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We Burned So Bright
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50 copies available
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A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an older queer couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
176 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 28, 2026
42502 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Klune
69 books62.9k followersTJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 732 reviews
March 26, 2026
This is one of those rare books that leave you utterly speechless — the kind that makes you exhale a long, trembling sigh, your gut wrenched, your eyes burning with tears. You sit there, staring at the wall, unable to move or even find words because they’re all lodged somewhere deep in your throat. I truly loved this book as much as it hurt me. It’s devastating, poetic, and breathtaking all at once — an epic romance at the end of the world, where love becomes both a compass and a curse.
The story follows Don and Rodney, two men who have spent forty years together, surviving a lifetime of battles — from social stigma and political pressure to the loss of dear friends during the HIV crisis. Rodney, the tougher and more analytical one, and Don, the sentimental and outgoing half of their pair, have built a life defined by love and endurance. Now, in their mid-seventies, they face the one obstacle no one can overcome: the end of everything. A black hole is approaching Earth. Humanity has only weeks left.
Instead of waiting for the inevitable in the quiet safety of their home, Don and Rodney decide to hit the road in their battered old RV — a vehicle that’s seen better days but still carries decades of memories. Their mission? To fulfill one last promise. But what exactly are they searching for — a person, a destination, a final act of love? The answer unfolds slowly, and the mystery surrounding their journey makes every mile feel achingly precious.
This isn’t a fast read — nor should it be. Every chapter deserves to be savored, every encounter lingered on. Don and Rodney meet strangers along their road to nowhere: a pregnant woman clinging to hope, a young girl who’s lost her first love in a massacre, a queer couple trying to survive in chaos, violent souls lashing out in despair. Each story adds another layer of heartbreak and humanity. And then there’s Jeremy — his part of the book completely shattered me. I screamed, I cried, I sat in silence. The encounter with Amelia filled me with unbearable tension and sorrow, amplifying the emotional gravity of their already haunting journey.
By the time I turned the last page, I knew — without hesitation — this book deserved five blazing, end-of-the-world stars.
It’s tragic yet tender, reflective yet raw — a meditation on love, mortality, and what it means to hold onto someone when the universe itself is falling apart. Get ready for a good, ugly cry. Keep a mountain of tissues nearby. This novel will break your heart open, but it will also remind you how beautifully fragile being human truly is.
Overall:
Powerful. Sentimental. Unforgettable. A masterpiece of love, loss, and the quiet bravery of choosing to live — even when the world is ending.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing this ARC of such a deeply emotional and soul-stirring novel by one of my favorite authors, in exchange for my honest review.
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The story follows Don and Rodney, two men who have spent forty years together, surviving a lifetime of battles — from social stigma and political pressure to the loss of dear friends during the HIV crisis. Rodney, the tougher and more analytical one, and Don, the sentimental and outgoing half of their pair, have built a life defined by love and endurance. Now, in their mid-seventies, they face the one obstacle no one can overcome: the end of everything. A black hole is approaching Earth. Humanity has only weeks left.
Instead of waiting for the inevitable in the quiet safety of their home, Don and Rodney decide to hit the road in their battered old RV — a vehicle that’s seen better days but still carries decades of memories. Their mission? To fulfill one last promise. But what exactly are they searching for — a person, a destination, a final act of love? The answer unfolds slowly, and the mystery surrounding their journey makes every mile feel achingly precious.
This isn’t a fast read — nor should it be. Every chapter deserves to be savored, every encounter lingered on. Don and Rodney meet strangers along their road to nowhere: a pregnant woman clinging to hope, a young girl who’s lost her first love in a massacre, a queer couple trying to survive in chaos, violent souls lashing out in despair. Each story adds another layer of heartbreak and humanity. And then there’s Jeremy — his part of the book completely shattered me. I screamed, I cried, I sat in silence. The encounter with Amelia filled me with unbearable tension and sorrow, amplifying the emotional gravity of their already haunting journey.
By the time I turned the last page, I knew — without hesitation — this book deserved five blazing, end-of-the-world stars.
It’s tragic yet tender, reflective yet raw — a meditation on love, mortality, and what it means to hold onto someone when the universe itself is falling apart. Get ready for a good, ugly cry. Keep a mountain of tissues nearby. This novel will break your heart open, but it will also remind you how beautifully fragile being human truly is.
Overall:
Powerful. Sentimental. Unforgettable. A masterpiece of love, loss, and the quiet bravery of choosing to live — even when the world is ending.
A huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing this ARC of such a deeply emotional and soul-stirring novel by one of my favorite authors, in exchange for my honest review.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The BIGGEST thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
Easiest 6🌟 ever!
Id read Mr. Klune in a crowded room, Id read Mr. Klune alone on the moon and honestly at this point I would clear my schedule to read this man's first book report. After the way The House in the Cerulean Sea books had my heart and soul in a chokehold, the nanosecond I saw this brilliant man had another book out my thumb did a swan dive to the request button.
I really wish the way this man sees the world could be bottled and sold. There's just something about his books. They make you feel this type of raw emotion you thought you'd never be able to feel again once puberty hit and life started "lifing".... Like being held against a giant comfort bosom..Even while reading a book about really hard topics such as addiction, grief, and, ooh I don't know, the legitimate world ending! There's this level of peace ,serenity, and comfort in the way he writes. As if there's the smallest chance that everything in life might be OK after all.
Needless to say I absolutely loved it here! I was crying by 15%, my heart swelled by the end of the first sentence, and by the last word I was left speechless. AKA the standard TJ Klune experience.
I know there is an army of people that seem to enjoy making his books political. May y'all find the therapist who loves a good challenge that you so desperately need. I'm sorry (I'm never that sorry) but the world has enough ugly where we don't need to go looking for it. Just accept the pockets of peace we're given.
*ADHD side note, the narrator was absolutely perfect for this!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
Easiest 6🌟 ever!
Id read Mr. Klune in a crowded room, Id read Mr. Klune alone on the moon and honestly at this point I would clear my schedule to read this man's first book report. After the way The House in the Cerulean Sea books had my heart and soul in a chokehold, the nanosecond I saw this brilliant man had another book out my thumb did a swan dive to the request button.
