This Must Be the Place

by Kelly Quindlen

Inheriting a gay bar from your secretive great-uncle? Awkward. Trying to save it while catching feelings for the wrong girl? Complicated. From the author of She Drives Me Crazy comes an exuberant YA novel about queer joy, found family, and standing your ground.

When eighteen-year-old Louisa Wade inherits a gay bar from her late great-uncle, she figures there’s been some kind of mistake. There’s no way Uncle George—football legend and hometown hero of Rustin, Alabama—could have secretly owned a queer bar… right?

But The Frisky Cricket is real, and so is the messy legacy Uncle George left behind—including his grumpy ex-partner, Hatch, who wants nothing more than to sell the bar. Louisa may have zero business experience, but she’s determined to keep it open for the vibrant queer community that calls it home.

As the summer heats up, Louisa’s crusade puts her on a collision course with Aubrey the pretty, popular, and sharp-tongued daughter of Rustin University’s newly crowned football coach. The girls start off on the wrong foot, but a tentative truce leads to late nights, shared secrets, and a growing spark.

But things threaten to sputter out when Coach Calhoun sets his sights on The Frisky Cricket, scheming to replace it with a new athletic facility—celebrating Uncle George’s football career while erasing his queerness. Now Louisa must decide if she can fight for Uncle George’s legacy without losing sight of herself in the process.

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Don't miss the other YA offerings from Kelly Quindlen, "master at portraying the teen experience." (SLJ)
*HER NAME IN THE Kelly's debut novel that started it all, a sapphic romance about two best friends who fall in love and find the courage to choose—and be—themselves.
*SHE DRIVES ME a sapphic enemies-to-lovers, fake dating rom-com about a high school basketball player and the pretty cheerleader she gets into a fender bender with.
*LATE TO THE a queer coming-of-age story about what it means to be a "real" teenager and an ode to late bloomers everywhere.

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press

Genres: Young Adult, Lesbian, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, LGBT, Fiction

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Kelly Quindlen is the bestselling author of the young adult novels She Drives Me Crazy (winner of the Volunteer State Book Award; Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), Late to the Party, Her Name in the Sky, and the forthcoming This Must Be the Place (May 2026). Her books have been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Vulture, and Paste.
Kelly enjoys speaking to high school GSAs, PFLAG groups, and all manner of LGBTQ+ organizations. She lives in Atlanta with her fiancée and their saucy cat, Peach Marie.

Reviews

[Emily]

From the rights report: "a YA novel about an 18-year-old lesbian who unexpectedly inherits a gay bar from her late, not-so-straight Uncle George. Following graduation, she spends the summer in football-obsessed Rustin, Ala., serving the bar's colorful patrons, digging up family secrets, and fanning the flames of an old spark with her childhood best friend-the closeted daughter of Rustin University's venerated head football coach.'

[andrea ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

[4.5] it’s 2 am and it’s 2020 and i’m writing a review about a book named her name in the sky. it’s 2am and it’s 2025 and i’m writing a review about this one and i see THEE hannah and baker again…..funny how time works.

this book was so, so special. it is a book about the places that make us feel seen. the loving and supportive found family that we find as queer people. it is about the places that help you feel like you belong.

it is also a book about confusing grief. about grief that takes a shape that no one speaks about, so you don’t know how to navigate it either. i’ve experienced grief for people i didn’t know well either, so louisa’s process definitely pulled at some heart strings for me.

it felt so special and every character meant so much to me. and my absolute favorite part was seeing baker and hannah again. while not the main characters, their contribution to this book made is so special and felt so tremendously full circle.

hannah and baker have lived in my thoughts ever since i read them. there is not a single day where i don’t think of them and their coming out journey. seeing them as thirty-something year olds now, and being exactly who they needed as teenagers for louisa….i could just tell that this is exactly who they needed to meet at 18, and now they get to come full circle and be that support for more baby queers. that’s what it’s all about. that reminder that everything will work out. the universe has a plan for you.

i loved this book. i love how kelly quindlen writes. and i’m so thankful i get to tell her what her words mean to me, and that she took the time to reply and to listen. i feel less alone with her characters.

thank you to kelly quindlen for allowing me to read an advanced review copy of this.

[Lauren W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet YA story that highlights the challenges of coming out and the vital importance of 'found family.' The heart of the book is centered around "The Frisky Cricket" (what a great name!!)- a bar in the South that serves as a necessary safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community in an otherwise unaccepting area.

While the main character can be a bit self-involved at times, it felt like an authentic portrayal of being a teenager—capturing that messy process of learning to look at the bigger picture and consider those around you. It’s a touching reminder of the power of having a safe space during difficult times.

[Magically Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners and author Kelly Quindlen, for providing me with the ALC of “This Must Be the Place”.

I highly recommend this for all YA, it teaches some really good lessons that we could all learn from.

Louisa was called out several times for her me, me, me attitude; however she's fresh out of high school and I too remember the world revolving around me. So it was nice that those around her checked her behavior and she was able to see why she was making it about herself.

I really enjoyed that Louisa got to see what being openly out looked like, see thriving relationships, failed relationships and found a spot in Alabama that she felt welcomed. It was also nice to see her help another who wanted to come out by sharing her story. Even if it got messy towards the end of the book.

The Frisky Cricket, I am so sad at the ending for this place. Even though it would have happened but still a sadder end. I am glad the cat made it out and is okay.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: YA (Kissing)
1st POV

YA
Sapphic
Coming Out
Small Town
TW: Death of family member, Unsupportive Family Members, Fire

🎧 Single Narration 8h 47m at 2x
🎙️ Piper Goodeve
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Piper did an amazing job narrating! Her tone and delivery was perfect for each heavy and light moment throughout the book.

[elise]

first audiobook book in awhile that i started late at night and finished first thing in the morning. so good <3

[Debbie Savino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tough to explain the best part of this book. Kelly Quindlen has a way of using humor and heartfelt sentiment to bring characters to life, all of whom are flawed yet loveable. Highly recommend to anyone with a heart.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan audio for this ALC! This was such a special one of a kind book.

Weaving between heavy topics such as grief, coming out, family issues, and homophobia, this story was such a special YA queer coming of age story.

This book follows Louisa as she returns to her home town after the death of her uncle for the first time since coming out as a lesbian. But her family is being weird and she soon learns she’s been left her uncles queer bar that she’s never heard of before. Louisa’s story is one of finding herself in a town she didn’t realize could ever accept her, seeing the importance of queer community and gathering, and the different ways in which grief can impact even when the person wasn’t who you thought they were.

This should be a mandatory read for high schoolers! I was so absolutely impressed and super engaged by the idea of an 18 year old inheriting a bar. Very real, very cute, and I loved that the challenges she faced with her friends and family were normal but real. I also loved how at times the story was a bit uncomfortable as we saw it pointed out that maybe Louisa was making everything about her and was in the wrong about quite a few things!

Can’t recommend enough!

[Holly Stahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Errors:
Page 142: "No, I need (to) do this now."
Page 215: "...diva when she comes to / visit." (Spacing/line break/formatting issue)
Page 259: "My dad found joined right as I got..."

Won a giveaway on Goodreads for an advance bound galley.

I have two glaring issues with this book's intended audience being "12-18", and it's not even related to our lesbian protagonist Louisa Wade.

However, allow me to caveat this for any editors or publishers out there who wonders why a Print Media graduate from 2008 without children cares.

My goal as a reviewer has been to assess popular and contemporary works with an academic and educated approach so that consumers who may be leery of predatory bookfluencer motivations (there's a reason they utilize social media outlets specifically geared towards children/minors) can have a deeper analysis than the tepid puddles of rote "wow this had me in a chokehold" that clog flows of actually valuable discourse. My intention wasn't to watchdog Young Adult literary spaces, but recognizing the general overlap of what's becoming a blurred acceptance of what is or isn't appropriate for varying age groups of minors (those under 18) is becoming more apparent on the nightly news broadcasts.

And it's my preferred escapism genre.

My previously-local library's board council recently voted five to two, demanding a restructuring of book ratings based on content, eliminating the "Young Adult" section and replacing it with a "teen" section, to then move the more adult content books directly to the adult fiction section while maintaining "young adult" books for teens in its own section. This council required the library to re-evaluate the 86,000 books it has in circulation, to adjust changes that seem redundant. Anticipating the stress on library workers that might cause, all children and teen programs were subsequently cancelled until further notice while library resources (time, mostly) were spent on this demanded re-evaluation.

The Library Director was fired a week later.

In a post-COVID literary world (especially after the #MeToo Movement), most authors writing in this Young Adult space (or also in adult fiction spaces) are already self-policing, noting trigger/content warnings before the prologue so that readers (or their guardians), can be forewarned to either continue or abandon the work altogether. Many authors, in light of intentional line-crossing books like Gender Queer, still aren't. In regards to flagrant opportunity for normalizing predatory author behaviors such as the aforementioned book, these extremes are fringe examples of a creeping erosion of moral and lawful sensibilities that aren't being handled ethically.

That's not always the author's fault. Maybe they're speaking from a place of honesty; what was normalized for them may still be normalized today. However, there's some parts in this book where certain actions that seem rationalized or normalized are rightfully challenged, while other Rubicons crossed pre-prologue are yet to be accounted for, much less remaining pervasive and encouraged by innocently-skewed predatory actions by surrounding adults.

Anyway, in light of Kids-in-Mind dot com's approach to word counts, let's take a look at what is thought to be intended appropriate for a "young adult" twelve-year old:

Fuck: 12 times (53, 108, 126, 142, 148, 159, 170 (twice), 178, 208, 209, 229
Fucking: 15 times (14, 42,118, 123,127, 130, 131, 128 (twice), 143, 148, 225 (twice), 229, 292
Mindfuck: 1 time (9)
Shit: 11 times (134, 139, 165, 184 (twice), 185 (twice), 189, 228, 265, 272
Shitty: 2 times (42, 117)
Bullshit:2 times (10, 203)
Ass: 7 times (21, 123, 134, 170, 258 (thrice)
Asshole: 6 times (128, 146, 158, 182, 234, 252
Damn: 4 times (98, 191 (twice), 235)
Damned: 1 time (35)
Dick: 2 times (149, 156)
Hell:6 times (158, 170, 200, 224, 225 (twice))
Goddamn: 1 time (272)

That last one, for the author to currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia of all places, and for her books to all be set in Southern locales, is red flag enough, regardless of gender or sexual preference content, for most parents of kids this should reach.

Sixty-eight curse words ... Not even the MPAA would let this work be rated PG-13, so why is the intended audience starting at twelve because it's a book?

The second issue I approach more guarded: Louisa and her friends' underaged drinking. Part of it is considered part and parcel with teen dramedies, normalizing dangerous behaviors for the sake of dramatic effect for tragedies that result from these actions. This book is void of these dangers and pitfalls. The only character that participates in legal underaged drinking is Aubrey, who consumes alcohol in the privacy of her own home with a shred of adult supervision. There's never any exploration other than "keep up appearances" and "stay on alert" when this public sobriety is mentioned, yet the anxiety surrounding Asa Waldron handing them a bottle of already-opened moonshine at the bonfire is written in without expounding. In most teen drama's, this would be the prelude to a casual s*xual assault. When Aubrey and Louisa go to the house for the bathroom, and Louisa comes out to her and Asa in the kitchen, usually would be another SA threat. The tension is expressed through the characters, yet this educationally traumatizing caveat remains absent. (I'm not advocating it should be utilized.)

Earlier in the work, Louisa (and her friends' frequency at parties) is already established through a fake ID from South Dakota Louisa uses at the Frisky Cricket. Evidence of more dangerous, risky behavior, but now in a bar. Later, once she installs herself as staff and is sampling beers ("to know what to recommend to customers"), it's more flagrant rule-breaking that would revoke any bar's licensing immediately, but it's grumbled off as "don't do it again" scolding from the co-owner, Hatch.

And what he does sets off extensive alarm bells . (Minor spoiler ahead.)

Women who are warned of "power plays" from those in positions of leadership would see this and, more than likely, they've also been victims of assault as well, would panic as they read the following scene: An older man, who was in relationship with my great uncle (who is just short of "estranged"), pours me a shot and encourages me to drink it after a trying part of a shift sounds innocent, as does several of other compromising scenes that play out in the work. However, as an abuse survivor, a man who clearly breaks the law to "help me relax" with a lemon drop shot is coercion. It is in a public place, breaking a law, from a man with an office door that can be locked. In the framework of this fictional book mirroring likely circumstances, it's ethically challenged, but safe.

It is not safe to do in the real world.

And "young adults" who read this scene with this camaraderie slant Quindlen writes to it, won't know grooming behavior until trauma has occurred.

There is trauma Hatch does commit in the plot, that I won't spoil here, that relates to disappointment "betrayal", but it's not the type of trauma that typically supersedes serving alcohol to minors in places they can be sequestered or trapped into privacy.

The other pitfall associated with underaged drinking leading to dangerous events is through drunk driving, alleviated (to a fault) with utilizing Uber. However, in 2019, in my state of South Carolina (bordering Georgia, for those geographically challenged), Samantha Josephson was a pre-med student at the University of South Carolina (legal to drink) who got into a car she mistook for her rideshare and was assaulted and murdered. I was never a partier when I was in school, but I think about her parents frequently when the topic is broached. So how does Quindlen and other authors write dangerous scenarios without the warning of consequences, without diminishing or chastising the actions through their circle of influence? Is it the same ignorance I advocated earlier?

Or is this writing intentionally trying to groom minors into a false sense of safety? Are the approaches to decorum, where staunchly conservative characters are all bad, and all the people they hate are framed as "the good guys" a disingenuous ploy to prepare youth for predation? Predators rely on isolation; psychologically and then physically. Being "queer" already instills the notion of "otherness", of ostracision, and this communal place of acceptance isn't spared from weaponization in the real world. This even occurs in churches. But the added pressure of inclusion, of acceptance, can bend young, pliant wills in directions they can also regret, and a gay bar isn't excluded from these behavioral patterns just because Quindlen excludes them for the sake of the work's narrative.

In light of my criticism, ironically what Quindlen gets right is the idyllic gay bar in a small town providing psychological respite for those who focus so much of their identity on their sexual preference. The whole work explores boundaries and ramifications of crossing them, how people make grief and identity solely about how it affects only them and the necessary confrontation and correction, and how appropriate it was for Uncle George to kaleidoscope his personality, fracturing it to suit the needs of everyone around him, so he could maintain a shred of privacy.

There's a quote that makes the rounds in reels on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook that goes: "The ironic thing about life is that you are a different person to everyone you meet. To some you’re quiet. To others you never stop talking. Some remember you for your kindness. Others for the time you walked away. You are a villain in someone’s story, a hero in another’s; and to most you’re just a passing thought. A name they once knew. You don’t exist as one person, but as countless versions of yourself shaped by fleeting moments of personal perception."

This book does a fantastic job of illustrating that point through the framework of grief and exploring someone with what remains of their legacy: their impact on others, accolades, accomplishments, and memories they intended to make forging uncertain paths, and how we use what's learned to fortify ourselves in our own human experiences as the survivors.

Also, just because we post our sexual preference on Instagram doesn't mean we should expect our extended family members to notice it or care. It's not a form of information sharing older extended family ritualize in their social strata like teenagers and twenty-somethings might. Quindlen does address holding others to expectations they aren't intended to meet through Hannah's part scolding, part mentorship, when a very stark boundary is crossed and everyone's favor Louisa seeks is suddenly revoked, but otherwise it's neglected for a refined plot.

Most people, just as a habit, don't actually care, especially if their rights aren't directly infringed. This even goes for the family that learn Louisa's gay and have no reaction. No reaction isn't framed as a positive, which is something I wish was reflected in more than just one character. Typically, those of us with no reaction were recognizing the signs all along, understand personhood better, and are more pliant in expectations than the louder and nastier extremes of Louisa's grandparents. Quiet allies exist because it's not about their experience. Can they do more than being "quiet" and "letting all these folks act awful"? Sure, and they do it by being a set example. That private matters aren't intended for spectacle, aren't required public viewing. Sexual preferences and the sexual acts that follow are (typically) private, and privacy in a technological age where instantaneous data can be sold for the price of attention-seeking "like" reactions is no longer a valued commodity.

It's also a concept wildly alien to Louisa regarding Uncle George and others. Both because of "closeting" and by how social media is used. Some characters remain closeted for the plot (and in real life) because it suits their timely motives, because privacy is one thing they can guarantee themselves when a very public lifestyle must be exercised. This privacy is a self-preserving method for actors, idols, livestreamers and those in public roles that require affinity farming. Is it ideal? No, but consent matters and becomes paramount to the plot, and just because one may openly consent to scrutiny because they wear a bikini, doesn't mean that consent carries over to forcefully trying to see someone in their underwear. Or just because one can't consent doesn't mean you should do something anyway, alluding to a major plot point I don't wish to spoil. (This also feeds into the qualm I had about grooming and predatory actions carrying, because consent is being revoked due to age.)

There's so much good in this book that teens need to hear, alternative and positive reinforcement they need to perceive, in order to navigate an emotionally turbulent shifting point in their lives... But they're still minors, and their inability to consent demands respect. They're still beholden to guardianship of their elders and peers, to legislation enacted for their safety and benefit. Just because everyone is using coarse language frequently doesn't make it exceptional, aspirational, or encourageable, much less appropriate for twelve-year-olds the book is intended. And as someone who worked at GameStop for eight years, I've heard every excuse parents can give as to why they buy mature rated games, or how all Call of Duty players are children, etc.

Just because it's being normalized doesn't make it appropriate.

Just because deviations in realism are being ignored doesn't mean no course correction should follow.

The heart in this work, overall, seems pure, but divorcing it from reality or only supporting certain expectations jeopardizes its validity under wider scrutiny. Teens need to know there's a place for them, a tribe they can ascribe to, and "the other side exists" of catastrophic fantasies of assumed outcomes when they feel the need to reveal something private and personal that may deviate from "accepted norms". Allusions to coming out horror stories aren't spared in the work, but neither should other problematic behaviors unintentionally educated in the book be, either.

[yash · Rating 4 out of 5]

i will always appreciate a kelly quindlen original, ESPECIALLY one featuring the lomls baker and hannah. this book was such a fun read and gave such a good perspective of the small town queer experience. the dialogue’s were hilarious and it felt like i was a part of this family. it amazes me how kelly is able to write such witty lines while also have some of the most heartbreaking scenes in HNITS. she is such a talented author and i cannot wait for tmbtp and the hnits re-release to hit shelves soon so the rest of the public can fall in love. thank you to macmillan for the arcs for both

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️ Let me start with, I love Kelly Quindlen and my favorite book ever is Her Name in the Stars so yes, I’m biased. However, this is for good reason! This book was all I could have hoped for. It was raw and honest about the experiences of being queer especially in less forgiving southern towns but also witty, funny and sarcastic at times (thanks to our lovely main character Lou). Now I can’t talk about the characters without mentioning Hannah and Baker. If you know you know. They were adorable and I really did love the cameo of sorts they made being Lou’s mentor in.. well all things gay. The romance (though not the sole purpose of the book/plot) was well written and just added on to my enjoyment. I did feel as though the book dragged at some points and sped through others a tad (also I would have loved to see Hannah and Bakers wedding but I understand that this is Lou’s book not theirs!). I definitely 100% recommend you check this book out, as well as her other books if you have not yet, especially if you’re looking for a good entertaining sapphic romance novel to sit down and enjoy. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ATE this book up!!!! I fell in love with Louisa and all of her quirks.

This Must Be the Place does an incredible job capturing what it feels like to be a young adult stuck in that liminal space of your hometown, waiting to leave for college and convinced that new people and new places will finally mean acceptance. What I loved most was how the story challenged that belief. Sometimes growth doesn’t come from leaving, but from standing up for yourself and daring to be fully, unapologetically who you are right where you are.

This book reminded me of one of my favorite sayings:
“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are.....” — Maya Angelou

The story also thoughtfully explores the confusing emotions of grief and how they affect everyone differently, shaping how we act, feel, and perceive the world after someone’s passing.

Louisa’s journey is tender and quietly powerful, and I highly recommend picking up this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[kay.grace424 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[minor, vague spoilers]

This had some strong moments and strong points. This is a classic YA queer coming-of-age story that isn't about coming out for the first time, and it offers many valuable takeaways. This was a solid story, but at times it felt like it was trying to say too much for the page count.

I liked how the story wasn’t the clear-cut path the description and the beginning laid out. It allowed nuance and complexity to exist. I think it’s important to reiterate that things don’t always happen the way we expect.

I’m conflicted about how to feel about the Louisa and Aubrey storyline because the book's description makes it seem like the bar plot and then romance, but the main story really isn’t about them at all.  What’s important to the story is how they started, how they came to know each other, and the impact they had on each other’s lives, rather than a budding romance. I thought that was an interesting choice, especially in comparison to the author’s previous books (that I’ve read), but it felt a bit like false advertising.

I wish Emma and Candor, Louisa’s best friends, had had more page time or had been more fleshed out as characters. I feel like, especially because we see a moment early on that could’ve been the start of a growth story for them, I wish that storyline had been more prominent. It didn’t read like an unresolved issue or anything like that. I just wish they, as characters, had been more fleshed out and prominent in Louisa’s story.

My main qualm is that I feel like the author was trying to say a lot of different things, and in pursuing these different life lessons, some of them were lost or felt unfinished. As I mentioned earlier, there could’ve been more to the storyline for Emma and Candor, and I feel like the book left Louisa and Hannah feeling unresolved. I think the pacing of the life lessons part was off-putting as well. The actual pace of the story is pretty normal; it’s just the turnaround of some of the lessons felt rushed in an effort to say more things within the page count. This book was trying to drive home a lot of points, and I feel like it was muddy at times, especially towards the end. In summary, I think if the book had maybe one or two strong points it was trying to get across, rather than a collection of five or six different life lessons, it would’ve fit the page count better. I think the length in terms of page count was fitting, and I don’t think what this book needs is to be longer. It’s just that I think it was too much to say within 288 pages.

That being said, the story did make me cry, and I really enjoyed it. I think it’s worth reading regardless of age, and even though there were many life lessons packed in, there are some strong takeaways. It’s a unique story about a young queer woman that doesn't rely heavily on miscommunication tropes to portray adolescence, which I really appreciated. I think that, especially if you’ve read Her Name in the Sky, you'll really enjoy this book, and it will strike home for those who enjoyed HNITS. And even if you’ve never read a Quindlen book before, this still has a lot of important things to say and explores complexity and nuance in a interesting way for a YA book.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the Advanced Copy! I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

🌶️(0.25, one makeout)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kelly Quindlen, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

WOW!!!!! What a book!!! Allllll the emotions upon reading this (bad idea to finish it while on desk at work-- trying not to cry currently!!). I read She Drives Me Crazy by Quindlen around 4 years ago, and it is still one of my most recommend sapphic novels. This has now inspired me to go back and read the rest of Quindlen's backlog because I ate This Must Be the Place UP. There is so much of myself I saw within the story here-- coming of age, coming into your sexuality, finding queer community, and doing it all in a conservative small town with conservative family is pretty much exactly what I went through. So many people who have lived in the South and are queer will recognize the paradox-- beautiful places that you might love, but what do you do when they don't love you back? Louisa in this is an unflinchingly honest protagonist who wears her heart on her sleeve; I loved reading this book from her perspective, as she felt so realistic. I might not have been as feisty as her, but she resonated with my big feelings I've always had, especially as a young person coming out in my late teens/early 20s. Now being 28 reading this and engaged to my beautiful fiancée, I loved the inclusion of Hannah and Baker as elder lesbian role models, as I can see both perspectives! This book is authentic in every sense of the word, and it doesn't shy away from complexities. There is a lot of hurt that Louisa (and others) both have and cause here. But everything feels earned and resolves in ways that make sense. There were quite a few scenes that took me by surprise, and I LOVE the way this ended. Without giving spoilers, it didn't lean it to the stereotypical ending I had predicted earlier on and instead took a more realistic approach. Reading this felt healing in so many ways and made me want to go support my local lesbian bar, Pearl, asap. Queer spaces are the lifeblood of so many communities, and I love how The Frisky Cricket was a huge character in-and-of itself. It felt larger than life, and Quindlen truly understands queer found family. I truly loved each character, from Hatch to Midas to RuPaw! I thought the romance was cute between Louisa and Audrey, although I would have liked to see a bit more of both it and Louisa's friendship with Emma and Candor. That was the one section of the novel that felt a bit under-utilized to me, as there was a lot going on otherwise, and this seemed to fall to the wayside. However, what I did see both in friendship and romantic relationships, I enjoyed! Quindlen is now a must-read author for me, and I cannot wait to get this book into all of my friends' hands. I think so many people will feel represented by this story, and I will be thinking of it for a while to come.

[Ry Gibson Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Listener Copy via NetGalley

One of the things I love about getting Advanced Listener Copies is getting to read so many more Queer books! This is no exception.

A YA novel set in rural Alabama, This Must Be The Place follows Louisa, a gay woman who thought the dust would have long settled from her ‘coming out’ instagram post before she had to see her conservative family again.

However the sudden death of her seemingly straight football-hero Uncle George means she’s thrust into the centre of family drama as he’s bequeathed her his share of a gay bar!

I don’t know if you would call this a coming out story as the main character has actually told people before we join her for this book, but there’s still a lot of drama and grappling with acceptance. She has a mantra ‘I am Gay and I am here’ which she repeats many times to get through this.

The crux of the story is Louisa finding herself in a space she’s never been in before - a hub of Queer community and chosen family - in the most unexpected of places. And her trying to integrate into that whilst also wanting to save the bar from being sold and dealing with her homophobic family.

Things I liked about it were numerous - the fact that whilst there is a little romance it’s not the main focus; that the Queer community is somewhat diverse (maybe not racially but in terms of people’s Queer identities); that the characters aren’t saccharine but are edgy, flawed and difficult to understand.

However whilst I like complex characters I found Louisa harsh and really not very likeable at all. I love a redemption arc but I’m not sure there was enough redeeming features for that, and the end was rushed which I think is where we needed to see a different side to Louisa.

The story had me wanting to keep listening but I wouldn’t say there were any characters in the book that I could emotionally connect with. The only characters we really get to dive into are either dead or very spiky.

I’d have liked to have spent more time with Midas and Hannah, who felt like they had more depth but that wasn’t explored here.

That aside I think a YA book focusing on the complexity of grief is great, and more of that please! Perhaps it needed something like a therapist offering insight into why Louisa was behaving so badly within the context of both her coming out and her grief, to try and balance it out a bit.

A good book, really well narrated - this definitely kept me listening - but one that had too many unresolved jagged edges for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in return for an unbiased review.

[Alexa Blart, Library Cop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for providing an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

As far as I'm concerned, Kelly Quindlen literally NEVER misses, but even so, I was surprised at how emotionally affecting this book ended up being. What I thought I was getting into was a fun, romantic comedy of errors—the setup, wherein our eighteen-year-old protagonist, Louisa, ends up inheriting a gay bar from her recently deceased great-uncle, certainly seems fertile ground for a story like that. Instead, Quindlen weaves an emotionally resonant portrait of grief: the unexpected ways it manifests and the complicated question of who "gets" to feel it. Louisa, thanks to her parents' divorce and her subsequent move to Connecticut with her mom, didn't grow up knowing her great-uncle George very well, yet his death, and the posthumous discovery that he was gay like her, brings with it a panoply of difficult feelings—grief over not knowing him better in life, guilt over not mourning him more, a longing for a conversation with him that can now never take place—that Quindlen delivers into thoughtfully.

Louisa may also be Quindlen's most complex and at times unlikable protagonist yet—and, of course, that just made me like her all the more. At the beginning of the book, she's very myopically focused on what returning to her childhood hometown for Uncle George's funeral means for her own queerness—barely a thought for her grieving father or the loss of her great-uncle. She's recently discovered herself, and the book allows her to be messy and selfish about it—you know, just like we all were, to some extent, as eighteen-year-olds! Louisa's journey from self-absorbed, scared teen to learning, through her experiences at the gay bar, what it means to think of others and be part of a community, is extremely satisfying and realistic.

If there are any day one fans of Quindlen's debut novel ( Her Name in the Sky , an underground sapphic-YA darling in 2014 when it was indie published—and now getting trad published this year!) will be most excited to see the return of Hannah and Baker, now in their early thirties and featuring prominently as queer mentors to Louisa.

And finally, it's impossible to talk about a book about a gay bar without mentioning the many ways in which it is an ode to safe spaces, to queer community, and to the places that feel like home—which, of course, had me in tears by the final page. (Siri, play "The Lipstick Lounge" by 76th Street! Pronto!)

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Here's the thing: I think I will always love and pick up Kelly Quindlen books. She always manages to make me complete entranced by the world she creates and she seems to always make me cry, even when I don't plan to. That being said, this one might be my least favorite that I've read from her (so far).

This book follows Louisa and her complicated family and a bar. I loved how real this book was, how imperfect the characters were because it really reflects real life. No one is all good or all bad and I thought it was nice to see that reflected in this story. And now I'm going to say something that is quite hypocritical but...Louisa really ruined this book for me.

Ruined is a dramatic word to use. I understand that.

But the truth is, I really could not handle how selfish and self-absorbed Louisa was. I mean...wow. I know I just talked about how I loved how imperfect the characters were, but there's just something about the level of self-absorbed that Louisa is that felt like it went too far. Her actions throughout the book, especially towards the end of the book, personally felt like she went too far. She gets called out multiple times throughout the story for always making everything about herself and for being selfish which I really liked but I honestly feel like Louisa is the same person at the start of the story as she is at the end. Her entire personality is that fact that she's gay and she makes EVERYTHING and EVERYONE's life need to revolve around her gay awakening, what she wants, what she needs and then judges everyone around her for not fitting into this perfect box she has. I understand the book only follows a little over a month or so of her life so realistically I can't expect her to be a whole different person but, I don't know, I expected some growth. We also don't learn a single thing about Louisa...outside of her being gay, of course. I have no idea what she wants to go to college for, what her favorite shows are, what she enjoys doing in her free time...nothing. She's✨gay✨, and apparently that's all you need to know about her.

So why 4 stars?

It all goes back to the writing. And how big of a role Hannah and Baker played in this book. I love them so much and it was so nice seeing them as grown adults and to see how happy they were (even when life wasn't perfect).

Overall, I'm happy I read this and I don't regret it. I think if you love this author's writing and/or you are a fan of Her Name in the Sky, then you should pick this up this book.

*arc given in exchange for an honest review

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a heartfelt and layered exploration of grief, identity, and queer community, set against the backdrop of a Southern town grappling with its own contradictions. Before reviewing the novel itself, I want to say that longtime readers of Quindlen's work will find a particular delight in the reappearance of Hannah and Baker (Her Name in the Sky), now grown into adulthood. Their presence as “lesbian elders” enriches the reading experience.

At the center of the novel is Louisa Wade, a protagonist who is intentionally imperfect. Her self-centeredness and impulsivity are repeatedly challenged by those around her, creating a narrative that is as much about accountability as it is about growth. Louisa is navigating a convergence of life-altering events: coming out, the loss of her great-uncle, strained family dynamics, and the unexpected responsibility of inheriting a queer space that holds deep meaning for a marginalized community. The accumulation of these pressures lends the novel a sense of urgency, even as Louisa’s lack of guidance—and her belief that she does not need it—complicates her path forward.

Quindlen excels at portraying the emotional duality of this journey. The novel balances moments of profound grief with instances of genuine queer joy, particularly in its depiction of chosen family and community spaces. The Frisky Cricket becomes more than a setting; it stands as a symbol of belonging, resilience, and the quiet power of visibility in environments that often resist it.

The supporting cast is equally well-rendered, populated by characters whose flaws feel recognizably human. While some antagonistic figures may initially appear exaggerated, their presence reflects realities that will be familiar to readers with lived experience in similar cultural contexts. The novel does not shy away from these tensions, instead using them to underscore the stakes of preserving queer spaces and histories.

Ultimately, This Must Be the Place delivers both emotional highs and devastating lows, capturing the complexity of growing into oneself while honoring those who came before. It is a compelling addition to contemporary YA LGBTQIA+ literature—one that celebrates community while acknowledging the challenges inherent in claiming and protecting it.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have absolutely loved every single Kelly Quindlen book I have read and this one is no different. Her books are always full or warmth and comfort and always hit those rough niche feelings that you thought only you felt and it gets me every single time. Hannah and Baker returning in this one from Her Name in the Sky was such a treat and It was honestly the main excitement for me in this book. As I'm sure it was for a ton of others as well. Seeing them return as grown adults with careers and the life they created for themselves after the events of the first book was so amazing. They were exactly as I expected them to be. I am glad that they stepped in and became who they needed when they were young for Louisa. It really did come full circle. I just love them I have nothing else to say here, Hannah's dumb jokes and Bakers quiet patience were the perfect constant for everything else going on in the story. Incredibly sad to have to let them go a second time.

Louisa was a complicated character for me, but she was definitely meant to be. There were times that I found her incredibly annoying, selfish, and naive and then others where I felt for her and the grief she had. Then there were those few times I absolutely loved her. She was such a storm of emotions and it felt right for the story honestly. Aubrey was a good addition to kind of point all this out to Louisa as well, she really didn't pull her punches at first and it was needed. Hearing these remarks from Aubrey really shaped how Louisa approached situations for the rest of the book. This book was largely about grief, finding your place, and what you do with the pieces that somebody has left behind for you once they are gone. Louisa had to find out what this bar meant to both her and her uncle as well as so many others like Hatch and Midas. It meant something different to every single person and so did her uncle George. I don't really have an opinion on George, I think that we didn't know him enough to form one but he was kind of just as complicated as Louisa. Everybody had a different approach on how to memorialize him and what they took away and all were completely valid. I wish that we had known Hatch a little better as well, he stayed a little mysterious to me. I get his decisions but I also don't and a little more clarity would've been nice. But again, maybe it was meant to be that way. Maybe nobody truly knows George and Hatch's ambitions but them.

I absolutely loved the dynamic of The Frisky Cricket. The events that happened during the story and just the little day to day interactions were so fun and heartwarming. It was wonderfully weird, full of odd personalities and friendly faces of new and old, and it really embodied a patchwork found family that the queer community often feels like. It truly showed Louisa a sense of community and let her know that she was never alone. There would always be someone there for her and her people will show up when she needs them. The entire setting was just done incredibly well overall. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me this ARC, all opinions have been my own!

[Laura S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rash, selfish, insane decisions made by the main character in this book were those that could only be made by a freshly high school graduated 18 year old. 3.5/5 stars

At the beginning of this book, Lousia arrives at her late great uncle’s wake and is expecting her entire family to be thinking about and talking about her. Why? She recently posted on Instagram that she went to prom with another girl. This was her way of coming out as a lesbian. Her family are old southern homophobes, so she expects this to have made waves in her hometown. When no one reacts or cares, she is genuinely shocked. Lousia is self absorbed and has difficulty seeing beyond her own self. This is, thankfully, pointed out to her more than once in the book, but it was hard to read at points. Louisa is really at a point of “know[ing] everything at eighteen,” as Taylor Swift put it in her song Nothing New.

I enjoyed a lot of this book. The story was fun, summery, and an overall enjoyable coming of age story. Louisa has inherited a gay bar from her uncle and begins working there and getting to know the patrons. The book follows her friendships and discoveries as she gets to know people in her newfound gay community. I did think this book was worth reading, but maybe not for the lower end of the recommended age group (YA range is 12-18).

Another reviewer pointed this out, and it is something that I noticed early on in this book: for a YA book, there is a lot of profane language. You can read Holly’s review here here for a more in depth look at that. I am not the word police, but I did find it to be excessive. Young adult me would have DNFed this book because of that right off that bat (I was a dweeb ok).

Also just a little thing— at one point a character says he got a piñata from Party City, but they no longer exist. Just a little inconsistency that bothered me.

Quindlen’s book Late to the Party is one of my all time favorites, so I was so excited to read this. It fell a little short for me, but I still had fun and am happy to have read it. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 🫶
4.5 stars rounded up to five because most of what I didn't like was beyond the 90% mark

I love a book with a cast of characters that feels fleshed out and like this is a real world I"m living in. There is a romance but that's more of a subplot, the main plot is more focused on Louisa's character development and her relationships with her family and the new people she meets through the bar, which I LOVED. I also learned about the existence of Her Name In The Sky (Quindlen's book about Hannah and Baker) which I've already picked up from the library. Overall, I really liked this book. The writing style just flowed really well for my brain and I enjoyed the plot and loved the characters. I actually found myself putting off reading toward the end because I didn't want it to be over, something I don't do often.
Now, a couple of things I didn't like (small)
1. I feel like the romance randomly went from 0-10 really abruptly. Louisa goes from being super mean to (redacted just in case this is a spoiler) for about 60% of the book to being like wait I think I have a crush on her for another 10% or so to all of a sudden they're making out without there really being much of any build up to that point. I would've liked for that tension to build more before they actually got together.
2. Louisa does some really, really uncool things towards the ends of the book that made me dislike her. Up to this point I'd really liked her and she does realize she messed up and apologizes and tries to make things right but still. It also felt inconsistent with her character and the growth she'd experienced up to this point, so it felt really out of left field.
All in all, I loved this book and have actually pre-ordered a physical copy because I'd like to have it on my shelf and read again. This isn't the first nor will it be the last of Kelly Quindlen's books I've read, and I would definitely recommend it! This book will especially resonate with people from small/southern towns and complicated feelings about it, anyone dealing with grief, especially if that grief feels complicated.

[SullenSapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

After arriving home for her late great-uncle’s funeral, Louisa Wade learns that she has inherited a gay bar (The Frisky Cricket) that he owned. Louisa is completely thrown off her axis not only because her great-uncle was the hometown football hero but also gay. Louisa is excited to learn of the community she wishes she knew existed before moving away and can’t wait to carry on the legacy of her great-uncle.

Enter Hatch. He was George's partner in business and life. He is ready to do away with The Frisky Cricket but Louisa has other plans. What those plans don’t include is being put in the path of Aubrey Calhoun. Aubrey brings more complications for Louisa because they begin falling for each other only for Louisa to find out she is the daughter of the man who wants to destroy The Frisky Cricket for a new football facility. Can Louisa save her uncle’s bar? Will Louisa get the girl in the end?

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the Author in return for my honest review. This book is the definition of found family. She is thrust into a world that she didn’t even know existed in her hometown and everyone was loving and accepting of her. There is a relationship that takes place between Louisa and Aubrey but that is more of a side plot and isn’t a large focus of this book. So, if you’re looking for a romance, this only has a smattering of it.

Louisa is only 18 years old in this book and she does partake in underage drinking. So, if you’re not a fan or are offended by such things, this is probably not the book for you to read. One element of this book that I love is the side character (that’s what I’m calling it) RuPaw. Every time this kitty made an appearance in audio (on page) it made me smile. I’m a sucker for animals, can’t help it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and love the element of found family.

🐈‍⬛ Found Family
🐈‍⬛ YA
🐈‍⬛ Sapphic Romance
🐈‍⬛ Underage Drinking
🐈‍⬛ Homophobia
🐈‍⬛ Death of Family Member
🐈‍⬛ Queer Bar
🐈‍⬛ Emotional Healing
🐈‍⬛ Coming Home
🐈‍⬛ Grumpy / Sunshine

[Read_with_Beans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of This Must Be the Place by Kelly Quindlen, narrated by Piper Goodeve.

This was my first read from Kelly Quindlen and I thought it was fine. I thought it was a “good for her” coming of age story that individuals may be able to connect with. The FMC is the only queer member of her extremely judgmental family or so she thought until her uncle dies and bequeaths her his ownership stake in the Frisky Cricket, the town’s queer bar that is fighting to stay in business.

One of my issues with the book came in the first few chapters when the FMC (18 years old) used a fake id at the bar. I understand that this happens in real life, but I just prefer young adult books to not have criminal acts in them, or under-age drinking.

I thought the book and audiobook were well narrated and produced. I liked the sassy side of the FMC and the fact that she was not going to stand-down when she faced adversity regarding her owns views. I thought the found family elements were extremely well down and realistic. We can’t choose the family we are given, but we can choose who we decide to spend time with and surround ourselves with. The FMC’s family was insufferable, so of course she was going to have to find her own tribe. I thought the romance was sweet and despite getting off on the wrong foot, the FMC was determined to get on the right side of Aubrey Calhoun.
Regarding the audiobook, I found it to be an enjoyable listen. The narrators voice appeared to fit with the characters she was portraying. The voice sounded young, but not in a bad way at all. She had a lot of emotions that she had to portray and did an excellent job doing so. There were not a TON of characters in this book, but she did an excellent job of portraying them each with voices individually. I really enjoyed the audiobook and would highly recommend this narrator. Overall, this was a good queer coming over age story but it was far from perfect.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I've really enjoyed the several books I've read from Kelly Quindlen, and this one fits right in with my high expectations for this author. Louisa's story is heartfelt and genuine, and there are both serious and hopeful aspects to enjoy.

When Louisa learns her uncle has passed away somewhat unexpectedly (he has a medical incident and is gone only days later), she knows she must return to her hometown in the south to attend his funeral and reconnect with friends and family after being away at college in another state (where there is no sweet tea). What she does not anticipate is that her uncle will have left her a truly unexpected inheritance: a gay bar. As a recently out queer person, Louisa has a lot of questions about how this gift (?) has come into her possession. What was her uncle trying to tell her about herself? About himself? Let's just say there are a lot of pieces of info for Louisa to learn. Some are external, and some were always inside her just waiting for the right moment to rise.

As usual, Quindlen has great characters, and this author really knows how to take an inhospitable setting and show how a queer character might navigate it (both successfully and with some expected bumps in the road). There are some pretty gross interactions that happen with and between various characters, but there are also layers, and those layers reveal hope and connection and if not outright acceptance, then at least a pathway forward in most cases.

This is another solid read from Quindlen with one of the best cat names of all time. I'm always looking forward to what this author has up next.

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Fierce Reads, and Macmillan Audio for this widget and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Elysha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Must Be The Place is an amazing coming of age queer YA book that made me laugh and cry while reading it.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s an amazing book filled with queer joy, found family, legacy and what it means to have loved and been left behind by a complicated person. This author did not pull punches with this book, making it realistic in all the best ways.

Louisa is a complicated main character, having recently come out as gay and struggling to find her place in the world and her home town in Alabama. She’s also struggling with her relationship with her now passed away great uncle, who left her a gay bar and Louisa struggling to come to terms with parts of her uncle George she didn’t know. Louisa is equally frustrating and endearing and there are parts where I wanted to yell in frustration at her actions. But the other characters do that for you and you see Louisa grow and mature throughout the book. I loved seeing her development.

All the side characters from the bar are amazing! They each had their own relationship with George and you see their grief throughout the book. I didn’t find like they were one dimensional like in some books, each had their own story and personalities. This was a found family book in all the best ways.

The romance was just a side part of the book but I didn’t mind that at all. It was a nice piece that fit in with Louisa’s story throughout the book, and was a nice balance with it.

The narrator did an amazing job with the book! I absolutely love how she brought it and the characters to life!

I absolutely love this book! Would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a queer coming of age YA book.

Thank you to the NetGalley and Macmillan Media for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Kelly Quindlen since I discovered Her Name in the Sky back in 2020, so receiving an eARC of This Must Be the Place—and getting to return to the world where Hannah and Baker exist—was such a joy. Seeing them again, now older and thriving, felt like a gift for longtime readers who have carried that story with them.

At the center of the novel is Louisa Wade, who unexpectedly inherits a gay bar from her late great-uncle and becomes determined to keep it alive as a home for the Queer community that built it.

Louisa can be a frustrating character at times. She barrels forward with a kind of single-minded conviction that occasionally borders on stubbornness. But the longer I sat with her, the more that frustration felt intentional. Everything seems black and white after you come out. When you first begin to understand yourself clearly, it is tempting to believe the world should reshape itself to match that clarity. You want to bend its rigidity to fit what you now know to be true.

Of course, the world rarely works that way.

Early in the novel, a character describes Louisa as “earnest,” and that word feels overwhelmingly accurate. Earnest in the best sense—hopeful, sincere, fiercely protective of the spaces and people she loves. But also earnest in the way young people sometimes are: convinced they can fix everything if they just care enough, and will others to see things the way they do.

This Must Be the Place is, at its heart, a love letter to Queer spaces and Queer community: imperfect, messy, fragile, and worth fighting for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fierce Reads for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ALC and the opportunity to provide my honest review.

In this book, Louisa is returning home after spending her senior year up north with her mother. She has recently come out as a lesbian online to everyone, and she isn’t sure how her southern family is going to react. Unfortunately, she has been thrust into interacting with them in person quicker than she anticipated, due to the recent death of her great-uncle.

The situation is made more complicated as Louisa finds that Uncle George has left her his ownership share of a gay bar called The Frisky Cricket, which may be closing soon. She immediately falls in love with the Cricket, and wants to save this place where she feels like she truly belongs.

The book is an emotional roller coaster, but in the best way. I thought the portrayal of Louisa was pretty accurate for an 18-year-old who is trying to figure out her place in the world, and dealing with grief at the same time. She is busy dealing with the loss of Uncle George, the change in her relationship with her best friends due to her move, trying to understand where she fits in her friend group (especially with them acquiring a new friend after her leaving), and complicated emotions and feelings as she tries to figure out who she is, the parts of her uncle she did not know, and how everything relates to each other.

I highly recommend this read. It shares a message of queer joy and acceptance, and learning that very often the families that we have are the found families that we make. There’s also a cat and a couple of dogs. What more to love?

[ChristineReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some stories that bury deep into you and live in your marrow, and thats where this story is for me. I read this in one sitting, absolutely devoured it. I felt all my emotions and cried for all the reasons. Its such a heart felt story with such real characters that I could help but feel while reading it.

Louisa is a lovable character who is feeling and dealing with so many things in such a short time, including unpacking a family history of hidden truths and tough choices. After being left a bar by her late great uncle, Louisa learns some truths that were unknown to her. Now she owns a stake in a gay bar that is about to be sold off and she's having difficulty dealing with what she has always known and how she feels now that she is out.

In some truly beautiful storytelling, we see Louisa navigate some really hard situations, like what it means to have a family member who is only kid of out in some places and not in others, how we remember those that have passed and how we move forward. I thought this story did a particularly good job of exploring what it looks like when grief is loud and out of control and how we may act in those moments, how we can lose ourselves and how we can find ourselves.

Highly reccommend this book! I can't say enough good things about this story! Also side note, such a joy to see Hannah and Baker again! Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Andreína · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa gets to her dad's hometown to go to his uncle's funeral and discovers SO many things.
I really enjoyed some characters like Louisa's friends, AUBREY OF COURSE, and HANNAH AND BAKER !!!
But after the initial excitement wore off, I got kind of bored. Lou's family was a mess, she was a mess, and the rest of the characters weren't fun at all :( Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was looking for the same familiarity feeling I got when reading Her Name in the Sky or She Drives Me Crazy, and I never got it.

Alcohol is a big theme in Kelly’s stories, and I don’t enjoy that part very much. Reading about 18-year-olds who are obsessed with drinking isn’t fun for me. Still, I enjoyed the book (mostly because of Aubrey, Hannah, and Baker), and it was a lighter read than I expected, so it worked well as a quick read. I also really appreciate how good the author is at writing deeply flawed characters and making them feel like people I can relate to without feeling guilty. I think that's a great talent.

[kaila | kd.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was really excited when i found out kelly quindlen was coming out with another book! i've read she drives me crazy and i loved it, so i couldn't wait to read this must be the place!

i started this audiobook yesterday 5/19 and i finished it today 5/20 and i honestly couldn't put it down because i just had to know what louisa was going to do. now, she is a teenager and teenagers can make rash decisions sometimes, and trust me she does but she's still such a loveable character for me. louisa just lost her great uncle, she just came out as lesbian, inherits a bar, and honestly just has a lot going on for an 18 year old. i think she handles everything as best as she can, while making mistakes along the way because no one is perfect and at her age you think you know everything.

i couldn't stand her grandfather, or aubrey's dad, LOVED hannah and baker, along with louisa's dad. omg how could i forget the cat RU PAW. i really enjoyed this book and i'm so glad i got to listen to it early thanks to macmillan audio! this must be the place releases may 26, 2026!!!

[Donna Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

Arriving at her great-uncle's funeral, Lousia is gifted a gay bar from his will and wants to keep it from being sold, and hide her uncle's hidden legacy. This YA tale explores the hidden legacy of a haven for LGBTQIA+ people, especially as Louisa is determined to keep this bar from being sold to make way for a football training facility. Louisa is quite brash with her views and determination, but this does backfire on her multiple times. The inclusion was fantastic throughout the book, especially with all the great minor characters. The romance was alright, as it did take a little time to build, but it felt a little rushed near the end. The topics of grief and coming out were very well done as characters discuss the issues of overcoming and understanding grief, while also taking on how to handle information on news of someone's coming out. Overall, this was a really good YA sapphic romance book that focused on grief and overcoming multiple obstacles.