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Beautiful to See You
Not yet published
Expected 20 Oct 26When a mysterious tunnel in Central Park allows a heartbroken college dropout to revisit her tragic past, will she ever move on and embrace the hope—and the love—in her present? This mind-bending coming-of-age romance is perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Dustin Thao.
ARE YOU READY TO GO BACK?
Tia is sleepwalking through life. Once an ambitious student and promising actor, now she’s an aimless college dropout dragging herself to her dog-walking job…until she follows the sound of a ringing bell to a mysterious tunnel in Central Park, a tunnel that can transport her back in time, back to the summer of Natty.
When MIT-bound Natty Poole delivered the valedictory speech of a lifetime, Tia finally noticed him, the awkward boy who’d always adored her. Despite their looming departures for college, they couldn’t help but fall in love. But their perfect summer came to a tragic end, separating Tia and Natty seemingly forever.
Although visiting the tunnel weakens her, Tia remains obsessed with seeing Natty and finding a way to change the past—so obsessed that she’s neglecting the present, which includes the handsome and persuasive film student Razor Ford, who is dead set on having Tia star in his short film.
Every moment spent with Razor feels like a betrayal of Natty, but there’s something about Razor that keeps pulling her in. Torn between then and now, how can Tia move on when her heart and the tunnel won’t let her?
ARE YOU READY TO GO BACK?
Tia is sleepwalking through life. Once an ambitious student and promising actor, now she’s an aimless college dropout dragging herself to her dog-walking job…until she follows the sound of a ringing bell to a mysterious tunnel in Central Park, a tunnel that can transport her back in time, back to the summer of Natty.
When MIT-bound Natty Poole delivered the valedictory speech of a lifetime, Tia finally noticed him, the awkward boy who’d always adored her. Despite their looming departures for college, they couldn’t help but fall in love. But their perfect summer came to a tragic end, separating Tia and Natty seemingly forever.
Although visiting the tunnel weakens her, Tia remains obsessed with seeing Natty and finding a way to change the past—so obsessed that she’s neglecting the present, which includes the handsome and persuasive film student Razor Ford, who is dead set on having Tia star in his short film.
Every moment spent with Razor feels like a betrayal of Natty, but there’s something about Razor that keeps pulling her in. Torn between then and now, how can Tia move on when her heart and the tunnel won’t let her?
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 20, 2026
About the author
Lygia Day Peñaflor
5 books107 followersLygia Day Peñaflor is the critically acclaimed author of BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOU (AGAIN), CREEP: A LOVE STORY, ALL OF THIS IS TRUE, and UNSCRIPTED JOSS BYRD. Her novels have been published around the world in over a dozen languages.
She also teaches young Hollywood actors on TV and film sets. Her students have included cast members of GOSSIP GIRL, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY.
Lygia lives with her husband on Long Island. She rides horses and flies from a trapeze. Follow her on Instagram @lygiaday.
She also teaches young Hollywood actors on TV and film sets. Her students have included cast members of GOSSIP GIRL, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY.
Lygia lives with her husband on Long Island. She rides horses and flies from a trapeze. Follow her on Instagram @lygiaday.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really nice book. I enjoyed the banter between Tia and Natty. The evolution of their relationship in the flashbacks was nostalgic and cute. However, I was not the target audience for this book. The pacing seemed fine in some places, and then dragged on in the later half of the book. Also, the Then, Now, Columbia, etc. chapters alternating was really confusing and detracted from the story in my opinion. All in all, this book was too much and not enough at the same time. I wish there had been longer flashbacks that really explained the past, but at the same time I wish the book had been shorter. It was a fun read, but I was ready to move on halfway through.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The final year of high school is at hand; an awkward, anxiety-riddled, wallflower-nice guy is on stage giving his valedictorian speech. He’s brilliant, funny, nerdy, honest and good. His name is Natty (Nathaniel) Poole, and he’s spent his school years with his nose in the books and out of trouble. He doesn’t quite know it, but he is exceedingly cool and very likeable. He’s going to MIT; Natty is one who will change the world.
She’s Tia Cruz Aldon, not a wallflower in the least, but she’s good, grounded, funny and smart. She’s going to Columbia; Tia is one who brightens the colours of the world by being in it.
