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Where You’ll Find Us
A profound, beautifully written and deeply moving YA novel about trans identity, queer history and found family with a high concept hook – from the critically acclaimed author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come, for fans of We Are Okay and They Both Die at the End.
Calla Quick has no future.
At least, that’s how it feels. Her parents disowned her via text message, and now she can’t afford to go to an all-women’s college with her girlfriend Ramona like they planned.
But Calla wonders if maybe that’s for the best―because even though Calla told Ramona her parents disowned her because they found out she’s gay, the truth is, Calla has been questioning whether she’s a girl at all. Calla wishes she had more time to figure everything out, and one night, her wish is seemingly granted.
When Calla and Ramona stumble upon a mysterious farmhouse the woods, they meet five teens who claim they’ve lived there for decades. The land, which they call Amaranth, acts as a safe haven for queer kids throughout history―a place free of hate, free of violence, free of time itself. Here, Calla can be Cal and use they/them pronouns, and they feel instantly accepted.
They don’t have to worry about the future because at Amaranth, it will never come―until one night when the clock strikes twelve.
Now under a literal ticking clock, the housemates must find a way to stop time again or face going back to their harsh realities, but as Cal learns everyone’s story, they begin to wonder what queer people lose when their history is lost to time.
Calla Quick has no future.
At least, that’s how it feels. Her parents disowned her via text message, and now she can’t afford to go to an all-women’s college with her girlfriend Ramona like they planned.
But Calla wonders if maybe that’s for the best―because even though Calla told Ramona her parents disowned her because they found out she’s gay, the truth is, Calla has been questioning whether she’s a girl at all. Calla wishes she had more time to figure everything out, and one night, her wish is seemingly granted.
When Calla and Ramona stumble upon a mysterious farmhouse the woods, they meet five teens who claim they’ve lived there for decades. The land, which they call Amaranth, acts as a safe haven for queer kids throughout history―a place free of hate, free of violence, free of time itself. Here, Calla can be Cal and use they/them pronouns, and they feel instantly accepted.
They don’t have to worry about the future because at Amaranth, it will never come―until one night when the clock strikes twelve.
Now under a literal ticking clock, the housemates must find a way to stop time again or face going back to their harsh realities, but as Cal learns everyone’s story, they begin to wonder what queer people lose when their history is lost to time.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Jen St. Jude
2 books354 followersJen St. Jude (they/them) is the author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come and Where You'll Find Us. They live near Chicago with people (and an old dog) they love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
June 14, 2026
Oh how I waited for this book. It did not disappoint. Calla Quick is a star at their all-girls high school, captain of the field hockey team, popular, and dating another a-lister, Ramona. Everything is rosey except for the fact that Calla is sure that they’re trans and things must change. At prom, everything comes to a head. When Ramona and Calla take a walk to talk and a storm hits, they suddenly find themselves in a hidden enclave in the woods with a group of young Queer people from different eras, Abe, from the 1950’s, Kio, a Japanese American from WW2, Ambrosia and Lionel from the 1990’s, and Sunshine, from the early 1900’s.
It’s a special feeling as a reader when a book takes you somewhere new. This story is magical in all the right ways, Amaranth is both refuge and a reckoning. What I love best about the book are the individual journeys of the characters. Regardless of the year of their birth, each person is looking to find their place in the world knowing the world doesn’t want them back. The author does a wonderful job of writing each person’s story both past and present, both devastating and a vital pathway to authenticity. As Cal comes to terms with their feelings and most of all, finds the words to share who they are with Ramona and the rest of Amaranth, it’s an immensely powerful moment. The book is steeped in honesty.
I also enjoyed the fantastical elements of the story like never ending feasts and colorful forests. Plus a loyal dog named Dash. The ending had me crying because found family can save you like no other.
I recommend for readers who appreciate great stories filled with wonder and the search for self, found family, magical elements, finding love wherever it might be, and believing that tomorrow will be better. Top notch narration by Allegra Verlezza.
It’s a special feeling as a reader when a book takes you somewhere new. This story is magical in all the right ways, Amaranth is both refuge and a reckoning. What I love best about the book are the individual journeys of the characters. Regardless of the year of their birth, each person is looking to find their place in the world knowing the world doesn’t want them back. The author does a wonderful job of writing each person’s story both past and present, both devastating and a vital pathway to authenticity. As Cal comes to terms with their feelings and most of all, finds the words to share who they are with Ramona and the rest of Amaranth, it’s an immensely powerful moment. The book is steeped in honesty.
I also enjoyed the fantastical elements of the story like never ending feasts and colorful forests. Plus a loyal dog named Dash. The ending had me crying because found family can save you like no other.
I recommend for readers who appreciate great stories filled with wonder and the search for self, found family, magical elements, finding love wherever it might be, and believing that tomorrow will be better. Top notch narration by Allegra Verlezza.
June 22, 2026
I think this is the most beautiful queer book that I’ve ever read. The concept of Amaranth was so well thought out. And as Kelly Quindlen’s quote (on the cover) said, it truly is a tender love letter to queer people across the ages.
June 4, 2026
Ok well. I just moved for the first time in 5 hours, and it was to wipe the onslaught of tears streaming down my face, courtesy of this beautiful book.
One trillion stars. No notes. Could not recommend more. Read it.
One trillion stars. No notes. Could not recommend more. Read it.
June 24, 2026
OH. MY. GOD. This was absolutely stunning. I don't even have words at the moment to describe just how much so. I wanted to wrap every single character in just the biggest hug and the ending was just absolutely beautiful and completely devestating. Definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year.
October 15, 2025
a queer classic in the making—beautiful, devastating, and so very hopeful. my heart is full!
June 11, 2026
Google, can I sue a book for emotional distress? NO AI!!!
June 14, 2026
Warm, kind, and quietly funny. Filled with queer hope.
May 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
I had a feeling going in that I was going to love this book, but even as I felt predisposed to like it, I was startled by the extent to which it moved me.
This is, at its core, a story about time--how there's never enough of it, how the one you're born into can seem like the wrong one, and how it can feel like both the enemy and the thing you want more of more than anything else in all the world. The residents of Amaranth are there because they're fleeing the problems of their own eras, but those problems are staggering and sometimes life-threatening--as in the case of Lionel and Ambrosia, two teens from the 90s who are HIV-positive and cannot get access to either meds or clinical trials, and for whom a return to their own time would almost certainly constitute a death sentence. Cal, the main character, isn't running from anything as immediately life-threatening as that, but they're at a crossroads in their life where no choices seem like the right ones, and every potential path forward feels like it comes at a cost of who they are. The opportunity to stay a while in a place where time has stopped, with a queer community who understands them intimately in a way the world at large isn't able to, is seductive in a way that I understood deeply.
St. Jude (whose previous book, If Tomorrow Doesn't Come, was also magnificent) juggles big discussions of gender and queer history in a way that's both accessible and informative, and I appreciated the lack of villainous characters--Cal's girlfriend, Ramona, is one of the reasons they're afraid to reveal they aren't a girl, since they know it would mean the end of the relationship; I was pleased that St. Jude didn't go the angle of making Ramona a transphobe who rejects Cal because of their trans identity, as it made for a more satisfying, richer story about all the kinds of love in the queer community. And maybe that's what I loved most about this book: it is just so, so brimful of love of every kind. Romantic love, friendship, love for your found family, and for the queer community at every point in history. Not all that ashamed to say that I was fighting for my life by the end of this book--I was on an Amtrak reading the last few chapters and really, really struggling not to bawl in front of all the commuters. Highly, highly recommend.
I had a feeling going in that I was going to love this book, but even as I felt predisposed to like it, I was startled by the extent to which it moved me.
This is, at its core, a story about time--how there's never enough of it, how the one you're born into can seem like the wrong one, and how it can feel like both the enemy and the thing you want more of more than anything else in all the world. The residents of Amaranth are there because they're fleeing the problems of their own eras, but those problems are staggering and sometimes life-threatening--as in the case of Lionel and Ambrosia, two teens from the 90s who are HIV-positive and cannot get access to either meds or clinical trials, and for whom a return to their own time would almost certainly constitute a death sentence. Cal, the main character, isn't running from anything as immediately life-threatening as that, but they're at a crossroads in their life where no choices seem like the right ones, and every potential path forward feels like it comes at a cost of who they are. The opportunity to stay a while in a place where time has stopped, with a queer community who understands them intimately in a way the world at large isn't able to, is seductive in a way that I understood deeply.
St. Jude (whose previous book, If Tomorrow Doesn't Come, was also magnificent) juggles big discussions of gender and queer history in a way that's both accessible and informative, and I appreciated the lack of villainous characters--Cal's girlfriend, Ramona, is one of the reasons they're afraid to reveal they aren't a girl, since they know it would mean the end of the relationship; I was pleased that St. Jude didn't go the angle of making Ramona a transphobe who rejects Cal because of their trans identity, as it made for a more satisfying, richer story about all the kinds of love in the queer community. And maybe that's what I loved most about this book: it is just so, so brimful of love of every kind. Romantic love, friendship, love for your found family, and for the queer community at every point in history. Not all that ashamed to say that I was fighting for my life by the end of this book--I was on an Amtrak reading the last few chapters and really, really struggling not to bawl in front of all the commuters. Highly, highly recommend.
June 30, 2026
crying my eyes out at 1am because of this beautiful beautiful book. definitely one of my top 5 books, ever.
September 9, 2026
*3.5*
TW: homophobia, transphobia, parental neglect, aids, death of aids, rape, sexual assault and others.
rep: non-binary mc, lesbian, bisexual, trans masc, trans women and trans men characters
this was such a beautiful story about finding yourself and your community, understanding your identity and how the world has grown, but we have so much further to come for safety and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. I think the main characters understanding their identity and the journey was absolutely touching and this is such an important read for teens who are coming to terms with who they are
the reason why this isn’t getting higher is because I felt like the pacing was slightly off? it was quite slow, then reaaally slow, and then the bit I’d been waiting for / interested in was so quick that it left me wanting more. the ending felt really abrupt and I don’t think it did the characters justice, but I still thought the story was stunning
TW: homophobia, transphobia, parental neglect, aids, death of aids, rape, sexual assault and others.
rep: non-binary mc, lesbian, bisexual, trans masc, trans women and trans men characters
this was such a beautiful story about finding yourself and your community, understanding your identity and how the world has grown, but we have so much further to come for safety and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. I think the main characters understanding their identity and the journey was absolutely touching and this is such an important read for teens who are coming to terms with who they are
the reason why this isn’t getting higher is because I felt like the pacing was slightly off? it was quite slow, then reaaally slow, and then the bit I’d been waiting for / interested in was so quick that it left me wanting more. the ending felt really abrupt and I don’t think it did the characters justice, but I still thought the story was stunning
July 4, 2026
4.5 rounded; this book made me feel a way i haven't felt in a long time. i felt like i was teleported back to 2014 when queer instagram spam pages existed and queer teens thrived in their own online spaces. this book felt like a safe space. i think that every queer teen looking for their place in the world should read this book.
August 21, 2026
I'm crying.
June 2, 2026
This book and I, we went on a rollercoaster because there were so many parts that I did not enjoy but also parts that I really loved and I was so close of dnfing because I really struggled with the pace of the story and the characters.
But safe to say that Jen St. Jude made me cry my eyes out all over again.
But let’s start with the idea itself. I LOVED the idea of the book. Imagine being at a safe place where other queer people greet you and you can stay as long as you like wouldn’t you want that too? Because this world treats us like absolute shit so id definitely go there too. The magical twist is that the other characters are from the past and kind of stuck in there since time doesn’t exist at that house which makes it even cooler. Living at this safe place forever.
But boy did I struggle with the characters. It didn’t feel like a safe place to me because they’re were kinda really mean to Cal throughout the book and I still wonder how these people really became friends over time. Especially Ambroisa WHO WAS REALLY KEEN ON STEALING RAMONA from Cal just saying?!!! At the same time the author also started another romance story for Cal and it felt just too much for me within this short time that the characters shared with each other. Especially that Ramona and Cal were still a couple at that time.. idk it felt very icky for me. So yeah I wasn’t fond of the found family trope in this book .
The ending kinda saved the book for me a bit because otherwise I would’ve given the book 2 stars. The characters kinda made up WHICH WAS LONG OVERDUE
and for the first time I had the impression that these people could actually become friends.
And then the real ending came and hit me because obviously it had to be heartbreaking again. God this is such a unique book with so much potential that wasn’t used unfortunately. I do hope that many more people will pick up this book ( and if tomorrow doesn’t come ) because Jen St. Jude has the talent and the ability to write the most magical, beautiful & heartbreaking stories that the world has seen. I really really loved their writing style. Can’t wait for their next work.
But safe to say that Jen St. Jude made me cry my eyes out all over again.
But let’s start with the idea itself. I LOVED the idea of the book. Imagine being at a safe place where other queer people greet you and you can stay as long as you like wouldn’t you want that too? Because this world treats us like absolute shit so id definitely go there too. The magical twist is that the other characters are from the past and kind of stuck in there since time doesn’t exist at that house which makes it even cooler. Living at this safe place forever.
But boy did I struggle with the characters. It didn’t feel like a safe place to me because they’re were kinda really mean to Cal throughout the book and I still wonder how these people really became friends over time. Especially Ambroisa WHO WAS REALLY KEEN ON STEALING RAMONA from Cal just saying?!!! At the same time the author also started another romance story for Cal and it felt just too much for me within this short time that the characters shared with each other. Especially that Ramona and Cal were still a couple at that time.. idk it felt very icky for me. So yeah I wasn’t fond of the found family trope in this book .
The ending kinda saved the book for me a bit because otherwise I would’ve given the book 2 stars. The characters kinda made up WHICH WAS LONG OVERDUE
and for the first time I had the impression that these people could actually become friends.
And then the real ending came and hit me because obviously it had to be heartbreaking again. God this is such a unique book with so much potential that wasn’t used unfortunately. I do hope that many more people will pick up this book ( and if tomorrow doesn’t come ) because Jen St. Jude has the talent and the ability to write the most magical, beautiful & heartbreaking stories that the world has seen. I really really loved their writing style. Can’t wait for their next work.
June 24, 2026
wtf Jen, I’m crying so hard.
This is their second book I’ve read, and while “If Tomorrow Won’t Come” was a good book, this was just phenomenal 😭
Cal is trans, or non binary, they think. They don’t know and know they’re not a girl.
But when their parents kick them out of the house, and they have to live with their girlfriend, the gender dysphoria builds up until prom, when they break down when their girlfriend announces they can actually go with her to an all-girls college since she collected the funds for them.
And then Cal breaks away, and they run off, and their girlfriend runs after them when both of them find themselves lost in the woods, and they find a strange, out-of-time house for queer kids.
There, they find more about themselves, the meaning of family, and, surprisingly, how to cook.
So if you want a heartwarming and fun (yet angsty) (cause cal is a teenager) magical realism story with found family and a lot of queer history - this is the book for you!
Thank you, Libro.FM for the advanced listening copy. Ily guys.
This is their second book I’ve read, and while “If Tomorrow Won’t Come” was a good book, this was just phenomenal 😭
Cal is trans, or non binary, they think. They don’t know and know they’re not a girl.
But when their parents kick them out of the house, and they have to live with their girlfriend, the gender dysphoria builds up until prom, when they break down when their girlfriend announces they can actually go with her to an all-girls college since she collected the funds for them.
And then Cal breaks away, and they run off, and their girlfriend runs after them when both of them find themselves lost in the woods, and they find a strange, out-of-time house for queer kids.
There, they find more about themselves, the meaning of family, and, surprisingly, how to cook.
So if you want a heartwarming and fun (yet angsty) (cause cal is a teenager) magical realism story with found family and a lot of queer history - this is the book for you!
Thank you, Libro.FM for the advanced listening copy. Ily guys.
June 7, 2026
I’m so grateful I read this book. It offers a powerful perspective that challenged me to think differently and deepened my empathy. I walked away having learned something meaningful, and I believe it has the potential to resonate with anyone navigating questions of identity or searching for a greater sense of understanding and belonging.
Did Not Finish
June 4, 2026Soft dnf 25%
Something is just not clicking for me with this right now.
A lot of the reviews sound like the back half really makes it a great story but I’m really dragging to get through this beginning
Feel free to convince be to pick this back up
Something is just not clicking for me with this right now.
A lot of the reviews sound like the back half really makes it a great story but I’m really dragging to get through this beginning
Feel free to convince be to pick this back up
June 9, 2026
a mix of cozy (a magical house in its own pocket universe outside of time that shelters queer teens who need it and provides magical baked goods etc.) and trauma (because the teens, who come from different times in the 20th century, need shelter badly).
September 7, 2026
Maybe I wasn't in the right mood, but I think its a little bit too cheesy.
August 3, 2026
an incredibly beautiful book about finding community and the perfect place to be yourself. the ending made me almost start crying. I want every trans person I know to read this. You can find people who love you. You can carve a space in the world for yourself. the magic in this story is such a wonderful concept and i love each and every one of the characters. i'm so glad they got a happy ending
June 21, 2026
Oh how I love you my unexpected time book. I love time!! By the end of it I was weeping tears of joy for who/what was still there but also for who/what we lost. This was beautiful.
July 29, 2026
This may just be the most beautiful book I’ve read, not just in its prose but in everything it is. The way it honours history, community, and the way we as queer people show up for and connect with each other across space and time…this book is an absolute blessing.
October 11, 2026
This book was BEAUTIFUL! This author is amazing. Truly creative concepts and full of diversity/identities.
The plot was unlike anything I’ve read before.
The plot was unlike anything I’ve read before.
July 16, 2026
No spoilers, but the ending of this book took it from good to great. I would have gladly read a whole book about any of these characters individually, but it was also fantastic to see how they all interacted with each other.
May 27, 2026
ok honestly i think this book really changed my perspective on trans and a lot of the fear the face with coming out to their loved ones and i really think that shows the importance of reading diversely and going out of your way to read stories about marginalised people as not only it helps you learn more and open your perspectives but you will be exposed to so many more beautiful stories !!
in the first half of the book, i honestly did not like calla and kinda struggled to see their perspective. i was really sympathetic to ramona and her emotions and as the book went on i feel like both me and her had lot of our thoughts broken down and just realised a lot more from Cal’s perspective and it was just beautiful. also every other characters story was incredible and their stories so well interweaved and told and just reading about how queer and trans people were treated throughout history is always hard but these characters were so beautiful ! anyway i highly HIGHLY recommend this beautiful novel to EVERYONE because we need to be reading more books with trans main characters and hearing their stories 💗
in the first half of the book, i honestly did not like calla and kinda struggled to see their perspective. i was really sympathetic to ramona and her emotions and as the book went on i feel like both me and her had lot of our thoughts broken down and just realised a lot more from Cal’s perspective and it was just beautiful. also every other characters story was incredible and their stories so well interweaved and told and just reading about how queer and trans people were treated throughout history is always hard but these characters were so beautiful ! anyway i highly HIGHLY recommend this beautiful novel to EVERYONE because we need to be reading more books with trans main characters and hearing their stories 💗
June 18, 2026
✨Book Review✨
This was such a great read! Calla is feeling lost when her parents disowned her. Her plans for the future are gone. Now Calla is left wondering if she is even a girl at all and wishes she has time to figure it all out. One stormy night leads Calla and Ramona to a farmhouse for shelter where they meet people stuck in time. Throughout the book we get to learn about the past and how these characters come to be at the house.
This story really pulled my heart strings. I felt for each of these characters. It was beautifully written! The chapters are short so I found myself flying through this book. Def pick it up.
Thank you to @bloomsburybooksus for the gifted physical book!
This was such a great read! Calla is feeling lost when her parents disowned her. Her plans for the future are gone. Now Calla is left wondering if she is even a girl at all and wishes she has time to figure it all out. One stormy night leads Calla and Ramona to a farmhouse for shelter where they meet people stuck in time. Throughout the book we get to learn about the past and how these characters come to be at the house.
This story really pulled my heart strings. I felt for each of these characters. It was beautifully written! The chapters are short so I found myself flying through this book. Def pick it up.
Thank you to @bloomsburybooksus for the gifted physical book!
August 8, 2026
“Amaranth gave you time, but you made us timeless.” I know as a queer teen in America, it’s hard to believe I and many others have time, because of the amount that has been taken from us, knowing we couldn’t live, rather we had to survive. But we do have time. In fact, we have all the time in the world.
This book made me cry, much more than just a few times, because of how I resonate so deeply with Cal. It’s hard to accept that there is hope when everything in the world throws boulders at us, and it’s expected we can carry all of this weight. The truth is, we shouldn’t have to, we should be able to live, without having to worry about surviving each day.
We have been here forever, and we certainly are never leaving. We have all the time in the world to figure out who we are and who we aren’t. And I sincerely hope this book holds you well like it did for me, and I hope all of us begin living instead of surviving.
This book made me cry, much more than just a few times, because of how I resonate so deeply with Cal. It’s hard to accept that there is hope when everything in the world throws boulders at us, and it’s expected we can carry all of this weight. The truth is, we shouldn’t have to, we should be able to live, without having to worry about surviving each day.
We have been here forever, and we certainly are never leaving. We have all the time in the world to figure out who we are and who we aren’t. And I sincerely hope this book holds you well like it did for me, and I hope all of us begin living instead of surviving.
August 2, 2026
5/5 This was queer. This was cute. This was authentic. This was historical. This was memorable. This was touching. This was relatable. This was perfection.
I loved every bit from start to finish and was able to really connect with Cal. The story from every single character was moving and I shed a tear more than once. If this story reminded me of one thing it’s that us queer people; we exist, we have existed and we will continue to exist no matter what other people think or if they try to erase our existence. We have the right to exist, shine and be our true selves just as much as every other being in this universe. Nobody can dim our light.
I loved every bit from start to finish and was able to really connect with Cal. The story from every single character was moving and I shed a tear more than once. If this story reminded me of one thing it’s that us queer people; we exist, we have existed and we will continue to exist no matter what other people think or if they try to erase our existence. We have the right to exist, shine and be our true selves just as much as every other being in this universe. Nobody can dim our light.
July 20, 2026
Touching, affirming, relatable. Less angsty than many YA. Creative and surprising. I just loved it.
October 2, 2026
YES this book YES
Did Not Finish
October 5, 2026DNF at 30% - no nuance. The FMC has a unique situation but the writing isn’t good enough to keep me interested.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews