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Good Friends
“We don’t get just one love in our life, but you never forget your first.”
13-year-old Andy Olson had almost entirely resigned himself to ambling aimlessly through his lackluster life in the small, sleepy town of Jasper, Nebraska until his first day of eighth grade, when cheery new kid Owen Ackerman spontaneously slid into the seat next to him in their first period health class and ruined everything.
Owen is everything Andy’s not - unmissably attractive, immediately outgoing, and almost annoyingly honest - but somehow, bound by their mutual loneliness, the two strike up an instant friendship nevertheless. And, despite his best efforts to fight it, Owen subsequently becomes the object of Andy’s affection as well.
Andy’s struggles with his sexuality and identity are nothing new to him, but when Owen arrives, any chance he has of controlling them anymore goes out the window. And even though the two drift in and out of each other’s lives over the decade that follows their first meeting, they always find their way back to one another, consistently blurring the line between friendship and “something more” as they age - despite all the dangers such a “something” would encounter in their small town and the rapidly changing world around them.
13-year-old Andy Olson had almost entirely resigned himself to ambling aimlessly through his lackluster life in the small, sleepy town of Jasper, Nebraska until his first day of eighth grade, when cheery new kid Owen Ackerman spontaneously slid into the seat next to him in their first period health class and ruined everything.
Owen is everything Andy’s not - unmissably attractive, immediately outgoing, and almost annoyingly honest - but somehow, bound by their mutual loneliness, the two strike up an instant friendship nevertheless. And, despite his best efforts to fight it, Owen subsequently becomes the object of Andy’s affection as well.
Andy’s struggles with his sexuality and identity are nothing new to him, but when Owen arrives, any chance he has of controlling them anymore goes out the window. And even though the two drift in and out of each other’s lives over the decade that follows their first meeting, they always find their way back to one another, consistently blurring the line between friendship and “something more” as they age - despite all the dangers such a “something” would encounter in their small town and the rapidly changing world around them.
- GenresQueerContemporary
401 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2026
14 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 9, 2026
Zoë is not only my friend but probably my favorite author. Every time Zoë would email me more chapters of this book over the past couple of years, I’d drop everything to read them immediately. I think everyone should be prepared to do the same when the book comes out!
Queer stories of young people growing up in the Midwest are rare, especially ones written with this much authenticity and vulnerability. I needed this when I was younger, but I’m so glad it exists now too.
Queer stories of young people growing up in the Midwest are rare, especially ones written with this much authenticity and vulnerability. I needed this when I was younger, but I’m so glad it exists now too.
March 25, 2026
zoë’s debut novel, while not-so-subtly inspired by her own personal experiences as a trans woman living in the midwest (as well as her very modern ‘twitter speak’ that she gifts to our narrator’s voice), excels in being something incredibly personable. to connect with this book on an emotional level, you don’t need to have experienced being queer in 2010s nebraska. you don’t need to have experienced the 2016 election as a high-schooler and felt like your future was no longer in your own hands. you just have to have been human. with human feelings, desires, urges and the like. “good friends” got to me in a way i wasn’t expecting. the urge to be seen, heard, understood, accepted, and loved—doing things to take care of yourself, and the person you want to be, even if it breaks your heart now—is a universal thing. it’s hard. it’ll change you. maybe for the better, maybe not: there’s no way to know. you just have to stick around and find out.
my favorite quote has to be the one we see on the back of the book: “we don’t get just one love in our life. but you never forget your first.”
while andy and owen’s story is incredibly moving and incredibly real, and while their ending had me fighting tears in the soccer field parking lot while i wait for my youngest brother to be done with practice, my favorite part of this is andi learning to take care of and herself. whether it’s getting on HRT, dying her hair, moving to nyc, or reconciling with her father, everything she does, she does for her, and the woman she wants to be. even if it breaks her heart.
sorry for the wall of text but i have just one more thing to add. each time i picked this book up, i had the urge to put it back down and write. this is half because i have the attention span of a slice of bread, and half because it made me want to go and work on my own labor of love. like most of us reading this do, i know zoë from twitter, as the teacher who tweets about movies and tv all the time. i had no idea she was a writer as well. then she began hinting at the release of her novel, and i was like, “damn! i forgot you can be multiple things at once!” i traded in my author dreams for an entertainment industry career a long time ago. but seeing zoë put out “good friends” all on her own, being a published author on top of so many other things, gave me faith in myself again. maybe i can do both. maybe i can do it. thank you, zoë. :)
my favorite quote has to be the one we see on the back of the book: “we don’t get just one love in our life. but you never forget your first.”
while andy and owen’s story is incredibly moving and incredibly real, and while their ending had me fighting tears in the soccer field parking lot while i wait for my youngest brother to be done with practice, my favorite part of this is andi learning to take care of and herself. whether it’s getting on HRT, dying her hair, moving to nyc, or reconciling with her father, everything she does, she does for her, and the woman she wants to be. even if it breaks her heart.
sorry for the wall of text but i have just one more thing to add. each time i picked this book up, i had the urge to put it back down and write. this is half because i have the attention span of a slice of bread, and half because it made me want to go and work on my own labor of love. like most of us reading this do, i know zoë from twitter, as the teacher who tweets about movies and tv all the time. i had no idea she was a writer as well. then she began hinting at the release of her novel, and i was like, “damn! i forgot you can be multiple things at once!” i traded in my author dreams for an entertainment industry career a long time ago. but seeing zoë put out “good friends” all on her own, being a published author on top of so many other things, gave me faith in myself again. maybe i can do both. maybe i can do it. thank you, zoë. :)
February 16, 2026
really got me emotional a few times. i flew through this, it was really addicting. structured in such a way to inflict maximum emotional damage. i look foward to reading whatever Zoë writes next because it is clear she has the talent for this.
February 21, 2026
This debut novel by Zoe Rose Bryant was beautifully written, being consistently engaging, very insightful, and emotionally moving. The characters are all very memorable, and they all play a significant role in this story. It also does a very effective job showing Andy’s relationships growing up, most notably the ones with his mom and Owen. It also does a great job showing the pains and heartbreaks that come with uncertainty, fear, and longing. I was very moved by several scenes throughout this novel, including the story’s ending.
Without question, I would highly recommend “Good Friends” to readers. I very much enjoyed this story, and it inspired me to return to my own roots and try to write even more than I already do. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Zoe Rose Bryant publishes next. And if this book ever gets the cinematic treatment, I would not be surprised at all if it got an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Happy I got the opportunity to read this book, and I wish the author and those close to her well.
Without question, I would highly recommend “Good Friends” to readers. I very much enjoyed this story, and it inspired me to return to my own roots and try to write even more than I already do. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Zoe Rose Bryant publishes next. And if this book ever gets the cinematic treatment, I would not be surprised at all if it got an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Happy I got the opportunity to read this book, and I wish the author and those close to her well.
March 2, 2026
“I lied, by the way” I said, turning back around halfway across the pavement that lead to the parking lot.
“Huh?” Owen asked.
“That day we waited out the rainstorm in that unfinished house,” I said. “You asked me when I knew about… us. And I lied. It wasn’t Cyrano. It was the moment we met”
i’ve been trying to work up the courage to write down my thoughts on this for about six hours now, and even now i’m crying as i think about it all. more than anything else, i can’t think of a piece of art i’ve truly connected to more than this. growing up as a trans woman in a republican state too afraid to come out to anyone, joining my high school’s theater program, wanting to be a writer, and even having a massive crush on a classmate with the last name Ackerman, this really touched me more than i could ever put to words. i think my only complaint with it is that i wish i had it in my life when i was in high school, but it’s still so moving now.
maybe her influences aren’t subtle, but Zoë Rose Bryant’s voice and passion shines through on every page, making this gorgeous story all the more compelling. it had me giggling one page and tearing up the next, and by the final section i was sobbing on two different occasions, but the kind of sobbing that comes from the healing closure brings. i’m already so envious of everyone who gets to read it for the first time, and i can’t wait to recommend this to everyone i can. this is such a beautiful novel, debut or otherwise, one that helped me find so much love and joy in my own queer identity, like so much good queer art does.
“Huh?” Owen asked.
“That day we waited out the rainstorm in that unfinished house,” I said. “You asked me when I knew about… us. And I lied. It wasn’t Cyrano. It was the moment we met”
i’ve been trying to work up the courage to write down my thoughts on this for about six hours now, and even now i’m crying as i think about it all. more than anything else, i can’t think of a piece of art i’ve truly connected to more than this. growing up as a trans woman in a republican state too afraid to come out to anyone, joining my high school’s theater program, wanting to be a writer, and even having a massive crush on a classmate with the last name Ackerman, this really touched me more than i could ever put to words. i think my only complaint with it is that i wish i had it in my life when i was in high school, but it’s still so moving now.
maybe her influences aren’t subtle, but Zoë Rose Bryant’s voice and passion shines through on every page, making this gorgeous story all the more compelling. it had me giggling one page and tearing up the next, and by the final section i was sobbing on two different occasions, but the kind of sobbing that comes from the healing closure brings. i’m already so envious of everyone who gets to read it for the first time, and i can’t wait to recommend this to everyone i can. this is such a beautiful novel, debut or otherwise, one that helped me find so much love and joy in my own queer identity, like so much good queer art does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
When I bought this book, I knew there were a few things to consider before I read it.
The first being that this was a debut book. Writing any book, regardless of quality, takes a great deal of consideration, time, thought, commitment and skill. Skill that whilst you can develop through studying, I feel you also develop through experience. Now I am unaware of Zoë Rose Bryant's experience with writing (with the exception of her film reviews), whether she studied or if it was just a hobby, but prior to beginning this book, I assumed the latter.
The other thing I had to consider is that I wouldn't have classified myself as a fan of straight romance prior to this book. I've enjoyed it in the greater picture of fantasy stories and sci-fi adventures, but Nebraska wasn't the place I thought of in terms of a world to escape to. So with all that in mind, I started the book and...
Good Friends is a book I struggled to put down.
The fear I had with the story running just shy of 400 pages, is that the romance between these two men from childhood to adulthood, would be surface level and become potentially stale. Yet this book just gave me so much more. Whilst the love story is magical with a lot of complexity and value, it isn't just about the love these two people share, it's the meaning behind it in the world that surrounds them. It's about the people that are directly involved in their lives. I absolutely loved how effortlessly the themes were explored in this book. The idea of how differently people connect with their sexuality from the beginning, to the years that follow. I loved how that played into the story. Given that we see these characters and their relationships develop of a number of years, I found it very interesting to see these characters grow into their identities. To cover "growing up" in less than 400 pages, with a number of different people, so effectively and with so much depth, on top of a love story, is just incredible to me.
I don't believe this is a spoiler but apologies if whoever may read this deems it so, but this book starts in the year 2012 and progresses over the years. Those years, especially in America I can imagine, had a significant impact on the youth as far as understanding the world around them and understanding themselves. I think Zoë does a wonderful job in honouring that and showing that impact. There's a particular part in this book where it touches on a horrific event that had happened at the time, and how it was effecting the characters. I think Zoë writes about it beautifully. It was so moving and heartbreaking. It offered a very real layer of perspective around how any person, young or old, may fear for the life they cannot help but live. It was devastating.
The characters are all wonderful. Andy and Owen have an amazing dynamic all the way through and page after page, I just wanted to root for them more and more. Each character felt unique, with a distinct voice. Again, they all had layers. I found none of the characters to be surface level, but rather individual. Each character has a certain amount of growth which I really liked. One thing I really liked is something I mentioned earlier, which is how the people directly involved in lets say Owen and Andy's lives, actually impacted them as characters. You can actually see the impact they have on how they view themselves and the world around them. When their relationships change and grow, these views also change and grow and I loved that you could see that in the story.
The writing was great. Everything had great pacing and none of the bigger moments felt rushed. There's a lot of attention on grief and trauma which I feel was written with great empathy. That grief and trauma actually served the story as well. For how much Zoë weaves into the story, none of it ever felt unnecessary. I found almost all of the details, character moments and politics discussed to be purposeful. There are some aspects in regards to the politics that I found to be a little less needed, but we spend so little time on the aspects I'm thinking of that for me, them being in the book was neither here nor there.
I think the cover for this book is also really great. As you read through the story, your understanding of the cover is deepened and I feel it's entirely representative of the relationship Owen and Andy have. I think Chelsea, the artist behind the cover, did a great job.
Something I have found in a couple of the books I've read is the fact that their value and meaning to the reader can change over time, depending on where they are in their lives. I recently found this with Frankenstein. I feel this book is no different. It certainly feels aimed towards a teenage audience, yet I can imagine those same teenagers reading this book again in their 20's or 30's and seeing it much differently. Reflecting on their own journey with their sexuality and identity, especially when moving from their childhood to adulthood. It's just a brilliant book.
This book surpassed my expectations and then some. It is so meaningful and important. Zoë wrote a beautiful story, one that I recommend to anyone with the time to read it.
The first being that this was a debut book. Writing any book, regardless of quality, takes a great deal of consideration, time, thought, commitment and skill. Skill that whilst you can develop through studying, I feel you also develop through experience. Now I am unaware of Zoë Rose Bryant's experience with writing (with the exception of her film reviews), whether she studied or if it was just a hobby, but prior to beginning this book, I assumed the latter.
The other thing I had to consider is that I wouldn't have classified myself as a fan of straight romance prior to this book. I've enjoyed it in the greater picture of fantasy stories and sci-fi adventures, but Nebraska wasn't the place I thought of in terms of a world to escape to. So with all that in mind, I started the book and...
Good Friends is a book I struggled to put down.
The fear I had with the story running just shy of 400 pages, is that the romance between these two men from childhood to adulthood, would be surface level and become potentially stale. Yet this book just gave me so much more. Whilst the love story is magical with a lot of complexity and value, it isn't just about the love these two people share, it's the meaning behind it in the world that surrounds them. It's about the people that are directly involved in their lives. I absolutely loved how effortlessly the themes were explored in this book. The idea of how differently people connect with their sexuality from the beginning, to the years that follow. I loved how that played into the story. Given that we see these characters and their relationships develop of a number of years, I found it very interesting to see these characters grow into their identities. To cover "growing up" in less than 400 pages, with a number of different people, so effectively and with so much depth, on top of a love story, is just incredible to me.
I don't believe this is a spoiler but apologies if whoever may read this deems it so, but this book starts in the year 2012 and progresses over the years. Those years, especially in America I can imagine, had a significant impact on the youth as far as understanding the world around them and understanding themselves. I think Zoë does a wonderful job in honouring that and showing that impact. There's a particular part in this book where it touches on a horrific event that had happened at the time, and how it was effecting the characters. I think Zoë writes about it beautifully. It was so moving and heartbreaking. It offered a very real layer of perspective around how any person, young or old, may fear for the life they cannot help but live. It was devastating.
The characters are all wonderful. Andy and Owen have an amazing dynamic all the way through and page after page, I just wanted to root for them more and more. Each character felt unique, with a distinct voice. Again, they all had layers. I found none of the characters to be surface level, but rather individual. Each character has a certain amount of growth which I really liked. One thing I really liked is something I mentioned earlier, which is how the people directly involved in lets say Owen and Andy's lives, actually impacted them as characters. You can actually see the impact they have on how they view themselves and the world around them. When their relationships change and grow, these views also change and grow and I loved that you could see that in the story.
The writing was great. Everything had great pacing and none of the bigger moments felt rushed. There's a lot of attention on grief and trauma which I feel was written with great empathy. That grief and trauma actually served the story as well. For how much Zoë weaves into the story, none of it ever felt unnecessary. I found almost all of the details, character moments and politics discussed to be purposeful. There are some aspects in regards to the politics that I found to be a little less needed, but we spend so little time on the aspects I'm thinking of that for me, them being in the book was neither here nor there.
I think the cover for this book is also really great. As you read through the story, your understanding of the cover is deepened and I feel it's entirely representative of the relationship Owen and Andy have. I think Chelsea, the artist behind the cover, did a great job.
Something I have found in a couple of the books I've read is the fact that their value and meaning to the reader can change over time, depending on where they are in their lives. I recently found this with Frankenstein. I feel this book is no different. It certainly feels aimed towards a teenage audience, yet I can imagine those same teenagers reading this book again in their 20's or 30's and seeing it much differently. Reflecting on their own journey with their sexuality and identity, especially when moving from their childhood to adulthood. It's just a brilliant book.
This book surpassed my expectations and then some. It is so meaningful and important. Zoë wrote a beautiful story, one that I recommend to anyone with the time to read it.
February 19, 2026
incredibly beautiful depiction of teenage limerence and bittersweet nostalgia!
April 11, 2026
What a gorgeous debut. Bravo, Zoë.
(And I'm not just saying that because it features a pug)
(And I'm not just saying that because it features a pug)
February 15, 2026
No surprise - Zoë wrote an absolute home run for her debut novel. Highly recommend. Couldn’t put it down.
February 24, 2026
“queer people all go through the same shit in different ways”
fucking mean and evil novel. reading this right before you go to college in New York is cruel enough, but every single detail felt plagarized from my life. genuinely made me feel so simple and like i’ve never lived an original experience until you realize that’s the point and how that’s so fucking beautiful. i realized toward the end of the book that Zoe took THE past lives review down, and i was at first devastated but accepted that i got to read it and it changed my life, and i don’t need it anymore.
is the book DEEPLY flawed? yes, it desperately needed a real editor, some spelling and punctuation errors got a chuckle out of me, zoe’s repeated use of referring to Cliches In This Tacky Format get annoying and are more charming in short form writing. beyond that, some moments feel a bit TOO angsty, and sometimes (especially in the plotline with Andy’s dad) more is better. all that said, it’s honestly worth it to see an artists vision carried out THIS dramatically and this relatably. this is what happens when we let queer artists actually write shit for queer people not for “all audiences and queer people”.
fucking mean and evil novel. reading this right before you go to college in New York is cruel enough, but every single detail felt plagarized from my life. genuinely made me feel so simple and like i’ve never lived an original experience until you realize that’s the point and how that’s so fucking beautiful. i realized toward the end of the book that Zoe took THE past lives review down, and i was at first devastated but accepted that i got to read it and it changed my life, and i don’t need it anymore.
is the book DEEPLY flawed? yes, it desperately needed a real editor, some spelling and punctuation errors got a chuckle out of me, zoe’s repeated use of referring to Cliches In This Tacky Format get annoying and are more charming in short form writing. beyond that, some moments feel a bit TOO angsty, and sometimes (especially in the plotline with Andy’s dad) more is better. all that said, it’s honestly worth it to see an artists vision carried out THIS dramatically and this relatably. this is what happens when we let queer artists actually write shit for queer people not for “all audiences and queer people”.
February 26, 2026
I hope i can fix my relationship with my dad
March 3, 2026
This is probably one of my favourite books ever, and I promise I'm not just saying that because me and the author are mutuals on Twitter
It's raw, it's realistic, and for me, it's incredibly relatable. This book being set amongst the backdrop of the late-2010s American political sphere reminds me of just how far we've come within the past 15 years, and how much more we still have to go in terms of acceptance in terms of being LGBTQ+, even more so in a more rural setting (not that Belfast is a small town, but it's not a massive city).
I don't want to get into it too much for the sake of spoilers, and also to not risk revealing too much about my own personal life online, but if you want to read something that will make you FEEL something, either for the main characters, or for yourself, or a combination of the two, this is the book. Incredible stuff!
It's raw, it's realistic, and for me, it's incredibly relatable. This book being set amongst the backdrop of the late-2010s American political sphere reminds me of just how far we've come within the past 15 years, and how much more we still have to go in terms of acceptance in terms of being LGBTQ+, even more so in a more rural setting (not that Belfast is a small town, but it's not a massive city).
I don't want to get into it too much for the sake of spoilers, and also to not risk revealing too much about my own personal life online, but if you want to read something that will make you FEEL something, either for the main characters, or for yourself, or a combination of the two, this is the book. Incredible stuff!
March 25, 2026
As someone just getting back into reading, this was such an emotional and deeply relatable book that reminded me just how deep literature can hit you in ways you wouldn’t expect. Good Friends is such a beautiful story; I was instantly hooked on the character of Andy and his relationship with Owen, and I loved how multiple internal conflicts and misunderstandings about oneself were all perfectly interconnected and each were major obstacles for Andy to overcome in her journey to her new life. Aside from the very relatable plot details, Andy’s journey is incredibly emotional and has so many ups and downs that I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to see if things would get better or worse. Also I really love Zoë’s writing style, the dialogue felt natural to me if a little exaggerated during the more dramatic scenes but I could perfectly picture real people talking like that so it worked for me. Overall, I just really loved this book.
—SPOILERS—
I’m sure I missed lots of the inspirations for this book but the spirit of Past Lives was so embedded within that ending it was a double whammy of emotions for me as that film also had a heavy impact on me.
—SPOILERS—
I’m sure I missed lots of the inspirations for this book but the spirit of Past Lives was so embedded within that ending it was a double whammy of emotions for me as that film also had a heavy impact on me.
February 28, 2026
When I started this book, it was almost impossible for me to put it down. I actually had to make myself stop reading it so fast so I wouldn’t get through it too fast. Today, I read the last 200 pages or so in one sitting though and cried for a good chunk of that. The fact that this is a debut novel is crazy to me and has me incredibly excited for what comes next. Genuinely one of the best experiences I have had reading a book
February 21, 2026
It’s noon on a Saturday and I’m absolutely emotionally destroyed from finishing my friend Zoë Rose Bryant’s debut novel. The way she breathes life into these characters is incredible. This story clung onto my heart and it really stuck.
February 22, 2026
Absolutely insanely ridiculously good for a debut novel. A beautiful story where I felt so protective of and adored all the characters. Definitely a book you want to devour in one sitting but made myself space out over a couple days cuz whewww the emotion!!
February 22, 2026
This one hit close to home for many reasons. I couldn’t put it down but I had to several times because I was so overwhelmed by everything that Andy and Andi went through.
Such an emotionally thorough piece. Insanely good for a debut novel (complimentary).
Thank you, Zoë Rose Bryant, for the journey that this novel was. For the hope and the friendship and the love.
Such an emotionally thorough piece. Insanely good for a debut novel (complimentary).
Thank you, Zoë Rose Bryant, for the journey that this novel was. For the hope and the friendship and the love.
March 17, 2026
Great bildungsroman debut from a good friend, Zoë!
March 2, 2026
The words will come to me someday but I need a while to recover. Gorgeous, gorgeous book.
March 6, 2026
First book I've bought and read in a while but I just had to grab it and read it, it grabbed me back.
I usually have two modes of reading, one takes a really long time but somehow I get to the end and then once in a while a book bites me and I devor it within hours or days. Good Friends, when I got going, took me two sittings.
It's such a beautiful, honest and raw novel, exploring so many aspects of life and especially in my interest, growing up trans.
There were passages of this book that brought me to tears, they hit so close to my heart and my life experience, it's kind of amazing when you find a piece of art that feels like it's staring into your soul, like it's somehow found those thoughts that you thought were locked in your head and exclusive to you. Obviously it's not 1 to 1 with my life and it doesn't have to be for the parts that fit, and the parts that don't, to move me and Good Friends genuinely moved me.
I can't just say I recommend this book, I really adored it. If I could I'd direct the film, that's how much I loved it.
I usually have two modes of reading, one takes a really long time but somehow I get to the end and then once in a while a book bites me and I devor it within hours or days. Good Friends, when I got going, took me two sittings.
It's such a beautiful, honest and raw novel, exploring so many aspects of life and especially in my interest, growing up trans.
There were passages of this book that brought me to tears, they hit so close to my heart and my life experience, it's kind of amazing when you find a piece of art that feels like it's staring into your soul, like it's somehow found those thoughts that you thought were locked in your head and exclusive to you. Obviously it's not 1 to 1 with my life and it doesn't have to be for the parts that fit, and the parts that don't, to move me and Good Friends genuinely moved me.
I can't just say I recommend this book, I really adored it. If I could I'd direct the film, that's how much I loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
The book I wish I had when I was bug's age.
April 8, 2026
that's oomf!
February 17, 2026
I really had no idea what this was about going in, but decided to give it a shot since Zoe Rose Bryant is one of my favorite people on film Twitter and man am I glad I did. It's an absolutely beautiful romance/coming of age story that really moved me and sunk it's teeth into me, I just couldn't put this book down. I can't wait to read whatever she does next!
March 30, 2026
this is maybe better suited for a younger audience than me (i’m 32, ftr). it was more YA leaning in writing-style and execution than i usually prefer to read. it felt a little overly-explanatory and lacked a bit of nuance. I think the reader could have been trusted more to infer context from important moments rather then being explicitly told the meaning behind everything. i also didn’t see the need to include the few journal chapters when the overall narration was already so internal-monologue heavy, and already written in the first-person.
there were some really interesting plot points that felt glossed over (andi’s transition and suicide attempt to name a couple). overall, i wished to have been shown more things rather than told them. If the relationship had started a bit sooner in the novel and lasted longer i think the plot would have felt more balanced. the end section felt like it was reminiscing on plot points that had only just happened, and i think a larger separation between the two would have created a greater sense of nostalgia and reflection (i also just loved Andy and Owen together so much, and would have read 300 more pages of them together because i loved seeing them interact. their soft moments together were the highlights of the story for me).
despite the blemishes in execution and style, this still managed to make me emotional (i cried when i finished it, after all). i think this has the bones of something great, and was a valiant effort for a first-time author. i think teenagers will really see themselves in this and be able to relate quite heavily with the material.
there were some really interesting plot points that felt glossed over (andi’s transition and suicide attempt to name a couple). overall, i wished to have been shown more things rather than told them. If the relationship had started a bit sooner in the novel and lasted longer i think the plot would have felt more balanced. the end section felt like it was reminiscing on plot points that had only just happened, and i think a larger separation between the two would have created a greater sense of nostalgia and reflection (i also just loved Andy and Owen together so much, and would have read 300 more pages of them together because i loved seeing them interact. their soft moments together were the highlights of the story for me).
despite the blemishes in execution and style, this still managed to make me emotional (i cried when i finished it, after all). i think this has the bones of something great, and was a valiant effort for a first-time author. i think teenagers will really see themselves in this and be able to relate quite heavily with the material.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2026
LOVED IT!! I was reading this FAST, loved the main character and the layers that get peeled back as you go throughout the book
April 10, 2026
This book made me feel seen and understood in a way I don’t think I’ve experienced before, which was awesome. Impossible to stop reading, and was quite fun. It even made me prioritize reading over movies,thing that rarely happens.
April 16, 2026
This book was everything I hoped it was and more. It is both a timeless tale of adolescence, first love, & self-discovery and a time capsule of the period we grew up in. The three sections center us in what is happening very well while also making it clear time has passed. All of the info allows for deep characterization and layers that pay off in the end.
Even though the ending is bittersweet and left me in tears, it feels like a realistic closing of a long chapter for our two main characters. It reminded me of La La Land in the way that the “what if” of a different future makes me sad but a deep appreciation of the journey and roles Andy and Owen played in each others’ lives will keep me coming back.
Having followed Zoe for a while now, I could feel her on every page. I wasn’t only reading a book — I was getting a glimpse into Zoe’s experiences. While I know this is fictional, I still feel the blending of lived experiences in the story.
Everyone should read this beautiful story. I will do my best to spread it through my circle. I hope you all do the same.
Zoe, I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next 🩵
Even though the ending is bittersweet and left me in tears, it feels like a realistic closing of a long chapter for our two main characters. It reminded me of La La Land in the way that the “what if” of a different future makes me sad but a deep appreciation of the journey and roles Andy and Owen played in each others’ lives will keep me coming back.
Having followed Zoe for a while now, I could feel her on every page. I wasn’t only reading a book — I was getting a glimpse into Zoe’s experiences. While I know this is fictional, I still feel the blending of lived experiences in the story.
Everyone should read this beautiful story. I will do my best to spread it through my circle. I hope you all do the same.
Zoe, I am so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next 🩵
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