Tia and Natty belong to a friend group whose small pack is loyal, protective, inclusive and kind. A pack-member’s parents host a party at their beachfront home where energy and excitement ride the waves, misting the entourage with scenes of their futures. There’s a breakup-make-up-breakup with both Natty and Tia taking roles as diffusers, defenders and supporters in the melee; when the situation calms, sparks between Natty and Tia fly.
And then the countdown begins.
Author Lygia Day Peñaflor wastes no time at all in having the reader like and root for Tia and Natty. Her opening chapters are exceptionally winning, and whether you’re of high school age living the moment and vibing with Tia and Natty’s sweetly blossoming romance in this middle-grade read, or, like me, must reach back to fondly remember the glory days of youth, we connect with Peñaflor’s words.
Breaking the chapters under THEN and NOW headings, Peñaflor gives us two stories: yesterday’s tragedy and today’s hope. In Beautiful to See You (again), a portal connects those timelines.
Time travel remains a universal draw. Who wouldn’t like to step back in time for a redo? It’s my only real wish. Not to change the world, just for a chance to do better in certain, small but crucial moments. Tia, in the aftershock of past events, isn’t really living. Surviving, yes, but coping, no. Her existence is consumed by a heartsick wish to change what happened.
In keeping with my practice of ‘no-spoilers ’, I won’t reveal details about the device facilitating time travel or its limitations. I will say that it is clever and entirely plausible, if you believe that mysteries still exist.
In Tia’s “NOW” chapters, Peñaflor makes that most romantic New York promise of all come to life; Tia is “discovered.” Razor Ford, the (gorgeous, of course) son of a celebrity drummer of a legendary rock band, is shooting a short film for a prestigious shorty contest. He has everything he needs for the film except for the leading girl. Razor spots Tia walking a handful of hounds in Central Park. Tia isn’t merely a pretty face; to Razor, she’s the only girl for the film.
Peñaflor has a bead on personality types; from the sweet and charismatic Tia in her “THEN” timeframe, to her savvy, calculating, detached persona in her “NOW” period, to Natty, his warmth, charm and wit, to Razor and his mastery of casual but focused flirtatiousness. The author fills the background with well-rounded characters, including parents and sprinkles in common obstacles faced by many.
When I read, I use small sticky notes to mark pages for later referencing and quoting, but because I have an advanced reader copy of the book, I am not permitted to quote directly. That said, I have a handful of pages tabbed with phrasing that lands perfectly and makes one remember why fiction is so wonderful.
The dialogue flows, and the relationships present feel organic and believable. The sweetness of romance, the pain of heartbreak and the ache of misfortune permeate the pages, staining your soul and sweetening your heart.
Another mark of a great book is getting through it without a middle lag. Backgrounds grow as stories build. Conflicts and crises intersect and separate again. Illogical decisions torment as much as they make sense, and often, authors lose their way or momentum in the middle. Peñaflor suffers no such lag. Quite the opposite, she’s set the chapters in a sequence compelling the reader to turn the page so they can see the whole picture, answer the questions, and solve the puzzle. I can tell you that many times, I flipped the sheet asking aloud, “But what happened?!?” You become desperate to find out.
The story concludes with screenwriting. Most of the final chapter is the screenplay for Razor’s short film, “GO!” It’s a risky change of pace for Peñaflor, and as it began, I was worried that the author used the device to shore up the loose ends into a tidy knot. My anticipation of disappointment grew. And then I was wrong.
Peñaflor pulls a fast one. I didn’t jump the queue and never got ahead of the author; she slipped off the veil with precision and finesse.
I hope that Beautiful to See You (again) achieves critical and commercial success as it is well deserving. Fully entertaining with clever turns and a couple of shocking twists, a good and believable story, strong characters and a solid expression of suffering in the human experience, Peñaflor’s book should please readers across genres and ages. It was a delight to read, and I give it five out of five stars.
She’s Tia Cruz Aldon, not a wallflower in the least, but she’s good, grounded, funny and smart. She’s going to Columbia; Tia is one who brightens the colours of the world by being in it.
Tia and Natty belong to a friend group whose small pack is loyal, protective, inclusive and kind. A pack-member’s parents host a party at their beachfront home where energy and excitement ride the waves, misting the entourage with scenes of their futures. There’s a breakup-make-up-breakup with both Natty and Tia taking roles as diffusers, defenders and supporters in the melee; when the situation calms, sparks between Natty and Tia fly.
And then the countdown begins.
Author Lygia Day Peñaflor wastes no time at all in having the reader like and root for Tia and Natty. Her opening chapters are exceptionally winning, and whether you’re of high school age living the moment and vibing with Tia and Natty’s sweetly blossoming romance in this middle-grade read, or, like me, must reach back to fondly remember the glory days of youth, we connect with Peñaflor’s words.
Breaking the chapters under THEN and NOW headings, Peñaflor gives us two stories: yesterday’s tragedy and today’s hope. In Beautiful to See You (again), a portal connects those timelines.
Time travel remains a universal draw. Who wouldn’t like to step back in time for a redo? It’s my only real wish. Not to change the world, just for a chance to do better in certain, small but crucial moments. Tia, in the aftershock of past events, isn’t really living. Surviving, yes, but coping, no. Her existence is consumed by a heartsick wish to change what happened.
In keeping with my practice of ‘no-spoilers ’, I won’t reveal details about the device facilitating time travel or its limitations. I will say that it is clever and entirely plausible, if you believe that mysteries still exist.
In Tia’s “NOW” chapters, Peñaflor makes that most romantic New York promise of all come to life; Tia is “discovered.” Razor Ford, the (gorgeous, of course) son of a celebrity drummer of a legendary rock band, is shooting a short film for a prestigious shorty contest. He has everything he needs for the film except for the leading girl. Razor spots Tia walking a handful of hounds in Central Park. Tia isn’t merely a pretty face; to Razor, she’s the only girl for the film.
Peñaflor has a bead on personality types; from the sweet and charismatic Tia in her “THEN” timeframe, to her savvy, calculating, detached persona in her “NOW” period, to Natty, his warmth, charm and wit, to Razor and his mastery of casual but focused flirtatiousness. The author fills the background with well-rounded characters, including parents and sprinkles in common obstacles faced by many.
When I read, I use small sticky notes to mark pages for later referencing and quoting, but because I have an advanced reader copy of the book, I am not permitted to quote directly. That said, I have a handful of pages tabbed with phrasing that lands perfectly and makes one remember why fiction is so wonderful.
The dialogue flows, and the relationships present feel organic and believable. The sweetness of romance, the pain of heartbreak and the ache of misfortune permeate the pages, staining your soul and sweetening your heart.
Another mark of a great book is getting through it without a middle lag. Backgrounds grow as stories build. Conflicts and crises intersect and separate again. Illogical decisions torment as much as they make sense, and often, authors lose their way or momentum in the middle. Peñaflor suffers no such lag. Quite the opposite, she’s set the chapters in a sequence compelling the reader to turn the page so they can see the whole picture, answer the questions, and solve the puzzle. I can tell you that many times, I flipped the sheet asking aloud, “But what happened?!?” You become desperate to find out.
The story concludes with screenwriting. Most of the final chapter is the screenplay for Razor’s short film, “GO!” It’s a risky change of pace for Peñaflor, and as it began, I was worried that the author used the device to shore up the loose ends into a tidy knot. My anticipation of disappointment grew. And then I was wrong.
Peñaflor pulls a fast one. I didn’t jump the queue and never got ahead of the author; she slipped off the veil with precision and finesse.
I hope that Beautiful to See You (again) achieves critical and commercial success as it is well deserving. Fully entertaining with clever turns and a couple of shocking twists, a good and believable story, strong characters and a solid expression of suffering in the human experience, Peñaflor’s book should please readers across genres and ages. It was a delight to read, and I give it five out of five stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What if you could visit a person you loved who died, but every moment you spent with them cost you a little more of yourself?
Tia has spent the last two years grieving Natty, her first love, and avoiding pretty much anything that might require her to move forward. Instead of attending Columbia, she works as a dog walker and drifts through New York City without much direction.
Then she discovers a hidden tunnel in Central Park that can take her back to the summer she spent with Natty, her high school’s valedictorian and the boy everyone thought had his whole life ahead of him.
At first, it feels like an impossible gift. She gets to see him again and return to the happiest time in her life. But the more she goes back, the more it takes from her. She becomes weaker and sicker, and returning to the present becomes harder every time.
Meanwhile, in the present, Razor, an ambitious film student, wants Tia to appear in his short film. He also gives her a reason to start participating in her own life again. She becomes caught between the past, where Natty is still alive, and a present that might still have something waiting for her if she is willing to let herself live it.
Tia isn’t simply choosing between the past and the present. She is choosing between a past that is slowly killing her and a future she isn’t sure she wants.
I thought this was a very well-written and unique YA story. The characters move between their late teens and early twenties, and the book deals heavily with grief. One of the side characters is also dealing with an abusive ex-boyfriend. There is some cussing and insinuated spice, but nothing graphic.
I normally don’t like comparing authors because every author brings something different to their stories, but the tragedy and grief in this one reminded me a little of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao. Then I got on Goodreads and saw that comparison in the excerpt. 😆
This was emotional, thoughtful and very well done. I definitely recommend it for YA readers who enjoy stories about grief, first love and the struggle to choose a future when the past is still calling you back.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
Tia has spent the last two years grieving Natty, her first love, and avoiding pretty much anything that might require her to move forward. Instead of attending Columbia, she works as a dog walker and drifts through New York City without much direction.
Then she discovers a hidden tunnel in Central Park that can take her back to the summer she spent with Natty, her high school’s valedictorian and the boy everyone thought had his whole life ahead of him.
At first, it feels like an impossible gift. She gets to see him again and return to the happiest time in her life. But the more she goes back, the more it takes from her. She becomes weaker and sicker, and returning to the present becomes harder every time.
Meanwhile, in the present, Razor, an ambitious film student, wants Tia to appear in his short film. He also gives her a reason to start participating in her own life again. She becomes caught between the past, where Natty is still alive, and a present that might still have something waiting for her if she is willing to let herself live it.
Tia isn’t simply choosing between the past and the present. She is choosing between a past that is slowly killing her and a future she isn’t sure she wants.
I thought this was a very well-written and unique YA story. The characters move between their late teens and early twenties, and the book deals heavily with grief. One of the side characters is also dealing with an abusive ex-boyfriend. There is some cussing and insinuated spice, but nothing graphic.
I normally don’t like comparing authors because every author brings something different to their stories, but the tragedy and grief in this one reminded me a little of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao. Then I got on Goodreads and saw that comparison in the excerpt. 😆
This was emotional, thoughtful and very well done. I definitely recommend it for YA readers who enjoy stories about grief, first love and the struggle to choose a future when the past is still calling you back.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars, rounded up. I was so excited to get this book on NetGalley. I had participated in the cover reveal and I really enjoyed Lygia Day Penaflor's previous books. This story sounded so intriguing and different from what I'd read of hers, so I was looking forward to reading it.
One thing I've noticed about Penaflor's writing is that she is a master at teasing out the story and plot elements that leave you curious and wanting more. She writes with a cinematic flair and style. That was definitely true here. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the time shifts could definitely be a little confusing and certain developments felt a little fast. But having read some of her books before, I had a good sense that there was a reason behind the way things were written and presented. I didn't know what that was, but I trusted her enough to believe the payout would be worth it. And it was.
Tia was such a heartbreaking character. It's not a spoiler to say that she's experiencing incredible grief, made worse by how she did (or did not) deal with it initially. She's adrift and to make matters worse, she knows it. But she can't seem to move on. What she was going through felt so real that even as she's making questionable choices, you understand why and you sympathize with her.
Razor was a surprise with how tender and sweet he was. I wasn't expecting that, given how he and Tia met. But again, without spoiling the story, it made sense with how things turned out.
One of the best things, to me, about this story is how it dealt with closure and what closure means. Tia desperately wants a do-over. Razor wants to tell the story of his heartbreak. Both want closure in their past relationships and what it eventually turns out to be is something so simple, yet unexpected. Penaflor writes it so well and it makes you hopeful for the future for both characters.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
One thing I've noticed about Penaflor's writing is that she is a master at teasing out the story and plot elements that leave you curious and wanting more. She writes with a cinematic flair and style. That was definitely true here. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the time shifts could definitely be a little confusing and certain developments felt a little fast. But having read some of her books before, I had a good sense that there was a reason behind the way things were written and presented. I didn't know what that was, but I trusted her enough to believe the payout would be worth it. And it was.
Tia was such a heartbreaking character. It's not a spoiler to say that she's experiencing incredible grief, made worse by how she did (or did not) deal with it initially. She's adrift and to make matters worse, she knows it. But she can't seem to move on. What she was going through felt so real that even as she's making questionable choices, you understand why and you sympathize with her.
Razor was a surprise with how tender and sweet he was. I wasn't expecting that, given how he and Tia met. But again, without spoiling the story, it made sense with how things turned out.
One of the best things, to me, about this story is how it dealt with closure and what closure means. Tia desperately wants a do-over. Razor wants to tell the story of his heartbreak. Both want closure in their past relationships and what it eventually turns out to be is something so simple, yet unexpected. Penaflor writes it so well and it makes you hopeful for the future for both characters.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Tia, a college dropout whose life with her boyfriend had been tragically upended shortly after her senior year, now only lives to star in Razor Ford's short film, a breakup story destined to win a student short film contest. That is, until she discovers Huddlestone Arch, a tunnel with strange supernatural powers that give her a chance to see her boyfriend again.
This book had many emotional and poignant moments, and brought to the table a different form of a grief and loss narrative than we are used to seeing. However, the timeline was messy and dragged on, the flashback chapters lacked the suspense I was hoping for, and the plot overall was slow and made me wish the book was shorter. Overall, the emotional narrative, heartfelt writing style, and strong character development was enough to cancel out the sedated plot and lack of suspense. I would recommend this book to realistic fiction readers that enjoy emotional reads and are already reading fans.
Note: Due to some mature themes, I would keep this book for ages 12 and up, although some mature 11-year-olds could read this.
This book had many emotional and poignant moments, and brought to the table a different form of a grief and loss narrative than we are used to seeing. However, the timeline was messy and dragged on, the flashback chapters lacked the suspense I was hoping for, and the plot overall was slow and made me wish the book was shorter. Overall, the emotional narrative, heartfelt writing style, and strong character development was enough to cancel out the sedated plot and lack of suspense. I would recommend this book to realistic fiction readers that enjoy emotional reads and are already reading fans.
Note: Due to some mature themes, I would keep this book for ages 12 and up, although some mature 11-year-olds could read this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. I literally just finished reading my advance pdf of this book . . . the scope of the plot, interwoven timelines, and nesting doll-esque connections between the characters are something I respect and admire, and which may have rerouted my neural pathways—but in a good way! Following Tia’s healing journey from damaged, grief-stricken victim—who’s barely doing more than surviving in NYC as a near recluse and dog walker—through the temptation of being able to go back in time to correct the tragedy that derailed her life, to her final state of clear-eyed survivor who can finally reach out and grab onto what will give her true happiness is rewarding and thought provoking. I’d recommend this one to romance lovers, because it has a deeply romantic heart—and anyone who enjoys flipping timelines or pondering all of the moral quandaries that time travel and second chances suggest.
Thank you to Lygia for the chance to read early!
Thank you to Lygia for the chance to read early!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
This is a YA book that releases late fall 2026. Told in two timelines, it follows the events of the summer after senior year and the summer following the first year of college. As the story unfolds, you are drawn in by the characters. I did not see the ending coming. Great book- would recommend.
May 25, 2026
I am certainly confused.
Review of advance copy received from Author
LOVED everything about Beautiful to See You (Again). Clever. Intense. Fast-paced. Heart-wrenching. Healing. I could not put it down. Highly recommend.
I received an arc from the author.
I received an arc from the author.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such an entertaining read. It felt like watching a movie at times with what was happening. While there is a grief heavy plot there is such great depth with the characters and the plot. The moments of the past slowly piecing together what happened.
Genuinely such a beautiful read.
(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? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Tia and Razor
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🎬🐶🌳
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide, Blood
Genuinely such a beautiful read.
(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? Maybe
Favorite Character(s): Tia and Razor
Emojis Based on Vibes: 🎬🐶🌳
⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide, Blood
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Won an ARC, finished it in a day! Was so moving and unexpected. Loved it
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews