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False Face
"A tour de force." ―SLJ, starred review
From National Book Award Finalist Josh Galarza comes a moving new young adult novel full of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Rusty is positive Todd with two D's is a figment of his troubled mind. That’s the only explanation for why he breaks into musical numbers and lurks in the school bleachers to stare unabashedly at Burt, the cutest guy in school. But when Todd's antics go a little too far, Rusty quickly finds himself in a dangerous situation. Little does Rusty know, the boy he's head over heels for just might be the one to save his life.
By day, Burt Espinoza is the only out kid in school who’s ever maintained his social status. But by night, he is a real a secret agent rescuing vulnerable queer kids in danger. His handlers (also his adoptive moms) are concerned he’s pushing himself too hard to be the man he thinks he needs to be. Now Burt has to prove that he's ready for his biggest mission saving the only boy he's ever hurt.
Raw, surreal, and timely, this novel is perfect for fans of Rex Ogle and Randy Ribay.
From National Book Award Finalist Josh Galarza comes a moving new young adult novel full of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
Rusty is positive Todd with two D's is a figment of his troubled mind. That’s the only explanation for why he breaks into musical numbers and lurks in the school bleachers to stare unabashedly at Burt, the cutest guy in school. But when Todd's antics go a little too far, Rusty quickly finds himself in a dangerous situation. Little does Rusty know, the boy he's head over heels for just might be the one to save his life.
By day, Burt Espinoza is the only out kid in school who’s ever maintained his social status. But by night, he is a real a secret agent rescuing vulnerable queer kids in danger. His handlers (also his adoptive moms) are concerned he’s pushing himself too hard to be the man he thinks he needs to be. Now Burt has to prove that he's ready for his biggest mission saving the only boy he's ever hurt.
Raw, surreal, and timely, this novel is perfect for fans of Rex Ogle and Randy Ribay.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
Josh Galarza
2 books38 followersJosh Galarza writes fiction and creative nonfiction and is a multidisciplinary visual artist specializing in printmaking, book arts, and sculpture. His debut novel, The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky, was a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. He holds an MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University, a BFA in art from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a BA in English from the University of Nevada, Reno. He lives in Northern Nevada and is the three-time reigning world champion of extreme trampoline air-drumming, a sport he invented himself.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 27, 2026
False Face is a special book, set in 1999. It feels a bit like The Long Run with speculative and Superman elements. It’s hard, raw, harsh, and pretty dark at times, but it also made me laugh out loud.
It’s a story about two boys, told through three POVs. Russell tries to be quiet and obedient for his God-loving parents, especially his dad, so he keeps his other self, Todd with a double d, locked away. Todd is the part of him who likes boys, loves musicals and singing, and is far more outgoing. Russell keeps him hidden, even chained in his l cell, but sometimes Todd pushes through and makes Russell do things he’d never dare to do. Todd also has some magical abilities, which means people often forget what happens when he takes over. And Todd likes another boy: Burt.
Burt is the only out kid at school and the only one socially accepted. He lives with his foster moms (the Momperatives) and secretly rescues queer kids from conversion camps at night, like a secret agent, but he carries a secret from his past.
Even though the story is funny at times funny, it’s not for the faint of heart. It deals with super Christian parents, abuse, and conversion camps, so please check out the trigger warnings.
I really loved reading False Face, and isn’t the cover gorgeous? And if you loved The Long Run and love speculative elements or a bit of a Superman or Mission Impossible vibe, then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you, Macmillan Children’s Book Group and NetGalley, for this surprising ARC!
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It’s a story about two boys, told through three POVs. Russell tries to be quiet and obedient for his God-loving parents, especially his dad, so he keeps his other self, Todd with a double d, locked away. Todd is the part of him who likes boys, loves musicals and singing, and is far more outgoing. Russell keeps him hidden, even chained in his l cell, but sometimes Todd pushes through and makes Russell do things he’d never dare to do. Todd also has some magical abilities, which means people often forget what happens when he takes over. And Todd likes another boy: Burt.
Burt is the only out kid at school and the only one socially accepted. He lives with his foster moms (the Momperatives) and secretly rescues queer kids from conversion camps at night, like a secret agent, but he carries a secret from his past.
Even though the story is funny at times funny, it’s not for the faint of heart. It deals with super Christian parents, abuse, and conversion camps, so please check out the trigger warnings.
I really loved reading False Face, and isn’t the cover gorgeous? And if you loved The Long Run and love speculative elements or a bit of a Superman or Mission Impossible vibe, then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you, Macmillan Children’s Book Group and NetGalley, for this surprising ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✎✧˚ Thank you to the author, Josh Galarza, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Some books entertain you, some break your heart, and some manage to do both while throwing secret agents, musical numbers, supernatural abilities, and queer superheroes into the mix. False Face by Josh Galarza is all of these things and more, and I absolutely loved it.
Set in 1999, this wonderfully strange, dark, and emotional story follows Rusty, a boy desperately trying to be the good, obedient son his religious parents expect him to be. Especially his father. Rusty has a secret, though: Todd (with two D’s), the louder, bolder, more unapologetically queer side of himself who loves boys, musicals, and singing. While Rusty tries to keep Todd locked away, Todd has other ideas. And those ideas frequently involve Burt Espinoza, the cutest boy in school.
Burt is fascinating in his own right. As the only openly gay kid at school who somehow manages to maintain his social status, he seems to have everything figured out. But beneath his basketball-player exterior lies a secret identity: he works for an organization that rescues queer kids from dangerous situations, including conversion camps. His adoptive moms, affectionately known as the Momperatives, are involved in his secret life, too, and the found-family dynamic between them is one of my favorite parts of the book. Burt might be a badass secret agent, but he’s also a kid trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to become.
The combination of surreal elements, superhero vibes, secret missions, and coming-of-age struggles is absolutely brilliant. The multiple POVs give the story so much personality, and the contrast between Rusty and Todd makes their internal conflict especially compelling. Galarza does a fantastic job of creating distinct voices that capture the characters’ emotions, fears, and desires. The narrative can be chaotic at times, but that chaos fits the story and its characters.
And the humor! I genuinely laughed out loud more than once. Burt’s action-movie attitude, his delightfully ridiculous observations, and the moments of tenderness between him and his moms provide some much-needed light in an otherwise heavy story. Those softer moments make the darker ones hit even harder.
Because make no mistake: False Face is not an easy read. Religious abuse, homophobia, family rejection, and conversion therapy are central to the story, and some scenes are genuinely painful. Rusty’s fear of being discovered and the consequences he faces when his family learns the truth are heartbreaking. The book never loses sight of the very real harm caused when people are taught to believe that being queer is something shameful that needs to be fixed. Please check the content warnings before reading.
What I appreciated most is that, beneath all the supernatural weirdness and secret-agent shenanigans, this is a story about identity, acceptance, and the importance of having people who love you exactly as you are. It’s about finding family when the one you were born into fails you, and learning that you deserve to exist without hiding pieces of yourself.
If you love stories that blend emotional devastation with wonderfully bizarre adventures, False Face deserves a place on your reading list.
"To God, each of us is a rainbowed kaleidoscope, each of us is meant to be a bundle of contradictions and layered facets and opposing complexities: ever changing, ever making mistakes, ever learning, ever new, and most importantly, ever becoming."
Some books entertain you, some break your heart, and some manage to do both while throwing secret agents, musical numbers, supernatural abilities, and queer superheroes into the mix. False Face by Josh Galarza is all of these things and more, and I absolutely loved it.
Set in 1999, this wonderfully strange, dark, and emotional story follows Rusty, a boy desperately trying to be the good, obedient son his religious parents expect him to be. Especially his father. Rusty has a secret, though: Todd (with two D’s), the louder, bolder, more unapologetically queer side of himself who loves boys, musicals, and singing. While Rusty tries to keep Todd locked away, Todd has other ideas. And those ideas frequently involve Burt Espinoza, the cutest boy in school.
Burt is fascinating in his own right. As the only openly gay kid at school who somehow manages to maintain his social status, he seems to have everything figured out. But beneath his basketball-player exterior lies a secret identity: he works for an organization that rescues queer kids from dangerous situations, including conversion camps. His adoptive moms, affectionately known as the Momperatives, are involved in his secret life, too, and the found-family dynamic between them is one of my favorite parts of the book. Burt might be a badass secret agent, but he’s also a kid trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to become.
The combination of surreal elements, superhero vibes, secret missions, and coming-of-age struggles is absolutely brilliant. The multiple POVs give the story so much personality, and the contrast between Rusty and Todd makes their internal conflict especially compelling. Galarza does a fantastic job of creating distinct voices that capture the characters’ emotions, fears, and desires. The narrative can be chaotic at times, but that chaos fits the story and its characters.
And the humor! I genuinely laughed out loud more than once. Burt’s action-movie attitude, his delightfully ridiculous observations, and the moments of tenderness between him and his moms provide some much-needed light in an otherwise heavy story. Those softer moments make the darker ones hit even harder.
Because make no mistake: False Face is not an easy read. Religious abuse, homophobia, family rejection, and conversion therapy are central to the story, and some scenes are genuinely painful. Rusty’s fear of being discovered and the consequences he faces when his family learns the truth are heartbreaking. The book never loses sight of the very real harm caused when people are taught to believe that being queer is something shameful that needs to be fixed. Please check the content warnings before reading.
What I appreciated most is that, beneath all the supernatural weirdness and secret-agent shenanigans, this is a story about identity, acceptance, and the importance of having people who love you exactly as you are. It’s about finding family when the one you were born into fails you, and learning that you deserve to exist without hiding pieces of yourself.
If you love stories that blend emotional devastation with wonderfully bizarre adventures, False Face deserves a place on your reading list.
"To God, each of us is a rainbowed kaleidoscope, each of us is meant to be a bundle of contradictions and layered facets and opposing complexities: ever changing, ever making mistakes, ever learning, ever new, and most importantly, ever becoming."
August 4, 2026
I LOVE YOU BURT AND RUSTY
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I requested this book from NetGalley based on the cover alone and I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. If I was rating it based on my enjoyment of the book, I would rate it lower but I want to be fair because the genre is not quite my cup of tea. The book is like a high school musical meets the avengers. Typically I’m drawn toward more realistic story lines so it was hard for me to buy into it. That said, I think for those who enjoy some crazy musical numbers and super hero style action would might love this book. Because neither of those are my thing, I started skimming during those parts. But the author did do a really good job describing a musical numbers and those scenes were funny. If you love silly spy movies with fun gadgets, it’s got that too. Another thing that threw me was once I did realize what I was reading, I geared up for something silly and then it got super heavy fast (I recommend reading the trigger warnings). The overall message of the book was really good and it dealt with some really important topics. I think it could be really impactful book for a queer teen struggling with their identity or dealing with unsupportive parents or communities.
October 27, 2026
“You’re all of who you are.”
One of my favorite things about being an author is slipping into other authors’ DMs to beg them for ARCs with not a shred of dignity. Josh Galarza didn’t have any ARCs, but he did get me a finished version when it came out, which is, like, the nicest thing ever? Hello???
So basically, this book is like five different genres in a trench coat and one of the most original books I think I’ve ever read in my life. The romance is gorgeous, but as always for my aromantic self, I kept an eye on the self-love and friendship of it all, and that alone makes the book worth five stars. Todd and Rusty? I am not embarrassed to say those lil gay weirdos (affectionate) made me cry.
Despite the comedy (which, do you know how hard it is to be funny on the page!?), this book absolutely deals with hard themes, so please take care when reading. Absolutely uncomfortable at points, but I think Josh does an amazing job of holding our hands through it and making sure we come out the other side.
I hope you're so proud of this book, Josh. I can't wait to read the next one.
One of my favorite things about being an author is slipping into other authors’ DMs to beg them for ARCs with not a shred of dignity. Josh Galarza didn’t have any ARCs, but he did get me a finished version when it came out, which is, like, the nicest thing ever? Hello???
So basically, this book is like five different genres in a trench coat and one of the most original books I think I’ve ever read in my life. The romance is gorgeous, but as always for my aromantic self, I kept an eye on the self-love and friendship of it all, and that alone makes the book worth five stars. Todd and Rusty? I am not embarrassed to say those lil gay weirdos (affectionate) made me cry.
Despite the comedy (which, do you know how hard it is to be funny on the page!?), this book absolutely deals with hard themes, so please take care when reading. Absolutely uncomfortable at points, but I think Josh does an amazing job of holding our hands through it and making sure we come out the other side.
I hope you're so proud of this book, Josh. I can't wait to read the next one.
September 14, 2026
This book is very Spy Kids meets High School Musical, but with significantly higher emotional stakes. While the story features fun teenage agent tropes and a fantastic '80s-style montage, it also tackles very heavy, real-world issues for teens including forced coming out, sexual assault, and conversion therapy.
There are no graphic depictions of these acts, but the emotional weight is intense enough that I personally needed to take a few breaks. It’s a mostly a lighthearted fun read, but definitely should come with a "viewer discretion advised" warning. While I enjoyed the book, this isn’t my cup of tea, so just a 3 star for me.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
There are no graphic depictions of these acts, but the emotional weight is intense enough that I personally needed to take a few breaks. It’s a mostly a lighthearted fun read, but definitely should come with a "viewer discretion advised" warning. While I enjoyed the book, this isn’t my cup of tea, so just a 3 star for me.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
October 31, 2026
To Josh if you ever see this: You did it, lady!
This book was really so fun! As a closeted gay kid who loved theater while growing up in a religious family in a small town, this book hit all the right notes. The characters were endearing while also feeling fully realized. And oof - all that trauma 🥴 This story is riddled with content/trigger warnings, but it does a great job of tackling those themes head on and you get to sit with the characters in those uncomfortable moments while processing that grief and ultimately learning to cope. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and I cheered my way through this story! I would also like this review to serve as my official application to become an operative of SLAI - please and thank you!
This book was really so fun! As a closeted gay kid who loved theater while growing up in a religious family in a small town, this book hit all the right notes. The characters were endearing while also feeling fully realized. And oof - all that trauma 🥴 This story is riddled with content/trigger warnings, but it does a great job of tackling those themes head on and you get to sit with the characters in those uncomfortable moments while processing that grief and ultimately learning to cope. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, and I cheered my way through this story! I would also like this review to serve as my official application to become an operative of SLAI - please and thank you!
September 11, 2026
Rusty has a crush on the cutest boy in school, Burt. Rusty is too afraid to go and speak with Burt because he is worried about what the kids at school will say about him being gay. Also, Rusty's parents, especially his father, will definitely have a problem if he finds out Rusty is gay. Burt appears to be just a regular high school basketball player by day, but at night, he works as an agent for a secret organization that rescues queer kids who are in danger. When Rusty's family finally find out that he is gay and send him to a conversion camp, Burt makes it his mission to save Rusty. This book has a great message, but there are some very difficult situations the characters must endure.
Did Not Finish
October 27, 2026I could not get into this book. I just didn't understand the main character and his alter ego... after a couple of nights of reading, it didn't make any more sense to me. But again, I am not the target audience for this book. Teens may love it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews