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Everything Not Saved
A debut Queer YA novel combining the power of video games, and the potential of young love with magic, horror and the supernatural.
Praise for Everything Not Saved :
"THINK SEX EDUCATION MEETS BUFFY. MY MIND WAS BLOWN!" - Justin Arnold
"RIVETING...TOLD WITH HEART AND PASSION BY AN EXCITING NEW VOICE IN YA FICTION" - Benjamin Dean
"A GRIPPING PAGETURNER FOR GAYMERS YOUNG AND OLD" - Will Kostakis
"A BREEZY AND HEARTWARMING ODE TO GAY GEEK CULTURE" - L.C. Rosen
'CHILD OF DARKNESS,
CHILD OF LIGHT,
ONE BORN TO MOURN,
THE OTHER TO FIGHT.
TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW.
SEAL THE BELOW.'
Everything Not Saved follows two very different teenage Mikey Redman & Kris Dwyer and the unlikely bond between them.
The boys' shared love of computer games glues them together over the years and helps them overcome struggles at school and at home.
While they try and understand what is happening to their friendship, and figure out why increasingly unpleasant things are happening in Pytt End.
There's more magick about both of them than they realise.
There's also more than it seems to the creepy well in Mikey's back garden, where an ancient evil is stirring underneath the village.
Can they save the world without losing each other?
Trigger Warnings
This book contains serious content which might be upsetting to some readers.
This includes depictions alcoholism, bullying, childhood trauma, domestic abuse, death, gender dysphoria, homophobia, queerphobia, sexual health scares, sex, sexual assault and violence. Please be mindful of these, and other potential triggers, and consult the resources listed on page 299 if affected.
Praise for Everything Not Saved :
"THINK SEX EDUCATION MEETS BUFFY. MY MIND WAS BLOWN!" - Justin Arnold
"RIVETING...TOLD WITH HEART AND PASSION BY AN EXCITING NEW VOICE IN YA FICTION" - Benjamin Dean
"A GRIPPING PAGETURNER FOR GAYMERS YOUNG AND OLD" - Will Kostakis
"A BREEZY AND HEARTWARMING ODE TO GAY GEEK CULTURE" - L.C. Rosen
'CHILD OF DARKNESS,
CHILD OF LIGHT,
ONE BORN TO MOURN,
THE OTHER TO FIGHT.
TEACH WHAT YOU KNOW.
SEAL THE BELOW.'
Everything Not Saved follows two very different teenage Mikey Redman & Kris Dwyer and the unlikely bond between them.
The boys' shared love of computer games glues them together over the years and helps them overcome struggles at school and at home.
While they try and understand what is happening to their friendship, and figure out why increasingly unpleasant things are happening in Pytt End.
There's more magick about both of them than they realise.
There's also more than it seems to the creepy well in Mikey's back garden, where an ancient evil is stirring underneath the village.
Can they save the world without losing each other?
Trigger Warnings
This book contains serious content which might be upsetting to some readers.
This includes depictions alcoholism, bullying, childhood trauma, domestic abuse, death, gender dysphoria, homophobia, queerphobia, sexual health scares, sex, sexual assault and violence. Please be mindful of these, and other potential triggers, and consult the resources listed on page 299 if affected.
312 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
4 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 31, 2025
The book I wish I could have had at 15. Beautifully written and full of drama and emotion. You feel by the end you know the characters deeply. The twist at the end too was so in keeping with the book yet also a surprise. Wonderful. I want more :).
September 26, 2025
Everything Not Saved is my favourite sort of story. Full of voice, refreshingly unique, original, emotionally earnest, authentic, interesting, and fun.
Mikey and Kris make a loveable duo who support each other in figuring themselves out in a gentle friendship dynamic before figuring out who they are together and what that means for them. The pair's connection also seems important to the fate of the world as events take a supernatural edge and the corruption of the local hellmouth threatens to seep into our boys soppy beating hearts. The story steadily builds momentum with neurodivergent friendly chapter lengths toward a climactic series of events that had me on the edge of my seat and crying on the tube on my way home from work as I read. It's a treat to read a story where you get time and connection to truly care about the characters, not just what happens to them on a mortal coil apocalypse level, but about them as people and where they end up together.
