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Where You'll Find Us
Not yet published
Expected 4 Jun 26A profound, beautifully written and deeply moving YA novel about trans identity, queer history and found family with a high concept hook – from the critically acclaimed author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come, for fans of We Are Okay and They Both Die at the End.
Calla Quick has no future.
At least, that’s how it feels. Her parents disowned her via text message, and now she can’t afford to go to an all-women’s college with her girlfriend Ramona like they planned.
But Calla wonders if maybe that’s for the best―because even though Calla told Ramona her parents disowned her because they found out she’s gay, the truth is, Calla has been questioning whether she’s a girl at all. Calla wishes she had more time to figure everything out, and one night, her wish is seemingly granted.
When Calla and Ramona stumble upon a mysterious farmhouse the woods, they meet five teens who claim they’ve lived there for decades. The land, which they call Amaranth, acts as a safe haven for queer kids throughout history―a place free of hate, free of violence, free of time itself. Here, Calla can be Cal and use they/them pronouns, and they feel instantly accepted.
They don’t have to worry about the future because at Amaranth, it will never come―until one night when the clock strikes twelve.
Now under a literal ticking clock, the housemates must find a way to stop time again or face going back to their harsh realities, but as Cal learns everyone’s story, they begin to wonder what queer people lose when their history is lost to time.
Calla Quick has no future.
At least, that’s how it feels. Her parents disowned her via text message, and now she can’t afford to go to an all-women’s college with her girlfriend Ramona like they planned.
But Calla wonders if maybe that’s for the best―because even though Calla told Ramona her parents disowned her because they found out she’s gay, the truth is, Calla has been questioning whether she’s a girl at all. Calla wishes she had more time to figure everything out, and one night, her wish is seemingly granted.
When Calla and Ramona stumble upon a mysterious farmhouse the woods, they meet five teens who claim they’ve lived there for decades. The land, which they call Amaranth, acts as a safe haven for queer kids throughout history―a place free of hate, free of violence, free of time itself. Here, Calla can be Cal and use they/them pronouns, and they feel instantly accepted.
They don’t have to worry about the future because at Amaranth, it will never come―until one night when the clock strikes twelve.
Now under a literal ticking clock, the housemates must find a way to stop time again or face going back to their harsh realities, but as Cal learns everyone’s story, they begin to wonder what queer people lose when their history is lost to time.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 2, 2026
2 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Jen St. Jude
2 books318 followersJen St. Jude (they/them) is the author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come and Where You'll Find Us. They live near Chicago with people (and an old dog) they love.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 15, 2025
a queer classic in the making—beautiful, devastating, and so very hopeful. my heart is full!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also had the immense privilege of being the sensitivity reader for this book, focusing on the character Kiyo's background and storylines. Kiyo was already a great character from the get-go, but it was a joy to see her develop even more in the finalized version of this book as the author incorporated my feedback in such a creative and respectful way.
This book is so, so precious to me. Beyond anything, through the character of Cal, this book does an amazing job of describing what gender dysphoria and euphoria feels like in the heart and body in such an accessible way. Reading this book, I really felt that it's one thing to normalize understanding and respecting pronouns and non-binary gender identities (especially amongst cis allies like myself), but yet another to really understand why these things are so important and what gender and other forms of affirmation truly feels like. And Cal themself is written in such a vulnerable and relatable way - I truly felt myself rooting for them throughout the entire book.
I also loved the chapters dedicated to the historical backgrounds of each character - honestly, it reminded me a lot of the American Girl book series or the Dear America series I read growing up in the way that the author did not shy away from depicting the often cruel and brutal realities of being queer during these times, but also choosing to put the focus on queer joy and community. I really think there's so much edutainment value in this book for everyone, but especially younger readers or parents of queer teens and kids. This book is educational, but it definitely does not talk down to younger readers who might pick up this book.
If anything I said before this does not convince you to read this book, just know that when I did my first read of this book, I cried so hard at the last part and my kobo screen blurred so much that I had to go back and re-read it so I could actually do my job. So make of that what you will.
Will be recommending this book to everyone I know!!! <3
This book is so, so precious to me. Beyond anything, through the character of Cal, this book does an amazing job of describing what gender dysphoria and euphoria feels like in the heart and body in such an accessible way. Reading this book, I really felt that it's one thing to normalize understanding and respecting pronouns and non-binary gender identities (especially amongst cis allies like myself), but yet another to really understand why these things are so important and what gender and other forms of affirmation truly feels like. And Cal themself is written in such a vulnerable and relatable way - I truly felt myself rooting for them throughout the entire book.
I also loved the chapters dedicated to the historical backgrounds of each character - honestly, it reminded me a lot of the American Girl book series or the Dear America series I read growing up in the way that the author did not shy away from depicting the often cruel and brutal realities of being queer during these times, but also choosing to put the focus on queer joy and community. I really think there's so much edutainment value in this book for everyone, but especially younger readers or parents of queer teens and kids. This book is educational, but it definitely does not talk down to younger readers who might pick up this book.
If anything I said before this does not convince you to read this book, just know that when I did my first read of this book, I cried so hard at the last part and my kobo screen blurred so much that I had to go back and re-read it so I could actually do my job. So make of that what you will.
Will be recommending this book to everyone I know!!! <3
Review of advance copy
In a magical haven from reality, a trans teen at last learns to be their authentic self. Previously disowned by their parents and fearful of losing their girlfriend--who has vocalized that she'd never date a trans man--an impulsive wish for more time whisks Indianapolis-born Calla Quick Calla to Amaranth, a farmhouse refuge for five queer kids who claim “time doesn’t exist here." Here, Calla can at last be Cal. But when Amaranth's clocks inexplicably begin ticking again, Cal is horrified to realize that they and their new housemates will be forced to return to the lives--and prejudice--that they've fled.
I thought this was a brave and beautiful book. The premise is clever, and I love the way the narrative explores the dualities of time: it is both the enemy, and the savior. In the beginning, Calla believes that all she needs is time to stop—but by the book’s end, Cal realizes that time itself can be a gift. By stopping time in Amaranth, St. Jude creates an opportunity to show how attitudes toward gender and queerness have changed over time—and also how they haven’t. The result is a layered story packed with memorable characters who each have their own unique struggles, while also showing us what their stories have in common. If I have a complaint, it’s only that sometimes I felt the personal histories relied a bit too much on telling over showing—but in a sense, that actually fits the narrative, as these histories are framed as stories that are being told to Cal.
I think this is the rare sort of book that is capable of opening readers’ minds to new ideas, and one with crossover-appeal for adult readers. St. Jude does such an excellent job of allowing readers to intimately know each character and understand them, and that seems really important right now.
I thought this was a brave and beautiful book. The premise is clever, and I love the way the narrative explores the dualities of time: it is both the enemy, and the savior. In the beginning, Calla believes that all she needs is time to stop—but by the book’s end, Cal realizes that time itself can be a gift. By stopping time in Amaranth, St. Jude creates an opportunity to show how attitudes toward gender and queerness have changed over time—and also how they haven’t. The result is a layered story packed with memorable characters who each have their own unique struggles, while also showing us what their stories have in common. If I have a complaint, it’s only that sometimes I felt the personal histories relied a bit too much on telling over showing—but in a sense, that actually fits the narrative, as these histories are framed as stories that are being told to Cal.
I think this is the rare sort of book that is capable of opening readers’ minds to new ideas, and one with crossover-appeal for adult readers. St. Jude does such an excellent job of allowing readers to intimately know each character and understand them, and that seems really important right now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC!~~
Okay, I cried. This book was just so darn beautiful.
Cal'd journey to coming into their true self was so well portrayed. I don't experience gender dysphoria, nor am I trans, but the way St. Jude wrote about it felt just like the lived experience of othe rtrans people who've felt similar to Cal. The acceptance they experience from the Amaranth house was so heartwarming, especially because they all come from various points in the 20th century. Ramona was a tad frustrating, but their conflict gets resolved in a very healthy, realistic way.
The magical realism is more metaphorical and a device to bring all the residents together into a found family, and it doesn't need to be anything more than that. The motivations of Amaranth could be speculated upon, but I like to think it brought Cal and Ramona in to remind the rest you can't stay stuck forever, despite the haven it provided them.
I don't wanna say anymore because it's just the kind of book where you only know the premise coming into it. I can't wait for the book to officially release so I can display it proudly on my shelf.
Okay, I cried. This book was just so darn beautiful.
Cal'd journey to coming into their true self was so well portrayed. I don't experience gender dysphoria, nor am I trans, but the way St. Jude wrote about it felt just like the lived experience of othe rtrans people who've felt similar to Cal. The acceptance they experience from the Amaranth house was so heartwarming, especially because they all come from various points in the 20th century. Ramona was a tad frustrating, but their conflict gets resolved in a very healthy, realistic way.
The magical realism is more metaphorical and a device to bring all the residents together into a found family, and it doesn't need to be anything more than that. The motivations of Amaranth could be speculated upon, but I like to think it brought Cal and Ramona in to remind the rest you can't stay stuck forever, despite the haven it provided them.
I don't wanna say anymore because it's just the kind of book where you only know the premise coming into it. I can't wait for the book to officially release so I can display it proudly on my shelf.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For those, past and present, who have never felt truly at home in their own bodies.
Cal Quick can relate. A field hockey senior at an all-girls school, Cal is staring down the face of their future and desperately begging for more time. Time to figure out what they want out of life, to figure out where their path should lead, and most importantly, to figure out the person they know themselves to be. And it is during their most desperate wishing that they (and their girlfriend Ramona) stumble upon a house to shelter them from a horrendous storm. It is in this house that they find themselves granted the thing they want most: time.
I hesitated giving this book a 5⭐️ rating. Not that the writing wasn't good nor the plot unbelievable. I felt that I was intruding on a space not written for me. For most of the book, I struggled to find the depth in the story. But it was towards the later halfth that I began to understand the richness of the lives lead. Each backstory of each character is fully realized and written in a digestible way for younger readers to understand. Not that I would recommend this for young teens exactly... Older teens perhaps might better understand the gravity of the lives of Sunny and Kiyo. It was a story full of acceptance and hope.
I gave this book 5 stars for the impact it will have on those struggling to find themselves. I think this one will really help.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.
Cal Quick can relate. A field hockey senior at an all-girls school, Cal is staring down the face of their future and desperately begging for more time. Time to figure out what they want out of life, to figure out where their path should lead, and most importantly, to figure out the person they know themselves to be. And it is during their most desperate wishing that they (and their girlfriend Ramona) stumble upon a house to shelter them from a horrendous storm. It is in this house that they find themselves granted the thing they want most: time.
I hesitated giving this book a 5⭐️ rating. Not that the writing wasn't good nor the plot unbelievable. I felt that I was intruding on a space not written for me. For most of the book, I struggled to find the depth in the story. But it was towards the later halfth that I began to understand the richness of the lives lead. Each backstory of each character is fully realized and written in a digestible way for younger readers to understand. Not that I would recommend this for young teens exactly... Older teens perhaps might better understand the gravity of the lives of Sunny and Kiyo. It was a story full of acceptance and hope.
I gave this book 5 stars for the impact it will have on those struggling to find themselves. I think this one will really help.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book. I love a queer found family, stories that play with time/time travel, and cozy, light magical realism, and this had all of the above. All the characters felt full and most of them lovable -- looking at you, Ramona >:( -- and the setting was so compelling. I'll be highly recommending.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Absolutely lovely book about being a trans-questioning youth and the journey to self-discovery and eventual self-acceptance, complete with a magical twist. I may have teared up at several points while reading this.
Read
October 11, 2025Not bad, tbh.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Perfection.
Read
February 16, 2026RTC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is like if The House in the Cerulean Sea and Last Night at the Telegraph Club had a child - my heart can't take it!!
Review of advance copy
My kiddo brought this home from school- they had received an advance copy- and I picked it up idly to pass some time. So glad I did.
This book is written with the kind of language that transports you- a book I’ll visit again and again. Its simple but honest prose shares the emotions of the story with immediacy.
I was expecting to be disappointed when it took a turn to light magical realism just because I was living the story exactly as it was. But what I loved wasn’t spoiled.
I imagine every queer person seeing themselves in this story- 5 stars. Just beautiful prose.
This book is written with the kind of language that transports you- a book I’ll visit again and again. Its simple but honest prose shares the emotions of the story with immediacy.
I was expecting to be disappointed when it took a turn to light magical realism just because I was living the story exactly as it was. But what I loved wasn’t spoiled.
I imagine every queer person seeing themselves in this story- 5 stars. Just beautiful prose.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is a gorgeous, life-affirming book that is going to stick with me for a long time. Just as Amaranth finds queer kids in need of a safe spot and helps them find themselves, so will this book.
Full review to come when I stop crying.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Bloomsbury for the arc.
Full review to come when I stop crying.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Bloomsbury for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews