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This Must Be the Place
A queer YA romance sizzling with chemistry by bestselling Kelly Quindlen, perfect for fans of Lex Croucher and Elle McNicoll.
When Louisa unexpectedly inherits a struggling gay bar from her late great-uncle, she’s determined to keep it open for the vibrant queer community that calls it home.
Louisa’s mission puts her on a collision course with the pretty, popular, and sharp-tongued daughter of their college town's newly crowned football coach. The girls start off on the wrong foot, but a tentative truce leads to a growing spark...
Things threaten to sputter out when the bar faces an existential threat from Aubrey’s dad, who plans to turn it into a sports facility.
How much is Louisa willing to lose in the fight for her new found family?
When Louisa unexpectedly inherits a struggling gay bar from her late great-uncle, she’s determined to keep it open for the vibrant queer community that calls it home.
Louisa’s mission puts her on a collision course with the pretty, popular, and sharp-tongued daughter of their college town's newly crowned football coach. The girls start off on the wrong foot, but a tentative truce leads to a growing spark...
Things threaten to sputter out when the bar faces an existential threat from Aubrey’s dad, who plans to turn it into a sports facility.
How much is Louisa willing to lose in the fight for her new found family?
Audible Audio
Published June 11, 2026
About the author
Kelly Quindlen
7 books2,791 followersKelly Quindlen is the bestselling author of the young adult novels She Drives Me Crazy (winner of the Volunteer State Book Award; Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), Late to the Party, Her Name in the Sky, and the forthcoming This Must Be the Place (May 2026). Her books have been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Vulture, and Paste.
Kelly enjoys speaking to high school GSAs, PFLAG groups, and all manner of LGBTQ+ organizations. She lives in Atlanta with her fiancée and their saucy cat, Peach Marie.
Kelly enjoys speaking to high school GSAs, PFLAG groups, and all manner of LGBTQ+ organizations. She lives in Atlanta with her fiancée and their saucy cat, Peach Marie.
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May 11, 2025From the rights report: "a YA novel about an 18-year-old lesbian who unexpectedly inherits a gay bar from her late, not-so-straight Uncle George. Following graduation, she spends the summer in football-obsessed Rustin, Ala., serving the bar's colorful patrons, digging up family secrets, and fanning the flames of an old spark with her childhood best friend-the closeted daughter of Rustin University's venerated head football coach.'
June 3, 2026
Sometimes I finish a book and wonder to myself: why is this book so much better than it is? I think I’ve felt this way after every Kelly Quindlen novel.
Her Name in the Sky
is not not clichéd and ordinary and yet, without obviously transcending its own limitations, it is somehow almost sublime.
Late to the Party
is an unassuming slice-of-life teen novel somehow better than it has any right to be.
She Drives Me Crazy
is literally indistinguishable from a million other rivals-to-lovers teen romance novels ca. 2021, except that without making any obvious effort to rise above its material it nonetheless floats up into some effortless lovely place where the tears come easily and dry quickly and the world is a little brighter and newer.
All of which is to say there’s nothing particularly surprising about This Must Be the Place—not about its plot, and not about its loveliness. It’s a teen novel about a freshly eighteen, freshly out, totally self-involved baby gay who unexpectedly inherits a beloved community gay bar from her late, not-quite-straight uncle. The villains are caricatures, the parents are out to lunch, the prose is ordinary fare, the romance is predictable, clichés abound unashamedly, and yet—like all Kelly Quindlen’s novels—it’s just somehow better than it is, and I loved it.
All of which is to say there’s nothing particularly surprising about This Must Be the Place—not about its plot, and not about its loveliness. It’s a teen novel about a freshly eighteen, freshly out, totally self-involved baby gay who unexpectedly inherits a beloved community gay bar from her late, not-quite-straight uncle. The villains are caricatures, the parents are out to lunch, the prose is ordinary fare, the romance is predictable, clichés abound unashamedly, and yet—like all Kelly Quindlen’s novels—it’s just somehow better than it is, and I loved it.
November 24, 2025
[4.5] it’s 2 am and it’s 2020 and i’m writing a review about a book named her name in the sky. it’s 2am and it’s 2025 and i’m writing a review about this one and i see THEE hannah and baker again…..funny how time works.
this book was so, so special. it is a book about the places that make us feel seen. the loving and supportive found family that we find as queer people. it is about the places that help you feel like you belong.
it is also a book about confusing grief. about grief that takes a shape that no one speaks about, so you don’t know how to navigate it either. i’ve experienced grief for people i didn’t know well either, so louisa’s process definitely pulled at some heart strings for me.
it felt so special and every character meant so much to me. and my absolute favorite part was seeing baker and hannah again. while not the main characters, their contribution to this book made is so special and felt so tremendously full circle.
hannah and baker have lived in my thoughts ever since i read them. there is not a single day where i don’t think of them and their coming out journey. seeing them as thirty-something year olds now, and being exactly who they needed as teenagers for louisa….i could just tell that this is exactly who they needed to meet at 18, and now they get to come full circle and be that support for more baby queers. that’s what it’s all about. that reminder that everything will work out. the universe has a plan for you.
i loved this book. i love how kelly quindlen writes. and i’m so thankful i get to tell her what her words mean to me, and that she took the time to reply and to listen. i feel less alone with her characters.
thank you to kelly quindlen for allowing me to read an advanced review copy of this.
this book was so, so special. it is a book about the places that make us feel seen. the loving and supportive found family that we find as queer people. it is about the places that help you feel like you belong.
it is also a book about confusing grief. about grief that takes a shape that no one speaks about, so you don’t know how to navigate it either. i’ve experienced grief for people i didn’t know well either, so louisa’s process definitely pulled at some heart strings for me.
it felt so special and every character meant so much to me. and my absolute favorite part was seeing baker and hannah again. while not the main characters, their contribution to this book made is so special and felt so tremendously full circle.
hannah and baker have lived in my thoughts ever since i read them. there is not a single day where i don’t think of them and their coming out journey. seeing them as thirty-something year olds now, and being exactly who they needed as teenagers for louisa….i could just tell that this is exactly who they needed to meet at 18, and now they get to come full circle and be that support for more baby queers. that’s what it’s all about. that reminder that everything will work out. the universe has a plan for you.
i loved this book. i love how kelly quindlen writes. and i’m so thankful i get to tell her what her words mean to me, and that she took the time to reply and to listen. i feel less alone with her characters.
thank you to kelly quindlen for allowing me to read an advanced review copy of this.
June 27, 2026
There are two things Kelly Quindlen knows how to do...
1. Make a girl emotional.
2. Write some great characters, and some absolutely HORRID characters.
Is that technically 3 things?
I have to be honest, I had a difficult tie deciding if I wanted to read this story or not.
The synopsis wasn't really speaking to me.
But, ultimately, I remember loving "Her Name in the Sky" so much, that the idea of skipping this one gave me major FOMO. So, here we are.
and I'm pretty pleased with my final decision.
While this didn't quite live up to "Her Name in the Sky" (it's a hard bar to reach), I think it was really good nonetheless.
The plot was interesting, Louisa is a likably headstrong main character, and I think there's some good vibes (despite having a few heavy elements).
Oh and also, we get to see more of Hannah and Baker in this book! and get a little bit of an update on their lives.
So I thought that was fun.
There are of course some very unlikable characters, and very sad points throughout pretty much every part of this book. But, I can't really complain about it- because I know it's done purposefully, and serves up some unfortunate realism.
This is actually something that I (in a weird way) appreciate about Kelly Quindlen's writing. I think sometimes it's easy to get caught up in some of the "all sunshine and rainbows" stories, where everyone is supportive and sweet and loving. But, sadly it isn't everyone's reality.
And I think stories like hers serve as a reminder that some people are living lives in spaces that aren't perfect.
Anyway. It's a nice story, and a pretty short one too.
I think it was worth the read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Book Press and author Kelly Quindlen, for providing me with the eARC of "This Must Be the Place", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
1. Make a girl emotional.
2. Write some great characters, and some absolutely HORRID characters.
Is that technically 3 things?
I have to be honest, I had a difficult tie deciding if I wanted to read this story or not.
The synopsis wasn't really speaking to me.
But, ultimately, I remember loving "Her Name in the Sky" so much, that the idea of skipping this one gave me major FOMO. So, here we are.
and I'm pretty pleased with my final decision.
While this didn't quite live up to "Her Name in the Sky" (it's a hard bar to reach), I think it was really good nonetheless.
The plot was interesting, Louisa is a likably headstrong main character, and I think there's some good vibes (despite having a few heavy elements).
Oh and also, we get to see more of Hannah and Baker in this book! and get a little bit of an update on their lives.
So I thought that was fun.
There are of course some very unlikable characters, and very sad points throughout pretty much every part of this book. But, I can't really complain about it- because I know it's done purposefully, and serves up some unfortunate realism.
This is actually something that I (in a weird way) appreciate about Kelly Quindlen's writing. I think sometimes it's easy to get caught up in some of the "all sunshine and rainbows" stories, where everyone is supportive and sweet and loving. But, sadly it isn't everyone's reality.
And I think stories like hers serve as a reminder that some people are living lives in spaces that aren't perfect.
Anyway. It's a nice story, and a pretty short one too.
I think it was worth the read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Book Press and author Kelly Quindlen, for providing me with the eARC of "This Must Be the Place", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 26, 2026
May 27, 2026
I wasn’t sure what this novel would be about. All I need to see is Kelly Quindlen’s name on the cover, and I know I’m going to read it. So I wasn’t prepared for what this book is. This Must Be the Place is a coming of age story that deals with grief and the importance community (or, in this case, found family) told from the perspective of recently out-and-trying-to-be-proud 18-year-old whose worldview is a narrow and black and white as one would expect of someone her age, along with that teenage hubris that goes with that too. What that means is our protagonist, Louisa Wade, thinks she has it all figured out (and acts on that belief). Her journey in This Must Be the Place is learning that she still has lot more to learn.
I’m finding it hard to review this book without delving too much into the plot, but Louisa learns 3 important lessons in this book.
1. It’s not only about you, Louisa. And it’s hard to blame Louisa for this. One, she’s human. We are all the main characters of our own stories. But she’s 18, she’s idealistic, she’s vulnerable, and she feels adrift in Rustin, Alabama and in her own skin sometimes too.
2. People contain multitudes. They’re messy and complicated and imperfect. They’re sometimes loveable and sometimes deplorable. They aren’t only right or only wrong. And, yes, adults can suck too.
3. Community is not bound to a physical place. Community is a group of people with shared values or culture, regardless of where they may meet.
Any one of them is groundbreaking, but three in one summer? Thankfully, Quindlen gives Louisa “elders” to help her on her journey. And who wouldn’t want to hang out with adult Hannah and Baker (from Her Name in the Sky) if they had the chance?
What I love about Kelly Quindlen’s writing is how she balances heartbreak and humor, and This Must Be the Place gives us both. It helps when Hannah is an important character in the story. But it’s the characters in the book that make it what it is, especially the folks that make up the Frisky Cricket community. It's in the complexity of people. When Louisa learns that people aren’t just *one* thing, that doesn’t just apply to George Wade. It applies to Aubrey, to Hatch, to her dad, and to herself, too.
A word of caution to set reader expectations appropriately: This Must Be the Place is a sapphic novel with a lot of sapphic content that includes cute and life-changing romantic moments, but this is not a romance. But I loved it. I didn't want to put it down.
I’m finding it hard to review this book without delving too much into the plot, but Louisa learns 3 important lessons in this book.
1. It’s not only about you, Louisa. And it’s hard to blame Louisa for this. One, she’s human. We are all the main characters of our own stories. But she’s 18, she’s idealistic, she’s vulnerable, and she feels adrift in Rustin, Alabama and in her own skin sometimes too.
2. People contain multitudes. They’re messy and complicated and imperfect. They’re sometimes loveable and sometimes deplorable. They aren’t only right or only wrong. And, yes, adults can suck too.
3. Community is not bound to a physical place. Community is a group of people with shared values or culture, regardless of where they may meet.
Any one of them is groundbreaking, but three in one summer? Thankfully, Quindlen gives Louisa “elders” to help her on her journey. And who wouldn’t want to hang out with adult Hannah and Baker (from Her Name in the Sky) if they had the chance?
What I love about Kelly Quindlen’s writing is how she balances heartbreak and humor, and This Must Be the Place gives us both. It helps when Hannah is an important character in the story. But it’s the characters in the book that make it what it is, especially the folks that make up the Frisky Cricket community. It's in the complexity of people. When Louisa learns that people aren’t just *one* thing, that doesn’t just apply to George Wade. It applies to Aubrey, to Hatch, to her dad, and to herself, too.
A word of caution to set reader expectations appropriately: This Must Be the Place is a sapphic novel with a lot of sapphic content that includes cute and life-changing romantic moments, but this is not a romance. But I loved it. I didn't want to put it down.
May 7, 2026
A sweet YA story that highlights the challenges of coming out and the vital importance of 'found family.' The heart of the book is centered around "The Frisky Cricket" (what a great name!!)- a bar in the South that serves as a necessary safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community in an otherwise unaccepting area.
While the main character can be a bit self-involved at times, it felt like an authentic portrayal of being a teenager—capturing that messy process of learning to look at the bigger picture and consider those around you. It’s a touching reminder of the power of having a safe space during difficult times.
While the main character can be a bit self-involved at times, it felt like an authentic portrayal of being a teenager—capturing that messy process of learning to look at the bigger picture and consider those around you. It’s a touching reminder of the power of having a safe space during difficult times.
June 5, 2026
3.75
May 31, 2026
When eighteen-year-old Louisa Wade inherits a gay bar from her late great-uncle, she figures there’s been some kind of mistake. There’s no way Uncle George—football legend and hometown hero of Rustin, Alabama—could have secretly owned a queer bar… right?
Can't think of any better way to describe this than an absolutely warm hug of a read. From the very first few moments, I was hooked, and couldn't wait to pick it back up every time I had to stop listening to it. It's such a sweet, truly heart-warming coming-of-age story, one of those you are just so happy to have out in the world. It's one of those reads that makes you feel seen and understood, that gives you a home when you don't feel like you quite belong, and I think that's the beauty of it. Louisa was a joy of a character to follow, and I truly appreciated how she was surrounded by people calling her out — in the best way — every time she got too self-centred; I even loved when she got like that, because when you're eighteen and dealing with something so much bigger than you it truly can be hard to remember not everything is about you— or against you. I got to listen to the audiobook for this one, and I loved how immersive and captivating it was, truly made a great read even better for me.
Many thanks to Macmillan UK Audio & NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
Can't think of any better way to describe this than an absolutely warm hug of a read. From the very first few moments, I was hooked, and couldn't wait to pick it back up every time I had to stop listening to it. It's such a sweet, truly heart-warming coming-of-age story, one of those you are just so happy to have out in the world. It's one of those reads that makes you feel seen and understood, that gives you a home when you don't feel like you quite belong, and I think that's the beauty of it. Louisa was a joy of a character to follow, and I truly appreciated how she was surrounded by people calling her out — in the best way — every time she got too self-centred; I even loved when she got like that, because when you're eighteen and dealing with something so much bigger than you it truly can be hard to remember not everything is about you— or against you. I got to listen to the audiobook for this one, and I loved how immersive and captivating it was, truly made a great read even better for me.
Many thanks to Macmillan UK Audio & NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
June 3, 2026
This was so very special. I finished this in one morning and it's one of those stories that is so simple yet full of so many complex people and ideas and just really makes me proud to be a queer person
Louisa is 18 and she inherits a gay bar from her uncle that she kind of knew but not really. Everyone in her town thinks that her uncle is this rowdy straight football quarterback when in reality he lived his entire life closeted except for the people that meant the most to him, his queer family. His life was so full of ups and downs and just generally incredibly complicated in terms of queerness and seeing that journey through Louisa's eyes was really special.
Louisa is determined to save the gay bar from a sale to the football team and in doing so she makes her own queer found family and learns more about her late Uncle and herself.
It also has a little enemies to lovers romance plot. Enemies might be pushing it but basically Louisa's two best friends have a new best friend, Aubrey, after she moved away and now that she's back for the funeral said new best friend and Louisa don't automatically get along but they might have more in common than they think.
While this does have a romance element to it this book is really about learning to be queer and what being out means and how different people's journeys can look depending on their comfort levels and their circumstance and their family and their surroundings.
I'm so glad that I'm starting Pride off this year with this book and it's just really stellar, I would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Louisa is 18 and she inherits a gay bar from her uncle that she kind of knew but not really. Everyone in her town thinks that her uncle is this rowdy straight football quarterback when in reality he lived his entire life closeted except for the people that meant the most to him, his queer family. His life was so full of ups and downs and just generally incredibly complicated in terms of queerness and seeing that journey through Louisa's eyes was really special.
Louisa is determined to save the gay bar from a sale to the football team and in doing so she makes her own queer found family and learns more about her late Uncle and herself.
It also has a little enemies to lovers romance plot. Enemies might be pushing it but basically Louisa's two best friends have a new best friend, Aubrey, after she moved away and now that she's back for the funeral said new best friend and Louisa don't automatically get along but they might have more in common than they think.
While this does have a romance element to it this book is really about learning to be queer and what being out means and how different people's journeys can look depending on their comfort levels and their circumstance and their family and their surroundings.
I'm so glad that I'm starting Pride off this year with this book and it's just really stellar, I would recommend it wholeheartedly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners and author Kelly Quindlen, for providing me with the ALC of “This Must Be the Place”.
I highly recommend this for all YA, it teaches some really good lessons that we could all learn from.
Louisa was called out several times for her me, me, me attitude; however she's fresh out of high school and I too remember the world revolving around me. So it was nice that those around her checked her behavior and she was able to see why she was making it about herself.
I really enjoyed that Louisa got to see what being openly out looked like, see thriving relationships, failed relationships and found a spot in Alabama that she felt welcomed. It was also nice to see her help another who wanted to come out by sharing her story. Even if it got messy towards the end of the book.
The Frisky Cricket, I am so sad at the ending for this place. Even though it would have happened but still a sadder end. I am glad the cat made it out and is okay.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: YA (Kissing)
1st POV
YA
Sapphic
Coming Out
Small Town
TW: Death of family member, Unsupportive Family Members, Fire
🎧 Single Narration 8h 47m at 2x
🎙️ Piper Goodeve
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Piper did an amazing job narrating! Her tone and delivery was perfect for each heavy and light moment throughout the book.
I highly recommend this for all YA, it teaches some really good lessons that we could all learn from.
Louisa was called out several times for her me, me, me attitude; however she's fresh out of high school and I too remember the world revolving around me. So it was nice that those around her checked her behavior and she was able to see why she was making it about herself.
I really enjoyed that Louisa got to see what being openly out looked like, see thriving relationships, failed relationships and found a spot in Alabama that she felt welcomed. It was also nice to see her help another who wanted to come out by sharing her story. Even if it got messy towards the end of the book.
The Frisky Cricket, I am so sad at the ending for this place. Even though it would have happened but still a sadder end. I am glad the cat made it out and is okay.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: YA (Kissing)
1st POV
YA
Sapphic
Coming Out
Small Town
TW: Death of family member, Unsupportive Family Members, Fire
🎧 Single Narration 8h 47m at 2x
🎙️ Piper Goodeve
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Piper did an amazing job narrating! Her tone and delivery was perfect for each heavy and light moment throughout the book.
June 1, 2026
I love this book so much. We need more of this- unapologetic queerness, safe spaces, ordinary happiness, gay bars, mechanical bulls, pride parties, and queer coming of ages!! I think having books like this one as a teenager would have changed my life- I’m so grateful they exist now!
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May 19, 2026first audiobook book in awhile that i started late at night and finished first thing in the morning. so good <3
December 18, 2025
i will always appreciate a kelly quindlen original, ESPECIALLY one featuring the lomls baker and hannah. this book was such a fun read and gave such a good perspective of the small town queer experience. the dialogue’s were hilarious and it felt like i was a part of this family. it amazes me how kelly is able to write such witty lines while also have some of the most heartbreaking scenes in HNITS. she is such a talented author and i cannot wait for tmbtp and the hnits re-release to hit shelves soon so the rest of the public can fall in love. thank you to macmillan for the arcs for both
June 2, 2026
Kelly Quindlen just has a way with words. She’s incredible at weaving a story about grief, joy, love and family. If there’s a guarantee about a Kelly Quindlen book, it’s that you’ll feel all the feels.
I loved reading about Hannah and Baker again, those are my girls. I’m definitely rereading Her Name in the Sky soon.
To have a haven such as The Frisky Cricket, where everyone becomes family and you’re always welcome must be an amazing experience. I think Louisa described it best, a place behind the waterfall in which you can be yourself and be loved. May we all find our Frisky Cricket and live openly as our true selves.
That being said, I found Louisa to be insufferable. I really tried to understand her point of view and her rebellion towards a very conservative town and particularly a very conservative and downright annoying and disrespectful family but sometimes I just rolled my eyes at her. Looking at it from her just being an immature teenager, I can give her some grace but it was one step forward and three steps back with her, she lives with her foot in her mouth.
Piper Goodeve had me hooked from the first second. She was incredible at portraying each character with their individuality, I adored Aubrey’s subtle southern accent.
Thank you to Kelly Quindlen, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC and ALC.
I loved reading about Hannah and Baker again, those are my girls. I’m definitely rereading Her Name in the Sky soon.
To have a haven such as The Frisky Cricket, where everyone becomes family and you’re always welcome must be an amazing experience. I think Louisa described it best, a place behind the waterfall in which you can be yourself and be loved. May we all find our Frisky Cricket and live openly as our true selves.
That being said, I found Louisa to be insufferable. I really tried to understand her point of view and her rebellion towards a very conservative town and particularly a very conservative and downright annoying and disrespectful family but sometimes I just rolled my eyes at her. Looking at it from her just being an immature teenager, I can give her some grace but it was one step forward and three steps back with her, she lives with her foot in her mouth.
Piper Goodeve had me hooked from the first second. She was incredible at portraying each character with their individuality, I adored Aubrey’s subtle southern accent.
Thank you to Kelly Quindlen, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC and ALC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 3, 2026🌈🍻 This Must Be the Place 🍻🌈
Full ARC Review to come!
💖 What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Enemies to Lovers
• Found Family
• Queer Joy
• Small Town Setting
• Coming of Age
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
Full ARC Review to come!
💖 What to Expect
• Sapphic Romance
• Enemies to Lovers
• Found Family
• Queer Joy
• Small Town Setting
• Coming of Age
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Young Listeners, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.
June 5, 2026
Absolutely so good!
June 23, 2026
This Must Be the place follows 18 year old Louisa who returns to her conservative hometown in Alabama after the death of her Uncle where she discovers that he secretly owned a gay bar & he left his share of the ownership to her.
Quindlen created relatable, imperfect characters, Louisa is stubborn, impulsive & also comes across quite self-centered. However these flaws make her feel authentic & makes her growth feel genuine. As she struggles with family tensions, grief & the challenge to keep a well loved queer bar open she learns to take accountability & learns the value of community.
The story carefully delves into difficult themes of death, loss & homophobia whilst also pursuing moments of humour, joy & romance.
This Must be the place is a heartfelt & emotionally rich novel that celebrates found family, queer spaces, joy, & showcases the courage of being who you truly are. If you enjoy character driven stories, this one you'll enjoy.
Thank you to PrideBookTours, First Ink & the author for a copy of the book.
Quindlen created relatable, imperfect characters, Louisa is stubborn, impulsive & also comes across quite self-centered. However these flaws make her feel authentic & makes her growth feel genuine. As she struggles with family tensions, grief & the challenge to keep a well loved queer bar open she learns to take accountability & learns the value of community.
The story carefully delves into difficult themes of death, loss & homophobia whilst also pursuing moments of humour, joy & romance.
This Must be the place is a heartfelt & emotionally rich novel that celebrates found family, queer spaces, joy, & showcases the courage of being who you truly are. If you enjoy character driven stories, this one you'll enjoy.
Thank you to PrideBookTours, First Ink & the author for a copy of the book.
June 2, 2026
I think this probably lands as a 3.5 star book, but my excitement at getting a new Kelly Quindlen book still made this a phenomenal reading experience.
I can't tell if I'm aging out of YA (devastating) or if Kelly Quindlen is aging out of YA... but either way I think this lacked the main character depth that made Quindlen's first two books so strong.
Louisa is a bit of a complicated main character. She really frustrated me at times... but also she's freshly eighteen. But she sees the world in a very black and white way that sort of ping pongs her back and forth between two realities without accepting that the real world might be forced to exist somewhere in the middle. To Louisa, the whole world is either The Frisky Cricket, or the Ruskin Football organization. And what she has to learn to understand throughout the book is that, just like George, the world can exist somewhere in the middle. There is no flawless uncomplicated queer paradise - there is only queer life in all its reality and rawness.
And obviously certain parts of that reality were a bit flattened in this book, because it is YA. But I do think that Quindlen has done that nuance well in her other YA books in the past...
If I were to offer a bit of critique of Kelly Quindlen... I would really love to see her shift to writing adult fiction sometime soon. Throughout her books, it has felt like the further away from her own teenage years she gets, the less real depth she can bring to her teen characters. Hatch, George... even Louisa's dad were all more nuanced interesting characters in this book than Louisa. I think that Quindlen would probably be able to write books of deeper quality if she let her characters age alongside her. The same way that in "Her Name in the Sky" the adults and parents kind of read as characatures of villainy... Louisa also reads a bit exaggerated and cartoonish in this book.
Everyone is a little angry in this book, which made me feel a little better about Louisa being a pretty mean and harsh at times - it kind of reads like a New Englander matching the passive aggressive "niceness" people in the south are giving her.
I think the book also used anger to try and have a running conversation about grief through this book - but in my opinion that is one of the facets that just didn't work as well for me.
But I still had an overall great time reading this! The romance had some truly sweet moments, very cutesy, I was smiling like an idiot in my local coffeeshop reading their mutual coming out scene and banter. It wasn't the deepest thing ever, nor do I feel like Audrey and Louisa would last in the long run the way that Hannah and Baker would
AND WE GET HANNAH AND BAKER BACK FROM HER NAME IN THE SKY??? The full circle storytelling is making me all emotional! The idea that in "Her Name in the Sky" then Hannah and Baker had to get through it all on their own, they had no community. And now in this book they get to be the community for Louisa and Audrey that they never had themselves.
So that part was lovely, and as I mentioned I loved Hatch and George and the reflections made on their story in this book. And this made me desperately want to reread Kelly Quindlen's older books.
I can't tell if I'm aging out of YA (devastating) or if Kelly Quindlen is aging out of YA... but either way I think this lacked the main character depth that made Quindlen's first two books so strong.
Louisa is a bit of a complicated main character. She really frustrated me at times... but also she's freshly eighteen. But she sees the world in a very black and white way that sort of ping pongs her back and forth between two realities without accepting that the real world might be forced to exist somewhere in the middle. To Louisa, the whole world is either The Frisky Cricket, or the Ruskin Football organization. And what she has to learn to understand throughout the book is that, just like George, the world can exist somewhere in the middle. There is no flawless uncomplicated queer paradise - there is only queer life in all its reality and rawness.
And obviously certain parts of that reality were a bit flattened in this book, because it is YA. But I do think that Quindlen has done that nuance well in her other YA books in the past...
If I were to offer a bit of critique of Kelly Quindlen... I would really love to see her shift to writing adult fiction sometime soon. Throughout her books, it has felt like the further away from her own teenage years she gets, the less real depth she can bring to her teen characters. Hatch, George... even Louisa's dad were all more nuanced interesting characters in this book than Louisa. I think that Quindlen would probably be able to write books of deeper quality if she let her characters age alongside her. The same way that in "Her Name in the Sky" the adults and parents kind of read as characatures of villainy... Louisa also reads a bit exaggerated and cartoonish in this book.
Everyone is a little angry in this book, which made me feel a little better about Louisa being a pretty mean and harsh at times - it kind of reads like a New Englander matching the passive aggressive "niceness" people in the south are giving her.
I think the book also used anger to try and have a running conversation about grief through this book - but in my opinion that is one of the facets that just didn't work as well for me.
But I still had an overall great time reading this! The romance had some truly sweet moments, very cutesy, I was smiling like an idiot in my local coffeeshop reading their mutual coming out scene and banter. It wasn't the deepest thing ever, nor do I feel like Audrey and Louisa would last in the long run the way that Hannah and Baker would
AND WE GET HANNAH AND BAKER BACK FROM HER NAME IN THE SKY??? The full circle storytelling is making me all emotional! The idea that in "Her Name in the Sky" then Hannah and Baker had to get through it all on their own, they had no community. And now in this book they get to be the community for Louisa and Audrey that they never had themselves.
So that part was lovely, and as I mentioned I loved Hatch and George and the reflections made on their story in this book. And this made me desperately want to reread Kelly Quindlen's older books.
June 11, 2026
I’m not sure where my expectations were because I was just preoccupied with Baker and Hannah returning. I really enjoyed this it was very easy to get through and the plot was really interesting too. I wish there was more on Louisa and Aubrey or just more of the book in general I didn’t even realise I was <10 pages from the end until I checked.
I can’t imagine reading this and being introduced to Baker + Hannah for the first time where they talk about their past like it isn’t a traumatic experience for anyone who’s read their book
I can’t imagine reading this and being introduced to Baker + Hannah for the first time where they talk about their past like it isn’t a traumatic experience for anyone who’s read their book
June 6, 2026
Love the connection with Her Name in the Sky. Brilliantly done.
May 11, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. It was a really cute story. I liked the premise and the characters a lot. I was a bit confused about Louisa's connection to her uncle. She didn't know him really and the reason he left his bar to her was a bit of a stretch. The story was full of plot holes with the author having a little bit too much confidence in her readers. There was too much to just assume about throughout the story. It seemed like the book was rushed, like the point was to put out a book not to tell a story.
December 19, 2025
Tough to explain the best part of this book. Kelly Quindlen has a way of using humor and heartfelt sentiment to bring characters to life, all of whom are flawed yet loveable. Highly recommend to anyone with a heart.
Read
June 1, 2026I'm gonna leave this unrated, 'cause I'm not sure how to rate it even though I know what I want to say.
I don't normally write reviews for anything anywhere, but Her Name in the Sky is one of my favorite books, and this is a soft sequel of sorts. Spiritual successor.
I'll start with what I liked, Hannah and Baker first and foremost: they're back, and it was wonderful to see them again! Feels like Kelly still has more story to tell with them, even after this book. I liked Louisa and Aubrey. I liked the ending, even if it felt a bit abrupt, and the final paragraph or two of the book was particularly powerful. I liked the throughline of the electricity problem. I liked
Now onto what I didn't like. Gonna spoiler tag this whole part, even if some criticisms aren't spoiler-y.
I don't normally write reviews for anything anywhere, but Her Name in the Sky is one of my favorite books, and this is a soft sequel of sorts. Spiritual successor.
I'll start with what I liked, Hannah and Baker first and foremost: they're back, and it was wonderful to see them again! Feels like Kelly still has more story to tell with them, even after this book. I liked Louisa and Aubrey. I liked the ending, even if it felt a bit abrupt, and the final paragraph or two of the book was particularly powerful. I liked the throughline of the electricity problem. I liked
Now onto what I didn't like. Gonna spoiler tag this whole part, even if some criticisms aren't spoiler-y.
June 9, 2026
I've not read anything by this author before and if I'm honest, I just really liked the look of the front cover (especially the cat!) even though it doesn't really give too much away.
I rarely read blurbs and tend to grab books from the look of them and the best thing is when you find a gem like this, that ends up being such a brilliant and fun read and one that had me hooked from the get go.
Louisa heads back home when her famous uncle passes away and she discovers after the funeral that he's left one of his properties to her.
Having recently come out, she was expecting nothing but hassle from her family this trip (and they didn't disappoint!) but when she discovers that the property she now owns is a gay bar - she cannot help getting involved.
There were of course some really traumatic moments through this read, what with Louisa's grandparents being homophobic and her old friends having moved on without her as well as the many discoveries about the family and the bar but my whole feeling on finishing this is one of absolute joy.
The LGBTQ+ representation here was wonderful with such a diverse range of characters.
The bar hosted all identities of all ages and it was so heartwarming to see Louisa find a place that she 1, never knew existed in her hometown and 2, found that she fitted into so comfortably.
I loved all the relationships and the dynamics between friendship and family groups which were all explored here.
The feeling of finding your place in the world and that sense of found family was amazing and this is definitely the vibe that lasts after turning the final page.
This was such a great storyline which although at times is uncomfortable and difficult to read, it really is one that needs telling and despite the more sombre elements here, there is so much more hope and joy to be found.
I actually could easily read so much more about these characters - especially Louisa and Aubrey - I wonder if there might be a sequel?
If not, I cannot wait for my next read by this author.
Oh and Ru Paw 🐾 - absolute genius and adorable!!
I rarely read blurbs and tend to grab books from the look of them and the best thing is when you find a gem like this, that ends up being such a brilliant and fun read and one that had me hooked from the get go.
Louisa heads back home when her famous uncle passes away and she discovers after the funeral that he's left one of his properties to her.
Having recently come out, she was expecting nothing but hassle from her family this trip (and they didn't disappoint!) but when she discovers that the property she now owns is a gay bar - she cannot help getting involved.
There were of course some really traumatic moments through this read, what with Louisa's grandparents being homophobic and her old friends having moved on without her as well as the many discoveries about the family and the bar but my whole feeling on finishing this is one of absolute joy.
The LGBTQ+ representation here was wonderful with such a diverse range of characters.
The bar hosted all identities of all ages and it was so heartwarming to see Louisa find a place that she 1, never knew existed in her hometown and 2, found that she fitted into so comfortably.
I loved all the relationships and the dynamics between friendship and family groups which were all explored here.
The feeling of finding your place in the world and that sense of found family was amazing and this is definitely the vibe that lasts after turning the final page.
This was such a great storyline which although at times is uncomfortable and difficult to read, it really is one that needs telling and despite the more sombre elements here, there is so much more hope and joy to be found.
I actually could easily read so much more about these characters - especially Louisa and Aubrey - I wonder if there might be a sequel?
If not, I cannot wait for my next read by this author.
Oh and Ru Paw 🐾 - absolute genius and adorable!!
May 20, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan audio for this ALC! This was such a special one of a kind book.
Weaving between heavy topics such as grief, coming out, family issues, and homophobia, this story was such a special YA queer coming of age story.
This book follows Louisa as she returns to her home town after the death of her uncle for the first time since coming out as a lesbian. But her family is being weird and she soon learns she’s been left her uncles queer bar that she’s never heard of before. Louisa’s story is one of finding herself in a town she didn’t realize could ever accept her, seeing the importance of queer community and gathering, and the different ways in which grief can impact even when the person wasn’t who you thought they were.
This should be a mandatory read for high schoolers! I was so absolutely impressed and super engaged by the idea of an 18 year old inheriting a bar. Very real, very cute, and I loved that the challenges she faced with her friends and family were normal but real. I also loved how at times the story was a bit uncomfortable as we saw it pointed out that maybe Louisa was making everything about her and was in the wrong about quite a few things!
Can’t recommend enough!
Weaving between heavy topics such as grief, coming out, family issues, and homophobia, this story was such a special YA queer coming of age story.
This book follows Louisa as she returns to her home town after the death of her uncle for the first time since coming out as a lesbian. But her family is being weird and she soon learns she’s been left her uncles queer bar that she’s never heard of before. Louisa’s story is one of finding herself in a town she didn’t realize could ever accept her, seeing the importance of queer community and gathering, and the different ways in which grief can impact even when the person wasn’t who you thought they were.
This should be a mandatory read for high schoolers! I was so absolutely impressed and super engaged by the idea of an 18 year old inheriting a bar. Very real, very cute, and I loved that the challenges she faced with her friends and family were normal but real. I also loved how at times the story was a bit uncomfortable as we saw it pointed out that maybe Louisa was making everything about her and was in the wrong about quite a few things!
Can’t recommend enough!
May 29, 2026
(rounded down from 3.25)
This is one of those weird instances where I really want to rate the book higher, but if I'm being fair, I can't do it.
The good thing about this book is that it's a story about queer joy and lots of it (also queer shame, hiding your true self, etc.). We get Hannah and Baker from one of Quindlen's previous books as adults, although I could not have recognised the characters if they did not literally use the same names, because we get so little about them as adults, and they feel very different (as they should be, but it feels superficial).
The main character is a typical teenager in that she is indeed deeply self-absorbed and bratty about everything. Even I got a bit sick of her single focus and mantra ("I am gay. I am here. I am gay. I am here.") while nobody else really seems to care about a teen who is a part-time resident in this town coming out on Insta aside from aggressively ignoring it.
All the supporting characters, by design, feel aggressively villainous or visibly queer and are here to support the main character's journey. I can't really get a feel for any of them, so they very much feel like a two-dimensional supporting cast to support the main character's narrative.
There are some emotional moments, but they are few and far between, and overall, the character treatment feels pretty shallow, and we have almost no stakes for a large part of the book. A resounding meh from me, unfortunately.
This is one of those weird instances where I really want to rate the book higher, but if I'm being fair, I can't do it.
The good thing about this book is that it's a story about queer joy and lots of it (also queer shame, hiding your true self, etc.). We get Hannah and Baker from one of Quindlen's previous books as adults, although I could not have recognised the characters if they did not literally use the same names, because we get so little about them as adults, and they feel very different (as they should be, but it feels superficial).
The main character is a typical teenager in that she is indeed deeply self-absorbed and bratty about everything. Even I got a bit sick of her single focus and mantra ("I am gay. I am here. I am gay. I am here.") while nobody else really seems to care about a teen who is a part-time resident in this town coming out on Insta aside from aggressively ignoring it.
All the supporting characters, by design, feel aggressively villainous or visibly queer and are here to support the main character's journey. I can't really get a feel for any of them, so they very much feel like a two-dimensional supporting cast to support the main character's narrative.
There are some emotional moments, but they are few and far between, and overall, the character treatment feels pretty shallow, and we have almost no stakes for a large part of the book. A resounding meh from me, unfortunately.
June 11, 2026
A gorgeous celebration of queer life. I love stories with baby queers and queer elders, and This Must Be the Place gave me that in spades! Louisa is such a great FMC, she’s messy, self-centred, grieving, and learning. There was so much character development and it was so reminiscent of what it’s like to be a teenage girl who thinks they know everything.
The inclusion of Hannah & Baker made me little heart soar. They were the perfect role models to steer Louisa through this time in her life, and it was a beautiful full circle moment to see how their lives had turned out.
All in all this was a stunning coming of age story. I loved the Frisky Cricket and the themes of belonging, and how important inclusive community spaces are. I also really appreciated that it wasn’t a story that ended in a neat bow, it felt real. Personally I could have done without the Aubrey side plot, and that is why this is a 4 star rather than 5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ALC. The narration was excellent.
The inclusion of Hannah & Baker made me little heart soar. They were the perfect role models to steer Louisa through this time in her life, and it was a beautiful full circle moment to see how their lives had turned out.
All in all this was a stunning coming of age story. I loved the Frisky Cricket and the themes of belonging, and how important inclusive community spaces are. I also really appreciated that it wasn’t a story that ended in a neat bow, it felt real. Personally I could have done without the Aubrey side plot, and that is why this is a 4 star rather than 5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ALC. The narration was excellent.
June 14, 2026
*4.25 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this story. I liked the main character and I understood her struggle with grief and the issue she had with everything and her family and other people. I really flew through the book and couldn't stop reading. Everything was a bit messy in the best way and I liked seeing Louisa grow and get to know her uncle after he passed through his friends. It was a really interesting book and while Louisa could be quite infuriating, I still enjoyed being in her head for that time. I also liked the narrator and just the setting. I could really see myself in this town. I also liked the love interest and felt for her. It was a good, layered story and I can't wait to read what Kelly Quindlen reads next.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this story. I liked the main character and I understood her struggle with grief and the issue she had with everything and her family and other people. I really flew through the book and couldn't stop reading. Everything was a bit messy in the best way and I liked seeing Louisa grow and get to know her uncle after he passed through his friends. It was a really interesting book and while Louisa could be quite infuriating, I still enjoyed being in her head for that time. I also liked the narrator and just the setting. I could really see myself in this town. I also liked the love interest and felt for her. It was a good, layered story and I can't wait to read what Kelly Quindlen reads next.
June 2, 2026
Although I didn’t plan it, this YA novel was the perfect start to pride month. When 18 year old Louisa inherits a gay bar, The Frisky Cricket, Louisa learns more about her Uncle George (small town AL football hero) and her family. She is forced to work with and interact with grumpy Hatch at the bar while also meeting some others that help her feel seen-Hannah, Baker, Midas in a place she never thought she could after coming out (and how she felt before doing so in Rustin). There was also a sweet cat, RuPaw that added to the community of characters.
June 4, 2026
4.5 stars
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book! I love getting to know everyone at the Cricket & I especially loved getting some much of Hannah & Baker after so many years! I also really loved the found family of it all and I can just imagine all of their futures continuing to intertwine together! The only thing was that I found Louisa super annoying throughout about 80% of the story so I couldn’t love it as much as I wanted to 🤷🏻♀️ still a very solid story by one of my favorite authors but just didn’t quite live up to my own expectations for it.
As a whole, I really enjoyed this book! I love getting to know everyone at the Cricket & I especially loved getting some much of Hannah & Baker after so many years! I also really loved the found family of it all and I can just imagine all of their futures continuing to intertwine together! The only thing was that I found Louisa super annoying throughout about 80% of the story so I couldn’t love it as much as I wanted to 🤷🏻♀️ still a very solid story by one of my favorite authors but just didn’t quite live up to my own expectations for it.
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