Find My Way Down to You

by Julian Winters

You've Reached Sam meets Hadestown in this enchanting, intoxicating romance across the mortal world and the underworld.

Eighteen-year-old August is trying to navigate life after the sudden death of his boyfriend left him devastated, aimless, and feeling guilty. Years after the tragic accident, August mistakenly stumbles into a world beyond his own—the Underworld. Unlike his own gray existence, the underworld is a lavish extravagant place, full of mystery and a flurry of charismatic gods, all curious about August's arrival in their world. Realizing right away the opportunity in front of him, August goes searching for his lost love, guided by Cary, the smoldering, broody ferrier of souls. But the more time August spends down below, the more his intentions begin to blur. Is he visiting this realm to reunite with his soulmate? Or is he desperately, inexplicably, intoxicatingly drawn to Cary? With his own world in pieces and a dangerously seductive realm promising him a new existence at a heavy cost, August must a life with grief or a love that might destroy him.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, LGBT, M M Romance, Queer, Black Author

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Julian Winters is the author of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award-winning Running With Lions; the Junior Library Guild Selections How to Be Remy Cameron and The Summer of Everything; and the forthcoming Right Where I Left You. A self-proclaimed comic book geek, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta, where he can be found reading or watching the only two sports he can follow—volleyball and soccer..

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Reviews

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cover!!! So, so gorgeous! Julian Winters is one of my favorite authors, so after seeing this mesmerizing cover and reading the fantastic blurb, I wanted only one thing: to dive into this story. And then Viking Books granted me access to the ARC. I was over the moon.

”That’s what it’s like living with grief. Loneliness, even while you’re surrounded by people.”

I have a soft spot for sadder books, especially when the grief is written really well. Find My Way Down to You is such a story. The publisher compares it to You’ve Reached Sam, which is of course a great comparison, but to me it feels closest to Michelle Kulwicki’s At the End of the River Styx.

August—Auggie—lost his boyfriend two years ago in a car accident and hasn’t really lived since. Now eighteen, he waits tables at a restaurant and lives with his best friend, who, unlike Auggie, has started college. Everything shifts when he meets Cary, the ferrier of souls, and Auggie’s world is turned literally upside down.

The boys in this story are all nice guys, but also flawed. And I actually love that, because people can be kind and still imperfect. London was a planner with big dreams. Cary is brooding and quiet, but also a giver—a boy who looks after others before himself. And Auggie wants to make people happy, so he lets others have their way and rarely pushes back. Auggie and Cary mirror each other in surprising ways, and they lift each other up.

Even though this is a speculative YA story, it’s incredibly readable and leans more toward contemporary romance than fantasy. It’s a story of growth, and in the final part I kept feeling tears well up in my eyes. Not because it’s that sad, (it certainly has its moments) but because Auggie finally chooses to start living again.

It’s a story that stays with you long after you close the book, and I’m so happy I got the chance to read it early.

Actual rating 4.5 stars, rounded up to five.

Thank you, Viking Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss, for this beautiful ARC.

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[Mai H.]

Black History Month TBR

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers

[cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was so sweet and good. It definitely reminded me of Hadestown as was intended and it was really cute. A great portrayal of healing and grief. It kind of reminded me of You’ve Reached Sam aswell. Definitely recommend this one when it comes out.

[Christiana Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’m the target audience for this one. It’s a good book, but didn’t go the places I wanted it to go. I think in the problem here.

[Brittany]

ARC from NetGalley

DNF 35% in

Really loved an adult book by this author this year so I thought I try a young adult. This felt to young for me and I was bored so rather than finish and leave a bad rating I decided to DNF. With a beautiful cover I hope this book finds its target audience.

[Chrissy MacLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find My Way Down to You is a journey through love and grief and the love (both romantic and platonic) that can guide you through your grief. The fact that it contains a fantasy element really adds to the story and made the topic of death feel more approachable. I want to clarify that this is a YA book (but we don’t stop reading YA just because we reach adulthood!), and it does contain some heavier themes. What a gorgeous book! I’ll be checking out Julian Winters’ backlog now, for sure! 4.75⭐️

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jefferz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of grief and loss mixed with contemporary romance and mythological fantasy flavor, Find My Way Down to You by Julian Winters is a wholesome and sweet YA novel covering somber topics. By exploring the long, individual road to healing while honoring loved ones lost, the book feels like a warm and supportive hug that maintains an uplifting and hopeful outlook even when the pain feels unending. Well‑intentioned and earnest, it sometimes plays things too safe and doesn’t push its strongest narrative elements far enough, but it remains an accessible read with strong YA appeal.

Highlights:
☕︎ Thoughtfully crafted and wholesome story set around grief, loss, personal sacrifices, and healing.
☕︎ Nice balance between character drama, fantasy elements, and romance. Underworld visuals are vibrantly portrayed.
☕︎ Appealing characters and an effective comparison between August’s chemistry with Cary vs London and other interests.

Considerations:
-Exploration of dark topics can feel surface level and the book purposely evades tough questions it asks but doesn’t ever answer. Romance and character development feels a bit off-balanced.
-Pacing is quite fast, overly casual, and many elements feel underdeveloped. Fantasy elements have conflicting details and oversights.
-Book reads quite young both in terms of the narrative content as well as the writing style. Level of detail can be quite lacking.

Marketed as a YA romance with crossover elements in fiction, social issues, and fantasy, the book blends a wide range of narrative components into a story focused on grief and loss. Its greatest strength is its relatability for YA readers. Purposely flawed and immature to a fault, the main character August and his internal logic match his age, highlighting teenage shortsightedness and tunnel vision. Winters captures teenage angst well, especially in the wake of August’s catastrophic loss of his boyfriend London, around whom he built his entire world. The portrayal of grief is particularly strong, from August pushing away those around him, including his well‑written dynamic with Max, to closing himself off from his parents and any hobbies tied to London. The book also thoughtfully reflects on how healing is deeply personal and different for everyone, requiring acceptance and self‑forgiveness.

Another area that is noteworthy is its handling of young first love, as well as queer joy and representation. As his first boyfriend, August would leap off a tower for London and as the story progresses, the book does a great job at showing potential areas of relationship conflict and mismatched wants that’re thrown to the wind during teenage love. As August encounters the aloof and grumpy Cary and the charismatic Milos, the comparison between them and their different dynamics is well done. The slow transition of August’s interest and conflicted feelings is smoothly handled and one of the stronger points of the book.

The fantasy elements add good narrative flavor and visual interest, and they’re generally well incorporated into the story. A mix of various forms of the afterlife crossed with mythological themes and characters, the book’s pops of fantasy increase the stakes and intrigue while providing opportunities for vibrant visuals that Winters does well. The descriptions of various locations and scenic areas of the Underworld nicely complement the book’s beautiful cover as August and Cary go back and forth between worlds. The Underworld also has a nice variety of different personalities and characters that are not only visually distinctive but also have great queer diversity as well.

While the book is well-crafted and nicely balances its character drama, romance, and fantasy aspects, it does so at the cost of depth and development in each individual area. The story has a fast pace feel to it on par with books targeted for YA readership, but it often feels like it loses a good deal of nuance in the process. While the vibe and tone were hopeful and encouraging, I was consistently underwhelmed by the story’s surface level exploration of its deep and serious topics. While the conversations between characters were good, the book would consistently pose a thoughtful and complex question, then completely evade answering it or cutting off the conversation with a distraction. The book’s fast pace and overly casual style of storytelling have a tendency to shortcut important character moments and skirt over other elements that don’t feel fully developed. The motif around August’s mother’s gardening and greenhouse felt like it wasn’t given enough attention considering its connection to the Underworld while August’s interest in music feels like a good idea that’s only lightly utilized in the story. The book has a lot of good narrative material but spreads itself a bit thin and doesn’t go very far with any of them.

The lack of development also affects the numerous side characters who don’t feel like they have enough time or development to be memorable. Worse, though August and Cary have great chemistry and play off each other well, the romance can feel one-sided or off balanced. Since the book only presents August’s POV, the reader knows what’s going on in his head and his interests in the other characters. The issue is that there really isn’t much time spent exploring Cary’s interest in the reverse direction or what he likes about August other than explaining his presence nearby; a point could be made that he’s the only one that has seen or cared about Cary, but it isn’t really elaborated. Even though this is a YA book that doesn’t require the most complex character writing and logic, it seems like an oversight. August also repeatedly comments about how Cary talks oddly like he’s from another time, but the dialogue doesn’t really portray that difference very well or consistently.

The same could also be applied to the various fantasy elements that are serviceable at a glance but have quite a few conflicting details that don’t really make sense or have enough time to develop them. Although the Underworld inhabitants are deathless and immortal, at what point after they were born as children did they randomly stop aging? If humans are not able to cross over into the Underworld or even see the Deathless, why is it that August’s friend Max can also see Cary in the pizza restaurant and acknowledge his order (why is Cary even ordering pizza to begin with? His presence there is explained but not his ordering of food). A lot of the Underworld mechanics simply exist and quite a few notable fantasy-related plot twists feel like they just kind of happen or circumstantially fit, lacking proper foreshadowing or setup to make the surprises work. Perhaps this may sound critical considering this book’s primary intent is a character story about grief and moving forward in life rather than a SFF one, but with so many of the book’s pages in a fairly short novel devoted to its fantasy elements, I would expect it to be a bit more polished. Or really, additional pages or slowing down the pacing a bit could’ve helped substantially. And though it’s not necessarily a fault of the book given its target YA readership, it’s worth noting that this book reads quite young despite including lightly discussed adult content. Between its characters that have appropriate but quite juvenile character logic, thematic discussions that get the job done but lack additional depth, and the overall limited level of detail, this is a YA book that likely won’t satisfy older readers.

Overall, as a heartfelt and hopeful journey of healing from the paralysis of grief, Find My Way Down to You is a success. Comforting, wholesome, and well‑pitched for YA readers, the book explores difficult topics in a soft, safe, and warm way with a nice flourish of fantasy elements to support it. Julian Winters is an author I’ve heard a lot of good things about and whose books I’ve been wanting to read for quite some time, but admittedly this one wasn’t my cup of tea despite its great premise. While sincere and having the best intentions, unfortunately this book can feel a bit lacking for mature readers due to its limited depth and serviceable, yet lackluster execution of its mythical fantasy ideas. However, for readers looking for a romantic story revolving around grief that is accessible and optimistic, this is a fine one to go with.

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Viking Books for Young Readers.

*For more reviews, book lists and reading updates, check out my blog TheBookGrind!

[Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded down from 4.25

Reflective, magical, and sincere, Find My Way Down to You is a potent and masterful narrative about navigating loss.

The loss of a partner is messy and unnavigable at any point, let alone as a teenager. This story lets August be messy and depressed and still deeply caring in a way that my teenage self would have been moved and comforted by. His feelings of isolation in grief despite being loved by his family and friends feel palpably real.

I found myself frequently distracted by how obscure the motivations of the Aides characters and the mechanics of the underworld are. That said, the strength of August's story is far more impactful than the mythical elements are distracting to me.

If you are looking for a reflective YA romance about grief, growth, and all the tangled feelings wrapped between them, you are in the right place. I'm very glad I read it.

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own! Julian Winters this is beautifully heartbreaking and heartwarming and simply wonderful! August’s life has been about going through the motions ever since he lost his love two years ago. He’s stuck in his grief and can’t seem to move through it. That doesn’t even hit on his guilt over the fact that it wasn’t him who passed instead. He’s tired, tired of the sympathy, tired of the expectations, and tired of being pushed to move on. Then he meets Cary, who’s the first guy to catch his eye since his boyfriend passed, but Cary is rude and not very approachable. There’s also the fact when Auggie stumbles a cross a dead body Cary is there and disappears without a trace. No one believes him of course but he knows what he saw. And when he comes a cross Cary again at a party he’s determined to talk to him, only doing so has him ending up in another realm, the underworld to be exact. Turns out Cary is the ferrier of souls. Aides, the underworld, is nothing like our world. It’s beautiful and you can feel the power. But best of all there is no expectations and weight for Auggie there. And soon he realizes that he may just be able to find the one he’s lost and have the goodbye he never got before. But Aides is not all it seems, there’s plenty of secrets and misleading that happens there. And what starts off as dislike for Cary soon turns into something more. But could a god ever love a mortal? Will Auggie find what he seeks? Or will his attempts trap him in the underworld forever? A story about grief and moving through it, but also about how that process is different for everyone! A story about love and the lengths we will go for it! As always with Julian’s books I was completely in my feels, I was sucked in and unable to put it down! I loved that it was fantasy without being fantasy and romance but also something more! Full of queer joy but also queer grief, love and heartbreak, finding your way back to yourself! I absolutely loved the underworld elements and characters and could easily read more books about them! This one is stunning and unputdownable!

[Continuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

{3.5}

This book is more than a romance. It’s a warning about how grief can consume you if you let it. It’s a story about fighting through that and choosing you, living for yourself and not for the memory of others. It’s about finding your identity once the person you’ve planned your life around is no longer there. The romance is just a glimpse of hope in the overarching story of August and his internal struggles.

With this book being YA, we never get too deep into the heavy subject matter. Despite the main theme of grief, this book still manages to be light. The romance itself is rather wholesome in spite of the angsty concept surrounding it. I think this novel is perfect for the age demographic of YA (in particular, older teens). The message is definitely one that is important for them to discover, and I can see true value in them reading it.

The pacing is rather fast (because of that, I was able to read this book in one day, a near impossible feat for a slow reader like me). I never had many qualms about the pacing until we would enter the Underworld. We never stayed there long, at most a couple of pages. With the rule that mortals could only visit five times, some of the quicker visits in particular felt like such a waste. I think lengthening the stays a bit would’ve helped, especially in developing the relationship between August and Cary.

Cary, in particular, remained an enigma throughout the novel. We only get one POV chapter from him in the very beginning of the novel. I think this is an intentional move to emphasize the otherworldlyness of him, but I wish we got to see a little more of him to make August's falling for him more realistic.

Overall, this was a great read. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.



Tags/Warnings
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Tropes: mortal x immortal, own voices
Triggers: Grief, car accident, death of a partner
Third act break-up: Not in the traditional sense? (August loses his memory of Cary, but they promise to meet again later and do)
OM/OW: August is grieving his boyfriend, but other than that, there’s no one else.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book was a really hard read. While good, you have to be in the mood for it. It deals heavily with grief and healing after losing someone you love. I believe the book overall does this in a healthy way, however August is not in a good place for a lot of the book due to this, so it is not a light story to pick up.

Winters draws from Greek mythology for his portrayal of the afterlife, but he takes a new twist to it so it's both familiar and intriguing at the same time. The environment is familiar, but a lot of the rules and the characters in that world are unique to this story. For example Cary, who I believe is supposed to be Charon, is entirely his own person beyond his role. As a result it's perfect both for fans of Greek mythology retellings as well as people just looking for a new story.

Cary and August's story was a good read. I really wanted them together, even while August is struggling with the concept of moving on. However, because August is struggling so much the build up to their relationship doesn't really feel believable. As much as I liked it, I've always had an issue enjoying relationships established across only a couple meetings or over a short time frame, such as in this book.

August also (understandably) closed himself off from everyone for a really long time, so we don't get much interaction with him and others in his life. Max shows up the most, but they feel to be on shaky ground for the majority of the book. I wish we could have seen this relationship healing as well, but the book focuses on August's personal healing.

Despite my minor issues with it, this is an extremely important book. While there are some YA books that deal with grief and trauma, there are not enough. This is a very heavy one, as I said, but that also makes it better as it pulls no punches. Healing is complicated and has no timeline, and this book addresses that. If you think that you are in the right space to read it, this is one you should pick up.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming all in one! August (our protagonist) was involved in a terrible car accident a few years ago that killed his boyfriend. Unable to move on, he meets a stranger named Cary—one who he follows into a world beyond the mortal realm. And in his quest to find his boyfriend again he figures out that there’s much more to Aides than he thought…

I was immediately intrigued by the premise and was pleasantly surprised by how fluidly the story came together. August felt very realistic and each part of his story—the flashbacks with London, the present day scenes, and especially the scenes where he’s snarking Cary—was laid out well. The only gripe I had (and it’s a minor one) was that it felt a little odd that August and London had such an intense relationship at 15-16 years old. But you know. Emotions run high and all that.

The enigmatic Cary, king of the Underworld Milos, and the rest of the supporting cast of Deathless fill out a lush, Greek-mythology-esque Underworld. I thought the worldbuilding was pretty solid; at times it was very different from the Underworld of Greek myth and at others it was very similar, so it was fun to see how all the pieces connected. Shoutout to Cerby.

In terms of plot, I felt it was well paced and moved quick enough to be entertaining while also dwelling on the parts that needed to be slower and softer. It does touch explicitly on heavier topics of death and grief, specifically regarding August and his depression after London’s death. But the way it’s framed emphasizes that death is a part of life that we can’t avoid; instead, we should live and love while we can and savor the moments we have left. (So: cheesy, yes. Made me tear up, also yes)

Overall, I loved it and thought that everything was extremely well done! Recommended to those who like their contemporary romance with a side of angst and supernatural elements.

(I received an advance copy of this book at Yallwest and was not incentivized to write a review in any way)

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the synopsis, I knew what I was getting into. With grief in the description, I had a hunch it would make me sad, but I didn’t expect to cry! Don’t worry, it wasn’t all sad tears. It was more bittersweet. You’ll know when you get to those parts. Yes, it’s a story about grief and how one moves on, or, in August’s case, doesn’t, because of how impactful that loss was for him. Everyone grieves differently and at their own pace.

I felt so much for August. While everyone seemed to have already made their peace, he was still mourning the death of his boyfriend. He was just navigating life, going through the motions. He was living with survivor’s guilt, believing he didn’t deserve any happiness. When he saw the opportunity to see London one last time, he was willing to do anything.

He meets Cary, a ferryman of souls. Unbeknownst to him, August wrangles him into helping him find London. Cary might seem like a scary guy at first because of what his job entails, but he’s such a broody sweetheart. He’s compassionate and understanding when talking to the souls he’s helping pass. He’s also a book and animal lover, which I love.

August was a people-pleaser who wanted to make people happy. Once he stepped back and saw the bigger picture, he realized what he’d been doing with his life. Other variables had been dictating and planning his life without his input. The more he hung out with Cary, the more he realized it’s okay to grieve, just not to the point where it consumes you. Cary was just what he needed—someone tender and supportive who gave him tough love without being pushy.

I was hovering at a 4⭐️, but the last chapter struck a chord, so I’m rounding it up to a 4.5⭐️. It was beautiful, heartfelt, and emotional. It also felt more meaningful because of whose POV it was.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC.

[Jo B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came for the romance but stayed for the moving and poignant portrayal of working through grief.

Things I loved - This main character, August, is so incredibly relatable and sympathetic. I think it’s interesting that August never once questions the mythological/supernatural things that he’s experiencing - he’s so plunged into grief that his only focus is how he can use this weird new realm in order to see the boy he loved.
I also thought this author did a really masterful job at showing how August is viewing his past relationship with rose coloured glasses - he looks back on a lot of things with fondness that to me, as the reader, were mild red flags (invisibly red to August since he’s got those glasses on).
Cary was a really beautifully written character; I’m such a goner for a quiet character that everyone assumes is cold and aloof but actually cares so so much.
I enjoyed that the ending was still a HEA, but that it wasn’t “oh love solves grief, obviously.” August still has to do the work of getting through his grief, he isn’t cured just because he’s loved.


Things I didn’t love as much -
The end felt a little bit rushed, and I would have loved an explanation for how Milos believed that August’s power would help him leave the realm. I also thought the repetition about August’s mom being such a green thumb was setting up for a much closer connection to the underworld/mythological world and the truth of it being that he’s descended from some distant powerful being felt like a let down. At times the explanations near the end felt a little bit hand wave-y. It wasn’t rushed enough to ruin my
enjoyment, but I would have read at least 30-40 more pages of that being fleshed out.

Overall, a really lovely MM retelling/retooling of one of my favourite Greek myths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for the eARC!

[RobbyReadsActually · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books, and Julian Winters for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book rating: 3.75
Release Date: 8/4/2026

I thought this book was quite sweet. I enjoyed the exploration of grief and healing, and I think this will really resonate with a younger audience. I can't help but feel a little envious of younger readers today; I would have loved to have a story like this to help navigate life growing up. There were some interesting elements of Greek mythology that I enjoyed, and the underworld setting provides a unique, atmospheric backdrop. There's also something I love so much about a grumpy/sunshine trope and overall, I felt satisfied with the way it ended.

With that said, I couldn't help but feel it was disjointed in a few spots. There were some chapters that ended abruptly and occasional time jumps that felt a bit jarring. Another thing I want to bring up was the bizarre formatting. As this is an advanced reader copy, I realize that there may still be issues to iron out, but there were a lot of instances of two or three words fused together and it really messed up the flow and pacing for me because I had to slow way down to understand what was written. I also struggled quite a bit with Cary's dialogue. I recognize the "robotic" speech pattern was most likely a deliberate choice, but it also didn't help with flow.

Overall, this was a cute MM romance and would be a great pick for younger readers who like:
-A Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic
-Unique fantasy setting
-Sincere Queer representation
-Exploration of grief and loss

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

For the past two years, August has been drowning in his grief over the loss of his boyfriend, London. Then, one night, he stumbles into the Underworld, and August realizes there’s a chance for him to see London again. He only needs to get past the one thing standing in his way—Cary, the ferrier of souls. As August’s attraction to Cary blooms, his intentions for exploring the realm start to blur, and suddenly he must choose between a life with grief or to risk it all for love.