Lots of ground is covered: firsts and lasts, true to life and modern magical trials and tribulations, but everything comes together to create a deep and meaningful story not just of fantastical things happening but the queer young people dealing with them, bright, front, and centre. Through the darker moments, there are overwhelming themes of love, trust, and acceptance--even when things threaten to be heartbreaking. I don’t remember the last time I read a book in a day, but this one I did happily. 'Sex Education' meets 'Buffy' is a good description for a coming of age magical adventure drama, but give it a dash of 'Scott Pilgrim' for the delightful gaymer escapism and a sprinkle of 'I Kill Giants' for the moody and haunting ominous threat creeping between the real world trauma our heroes face. All of this culminates in an ending that will stay with me for a long time and I think may be one of my favourite endings of any book I've read.
Be sure to check out the content warnings which are extensive and linked to a list of resources, and consider signing up with your player 2 because this debut is something special and is something you'll want to enjoy, and definitely keep it saved.
Mikey and Kris make a loveable duo who support each other in figuring themselves out in a gentle friendship dynamic before figuring out who they are together and what that means for them. The pair's connection also seems important to the fate of the world as events take a supernatural edge and the corruption of the local hellmouth threatens to seep into our boys soppy beating hearts. The story steadily builds momentum with neurodivergent friendly chapter lengths toward a climactic series of events that had me on the edge of my seat and crying on the tube on my way home from work as I read. It's a treat to read a story where you get time and connection to truly care about the characters, not just what happens to them on a mortal coil apocalypse level, but about them as people and where they end up together.
Lots of ground is covered: firsts and lasts, true to life and modern magical trials and tribulations, but everything comes together to create a deep and meaningful story not just of fantastical things happening but the queer young people dealing with them, bright, front, and centre. Through the darker moments, there are overwhelming themes of love, trust, and acceptance--even when things threaten to be heartbreaking. I don’t remember the last time I read a book in a day, but this one I did happily. 'Sex Education' meets 'Buffy' is a good description for a coming of age magical adventure drama, but give it a dash of 'Scott Pilgrim' for the delightful gaymer escapism and a sprinkle of 'I Kill Giants' for the moody and haunting ominous threat creeping between the real world trauma our heroes face. All of this culminates in an ending that will stay with me for a long time and I think may be one of my favourite endings of any book I've read.
Be sure to check out the content warnings which are extensive and linked to a list of resources, and consider signing up with your player 2 because this debut is something special and is something you'll want to enjoy, and definitely keep it saved.
October 2, 2025
A phenomenal story full of heart, nerdy references, queerness, and magic.
September 17, 2025
Ummm where do I start. I have found that this book is perfection it has encapsulated many aspects of what young LGBTQIA+ people face at some point in time.
The MMCs were perfectly done as they highlighted and helped me resonate with a lot on the challenges I had faced growing up as a young bi man.
It also being in video game style was so perfect as well. I’m proud to have read this book and need to give props to the author who has done an amazing job.
Also my favourite chapter is definitely the internal realms chapter 16 so sweet and spice was perfect.
My favourite character is definitely M! I related to him so much when reading.
The MMCs were perfectly done as they highlighted and helped me resonate with a lot on the challenges I had faced growing up as a young bi man.
It also being in video game style was so perfect as well. I’m proud to have read this book and need to give props to the author who has done an amazing job.
Also my favourite chapter is definitely the internal realms chapter 16 so sweet and spice was perfect.
My favourite character is definitely M! I related to him so much when reading.
September 28, 2025
This was a stunning debut that had me hooked from the very first page. Told between alternating povs featuring our MMC’s and snippets of a video game, it was so refreshing to read and an absolute joy to experience.
It scratched so many itches and I loved it. It was nostalgic, calling back to Buffy and video games from my childhood. It was emotional, hopeful, dark, creepy, exciting.
I couldn’t fault it at all and I am so proud of Nick for writing such a stunning story. I didn’t want it to end.
It scratched so many itches and I loved it. It was nostalgic, calling back to Buffy and video games from my childhood. It was emotional, hopeful, dark, creepy, exciting.
I couldn’t fault it at all and I am so proud of Nick for writing such a stunning story. I didn’t want it to end.
December 25, 2025
Love this book with a passion. The perfect melding of speculative, witchy, gaymer fiction with LGBTQ+ narrative. Was on my reading list long before my Book Club pushed the read, but I’m glad they did. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews