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Orange
Cornwall, 2018. In the quiet fishing village of Portscatho, sixteen-year-old Daniel and seventeen-year-old Jago form an unexpected connection - something neither of them can name. What unfolds is transformative, particularly for Daniel, who for the first time feels truly seen.
East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.
Reminiscent of Édouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's writing, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.
East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.
Reminiscent of Édouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's writing, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
April 14, 2026
Hyper nul… si c’était du Young adult à la rigueur j’aurais été un peu plus gentil mais c’était :
- rempli de clichés d’un millenial qui voulait appeal aux Gen Z
- les ref pop culture jpeux pas
- les personnages hyper manichéen et mono dimensionnel
- hyper long pour rien, très wordy mais ça apportait rien
- on a compris qu’il prenait de la coke, c’est pas cool
Bref 2/5 quand même pcq y’avait des moments sympa mais vraiment ça m’a soûlé
- rempli de clichés d’un millenial qui voulait appeal aux Gen Z
- les ref pop culture jpeux pas
- les personnages hyper manichéen et mono dimensionnel
- hyper long pour rien, très wordy mais ça apportait rien
- on a compris qu’il prenait de la coke, c’est pas cool
Bref 2/5 quand même pcq y’avait des moments sympa mais vraiment ça m’a soûlé
April 7, 2026
Even more beautiful than Curtis Garner's first novel Isaac. I read most of it in one single sitting.
January 17, 2026
4.5
Another gorgeous, emotive and moving book from Garner. A beautiful exploration of love and queerness, exploring identity and belonging with tenderness and compassion. I can’t wait for whatever this author writes next, he is an essential voice in literature right now.
Another gorgeous, emotive and moving book from Garner. A beautiful exploration of love and queerness, exploring identity and belonging with tenderness and compassion. I can’t wait for whatever this author writes next, he is an essential voice in literature right now.
March 4, 2026
Orange is exactly the kind of novel that has made me fall in love with reading. This is all about the characters and how they navigate the world, and each other. We are taken inside the overly analytical mind of Daniel Orange, and allowed to see the nuanced way he approaches life and love.
Its stories like these, where plot is not the focus, but human connection is. Garner writes such complicated and complex characters that I feel so drawn in, and engaged with the novel. I didn't want to put it down. Not because of some fast paced action, or mystery, but because I want to understand human nature better. I want to know how people love, and feel, and grow. Character driven narratives like "Orange" for me, help me see the world in a better and more insightful way.
I loved how very different Daniel and Jago are in their approach to not only their relationship, but the world at large. How they navigate life is so vastly different, and how those two ideoligies can sometimes clash, and other times blend beautifully. I felt this was written so wonderfully.
For being a shorter novel, the themes explored here felt large. One theme that I really loved in its exploration was how the past and the future can be both things we cherish and things that conflict each other. The idea that you long for the safety or comfort of the past, which can often contrast with the excitement of moving forward in life. When Daniel brings Jago into his life in London as an adult, this is both exciting and scary for him. Merging both worlds is not always easy, and sometimes maybe not even possible or good.
There is so much depth to this novel. It tackles parental neglect, internalized homophobia, addiction, found family, coming of age, lust, love... all of it. This was a novel I did not want to end, and still ached for the end, simply because I needed to know how it ended. Plainly put, I loved "Orange."
Curtis Garner is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I will gladly eat up anything he writes in the future.
Its stories like these, where plot is not the focus, but human connection is. Garner writes such complicated and complex characters that I feel so drawn in, and engaged with the novel. I didn't want to put it down. Not because of some fast paced action, or mystery, but because I want to understand human nature better. I want to know how people love, and feel, and grow. Character driven narratives like "Orange" for me, help me see the world in a better and more insightful way.
I loved how very different Daniel and Jago are in their approach to not only their relationship, but the world at large. How they navigate life is so vastly different, and how those two ideoligies can sometimes clash, and other times blend beautifully. I felt this was written so wonderfully.
For being a shorter novel, the themes explored here felt large. One theme that I really loved in its exploration was how the past and the future can be both things we cherish and things that conflict each other. The idea that you long for the safety or comfort of the past, which can often contrast with the excitement of moving forward in life. When Daniel brings Jago into his life in London as an adult, this is both exciting and scary for him. Merging both worlds is not always easy, and sometimes maybe not even possible or good.
There is so much depth to this novel. It tackles parental neglect, internalized homophobia, addiction, found family, coming of age, lust, love... all of it. This was a novel I did not want to end, and still ached for the end, simply because I needed to know how it ended. Plainly put, I loved "Orange."
Curtis Garner is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I will gladly eat up anything he writes in the future.
February 7, 2026
loved this !!! beautiful writing and exploration of queerness and how trauma and grief shape us
June 7, 2026
I don’t think I really saw the point of this book. Not enough happened and yet I wouldn’t want to read more
March 2, 2026
The emotional connection to Orange was instantaneous. Garner perfectly captures what so many young queer adults romanticised and dreamed of while growing up. The novel balances that yearning with a beautiful sense of realism — and for that reason, it made me wish I were seventeen again.
October 1, 2025
Ummmmmm not sure where to start, the story flowed nicely even when it went back in time.
My only major problem was the words that was used they were long and my kindle couldn't find the meaning of most of them,so I felt cheated a bit by not being able to understand them
My only major problem was the words that was used they were long and my kindle couldn't find the meaning of most of them,so I felt cheated a bit by not being able to understand them
April 22, 2026
Really enjoyed this, but maybe left wondering if the ending could have been more decisive ? Somewhat similar feeling that I had when finishing Chosen Family
February 7, 2026
I read Orange right after finishing Curtis Garner’s debut, Isaac (a book I loved deeply) and his new novel, which comes out February 19th, cements Garner as a force in contemporary queer literature. Curtis Garner @queer_novels belongs in conversations alongside writers like Douglas Stuart, Édouard Louis, and Ocean Vuong.
Orange feels lyrically similar to Isaac, but also more emotionally mature, more confident, more devastating. We follow Daniel Orange, a young gay man, through a fragmented narrative that alternates between his life at 16, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family in Cornwall, and at 21, living in London. That physical displacement mirrors something much deeper: a fractured sense of identity.
Daniel is constantly negotiating who he is, who he was, and who he wants to become. He’s caught between the desire to erase his past and the impossibility of ever fully escaping it. That tension runs through every page.
At the heart of the novel is Daniel’s relationship with Jago. A first love stretched across five years in something that feels like a situationship built on longing, tenderness, harm, and missed timing.
One of the things that struck me the most is Garner’s ability to write about masculinity: what it means to be a gay, effeminate man, how masculinity is policed, internalised, performed, and how deeply it shapes the way we see ourselves and are seen by others. It’s sharp, honest, and deeply resonant for queer readers.
Garner’s prose is lyrical, poetic, and emotionally precise. His ability to understand and put in words the queer experience of growing up and finding your place is remarkable. By the end, I genuinely didn’t want to let go of Daniel Orange. I understood him: his fears, desires, contradictions, even his worst moments.
Orange is a powerful exploration of queer identity, masculinity, belonging, and the idea that home isn’t always a place… sometimes it’s a self, or a person, or the space where you’re finally allowed to exist fully 🍊🫂
This is a novel that will stay with me, and one I truly believe people will be talking about this year. Highly recommended.
Orange feels lyrically similar to Isaac, but also more emotionally mature, more confident, more devastating. We follow Daniel Orange, a young gay man, through a fragmented narrative that alternates between his life at 16, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family in Cornwall, and at 21, living in London. That physical displacement mirrors something much deeper: a fractured sense of identity.
Daniel is constantly negotiating who he is, who he was, and who he wants to become. He’s caught between the desire to erase his past and the impossibility of ever fully escaping it. That tension runs through every page.
At the heart of the novel is Daniel’s relationship with Jago. A first love stretched across five years in something that feels like a situationship built on longing, tenderness, harm, and missed timing.
One of the things that struck me the most is Garner’s ability to write about masculinity: what it means to be a gay, effeminate man, how masculinity is policed, internalised, performed, and how deeply it shapes the way we see ourselves and are seen by others. It’s sharp, honest, and deeply resonant for queer readers.
Garner’s prose is lyrical, poetic, and emotionally precise. His ability to understand and put in words the queer experience of growing up and finding your place is remarkable. By the end, I genuinely didn’t want to let go of Daniel Orange. I understood him: his fears, desires, contradictions, even his worst moments.
Orange is a powerful exploration of queer identity, masculinity, belonging, and the idea that home isn’t always a place… sometimes it’s a self, or a person, or the space where you’re finally allowed to exist fully 🍊🫂
This is a novel that will stay with me, and one I truly believe people will be talking about this year. Highly recommended.
March 1, 2026
I’ll just be honest: I’m a sucker for queer books. queer love. queer stories. I’ll take every single one and read them like they’re my own bible.
‘orange’ is hauntingly beautiful. the writing is sharp and implores the reader to feel deeply across many themes. romance is at the core of the story, but so is the cities it’s set in and I love when an author can transport you right into a city. especially when feelings connecting to the city is complicated. I love reading about characters relationship with london — my city where i was born and raised. grief, family, sexuality is also central to the story.
the romance is RAW. daniel and jago have an on-and-off relationship over the past five years and i truly can understand both their perspectives - being the one who leaves and the one left behind. being the “popular” one and the one who was isolated by peers. the queer sex is written detachedly, representing the protagonists attitude to love itself which is 10/10 for me. no notes.
throughly enjoyed it and felt very warm at the ending for being incredibly realistic yet not gut wrenching.
‘orange’ is hauntingly beautiful. the writing is sharp and implores the reader to feel deeply across many themes. romance is at the core of the story, but so is the cities it’s set in and I love when an author can transport you right into a city. especially when feelings connecting to the city is complicated. I love reading about characters relationship with london — my city where i was born and raised. grief, family, sexuality is also central to the story.
the romance is RAW. daniel and jago have an on-and-off relationship over the past five years and i truly can understand both their perspectives - being the one who leaves and the one left behind. being the “popular” one and the one who was isolated by peers. the queer sex is written detachedly, representing the protagonists attitude to love itself which is 10/10 for me. no notes.
throughly enjoyed it and felt very warm at the ending for being incredibly realistic yet not gut wrenching.
March 2, 2026
Daniel and Jago are two characters I will be thinking about for a long time!
June 19, 2026
Enjoyed this one! A very real, heartfelt and poignant portrayal of Daniel and Jago's relationship, switching between the quiet rural life of Cornwall to the excitement and hedonism of London. I enjoyed the links to Cornwall and moments in the book where I thought 'yes, that is exactly what Cornwall is like'. One to read for Pride Month! 🏳️🌈
May 4, 2026
A queer coming of age love story, exploring all the emotions of experiencing your first love. The author perfectly explores the idea that home isn’t always a place and the feeling of not belonging. This is an emotional rollercoaster I really felt every emotion Daniel experienced. This is messy, honest and raw.
April 11, 2026
This book is beautiful but was a painful read as it was like reading a biography of my own life. Beautiful exploration of moving away from your hometown, exploring what it means to belong, and feeling torn.
May 10, 2026
Found this lazy and unambitious. Think the intensity of the relationship between Jago and Daniel would have been better if the first half had been in Cornwall, and the second in London, rather than jumping around between the two.
March 16, 2026
The novel tells the story of Daniel, who grows up in a small coastal town and later moves to London, carrying with him memories of his first love and the emotional weight of the past. It follows his reflections on identity, relationships, and the complicated search for belonging. It is a quiet, intimate story, and I found myself loving it for its honesty and emotional depth.
In recent years, it has almost become a reflex to compare emerging writers to Sally Rooney. Whenever a new voice appears, people often frame their work as “the next Sally Rooney.” Most of the time, I find these comparisons unconvincing, as they tend to flatten the individuality of new writers rather than illuminate it. Yet while reading Orange, I caught myself thinking about Rooney, not because Curtis Garner imitates her style, but because his writing carries a similar emotional precision. The quiet intensity of the relationships, the introspective voice, and the structure of the narrative create a mood that feels intimate and reflective while remaining distinctly Garner’s own.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its descriptive writing. Garner renders spaces with such clarity that at times I felt as though I were standing beside Daniel, almost holding his hand and sharing the same room. The scenes are written so vividly that I could almost walk through the rooms he describes or move with him through the streets of London. Garner creates environments that feel intimate and real.
Another aspect of the novel that stands out is the way Garner writes about sexuality and identity. The passages that explore Daniel’s experience as a gay man, his vulnerability, his uncertainty, and his attempts to understand himself, are written with great sensitivity. What I particularly appreciated is that Garner does not feel the need to over-explain queerness to the reader. In many novels with queer protagonists, there is sometimes a sense that the narrative pauses to clarify or justify certain experiences for a presumed non-queer audience. Orange avoids this entirely. Garner writes about Daniel’s sexuality with a quiet confidence, allowing it to exist as a natural and integral part of his life rather than something that needs constant explanation. For queer readers especially, this approach can feel refreshing and authentic, as the novel trusts its audience to understand the emotional realities it portrays.
I found particularly compelling is how it reflects on the language we use to describe identity. For many of us who live in cities and who are part of queer communities, certain terms and labels can feel like common knowledge. We often emphasise the importance of using the right words and the correct terminology. Yet Orange gently reminds the reader that this knowledge is not universal. There are many people whose experiences of desire and intimacy do not necessarily come with the language to name them. Especially in smaller or more isolated places, someone might be in a relationship with another man, or feel attraction that falls outside heteronormative expectations, without ever using the word “gay” to describe themselves. Garner captures this reality with nuance and empathy. The novel suggests that identity is not defined solely by the labels we adopt, but by lived experience. Whether or not someone knows the terminology, their feelings and relationships remain real. In this way, the book subtly reminds us that everyone navigates their identity in their own way, and that no one should feel pressured to define themselves according to a fixed set of labels.
The novel also engages thoughtfully with themes of mental health and belonging. Daniel’s internal struggles, his uncertainty about where he belongs, his questions about what “home” means, and his lack of self-confidence and self-worth, felt deeply relatable to me. At times, his reflections on feeling out of place or unsure of where he fits resonated strongly with my own experiences. This personal connection made it easier to empathise with him and to follow his emotional journey throughout the novel. Garner approaches these themes with a great deal of care. Rather than dramatising or sensationalising Daniel’s struggles, he portrays them in a quiet, measured way that feels honest and human. The same sensitivity appears in the depiction of family dynamics and the emotional weight they carry. These elements add another layer of depth to the novel and make Daniel’s story feel both intimate and authentic.
In recent years, it has almost become a reflex to compare emerging writers to Sally Rooney. Whenever a new voice appears, people often frame their work as “the next Sally Rooney.” Most of the time, I find these comparisons unconvincing, as they tend to flatten the individuality of new writers rather than illuminate it. Yet while reading Orange, I caught myself thinking about Rooney, not because Curtis Garner imitates her style, but because his writing carries a similar emotional precision. The quiet intensity of the relationships, the introspective voice, and the structure of the narrative create a mood that feels intimate and reflective while remaining distinctly Garner’s own.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its descriptive writing. Garner renders spaces with such clarity that at times I felt as though I were standing beside Daniel, almost holding his hand and sharing the same room. The scenes are written so vividly that I could almost walk through the rooms he describes or move with him through the streets of London. Garner creates environments that feel intimate and real.
Another aspect of the novel that stands out is the way Garner writes about sexuality and identity. The passages that explore Daniel’s experience as a gay man, his vulnerability, his uncertainty, and his attempts to understand himself, are written with great sensitivity. What I particularly appreciated is that Garner does not feel the need to over-explain queerness to the reader. In many novels with queer protagonists, there is sometimes a sense that the narrative pauses to clarify or justify certain experiences for a presumed non-queer audience. Orange avoids this entirely. Garner writes about Daniel’s sexuality with a quiet confidence, allowing it to exist as a natural and integral part of his life rather than something that needs constant explanation. For queer readers especially, this approach can feel refreshing and authentic, as the novel trusts its audience to understand the emotional realities it portrays.
I found particularly compelling is how it reflects on the language we use to describe identity. For many of us who live in cities and who are part of queer communities, certain terms and labels can feel like common knowledge. We often emphasise the importance of using the right words and the correct terminology. Yet Orange gently reminds the reader that this knowledge is not universal. There are many people whose experiences of desire and intimacy do not necessarily come with the language to name them. Especially in smaller or more isolated places, someone might be in a relationship with another man, or feel attraction that falls outside heteronormative expectations, without ever using the word “gay” to describe themselves. Garner captures this reality with nuance and empathy. The novel suggests that identity is not defined solely by the labels we adopt, but by lived experience. Whether or not someone knows the terminology, their feelings and relationships remain real. In this way, the book subtly reminds us that everyone navigates their identity in their own way, and that no one should feel pressured to define themselves according to a fixed set of labels.
The novel also engages thoughtfully with themes of mental health and belonging. Daniel’s internal struggles, his uncertainty about where he belongs, his questions about what “home” means, and his lack of self-confidence and self-worth, felt deeply relatable to me. At times, his reflections on feeling out of place or unsure of where he fits resonated strongly with my own experiences. This personal connection made it easier to empathise with him and to follow his emotional journey throughout the novel. Garner approaches these themes with a great deal of care. Rather than dramatising or sensationalising Daniel’s struggles, he portrays them in a quiet, measured way that feels honest and human. The same sensitivity appears in the depiction of family dynamics and the emotional weight they carry. These elements add another layer of depth to the novel and make Daniel’s story feel both intimate and authentic.
July 8, 2026
I very rarely give queer books 2⭐️, and even less so when the author is queer himself. But this was a huge disappointment.
First of all, if you have time and space to reflect on your book in the afterword, maybe take some time to reflect on why you used addiction as a gimmick instead of telling us how great your relationship with your parents is or how your mother could NEVER be an alcoholic because she doesn’t like alcohol (like what was the intention by writing that?) I am so tired of privileged white (male) writers who LOVE to write about addiction without putting effort into research or using sensitivity readers. And in connection to that: I am also tired of white GAY writers and their obsession with drugs. We get it, life is miserable and you want to appear cool and edgy. Groundbreaking. (1 point for the cw at the beginning but ig that was the publisher’s idea)
Sad gay protagonist, David, was a kaleidoscope of contradictions. I love contradictory, messy characters when they're written with intention, but he didn't come across as complex so much as young and immature and whiny. So you were in love with your best friend but then you moved away because he wanted to keep you a secret and now you sleep around, although you’re still in love with your friend but you might genuinely enjoy sleeping around (so maybe you don’t really love your friend?) After half the book I got tired of the back and forth and nearly dnfd it. (I wish I had)
And lastly... the writing. It was genuinely so tedious, pretentious, and incredibly stiff. Every sentence felt artificially curated, like the author dissected every sentence to write the most useless phrases that don’t contain a single meaning and contributed NOTHING to character depth or the plot. Maybe this is the creative writing degree curse, because all this work - just to write an amateurishly boring story.
(also: how many times can one use the word innocuous, seriously?)
Everyone who gave this book 5 stars is either a liar, a teenager with a reading comprehension level of a 9th grader or this is their first gay book ever.
Oh, and to Alex Allison: comparing Garner's narrative style to Alexander Chee is a disgrace if I've ever seen one.
First of all, if you have time and space to reflect on your book in the afterword, maybe take some time to reflect on why you used addiction as a gimmick instead of telling us how great your relationship with your parents is or how your mother could NEVER be an alcoholic because she doesn’t like alcohol (like what was the intention by writing that?) I am so tired of privileged white (male) writers who LOVE to write about addiction without putting effort into research or using sensitivity readers. And in connection to that: I am also tired of white GAY writers and their obsession with drugs. We get it, life is miserable and you want to appear cool and edgy. Groundbreaking. (1 point for the cw at the beginning but ig that was the publisher’s idea)
Sad gay protagonist, David, was a kaleidoscope of contradictions. I love contradictory, messy characters when they're written with intention, but he didn't come across as complex so much as young and immature and whiny. So you were in love with your best friend but then you moved away because he wanted to keep you a secret and now you sleep around, although you’re still in love with your friend but you might genuinely enjoy sleeping around (so maybe you don’t really love your friend?) After half the book I got tired of the back and forth and nearly dnfd it. (I wish I had)
And lastly... the writing. It was genuinely so tedious, pretentious, and incredibly stiff. Every sentence felt artificially curated, like the author dissected every sentence to write the most useless phrases that don’t contain a single meaning and contributed NOTHING to character depth or the plot. Maybe this is the creative writing degree curse, because all this work - just to write an amateurishly boring story.
(also: how many times can one use the word innocuous, seriously?)
Everyone who gave this book 5 stars is either a liar, a teenager with a reading comprehension level of a 9th grader or this is their first gay book ever.
Oh, and to Alex Allison: comparing Garner's narrative style to Alexander Chee is a disgrace if I've ever seen one.
July 12, 2026
I don’t think a character could be more perfect than Jago. This book was tender and emotional and had the rare effect that every time I put this down I wanted to pick it up again. It was such a beautiful portrayal of queerness that was as close to perfect as you can get in my opinion.
March 8, 2026
Phenomenal
Garner ate and I have more thoughts but I need to let that one simmer first dang
Garner ate and I have more thoughts but I need to let that one simmer first dang
March 28, 2026
Does a very good job of unpacking growing up gay in the late 2010s. I feel seen
May 6, 2026
Loved the back and forth between childhood in Cornwall and 20s in London
June 23, 2026
A beautiful and emotional book, which touches on so many important themes in a queer existence. I enjoyed this one slightly less than his debut Isaac, but it was still great. I look forward to seeing how Curtis develops his writing in his future novels.
July 8, 2026
Just beautiful - I fear it encapsulated a lot of my experience as a gay man, and struggling with love, fear and rejection
March 12, 2026
“Orange” is a masterful exploration of the messiness of a queer coming-of-age journey. It’s a poignant and beautiful portrayal that resonated deeply with me. Plus, Curtis Garner’s writing is simply stunning, making him a must-read for me!
April 6, 2026
Loved.
July 8, 2026
3.5 - gorg writing, v introspective, sometimes felt slightly flat
March 21, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed Orange. At its heart, it’s a novel about formative queer years and the complicated intimacy of a long relationship, one where both people are changing but still clinging to something from the past. And that central thread is where the book works best.
The relationship between Daniel and Jago felt real and lived-in. Garner captures the texture of a relationship that has history: the tenderness, the misunderstandings, the push and pull between closeness and emotional distance. Some of their scenes together are genuinely touching, and those moments carried the novel for me.
Where I struggled slightly was with the surrounding storylines. I often found myself wanting more depth, particularly when it came to Daniel’s family and his past. We’re told that he had a very close relationship with his nan, and that his mother struggled with alcoholism before her death, but those elements mostly arrive as information rather than fully realised scenes, narratives or reflections.
Because of that, I sometimes felt the emotional foundation of Daniel’s character was missing. I wanted to see more of the formative moments: the childhood and teenage experiences that shaped the detached, guarded person he becomes as an adult. Those details felt like they could have added another layer of emotional weight to the story.
That said, Orange is still an engaging and thoughtful read. Garner writes about queer relationships with warmth and honesty, and the novel captures the messy, formative years of love and identity in a way that feels recognisable and sincere.
The relationship between Daniel and Jago felt real and lived-in. Garner captures the texture of a relationship that has history: the tenderness, the misunderstandings, the push and pull between closeness and emotional distance. Some of their scenes together are genuinely touching, and those moments carried the novel for me.
Where I struggled slightly was with the surrounding storylines. I often found myself wanting more depth, particularly when it came to Daniel’s family and his past. We’re told that he had a very close relationship with his nan, and that his mother struggled with alcoholism before her death, but those elements mostly arrive as information rather than fully realised scenes, narratives or reflections.
Because of that, I sometimes felt the emotional foundation of Daniel’s character was missing. I wanted to see more of the formative moments: the childhood and teenage experiences that shaped the detached, guarded person he becomes as an adult. Those details felt like they could have added another layer of emotional weight to the story.
That said, Orange is still an engaging and thoughtful read. Garner writes about queer relationships with warmth and honesty, and the novel captures the messy, formative years of love and identity in a way that feels recognisable and sincere.
February 26, 2026
Another stunner. Already ordered copies for several friends.
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