I really wish the way this man sees the world could be bottled and sold. There's just something about his books. They make you feel this type of raw emotion you thought you'd never be able to feel again once puberty hit and life started "lifing".... Like being held against a giant comfort bosom..Even while reading a book about really hard topics such as addiction, grief, and, ooh I don't know, the legitimate world ending! There's this level of peace ,serenity, and comfort in the way he writes. As if there's the smallest chance that everything in life might be OK after all.
Needless to say I absolutely loved it here! I was crying by 15%, my heart swelled by the end of the first sentence, and by the last word I was left speechless. AKA the standard TJ Klune experience.
I know there is an army of people that seem to enjoy making his books political. May y'all find the therapist who loves a good challenge that you so desperately need. I'm sorry (I'm never that sorry) but the world has enough ugly where we don't need to go looking for it. Just accept the pockets of peace we're given.
*ADHD side note, the narrator was absolutely perfect for this!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
anticipated-books
September 28, 2025Read the blurb and that book sounds fire! 🔥 Plus, I'm obsessed with the cover. So hyped for the release date!
November 1, 2025
ARC for review. To be published April 28, 2026.
4 stars
My enjoyment of TJ Klune continues to baffle me. I don’t really enjoy much fantasy and I don’t like overly sentimental stories. Klune’s are generally both but, for me, he gets that mixture EXACTLY right, I guess, and this new book, out in April, is no exception (I only read Klune at all as part of the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge and if I remember correctly I ended up reading two different books, two consecutive years. Challenges are fun!).
Don and Rodney are a gay, married couple who have been together forty years. They are charming, if a tiny bit stereotypical. They are making a cross-country trip in their old RV from their home in Maine to Washington state to do something Very Important regarding their son, but we, the readers, don’t know what that is.
Oh, and did I mention the world is ending? Soon. Within a few weeks. We’ve known for about a year that a black hole will be coming to take everything in our solar system. The book tells of Rodney and Don’s final journey and it’s both sad, scary, sweet (a little too much? Yes, of course.) and ultimately triumphant. Really enjoyed getting to know these gentlemen, their fellow travelers and the book.
4 stars
My enjoyment of TJ Klune continues to baffle me. I don’t really enjoy much fantasy and I don’t like overly sentimental stories. Klune’s are generally both but, for me, he gets that mixture EXACTLY right, I guess, and this new book, out in April, is no exception (I only read Klune at all as part of the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge and if I remember correctly I ended up reading two different books, two consecutive years. Challenges are fun!).
Don and Rodney are a gay, married couple who have been together forty years. They are charming, if a tiny bit stereotypical. They are making a cross-country trip in their old RV from their home in Maine to Washington state to do something Very Important regarding their son, but we, the readers, don’t know what that is.
Oh, and did I mention the world is ending? Soon. Within a few weeks. We’ve known for about a year that a black hole will be coming to take everything in our solar system. The book tells of Rodney and Don’s final journey and it’s both sad, scary, sweet (a little too much? Yes, of course.) and ultimately triumphant. Really enjoyed getting to know these gentlemen, their fellow travelers and the book.
Want to read
May 14, 2025Black hole you say? Queer family and a hurty plot? Sign me up...
January 2, 2026
“We're all in this moment together. For perhaps the first time in human history, we're all experiencing the same thing. It doesn't matter what color you are. Your background. Your beliefs. Your heritage. Who you love. Everyone, right now, is all the same. There's something beautiful about that."
When the literal end of the world is mere weeks away, what lengths would you go to in order to fulfill a promise? This is exactly what Don and Rodney grapple with as an errant black hole threatens to rip the earth to shreds. We follow them along their cross country road trip, meeting a variety of people along the way who struggle in their own ways to come to terms with the end of the world.
Despite the urgency in their journey, the book’s pacing and tone are more slow, solemn, and contemplative. We are privy to Don’s internal thoughts, as well as flashbacks from the past that shed light into what the family has endured. In true Klune fashion, the writing made me feel so many things as I read, and I’ll fully admit I devoured the entire book in one sitting!
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan Export and Tor/Forge for the advanced copy of this book!
Content warning: there is some heavy adoption trauma that occurs in the book, so be aware of that going in
When the literal end of the world is mere weeks away, what lengths would you go to in order to fulfill a promise? This is exactly what Don and Rodney grapple with as an errant black hole threatens to rip the earth to shreds. We follow them along their cross country road trip, meeting a variety of people along the way who struggle in their own ways to come to terms with the end of the world.
Despite the urgency in their journey, the book’s pacing and tone are more slow, solemn, and contemplative. We are privy to Don’s internal thoughts, as well as flashbacks from the past that shed light into what the family has endured. In true Klune fashion, the writing made me feel so many things as I read, and I’ll fully admit I devoured the entire book in one sitting!
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan Export and Tor/Forge for the advanced copy of this book!
Content warning: there is some heavy adoption trauma that occurs in the book, so be aware of that going in
February 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC copy of this title!
Wow… What a beautiful and horrifically tragic story this was.
I’ve always enjoyed this kind of apocalyptic storytelling. The kind that ponders what human kind would do in a world destroying event. But this one really did it. Don and Rodney are such interesting characters to follow. The pain, the sorrow, the joy, the love; all of it truly felt encapsulated in this journey to resolution in their lives.
Please read this. It’s sad, and will have you thinking existentially, but it’s so worth it.
Wow… What a beautiful and horrifically tragic story this was.
I’ve always enjoyed this kind of apocalyptic storytelling. The kind that ponders what human kind would do in a world destroying event. But this one really did it. Don and Rodney are such interesting characters to follow. The pain, the sorrow, the joy, the love; all of it truly felt encapsulated in this journey to resolution in their lives.
Please read this. It’s sad, and will have you thinking existentially, but it’s so worth it.
March 16, 2026
Best book of the year! End of the world. A reason. A lifetime to look back on. The characters they meet. The stories they tell. Amazing. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!
Want to read
May 7, 2025New TJ Klune book!!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ETA Feb 23, 2026
We Burned So Bright, narrated by Kirt Graves, is a must-listen for Graves and TJ Klune fans. This short story follows elderly husbands Don and Rodney on one final journey at the end of the world, desperate to keep a promise with very little time left.
Graves, who also narrated Wolfsong, the Green Creek series, and Murmuration, brings his distinctive vocal talents to this new project using unique character voices for all the characters, but what really stands out is how his narration evolves. As the story intensifies and the characters face increasingly dramatic situations, so does the urgency in his performance. The listener is pulled into the gravity of everything happening—much like Rodney and Don themselves, sometimes against their will.
Having already read the book, I can confirm that Graves's narration elevates an already emotional story. The heartbreak feels even more visceral when you can hear it in their voices. If you loved Klune's other works and appreciate a narrator who can match their emotional weight, this one's for you.
Advanced Audio Galley copy of We Burned So Bright narrated by Kirt Graves provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#WeBurnedSoBright #NetGalley
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Original Book Review Jan 2026
We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune is a journey, both figuratively and literally, that husbands Don and Rodney undertake at the end of the world, in their seventies and not as spry as they once were, desperate to keep a promise they made, with very little time left to do it.
It’s a beautiful, short story, filled with big and scary moments, alongside quieter ones. Don and Rodney just want more time, and that’s impossible. Like most of T.J. Klune’s books, it’s got a couple of good gut punches in there, and I’m not ashamed to say I cried. Yep, TJ got me again.
I’d recommend We Burned So Bright especially for fans of T.J. Klune’s other titles like John & Jackie, Olive Juice, Murmuration, and Into This River I Drown.
Advanced Review Galley copy of We Burned So Bright provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
#WeBurnedSoBright #NetGalley
Publish Date: Apr 28 2026 | LGBTQIAP+ | Sci Fi & Fantasy | eBook | Audiobook Narrator: Kirt Graves
We Burned So Bright, narrated by Kirt Graves, is a must-listen for Graves and TJ Klune fans. This short story follows elderly husbands Don and Rodney on one final journey at the end of the world, desperate to keep a promise with very little time left.
Graves, who also narrated Wolfsong, the Green Creek series, and Murmuration, brings his distinctive vocal talents to this new project using unique character voices for all the characters, but what really stands out is how his narration evolves. As the story intensifies and the characters face increasingly dramatic situations, so does the urgency in his performance. The listener is pulled into the gravity of everything happening—much like Rodney and Don themselves, sometimes against their will.
Having already read the book, I can confirm that Graves's narration elevates an already emotional story. The heartbreak feels even more visceral when you can hear it in their voices. If you loved Klune's other works and appreciate a narrator who can match their emotional weight, this one's for you.
"We all float through space on a rock hurtling toward forever, so many of us forget that it's other people who make life worth living."
Advanced Audio Galley copy of We Burned So Bright narrated by Kirt Graves provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#WeBurnedSoBright #NetGalley
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Original Book Review Jan 2026
We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune is a journey, both figuratively and literally, that husbands Don and Rodney undertake at the end of the world, in their seventies and not as spry as they once were, desperate to keep a promise they made, with very little time left to do it.
"...You and me? We weren’t destined to be. We’re here because we worked for it. We worked hard. We survived some of the worst things people can live through. It’s not fate. It was you and me who did it. No one and nothing else.”
It’s a beautiful, short story, filled with big and scary moments, alongside quieter ones. Don and Rodney just want more time, and that’s impossible. Like most of T.J. Klune’s books, it’s got a couple of good gut punches in there, and I’m not ashamed to say I cried. Yep, TJ got me again.
"If it was luck that brought us together, then I think we’re the luckiest people in the world.”
I’d recommend We Burned So Bright especially for fans of T.J. Klune’s other titles like John & Jackie, Olive Juice, Murmuration, and Into This River I Drown.
“I loved being here!”
Advanced Review Galley copy of We Burned So Bright provided by Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
#WeBurnedSoBright #NetGalley
Publish Date: Apr 28 2026 | LGBTQIAP+ | Sci Fi & Fantasy | eBook | Audiobook Narrator: Kirt Graves
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•
[We Burned So Bright]
🔥 Release Date: April 28, 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!
Wow, this book really hit me. The writing is raw and alive, pulling you into a world that feels both heartbreakingly real and almost too intense to look away from. The characters stay with you long after the last page, flawed, fierce, and achingly human.
The pacing is perfect. It builds tension and emotion without ever dragging, and the love between the two main characters is electric, layered, and absolutely unforgettable. But what really sets it apart is the heart, the way it explores love, grief, and the messy in-between spaces we all live in.
I devoured this in one sitting and I cannot stop thinking about it. It was beautiful, intense, and completely brilliant. Solid five stars from me!
[We Burned So Bright]
🔥 Release Date: April 28, 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!
Wow, this book really hit me. The writing is raw and alive, pulling you into a world that feels both heartbreakingly real and almost too intense to look away from. The characters stay with you long after the last page, flawed, fierce, and achingly human.
The pacing is perfect. It builds tension and emotion without ever dragging, and the love between the two main characters is electric, layered, and absolutely unforgettable. But what really sets it apart is the heart, the way it explores love, grief, and the messy in-between spaces we all live in.
I devoured this in one sitting and I cannot stop thinking about it. It was beautiful, intense, and completely brilliant. Solid five stars from me!
February 21, 2026
This was an ARC read from Net Galley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!
TJ Klune has a way of writing that you quickly feel something for the characters. This book was a triumph of that. In such a short time you love the main characters, Don and Rodney, and you can almost picture a couple you know just like them.
Then as they travel to complete a heart breaking task amongst an impossible background you meet other characters along the way. You feel the anger in some, the desperation in others and the joy of acceptance in many.
The story may leave you feeling sad but that’s the greatness of TJ, you feel something.
TJ Klune has a way of writing that you quickly feel something for the characters. This book was a triumph of that. In such a short time you love the main characters, Don and Rodney, and you can almost picture a couple you know just like them.
