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All the Way Home
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Expected 22 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 23:31:42
10 copies available
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An effervescent holiday rom-com following two boys stranded at an airport who fall in love over one magical, snowy night.
’Twas the flight before Christmas . . .
Zach is heading home from his first semester at college with presents for his family, a voicemail from his ex, and about as much travel anxiety as can fit within the confines of the human body. After a series of humiliating events, including having his bags stolen, he meets the captivating, beautiful Kieran, who’s dreading his return home for Christmas and traveling with his sister, Rena, and her boyfriend, Lucas, who are dealing with some baggage of their own.
As the snow falls and sparks fly, Zach and Kieran must learn to trust in themselves and in each other if their love is ever going to leave the ground, while Rena and Lucas must decide if their turbulent relationship can withstand another storm.
Infused with Alex Ritany’s signature warmth and wit, All the Way Home is a story of first loves, flight delays, and finding home for the holidays—wherever or whoever it may be.
’Twas the flight before Christmas . . .
Zach is heading home from his first semester at college with presents for his family, a voicemail from his ex, and about as much travel anxiety as can fit within the confines of the human body. After a series of humiliating events, including having his bags stolen, he meets the captivating, beautiful Kieran, who’s dreading his return home for Christmas and traveling with his sister, Rena, and her boyfriend, Lucas, who are dealing with some baggage of their own.
As the snow falls and sparks fly, Zach and Kieran must learn to trust in themselves and in each other if their love is ever going to leave the ground, while Rena and Lucas must decide if their turbulent relationship can withstand another storm.
Infused with Alex Ritany’s signature warmth and wit, All the Way Home is a story of first loves, flight delays, and finding home for the holidays—wherever or whoever it may be.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Alex Ritany
5 books77 followersAlex is a Canadian artist, musician, and YA author of DEAD GIRLS DON’T SAY SORRY, I WISH YOU WOULDN’T, MAYBE TOMORROW I'LL KNOW, and ALL THE WAY HOME. When they’re not at the keyboard, you can find them hosting tabletop game night, working on illustrations, or at their other keyboard composing music.
Alex’s love of art, music, and the western Canadian landscape regularly spills into their writing, which tends to feature complex friendships, twisty romances, and explorations of queerness. They live in Calgary with their roommate, cat, and dice collection.
Alex’s love of art, music, and the western Canadian landscape regularly spills into their writing, which tends to feature complex friendships, twisty romances, and explorations of queerness. They live in Calgary with their roommate, cat, and dice collection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 10, 2026
You’ll have to wait for the full review, but this o e had me cackling, anxious and crying!! Such a beautiful story about mental health ❤️🩹❤️🩹 4,5⭐️
Want to Read
April 24, 2026Christmas romance with a beautiful cover and it's queer? thank you for blessing me 🥹
June 24, 2026
This was exactly what I needed for my mood reading. So fluffy with a snow storm, an airport, holiday vibes and forced proximity romance.
Zach and Kieran are stranded at an airport during a snow storm. After an out of control water bottle roll, they meet and are instantly thrown into each others orbits. There’s drama and secrets. Discussion of mental illness (depression and anxiety) but lots of cute dialogue and mutual attraction. And a really heated kiss in a construction zone.
Trigger warning for discussion of self harm.
Zach and Kieran are stranded at an airport during a snow storm. After an out of control water bottle roll, they meet and are instantly thrown into each others orbits. There’s drama and secrets. Discussion of mental illness (depression and anxiety) but lots of cute dialogue and mutual attraction. And a really heated kiss in a construction zone.
Trigger warning for discussion of self harm.
June 26, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy!
As a 33 year old adult, I try to read YA through the lens of my 17 year old self, and this is exactly the kind of book I would have devoured. The parallel story lines between twins, but only getting one of their POVs? Groundbreaking when you’re a teenager to be honest.
I found this book a bit slow to start (mainly, it took me a little to warm up to our main cast of 4) but once the flirting started I was sold.
There’s something so magical about an airport at Christmas time, when love is possible anywhere.
I also loved that it tackled the issues of depression and anxiety in a very teen appropriate way.
As a 33 year old adult, I try to read YA through the lens of my 17 year old self, and this is exactly the kind of book I would have devoured. The parallel story lines between twins, but only getting one of their POVs? Groundbreaking when you’re a teenager to be honest.
I found this book a bit slow to start (mainly, it took me a little to warm up to our main cast of 4) but once the flirting started I was sold.
There’s something so magical about an airport at Christmas time, when love is possible anywhere.
I also loved that it tackled the issues of depression and anxiety in a very teen appropriate way.
July 14, 2026
5✨
Ritany has ~once again~ managed to tell a captivating tale revolving around complicated familial and relationship dynamics, and he does it so well. I was enraptured by his writing (again) and how relatable all the characters were, all in their own respective ways. Also, who doesn’t love an airport romance?!
Thank you to the publishing team and NetGalley for the
ARC!
Ritany has ~once again~ managed to tell a captivating tale revolving around complicated familial and relationship dynamics, and he does it so well. I was enraptured by his writing (again) and how relatable all the characters were, all in their own respective ways. Also, who doesn’t love an airport romance?!
Thank you to the publishing team and NetGalley for the
ARC!
June 15, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel!
Twas the meet cute before Christmas and the gays were single and stranded. One of my favorite niche book genres is holidays. Something about them just bring me back to my childhood and just fills me with joy. Whether its Halloween or Christmas holidays bring out glee in even the grumpiest of folks.
Twas the meet cute before Christmas and the gays were single and stranded. One of my favorite niche book genres is holidays. Something about them just bring me back to my childhood and just fills me with joy. Whether its Halloween or Christmas holidays bring out glee in even the grumpiest of folks.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the Way Home by Alex Ritany has one of the best meet cutes I have ever read, along with some of the most endearing characters and it is definitely one of my favourite holiday reads of all time. There are certain books that I like to revisit when I need something to make me feel good, almost like a "break glass in case of emergency" type thing, and this book has immediately made it on to that list.
Zach. a.k.a. a bundle of anxiety dressed in a hoody, is about to board his first ever flight, taking him home from his first semester in college just in time to celebrate Winter Solstice with his loving if a little unconventional family, and it feels like everything is going wrong. His flight is delayed, his bag gets stolen, he's forgotten his ear buds, oh and his toxic ex keeps trying to call him, the only little bit of good is Kieran.
Kieran is also travelling home for the holidays along with his sister Rena and her boyfriend Lucas, and Zach immediately catches his eye in the airport to the despair of his travelling companions who think he is on the prowl and looking to amuse himself while they wait. For Kieran who is dreading the return home for reasons that will be made clear as the story unfolds, Zach may be a distraction at first, but before long it is clear that there is real chemistry, and a real connection between them.
I just fell in love with this book and these characters, not just Kieran and Zach but also Rena who is dealing with some issues and questions of her own. The chemistry between Zach and Kieran was so immediate that it could have felt over the top but it never did, they just read like two people who found each other at the perfect time, and who were stronger together than either of them were alone. The banter between them was a delight, immediately relatable to anyone who has ever had an awkward conversation with a crush, but there were also times where the conversations were more emotional and more serious and I loved those just as much.
While this is a dual POV story I found it really interesting that the author chose not to give us Kieran's POV, but instead that of his sister Rena, at first I was not sure how well that would work, but by the end it was actually one of my favourite things about the book overall. Her realisations about herself and her relationship with Lucas made for some thought provoking reading, and seeing her come to terms with what she wanted really felt quite emotional and empowering. There is some excellent depiction of anxiety and mental health representation which also made me happy but not as happy as the beautiful ending of the book which put such a huge smile on my face.
This was my first book from Alex Ritany but it will not be the last, and this is a book that I will be recommending to many many readers, and revisiting myself in time for Christmas. I would give it six stars if I could!
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Zach. a.k.a. a bundle of anxiety dressed in a hoody, is about to board his first ever flight, taking him home from his first semester in college just in time to celebrate Winter Solstice with his loving if a little unconventional family, and it feels like everything is going wrong. His flight is delayed, his bag gets stolen, he's forgotten his ear buds, oh and his toxic ex keeps trying to call him, the only little bit of good is Kieran.
Kieran is also travelling home for the holidays along with his sister Rena and her boyfriend Lucas, and Zach immediately catches his eye in the airport to the despair of his travelling companions who think he is on the prowl and looking to amuse himself while they wait. For Kieran who is dreading the return home for reasons that will be made clear as the story unfolds, Zach may be a distraction at first, but before long it is clear that there is real chemistry, and a real connection between them.
I just fell in love with this book and these characters, not just Kieran and Zach but also Rena who is dealing with some issues and questions of her own. The chemistry between Zach and Kieran was so immediate that it could have felt over the top but it never did, they just read like two people who found each other at the perfect time, and who were stronger together than either of them were alone. The banter between them was a delight, immediately relatable to anyone who has ever had an awkward conversation with a crush, but there were also times where the conversations were more emotional and more serious and I loved those just as much.
While this is a dual POV story I found it really interesting that the author chose not to give us Kieran's POV, but instead that of his sister Rena, at first I was not sure how well that would work, but by the end it was actually one of my favourite things about the book overall. Her realisations about herself and her relationship with Lucas made for some thought provoking reading, and seeing her come to terms with what she wanted really felt quite emotional and empowering. There is some excellent depiction of anxiety and mental health representation which also made me happy but not as happy as the beautiful ending of the book which put such a huge smile on my face.
This was my first book from Alex Ritany but it will not be the last, and this is a book that I will be recommending to many many readers, and revisiting myself in time for Christmas. I would give it six stars if I could!
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gah, I really enjoyed this book! First, the cover is perfect, I kept going back to look at it. The title confused me until I realized it was part of a lyric from Let It Snow, and then it made total sense to the book. Typically I don't read YA, but this one looked too good to pass up and it more than exceeded my expectations. I want to be very clear upfront that this is not what I would call a sweet and fluffy book per se, it deals with mental health, identity, and the faulty perceptions we hold both for ourselves and the people around us. We are on a character journey here for sure.
As some have said before me, at first it threw me off to not have one of the main love interests be one our POVs, but it really did make sense for the themes of the book. To get the "not my favorite" part out of the way: Rena was frustrating as a narrator. Even though ultimately I was invested in her story and had a lot of empathy for her, I was frustrated with her the majority of the time. She was like a ketchup bottle, you just kinda wanted to shake her, even as you understood why she was being difficult.
Back to what made me love this book: Zach and Kieran. We start out with Zach, feeling very overwhelmed and anxious in the security line at the airport four days before Christmas, and a runaway water bottle introduces us to Kieran, or Teal Coat as we know him at first. These two were precious. The fact that the entire book takes place in 12 hours while their flight is continually delayed made the steady pacing all the more impressive. The romance actually felt realistic, despite it happening so fast. There is zero spice in this book, but I still got a little fluttery at times with their long looks and brave moments. Not being in Kieran's head ended up making this more intriguing I think, as we figured him out from Zach and Rena's perspective, and had to question our own perceptions about him as the book went on.
The only critique I have for the ending is I wanted a little more. An epilogue of maybe a year down the road at the following Christmas would have felt like the perfect way to end my time with these characters, but I still smiled all the way to the last word. If you want a holiday YA romance with a little extra heart to it, then I definitely recommend this book! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
As some have said before me, at first it threw me off to not have one of the main love interests be one our POVs, but it really did make sense for the themes of the book. To get the "not my favorite" part out of the way: Rena was frustrating as a narrator. Even though ultimately I was invested in her story and had a lot of empathy for her, I was frustrated with her the majority of the time. She was like a ketchup bottle, you just kinda wanted to shake her, even as you understood why she was being difficult.
Back to what made me love this book: Zach and Kieran. We start out with Zach, feeling very overwhelmed and anxious in the security line at the airport four days before Christmas, and a runaway water bottle introduces us to Kieran, or Teal Coat as we know him at first. These two were precious. The fact that the entire book takes place in 12 hours while their flight is continually delayed made the steady pacing all the more impressive. The romance actually felt realistic, despite it happening so fast. There is zero spice in this book, but I still got a little fluttery at times with their long looks and brave moments. Not being in Kieran's head ended up making this more intriguing I think, as we figured him out from Zach and Rena's perspective, and had to question our own perceptions about him as the book went on.
The only critique I have for the ending is I wanted a little more. An epilogue of maybe a year down the road at the following Christmas would have felt like the perfect way to end my time with these characters, but I still smiled all the way to the last word. If you want a holiday YA romance with a little extra heart to it, then I definitely recommend this book! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✎✧˚ Thank you to the author, Alex Ritany, and Netgalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
All the Way Home by Alex Ritany is a heartfelt holiday romance that combines the charm of a meet-cute with deeper themes of mental health, family relationships, and personal growth.
The novel follows four young adults – Zach, Kieran, Rena, and Lucas – whose holiday travel plans are disrupted by endless flight delays, leaving them stranded together in an airport. What begins as an unexpected encounter between the anxious Zach and the outgoing Kieran gradually unfolds into a touching romance, while Rena and Lucas navigate the growing tensions in their own relationship. The airport setting creates a unique backdrop that forces the characters to confront unresolved emotions, difficult conversations, and uncertain futures.
The first third of the book was admittedly a little slow for me. With multiple points of view and several conflicts introduced before much context is given, I initially found it difficult to become invested in all of the characters, particularly because the constant switching between perspectives occasionally interrupted the momentum. As the story progressed, however, everything began to click into place.
Zach quickly became one of my favorite characters, as his kind personality and the representation of his generalized anxiety disorder felt thoughtful and authentic. Rena, too, developed into a much more sympathetic and nuanced character as her motivations and insecurities became clearer. The novel also deserves praise for balancing its romance with meaningful discussions surrounding mental health, communication, self-harm, grief, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable with the people we love.
Despite being marketed as a holiday rom-com, this book leans more toward emotional contemporary romance than outright comedy. There are certainly sweet, funny moments and plenty of holiday atmosphere, but it also explores heavier subjects with sincerity and care.
Overall, All the Way Home is a heartwarming holiday read with relatable characters, meaningful emotional growth, and an especially charming romance between Zach and Kieran with a very satisfying and hopeful conclusion.
"Rena and Kieran exchange a glance. At once, she feels the warmth of their shared history, the solidity of his arm against hers. Next to her, Kieran takes a deep breath, and begins."
All the Way Home by Alex Ritany is a heartfelt holiday romance that combines the charm of a meet-cute with deeper themes of mental health, family relationships, and personal growth.
The novel follows four young adults – Zach, Kieran, Rena, and Lucas – whose holiday travel plans are disrupted by endless flight delays, leaving them stranded together in an airport. What begins as an unexpected encounter between the anxious Zach and the outgoing Kieran gradually unfolds into a touching romance, while Rena and Lucas navigate the growing tensions in their own relationship. The airport setting creates a unique backdrop that forces the characters to confront unresolved emotions, difficult conversations, and uncertain futures.
The first third of the book was admittedly a little slow for me. With multiple points of view and several conflicts introduced before much context is given, I initially found it difficult to become invested in all of the characters, particularly because the constant switching between perspectives occasionally interrupted the momentum. As the story progressed, however, everything began to click into place.
Zach quickly became one of my favorite characters, as his kind personality and the representation of his generalized anxiety disorder felt thoughtful and authentic. Rena, too, developed into a much more sympathetic and nuanced character as her motivations and insecurities became clearer. The novel also deserves praise for balancing its romance with meaningful discussions surrounding mental health, communication, self-harm, grief, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable with the people we love.
Despite being marketed as a holiday rom-com, this book leans more toward emotional contemporary romance than outright comedy. There are certainly sweet, funny moments and plenty of holiday atmosphere, but it also explores heavier subjects with sincerity and care.
Overall, All the Way Home is a heartwarming holiday read with relatable characters, meaningful emotional growth, and an especially charming romance between Zach and Kieran with a very satisfying and hopeful conclusion.
"Rena and Kieran exchange a glance. At once, she feels the warmth of their shared history, the solidity of his arm against hers. Next to her, Kieran takes a deep breath, and begins."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Norton Young Readers and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A cute holiday romance! Zach is heading home for the holidays after his first semester at school. This will be his first time flying and he’s really nervous, ok he’s pretty anxious about most things because of his Generalized Anxiety Disorder. And then by accident he runs into Kieran, who happens to be beautiful and captivating. But he could never talk to him. Only Kieran doesn’t give him much of a choice as he seeks Zach out again and again. As the weather delays their flight the two get to know each other traveling throughout the limited space the airport offers, but something magical seems to be happening, is it too good to be true? Meanwhile Kieran’s sister Rena waits for the delayed flight with her boyfriend Lucas. She likes control so the delay is getting to her. It doesn’t help that her and Lucas have been struggling and she doesn’t know why or what to do about it. To top it all off it, her ex-best friend happens to be at the airport as well and she does not want to deal with that. Especially as her relationship will Lucas is at the heart of why their friendship ended. Then there’s Kieran, who seems taken with some guy he just met, but after what happened a year ago and this past summer she’s worried he’ll get hurt or do the hurting. One delayed flight will forever change the lives of these four people. A lot of sweet and exciting moments of the buildup of a new relationship, the meet cute, the getting to know each other, the first kiss! But also a lot of hurt, confusion, difficulties, growth that come with being in a relationship! I love that Alex Ritany waves the rom come aspects of the story with secrets that had just a touch of thrills that had me turning the pages! Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, full of love, sadness, and hope! Plus who doesn’t love some holiday cheer!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the Way Home by Alex Ritany is a sweet, wholesome, thoughtful, young romance that explores mental health, family, changing identities, loss, the complexities of family and hard things unspoken, heteronormative and neurotypical relationship norms, healing, and the courage it takes to be honest and true in love.
Without ever feeling heavy-handed or weighed down by the significance of it all, All the Way Home is a feel-good little exploration of love in many forms.
The first chapter was a bit clunky for me, however Kieran and Zach became quickly endearing, especially once their adventure together properly began. And then, as the story unfolded I found myself laughing (Mara is delightful), blushing, and falling in love with their journey with wholesome delight.
I deeply appreciated the way Ritany handled the confusion and heartbreak of staying true to yourself as a young adult who is figuring themselves out, and the reality that hard conversations are, well, HARD... The only way through is THROUGH.
All the Way Home has some wonderful lessons for younger readers about the damage that avoidance can do, and the importance of reckoning, repairing, and reaching out for help so we don't have to navigate the painful stuff alone.
Kieran and Zach are lovable and irresistible. If you're a romance lover and like low angst journeys of self-discovery, you'll love this book.
I'm grateful to W. W. Norton & Company as well as NetGalley for the advanced reader copy so I could dive in early.
Without ever feeling heavy-handed or weighed down by the significance of it all, All the Way Home is a feel-good little exploration of love in many forms.
The first chapter was a bit clunky for me, however Kieran and Zach became quickly endearing, especially once their adventure together properly began. And then, as the story unfolded I found myself laughing (Mara is delightful), blushing, and falling in love with their journey with wholesome delight.
I deeply appreciated the way Ritany handled the confusion and heartbreak of staying true to yourself as a young adult who is figuring themselves out, and the reality that hard conversations are, well, HARD... The only way through is THROUGH.
All the Way Home has some wonderful lessons for younger readers about the damage that avoidance can do, and the importance of reckoning, repairing, and reaching out for help so we don't have to navigate the painful stuff alone.
Kieran and Zach are lovable and irresistible. If you're a romance lover and like low angst journeys of self-discovery, you'll love this book.
I'm grateful to W. W. Norton & Company as well as NetGalley for the advanced reader copy so I could dive in early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a cute holiday YA romance! I was honestly impressed with how much character development happened over the course of what was basically a 12 hour airport delay. The story never felt rushed, and I was invested in Zach and Kieran almost immediately. Their relationship felt natural, and I couldn't help but root for them the whole way through. I wanted their plane to keep getting delayed!
My biggest issue was Rena's POV. I completely understand why it was included. It helped fill in the gaps about what happened with Kieran the previous year, gave more context to his family dynamics, and I appreciated the asexual representation. But if I'm being honest, every time the story switched to her chapters, it pulled me out of the story I really wanted to be reading. It almost felt like I was jumping into a different book before getting back to Zach and Kieran. I get why the author made that choice, but I think I would have enjoyed the story even more if we'd gotten Kieran's perspective instead.
My only other complaint is that I wanted a longer epilogue! I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to these characters, and I would have loved one more peek into where they ended up.
Overall, this was a really sweet, heartwarming read with lovable characters and some thoughtful conversations about identity, family, and acceptance. It definitely put me in the holiday spirit, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy YA romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
My biggest issue was Rena's POV. I completely understand why it was included. It helped fill in the gaps about what happened with Kieran the previous year, gave more context to his family dynamics, and I appreciated the asexual representation. But if I'm being honest, every time the story switched to her chapters, it pulled me out of the story I really wanted to be reading. It almost felt like I was jumping into a different book before getting back to Zach and Kieran. I get why the author made that choice, but I think I would have enjoyed the story even more if we'd gotten Kieran's perspective instead.
My only other complaint is that I wanted a longer epilogue! I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to these characters, and I would have loved one more peek into where they ended up.
Overall, this was a really sweet, heartwarming read with lovable characters and some thoughtful conversations about identity, family, and acceptance. It definitely put me in the holiday spirit, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy YA romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, this was a solid meet cute holiday romance. I enjoyed the premise, that characters, and the story. It did take me a bit to really get into the story and I struggled with the pacing at times. Around 40% through I did feel like the story picked up for me and then it kept me immersed. It sits somewhere between a 3.75 and 4 Stars for me.
Zach, Kieran, Rena, and Lucas are all stuck in the airport while traveling home for the holidays. Kieran and Rena are twins who aren't quite getting along but also are acting like they are getting along. Lucas is Rena's boyfriend, and Zach is the adorable anxious boy that Kieran strikes a conversation with and loops into going on an adventure in the airport while they are stranded waiting for their flight.
There flight, continuously delayed hour by hour leaves a lot of room for connection, frustration, miscommunication, and figuring out what our characters might want in the future. What starts as a meet cute does end up diving deep into emotions and exploring how we communicate with those we love, how we figure out what we want for ourselves and learning to be brave and do the scary thing.
This book is filled with relatable characters and I think it will be a great holiday read. If you like romance, meet cute, and mental health representation in your books I think you will very much enjoy this! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Zach, Kieran, Rena, and Lucas are all stuck in the airport while traveling home for the holidays. Kieran and Rena are twins who aren't quite getting along but also are acting like they are getting along. Lucas is Rena's boyfriend, and Zach is the adorable anxious boy that Kieran strikes a conversation with and loops into going on an adventure in the airport while they are stranded waiting for their flight.
There flight, continuously delayed hour by hour leaves a lot of room for connection, frustration, miscommunication, and figuring out what our characters might want in the future. What starts as a meet cute does end up diving deep into emotions and exploring how we communicate with those we love, how we figure out what we want for ourselves and learning to be brave and do the scary thing.
This book is filled with relatable characters and I think it will be a great holiday read. If you like romance, meet cute, and mental health representation in your books I think you will very much enjoy this! Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
{3.25}
This book is a little complicated to review. This novel is pitched as a rom-com holiday meet-cute at the airport with a slight mention of Rena and her boyfriend. However, this book only follows two POVs, Rena’s and Zach’s. The perspectives are evenly distributed between the two, meaning that one half of the book is a fun, rom-com time and the other is a drama about a relationship falling apart. It often felt like I was reading two separate books.
Rena’s perspective really sullied the novel for me personally. I found her to be a very unlikable character, and her POV was so negative and dramatic that it made it hard for me to enjoy the book. The Zach POVs were a 4-4.5 read for me, but the Rena ones forced me to rate this lower. It just comes down to personal taste. I prefer light-hearted reads, though I think someone who likes more turbulence (no pun intended) would really appreciate her perspective.
Overall, I think this author is a great writer. Her characters all felt distinct and had their own clear voices. Despite the slightly outlandish premise and insta-like aspect, the book manages to stay fairly grounded (no pun intended again). I would pick up more from them in the future.
Thank you, NetGalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
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.
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Triggers: Past-mentioned suicide attempt, depression, anxiety
This book is a little complicated to review. This novel is pitched as a rom-com holiday meet-cute at the airport with a slight mention of Rena and her boyfriend. However, this book only follows two POVs, Rena’s and Zach’s. The perspectives are evenly distributed between the two, meaning that one half of the book is a fun, rom-com time and the other is a drama about a relationship falling apart. It often felt like I was reading two separate books.
Rena’s perspective really sullied the novel for me personally. I found her to be a very unlikable character, and her POV was so negative and dramatic that it made it hard for me to enjoy the book. The Zach POVs were a 4-4.5 read for me, but the Rena ones forced me to rate this lower. It just comes down to personal taste. I prefer light-hearted reads, though I think someone who likes more turbulence (no pun intended) would really appreciate her perspective.
Overall, I think this author is a great writer. Her characters all felt distinct and had their own clear voices. Despite the slightly outlandish premise and insta-like aspect, the book manages to stay fairly grounded (no pun intended again). I would pick up more from them in the future.
Thank you, NetGalley, W.W. Norton & Company, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Triggers: Past-mentioned suicide attempt, depression, anxiety
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Actual star count is like a 3.75 for me, but I rounded.
I’m incredibly fond of a Christmas story, and I’m incredibly fond of a love story. This was a lovely combination of the two.
I’m usually not a fan of the “insta-love” trope, however, I feel like the author here did a good job of throwing these two characters into a really unusual circumstance that forces them to get very familiar with each other in a short amount of time. There was a really solid amount of backstory woven throughout the narrative so that I felt like I was really getting to know Zach and Kieran as they got to know each other, but without being weighed down by long passages of exposition.
I started off a touch annoyed that the POV alternated between Zach and Rena instead of Zach and Kieran, but as we get more of Rena’s story, I was glad to be along for her journey as well. I’m not sure if the author intended it, but Rena felt like a really delicate and carefully crafted representation of a person somewhere on the aro/ace spectrum and I appreciated how respectfully her internal struggle was portrayed.
Overall, a heartwarming story with a vaguely outlandish meet cute that stuck the landing!
Thank you to NetGalley and WW Norton for the eARC!
I’m incredibly fond of a Christmas story, and I’m incredibly fond of a love story. This was a lovely combination of the two.
I’m usually not a fan of the “insta-love” trope, however, I feel like the author here did a good job of throwing these two characters into a really unusual circumstance that forces them to get very familiar with each other in a short amount of time. There was a really solid amount of backstory woven throughout the narrative so that I felt like I was really getting to know Zach and Kieran as they got to know each other, but without being weighed down by long passages of exposition.
I started off a touch annoyed that the POV alternated between Zach and Rena instead of Zach and Kieran, but as we get more of Rena’s story, I was glad to be along for her journey as well. I’m not sure if the author intended it, but Rena felt like a really delicate and carefully crafted representation of a person somewhere on the aro/ace spectrum and I appreciated how respectfully her internal struggle was portrayed.
Overall, a heartwarming story with a vaguely outlandish meet cute that stuck the landing!
Thank you to NetGalley and WW Norton for the eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Have you ever thought, wow, how are there so many books praised for their 'natural dialogue' and 'charismatic protagonists' that objectively read like a 12 year old has just consumed their first energy drink ever in their life at 2am on a school night and let their hands flap across the keyboard meaninglessly in a singular stream of consciousness? Have you ever thought how does every single YA book advertised with no descriptors other than "autistic rep" or "aroace rep" never fail to bother me to the point of sheer rage? Have you ever thought, God, am I TIRED of this SLOP?
Fear not, for in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, Alex Ritany brings you ALL THE WAY HOME, a book set SOLELY in an airport, the most liminal of spaces; where the four main characters are MESSY AF, have REALISTIC portrayals of not only mental health issues but also neurodiversity and queerness, text like the age they are in the year it is set in (this is critical actually), and most importantly, TEAR YOUR HEART OUT AND STOMP ON IT from hitting too close to home to your own experiences.
Yours sincerely,
an aroace audhder who had to hold back tears (positive)
and I cannot wait for this book to release so I can have my own copy :)
Fear not, for in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, Alex Ritany brings you ALL THE WAY HOME, a book set SOLELY in an airport, the most liminal of spaces; where the four main characters are MESSY AF, have REALISTIC portrayals of not only mental health issues but also neurodiversity and queerness, text like the age they are in the year it is set in (this is critical actually), and most importantly, TEAR YOUR HEART OUT AND STOMP ON IT from hitting too close to home to your own experiences.
Yours sincerely,
an aroace audhder who had to hold back tears (positive)
and I cannot wait for this book to release so I can have my own copy :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Actual star rating is about a 4.5 for me.
I didn’t expect to connect with Rena as much as I did. I wasn’t a fan of her initially, but over the course of the story I really grew to like her and appreciate her journey. Her arc felt thoughtful and genuine, and I especially loved the possible ace/aro representation — it was subtle, respectful, and handled with a lot of care.
One of the standout elements for me was the dynamic between Kieran and Zach. Their interactions felt natural and warm, and I loved watching their relationship develop. The balance between dialogue, shared moments, and emotional beats made their connection feel earned without being overcomplicated.
What I appreciated most overall was how human all of the main characters felt. Everyone was flawed in believable ways, but those flaws weren’t used to manufacture unnecessary drama. Instead, the characters were able to work through things with communication and growth, which made the story feel refreshing and grounded.
Overall, a heartfelt and engaging read with strong character work and emotional depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the WW Norton for the eARC!
Actual star rating is about a 4.5 for me.
I didn’t expect to connect with Rena as much as I did. I wasn’t a fan of her initially, but over the course of the story I really grew to like her and appreciate her journey. Her arc felt thoughtful and genuine, and I especially loved the possible ace/aro representation — it was subtle, respectful, and handled with a lot of care.
One of the standout elements for me was the dynamic between Kieran and Zach. Their interactions felt natural and warm, and I loved watching their relationship develop. The balance between dialogue, shared moments, and emotional beats made their connection feel earned without being overcomplicated.
What I appreciated most overall was how human all of the main characters felt. Everyone was flawed in believable ways, but those flaws weren’t used to manufacture unnecessary drama. Instead, the characters were able to work through things with communication and growth, which made the story feel refreshing and grounded.
Overall, a heartfelt and engaging read with strong character work and emotional depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the WW Norton for the eARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm not gonna lie, it took me a while to get into this book. I think the changing point of views kept throwing me off and I don't think I'm a fan of the airport setting the book takes place in. Starting off by having 3 of the 4 main characters of the book all being in conflict with each other without any context also threw me off and honestly at the beginning I really didn't like the three of them all that much.
That being said, I loved Zach. He was the one character of the book that never really frustrated me. I almost wish the book just stayed in his pov, but I understand why we had Rena's point of view. It just took me a long time to warm up to her, and constantly being pulled out of the story and the developing romance going on between Zach and Kieran frustrated me multiple times.
I lowkey hated Rena's boyfriend at times as well, he did some things that I am choosing not to like him for even if there was some slight misunderstanding.
Overall a good book with some references to various mental health issues and discussions of self harm. I will give it 4/5 stars as I was satisfied with the ending. Zach was truly a joy, I hope his bad luck streak is over.
That being said, I loved Zach. He was the one character of the book that never really frustrated me. I almost wish the book just stayed in his pov, but I understand why we had Rena's point of view. It just took me a long time to warm up to her, and constantly being pulled out of the story and the developing romance going on between Zach and Kieran frustrated me multiple times.
I lowkey hated Rena's boyfriend at times as well, he did some things that I am choosing not to like him for even if there was some slight misunderstanding.
Overall a good book with some references to various mental health issues and discussions of self harm. I will give it 4/5 stars as I was satisfied with the ending. Zach was truly a joy, I hope his bad luck streak is over.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was more than a cute romance to me. It's an exploration of complex relationships and self realisations. To me, it felt less like Zach and Kieran had just met and more like they were reunited; their chemistry and dynamic made me forget they hadn't even known each other for a day! There was a depth and trust between them in such a short time, and I loved how we saw Zach being an overthinker being balanced out by Kieran (as an overthinker myself this was very dear to me).
Rena's story is also close to my heart. For me she represented love in another way. As I read the story, from my perspective she represented learning how to put yourself first and not conforming to things because you think it's what 'love' should be. Accepting things, telling herself it's 'normal' - her story and her development away from this was very interesting to me.
This story was heart warming and fun, whilst also exploring serious topics such as mental health in a way that was gentle and respectful.
I would recommend giving it a read and I am immensely grateful to have had the chance to read it early (even if it did mean reading a snowy December read in June).
Rena's story is also close to my heart. For me she represented love in another way. As I read the story, from my perspective she represented learning how to put yourself first and not conforming to things because you think it's what 'love' should be. Accepting things, telling herself it's 'normal' - her story and her development away from this was very interesting to me.
This story was heart warming and fun, whilst also exploring serious topics such as mental health in a way that was gentle and respectful.
I would recommend giving it a read and I am immensely grateful to have had the chance to read it early (even if it did mean reading a snowy December read in June).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book, for 1/2 of it, is an adorable meet-cute between two guys meeting in an airport. For the other 1/2, it’s an anti-romance between a guy and a girl. This book absolutely would have been a 5-star read, if the POV switching hadn’t been quite as fast, which, when coupled with the slightly too-fast pacing of the book, sometimes left me confused on who exactly was driving. Otherwise, it’s an incredibly cute and poignant story about how happily-ever-after looks different for everyone — a unique messaging for a romance novel, however, Rittany manages to pull it off in a way that doesn’t come across as overly preachy. I loved the casually diverse cast, and the way that this book didn’t shy away from taking about the hard topics. I do wish that we had gotten more time with Zach and Kieran in the epilogue. Absolutely recommend for a cute winter holiday/airport/pride romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Guys, I was swearing about this one for days! I'm a magpie, I'm easily attracted by a pretty cover and I read the first one and a half paragraphs of the blurb and clicked request. When I actually started reading, I realised there were two entwined stories in this, and as a massive MM reader I was frankly appalled to be dumped in the middle of not only an MF relationship, but an MF relationship *in crisis*. This is entirely on me, as I didn't read the blurb properly, and I was cursing myself for that for quite a while. Unsurprisingly, I was drawn in by the MM storyline first, but over time Rena managed to win me over as well. This was well written and plotted, with the two storylines and the rich backstory woven together, and by the end I was really enjoying it. Did feel like it took forever to read tho, probably because I was digging my heels in, and I feel it's a bit misleading to call it a rom-com. While there's some funny lines in the opening chapters it doesn't read like a humourous piece, and it ends up tackling some sad subjects. I would have liked a chapter or two more, I wanted to know more about Seth, but overall I enjoyed it and would read more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Family drama, flight anxiety, and relationships all hit the fan when three college students have their gone-for-the-holiday plans derailed by a winter storm. As they get hit with delay after delay, they soon realize that it makes it hard to run from the truth if you can't even get out of the terminal.
Thanks to this review copy, I was gifted with a little bit of Christmas in July, and I'm absolutely into it. It gets into some meaty emotional/psychological territory with relationships, identity, mental health, family, etc. but manages to still maintain that shimmer of meet-cute charm throughout.
There is one character that's prickly, which I could see *might* be divisive with some readers, but personally I love complexity in my characters and like to see representations that are outside the box a bit. Fully enjoyable, and really should be made into a movie. For a story that's so self-contained, it really keeps you invested.
Thanks to this review copy, I was gifted with a little bit of Christmas in July, and I'm absolutely into it. It gets into some meaty emotional/psychological territory with relationships, identity, mental health, family, etc. but manages to still maintain that shimmer of meet-cute charm throughout.
There is one character that's prickly, which I could see *might* be divisive with some readers, but personally I love complexity in my characters and like to see representations that are outside the box a bit. Fully enjoyable, and really should be made into a movie. For a story that's so self-contained, it really keeps you invested.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and YA Norton for an honest review.
This is a wonderful snowed in at the airport romance, featuring a gay couple, family dysfunction, and the reassessment of relationships. Underlying threads of how a traumatic event can upend a family system and the awkward realization that assumptions have been made.
The story revolves around twins Kieran and Rena who are on the way home from college for Christmas. Rena is stranded with her longtime boyfriend Lucas. Kieran who had a mysterious life changing event last year befriends a lone first time flyer Zach.
During the 11 hours of stressful delays friendships develop,
relationships are questioned and old rifts are broached and begin to heal.
A relationship is a relationship is a relationship was my mantra for this book. How refreshing to have being gay not be an issue. This story would be good for anyone who likes a good romance.
This is a wonderful snowed in at the airport romance, featuring a gay couple, family dysfunction, and the reassessment of relationships. Underlying threads of how a traumatic event can upend a family system and the awkward realization that assumptions have been made.
The story revolves around twins Kieran and Rena who are on the way home from college for Christmas. Rena is stranded with her longtime boyfriend Lucas. Kieran who had a mysterious life changing event last year befriends a lone first time flyer Zach.
During the 11 hours of stressful delays friendships develop,
relationships are questioned and old rifts are broached and begin to heal.
A relationship is a relationship is a relationship was my mantra for this book. How refreshing to have being gay not be an issue. This story would be good for anyone who likes a good romance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
E-ARC by NetGalley. An LGBTQIA+ Holiday romance with a meet-cute, forced proximity/ closed room, and a happy ending! But along the way, so much new adult angst, anxiety, and embarrassment. You can feel the tension as the hints about back stories that the readers and Zach aren't privy to keep piling up. Why do we need Kieran's twin sister's POV instead of his? Rena is so very upset and concerned about whatever Kieran and Zach might be starting that she continues to shut out her long-term boyfriend and an estranged bff, until she just can't escape the reckoning that she has needed to have with all three people who know her perhaps better than she knows herself. Great mental health and neurodiversity representation along with the true messiness of youth, feelings, relationships, and air travel. Hope they make this into a movie!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
All the Way Home begins when college freshman Zach boards a flight home for Christmas carrying gifts for his family, lingering anxiety about flying, and a voicemail from his ex. After his luggage is stolen during a series of travel mishaps, he meets Kieran, another stranded traveler, and the unexpected airport delay becomes the backdrop for a relationship that develops over one snowy night.
I liked that the story doesn't rely on grand gestures to build its emotional moments. Much of the connection grows through conversations while waiting for delayed flights, alongside the parallel story of Kieran's sister, Rena, and her struggling relationship with Lucas. The holiday setting adds warmth without overwhelming the characters or their personal journeys. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
I liked that the story doesn't rely on grand gestures to build its emotional moments. Much of the connection grows through conversations while waiting for delayed flights, alongside the parallel story of Kieran's sister, Rena, and her struggling relationship with Lucas. The holiday setting adds warmth without overwhelming the characters or their personal journeys. My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc of All The Way Home by Alex Ritany.
Even though its the middle of the summer, I had an amazing time in this story imaging being stuck in an airport at Christmas time. Zach is about to board his first flight ever when he runs into Kieran in the security line, who is traveling home with his sister, Rena, and her boyfriend. It's dual povs and we get the story from Zach and Rena povs. They part ways after security to realize they are on the same flight, a snow storm delays their flight and they start to get to know each other as the hours past.
I felt myself connecting with most of the characters in some way. This is my first time reading this author, Alex Ritany, but I'll be checking out more of their work now.
Even though its the middle of the summer, I had an amazing time in this story imaging being stuck in an airport at Christmas time. Zach is about to board his first flight ever when he runs into Kieran in the security line, who is traveling home with his sister, Rena, and her boyfriend. It's dual povs and we get the story from Zach and Rena povs. They part ways after security to realize they are on the same flight, a snow storm delays their flight and they start to get to know each other as the hours past.
I felt myself connecting with most of the characters in some way. This is my first time reading this author, Alex Ritany, but I'll be checking out more of their work now.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One thing I especially appreciated was the way Ritany portrays the confusion and heartbreak that can come with trying to understand yourself as a young adult. The book doesn't shy away from the reality that some conversations are incredibly difficult, but it also emphasizes that avoiding them only causes more pain. The themes of accountability, reaching out for help, and repairing relationships are handled with a lot of care.
It reminded me of the bridge of Under Pressure; cause love is such and old-fashioned word and love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night.
Thank you for the opportunity of reading this masterpiece of writing.
It reminded me of the bridge of Under Pressure; cause love is such and old-fashioned word and love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night.
Thank you for the opportunity of reading this masterpiece of writing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rounded up.
To absolutely no one's surprise I loved the Christmas romance. I found things to connect with in each of the characters and love everyone's journey to self discovery. Zach’s family is the sweetest, cutest family ever. I sat down and read this in one evening because I just had to see when they would finally get on that dang plane and even though you have an idea of the big reveals each story is going to have, I needed to see it unfold. Adorable, takes place over about 12 hours, all the Christmas at the airport vibes you could need.
This was so good. I can’t wait to look into Alex Ritany’s backlog.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
To absolutely no one's surprise I loved the Christmas romance. I found things to connect with in each of the characters and love everyone's journey to self discovery. Zach’s family is the sweetest, cutest family ever. I sat down and read this in one evening because I just had to see when they would finally get on that dang plane and even though you have an idea of the big reveals each story is going to have, I needed to see it unfold. Adorable, takes place over about 12 hours, all the Christmas at the airport vibes you could need.
This was so good. I can’t wait to look into Alex Ritany’s backlog.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A wintery meet cute romance that kept me engaged from the beginning, with adorable awkward moments that we've absolutely all been through. It navigated finding love and heartbreak throughout, hits on some very big themes like mental health but in a very tasteful way and shows how strong sibling love and bonds can be.
The story is told from 3 voices, not just Zach and Kieran, which I think is part of why I loved it so much.
The winter setting and adorable meet-cute gave the whole book a cosy atmosphere that made it the perfect comfort read. I honestly can't think of anything I didn't enjoy, and I closed the book feeling happy and satisfied, albeit in tears!
The story is told from 3 voices, not just Zach and Kieran, which I think is part of why I loved it so much.
The winter setting and adorable meet-cute gave the whole book a cosy atmosphere that made it the perfect comfort read. I honestly can't think of anything I didn't enjoy, and I closed the book feeling happy and satisfied, albeit in tears!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was adorable. It is such a perfect read for Christmas time. It is wild to think this whole book takes place over the span of twelve hours, there was so much character development in such a short time.
Also the cover was really cute.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: Third Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Zach
Emojis Based on Vibes: ✈️❄️🌈
Also the cover was really cute.
(Note: I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity.)
POV: Third Person
Sad Level: 💧
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character(s): Zach
Emojis Based on Vibes: ✈️❄️🌈
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