Get Curious

by Rachel Gold

Rev Dwyer is eager to learn about her new college—a place where she can finally belong—and maybe resolve the gut problems she’s had all her life. Her explorations take her into tunnels under the school, where she finds evidence of a decades-old love story and papers from a lawsuit that sought justice for students before LGBTQ civil rights laws existed. But when Rev returns to learn more, the papers are gone.

With the help of new friends, she uncovers the story of two girls who fell in love in 1989—and how their passion helped them fight harassment and the school’s administration. Rev sees deep parallels between what students faced decades ago and the forces organizing against her and her friends now.

As her gut problems get worse, Rev learns that resistance begins with seeking help, reaching out, and refusing to go it alone. She discovers that being herself means building community across space, time and difference, alongside others who have the courage to stand in their authentic experiences.

Genres: LGBT

260 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

Rachel Gold has spent seven years as a reporter, ten years in marketing, and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing degree. She worked as the senior reporter for a weekly newspaper with a readership of up to 100,000. She also served as a PR manager for an international technology company whose reach extended to Europe, Asia, and Australia. She has appeared at the Minnesota Library Association Round Table speaking on young adult literature and lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.

Reviews

[Fiona Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get Curious is the perfect title for a story about the power of following your curiosity to make a difference both personally and in the world around you.

Rev Dwyer, a first-year college student is seeking to find her place in the world. However, when it comes to her own issues she just battles on as best she can. I was fascinated by the dichotomy that is seen in terms of her curiosity. Having been raised in a cult-like community during her early years, and with a mother who is anti everything modern medicine, Rev struggles to manage her significant gut health issues, regularly finding herself crippled by pain. Due to her upbringing, she has never been curious enough to investigate whether there is a better way to manage her symptoms. At the same time, while she may not be curious enough to find a solution to her personal struggles, the opposite is true for struggles that affect the world around her. In this respect, Rev is an explorer at heart with an unbounding curiosity to poke around in hidden places just to see what she can find; the kind of curiosity that can get you in to trouble, or in this case, reveal a hidden injustice. It instantly brought to mind the social justice activism that is commonly seen on university campus. This dichotomy proves to be the heart of the story.

When Rev’s explorations take her to hidden tunnels below her college campus, she discovers a box of documents relating to a lawsuit from 30 years ago that sought justice for LGBTQ students in the days prior to the introduction of civil rights. The documents also show evidence of a decades old love story which piques Rev’s curiosity further. When the box goes missing before Rev can dig deeper into its contents it is the call to action that is required for her to band together with a group of queer friends to uncover the mystery and bring to light the long-hidden secrets. At the same time, Rev is working on a university assignment focusing on different approaches to understanding and managing health. Combined with the unfailing support of her best friend, Char, this starts to fuel an internal curiosity about other ways to manage her own health.

I was drawn in by the quirky storytelling but it was the book’s underlying message of protecting history from those who try to erase it (which is still a vital message in today’s world) that really resonated with me. It is a reminder that community can be powerful and necessary when facing challenges and pushing for positive change. It is also a reminder that there is real value in getting curious about your own internal struggles, not just those of the world around you. If you enjoy stories with heart, intrigue, and a meaningful call to action Get Curious is worth a read.

I am grateful to Rachel Gold and Bella Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[This · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is different from the vast majority of books I have read this year.
It follows a new student at college who likes to explore campus - like an urban explorer - getting into places that are usually not seen by members of the public. When they do this and wander around - they find boxes of files. They obviously have a look through them - as you do, and then want to know more. They appear to be files from a legal case from about 30 years ago concerning the college and some students.
They have just started college and are forming a new group of friends - they try and find out as much as they can about the case and the participants.
The most worrying thing about this is that the 1990s was 30 years ago!!

It's a nice story that addresses a number of issues around gay equality, relationships, trans issues, harassment and privilege. And probably more.
There's also some really interesting stuff about medical anthropology, how different people and cultures address sickness and wellbeing, and how we are conditioned by our parent/guardian's ideas and behaviours about illness when growing up.

It was a really interesting read - at times it felt as thought it was a bit too educational about gender issues and attitudes but very interesting reading.

Thank you to Bella Books for the ARC - in exchange for a voluntary review.

[Lisa Beiswenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful YA book about found family and how a toxic culture can have lasting impacts. It did a great job providing a picture of what it was like growing up as a queer kid in a small town in the late-80s and early-90s, and how these struggles parallel the current political debates about LGBTQIA+ and woman’s rights. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in LGBTQIA+ rights, allyship, and stories about found family.

[Sue Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

would like to thank bella books for letting me read this book and all thoughts about this book are my own

have to say i struggled with this one it was a bit to much educational wise for me but i am sure others will love it

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rev Dwyer is starting college and eager to find a place that she fits. She begins by joining a nonbinary and trans group where she makes friends. Rev also likes to explore places. While exploring some unused building tunnels she finds documents relating to a lawsuit involving the school from 1989. Reading, she learns it is about two girls who fell in love and the harassment they received. She wants to learn more about what happened and turns to her friends to help. Another part of the story is Rev dealing with her own stomach issues. She was raised not to trust traditional medicine and has always been told her stomach issues come from stress or are imagined. New best friend Char helps her navigate medicine and medical help that can help her manage her body.

As someone who went to college in the 1980’s it was interesting to see the difference in acceptance and laws in thirty years. And it is a reminder that the battle continues.I liked the friend group and them wanting to understand the story that they have uncovered. And along the way many issues are discussed especially in how they apply to a campus setting. It is an interesting novel. I think I was expecting it to be more of a romance based on the cover. It instead focuses on issues and the benefit of a found family or community. Thank you to Bella Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.