Then as they travel to complete a heart breaking task amongst an impossible background you meet other characters along the way. You feel the anger in some, the desperation in others and the joy of acceptance in many.
The story may leave you feeling sad but that’s the greatness of TJ, you feel something.
March 7, 2026
40 years together. It sounds like such a long time. Really it’s just a small blip. And that’s what we get with We Burned So Bright. We get so much of Don and Rodney’s history, their beautiful life together. At the end though, there is still so much we don’t get. There is so much left to experience, so much life left to live. What an absolutely beautiful story.
Don and Rodney are everything. ❤️💚💙💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the arc of this book.
Don and Rodney are everything. ❤️💚💙💜
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the arc of this book.
November 19, 2025
Read my review (and more!) on my book blog here: https://erinewasserman.wixsite.com/so....
Currently writing this with tears in my eyes. This is pure magic, and TJ Klune has done it again.
Such a fantastic use of pages and word count. Only 150 pages, and every single word meant something and was important to the story and characters.
I am usually a short novel hater because there just isn't enough time to build up the world or the characters, but Klune did it masterfully here. The setting was, of course, our own world, so that was easier, but even just describing the way the world was ending was done so expertly and efficiently, but also not overindulgent, and used as a way to draw emotions. It was very matter-of-fact, and I loved that.
As for the characters, phenomenal. I was worried I wasn't going to care for the characters as much, since sometimes it is hard to believe in a relationship that formed off-page. But every conversation and mental note really made you believe in this effortless romance. It was so touching and meaningfully done. There are a few side characters and side storylines that you come across as our couple travels, and it is interesting how each person brings something new to the storyline. Some of them are absolutely gut-wrenching, others funny, and others make you think about the best kind of human existence.
Beyond characters and setting, this book truly prompts thought. Klune uses these characters expertly as devices to prompt reflection on the themes he is trying to convey, and boy, does this book make you think.
The ending was absolutely everything. You don't know why these two are traveling until the last chapter, and the way that it is explained and the backstory given there is so perfectly timed and brought everything together at the exact right moment. I finished the book crying, which is very rare. The last few lines were perfect, and I wouldn't change a single thing about this book.
5/5 stars. Incredible.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Currently writing this with tears in my eyes. This is pure magic, and TJ Klune has done it again.
Such a fantastic use of pages and word count. Only 150 pages, and every single word meant something and was important to the story and characters.
I am usually a short novel hater because there just isn't enough time to build up the world or the characters, but Klune did it masterfully here. The setting was, of course, our own world, so that was easier, but even just describing the way the world was ending was done so expertly and efficiently, but also not overindulgent, and used as a way to draw emotions. It was very matter-of-fact, and I loved that.
As for the characters, phenomenal. I was worried I wasn't going to care for the characters as much, since sometimes it is hard to believe in a relationship that formed off-page. But every conversation and mental note really made you believe in this effortless romance. It was so touching and meaningfully done. There are a few side characters and side storylines that you come across as our couple travels, and it is interesting how each person brings something new to the storyline. Some of them are absolutely gut-wrenching, others funny, and others make you think about the best kind of human existence.
Beyond characters and setting, this book truly prompts thought. Klune uses these characters expertly as devices to prompt reflection on the themes he is trying to convey, and boy, does this book make you think.
The ending was absolutely everything. You don't know why these two are traveling until the last chapter, and the way that it is explained and the backstory given there is so perfectly timed and brought everything together at the exact right moment. I finished the book crying, which is very rare. The last few lines were perfect, and I wouldn't change a single thing about this book.
5/5 stars. Incredible.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
Thank you, TJ Klune, for absolutely ruining me with this book 😭😭😭 Such a beautiful story.
March 6, 2026
We Burned So Bright is an emotional speculative fiction novel with an original mix of a cosmic apocalypse and a personal story of love and grief. At only 176 pages, it can easily be read in a single sitting. However, despite its brief length, it’s a book that requires patience—the blurb makes it sound like a high-stakes, race-against-time apocalyptic tale, as Earth is about to be consumed by a rogue black hole, but the story is much more introspective than suspenseful. Most of the story unfolds through conversations and encounters during a road trip and the emotional reflections of a long-married gay couple. Be prepared for themes of love, regret, grief, aging, and keeping of promises when time is running out.
The story follows Don and Rodney, a married couple of forty years, as they face the impending destruction of Earth by a rogue black hole in a month. Refusing to spend their final days waiting, they embark on a road trip from Maine to Washington State to fulfill a long-postponed promise. Along the way, they encounter strangers—some fleeting, some unforgettable—while navigating despair, fleeting joy, and reflecting on their decades together and the life they’ve built.
The story is written in a third-person perspective, following Don and Rodney’s road trip, their evolving relationship, and the people they meet along the way—a family, hippies, a lesbian couple, and an unstable woman—each confronting the apocalypse in very different ways. The true reason they are so determined to reach Washington State remains an emotional mystery until the final act. There, gripping flashbacks reveal the heartbreaking truth behind their promise, making this the most powerful part of the book and shedding light on earlier, ambiguous dialogue.
The story moves slowly through much of the first half, and if you’re not vibing with the strangers they meet or expect a fast-paced apocalyptic narrative, you may feel restless or even a bit bored. The second half has more compelling interactions and the final 30% is the most gripping, as the true reason for the journey is revealed and the apocalyptic tension intensifies with vividly described environmental phenomena. The ending is both emotionally powerful and bittersweet, though it also feels abrupt after such a long build-up.
Overall, We Burned So Bright is another original story from TJ Klune, but it’s less about an apocalyptic race-against-time and more about a couple reflecting on the life they’ve shared. If you go in expecting a fast-paced sci-fi thriller or Klune’s typical animated characters and lots of plot points, you may be disappointed. But for readers who enjoy slow-burn, character-driven speculative stories about love, grief, and heartfelt queer narratives, this one will definitely hit the mark!
The story follows Don and Rodney, a married couple of forty years, as they face the impending destruction of Earth by a rogue black hole in a month. Refusing to spend their final days waiting, they embark on a road trip from Maine to Washington State to fulfill a long-postponed promise. Along the way, they encounter strangers—some fleeting, some unforgettable—while navigating despair, fleeting joy, and reflecting on their decades together and the life they’ve built.
The story is written in a third-person perspective, following Don and Rodney’s road trip, their evolving relationship, and the people they meet along the way—a family, hippies, a lesbian couple, and an unstable woman—each confronting the apocalypse in very different ways. The true reason they are so determined to reach Washington State remains an emotional mystery until the final act. There, gripping flashbacks reveal the heartbreaking truth behind their promise, making this the most powerful part of the book and shedding light on earlier, ambiguous dialogue.
The story moves slowly through much of the first half, and if you’re not vibing with the strangers they meet or expect a fast-paced apocalyptic narrative, you may feel restless or even a bit bored. The second half has more compelling interactions and the final 30% is the most gripping, as the true reason for the journey is revealed and the apocalyptic tension intensifies with vividly described environmental phenomena. The ending is both emotionally powerful and bittersweet, though it also feels abrupt after such a long build-up.
Overall, We Burned So Bright is another original story from TJ Klune, but it’s less about an apocalyptic race-against-time and more about a couple reflecting on the life they’ve shared. If you go in expecting a fast-paced sci-fi thriller or Klune’s typical animated characters and lots of plot points, you may be disappointed. But for readers who enjoy slow-burn, character-driven speculative stories about love, grief, and heartfelt queer narratives, this one will definitely hit the mark!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Aww, TJ Klune, did you make me cry again? Yes, yes you did. Look, I'm not saying it is hard to do. But also, you seem to have a knack for knocking on my cold hard heart and getting me to crack the door an inch. If you love the sentimental side of Klune's writing, you will love this one. I did. But if you prefer your end of the world stories to be less emotionally wrenching, maybe this isn't the right book for you. Klune focuses on two people - we rarely pull back enough to see the rest of the world. The structure almost feels like interrelated short stories. Our protagonists encounter various people on a road trip, each a self-contained story, placed in the larger narrative of their 40 year relationship. If you told me it was written to be a limited episode TV series, I would totally believe you.
We Burned So Bright is a beautiful and wrenching portrayal of marriage and parenting, of aging, of the ways we cope with life - with hope, with violence, with resignation. It is about the end of the world but isn't every death the end of someone's world? Thank you to Klune for writing and sharing these stories, to Kirt Graves for the lovely narration, to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audioARC.
We Burned So Bright is a beautiful and wrenching portrayal of marriage and parenting, of aging, of the ways we cope with life - with hope, with violence, with resignation. It is about the end of the world but isn't every death the end of someone's world? Thank you to Klune for writing and sharing these stories, to Kirt Graves for the lovely narration, to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audioARC.
March 24, 2026
The kind of love that leaves a mark long after everything else fades.
𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I am broken.
This book. THIS BOOK. I don’t think I’ve ever sobbed so hard. At one point I had to stop what I was doing and lean against a wall so I wouldn’t fall down. It fully stopped me in my tracks, literally.
I’m not sure any of TJ Klune’s books have affected me like this. Sure, I’ve loved all of them and if he decided to write nutrition labels I’d read those. But this one? This one was different. This is one that I’ll read over and over again, it was just that special.
I can’t get too much into it without spoilers, which I won’t do. But when you read the synopsis and it says “heart wrenching”? BELIEVE IT.
I lied about the spoilers… I will leave just one, kind of… Amelia. Oh my god.
And then I had to go to work and I had cried off all my skincare and I can barely see out of my left eye because my contact is all dried out from all the crying. But if we’re looking for an early fave for book of the year, THIS IS IT.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Books and the wonderful TJ Klune for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
We Burned So Bright will be published on April 28th, 2026.
𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I am broken.
This book. THIS BOOK. I don’t think I’ve ever sobbed so hard. At one point I had to stop what I was doing and lean against a wall so I wouldn’t fall down. It fully stopped me in my tracks, literally.
I’m not sure any of TJ Klune’s books have affected me like this. Sure, I’ve loved all of them and if he decided to write nutrition labels I’d read those. But this one? This one was different. This is one that I’ll read over and over again, it was just that special.
I can’t get too much into it without spoilers, which I won’t do. But when you read the synopsis and it says “heart wrenching”? BELIEVE IT.
I lied about the spoilers… I will leave just one, kind of… Amelia. Oh my god.
And then I had to go to work and I had cried off all my skincare and I can barely see out of my left eye because my contact is all dried out from all the crying. But if we’re looking for an early fave for book of the year, THIS IS IT.
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tor Books and the wonderful TJ Klune for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
We Burned So Bright will be published on April 28th, 2026.
March 6, 2026
We Burned so Bright is a story that will rip your heart out, put it back together and leave you staring at the wall contemplating life.
A black hole is coming for earth, Husbands Don and Rodney have one last thing to take care of before the world ends. As they embark on a cross country road trip they meet an interesting cast of characters all handling the end of the world in their unique way.
As the book concludes Don and Rodney’s story is revealed and it’s beautiful and tragic with characters that will stay with you long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley for this free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
A black hole is coming for earth, Husbands Don and Rodney have one last thing to take care of before the world ends. As they embark on a cross country road trip they meet an interesting cast of characters all handling the end of the world in their unique way.
As the book concludes Don and Rodney’s story is revealed and it’s beautiful and tragic with characters that will stay with you long after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley for this free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2026
(ARC) 5⭐️ Absolutely devastating in the best way. I’ve been sitting here trying to gather my thoughts, and all I can really say is this: it’s a tragically beautiful story that will pull hard at your heartstrings. A dystopian novel with a poetic narrative I don’t think I’ll ever fully get over.
March 25, 2026
God this fucking hurt me in the best way possible. I’ll think of Rodney and Don and Jeremy for awhile!!
Kurt Graves narration is insane per usual!
Kurt Graves narration is insane per usual!
February 23, 2026
This one honestly hurts to write because I have truly enjoyed every T.J. Klune book I’ve read. The House in the Cerulean Sea was an easy five-star read for me—full of heart, warmth, and that hopeful tone I’ve come to associate with his work.
But We Burned Bright is very different in tone, and that shift just didn’t fully work for me.
There’s no denying it’s well written. Klune’s prose is thoughtful and intentional, and you can feel the emotional weight behind the story. However, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The pacing felt slow, and at times the story felt heavy and bleak rather than immersive. Instead of feeling moved, I often felt worn down. It lacked the sense of comfort and emotional uplift that I’ve loved in his previous books.
I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately that experience didn’t elevate it for me. The male narrator voicing the female characters felt distracting, and at times the delivery came across as abrasive rather than natural. It pulled me out of the story instead of drawing me deeper in.
I truly respect what the author was trying to do here, and I know many readers may connect with the darker, more somber tone. For me, though, this just didn’t have the magic or emotional resonance I’ve come to expect from T.J. Klune.
Not a bad book by any means—just not the right fit for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillion audio for allowing me to listen to this advanced copy in return for an unbiased review.
But We Burned Bright is very different in tone, and that shift just didn’t fully work for me.
There’s no denying it’s well written. Klune’s prose is thoughtful and intentional, and you can feel the emotional weight behind the story. However, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The pacing felt slow, and at times the story felt heavy and bleak rather than immersive. Instead of feeling moved, I often felt worn down. It lacked the sense of comfort and emotional uplift that I’ve loved in his previous books.
I listened to the audiobook, and unfortunately that experience didn’t elevate it for me. The male narrator voicing the female characters felt distracting, and at times the delivery came across as abrasive rather than natural. It pulled me out of the story instead of drawing me deeper in.
I truly respect what the author was trying to do here, and I know many readers may connect with the darker, more somber tone. For me, though, this just didn’t have the magic or emotional resonance I’ve come to expect from T.J. Klune.
Not a bad book by any means—just not the right fit for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillion audio for allowing me to listen to this advanced copy in return for an unbiased review.
March 4, 2026
This. Book. It’s taken me a few days to gather my thoughts and honestly I’m still probably not going to be able to write a review worthy of the experience of reading this book. But I’m gonna try, dammit😂
Not really sure exactly what I expected from this book when I started listening - a melancholy journey of farewells as these very loveable husbands set out on one final RV trip at the end of the world.
I knew it would hurt my feelings by being a beautiful and poignant exploration of life, death, meaning, and endings.
And phew I was absolutely correct!
But what I wasn’t expecting or thinking about was, without spoilers, the horror element. It’s not a main focal point but there are a few truly chilling moments. What I wasn’t expecting is how accurately Klune portrays the human condition and how the general society and human psyche would handle the end of the world barreling toward us with no viable solution to be had.
So many different ways that people handle that grief and anger.
And in the midst of it all we have beautiful Don & Rodney. As we begin the last month of Earth existing before a black hole consumes the planet, we follow them on a beautiful and heart-wrenching journey to see to one final thing. To keep a promise.
I fell in love with these two - with their love story, with Don’s easygoing, affable nature and Rodney’s grumpy, but deep down kind and earnest nature. It’s a grumpy/sunshine duo and I love them so damn much🥹 I am very much a Rodney, and my spouse is a Don.
Right away you can tell they’ve been through some shit together - and of course they have, they’ve been together for 40 years! Seeing them say goodbye to their home in the beginning already had me tearing up.
The magic of Klune’s writing really brings this story to life in a way that few other authors could. The people they meet along the way, some kind, all grieving, and some deeply broken - they all feel so tangible and real.
It shows that even at the end of the world, kindness can change lives (looking at you Geri❤️), and resolution and peace can still be found.
This book really got me in my feels and existential thoughts about what life means if there’s nothing left behind. I really haven’t finished forming my thoughts around that yet, and hell, do we ever, really?
I loved how thought-provoking this story was, and the gentle use of Clair de Lune in the audiobook really just brought it full circle in the most beautiful way.
The audiobook narration by Kirt Graves was quite well done - he brought the story to life beautifully and breathed so much personality into everyone, especially Rodney and Don.
I can’t say much more without spoilers, so I will simply say: have some tissues handy, but read this book. It captures the simultaneous ordinary and extraordinary nature of our existence, and how the incredible and mundane walk hand-in-hand, and reminds us of the beautiful wonder of life and our beautiful planet. To stop and let ourselves feel awe.
I can’t attach a song to this review, but if I could it would be the beautiful song ‘Saturn’ by Sleeping At Last. One of the lyrics that feels most apt for this story is:
“With shortness of breath,
you explained the infinite,
how rare and beautiful
it is to even exist.”
Thank you for this gorgeous story, TJ Klune - it both broke and bound something in my soul, and I feel I will carry it with me for a long time.
Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tor Books for the chance to listen to this audiobook early in exchange for my honest review!✨
A final P.S. Do see content warnings if you’re a sensitive reader - I am, and while I found this to be okay for me, depending on one’s life experiences these could hit hard, so take care of yourself!❤️ My StoryGraph review has detailed content warnings listed.
Not really sure exactly what I expected from this book when I started listening - a melancholy journey of farewells as these very loveable husbands set out on one final RV trip at the end of the world.
I knew it would hurt my feelings by being a beautiful and poignant exploration of life, death, meaning, and endings.
And phew I was absolutely correct!
But what I wasn’t expecting or thinking about was, without spoilers, the horror element. It’s not a main focal point but there are a few truly chilling moments. What I wasn’t expecting is how accurately Klune portrays the human condition and how the general society and human psyche would handle the end of the world barreling toward us with no viable solution to be had.
So many different ways that people handle that grief and anger.
And in the midst of it all we have beautiful Don & Rodney. As we begin the last month of Earth existing before a black hole consumes the planet, we follow them on a beautiful and heart-wrenching journey to see to one final thing. To keep a promise.
I fell in love with these two - with their love story, with Don’s easygoing, affable nature and Rodney’s grumpy, but deep down kind and earnest nature. It’s a grumpy/sunshine duo and I love them so damn much🥹 I am very much a Rodney, and my spouse is a Don.
Right away you can tell they’ve been through some shit together - and of course they have, they’ve been together for 40 years! Seeing them say goodbye to their home in the beginning already had me tearing up.
The magic of Klune’s writing really brings this story to life in a way that few other authors could. The people they meet along the way, some kind, all grieving, and some deeply broken - they all feel so tangible and real.
It shows that even at the end of the world, kindness can change lives (looking at you Geri❤️), and resolution and peace can still be found.
This book really got me in my feels and existential thoughts about what life means if there’s nothing left behind. I really haven’t finished forming my thoughts around that yet, and hell, do we ever, really?
I loved how thought-provoking this story was, and the gentle use of Clair de Lune in the audiobook really just brought it full circle in the most beautiful way.
The audiobook narration by Kirt Graves was quite well done - he brought the story to life beautifully and breathed so much personality into everyone, especially Rodney and Don.
I can’t say much more without spoilers, so I will simply say: have some tissues handy, but read this book. It captures the simultaneous ordinary and extraordinary nature of our existence, and how the incredible and mundane walk hand-in-hand, and reminds us of the beautiful wonder of life and our beautiful planet. To stop and let ourselves feel awe.
I can’t attach a song to this review, but if I could it would be the beautiful song ‘Saturn’ by Sleeping At Last. One of the lyrics that feels most apt for this story is:
“With shortness of breath,
you explained the infinite,
how rare and beautiful
it is to even exist.”
Thank you for this gorgeous story, TJ Klune - it both broke and bound something in my soul, and I feel I will carry it with me for a long time.
Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Tor Books for the chance to listen to this audiobook early in exchange for my honest review!✨
A final P.S. Do see content warnings if you’re a sensitive reader - I am, and while I found this to be okay for me, depending on one’s life experiences these could hit hard, so take care of yourself!❤️ My StoryGraph review has detailed content warnings listed.
February 27, 2026
We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune was beautiful.
This story feels terrifyingly possible in the world we live in now. A black hole is weeks away from ending everything, and instead of chaos being the loudest thing in the room, what we get is something much more intimate: two men, married for forty years, getting into their old RV to fulfill one final promise.
Don and Rodney completely stole my heart. Their relationship felt lived-in and real, tender, stubborn, devoted, occasionally sharp around the edges in that way only long-term love can be. I loved the balance between Don’s sentimentality and Rodney’s practicality. You can feel the decades between them in every conversation, every memory, every quiet moment of fear they don’t quite say out loud.
The journey itself is slow and reflective, but that’s exactly what makes it powerful. Along the way, the people they meet don’t feel like plot devices, they feel human. Each one carries their own grief, their own hope, their own way of coping with the end. Some encounters filled me with warmth. Others left me tense, heartbroken, or staring at the wall in silence (iykyk).
There’s something deeply unsettling about how real this book feels. Not the black hole, necessarily but the way humanity reacts. The tenderness. The cruelty. The desperation. The beauty. It mirrors our current world in ways that are hard to ignore.
And yet, at its core, this is a love story.
It’s about enduring love. Chosen family. Promises kept even when nothing else matters anymore. It’s devastating, yes, but it’s also strangely comforting. Klune has a way of writing stories that are sentimental without feeling hollow, emotional without feeling manipulative. He makes you sit with the hard things, but he also reminds you why they’re worth sitting with.
This was a 4.5-star (rounded up) read/listen for me because while it is beautiful and moving, the solemn, contemplative pacing won’t work for everyone, it’s a story you experience slowly rather than race through. But if you’re willing to lean into it, it’s unforgettable.
Tender. Scary. Human. A road trip at the end of the world that somehow makes you feel more alive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy.
This story feels terrifyingly possible in the world we live in now. A black hole is weeks away from ending everything, and instead of chaos being the loudest thing in the room, what we get is something much more intimate: two men, married for forty years, getting into their old RV to fulfill one final promise.
Don and Rodney completely stole my heart. Their relationship felt lived-in and real, tender, stubborn, devoted, occasionally sharp around the edges in that way only long-term love can be. I loved the balance between Don’s sentimentality and Rodney’s practicality. You can feel the decades between them in every conversation, every memory, every quiet moment of fear they don’t quite say out loud.
The journey itself is slow and reflective, but that’s exactly what makes it powerful. Along the way, the people they meet don’t feel like plot devices, they feel human. Each one carries their own grief, their own hope, their own way of coping with the end. Some encounters filled me with warmth. Others left me tense, heartbroken, or staring at the wall in silence (iykyk).
There’s something deeply unsettling about how real this book feels. Not the black hole, necessarily but the way humanity reacts. The tenderness. The cruelty. The desperation. The beauty. It mirrors our current world in ways that are hard to ignore.
And yet, at its core, this is a love story.
It’s about enduring love. Chosen family. Promises kept even when nothing else matters anymore. It’s devastating, yes, but it’s also strangely comforting. Klune has a way of writing stories that are sentimental without feeling hollow, emotional without feeling manipulative. He makes you sit with the hard things, but he also reminds you why they’re worth sitting with.
This was a 4.5-star (rounded up) read/listen for me because while it is beautiful and moving, the solemn, contemplative pacing won’t work for everyone, it’s a story you experience slowly rather than race through. But if you’re willing to lean into it, it’s unforgettable.
Tender. Scary. Human. A road trip at the end of the world that somehow makes you feel more alive.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Listener Copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"𝘋𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥," 𝘋𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥, "𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦?"
"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥?" 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘪 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥.
𝗪𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 is a contemporary fantasy novella, and it’s a tender, raw look into love and regrets in the face of an impending apocalypse.
Rodney and Don have lived and loved for 40+ years, but they’ve also shared some deep sorrow. Now facing down an imminent black hole and determined to find penitence before it’s too late, they set out on a cross country road trip.
As a novella, the story is on the shorter side in length, but with a slow pacing and often solemn tone, at times, it felt longer. I have complicated emotions with this one because Klune’s storytelling is still vibrant and strong. There was just something slightly lacking, and for me, it was missing his signature way of weaving hope into even a desolate situation. The long monologues from people they meet along the way were often bleak and combined with a very somber last chapter ultimately felt a little too heavy-hearted.
Where the story shined were in the small moments between Rodney and Don. It wasn’t difficult to feel the ache and pull and unconditional love they shared for one another. Rodney, as a bit of a dourly curmudgeon, won a piece of my heart. While this wasn’t what I'd anticipated or necessarily my favorite by Klune, I’m still glad to have followed this couple to the literal end of the Earth and will continue to follow Klune to it as well.
🎙 Kirt Graves is the sole narrator here. His cadence and tone create an excellent delivery that's fitting for these characters and story.
✨️ Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC! [Pub Date: 4•28•2026]
"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥?" 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘪 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥.
𝗪𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 is a contemporary fantasy novella, and it’s a tender, raw look into love and regrets in the face of an impending apocalypse.
Rodney and Don have lived and loved for 40+ years, but they’ve also shared some deep sorrow. Now facing down an imminent black hole and determined to find penitence before it’s too late, they set out on a cross country road trip.
As a novella, the story is on the shorter side in length, but with a slow pacing and often solemn tone, at times, it felt longer. I have complicated emotions with this one because Klune’s storytelling is still vibrant and strong. There was just something slightly lacking, and for me, it was missing his signature way of weaving hope into even a desolate situation. The long monologues from people they meet along the way were often bleak and combined with a very somber last chapter ultimately felt a little too heavy-hearted.
Where the story shined were in the small moments between Rodney and Don. It wasn’t difficult to feel the ache and pull and unconditional love they shared for one another. Rodney, as a bit of a dourly curmudgeon, won a piece of my heart. While this wasn’t what I'd anticipated or necessarily my favorite by Klune, I’m still glad to have followed this couple to the literal end of the Earth and will continue to follow Klune to it as well.
🎙 Kirt Graves is the sole narrator here. His cadence and tone create an excellent delivery that's fitting for these characters and story.
✨️ Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC! [Pub Date: 4•28•2026]
March 14, 2026
“𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚁𝚘𝚍𝚗𝚎𝚢’𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝚆𝚎’𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗.”
Thank you @torbooks + @macmillan.audio for the ARC/ALC ♡
A black hole is tearing apart the solar system, one planet at a time. “Elder Gays” Rodney and Don are on a mission, a sunsetting of their life together, a road trip to the end of the world, to fulfill one final quest for their salvation.
This is a contemplative read about grief, loss, and the end of times. I found it extremely bleak, though it felt very honest. Although this is my least favorite of his works, it still imprints his signature heart and soul in the final chapters.
As with many novellas, I felt that many characters (in particular Jeremy) were underdeveloped, but developed well given the page count. But we don’t get to stay long enough with most of them to love them, and felt a bit rushed toward the end.
If the end of the times was upon us, I’d want to go out like this, with my love of 40+ years beside me.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 A short novella at 6 hours on audio or 165 pages in print, this one can be easily read in a couple of sittings. Kirt Graves, as usual, was a fantastic narrator for the audio edition.
Thank you @torbooks + @macmillan.audio for the ARC/ALC ♡
A black hole is tearing apart the solar system, one planet at a time. “Elder Gays” Rodney and Don are on a mission, a sunsetting of their life together, a road trip to the end of the world, to fulfill one final quest for their salvation.
This is a contemplative read about grief, loss, and the end of times. I found it extremely bleak, though it felt very honest. Although this is my least favorite of his works, it still imprints his signature heart and soul in the final chapters.
As with many novellas, I felt that many characters (in particular Jeremy) were underdeveloped, but developed well given the page count. But we don’t get to stay long enough with most of them to love them, and felt a bit rushed toward the end.
If the end of the times was upon us, I’d want to go out like this, with my love of 40+ years beside me.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 A short novella at 6 hours on audio or 165 pages in print, this one can be easily read in a couple of sittings. Kirt Graves, as usual, was a fantastic narrator for the audio edition.
March 18, 2026
First time I ever stayed up late listening to an audiobook.
I listened to this in a day. It’s a pretty perfect book. TJ Klune is an incredible writer. Each character was so much themselves that they felt real. The scenarios and the way the side characters perfectly portray how different people would approach the ending of the world. It felt real. As did the love between the two main characters, and the different ways they show love to each other — both through words and actions — convey so well what a lifelong love might look like.
This needs to be made into a movie and I don’t even like movies.
The narrator was fantastic and the story felt more enriched through his words.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
I listened to this in a day. It’s a pretty perfect book. TJ Klune is an incredible writer. Each character was so much themselves that they felt real. The scenarios and the way the side characters perfectly portray how different people would approach the ending of the world. It felt real. As did the love between the two main characters, and the different ways they show love to each other — both through words and actions — convey so well what a lifelong love might look like.
This needs to be made into a movie and I don’t even like movies.
The narrator was fantastic and the story felt more enriched through his words.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 20, 2026
Given everything going on in the world I tend to take the Earth, and the Earth being my home for granted. This book just smacked me in the face with this fact and I will be thankful for many years to come.
I’m not sure why this one hit me so hard. My leading theory is that the end of the world story triggered my childhood memories of constantly being told the world was going to end next week.
This is a heavy read, but a beautiful one. Klune hasn’t made me cry this hard since Ravensong, and that’s saying something. Boo-hoo sobbing after I finished, now that that’s out of the way I’m amazed how beautifully human this story felt.
I’m not sure why this one hit me so hard. My leading theory is that the end of the world story triggered my childhood memories of constantly being told the world was going to end next week.
This is a heavy read, but a beautiful one. Klune hasn’t made me cry this hard since Ravensong, and that’s saying something. Boo-hoo sobbing after I finished, now that that’s out of the way I’m amazed how beautifully human this story felt.
February 27, 2026
I love, love, love T.J. Klune. His books bring joy into my life. This one hit hard. It’s the end of days and everyone knows it. It’s heavy, but still beautiful in so many ways. I have to sit with this one for a while.
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