Find My Way Down to You was a beautiful exploration of grief. It was realistic and heartbreaking, but August’s journey ended with a hope that can only be instilled as time goes on. This element of the story was the standout for me, and it packed an emotional punch.

This was my first Julian Winters book, and I loved the writing, especially the small sensory details that grounded me in all the different settings. I’m a huge Hadestown fan, and the book definitely delivered on the promise that it was similar.

What didn’t quite work for me was the first half of the book. While the set-up was strong, I felt like there was potential to do more with the Underworld during August’s first few trips. I wanted to see more as the story when on, but it felt cut short. I really enjoyed the second half though! This is where the story picked up for me and where I could start to see the connection between Cary and August grow.

Overall, this was a great read with a fantastic emotional arc and I highly recommend it when you’re looking for a reflective YA read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Young Readers Group, for an ARC!

[Topo Chicas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always excited to read Julian Winters—and for a reason. His books make you feel so deeply and keep thinking about it days after the book is done. With his recent upcoming release, this continues to be true. This was such a poignant book about love, loss, and nostalgia that will have you craving more by the end.

The loss of a loved one is hard, but especially so when you are a teenager. After the tragic death of his boyfriend, August is stuck in a state of mourning and relentless aimlessness. He mistakenly stumbles upon the vibrant Underworld, where he sets out on a journey to search for his lost boyfriend. Guided by the ferrier of souls, Cary joins him on this quest. Along the way, August grapples with many questions and how to deal with the life at hand.

I loved the author’s foray into magical realism; it was such a lovely conduit for processing such heavy, intense emotions and themes. If you’re like me, you will feel the full gamut of human emotion while reading it, which is such a strong testament to the writing. I also adored the characters so much and wish I could’ve spent more time with August and Cary. I appreciated how deeply introspective this story was, especially for a YA audience. I would have definitely benefitted from reading this as a teenager (but the second best time is as an adult). Overall, this is a book you HAVE to read when it’s released this August; you’ll thank me later.

Thank you Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Meagan McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful heartwrenching masterpiece of a book for an honest review. I know we are only three months into the year 2026, but this is by far my top favorite read.

I absolutely loved the way Julian Winters paints grief through August’s point of view. The writing is so vivid and poetic that it felt all too real.

“Sorbet skies stream rose and tangerine through the glass dome roof.” Moments like that made the world feel alive in such a soft, beautiful way. I could smell the sugary floral scent, see the sorbet skies and so on.

Beautiful written and very vivid that I could picture it all, see it as though I were watching a movie.

One sentence that broke me and stuck with me was "I was gonna do so many things." Holy moly, that caused the flood gates to open and I couldn't stop crying.

This was the kind of book I couldn’t put down. I cried more than once, and I found myself deeply relating to August. Having lost someone close to me, I understood that feeling of seeing love as pity, and the story captured that in such a raw poetic way.

Overall, this book was emotional, heartfelt, beautifully written, and honestly unforgettable. This book will stay with me for a while. And I plan on reading more from this author because Find My Way Down To You was just that good.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advanced copy of Find My Way Down to You by Julian Winters! The comp titles for this book are actually spot on: You’ve Reached Sam meets Hadestown. Those vibes absolutely fit this story that heavily deals with grief.

One thing that Winters always excels at in his novels is the character development. At the beginning of this story, August is so lost. He is deep in his grief, unsure of what his future looks like without the boy he was making plans with. Then we get to meet the characters of the Underworld, and they help shape this new world for August and for the reader. This version of the Underworld felt grounded in reality, helping August on his journey of grief.

In addition to the characters and the world building, there are some stunning quotes in this book as well. One in particular stuck out to me: “Grief needs to be felt. It is not a burden. It is a reminder. You were given the choice to love. To be loved. And you took it.” It sums up the overall themes of this story so well, and even those that might not feel this kind of grief can find a connection in August’s story.

Also, the cover of this is gorgeous. Props to the designer of the cover for that. If you’re a fan of sad books with elements of hope sprinkled throughout, definitely pick this one up when it comes out in August.

[Allie : pagesofallie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This book hit me in a way that I did not expect. I knew it was going to be an emotional read based on the premise, but dang, it hit so hard. I found myself in tears. It was so relatable for anyone who has ever gone through any form of grief. Much less a first teen love.

We see much of this through August's eyes. Two years after a tragic car accident, one where he survived and his boyfriend did not, we see the overwhelming grief. August is so stuck in his life, grief, and survivor's guilt it consumes him.

Then enters Cary. Seemingly unassuming, he is a cute boy at the pizzeria. Until, August begins to run into him with death. We then learn Cary is a 'Deathless' from a place beyond.

We slowly get to be alongside August in his grief, but also in others grief. He slowly learns what life means and what really matters in the end. All this alongside Cary.

This book wrecked me. I think this is such an important read for everyone. Especially those who have gone through grief. Or those who need to learn more about grief. Personally, I'm getting my master's in social work and just completed a course on grief. This book was so well done and highlighted so much of real life. How grief ebbs and flows, but also can consume someone.

I highly recommend this book.

[Evita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy of this book.

After losing his boyfriend in a fatal car crash, August feels his life falling apart. Every plan, every hope, every dream lies forgotten. That’s until August mistakenly falls into the underworld.

This book is about grief, survivor’s guilt and learning to find your way back to life after a traumatic incident. The plot was relatively fast paced, but I felt like there were some slow stretches scattered throughout. I enjoyed the scenes taking place in the underworld most.

August was a character who was deeply lost in his grief and sometimes it was hard to make sense of him and his actions (because grief doesn’t make sense of course). I enjoyed his journey throughout the book and absolutely felt for him in his hardest moments.

The romance plot was sweet but to me it felt a little rushed. Especially since a lot of the plot was centered around August’s desire to reconnect with his dead boyfriend in the underworld. I did like the new pairing though and if they’d been given a bit more time to fall for each other I would have been more onboard.

Overall this was an enjoyable book with a nice mix of realism, fantasy and mythology.

Find My Way Down To You is out on August 4th so do give it a pre-order if it sounds like something you’d enjoy.

[ChristineReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of feelings I felt during this book! Julian Winters creates an epic story that tackles grief in a very caring and careful way. The feelings this book capture are done so well.

August is surviving, he lost his boyfriend two years ago in a car accident and is still very much grieving the loss. He discovers that he can slip into the underworld and is determined to find London, the boyfriend who died too young. Julian Winters tackles what it means to be left behind after loss, survivors guilt, and how grief has no timeline. As the reader we get to see just how much grief is touching all areas of August's life even as he tires to move forward.

This is a beautiful story with amazing characters and a heartfelt story. I think it's a story anyone who has had a loss can relate to. The care that is take with August's grief and the way it is portrayed on page is so well done. The story is beautiful and hopeful while holding space for grief.

If you've loved any of Julian Winter's books this is a must read. I highly recommend for those that love fantasy with depth and stories that will worm their way into your hearts. Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this was a very touching story about grief and loss.

The writing was easy to read, and I thought the fantasy elements mixed with the contemporary romance elements were intriguing. There’s great diversity in this book as well, which is a major plus.

I appreciate that this book explores the long, difficult road to healing while honoring deceased loved ones. The whole story was wholesome, sweet, uplifting, and hopeful even while covering some somber topics.

Having said that, as much as I loved the earnestness of the narrative, I wish it had dug a bit deeper into the themes that were explored; they sometimes felt a bit too safe and surface level. (And I know this is a YA novel, so it doesn’t need to get super dark; however, I still think there’s potential for the author to push the envelope more than they did.)

But like I alluded to before, I think this book does a good job of portraying teenager angst and grief, and I think a younger teen audience will really appreciate that when they pick up this book. So I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a book about teenage grief and about first love.


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for allowing me to read the eARC!

[Krista H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful YA romance that follows August as he navigates grief and guilt after losing his boyfriend in a traumatic accident. The writing is poetic, vivid, and rich in sensory detail, which brings the setting to life in an immersive way. As a YA novel, the characters can feel a bit one-dimensional at times, but I think this works decently well with the story’s focus on big emotional themes. I really appreciated that the queer representation in this story isn’t rooted in external conflict or coming to terms with one’s sexuality. August is surrounded by love and support, and even amid grief and heartbreak, queer joy can be found here.

The supernatural elements add an intriguing layer, and the worldbuilding is handled smoothly without overshadowing the emotional core. The pacing can feel uneven in spots, and some characters could have used more depth, but the story remains engaging and emotionally resonant. This is a moving exploration of grief, healing, and what it means to keep going, with a particularly strong and satisfying ending.

3.5 stars

Thank you to #NetGalley and Viking for the ARC

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

August is still grieving the loss of his boyfriend, London, two years ago, and his life is on pause. He has the urge to write song lyrics, but smothers this, feeling guilt for surviving when London didn't. After a chance run in with Cary, the ferrier of souls for Aides, August accidentally follows him to the Underworld. As August learns more, he tries to find his way back to London for closure, but will he find something more?

"Grief needs to be felt," he says. " It is not a burden. It is a reminder. You were given the voice to love. To be loved. And you took it. You let it grow and become bigger than you ever imagined."

The comparison to Hadestown feels apt in the spirit of this novel. I've read Julian's adult romances but this is my first YA read from him and it was so good. Julian always manages to weave in themes and beats that really resonate, and for me, it was this idea of letting yourself be consumed/smothered in a relationship by what your partner wants.

Spice level:🌶️/5

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will be published on 8/4/26.

[Books by Ally 🐉💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief is a peculiar thing. It affects people differently in so many ways, but also doesn’t at the same time. It can take over your whole life, twisting you into something you don’t recognize. For August, it did just that and I loved the ending he ended up getting with Cary. It showed that, while you can still grieve and miss what you had, but also look forward toward the future and know that it’ll be okay.

I knew going into this I was going to love it. I mean, come on, it’s Julian Winters! I’ve not only loved every single book I’ve read of his, but there’s something so special about his writing. It flows nice, it’s easy to follow, and his characters leave an impact on you.

(As a fellow Georgia resident, seeing Macon being brought up for a moment had me gasp)

I will never miss a Julian Winters release, and I’m so glad NetGalley and publishers let me read this precious release. You can preorder anywhere you can buy books anddddd it comes out Aug 4!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[autumn ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

find my way down to you was such a beautiful story about grief, healing, & learning how to move forward without letting go of the people you've loved.
i went into this one expecting an emotional journey & it absolutely delivered 😭

the underworld setting was vivid without feeling overwhelming, & i loved how the story balanced heavier themes with moments of hope.

august's journey felt incredibly heartfelt, but what really kept me turning the pages was the romance. the connection between the characters developed in a way that felt natural & gave me plenty of reasons to root for them!

this is the kind of book that reminds you love doesn't always look the way you expect it to, & sometimes finding your way forward means opening your heart to something new.

if you're looking for a story filled with emotion, romance, & a touch of fantasy magic, definitely add this one to your tbr ✨

[Risa]

DNF at 14% (Read Through Chapter 2)

There's a lot to love about this book, and I think a lot of teen readers will love it and resonate with it. The writing is simple but effective, and there are a lot of lovely descriptions sprinkled in. I think the narrative shows August's grief really well on the page. And there is a lot of diversity in this book right from the jump, which was wonderful to see.

All that to say, the problem isn't the book, it's me. I just didn't find myself engrossed in the story. That's to be expected though, as I don't tend to gravitate towards stories that center around grief. In addition, the writing/vibes are a bit younger than what I usually like (which is totally fine because I'm not a teen reader, and thus not the main audience for this novel).

So I hope this book will continue to find it's audience! It's just not for me, so I'm going to put it aside.

[Mesha E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooo!!!! The tears!!!!! My heart!!!!! These characters!!!! I love then so much. SOOOOOOOO MANY CHARACTERS TO LOVE. I appreciate being abke to extend who I care about beyond the main characters. The amount of characters in this book is just so many. Fmaily, friends, and co-workers are all easy to love.

Nothing makes me happier in a book than when you get everything you need from an ending of a book. This book was so incredibly written that the ending makes your heart so full!! I hate being left with having to make up my own happy ending, this book gave me allllllll I needed to be settled with the life of August Clarke.

This book was an incredible experience. Reading was all consuming. It was hard to stop once you truly start reading it. You are sucked into it and you feel everything. An awesomely, amazing, wonderful, read!!

[Candace Mahieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief is a deeply personal journey, and dealing with loss takes on many different shapes. August's loss of his boyfriend (London) consumed his whole life, burdened by survivor's guilt, the feeling that he caused the accident, and paralyzed by indecision for his life. There's no set timeline for when grief eases; it truly comes and goes in waves. I think Winters did an amazing job capturing this throughout the story. It felt genuine and relatable. The magical aspects of this story were, for lack of a better word, magical. The underworld stood in stark contrast to August's life and emotions, where he held so much back. Everything felt more vibrant and alive, especially with Cary, a ferrier of souls. I enjoyed seeing how he played a roll in August’s struggle to become true to himself. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC!