge dreams. Believes in a world that gets better over time. He’s desperate for eternal love. He’s also selfish. According to Lily, one of the side characters (but the most important one!) he’s: ”An unloved child who thinks he can remake the world in his image.”
Oliver is used to hiding. He thrives in groups where he can be himself. Needs love from other people. He’s also depressed at times. ”I always told you I was afraid. That it was the worst of my qualities.
Exquisite Things is a story about two seventeen-year-olds who find eternal life. And always stay seventeen. The concept is marvelous and only an author like Abdi Azemian can pull this off. Two POVs in three different timelines. He did it in Only This Beautiful Moment and is doing it again, a story so small and so grand at the same time.
I don’t want to say too much about it. Just know the two boys live their lives on their own—sometimes decades apart—but always find their way back to each other. The eighties timeline stood out for me the most. The harshness of that time, but also filled with so much love and music: Spandau Ballet, the Human League, David Bowie, and so many others.
Some people always look back. Nostalgic because in the past everything seemed to be better. Others live in the future, with big dreams. But maybe we should try to live more in the now, even with all the terrible stuff happening at the moment. Hold on to the ones we love. And to ourselves. Give ourselves breathing room.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 because I could’ve done with a few less adverbs in the dialogue tags.
Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this amazing ARC!
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Shahriar has huge dreams. Believes in a world that gets better over time. He’s desperate for eternal love. He’s also selfish. According to Lily, one of the side characters (but the most important one!) he’s: ”An unloved child who thinks he can remake the world in his image.”
Oliver is used to hiding. He thrives in groups where he can be himself. Needs love from other people. He’s also depressed at times. ”I always told you I was afraid. That it was the worst of my qualities.
Exquisite Things is a story about two seventeen-year-olds who find eternal life. And always stay seventeen. The concept is marvelous and only an author like Abdi Azemian can pull this off. Two POVs in three different timelines. He did it in Only This Beautiful Moment and is doing it again, a story so small and so grand at the same time.
I don’t want to say too much about it. Just know the two boys live their lives on their own—sometimes decades apart—but always find their way back to each other. The eighties timeline stood out for me the most. The harshness of that time, but also filled with so much love and music: Spandau Ballet, the Human League, David Bowie, and so many others.
Some people always look back. Nostalgic because in the past everything seemed to be better. Others live in the future, with big dreams. But maybe we should try to live more in the now, even with all the terrible stuff happening at the moment. Hold on to the ones we love. And to ourselves. Give ourselves breathing room.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 because I could’ve done with a few less adverbs in the dialogue tags.
Thank you HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this amazing ARC!
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June 4, 2025
This is a six stars book if I’ve ever seen one.
This is compared to Addie LaRue but while I do love that book this feels a lot deeper and more meaningful. I wish this was out already so everyone could read it this month, it’s the perfect read for pride month.
We follow Bran and Oliver through the decades as the world changes and evolves(or not). Bran wanted to experience love in a time he could do it freely, and he gets the opportunity by becoming immortal somehow. Upon meeting Oliver he does the same for him with the hope they could live together forever. Obviously things don’t go as swimmingly as he hoped.
This book is so well written, I underlined many parts. The descriptions are so vivid I felt like I was there. I felt the character’s helplessness and rage, their love and their hope. I am sure it will stay with me, it moved me like very few books ever did. I honestly don’t have words to describe how great it is.
Exquisite Things is about love, community, justice, prejudice, acceptance, rage, and above all, life. This feels like required reading, I urge everyone to read it once it comes out.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
This is compared to Addie LaRue but while I do love that book this feels a lot deeper and more meaningful. I wish this was out already so everyone could read it this month, it’s the perfect read for pride month.
We follow Bran and Oliver through the decades as the world changes and evolves(or not). Bran wanted to experience love in a time he could do it freely, and he gets the opportunity by becoming immortal somehow. Upon meeting Oliver he does the same for him with the hope they could live together forever. Obviously things don’t go as swimmingly as he hoped.
This book is so well written, I underlined many parts. The descriptions are so vivid I felt like I was there. I felt the character’s helplessness and rage, their love and their hope. I am sure it will stay with me, it moved me like very few books ever did. I honestly don’t have words to describe how great it is.
Exquisite Things is about love, community, justice, prejudice, acceptance, rage, and above all, life. This feels like required reading, I urge everyone to read it once it comes out.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!
September 21, 2025
E-ARC generously provided by HarperCollins Children's Books in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much.
4 stars. Containing equal amounts of beauty and philosophical musings, Exquisite Things is a decadently and delicately written queer love story centuries in the making.
4 stars. Containing equal amounts of beauty and philosophical musings, Exquisite Things is a decadently and delicately written queer love story centuries in the making.
August 7, 2025
3.5 stars. I finished Abdi Nazemian's previous novel, "Only This Beautiful Moment," exactly one year ago tomorrow, and loved it, gave it 5 stars, calling it an "exceptional book." Prior to that, I read "Like a Love Story" in late 2019, and gave that 5 stars as well. Because I had loved those two books so much, I expected more from "Exquisite Things," but didn't find the story nor its two main characters as compelling as I hoped. This was especially disappointing given that they both became immortal at age 17, one in 1895 London, right after Oscar Wilde's fall, and the other in 1920 Boston, their lives and loves becoming intertwined for the next 100+ years.
There was a lot of potential in this book and others will feel that it was realized and fulfilled. I will recommend this book to others, even if it fell short for me. And I do look forward to reading more from Nazemian, both previous books and future ones.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
There was a lot of potential in this book and others will feel that it was realized and fulfilled. I will recommend this book to others, even if it fell short for me. And I do look forward to reading more from Nazemian, both previous books and future ones.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
August 13, 2025
THIS BOOK WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. I had high hopes for it since I’ve loved multiple books from Abdi Nazemian before, but this truly knocked it out of the park. It’s a story about two queer boys, born in unaccepting times, finding each other, immortality, and getting to experience different decades in the queer community.
There were such strong depictions of time and place throughout the book. I loved getting to see the differences over the years and see how Bram and Oliver adapted. They were both extremely well fleshed out characters with individual voices. I really appreciated getting to experience both of their perspectives and see their views on immortality, love, community, family, queerness, and so much more.
This book has inspired me to look into some historical events and figures that I’m not as familiar with. I liked that Abdi Nazemian wasn’t overly explaining every reference, they felt like they were there to make the world feel full and real. While this is categorized as a YA book, I feel like it could appeal to people who aren’t typically YA readers.
Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of stories about queer community, history, and love!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There were such strong depictions of time and place throughout the book. I loved getting to see the differences over the years and see how Bram and Oliver adapted. They were both extremely well fleshed out characters with individual voices. I really appreciated getting to experience both of their perspectives and see their views on immortality, love, community, family, queerness, and so much more.
This book has inspired me to look into some historical events and figures that I’m not as familiar with. I liked that Abdi Nazemian wasn’t overly explaining every reference, they felt like they were there to make the world feel full and real. While this is categorized as a YA book, I feel like it could appeal to people who aren’t typically YA readers.
Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of stories about queer community, history, and love!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 5, 2025
Thank you Harper Collins for the advanced copy to review!
First of all - Abdi Nazemian could publish his random scribbles on paper and I’d line up to read it first. His prose is gorgeous and this book is just a stunner. I savored it because I did not want it to end. I highlighted over 130 lines on my kindle and struggled to narrow it down to 18 snippets to share.
This is a love story that spans over 100 years and it is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. I loved the dual POV and how seamlessly Abdi moved between these two characters.
It’s so easy to root for and love Shams/Bram and Oliver. It’s heartbreaking to watch Oliver’s depression and know exactly how he feels. It’s so heart wrenching to see Shams/Bram feel so lonely and finally find the person he’s meant to be with. The love story. The romance. The yearning. The sweetness. The hurt. It’s all worth it for that ending.
The importance and significance of chosen family in this cannot be overstated. It’s vital in each timeline, but wow. The 80s timeline got me good.
Every single word of this book is important and beautiful. Exquisite prose. Gorgeous storytelling. Another incredible book from @abdaddy and we are truly the lucky ones to read it.
I’ve already preordered my copy and you can too from @chevaliersbooks in LA which is Abdi’s preferred home indie!!
@abdaddy ilysm and I’m SO grateful I found your stories last year. You changed my life in all of the best ways. I’ll never stop being grateful.
First of all - Abdi Nazemian could publish his random scribbles on paper and I’d line up to read it first. His prose is gorgeous and this book is just a stunner. I savored it because I did not want it to end. I highlighted over 130 lines on my kindle and struggled to narrow it down to 18 snippets to share.
This is a love story that spans over 100 years and it is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. I loved the dual POV and how seamlessly Abdi moved between these two characters.
It’s so easy to root for and love Shams/Bram and Oliver. It’s heartbreaking to watch Oliver’s depression and know exactly how he feels. It’s so heart wrenching to see Shams/Bram feel so lonely and finally find the person he’s meant to be with. The love story. The romance. The yearning. The sweetness. The hurt. It’s all worth it for that ending.
The importance and significance of chosen family in this cannot be overstated. It’s vital in each timeline, but wow. The 80s timeline got me good.
Every single word of this book is important and beautiful. Exquisite prose. Gorgeous storytelling. Another incredible book from @abdaddy and we are truly the lucky ones to read it.
I’ve already preordered my copy and you can too from @chevaliersbooks in LA which is Abdi’s preferred home indie!!
@abdaddy ilysm and I’m SO grateful I found your stories last year. You changed my life in all of the best ways. I’ll never stop being grateful.
October 1, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up
I’m not sure what today about this book or 100 percent how I feel about it. The concept is unique — they are immortal, not vampires or anything else paranormal — just, immortal. The book is educational, too. It’s at times bleak and other times hopeful. It’s honest. It just felt almost like reading for a class instead of just a story. The author had something they wanted to say, and were very clear and repetitive (in different ways) about it. It’s a good message, a great message. Just felt like the book was more about the message and the education than the story itself in how it was written.
I’m not sure what today about this book or 100 percent how I feel about it. The concept is unique — they are immortal, not vampires or anything else paranormal — just, immortal. The book is educational, too. It’s at times bleak and other times hopeful. It’s honest. It just felt almost like reading for a class instead of just a story. The author had something they wanted to say, and were very clear and repetitive (in different ways) about it. It’s a good message, a great message. Just felt like the book was more about the message and the education than the story itself in how it was written.
Read
September 30, 2025DNF 42%.
This book is trying so hard to be an epic time traveling love story and it is falling so flat for me.
This book is trying so hard to be an epic time traveling love story and it is falling so flat for me.
Read
June 26, 2025nghhh I feel like, for me, this teetered into like SLIGHTLY too pretentious and twee for me but it had some really elegant moments and an interesting high concept. I think it'll hit for a certain flavor of pretentious gay teen (I say this with LOVE)
(for me personally Only This Beautiful Moment was the EXACT level of wordy pretentious teen character I love)
(for me personally Only This Beautiful Moment was the EXACT level of wordy pretentious teen character I love)
October 26, 2025
Very sad, very pretty. These boys had an extremely long, extremely teenage love story. Very obsessive, romantic, depression filled love. The moral of the story: Don't become immortal. Secondarily, don't become immortal at 17. Thirdly, don't force anyone else to become immortal. Fourthly, everything sucks for queer people and maybe always will. (The last one was not the point, but I felt it anyway....) :(
Read
September 18, 2025DNF @ 13%
There is several reasons I’m DNFING this book so if you would like to not be spoiled then I wouldn’t go any further.
One of our characters Shahriar is 17 and it’s 1895. He is gay and starts to have some encounters with one of the boys he goes to school with James.
Page 33
“He puts a hand on my crotch. Rubs me until I’m stiff.”
Page 45
“The hardness of his groin thrusts into me. A shocking hint of wetness in the fabric of his pants.”
They proceed to take off their pants.
Page 46
“Begs me to touch him. Lick him. Pull his hair. He grabs a necktie from his closet. Tie it around my wrists.”
“Please, make me feel powerful just for a moment. Power is so exhausting” I just want to say here I have no issue with power dynamics ,but it does make me feel weird/wrong that we are reading this in a YA novel.
James proceeds to be handcuffed and asks him to stratle him.
Page 47
“ I do it, I straddle him. Put one hand on his neck. Stroke him with the other.”
Then they are found by their parents.
I feel like this is too descriptive for a YA novel. I understand teenagers have sex, but as an adult I do not want to read about teenagers having sex. For ME, ya novels need to fade to black/not be so descriptive. Please please authors age your characters up. This story sounds like it could be such a good story, but I cannot get past these things and cannot recommend. Thank you to the publisher for sending my way.
There is several reasons I’m DNFING this book so if you would like to not be spoiled then I wouldn’t go any further.
One of our characters Shahriar is 17 and it’s 1895. He is gay and starts to have some encounters with one of the boys he goes to school with James.
Page 33
“He puts a hand on my crotch. Rubs me until I’m stiff.”
Page 45
“The hardness of his groin thrusts into me. A shocking hint of wetness in the fabric of his pants.”
They proceed to take off their pants.
Page 46
“Begs me to touch him. Lick him. Pull his hair. He grabs a necktie from his closet. Tie it around my wrists.”
“Please, make me feel powerful just for a moment. Power is so exhausting” I just want to say here I have no issue with power dynamics ,but it does make me feel weird/wrong that we are reading this in a YA novel.
James proceeds to be handcuffed and asks him to stratle him.
Page 47
“ I do it, I straddle him. Put one hand on his neck. Stroke him with the other.”
Then they are found by their parents.
I feel like this is too descriptive for a YA novel. I understand teenagers have sex, but as an adult I do not want to read about teenagers having sex. For ME, ya novels need to fade to black/not be so descriptive. Please please authors age your characters up. This story sounds like it could be such a good story, but I cannot get past these things and cannot recommend. Thank you to the publisher for sending my way.
September 29, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Exquisite Things is a romantic saga that mixes different narrative perspectives and jumps across multiple eras as it follows our two leads, Bram and Oliver (helpfully pointed out in each chapter heading). The story is not told linearly and both Bram and Oliver share narrating duties. Over the course of the book, we learn the basics of the two main characters’ backgrounds and how that has shaped them as people–for better or for worse. The changes in narrator and time also help build a story that I thought felt more engaging and intimate than it would have if it were merely arranged chronologically. There was no requirement for the different sections to match up, the breaks in time felt more weighty, and the vignettes we did see were packed with emotion. All in all, it was a great way to share Oliver and Bram’s story.
I thought this was an incredibly delightful story.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Exquisite Things is a romantic saga that mixes different narrative perspectives and jumps across multiple eras as it follows our two leads, Bram and Oliver (helpfully pointed out in each chapter heading). The story is not told linearly and both Bram and Oliver share narrating duties. Over the course of the book, we learn the basics of the two main characters’ backgrounds and how that has shaped them as people–for better or for worse. The changes in narrator and time also help build a story that I thought felt more engaging and intimate than it would have if it were merely arranged chronologically. There was no requirement for the different sections to match up, the breaks in time felt more weighty, and the vignettes we did see were packed with emotion. All in all, it was a great way to share Oliver and Bram’s story.
I thought this was an incredibly delightful story.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
August 15, 2025
4 stars
It took me a minute to get into the groove of this one, but c'mon. If you know this author, and I do, you know that's on the way. Once I was in, I was really invested in these characters' outcomes.
To me, the thought of living forever seems like a permanent nightmare, but some folks - these characters included - have a different experience. Throughout the novel, the characters explore love, acceptance, and looking for just the right scenario that will help them connect in the ways they deserve.
While the love story is compelling, I also really loved some of the ancillary characters and relationships. This took the novel to another level for me.
Though I tend to prefer this generally, I definitely advise learning as little about the plot as possible and enjoying the revelations as they arrive.
This is another great effort from an author I consistently enjoy.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
It took me a minute to get into the groove of this one, but c'mon. If you know this author, and I do, you know that's on the way. Once I was in, I was really invested in these characters' outcomes.
To me, the thought of living forever seems like a permanent nightmare, but some folks - these characters included - have a different experience. Throughout the novel, the characters explore love, acceptance, and looking for just the right scenario that will help them connect in the ways they deserve.
While the love story is compelling, I also really loved some of the ancillary characters and relationships. This took the novel to another level for me.
Though I tend to prefer this generally, I definitely advise learning as little about the plot as possible and enjoying the revelations as they arrive.
This is another great effort from an author I consistently enjoy.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 21, 2025
Beautiful writing and a powerful message of being your true self and of a love that lasts the test of time. Set in three different eras (late 1800s, prohibition and 1980’s), this story follows the attraction of undeniable connection between Shahriar/Sham/Bram and Oliver and how they navigate the confines of society on their M/M romance during those times. This is touted as perfect for fans of Addie LaRue and I would agree. I was captivated with the beautiful prose, the plot and theme, and the character arcs.
Thanks to Epic Reads and Harper Collin’s for the gifted arc.
Thanks to Epic Reads and Harper Collin’s for the gifted arc.
Want to read
May 23, 2025think i might already be obsessed with this
August 30, 2025
Recently received an ARC at the ALA Conference!
This book was simply INCREDIBLE. When it comes out in September you MUST run—don't walk, run—and buy it.
The timelines in 1895, 1920, 1980, and 2025 offer such unique gemstones about the beauty (and in some cases ugliness) that life has to offer. There are major ups and major downs in this book. Nazemian also weaves in this incredibly cultured backdrop to each of the times. The pieces about Oscar Wilde trials and the green carnations were so enlightening, but terrifyingly showcased the turns society can take against people. The relationship between Oliver and his mother in the 1920s was so heartwarming. The twists and turns of the 1980s really give you hope and break your heart, but heal it again—well, kind of. The 2025 chapters are all cliffhangers and filled with twists, that leaving you wanting more, but leaving you filled with so much joy in the end. Oliver and Shahriar a love so strong, it leads to learning exquisite things. Best book, I've read in AGES!
This book was simply INCREDIBLE. When it comes out in September you MUST run—don't walk, run—and buy it.
The timelines in 1895, 1920, 1980, and 2025 offer such unique gemstones about the beauty (and in some cases ugliness) that life has to offer. There are major ups and major downs in this book. Nazemian also weaves in this incredibly cultured backdrop to each of the times. The pieces about Oscar Wilde trials and the green carnations were so enlightening, but terrifyingly showcased the turns society can take against people. The relationship between Oliver and his mother in the 1920s was so heartwarming. The twists and turns of the 1980s really give you hope and break your heart, but heal it again—well, kind of. The 2025 chapters are all cliffhangers and filled with twists, that leaving you wanting more, but leaving you filled with so much joy in the end. Oliver and Shahriar a love so strong, it leads to learning exquisite things. Best book, I've read in AGES!
December 12, 2025
4 1/2 stars. I loved this book & even though I loved the characters they sometimes really pissed me off. Looking forward to this author’s next story.
November 29, 2025
one of the best books i’ve read in a long time. absolutely…exquisite.
December 18, 2025
Interesting story and characters but the structure didn't work for me. It felt like the story had been chopped up and put back together out of order to camouflage the many plot holes. It didn't help. Nevertheless there is a sweet story with lessons learned hiding amongst the pages.
If you haven't read this author, check out Only This Beautiful Moment. It's much better.
If you haven't read this author, check out Only This Beautiful Moment. It's much better.
December 5, 2025
The story of Bram and Oliver living for decades as they don’t age is a compelling love story. The book is a bit heavy-handed in its descriptions of history and LGBTQ+ issues in the late 20th century. At times, it seemed to be a teachable moment rather than an entertaining story. Perhaps this is a function of writing for a YA audience — I’m not sure. Also, despite the fact that they don’t physically age, one would think the characters would mentally advance over time, yet they always act like petulant teenagers.
September 23, 2025
Real Rating: 3.75* of five
The Publisher Says: From Stonewall Award–winning author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) comes the epic queer love story of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished for: the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?
Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.
Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: It's a tale as old as time: boy longs for True Love; the gods hear him, and grant his wish, with the catch that he can't have him; something, no specific Power attached, says "...but you will live to meet him," and Oscar's your uncle you're living out Dorian Gray's life!
Immortality seems a terrible curse to me, when plodding through another Thursday can feel like Hell or at least Purgatory. In this case, at least poor Shahriyar (I went to high school with a queer guy named Shahriyar, wonder whatever became of him?)...going by Shams makes a lot of sense to me with a name like that in Anglophone, Victorian London, better still Bram...gets rewarded by living through very, very interesting times indeed.
The central thesis of the immortality...thing...seemed to me to have a sharp cutting edge in freezing the boys at seventeen. How awful to have adult-strength emotions, unmitigated by adult perspective! The angsty solipsism of eternal youth sounds horrifying to my closer-to-70-than-50 self. We follow them through three timelines in their immortal journey, and spend enough time in each to know they *are* seventeen in them all. It presents the expected problems...remember your dating life at seventeen? *shudder*...but the basic truth of Bram/Shahriyar and Oliver's lives is that they are in love with each other. Men come, men go, but these boys come back into orbit around each other because they're each made the way the other needs a man to be.
It takes forever, it seems, but they own up to their own nonsense and discuss their love of each others' essence, so a lot of the silly acting out does get dealt with. It's thus not purely the angsty nonsense of trying to figure out what works. A lot of time spent doing it, though....
I had procedural questions like I always do in immortality stories...how'd they survive the 1980s with databases and licenses and passports and birth certificates? how'd they get bank accounts? credit cards?...but mostly this book is for the reader to enjoy True Love that withstands the fallibility and failings of human beings. The supporting cast is a hoot and a holler. I think any one of 'em would tentpole a novella at least! Still, my niggles lost a half-star off the read. I wasn't swept up enough not to notice them until I thought about it after the read; these were in-the-moment grumbles.
My reason for dropping the majority of fifth star, though, was the ending...cramming way too much into way too little space made me feel like the author saw someone over my shoulder he'd rather talk to and just dropped me. Either adding 50-60 more pages onto this book or splitting the story and make it two volumes would address that rushed, inelegant ending.
Good fun was had, a very satisfying evening of smiling nodding shouting at the pages...not perfect, but what is?
The Publisher Says: From Stonewall Award–winning author Abdi Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment) comes the epic queer love story of a lifetime. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. All he’s ever wanted is to love and be loved, but 1895 London doesn’t offer him the freedom to be his true self, and Oscar Wilde’s trial for gross indecency has only reaffirmed that. But one night—and one writer—will grant Shahriar what he’s always wished for: the opportunity to live in a time and place where he can love freely. Rechristened as Shams and then as Bram, he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can anything truly be eternal?
Oliver doesn’t feel that 1920s Boston gives him a lot of options to be his full self. He knows he could only ever love another boy, but that would break his beloved mother’s heart. Oliver finds freedom and acceptance in the secret queer community at Harvard that his cousin introduces him to. When he meets a mysterious boy with eyes as warm as a flame, his life is irrevocably changed, forever.
Spanning one hundred and thirty years of love and longing, this tale of immortal beloveds searching for their perfect place and time is a vibrant hymn to the beauty of being alive, a celebration of queer love and community, and a reminder that behind every tragic thing that ever existed, there is something exquisite.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: It's a tale as old as time: boy longs for True Love; the gods hear him, and grant his wish, with the catch that he can't have him; something, no specific Power attached, says "...but you will live to meet him," and Oscar's your uncle you're living out Dorian Gray's life!
Immortality seems a terrible curse to me, when plodding through another Thursday can feel like Hell or at least Purgatory. In this case, at least poor Shahriyar (I went to high school with a queer guy named Shahriyar, wonder whatever became of him?)...going by Shams makes a lot of sense to me with a name like that in Anglophone, Victorian London, better still Bram...gets rewarded by living through very, very interesting times indeed.
The central thesis of the immortality...thing...seemed to me to have a sharp cutting edge in freezing the boys at seventeen. How awful to have adult-strength emotions, unmitigated by adult perspective! The angsty solipsism of eternal youth sounds horrifying to my closer-to-70-than-50 self. We follow them through three timelines in their immortal journey, and spend enough time in each to know they *are* seventeen in them all. It presents the expected problems...remember your dating life at seventeen? *shudder*...but the basic truth of Bram/Shahriyar and Oliver's lives is that they are in love with each other. Men come, men go, but these boys come back into orbit around each other because they're each made the way the other needs a man to be.
It takes forever, it seems, but they own up to their own nonsense and discuss their love of each others' essence, so a lot of the silly acting out does get dealt with. It's thus not purely the angsty nonsense of trying to figure out what works. A lot of time spent doing it, though....
I had procedural questions like I always do in immortality stories...how'd they survive the 1980s with databases and licenses and passports and birth certificates? how'd they get bank accounts? credit cards?...but mostly this book is for the reader to enjoy True Love that withstands the fallibility and failings of human beings. The supporting cast is a hoot and a holler. I think any one of 'em would tentpole a novella at least! Still, my niggles lost a half-star off the read. I wasn't swept up enough not to notice them until I thought about it after the read; these were in-the-moment grumbles.
My reason for dropping the majority of fifth star, though, was the ending...cramming way too much into way too little space made me feel like the author saw someone over my shoulder he'd rather talk to and just dropped me. Either adding 50-60 more pages onto this book or splitting the story and make it two volumes would address that rushed, inelegant ending.
Good fun was had, a very satisfying evening of smiling nodding shouting at the pages...not perfect, but what is?
September 9, 2025
In 1895 London, Shahriar didn't have the freedom to be himself. He has romantic and sexual interest in men. Witnessing Oscar Wilde’s trial for indecency increases Shahriar’s worry. But, he’s then given the chance to live in a time where people like him are accepted. He takes it, and is eternally happy, becoming Shams then Bram, but he’s realizing that his eternal happiness isn't truly long lasting. He is now immortally 17.
Oliver also restricts his own identity in 1920s Boston. He loves men, but his sexuality would only disappoint his family. His cousin goes to Harvard and is part of a secret queer community. Oliver joins his cousin at social gatherings and feels more comfortable exploring his identity. He meets a boy with flame in his eyes, and knows his life will change forever.
This love story is one hundred and thirty years long. The yearning that spans across eras displays the complexities of queer love in an unaccepting landscape.
This was a fun, historically educational read. I haven’t read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but from what I’ve heard about it, Exquisite Things does have some of the same elements. I enjoyed learning about queer history and how queer experiences have changed over time.
The overall theme of the story is that there is never a right time for love. Waiting just delays happiness. Sure, your circumstances might not be perfect, but what’s the alternative? Becoming immortal and waiting for a more accepting time period? Unfortunately us readers don’t have that option.
I wish the story was happier. It’s what’s holding me back from calling this a romance book. I know it had happy moments but overall it was hurt with little comfort. Oliver and Shams are teenagers so of course they’re not going to be fully emotionally mature…but 17 year olds are capable of talking about their feelings. If the characters sat down and just had an honest conversation with each other, this would have been a novella, a short story, or dare I say, it wouldn’t have been written at all.
Their romance is never really examined closely. It’s just two boys that are “in love” with each other because they found each other in an unaccepting environment at the right time, and they’re attracted to each other. The lack of depth made it hard for me to root for them. At some point I stopped looking forward to the “romantic” moments, since it didn’t seem like there was any fluff, and enjoyed learning about queer history more instead. Shams and Oliver trying to figure out how to reverse their immortality aside, I found myself questioning why they’re still trying to talk to each other. They’re not the only gay boys alive. They can find other people.
This book being categorized under “Children’s Fiction” (at least on NetGalley) is throwing me off. I would recommend this for media literate older teens at the youngest. But elementary, middle schoolers, or young high schoolers...no. My paragraphs below provide some context for my opinion.
The little amount of remorse shown from Shams after he made Oliver immortal without his consent was pretty weird. Shams finally feels bad towards the end of the book and apologies. Maybe the queer history topics took over and the author forgot about this plot line, then shoved an apology in towards the end? Shams lack of introspection about this made it hard for me to root for him as a main character.
Shams being 17, living for 50 years (making him technically 67), and then hitting on 17 year old Oliver and making him immortal so they can be together forever…That just felt unnecessary. There could have been other ways to create an angsty, one hundred and thirty year long romance without involving underage teens and issues of consent.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Abdi Nazemian for providing me with the ARC ebook through NetGalley for this review.
Oliver also restricts his own identity in 1920s Boston. He loves men, but his sexuality would only disappoint his family. His cousin goes to Harvard and is part of a secret queer community. Oliver joins his cousin at social gatherings and feels more comfortable exploring his identity. He meets a boy with flame in his eyes, and knows his life will change forever.
This love story is one hundred and thirty years long. The yearning that spans across eras displays the complexities of queer love in an unaccepting landscape.
This was a fun, historically educational read. I haven’t read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but from what I’ve heard about it, Exquisite Things does have some of the same elements. I enjoyed learning about queer history and how queer experiences have changed over time.
The overall theme of the story is that there is never a right time for love. Waiting just delays happiness. Sure, your circumstances might not be perfect, but what’s the alternative? Becoming immortal and waiting for a more accepting time period? Unfortunately us readers don’t have that option.
I wish the story was happier. It’s what’s holding me back from calling this a romance book. I know it had happy moments but overall it was hurt with little comfort. Oliver and Shams are teenagers so of course they’re not going to be fully emotionally mature…but 17 year olds are capable of talking about their feelings. If the characters sat down and just had an honest conversation with each other, this would have been a novella, a short story, or dare I say, it wouldn’t have been written at all.
Their romance is never really examined closely. It’s just two boys that are “in love” with each other because they found each other in an unaccepting environment at the right time, and they’re attracted to each other. The lack of depth made it hard for me to root for them. At some point I stopped looking forward to the “romantic” moments, since it didn’t seem like there was any fluff, and enjoyed learning about queer history more instead. Shams and Oliver trying to figure out how to reverse their immortality aside, I found myself questioning why they’re still trying to talk to each other. They’re not the only gay boys alive. They can find other people.
This book being categorized under “Children’s Fiction” (at least on NetGalley) is throwing me off. I would recommend this for media literate older teens at the youngest. But elementary, middle schoolers, or young high schoolers...no. My paragraphs below provide some context for my opinion.
The little amount of remorse shown from Shams after he made Oliver immortal without his consent was pretty weird. Shams finally feels bad towards the end of the book and apologies. Maybe the queer history topics took over and the author forgot about this plot line, then shoved an apology in towards the end? Shams lack of introspection about this made it hard for me to root for him as a main character.
Shams being 17, living for 50 years (making him technically 67), and then hitting on 17 year old Oliver and making him immortal so they can be together forever…That just felt unnecessary. There could have been other ways to create an angsty, one hundred and thirty year long romance without involving underage teens and issues of consent.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Abdi Nazemian for providing me with the ARC ebook through NetGalley for this review.
September 10, 2025
***Thank you to HarperCollins for providing an advanced copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***
This was another emotional and poignant story from Nazemian. There is so much to unpack from the narrative in Exquisite Things. First and foremost, though, this was a story about longing. Yes. There was quite a bit of pining between the two main characters. However, the beating heart of this novel was the exploration of longing for a perfect world where everyone can live and love as their authentic selves. Through the story of Bram and Oliver, an important message emerges. Nothing is perfect, but it shouldn’t stop us from living today and working to build a better tomorrow.
So many sad things happened in Exquisite Things, but the story was ultimately about hope. Queer joy and resilience were a major focus, and the characters experienced a myriad of positive and beautiful relationships that highlighted many different types of love. The emphasis on community and building a found family was possibly my favorite thing about the book. Importantly, the difficult things did not erase the good experiences or undermine their impact on the main characters. If anything, they strengthened them.
Queer history was also a huge part of Exquisite Things. From Oscar Wilde to London riots in the 1980s and beyond, this story spanned over a hundred years, and it took advantage of the main characters’ longevity to show the struggles of queer people at different points. Young people will learn so much history just from reading this book. It is truly needed at this point in time as the banning and erasure of this history is back at the forefront of political discussion and policy. Many of the events, writers, artists, and musicians highlighted in the book really illustrated the power of speaking the supposed unspeakable and living one’s life as a means of resistance.
Finally, I want to spend a minute talking about the main characters of Exquisite Things, Bram and Oliver. Bram wanted nothing more than to live in a time and place where he could love openly and live authentically. Unfortunately, he was also quite selfish. Oliver loved his mother and only wanted to take care of her and make her happy, even if his own life and desires were squashed in the process. Both boys dreamed of having a life together, but their dynamic was actually super toxic. They never really grew up despite all of their years because their development was halted at 17. The inability to change for so long ended up being more of a curse than a blessing. I understood why each of them did the things they did, but I didn’t really like their romance all that much.
Overall, this was another exceptional story from Abdi Nazemian. The history packed into this novel makes it worth a read on its own. However, the focus on queer joy amidst the struggles and the importance of living for today also stood out. The central romance was far from my favorite thing about the story, but it worked well enough to drive home the major messages of the narrative and felt congruent with how a couple of 17-year-olds would behave. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
This was another emotional and poignant story from Nazemian. There is so much to unpack from the narrative in Exquisite Things. First and foremost, though, this was a story about longing. Yes. There was quite a bit of pining between the two main characters. However, the beating heart of this novel was the exploration of longing for a perfect world where everyone can live and love as their authentic selves. Through the story of Bram and Oliver, an important message emerges. Nothing is perfect, but it shouldn’t stop us from living today and working to build a better tomorrow.
So many sad things happened in Exquisite Things, but the story was ultimately about hope. Queer joy and resilience were a major focus, and the characters experienced a myriad of positive and beautiful relationships that highlighted many different types of love. The emphasis on community and building a found family was possibly my favorite thing about the book. Importantly, the difficult things did not erase the good experiences or undermine their impact on the main characters. If anything, they strengthened them.
Queer history was also a huge part of Exquisite Things. From Oscar Wilde to London riots in the 1980s and beyond, this story spanned over a hundred years, and it took advantage of the main characters’ longevity to show the struggles of queer people at different points. Young people will learn so much history just from reading this book. It is truly needed at this point in time as the banning and erasure of this history is back at the forefront of political discussion and policy. Many of the events, writers, artists, and musicians highlighted in the book really illustrated the power of speaking the supposed unspeakable and living one’s life as a means of resistance.
Finally, I want to spend a minute talking about the main characters of Exquisite Things, Bram and Oliver. Bram wanted nothing more than to live in a time and place where he could love openly and live authentically. Unfortunately, he was also quite selfish. Oliver loved his mother and only wanted to take care of her and make her happy, even if his own life and desires were squashed in the process. Both boys dreamed of having a life together, but their dynamic was actually super toxic. They never really grew up despite all of their years because their development was halted at 17. The inability to change for so long ended up being more of a curse than a blessing. I understood why each of them did the things they did, but I didn’t really like their romance all that much.
Overall, this was another exceptional story from Abdi Nazemian. The history packed into this novel makes it worth a read on its own. However, the focus on queer joy amidst the struggles and the importance of living for today also stood out. The central romance was far from my favorite thing about the story, but it worked well enough to drive home the major messages of the narrative and felt congruent with how a couple of 17-year-olds would behave. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
October 20, 2025
This is a book about two immortal gay boys and their (epic?) hundred years long story of love, hate, pain, resentment, hope, healing, and self discovery.
While Shahriar/Shams/Bram was clearly intended to be the focal point of this story, it is Oliver that managed to steal the spotlight -- and my heart -- by being one of the most beautifully complex, empathetic, self aware, and emotionally intelligent characters I've encountered in a long time.
He wasn't perfect by any means, but he never shied away from acknowledging his blind spots and checking the privileges afforded to him by his gender and his whiteness.
As for Bram, I spent the near totality of this book literally wanting to slap him across his cunty little face.
Seriously, what an insufferable little twat!
He was selfish, narcissistic, pedantic, condescending, controlling, full of hubris, and showed little to no sign of growth whatsoever throughout this story, except at the very end of it all.
I get why he was the way he was, and in some situations, I could even empathize with him deeply. But how many times do you need to be told of your many, many flaws, and how much harm do you need to cause over the course of a century and a half to understand that you're the problem?
He did understand in the end, but at what cost to poor Oliver?
There wasn't a single moment of their century-long relationship where Oliver didn't deserve better than him. But the heart wants what it wants, I suppose.
Contrary to what the publisher's marketing team would have you believe, there actually isn't much in terms of romance in the book and that's fine because romance was ostensibly never meant to be the central theme of this story -- although I wouldn't have minded a bit more of it in the final chapters.
At its core, this is a book about queer liberation, civil rights struggles, self love, grief, lost family, and found family; and on these fronts, it delivered superbly.
I do feel that the ending, while logical, was a quite rushed and the final resolution achieved much too quickly to be fully meaningful.
That last family conversation in particular needed to be way longer and much more emotionally charged than it was.
A little epilogue on Oliver and Brams' later lives wouldn't have been amiss as well.
In any case, Bram got let off the hook a little too easy for my liking -- but hey, at least he matured a bit in the end. Ish.
This book is filled with wonderful, beautifully fleshed out side characters. Lily, Maud, Archie, Brendan, Mother, they were all amazing!
Even Tobi, who we only ever meet in passing, read oh so beautifully.
Even - dare I say it - Jack!
Even James, whose trajectory in life eerily, though unsurprisingly, closely mirrors Jack's.
I liked how the story was seamlessly weaved within the larger context of queer history and Black history, while also touching on many other important political themes, and referencing some crucial historical events we should all know about with power and intention.
Finally, this book contains some of the most exquisite and striking prose I've read all year in any genre. This is Abdi Nazemian at his very best.
4.5 stars.
I warmly recommend.
While Shahriar/Shams/Bram was clearly intended to be the focal point of this story, it is Oliver that managed to steal the spotlight -- and my heart -- by being one of the most beautifully complex, empathetic, self aware, and emotionally intelligent characters I've encountered in a long time.
He wasn't perfect by any means, but he never shied away from acknowledging his blind spots and checking the privileges afforded to him by his gender and his whiteness.
As for Bram, I spent the near totality of this book literally wanting to slap him across his cunty little face.
Seriously, what an insufferable little twat!
He was selfish, narcissistic, pedantic, condescending, controlling, full of hubris, and showed little to no sign of growth whatsoever throughout this story, except at the very end of it all.
I get why he was the way he was, and in some situations, I could even empathize with him deeply. But how many times do you need to be told of your many, many flaws, and how much harm do you need to cause over the course of a century and a half to understand that you're the problem?
He did understand in the end, but at what cost to poor Oliver?
There wasn't a single moment of their century-long relationship where Oliver didn't deserve better than him. But the heart wants what it wants, I suppose.
Contrary to what the publisher's marketing team would have you believe, there actually isn't much in terms of romance in the book and that's fine because romance was ostensibly never meant to be the central theme of this story -- although I wouldn't have minded a bit more of it in the final chapters.
At its core, this is a book about queer liberation, civil rights struggles, self love, grief, lost family, and found family; and on these fronts, it delivered superbly.
I do feel that the ending, while logical, was a quite rushed and the final resolution achieved much too quickly to be fully meaningful.
That last family conversation in particular needed to be way longer and much more emotionally charged than it was.
A little epilogue on Oliver and Brams' later lives wouldn't have been amiss as well.
In any case, Bram got let off the hook a little too easy for my liking -- but hey, at least he matured a bit in the end. Ish.
This book is filled with wonderful, beautifully fleshed out side characters. Lily, Maud, Archie, Brendan, Mother, they were all amazing!
Even Tobi, who we only ever meet in passing, read oh so beautifully.
Even - dare I say it - Jack!
Even James, whose trajectory in life eerily, though unsurprisingly, closely mirrors Jack's.
I liked how the story was seamlessly weaved within the larger context of queer history and Black history, while also touching on many other important political themes, and referencing some crucial historical events we should all know about with power and intention.
Finally, this book contains some of the most exquisite and striking prose I've read all year in any genre. This is Abdi Nazemian at his very best.
4.5 stars.
I warmly recommend.
August 25, 2025
Initial Thoughts:
Honestly, I should have read the synopsis before diving in—I didn’t realize the immortality aspect until around the same time Oliver did, which is when the story really found its footing. At its core, this is a beautiful and complicated love story that explores queerness, especially being gay, and the feeling of never truly belonging. I wish Nazemian had spent more time on the years Bram and Oliver were apart, and how they survived undocumented, but I get that this is primarily a romance. The author clearly did their research; LGBTQ+ history—especially from the 1980s—is woven throughout. While some elements, like conversion therapy, felt rushed, the overall narrative stayed focused on the central love story.
Plot and Writing:
The novel spans three timelines—1895, the 1920s, and the 1980s—with a brief stop in 2025. While the earlier timelines provide necessary backstory, it’s the 1980s that deliver the heart of the novel, where Bram and Oliver reunite amidst major LGBTQ+ movements. The alternating POVs between Bram and Oliver helped the pace, but sometimes I wished I was in the other character’s head—especially during emotional scenes. The writing leaned heavily into lyrical and intellectual tones, which occasionally came off as pretentious. I found myself wanting more everyday moments and emotional nuance, rather than constant historical context or philosophical musings. The LGBTQ+ history was meaningful, but sometimes overshadowed the actual relationship.
Characters:
Bram—aka Shahriar/Shams—has lived for over a century, yet still approaches the world with a golden-retriever optimism that feels slightly unrealistic given his experiences. While well-meaning, his decision to make Oliver immortal felt selfish, and I wanted to see him grapple more with that. His naivety made him lovable but hard to relate to.
Oliver, on the other hand, was much more emotionally complex. His likely undiagnosed depression and deep sense of loss made him the more grounded of the two. He didn’t choose immortality, and that conflict was one of the strongest parts of his character arc. I would’ve loved more of his early years living with that burden—more grief, more struggle—because those moments felt ripe for exploration.
Conclusion:
At times this novel teeters on the edge of being too lofty for its teenage protagonists, but it’s ultimately a sweeping story about queer love, found family, and the long fight for acceptance. It’s a slow burn, but one that’s worth it for readers who enjoy emotionally charged romance rooted in history and identity.
Honestly, I should have read the synopsis before diving in—I didn’t realize the immortality aspect until around the same time Oliver did, which is when the story really found its footing. At its core, this is a beautiful and complicated love story that explores queerness, especially being gay, and the feeling of never truly belonging. I wish Nazemian had spent more time on the years Bram and Oliver were apart, and how they survived undocumented, but I get that this is primarily a romance. The author clearly did their research; LGBTQ+ history—especially from the 1980s—is woven throughout. While some elements, like conversion therapy, felt rushed, the overall narrative stayed focused on the central love story.
Plot and Writing:
The novel spans three timelines—1895, the 1920s, and the 1980s—with a brief stop in 2025. While the earlier timelines provide necessary backstory, it’s the 1980s that deliver the heart of the novel, where Bram and Oliver reunite amidst major LGBTQ+ movements. The alternating POVs between Bram and Oliver helped the pace, but sometimes I wished I was in the other character’s head—especially during emotional scenes. The writing leaned heavily into lyrical and intellectual tones, which occasionally came off as pretentious. I found myself wanting more everyday moments and emotional nuance, rather than constant historical context or philosophical musings. The LGBTQ+ history was meaningful, but sometimes overshadowed the actual relationship.
Characters:
Bram—aka Shahriar/Shams—has lived for over a century, yet still approaches the world with a golden-retriever optimism that feels slightly unrealistic given his experiences. While well-meaning, his decision to make Oliver immortal felt selfish, and I wanted to see him grapple more with that. His naivety made him lovable but hard to relate to.
Oliver, on the other hand, was much more emotionally complex. His likely undiagnosed depression and deep sense of loss made him the more grounded of the two. He didn’t choose immortality, and that conflict was one of the strongest parts of his character arc. I would’ve loved more of his early years living with that burden—more grief, more struggle—because those moments felt ripe for exploration.
Conclusion:
At times this novel teeters on the edge of being too lofty for its teenage protagonists, but it’s ultimately a sweeping story about queer love, found family, and the long fight for acceptance. It’s a slow burn, but one that’s worth it for readers who enjoy emotionally charged romance rooted in history and identity.
September 20, 2025
Exquisite Things is one of those books that I know I'm going to be thinking about for months to come. It's a beautiful journey through queer history that has some powerful messages.
There's so much to love about this book, and I don't want to share too much and spoil the story, so I'll stick to just a few highlights:
- There are four main timelines: three different historical eras and the present day. The 2025 storyline doesn't delve into politics or current events, but the previous storylines do. In each of the past timelines, we see the challenges that queer people faced and the communities that rose to support and protect them. There's a truly moving theme of how queer and other marginalized people are stronger together that echoes throughout the book.
- This could be a very educational read, especially for younger readers.
- There's a heavy focus on art and how stories and music have both served as a refuge and an act of defiance by queer people. Oscar Wilde's works, especially The Picture of Dorian Grey, get a lot of focus, but so do many other poets, musicians, and music genres. I had a lot of fun listening to some of the music mentioned as I read!
- The romance is on-again-off-again with a lot of heavy baggage at times. Still, I ended up rooting for them through all their difficulties.
- Besides romantic love, there's also a theme of familial love, especially maternal love. Oliver and his mother's closeness is a key part of one timeline, and we later meet a trans woman who takes on a motherly role. Both moms are delightful characters, and I found their love for their children (and the love their children have for them) to be so beautiful.
- Many of the themes of this book feel timely. If the current state of the world has you feeling hopeless, this might be just the book for you. I read this as I've been struggling with increasing anxiety about the state of my country, and somehow this made me feel more optimistic.
Exquisite Things is ultimately a beautiful, hopeful, and powerful story that treks through some of the worst and most dangerous times for LGBTQIAP+ people. There's a romance that drives the story, but the most interesting aspect of this book is the history it explores and the lessons we can take from it.
* I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to NetGalley & the publisher. *
There's so much to love about this book, and I don't want to share too much and spoil the story, so I'll stick to just a few highlights:
- There are four main timelines: three different historical eras and the present day. The 2025 storyline doesn't delve into politics or current events, but the previous storylines do. In each of the past timelines, we see the challenges that queer people faced and the communities that rose to support and protect them. There's a truly moving theme of how queer and other marginalized people are stronger together that echoes throughout the book.
- This could be a very educational read, especially for younger readers.
- There's a heavy focus on art and how stories and music have both served as a refuge and an act of defiance by queer people. Oscar Wilde's works, especially The Picture of Dorian Grey, get a lot of focus, but so do many other poets, musicians, and music genres. I had a lot of fun listening to some of the music mentioned as I read!
- The romance is on-again-off-again with a lot of heavy baggage at times. Still, I ended up rooting for them through all their difficulties.
- Besides romantic love, there's also a theme of familial love, especially maternal love. Oliver and his mother's closeness is a key part of one timeline, and we later meet a trans woman who takes on a motherly role. Both moms are delightful characters, and I found their love for their children (and the love their children have for them) to be so beautiful.
- Many of the themes of this book feel timely. If the current state of the world has you feeling hopeless, this might be just the book for you. I read this as I've been struggling with increasing anxiety about the state of my country, and somehow this made me feel more optimistic.
Exquisite Things is ultimately a beautiful, hopeful, and powerful story that treks through some of the worst and most dangerous times for LGBTQIAP+ people. There's a romance that drives the story, but the most interesting aspect of this book is the history it explores and the lessons we can take from it.
* I received an advanced copy of this book for free, thanks to NetGalley & the publisher. *
did-not-finish
September 11, 2025Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC!
Shahriar is gay and growing up in London in 1895 - an era where he can’t love freely. He longs to escape his circumstances and love another boy out loud. One fateful moment makes him immortal, promising that one day he might get his wish.
Oliver is gay and growing up in 1920s Boston. Like Shahriar, Oliver longs to not hide his love for another boy. He meets Shahriar, rechristened as Shams, and they quickly fall for each other. Shams asks Oliver if we’d like to live in an era where they can love each other freely. Oliver says yes and Shams makes him immortal too - without his consent or knowledge.
Over 130 years, the boys meet again and again. In present day 2025 London, it is safer than it’s ever been to be gay but will Oliver be able to forgive Shams, now Bram, and love him for the world to see?
As a big fan of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and immortals in general, I was looking forward to another book about immortal life - this time two gay teenagers. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this one at 43%. The driving force behind Exquisite Things is the love between Shahriar and Oliver yet I found it near impossible to root for them. They fall for each other instantly, which is something I always struggle to get on board with. Most of their time together happens off page, making the scene where they tell each other they love each other for the first time seem incredibly sudden. As soon as Shahriar made Oliver immortal without his consent, I knew I wouldn’t be able to root for them romantically.
While there’s not much to Shahriar as a character from what I read, I enjoyed Oliver as a character. He’s incredibly sweet and I loved his relationship with his mother. I also liked the use of Oscar Wilde and his works in the story.
The real nail in the coffin for me that made me DNF it was the dialogue and the heavyhandedness of the themes. The dialogue is incredibly overwrought and dramatic. The themes, while incredibly important, are spelt out for us with no subtlety.
I’m sad because this book had so much promise! I will continue my hunt for a favorite book about LGBTQ+ immortals. I know it’s out there!
Shahriar is gay and growing up in London in 1895 - an era where he can’t love freely. He longs to escape his circumstances and love another boy out loud. One fateful moment makes him immortal, promising that one day he might get his wish.
Oliver is gay and growing up in 1920s Boston. Like Shahriar, Oliver longs to not hide his love for another boy. He meets Shahriar, rechristened as Shams, and they quickly fall for each other. Shams asks Oliver if we’d like to live in an era where they can love each other freely. Oliver says yes and Shams makes him immortal too - without his consent or knowledge.
Over 130 years, the boys meet again and again. In present day 2025 London, it is safer than it’s ever been to be gay but will Oliver be able to forgive Shams, now Bram, and love him for the world to see?
As a big fan of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and immortals in general, I was looking forward to another book about immortal life - this time two gay teenagers. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this one at 43%. The driving force behind Exquisite Things is the love between Shahriar and Oliver yet I found it near impossible to root for them. They fall for each other instantly, which is something I always struggle to get on board with. Most of their time together happens off page, making the scene where they tell each other they love each other for the first time seem incredibly sudden. As soon as Shahriar made Oliver immortal without his consent, I knew I wouldn’t be able to root for them romantically.
While there’s not much to Shahriar as a character from what I read, I enjoyed Oliver as a character. He’s incredibly sweet and I loved his relationship with his mother. I also liked the use of Oscar Wilde and his works in the story.
The real nail in the coffin for me that made me DNF it was the dialogue and the heavyhandedness of the themes. The dialogue is incredibly overwrought and dramatic. The themes, while incredibly important, are spelt out for us with no subtlety.
I’m sad because this book had so much promise! I will continue my hunt for a favorite book about LGBTQ+ immortals. I know it’s out there!
October 22, 2025
While not listed or marketed as a YA novel, this often reads as one. The author is a highly successful creator of several other queer-positive YA books, none of which I have read. (I'm 67.) The story spans over a hundred years in the "life" of two young men who are forever 17 years old, through a fluke involving Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray.
Bram (as he is known the the latter era) and Oliver (same name throughout) are just emerging as young gay during the heady days of Cambridge in 1920. Harvard College has a thriving, flamboyant gay culture, abd they are drawn into that universe. But the Harvard gay "witch hunt" trials force many into hiding; some will commit suicide. Others, like Bram and Oliver, will simply flee. But in the course of events, Shahriar (later Bram) has become ageless; without Oliver's consent, Bram makes Oliver immortal, as well. It's a fairly shocking act for a relationship that is budding, at best. Oliver rejects Shahriar's actions, and the two separate for decades, with only occasional efforts to connect.
London in the 1980s, another troubled time. Margaret Thatcher is the prime minister, gentrification has seized London, and there's always anti-black sentiment, now focused on the multi-ethnic neighborhood of Brixton. This is Bram's latest refuge. Through the years, he has barely kept even; unlike most immortal myths, he has not become fabulously wealthy in some remote hiding place. After years of avoiding one another, Bram and Oliver reconnect, and their love can finally flourish in an environment of acceptance.
But their lives remain deeply complicated; how long can they stay anywhere before their friends notice that they never age? I will say no more, since this challenge is what drives the narrative of the book.
I grew more and more fond of Bram as he tries repeatedly to find a way to prove worthy of Oliver's love. But the jumps in time are frustrating; how did each man-boy survive the intervening decades? It's all just a bit too glib.
A truly engaging premise, but a little more depth would have made it much more moving. Fast read, though; I finished it during one rainy weekend.
Bram (as he is known the the latter era) and Oliver (same name throughout) are just emerging as young gay during the heady days of Cambridge in 1920. Harvard College has a thriving, flamboyant gay culture, abd they are drawn into that universe. But the Harvard gay "witch hunt" trials force many into hiding; some will commit suicide. Others, like Bram and Oliver, will simply flee. But in the course of events, Shahriar (later Bram) has become ageless; without Oliver's consent, Bram makes Oliver immortal, as well. It's a fairly shocking act for a relationship that is budding, at best. Oliver rejects Shahriar's actions, and the two separate for decades, with only occasional efforts to connect.
London in the 1980s, another troubled time. Margaret Thatcher is the prime minister, gentrification has seized London, and there's always anti-black sentiment, now focused on the multi-ethnic neighborhood of Brixton. This is Bram's latest refuge. Through the years, he has barely kept even; unlike most immortal myths, he has not become fabulously wealthy in some remote hiding place. After years of avoiding one another, Bram and Oliver reconnect, and their love can finally flourish in an environment of acceptance.
But their lives remain deeply complicated; how long can they stay anywhere before their friends notice that they never age? I will say no more, since this challenge is what drives the narrative of the book.
I grew more and more fond of Bram as he tries repeatedly to find a way to prove worthy of Oliver's love. But the jumps in time are frustrating; how did each man-boy survive the intervening decades? It's all just a bit too glib.
A truly engaging premise, but a little more depth would have made it much more moving. Fast read, though; I finished it during one rainy weekend.
August 3, 2025
I requested and received an eARC of
Exquisite Things
by Abdi Nazemian via NetGalley. Shahriar believes he was born in the wrong time. He yearns to be free to be fully himself, a truth that hits hard as Oscar Wilde is put on trial in 1895 for gross indecency. When he's granted the very thing he wishes for and rechristens himself Shams (then Bram) he finds what feels like eternal happiness. But can happiness truly last? In 1920s Boston, Oliver doesn't feel that he can fully be himself. He knows he likes other boys, but to be open would have irreversible consequences. When he meets a mysterious and beautiful boy named Shams his life is changed forever.
Shams’ backstory set the tone for the novel, but I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, as if I had missed something crucial before the more fantastical elements of the plot kicked in. I found myself more drawn to Oliver as a character, something about him resonated a bit more deeply with me. I like the way Nazemian uses Oliver to explore mental health in the queer community. I loved the scenes in 1920s Boston, but I think the chapters that deal with Bram and his found family in 1980s London are the most moving. There were many moments in Exquisite Things that absolutely shattered my heart, but I’m glad that author chose to take a realistic approach to how Bram and Oliver might really feel about the gift (curse?) bestowed by Wilde’s pages.
I think it's wonderful the way this novel holds onto the same teenage angst for a century. Despite the rather fanciful setup of Exquisite Things, the novel tackles some pretty hard-hitting stuff. There's a real emphasis on queer history and the injustices the community has faced while also acknowledging that there is still work to be done. This was such a fun story to read and although there were times that I found myself quite frustrated with Bram and Oliver, I wanted the best for both and I think the book was some very important messaging that seems more relevant than ever.
Shams’ backstory set the tone for the novel, but I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, as if I had missed something crucial before the more fantastical elements of the plot kicked in. I found myself more drawn to Oliver as a character, something about him resonated a bit more deeply with me. I like the way Nazemian uses Oliver to explore mental health in the queer community. I loved the scenes in 1920s Boston, but I think the chapters that deal with Bram and his found family in 1980s London are the most moving. There were many moments in Exquisite Things that absolutely shattered my heart, but I’m glad that author chose to take a realistic approach to how Bram and Oliver might really feel about the gift (curse?) bestowed by Wilde’s pages.
I think it's wonderful the way this novel holds onto the same teenage angst for a century. Despite the rather fanciful setup of Exquisite Things, the novel tackles some pretty hard-hitting stuff. There's a real emphasis on queer history and the injustices the community has faced while also acknowledging that there is still work to be done. This was such a fun story to read and although there were times that I found myself quite frustrated with Bram and Oliver, I wanted the best for both and I think the book was some very important messaging that seems more relevant than ever.
October 1, 2025
I would like to thank Edelweiss and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Exquisite Things was a soft and aching love story that spanned 130 years, but the '20s and the '80s were the iconic eras that really shored this up. Music (classical piano and a ton of groovy '80s tracks that make an awesome playlist), poetry, and Wilde, added layers of dynamism and flair to the narrative, with their emotional journeys seemingly entwined with the artistry of Rachmaninoff, Donna Summer and Rimbaud, among others.
Arresting and poignant at times, Bram and Oliver, pre and post immortality, were genuine and wholehearted as they navigated love and eternal life. 17 going on +/- 100 showed Bram and Oliver's perspectives about life eternal. The former, an opportunity to love Oliver forever, and the latter, a curse.
Their relationship was heartbreaking to read at times because throughout most of this book I really felt for Bram. But then Valentine's Day happened, and while I understood the "timeliness" of Maud's protest, I am Team Oliver on this one! I don't care what it was rooted in.
Other than immortality, the theme of "mother" was deeply resonating! It was part of the reason why Oliver struggled with the idea of his endlessness, and why he gave Bram a hard time! Bram's formative years were shaped instead by his lack of a mother, and why he loved who he loved the way that he did.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention the incomparable Lily, who was MOTHER, and the quality energy she gave this entire book, and all her children AND Archie, was absolutely priceless.
Overall Exquisite Things was a contemplative, achy love story with a lot more depth than I'd expected for YA. This was an evocative and thought-provoking read, and I'm looking forward to more from Abdi Nazemian because this was really lovely.
Exquisite Things was a soft and aching love story that spanned 130 years, but the '20s and the '80s were the iconic eras that really shored this up. Music (classical piano and a ton of groovy '80s tracks that make an awesome playlist), poetry, and Wilde, added layers of dynamism and flair to the narrative, with their emotional journeys seemingly entwined with the artistry of Rachmaninoff, Donna Summer and Rimbaud, among others.
Arresting and poignant at times, Bram and Oliver, pre and post immortality, were genuine and wholehearted as they navigated love and eternal life. 17 going on +/- 100 showed Bram and Oliver's perspectives about life eternal. The former, an opportunity to love Oliver forever, and the latter, a curse.
Their relationship was heartbreaking to read at times because throughout most of this book I really felt for Bram. But then Valentine's Day happened, and while I understood the "timeliness" of Maud's protest, I am Team Oliver on this one! I don't care what it was rooted in.
Other than immortality, the theme of "mother" was deeply resonating! It was part of the reason why Oliver struggled with the idea of his endlessness, and why he gave Bram a hard time! Bram's formative years were shaped instead by his lack of a mother, and why he loved who he loved the way that he did.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention the incomparable Lily, who was MOTHER, and the quality energy she gave this entire book, and all her children AND Archie, was absolutely priceless.
Overall Exquisite Things was a contemplative, achy love story with a lot more depth than I'd expected for YA. This was an evocative and thought-provoking read, and I'm looking forward to more from Abdi Nazemian because this was really lovely.
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