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The Nightingales
Based on a true story, a gorgeously illustrated, singular graphic novel about a life-changing friendship between a seventeen-year-old girl and the dying stranger who moves into her family’s home during the summer of 1985.
In 1985, Emil Wilson’s father invites his coworker, Jim, and his two Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, to move into his family’s small town Oregon home. What Donald doesn’t tell his wife, Annemarie, or his seventeen-year-old daughter, Lou, is that Jim has AIDS. Months before Rock Hudson’s diagnosis became public and ushered in a new era of public sympathy for the crisis, AIDS is still a news story that happens in faraway places to faraway people, and Jim’s presence in the house turns this small-town Oregon family upside down. As Annemarie’s fear and resentment grows, resulting in increasingly bitter fights with the gentle and stubborn Donald, so too does Lou’s unlikely and genuine friendship with Jim (and his dogs)—a friendship that not only buoys Jim’s final days, but is a catalyst for Lou to finally pursue her truest and bravest self in the bigger world.
Based on a true story, The Nightingales is a gorgeous and singular coming-of-age novel, a human portrait of an imperfect family grappling with extraordinary circumstances, and a moving example of how small acts of kindness can change us forever.
In 1985, Emil Wilson’s father invites his coworker, Jim, and his two Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, to move into his family’s small town Oregon home. What Donald doesn’t tell his wife, Annemarie, or his seventeen-year-old daughter, Lou, is that Jim has AIDS. Months before Rock Hudson’s diagnosis became public and ushered in a new era of public sympathy for the crisis, AIDS is still a news story that happens in faraway places to faraway people, and Jim’s presence in the house turns this small-town Oregon family upside down. As Annemarie’s fear and resentment grows, resulting in increasingly bitter fights with the gentle and stubborn Donald, so too does Lou’s unlikely and genuine friendship with Jim (and his dogs)—a friendship that not only buoys Jim’s final days, but is a catalyst for Lou to finally pursue her truest and bravest self in the bigger world.
Based on a true story, The Nightingales is a gorgeous and singular coming-of-age novel, a human portrait of an imperfect family grappling with extraordinary circumstances, and a moving example of how small acts of kindness can change us forever.
Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 8, 2026
Recordad que yo lo he dicho antes que nadie: este es el cómic del año. Una historia hermosamente dibujada sobre vínculos familiares complejos y problemáticos, sobre la enfermedad que diezmó al colectivo, sobre la compasión y la solidaridad, sobre abrirse camino en la vida y abrazar el mundo. Simplemente perfecto. Un digno sucesor directo de obras maestras como FUN HOME. Se va a llevar todos los premios habidos y por haber.
August 12, 2026
I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but this has been getting a lot of buzz recently, so wanted to check it out. It's more or less a true story about how the author's family took in a coworker of the dad, who was dying of AIDS back in 1985 - and the effect he had on the family dynamics, especially via his friendship with the teenage sister/daughter.
For anyone who lived through that era, as I did, this does not really open up any new ground - it's a fairly typical story that thousands experienced back then - but since not many new books are coming out reminding us of those decades - and since the drawings are quite good and distinctive - I'm glad this has made its way to publication.
My one qualm is that the mother - who has conversations with the Virgin Mar, no less - is pretty irredeemable, especially her hateful action towards the two adorable Pomeranians.
For anyone who lived through that era, as I did, this does not really open up any new ground - it's a fairly typical story that thousands experienced back then - but since not many new books are coming out reminding us of those decades - and since the drawings are quite good and distinctive - I'm glad this has made its way to publication.
My one qualm is that the mother - who has conversations with the Virgin Mar, no less - is pretty irredeemable, especially her hateful action towards the two adorable Pomeranians.
August 5, 2026
I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5
This isn't a memoir, though it's very much inspired by experiences of the author. As such, I don't want to judge the story too much, but would like to base my review on the art style and narrative structure.
The art is beautiful! It's a bit of mixed media situation, and different topics have different rendering styles. I adored the parts with the dogs where the protagonist imagines them to have vivid conversations, all against a vivid pink background.
The story is more of a narration of events, rather than dialogue or exploration of feelings, and I think that's what ultimately stopped me from connecting to it. The author felt detached to the things happening and as such I became detached, even when the subject matter was important or emotionally charged.
However, I don't think being emotionally invested is necessary to appreciate how important and well-made this graphic novel is.
It's a quick introductory course to get through, especially for someone trying to get a glimpse of what the AIDS panic might've been back in the day.
3.5/5
This isn't a memoir, though it's very much inspired by experiences of the author. As such, I don't want to judge the story too much, but would like to base my review on the art style and narrative structure.
The art is beautiful! It's a bit of mixed media situation, and different topics have different rendering styles. I adored the parts with the dogs where the protagonist imagines them to have vivid conversations, all against a vivid pink background.
The story is more of a narration of events, rather than dialogue or exploration of feelings, and I think that's what ultimately stopped me from connecting to it. The author felt detached to the things happening and as such I became detached, even when the subject matter was important or emotionally charged.
However, I don't think being emotionally invested is necessary to appreciate how important and well-made this graphic novel is.
It's a quick introductory course to get through, especially for someone trying to get a glimpse of what the AIDS panic might've been back in the day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Nightingales by Emil Wilson is an excellent read in every way. Based on a true story, Donald Miller invites his coworker Jim and his two small dogs to live with his family after Jim is evicted from his apartment. What Donald doesn't tell his wife, Annemarie and their 17 year-old daughter Lou, is that Jim has AIDS.
Set in 1985 in a small town in Oregon, the world is just becoming familiar with the growing AIDS epidemic and fear, prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation is running high. Jim's addition to the household intensifies the conflict present within the Miller's dysfunctional family. Lou and Jim develop a friendship which deepens as Jim gets sicker and Lou begins to help Jim his care.
This graphic novel is one of the best I've ever read. Both the drawings and the story are exceptionally well done. The drawings are from Lou's journal and represent her emotions and the household turmoil. The feeling is intimate and raw as we follow how her friendship with Jim changes her views and attitudes on a lot of things . The characters are complex and realistic, and the author does an admirable job of depicting society's feelings and reactions to people with AIDS.
This is a beautiful, compelling, powerful, and memorable story about friendship, grief and the long-lasting impact someone can have on your life. This story touches all the emotions. I recommend it highly. I rate it five out of five stars and wish I could give it more.
My thanks to the author, and to Avid Reader Press for allowing me to access a DRC of the graphic novel via NetGalley. Publication is 8/4/26. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
Set in 1985 in a small town in Oregon, the world is just becoming familiar with the growing AIDS epidemic and fear, prejudice, discrimination, and misinformation is running high. Jim's addition to the household intensifies the conflict present within the Miller's dysfunctional family. Lou and Jim develop a friendship which deepens as Jim gets sicker and Lou begins to help Jim his care.
This graphic novel is one of the best I've ever read. Both the drawings and the story are exceptionally well done. The drawings are from Lou's journal and represent her emotions and the household turmoil. The feeling is intimate and raw as we follow how her friendship with Jim changes her views and attitudes on a lot of things . The characters are complex and realistic, and the author does an admirable job of depicting society's feelings and reactions to people with AIDS.
This is a beautiful, compelling, powerful, and memorable story about friendship, grief and the long-lasting impact someone can have on your life. This story touches all the emotions. I recommend it highly. I rate it five out of five stars and wish I could give it more.
My thanks to the author, and to Avid Reader Press for allowing me to access a DRC of the graphic novel via NetGalley. Publication is 8/4/26. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
July 19, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a story with heavy subject matter told in a unique graphic novel format. The majority of the book’s artwork looked like a scrapbook with sketches throughout. There were also some breaks where backstories were told in a comic strip or user manual styles. My favorite drawings were of the dogs (of course) as well as the facial expressions of the characters. There was so much conveyed in those sketches that gave life to the words on the page.
I loved the friendship that developed between Lou and Jim. I enjoyed their conversations, the acts of kindness, and the sharing of insights. I appreciated that this story didn’t shy away from the realities faced by those with AIDS at that time and the lasting impact it had. I was pretty young in the 80s but I recall that period of time when AIDS was frequently in the news, and the big headlines like Magic Johnson’s diagnosis and Princess Diana shaking hands with AIDS patients to show that the disease didn’t spread through simple contact. The author’s note at the end added context about the real people and events that inspired the story.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a story with heavy subject matter told in a unique graphic novel format. The majority of the book’s artwork looked like a scrapbook with sketches throughout. There were also some breaks where backstories were told in a comic strip or user manual styles. My favorite drawings were of the dogs (of course) as well as the facial expressions of the characters. There was so much conveyed in those sketches that gave life to the words on the page.
I loved the friendship that developed between Lou and Jim. I enjoyed their conversations, the acts of kindness, and the sharing of insights. I appreciated that this story didn’t shy away from the realities faced by those with AIDS at that time and the lasting impact it had. I was pretty young in the 80s but I recall that period of time when AIDS was frequently in the news, and the big headlines like Magic Johnson’s diagnosis and Princess Diana shaking hands with AIDS patients to show that the disease didn’t spread through simple contact. The author’s note at the end added context about the real people and events that inspired the story.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's hard to believe that this is a debut work, but perhaps the veneer of fiction allowed Wilson to be more confident?
While there are kernels of a true story at the heart of this novel, Wilson's choice to make himself a background character allows the fictional narrator more latitude in imagining the inner workings of the characters who inhabit this beautifully told story.
The format of this graphic novel is also unexpectedly bold for a debut. Working more with the concept of illustration than comic's boxes, Wilson's pages are divided by ideas rather than panels. Narrative text is free floating. Dialogue is in boxes thematically linked to the illustrations. Each character has a palate and a set of conceits that ground their bit of the story. Only the dogs communicate the way most of us are familiar with from other works.
This is a wholly realized vision that transports the reader back to the uncertainties of both the early AIDS epidemic and the cusp of young adulthood. I hope it is the start of a bountiful career.
Many thanks to NetGalley for this eARC. I look forward to shelving a physical copy in my library.
While there are kernels of a true story at the heart of this novel, Wilson's choice to make himself a background character allows the fictional narrator more latitude in imagining the inner workings of the characters who inhabit this beautifully told story.
The format of this graphic novel is also unexpectedly bold for a debut. Working more with the concept of illustration than comic's boxes, Wilson's pages are divided by ideas rather than panels. Narrative text is free floating. Dialogue is in boxes thematically linked to the illustrations. Each character has a palate and a set of conceits that ground their bit of the story. Only the dogs communicate the way most of us are familiar with from other works.
This is a wholly realized vision that transports the reader back to the uncertainties of both the early AIDS epidemic and the cusp of young adulthood. I hope it is the start of a bountiful career.
Many thanks to NetGalley for this eARC. I look forward to shelving a physical copy in my library.
August 2, 2026
I don’t read many graphic novels, so I wasn’t quite sure how effectively the author would be able to tell this type of story. Turns out I didn’t need to worry, because Wilson perfectly captures the complexity of each character in this heartbreaking and impactful story.
One thing that stuck out to me the most was the emotion that Wilson conveyed in his drawings, particularly Lou’s mother. AnneMarie is not the main character, and may be incredibly unlikeable for most of the story, but she adds an important layer of depth to the story.
Annemarie shows us that even people who believe they are good, moral people are not immune to prejudiced narratives. We see Annemarie struggling with her obligation to be a caring host and the fear that Jim will endanger her family. Hers was the most intriguing journey of the story for me.
I enjoyed reading this book and would gladly recommend it to pretty much anyone.
*Huge thanks to Emil Wilson, Avid Reader Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital e-book of The Nightingales in exchange for honest review*
One thing that stuck out to me the most was the emotion that Wilson conveyed in his drawings, particularly Lou’s mother. AnneMarie is not the main character, and may be incredibly unlikeable for most of the story, but she adds an important layer of depth to the story.
Annemarie shows us that even people who believe they are good, moral people are not immune to prejudiced narratives. We see Annemarie struggling with her obligation to be a caring host and the fear that Jim will endanger her family. Hers was the most intriguing journey of the story for me.
I enjoyed reading this book and would gladly recommend it to pretty much anyone.
*Huge thanks to Emil Wilson, Avid Reader Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital e-book of The Nightingales in exchange for honest review*
Read
August 4, 2026"Kindness isn't all it's cracked up to be. You do something nice and the next thing you know, we're all dead from disease."
In the 1980s, Lou's life is about to change when her dad invites his coworker, Jim, to move into their house with them after he's diagnosed with cancer and loses his home. Though the pictures and text, we learn of Jim's sickness and Lou's compassion.
This book is filled with unbelievable artwork which is initially what drew me into this book. Through the watercolor sketches is a story of tender compassion and friendship between and unlikely pair (and two little pups). It has tense family dynamics, parental guilt, and reconciliations that keep us whole. I don't want to give too much away because I think this story speaks for itself, but I highly recommend reading this. I love graphic novels because you can tell such a lengthy story without as many words. The pictures tell it.
Avid Reader Press, thank you so much for getting this story out into the world and sending me a gifted copy.
In the 1980s, Lou's life is about to change when her dad invites his coworker, Jim, to move into their house with them after he's diagnosed with cancer and loses his home. Though the pictures and text, we learn of Jim's sickness and Lou's compassion.
This book is filled with unbelievable artwork which is initially what drew me into this book. Through the watercolor sketches is a story of tender compassion and friendship between and unlikely pair (and two little pups). It has tense family dynamics, parental guilt, and reconciliations that keep us whole. I don't want to give too much away because I think this story speaks for itself, but I highly recommend reading this. I love graphic novels because you can tell such a lengthy story without as many words. The pictures tell it.
Avid Reader Press, thank you so much for getting this story out into the world and sending me a gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NG for an ARC!
I love when I go blindly into a book, not knowing a single thing, not knowing what to expect.
This book, however, was a brick to the face.
At first I thought maybe this would be a bit fun, given its quirky aesthetic, the sketches, the scrapbook assembly. But shortly thereafter the book tells you that this is not a happy story.
As a child of the late 80’s, all I know about the AIDs epidemic is factual, but this book gives a a tangible, as close to experiencing it yourself as possible. The fact that this book doesn’t adhere to any kind of traditional narrative style makes it easy for the reader to pop into another POV quite quickly. The visuals of the sketches really lends itself to the style and overall message in a way that a traditional novel wouldn’t be able to achieve.
It’ll be a long while before I find a book as beautifully constructed and delivered as this, and I cannot wait to own this physically when it comes out.
I love when I go blindly into a book, not knowing a single thing, not knowing what to expect.
This book, however, was a brick to the face.
At first I thought maybe this would be a bit fun, given its quirky aesthetic, the sketches, the scrapbook assembly. But shortly thereafter the book tells you that this is not a happy story.
As a child of the late 80’s, all I know about the AIDs epidemic is factual, but this book gives a a tangible, as close to experiencing it yourself as possible. The fact that this book doesn’t adhere to any kind of traditional narrative style makes it easy for the reader to pop into another POV quite quickly. The visuals of the sketches really lends itself to the style and overall message in a way that a traditional novel wouldn’t be able to achieve.
It’ll be a long while before I find a book as beautifully constructed and delivered as this, and I cannot wait to own this physically when it comes out.
August 4, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Avid Reader Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut graphic novel by Emil Wilson. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!
A gorgeously rendered story of the friendship between a man dying of AIDS in the 1980s and a teenage girl, based on real events. The beautiful illustrations and unique graphic concept allowed the reader to be transported back to this fraught time period to see the impact that this disease had on just one family, yet also see the far-reaching ripple effects it had on the characters. Some of my favorite spots were the mother talking to the Virgin Mary, and the dogs brought some comic relief into a heartbreaking yet hopeful story. Stunning debut.
A gorgeously rendered story of the friendship between a man dying of AIDS in the 1980s and a teenage girl, based on real events. The beautiful illustrations and unique graphic concept allowed the reader to be transported back to this fraught time period to see the impact that this disease had on just one family, yet also see the far-reaching ripple effects it had on the characters. Some of my favorite spots were the mother talking to the Virgin Mary, and the dogs brought some comic relief into a heartbreaking yet hopeful story. Stunning debut.
August 4, 2026
Thank you to Avid Reader Press & NetGalley for the ARC
The art is doing so much here, sketchbook-meets-journal-meets-scrapbook rather than traditional panels, swinging between loose rough pages and neat detailed ones exactly where the emotional weight calls for it. One favorite touch: Donald gets introduced through an actual drawn operating manual spread, laid out like instructions for handling him, such a clever bit of characterization in one page. At its heart this is a book about a friendship that rearranges the shape of someone's life, with grief, the anticipatory current, running underneath the whole thing. There's also a strained parent-child thread here, Lou and her mother pulling further apart the closer Lou gets to Jim, handled with real restraint. It's a historically sensitive subject handled with real care, and for such a short book, Wilson builds genuine depth around Lou and Jim.
My only complaint: I wanted more but, it's pulled from Wilson's own family history, and while he stays mostly out of frame as a character, his own experience volunteering with AIDS patients in NYC is clearly threaded under Lou's story. So the shortness isn't the book failing to go deep, it's just me not wanting to leave.
Full review on my blog ♡ https://blog.bronston.ca/reading-room...
The art is doing so much here, sketchbook-meets-journal-meets-scrapbook rather than traditional panels, swinging between loose rough pages and neat detailed ones exactly where the emotional weight calls for it. One favorite touch: Donald gets introduced through an actual drawn operating manual spread, laid out like instructions for handling him, such a clever bit of characterization in one page. At its heart this is a book about a friendship that rearranges the shape of someone's life, with grief, the anticipatory current, running underneath the whole thing. There's also a strained parent-child thread here, Lou and her mother pulling further apart the closer Lou gets to Jim, handled with real restraint. It's a historically sensitive subject handled with real care, and for such a short book, Wilson builds genuine depth around Lou and Jim.
My only complaint: I wanted more but, it's pulled from Wilson's own family history, and while he stays mostly out of frame as a character, his own experience volunteering with AIDS patients in NYC is clearly threaded under Lou's story. So the shortness isn't the book failing to go deep, it's just me not wanting to leave.
Full review on my blog ♡ https://blog.bronston.ca/reading-room...
August 8, 2026
The sketchbook format and composition were really original. The story is told in a creative way, mixing vignettes, colors, different art styles, and mixed-media. This type of narration was my favorite thing.
The story is about a teenage girl, Lou, and her family, who decide to house Jared and his dogs, a friend of Lou's father who gets evicted because he is HIV positive during the AIDS epidemic. Each family member deals with this situation in a different way. Lou decides to befriend Jared and ends up helping him as his illness gets worse and worse.
The message of this book is really important, and the ending is really hopeful. It made me tear up multiple times, I loved it.
Thank you Avid Reader Press and Netgalley for this ARC.
The story is about a teenage girl, Lou, and her family, who decide to house Jared and his dogs, a friend of Lou's father who gets evicted because he is HIV positive during the AIDS epidemic. Each family member deals with this situation in a different way. Lou decides to befriend Jared and ends up helping him as his illness gets worse and worse.
The message of this book is really important, and the ending is really hopeful. It made me tear up multiple times, I loved it.
Thank you Avid Reader Press and Netgalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was not expecting a graphic novel from the description of the book, but that might be my bad for not knowing the author. It was interesting and obviously the artwork was very well done, but I am a Kindle reader, so having to read it on my iPad was a little troublesome. I enjoyed the story, and the author did an excellent job of portraying all the perspectives. I think the target audience is more young adult, and I am not sure today's young adults will appreciate just how little was known about AIDS and the ensuing public shame, so at the end of the day, I'm not sure who will read this book. It is a quick read and worth the time if you are into graphic novels.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had absolutely no idea what I was going to be reading when I opened The Nightingales, but wow, it completely sucked me in. It’s based on a true story. Lou’s father brings home a friend, Jim, to stay at their house when Jim has nowhere to go. It is the 1980s and Jim is sick. This story has everything- love, compassion, hate, friendship, finding one’s self. It has beautiful illustrations that I was not expecting. I read it in two sittings (and would have read it in one if I didn’t have somewhere to go). I loved the dogs. They were some comedic relief with a heavy topic. Thank you Avid Read Press, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the arc of this beautiful story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jim and Lou (and Emil)'s story is so beautiful and I don't think anything I write here can fully capture the feelings I'm left with. I read the entire book in one sitting because I could not put it down.
The graphic novel format and the artwork makes the story seem so light and unserious, but what we're actually diving into is a story of kindness and love and unlikely friendship. The kind of friendship that shapes the rest of your life.
I'm still mad about Henny & Penny.
Thank you netgalley for the arc!
The graphic novel format and the artwork makes the story seem so light and unserious, but what we're actually diving into is a story of kindness and love and unlikely friendship. The kind of friendship that shapes the rest of your life.
I'm still mad about Henny & Penny.
Thank you netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A massive thank you to Avid Press and Simon & Schuster for providing a finalized copy of this beautiful graphic novel before release.
A beautiful narrative of compassion in a world bolstered by hate.
Based on a true story, Don Wilson opens his home to a man with failing health; Jim. Despite moving in as a stranger to Don’s family, Jim forms a fast and beautiful friendship with Don’s daughter, Lou. This graphic novel details the life long impact of just one compassionate act.
The combination of beautiful story telling and vivid illustrations make this novel impossible to put down.
A beautiful narrative of compassion in a world bolstered by hate.
Based on a true story, Don Wilson opens his home to a man with failing health; Jim. Despite moving in as a stranger to Don’s family, Jim forms a fast and beautiful friendship with Don’s daughter, Lou. This graphic novel details the life long impact of just one compassionate act.
The combination of beautiful story telling and vivid illustrations make this novel impossible to put down.
August 5, 2026
This is a beautiful graphic novel that expertly depicts the early days of the AIDS epidemic. A young woman finds her natural ability for compassion while her mother exhibits selfishness and lack of understanding.
The story portrays both the physical and emotional toll of AIDS without becoming maudlin. The drawings are phenomenal and capture the wide range of emotions felt by the characters. This is an outstanding debut achievement.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story portrays both the physical and emotional toll of AIDS without becoming maudlin. The drawings are phenomenal and capture the wide range of emotions felt by the characters. This is an outstanding debut achievement.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 8, 2026A warm and enjoyable story of two unlikely people developing a beautiful friendship in the face of adversity (death, unfortunately). I loved it for the most part, but I found the ending to be quite rushed. Otherwise, I loved the complexity with all of the characters and the beautiful art style. This novel is truly a testament to my love for graphic novels!
A big fat thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the e-arc copy to review!
A big fat thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the e-arc copy to review!
July 21, 2026
Thank you Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Nightingales was a read that surprised in the best way and delivered an impactful message. I really went in blind when starting this, but I truly enjoyed it. The honesty told in this story through Lou and Jim was refreshing. The development in their relationship and seeing the impact on Lou’s future was well thought out. I hope to see and read more stories like this in the future.
The Nightingales was a read that surprised in the best way and delivered an impactful message. I really went in blind when starting this, but I truly enjoyed it. The honesty told in this story through Lou and Jim was refreshing. The development in their relationship and seeing the impact on Lou’s future was well thought out. I hope to see and read more stories like this in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Nightingales is a graphic novel set in the 1980s that follows a family whose lives are changed when the father invites his coworker, Jim, to move in after Jim is diagnosed with cancer and loses his housing. His wife is far from happy with the arrangement, but their daughter, Lou, quickly becomes friends with Jim and his two dogs.
As the story unfolds, readers learn that Jim actually has AIDS, and the relationship that develops between Jim and Lou is incredibly touching. At the same time, Lou's mother's relationship with the rest of the family begins to deteriorate. Beautifully illustrated and exceptionally well written, the story allowed me to connect with every member of the family and understand each of their perspectives.
I loved this book and its message, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is one of my favorite reads of 2026.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As the story unfolds, readers learn that Jim actually has AIDS, and the relationship that develops between Jim and Lou is incredibly touching. At the same time, Lou's mother's relationship with the rest of the family begins to deteriorate. Beautifully illustrated and exceptionally well written, the story allowed me to connect with every member of the family and understand each of their perspectives.
I loved this book and its message, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is one of my favorite reads of 2026.
Thank you to Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. A beautifully written and drawn graphic novel about the unlikely friendship between a 17-year-old girl and her dad's coworker Jim who is dying from HIV. The story seemed very believable with the mother's reaction. I liked that it explored Donald's (the father's) background as well.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sent an advance reader copy by the author.
This was a lovely book. The story felt familiar, many similar stories have been told about the AIDS crisis, but the beautiful art and scrapbook techniques made the telling of it feel fresh and innovative.
This was a lovely book. The story felt familiar, many similar stories have been told about the AIDS crisis, but the beautiful art and scrapbook techniques made the telling of it feel fresh and innovative.
August 7, 2026
WOW!!! the illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful and i really enjoying looking at them and interpreting more of the story through them. beautiful story, beautiful message, really really enjoyed this one. also the mom def killed those dogs wtff
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
A beautifully done with expressive illustrations. Filled with nostalgia and heartache, this is a true coming of age story. I think many people can find parts of themselves in a story like this.
August 12, 2026
Absolutely stunning and moving. A must-read.
August 12, 2026
Gorgeous art, beautiful, layered story. This one will nestle itself in your heart.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first graphic novel, and it wasn’t at all what I expected in the best possible way.
The artwork is absolutely stunning, rendered in delicate watercolors and colored pencil. I probably could have finished this book much faster, but I found myself constantly pausing to admire each page.
After being forced out of his apartment, Jim and his two beloved Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, move in with Lou and her family. Lou knows Jim is sick, but she eventually learns he has AIDS. Set in the early 1980s, the story captures a time when so little was understood about the disease, and fear and misinformation were everywhere.
As Jim and Lou grow closer, he becomes the first person to speak to her honestly and plainly like an adult. The kindness and wisdom he shares during the final weeks of his life ultimately shape the course of Lou’s future in profound ways.
I always read the acknowledgments at the end of a book. Most of the time they’re simply pages of thank yous, but every so often they reveal something that makes the story even more meaningful. This is one of those books. I highly encourage you to read all the way to the final page. You’ll discover that this story is rooted in the author’s own family’s true experiences, with a few creative liberties woven in, and knowing that makes an already moving story even more unforgettable.
Thank you Avid Reader Press for this stunning digital ARC through NetGalley
The artwork is absolutely stunning, rendered in delicate watercolors and colored pencil. I probably could have finished this book much faster, but I found myself constantly pausing to admire each page.
After being forced out of his apartment, Jim and his two beloved Pomeranians, Henny and Penny, move in with Lou and her family. Lou knows Jim is sick, but she eventually learns he has AIDS. Set in the early 1980s, the story captures a time when so little was understood about the disease, and fear and misinformation were everywhere.
As Jim and Lou grow closer, he becomes the first person to speak to her honestly and plainly like an adult. The kindness and wisdom he shares during the final weeks of his life ultimately shape the course of Lou’s future in profound ways.
I always read the acknowledgments at the end of a book. Most of the time they’re simply pages of thank yous, but every so often they reveal something that makes the story even more meaningful. This is one of those books. I highly encourage you to read all the way to the final page. You’ll discover that this story is rooted in the author’s own family’s true experiences, with a few creative liberties woven in, and knowing that makes an already moving story even more unforgettable.
Thank you Avid Reader Press for this stunning digital ARC through NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
arc received from netgalley
The Nightingales is a beautifully constructed graphic novel based on a true story. Lou’s family takes in a man suffering from AIDS in an era where it’s still fresh to those and judged and feared by many.
Us readers get to watch a very meaningful life-changing connection made between Lou and Jim.
The Nightingales is a beautifully constructed graphic novel based on a true story. Lou’s family takes in a man suffering from AIDS in an era where it’s still fresh to those and judged and feared by many.
Us readers get to watch a very meaningful life-changing connection made between Lou and Jim.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The description of this book is both exactly what happens and yet so far from the reality of this book. Jim is worldly, witty, vulnerable and vulgar, heartfelt and heartbreaking. His deterioration comes on swiftly, more swiftly than a man so young should have been facing, and yet he lingers on and on in his pain until his split of bad and worse days end if only to give him peace. It is just a glimpse of the horrible reality of AIDS, rendered simply in devastating colour.
Likewise, Annemarie's fear and resentment don't just strain her family, they destroy it. What she can't control, she fears, then resents, then breaks. We see it first with the mug, a symbol of her daughters talents and exploits, bleached because a gay man touched it and still not deemed clean enough so she breaks it and throws it away. Her relationship with her husband, already strained, is touched in the same way and cannot be redeemed; eventually she breaks that too. The dogs... her relationship with her daughter, her son: nothing is safe from Annemarie's determination to make things the way she wants, and if they won't... well. It is a painful but so real depiction of a troubled mother, with troubled relationships. Wilson gives you some humanising glimpses into her, a little understanding, but it only makes her cruelty so much worse. "There are some things you protect yourself from knowing" is a line I know will haunt me for some time.
The art here is beautiful, and structured like both a diary and a memoir. Some of this feels immediate while other pieces are remembered in the aftermath, or looked back on much later. The art follows this same style, with some art rendered distinct as a recent memory, while others are blurred by the moment or sketched together later down the line. A past cobbled together from notes, diary pages, an idiot's guide to how dad works, and the daytime show Lou imagines up for Henny and Penny, Jim's two sweet, ill-fated dogs.
This was a painful read that doesn't shy away from the ugliness of what it uncovers over the course of one summer in 1985, but nor does it gloss over the beauty to be found as well. Lou's moments of understanding with her father, the tenderness she creates with Jim and the direction she takes for her life as a result, standing up to her mother in the same quiet, honest way she's had throughout. It is one hell of a coming of age for her, but well worth the travel to go with her.
*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Likewise, Annemarie's fear and resentment don't just strain her family, they destroy it. What she can't control, she fears, then resents, then breaks. We see it first with the mug, a symbol of her daughters talents and exploits, bleached because a gay man touched it and still not deemed clean enough so she breaks it and throws it away. Her relationship with her husband, already strained, is touched in the same way and cannot be redeemed; eventually she breaks that too. The dogs... her relationship with her daughter, her son: nothing is safe from Annemarie's determination to make things the way she wants, and if they won't... well. It is a painful but so real depiction of a troubled mother, with troubled relationships. Wilson gives you some humanising glimpses into her, a little understanding, but it only makes her cruelty so much worse. "There are some things you protect yourself from knowing" is a line I know will haunt me for some time.
The art here is beautiful, and structured like both a diary and a memoir. Some of this feels immediate while other pieces are remembered in the aftermath, or looked back on much later. The art follows this same style, with some art rendered distinct as a recent memory, while others are blurred by the moment or sketched together later down the line. A past cobbled together from notes, diary pages, an idiot's guide to how dad works, and the daytime show Lou imagines up for Henny and Penny, Jim's two sweet, ill-fated dogs.
This was a painful read that doesn't shy away from the ugliness of what it uncovers over the course of one summer in 1985, but nor does it gloss over the beauty to be found as well. Lou's moments of understanding with her father, the tenderness she creates with Jim and the direction she takes for her life as a result, standing up to her mother in the same quiet, honest way she's had throughout. It is one hell of a coming of age for her, but well worth the travel to go with her.
*Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stunning graphic novel about the AIDs epidemic, unlikely friendships as well as grief.
This piece was very touching. Beautifully presented also. The artwork is very unique and the presentation of the story. Highlights included the way the parents are presented in their own sections. And of course, the Pomeranians.
Telling such a hard story in this way really hit home for me. Lou and JIm's friendship and their own stories are just so perfectly encapsulated. It's one of the reasons graphic novels and comic books are one of my favorite artforms.
Everyone should read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exhange for an honest review.
This piece was very touching. Beautifully presented also. The artwork is very unique and the presentation of the story. Highlights included the way the parents are presented in their own sections. And of course, the Pomeranians.
Telling such a hard story in this way really hit home for me. Lou and JIm's friendship and their own stories are just so perfectly encapsulated. It's one of the reasons graphic novels and comic books are one of my favorite artforms.
Everyone should read this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exhange for an honest review.
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