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Still Here
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 25, 2026
- MM, Autism rep, a walking green flag love interest, with some spicy scenes mixed in
I am so happy I was picked to be one of the ARC readers for this book! “Still Here” gave me all the feels. It was warm and cozy while evoking a variety of emotions. Clyde is the perfect mentor/father figure for Ellis. He definitely gives “papa bear” vibes and has the best interests of Ellis at heart even during the difficult decision Clyde has to make. Ellis and Issaky are an amazing depiction of what it means to find your person. A.J Knight did an incredible job writing Ellis’ character. The way the book delves into struggles that Ellis faces due to being autistic is done in a way that is heartwarming and true to what it can be like to navigate day to day. The smallest changes, sensory sensitivities, and how overwhelming the world can seem are written in such a beautiful way. Issaky is a walking green flag! The way he learns and navigates with Ellis during the different challenges faced is heartwarming and shows how much of a difference it can make to someone with autism to have that person who meets them in the middle.
Watching the character development of these two definitely left me wanting more. I felt like I truly got to know these characters and I definitely fell in love with them. This book celebrates the differences of someone who is neurodivergent
There is a little bit of spice in this book and I think it adds beautifully to the portrayal of the characters and who they grow to be.
I will be recommending this book to my friends and will definitely be reading the rest of the “Soft Places” series! Overall I’m giving this a 5/5 star review!
I am so happy I was picked to be one of the ARC readers for this book! “Still Here” gave me all the feels. It was warm and cozy while evoking a variety of emotions. Clyde is the perfect mentor/father figure for Ellis. He definitely gives “papa bear” vibes and has the best interests of Ellis at heart even during the difficult decision Clyde has to make. Ellis and Issaky are an amazing depiction of what it means to find your person. A.J Knight did an incredible job writing Ellis’ character. The way the book delves into struggles that Ellis faces due to being autistic is done in a way that is heartwarming and true to what it can be like to navigate day to day. The smallest changes, sensory sensitivities, and how overwhelming the world can seem are written in such a beautiful way. Issaky is a walking green flag! The way he learns and navigates with Ellis during the different challenges faced is heartwarming and shows how much of a difference it can make to someone with autism to have that person who meets them in the middle.
Watching the character development of these two definitely left me wanting more. I felt like I truly got to know these characters and I definitely fell in love with them. This book celebrates the differences of someone who is neurodivergent
There is a little bit of spice in this book and I think it adds beautifully to the portrayal of the characters and who they grow to be.
I will be recommending this book to my friends and will definitely be reading the rest of the “Soft Places” series! Overall I’m giving this a 5/5 star review!
May 25, 2026
Real rating: 3.75 stars
Not bad for a debut.
I’ll always give debuts grace, especially when they’re independently published. Relationship-wise, Isaaky and Ellis were solid. At first, I wondered about just how convincing their feelings for one another would be when there were only 197 pages to sell it. But, the space wasn’t wasted. I appreciate that greatly. I loved the autism rep in this story; Ellis and I have a lot of similarities.
That being said, there were some errors and inconsistencies that could not be ignored. For instance, chapter eleven and chapter fifteen directly contradict each other.
Overall, this is really solid and I can only see the author growing from here.
Not bad for a debut.
I’ll always give debuts grace, especially when they’re independently published. Relationship-wise, Isaaky and Ellis were solid. At first, I wondered about just how convincing their feelings for one another would be when there were only 197 pages to sell it. But, the space wasn’t wasted. I appreciate that greatly. I loved the autism rep in this story; Ellis and I have a lot of similarities.
That being said, there were some errors and inconsistencies that could not be ignored. For instance, chapter eleven and chapter fifteen directly contradict each other.
Overall, this is really solid and I can only see the author growing from here.
May 25, 2026
Still Here absolutely wrecked me in the softest, most beautiful way possible. This book felt like sitting in a dim little record shop while it storms outside, warm, comforting, a little melancholic, and impossible to leave behind. Ellis felt so incredibly real to me, his struggles, routines, fears, and the way change completely shakes his world never felt watered down or romanticized. It was raw, messy, deeply human, and written with so much care.
And Issaky?? He honestly stole my heart. I loved that he never tried to “fix” Ellis or make him easier to love. He listened, learned, adapted, and stayed. Their relationship was such a gentle slow burn built on patience, trust, communication, and those small quiet moments that somehow hit harder than the dramatic ones. Watching Ellis slowly learn that love could feel safe instead of overwhelming made my chest ache in the best way.
The letters woven throughout the story completely destroyed me too. They added this quiet ache of love, grief, and history that lingered in the background of every chapter and somehow made everything feel even more emotional. And Clyde… yeah, I’m never recovering from him.
There were so many moments where I had to pause because this book just felt so honest and personal.
What I loved most though was how hopeful this story felt even while carrying so much heaviness. It’s about grief, change, safe spaces, and learning how to let people in even when it’s terrifying. I wanted to crawl into this story and live there for a while.
Honestly, this book reminded me that love doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing, and I already know this one is going to stay with me for a very long time.
And Issaky?? He honestly stole my heart. I loved that he never tried to “fix” Ellis or make him easier to love. He listened, learned, adapted, and stayed. Their relationship was such a gentle slow burn built on patience, trust, communication, and those small quiet moments that somehow hit harder than the dramatic ones. Watching Ellis slowly learn that love could feel safe instead of overwhelming made my chest ache in the best way.
The letters woven throughout the story completely destroyed me too. They added this quiet ache of love, grief, and history that lingered in the background of every chapter and somehow made everything feel even more emotional. And Clyde… yeah, I’m never recovering from him.
There were so many moments where I had to pause because this book just felt so honest and personal.
What I loved most though was how hopeful this story felt even while carrying so much heaviness. It’s about grief, change, safe spaces, and learning how to let people in even when it’s terrifying. I wanted to crawl into this story and live there for a while.
Honestly, this book reminded me that love doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing, and I already know this one is going to stay with me for a very long time.
May 28, 2026
Wow we're do I start this was such a beautiful book.
Me personally if I didn't know this was A.J. Knight debut book I would have never know it was that amazing. This is book is book. 1 on the Soft Place series.
What drew me to this book was not only was it a MM Romance with green flag men, but the was one of the men was Autism Rep. I loved that due to having a child with autism it intrigued me how this would be written.
Let me tell you it was so amazing. The way Clyde the mentor/father figure was written was so spot on. He was protective, attentive, and even in tough situations/decision he handled everything with such grace.
Now Ellis was represented so depicted so well in how life is for a person living with this.From the struggles that Ellis faces due to being autistic is done in the most honest and true way to what it can be like to navigate day to day. The smallest changes, sensory sensitivities, and how overwhelming the world can truly be.
Now Issaky is a walking representation for a green flag man. The way he took the time and patience to learn how to navigate things for/with
Ellis during the different challenges faced. It is truly amazing how much of a difference it can make to someone with autism to have that person who just goes above and beyond because they love you.
Overall, this was a truly heartwarming read. Reading the way the characters were developed made me feel I really got them and understood them and it was absolutely amazing. This was an amazing debut book and I cannot wait to read more in this series.
Me personally if I didn't know this was A.J. Knight debut book I would have never know it was that amazing. This is book is book. 1 on the Soft Place series.
What drew me to this book was not only was it a MM Romance with green flag men, but the was one of the men was Autism Rep. I loved that due to having a child with autism it intrigued me how this would be written.
Let me tell you it was so amazing. The way Clyde the mentor/father figure was written was so spot on. He was protective, attentive, and even in tough situations/decision he handled everything with such grace.
Now Ellis was represented so depicted so well in how life is for a person living with this.From the struggles that Ellis faces due to being autistic is done in the most honest and true way to what it can be like to navigate day to day. The smallest changes, sensory sensitivities, and how overwhelming the world can truly be.
Now Issaky is a walking representation for a green flag man. The way he took the time and patience to learn how to navigate things for/with
Ellis during the different challenges faced. It is truly amazing how much of a difference it can make to someone with autism to have that person who just goes above and beyond because they love you.
Overall, this was a truly heartwarming read. Reading the way the characters were developed made me feel I really got them and understood them and it was absolutely amazing. This was an amazing debut book and I cannot wait to read more in this series.
May 25, 2026
This book was really interesting to me because I’ve never read many books with an autistic main character. I can say that I really enjoyed it, especially because I could relate to Ellis most of the time, which was nice.
The setting in Seattle was amazing, especially the descriptions of the rain hitting the glass windows and streaming down them. I love rain and storms when I can sit at home and just listen to them, so those scenes felt especially peaceful to me—just like the record store in general. It was such a specific and unconventional setting, which I really liked. It also made me happy to see that Issa understood that and tried to preserve the space as it was.
In general, it was really touching to see how much patience and understanding Issa had for Ellis, even though he can never truly understand how Ellis experiences the world.
Having Clyde and Jace’s letters at the beginning of each chapter was a really nice touch because it gave them more character, and I became invested in their story as well. The letters—and Ellis meeting Jace at the end—were quite emotional for me. There were many quotes in this book that I could relate to, so it’ll be hard to choose just one or two for this review.
I can really recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the small things and enjoys quiet, subtle moments.
8 out of 10
The setting in Seattle was amazing, especially the descriptions of the rain hitting the glass windows and streaming down them. I love rain and storms when I can sit at home and just listen to them, so those scenes felt especially peaceful to me—just like the record store in general. It was such a specific and unconventional setting, which I really liked. It also made me happy to see that Issa understood that and tried to preserve the space as it was.
In general, it was really touching to see how much patience and understanding Issa had for Ellis, even though he can never truly understand how Ellis experiences the world.
Having Clyde and Jace’s letters at the beginning of each chapter was a really nice touch because it gave them more character, and I became invested in their story as well. The letters—and Ellis meeting Jace at the end—were quite emotional for me. There were many quotes in this book that I could relate to, so it’ll be hard to choose just one or two for this review.
I can really recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the small things and enjoys quiet, subtle moments.
8 out of 10
May 25, 2026
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book, but what I got was better than what I had imagined. This was a story about love, overcoming adversity, and about healing through grief. This book has a great cast of characters and great emotional depth. I love that Ellis is autistic and how we get to see how that impacts his experiences in life. As an autistic person myself, it’s nice to have representation. Issaky is a confident and bold person, but is so accepting of Ellis and his needs. It’s so sweet how he notices all the little details and supports Ellis without trying to change who he is. They are just so sweet together. There’s even a few spicy scenes that were pretty hot.
Throughout the book, we see glimpses of Clyde and Jack’s story. For me, I really felt very emotionally attached to them and they broke my heart but in a good way. My favorite part of the book is how it talks about moving forward after grief. I was moved to tears reading it. It was truly beautiful. I hope you read this book and I hope that it moves you as much as it did me. I look forward to the future books in the series and I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read this in advance.
Tropes: Autistic Rep, Slow Burn, Grumpy x Sunshine, Hurt x Comfort, Forced Proximity, Grief x Loss, Healing, Food=Love
Story 5/5 Spice 2/5
Throughout the book, we see glimpses of Clyde and Jack’s story. For me, I really felt very emotionally attached to them and they broke my heart but in a good way. My favorite part of the book is how it talks about moving forward after grief. I was moved to tears reading it. It was truly beautiful. I hope you read this book and I hope that it moves you as much as it did me. I look forward to the future books in the series and I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read this in advance.
Tropes: Autistic Rep, Slow Burn, Grumpy x Sunshine, Hurt x Comfort, Forced Proximity, Grief x Loss, Healing, Food=Love
Story 5/5 Spice 2/5
May 25, 2026
I am so honored and thankful that I was chosen to be part of the ARC Team for Still Here. Still Here is a beautiful story that includes themes of grief/loss, change, and what it means to love someone for all of who they are.
A.J. Knight’s effort and care in developing their characters does not go unnoticed. The world needs more books centered on characters like Ellis Carter. Ellis’s identity as an autistic man is central to the story. However, his support needs are not framed as deficits, nor is he considered an “inspiration” for merely existing. I saw many of my own neurodivergent traits in Ellis. I truly wish to thank A.J. Knight for their consideration in crafting a vulnerable, authentic, autistic character.
Though the story primarily considers Ellis’s perspective, A.J. Knight clearly spent just as much time developing Issaky as a character. Issaky is a light. Mindful, funny, and charming, he is the rhythm to Ellis’s melody. I’d love to see more of Issaky in future books and potentially gain more insight on his backstory!
I’d recommend Still Here for anyone who may be struggling to learn to love themselves or visualize themselves being loved entirely by someone in the future. This gentle, but also achingly emotional portrayal of love, loss, and growth is definitely worth the read. 10/10 and 5 stars!
A.J. Knight’s effort and care in developing their characters does not go unnoticed. The world needs more books centered on characters like Ellis Carter. Ellis’s identity as an autistic man is central to the story. However, his support needs are not framed as deficits, nor is he considered an “inspiration” for merely existing. I saw many of my own neurodivergent traits in Ellis. I truly wish to thank A.J. Knight for their consideration in crafting a vulnerable, authentic, autistic character.
Though the story primarily considers Ellis’s perspective, A.J. Knight clearly spent just as much time developing Issaky as a character. Issaky is a light. Mindful, funny, and charming, he is the rhythm to Ellis’s melody. I’d love to see more of Issaky in future books and potentially gain more insight on his backstory!
I’d recommend Still Here for anyone who may be struggling to learn to love themselves or visualize themselves being loved entirely by someone in the future. This gentle, but also achingly emotional portrayal of love, loss, and growth is definitely worth the read. 10/10 and 5 stars!
May 25, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐️
Still Here: A.J. Knight
I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for Still Here and this book was such a sweet read. Our main MMC Ellis is autistic and A.J did such an amazing job writing Ellis’s autism in this book. I am obsessed with how patient Issaky is throughout this book. It gives you that “you’re never too much for the right person” vibe and I love it.
There is processing of grief throughout this book and as someone who has lost someone close to me there were so many beautiful moments expressing grief and processing it that I am grateful for the chance to have read.
Throughout this book you get to experience Ellis and Issaky learn each other and slowly fall in love as they navigate their own challenges and life struggles. Issaky continues to pursue Ellis at his pace and never faltered in his decision to ease his presence into Ellis’s world and that was so beautiful to read. They both complimented each other so well and were written with such amazing compatibility that only make sense that they both end up together.
This is the first thing I have read from A.J and I am honestly so excited about the rest of this series. I am excited to continue to see A.J grow more as a writer. So check out this book and the other ones in A.J’s backlog!
Still Here: A.J. Knight
I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for Still Here and this book was such a sweet read. Our main MMC Ellis is autistic and A.J did such an amazing job writing Ellis’s autism in this book. I am obsessed with how patient Issaky is throughout this book. It gives you that “you’re never too much for the right person” vibe and I love it.
There is processing of grief throughout this book and as someone who has lost someone close to me there were so many beautiful moments expressing grief and processing it that I am grateful for the chance to have read.
Throughout this book you get to experience Ellis and Issaky learn each other and slowly fall in love as they navigate their own challenges and life struggles. Issaky continues to pursue Ellis at his pace and never faltered in his decision to ease his presence into Ellis’s world and that was so beautiful to read. They both complimented each other so well and were written with such amazing compatibility that only make sense that they both end up together.
This is the first thing I have read from A.J and I am honestly so excited about the rest of this series. I am excited to continue to see A.J grow more as a writer. So check out this book and the other ones in A.J’s backlog!
May 25, 2026
Never underestimate the romance genre, or should I say, romance authors. I’ve found some of the most compelling storytelling in this genre. A.J. Knight’s upcoming release, Still Here, is a prime example.
At numerous points, I felt those familiar pangs in my chest as I absorbed these characters’ emotions so deeply. Towards the end, I had tears rolling down my face. I’m often on the brink of tears while reading, but it’s been a while since a book has gotten me to cry like that. Knight’s writing is just that good.
Still Here is an MM romance that portrays autism, anxiety, and grief in such realistic and heart-wrenching ways. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments, too.
Ellis and Issaky show us that love is beautiful but takes patience, understanding, and a whole lot of bravery. Change is difficult and scary. So is being seen and known. It leaves you vulnerable to intolerable pain. Both characters have learned this in their own ways, but they come to understand even more how healing it is to face their fears. You can’t experience the greatness of love without the risk of being hurt. It can take you from surviving to thriving.
Grab yourself a strawberry spritzer and something cozy to cuddle with for this one.
At numerous points, I felt those familiar pangs in my chest as I absorbed these characters’ emotions so deeply. Towards the end, I had tears rolling down my face. I’m often on the brink of tears while reading, but it’s been a while since a book has gotten me to cry like that. Knight’s writing is just that good.
Still Here is an MM romance that portrays autism, anxiety, and grief in such realistic and heart-wrenching ways. There are plenty of swoon-worthy moments, too.
Ellis and Issaky show us that love is beautiful but takes patience, understanding, and a whole lot of bravery. Change is difficult and scary. So is being seen and known. It leaves you vulnerable to intolerable pain. Both characters have learned this in their own ways, but they come to understand even more how healing it is to face their fears. You can’t experience the greatness of love without the risk of being hurt. It can take you from surviving to thriving.
Grab yourself a strawberry spritzer and something cozy to cuddle with for this one.
May 29, 2026
no real spoilers, but just being cautious. 4.5 stars, so im gonna round up! this story was lovely, but i do just have some criticism. while i thought ellis’s rep was authentic and respectful, especially being on the spectrum myself, i felt that this book was very ellis and autism focused (ie: a little overexplainy, which i am guilty of myself, so i am giving grace here and saying i also appreciate it), as opposed to focusing more on issaky and ellis and their relationship development. i loved the chapters where we were able to get into issaky’s mind more, and id really like more of that! i felt as if it was sort of incomplete, BUT that made me excited to read more about both of them some day, especially to get some insight into issaky’s life, brain and backstory. all in all, i thought the story was elegant and beautiful, and soft in all the ways that count. the sharp edges weren’t so sharp that they made me feel any amount of dread, and i was extremely thankful for that. i also absolutely adored clyde, and jack, and i loved seeing into their lives/love story a bit. id also love to deep dive into that 👀 a fabulous debut, imo, and just wanted i needed! i cant wait for the next book and to see more from this writer in general, ill be keeping a close eye out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2026
genuinely i read this in like two and a half hours, i was invested. this was everything and also not what i had been expecting. make sure to read the TW if you need them at all because i was sobbing at 1 am over this book.
Issaky and Ellis were so adorable. I loved how Issaky rarely pushed Ellis out of his comfort zone and when he did, he did so in a way that accommodated Ellis and allowed him to enjoy the new thing but also have the security of his usual. The way Issaky slowly became a part of Ellis' normal and routine was so sweet.
I think my only qualm is that this book was shorter than I would have liked. I adored this and some things happened off page that I kind of wanted to see happen on page, like Ellis' mother and all her bs. it kind of felt like that wasn't a big part of the story even though it was. Though I do feel that if it had been addressed on page, i'd have been up until 3 am and sobbing because i can only imagine that'd be emotion overload. Otherwise I adored this book. It was emotional and utterly adorable. I just loved that the way that Ellis adapted to his new normal wasn't drastic but it was gradual and the two of them, Issaky and him, worked together.
Issaky and Ellis were so adorable. I loved how Issaky rarely pushed Ellis out of his comfort zone and when he did, he did so in a way that accommodated Ellis and allowed him to enjoy the new thing but also have the security of his usual. The way Issaky slowly became a part of Ellis' normal and routine was so sweet.
I think my only qualm is that this book was shorter than I would have liked. I adored this and some things happened off page that I kind of wanted to see happen on page, like Ellis' mother and all her bs. it kind of felt like that wasn't a big part of the story even though it was. Though I do feel that if it had been addressed on page, i'd have been up until 3 am and sobbing because i can only imagine that'd be emotion overload. Otherwise I adored this book. It was emotional and utterly adorable. I just loved that the way that Ellis adapted to his new normal wasn't drastic but it was gradual and the two of them, Issaky and him, worked together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
Ellis is a 26 year old autistic man who has found refuge and escapism at a local queer record store since he was a teen.
A safe space where he could be himself without judgement, confusion or pressure while running away from the complications of having an alcoholic single parent.
The way the owner Clyde accepted Ellis for who he is and never tried to “fix” or change him and became a steady constant in Ellis’s life he needed the most 😭
Change is hard for anyone but for Ellis it’s potentially world ending.
So when Ellis finds out the shop’s not doing as well as he thought and a hot shot is interested in buyingggg???🫣
And then there’s Issaky, a young professional determined to make this record store great again!
When I tell you this man is the most green flag a man can be!? My gawd I hope everyone finds their Issaky because iykyk 🥹
Watching Issaky slowly, gently and consistently show up for Ellis in ways he’s not used to!?
Watching Ellis slowly put his walls down!?
I can’t even type this without getting emotional again 😭
This handles very real things like grief and alcoholism, so be sure to read the content warnings at the front of the book.
And when Ellis finds a stack of letters from the previous owner Clyde to his lover? SOBBING 😭
Learning to love while afraid but loving them anyways?? Cue the waterworks 💔
When I tell you I CANNOT wait for book 2 in the Soft Places series… well you get the idea 🥰
This is available now on KU so you already know what to do!! 📚
A safe space where he could be himself without judgement, confusion or pressure while running away from the complications of having an alcoholic single parent.
The way the owner Clyde accepted Ellis for who he is and never tried to “fix” or change him and became a steady constant in Ellis’s life he needed the most 😭
Change is hard for anyone but for Ellis it’s potentially world ending.
So when Ellis finds out the shop’s not doing as well as he thought and a hot shot is interested in buyingggg???🫣
And then there’s Issaky, a young professional determined to make this record store great again!
When I tell you this man is the most green flag a man can be!? My gawd I hope everyone finds their Issaky because iykyk 🥹
Watching Issaky slowly, gently and consistently show up for Ellis in ways he’s not used to!?
Watching Ellis slowly put his walls down!?
I can’t even type this without getting emotional again 😭
This handles very real things like grief and alcoholism, so be sure to read the content warnings at the front of the book.
And when Ellis finds a stack of letters from the previous owner Clyde to his lover? SOBBING 😭
Learning to love while afraid but loving them anyways?? Cue the waterworks 💔
When I tell you I CANNOT wait for book 2 in the Soft Places series… well you get the idea 🥰
This is available now on KU so you already know what to do!! 📚
May 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
I don’t even know where to start, the tropes..: the tropes are what caught my attention. I think as a momma with a son who is autistic I always appreciate a book that does a wonderful job of portraying autism.
Issaky is a GORGEOUS walking green flag and we need more characters like him. He didn’t take advantage, or push, and he genuinely wanted to know/love Ellis all on Ellis’s terms (for lack of a better word). He was sweet and confident but in a way that fel safe, felt like HOME.
Ellis, sweet sweet Ellis. I wanted to hug him so much knowing deep down he may not have wanted that. And that’s silly right? But I got super attached to him and you just felt all of his emotions. I am so thankful he had Clyde, his patience and the way he treated Ellis as a person first, and had no desires to change Ellis but to change the world for Ellis.
You feel the hurt/comfort trope. And yes I got angry, but their journey though not always easy, was beautiful and Ellis’s thought process truly gave insight to how some on the spectrum feel things but may not be able to communicate them, they just need patience. And we all deserve love.
I don’t even know where to start, the tropes..: the tropes are what caught my attention. I think as a momma with a son who is autistic I always appreciate a book that does a wonderful job of portraying autism.
Issaky is a GORGEOUS walking green flag and we need more characters like him. He didn’t take advantage, or push, and he genuinely wanted to know/love Ellis all on Ellis’s terms (for lack of a better word). He was sweet and confident but in a way that fel safe, felt like HOME.
Ellis, sweet sweet Ellis. I wanted to hug him so much knowing deep down he may not have wanted that. And that’s silly right? But I got super attached to him and you just felt all of his emotions. I am so thankful he had Clyde, his patience and the way he treated Ellis as a person first, and had no desires to change Ellis but to change the world for Ellis.
You feel the hurt/comfort trope. And yes I got angry, but their journey though not always easy, was beautiful and Ellis’s thought process truly gave insight to how some on the spectrum feel things but may not be able to communicate them, they just need patience. And we all deserve love.
May 25, 2026
ARC read
5⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This was a beautifully written story that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I loved the unique setting of the record store, it added such a cool atmosphere to the book. The representation of Ellis's autism was incredibly well done. I felt a deep connection to his character throughout as someone who is neurodivergent. Watching Issaky make space for him, support him unconditionally, and never try to change him was so sweet.
The romance is an absolute standout, this is slow burn done right! It’s an emotional, low-angst story. The steamy scenes are not only well written and enjoyable, but also genuinely drive the plot and their connection forward. Their entire journey felt so sweet, balanced, and complete.
This book proves that representation matters, and it is such an amazing romance. I highly recommend it!
(Note: I received an early copy of this book and am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.)
5⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This was a beautifully written story that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I loved the unique setting of the record store, it added such a cool atmosphere to the book. The representation of Ellis's autism was incredibly well done. I felt a deep connection to his character throughout as someone who is neurodivergent. Watching Issaky make space for him, support him unconditionally, and never try to change him was so sweet.
The romance is an absolute standout, this is slow burn done right! It’s an emotional, low-angst story. The steamy scenes are not only well written and enjoyable, but also genuinely drive the plot and their connection forward. Their entire journey felt so sweet, balanced, and complete.
This book proves that representation matters, and it is such an amazing romance. I highly recommend it!
(Note: I received an early copy of this book and am leaving my honest opinion voluntarily.)
May 26, 2026
Where do I even begin? This book was beautiful. Beautiful in the sense that it made me feel so many emotions. Beautiful in the sense that it was real. It was comforting, it made me sad, it made me tear up, it made me smile, and it just felt like someone giving me a tight hug that I so desperately needed.
Ellis was such a real character. He hated change, liked routine, and just wanted a place where he belonged and felt truly himself. And when so much in your personal life changes, it can be hard. But I appreciated the fact that neither Clyde nor Issaky forced him to change who he was but rather adapted to him. This book was beautifully written. It was a slow born, quiet type of love. The love where patience is fundamental, where listening brings trust, and where caring and compassion shows you that someone is willing to stay and wait until the other person is ready. I truly loved this book and I highly recommend it.
Ellis was such a real character. He hated change, liked routine, and just wanted a place where he belonged and felt truly himself. And when so much in your personal life changes, it can be hard. But I appreciated the fact that neither Clyde nor Issaky forced him to change who he was but rather adapted to him. This book was beautifully written. It was a slow born, quiet type of love. The love where patience is fundamental, where listening brings trust, and where caring and compassion shows you that someone is willing to stay and wait until the other person is ready. I truly loved this book and I highly recommend it.
May 27, 2026
I think this might be my favorite read of the year so far, which is really saying something considering the caliber of ARCs and new releases I’ve read in 2026. I honestly don’t have words for how much I loved this story.
As someone ND myself, the portrayal of Ellis hit very deeply. The fact that the majority of the story is told from his POV, showed his interpretation of the world, is something we rarely get in romance, even when characters are written with ASD. The writing was poignant and poetic and heartfelt in a way I know I will carry for some time. I think the closest I have ever experienced to this before was reading Emmy Sander’s To Catch a Firefly, and Still Here matches the depth and complexity of that story perfectly.
Thank you so much to AJ Knight for this beautiful story! I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Soft Places series.
As someone ND myself, the portrayal of Ellis hit very deeply. The fact that the majority of the story is told from his POV, showed his interpretation of the world, is something we rarely get in romance, even when characters are written with ASD. The writing was poignant and poetic and heartfelt in a way I know I will carry for some time. I think the closest I have ever experienced to this before was reading Emmy Sander’s To Catch a Firefly, and Still Here matches the depth and complexity of that story perfectly.
Thank you so much to AJ Knight for this beautiful story! I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Soft Places series.
May 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I loved this book.
We start out with a wonderful description of this record store that just makes you want to dive right in. Ellis is an autistic man working in said record store owned by Clyde. Y’all, shout out to Clyde! He was such an amazing person, coming into his life when Ellis needed someone. So, Clyde is getting older and the record store could use some help, in comes Issaky.
Ellis, not liking change, is resistant to accept Issaky but Issa being the observant kind soul he is wins him over.
I loved how gentle Issaky was. He was so amazingly patient with Ellis. Their relationship was beautifully written.
Everyone needs people like Issaky and Clyde in their lives!
Only slight complaint is I wanted a little more of Issaky’s story.
🥣Found family
🥣Slow burn
🥣Autistic Rep
🥣MM
I loved this book.
We start out with a wonderful description of this record store that just makes you want to dive right in. Ellis is an autistic man working in said record store owned by Clyde. Y’all, shout out to Clyde! He was such an amazing person, coming into his life when Ellis needed someone. So, Clyde is getting older and the record store could use some help, in comes Issaky.
Ellis, not liking change, is resistant to accept Issaky but Issa being the observant kind soul he is wins him over.
I loved how gentle Issaky was. He was so amazingly patient with Ellis. Their relationship was beautifully written.
Everyone needs people like Issaky and Clyde in their lives!
Only slight complaint is I wanted a little more of Issaky’s story.
🥣Found family
🥣Slow burn
🥣Autistic Rep
🥣MM
May 27, 2026
“Love doesn’t end because someone dies. And it doesn’t survive unless you keep showing up for it. Even when it’s hard. Especially then.”
• • • Still Here follows Ellis as he navigates falling in love, working at the record store, and the lingering effects of grief • • •
Where I think Still Here fumbles is in the character of Issaky (Ellis' love interest). He's practically flawless and we never really learn ~what his deal is~ WHICH IS A SHAME. The few moments we do get his POV were very intriguing and I wanted to learn a bit more about what makes him tick. As it stands, though, I enjoyed Ellis and his journey and would love to get another book set in this world ♡
May 25, 2026
**ARC Reader***
Ugh this book had a lot of feelings, AJ takes you on a journey to build sweetness, tear you to pieces and then build you back up again. Ellis is such a sweet boy coping with everything he can and latching on to whatever nice things he has. Issaky… Issaky ugh 💕 seeing a character as a partner who’s interested in someone and sticking around when things get rough and navigating a partner with autism who’s mostly be handled with guilt and push to change and “be normal” really drums up all the feels. Plus the spice is also pretty good 😉
I loved this book and all the characters 10/10 will read again.
Ugh this book had a lot of feelings, AJ takes you on a journey to build sweetness, tear you to pieces and then build you back up again. Ellis is such a sweet boy coping with everything he can and latching on to whatever nice things he has. Issaky… Issaky ugh 💕 seeing a character as a partner who’s interested in someone and sticking around when things get rough and navigating a partner with autism who’s mostly be handled with guilt and push to change and “be normal” really drums up all the feels. Plus the spice is also pretty good 😉
I loved this book and all the characters 10/10 will read again.
May 25, 2026
I was so intrigued when I saw this book posted on threads, I said WTH I’ll apply to ARC read it and turns out… I got it.
Now going in I knew that there was autism and POC representation but I don’t think I truly knew how well done it was going to be. I came for the enemies to lovers but stayed for the respectable love. I don’t quite know how to explain it unless you read it yourself. One understated thing I think would go over peoples heads are the letters in the chapters, they gave depth and every good feeling ever.
If you’re looking for queer, quiet love between the record stacks this book is a must read!
Now going in I knew that there was autism and POC representation but I don’t think I truly knew how well done it was going to be. I came for the enemies to lovers but stayed for the respectable love. I don’t quite know how to explain it unless you read it yourself. One understated thing I think would go over peoples heads are the letters in the chapters, they gave depth and every good feeling ever.
If you’re looking for queer, quiet love between the record stacks this book is a must read!
May 25, 2026
This story is absolutely gorgeous. I admit it - at one point I bawled like a baby. But this story has so much love and heart and, and eventually, hope. Issaky rocks Ellis’s world when he buys Carl’s record shop. The shop is Ellis’s haven, his safe place where he can be himself without fear of reprisals. Carl has always seen him and it unnerves him when Issaky blazes in with his blue locs and cold strawberry drinks. But Issaky sees him too. This is all about Ellis learning that change doesn’t have to be disruptive or bad. It can be gentle and still and full of meaningful silences. It can be full of love and hope and that person who grounds you in the present.
May 30, 2026
ARC read
I think this book is very adorable and I think it’s a good low-angst read! However, I feel like there was a huge lack of connection between MC’s and I feel like I finished the book feeling like they did not really know each other or have a deep understanding for each other. It seemed like a whole lot of build up for not a lot of reward. I think this author is very talented I just feel like the book did not really follow through. Good book but for people who want a sweeter romance this is not for you!
I think this book is very adorable and I think it’s a good low-angst read! However, I feel like there was a huge lack of connection between MC’s and I feel like I finished the book feeling like they did not really know each other or have a deep understanding for each other. It seemed like a whole lot of build up for not a lot of reward. I think this author is very talented I just feel like the book did not really follow through. Good book but for people who want a sweeter romance this is not for you!
May 25, 2026
I got to be an ARC reader for the book, and it was my first one! I could not have imagined a better first ARC read. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. It was incredibly captivating and so sweet without being *too* sweet.
The characters are well written, the storyline is amazing, and it has a fantastic description of grief. I genuinely don't have the words to explain how much I enjoyed this book! I can't wait for the second one to come out!
The characters are well written, the storyline is amazing, and it has a fantastic description of grief. I genuinely don't have the words to explain how much I enjoyed this book! I can't wait for the second one to come out!
May 25, 2026
one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
it deals with love, grief, poc romance and autism acceptance and it’s all done very beautifully and so respectfully and full of care, I cannot recommend this book enough.
you will fall in love with these characters just like I did!!
it deals with love, grief, poc romance and autism acceptance and it’s all done very beautifully and so respectfully and full of care, I cannot recommend this book enough.
you will fall in love with these characters just like I did!!
May 25, 2026
A lovely read that is a slice of life that has amazing rep! Plus a power dynamic that works well between the two. I won't leave spoilers but I will say it's powerfully emotional and you'll need some tissues. Come into this book knowing you'll feel complex emotions! ❤️❤️❤️ Definitely became one of my go to soft cozy reads when I need to feel something!
May 25, 2026
I really enjoyed both how Issaky and Ellis existed separately and together as partners. It was refreshing and heartbreaking at times to see so much of myself in Ellis' autistic struggles. This story was so beautifully written and devastating hence why I finished it in one sitting..
May 25, 2026
This was such a genuine, feel good story that had me quite emotional a few times. I love that Issaky want to get to know Ellis even when Ellis isn't so sure. The letter, Clyde and Jack! Truly so good.
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