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I Knew Him
In his senior year of high school, Julian has one goal: be invisible. All he wants is to study hard, play basketball, and pretend he’s straight for one more year. Then, he can run away to university and finally tell the world he’s bisexual. And by “the world,” he means everyone but his mom and best friend. That’s two conversations he never wants to have.
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?
289 pages, ebook
First published April 15, 2019
21 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Abigail de Niverville
6 books52 followersAbigail de Niverville is an author, poet, and composer based in Toronto. Originally from the East Coast of Canada, she often is inspired by her hometown. She holds an M.Mus from the University of Toronto.
Abigail's novels WE GO TOGETHER and I KNEW HIM were published by NineStar Press and are both available at most major retailers. Her poetry chapbook POEMS WORTH SAVING is available now in through most major retailers as well.
Abigail's novels WE GO TOGETHER and I KNEW HIM were published by NineStar Press and are both available at most major retailers. Her poetry chapbook POEMS WORTH SAVING is available now in through most major retailers as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 31, 2021
rep: bi mc, gay mixed-race Filipino li, lesbian side character, gay side characters
Review also on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
You know those books that just make you feel safe? As if someone you love gave you a long, warm hug? As if for a brief moment you knew with absolute certainty that everything is going to be okay?
That’s how I Knew Him made me feel.
This is very much a character driven story, even though I can tell you it lowkey hinges on a high school production of Hamlet . But first and foremost, this is a story of Jules. He’s a senior in a small Canadian town, has his group of friends, some of them being people he has known basically since he was a little kid, and all he’s waiting for is graduation. He’s waiting for the opportunity to move out, start his life over again in some big city and finally, finally be himself! A sentiment most of LGBT kids share, right? Because yeah, Jules is bi.
We get to see him struggle with accepting his identity, with the mere thought of coming out. And it’s handled beautifully. Really, it just shows why it’s so important to have ownvoices books with LGBT characters. They offer a unique kind of understanding that no cishet author will ever give their readers. I’m a little bit overwhelmed with how much I loved the representation in this book. We not only have the bi mc, but there are five gay characters as well - all of them different, all of them sharing with us another coming out & acceptance story. So many voices and all of them honest.
There was this one piece of dialogue that I know will stay with me for a long time and that I’m really happy LGBT kids everywhere will get to read:
It’s not often that we see coming out framed like this. Time and time again it’s actually just shaming a character for not wanting to come out; like it’s easy, like it’s something we owe to the world, like we’re living a lie otherwise. I Knew Him also puts the emphasis on the fact that as long as you came out to yourself, as long as you’re honest with yourself, there is no lie in your life. You’re the person who matters the most here.
I Knew Him does a lot of little, but really major things like this. Like highlighting how important it is for your romantic partner to also be your best friend. Again, not a lot of media out there would make that connection, instead trying to convince you that an Epic Love Story is all that you need. I’m glad we’re finally over those unhealthy archetypes... The book also talks about other aspects of friendships and relationships, of how they change and dissolve, and how it’s normal and not necessarily a bad thing. And most importantly, even with how much light it shines on relationships between people, it never claims that love is what will "cure" you, that every single person needs romantic love to feel whole.
But then, is I Knew Him just a collection of warm, loving sentiments? Is that all there is to it? No, of course not! Like I said, it’s a character driven novel and so all the characters in it are brilliantly fleshed out. It’s a fabulous group of teenagers with very real problems and insecurities, but the adults in it? Amazing as well and will make you cry (at least if your heart is as weak & gay as mine is). Frankly, all of them very fast became my favourites, especially Jules himself.
Obviously, there is some homophobia in the book, because we (still) don't live in a perfect world. But it's not there to make you miserable, to break your spirit. Rather, it just shows the struggle we face in everyday life, while still giving some hope to the readers & the characters. It's not just a gay tragedy porn, like a lot of books by straight authors try to paint someone facing homophobia. I would even venture to say those are somehow turning points for Jules to try and figure out how he wants to live his life.
Ultimately, I Knew Him is an incredibly well written book that feels a little bit like a gift to the LGBT community & all the teens who might not even know they needed to read something like this. It forms this intimate connection with you very quickly, from the first pages basically and doesn't let you down even once. Not one thing was handled badly here! Just do yourself a favor, guys. Read it.
Review also on Reads Rainbow. ARC provided by the publisher.
You know those books that just make you feel safe? As if someone you love gave you a long, warm hug? As if for a brief moment you knew with absolute certainty that everything is going to be okay?
That’s how I Knew Him made me feel.
This is very much a character driven story, even though I can tell you it lowkey hinges on a high school production of Hamlet . But first and foremost, this is a story of Jules. He’s a senior in a small Canadian town, has his group of friends, some of them being people he has known basically since he was a little kid, and all he’s waiting for is graduation. He’s waiting for the opportunity to move out, start his life over again in some big city and finally, finally be himself! A sentiment most of LGBT kids share, right? Because yeah, Jules is bi.
We get to see him struggle with accepting his identity, with the mere thought of coming out. And it’s handled beautifully. Really, it just shows why it’s so important to have ownvoices books with LGBT characters. They offer a unique kind of understanding that no cishet author will ever give their readers. I’m a little bit overwhelmed with how much I loved the representation in this book. We not only have the bi mc, but there are five gay characters as well - all of them different, all of them sharing with us another coming out & acceptance story. So many voices and all of them honest.
There was this one piece of dialogue that I know will stay with me for a long time and that I’m really happy LGBT kids everywhere will get to read:
"I don't know how I'll tell Will."
"Then don't," he whispered. He gently tilted my head so I was facing him. His eyes were wide and insistent. "You don't owe him that."
"Don't I? He told me he was gay."
He shook his head. "No. You gave him safety. He doesn't do the same for you."
It’s not often that we see coming out framed like this. Time and time again it’s actually just shaming a character for not wanting to come out; like it’s easy, like it’s something we owe to the world, like we’re living a lie otherwise. I Knew Him also puts the emphasis on the fact that as long as you came out to yourself, as long as you’re honest with yourself, there is no lie in your life. You’re the person who matters the most here.
I Knew Him does a lot of little, but really major things like this. Like highlighting how important it is for your romantic partner to also be your best friend. Again, not a lot of media out there would make that connection, instead trying to convince you that an Epic Love Story is all that you need. I’m glad we’re finally over those unhealthy archetypes... The book also talks about other aspects of friendships and relationships, of how they change and dissolve, and how it’s normal and not necessarily a bad thing. And most importantly, even with how much light it shines on relationships between people, it never claims that love is what will "cure" you, that every single person needs romantic love to feel whole.
But then, is I Knew Him just a collection of warm, loving sentiments? Is that all there is to it? No, of course not! Like I said, it’s a character driven novel and so all the characters in it are brilliantly fleshed out. It’s a fabulous group of teenagers with very real problems and insecurities, but the adults in it? Amazing as well and will make you cry (at least if your heart is as weak & gay as mine is). Frankly, all of them very fast became my favourites, especially Jules himself.
Obviously, there is some homophobia in the book, because we (still) don't live in a perfect world. But it's not there to make you miserable, to break your spirit. Rather, it just shows the struggle we face in everyday life, while still giving some hope to the readers & the characters. It's not just a gay tragedy porn, like a lot of books by straight authors try to paint someone facing homophobia. I would even venture to say those are somehow turning points for Jules to try and figure out how he wants to live his life.
Ultimately, I Knew Him is an incredibly well written book that feels a little bit like a gift to the LGBT community & all the teens who might not even know they needed to read something like this. It forms this intimate connection with you very quickly, from the first pages basically and doesn't let you down even once. Not one thing was handled badly here! Just do yourself a favor, guys. Read it.
August 2, 2022
Thank you very much to NineStar Press for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I wish I had a book like this when I was fifteen. This book would have made that little bisexual bookworm so seen and safe, and showed her that she was normal. This book is a reminder as to why we need -- and deserve -- to have #ownvoices books written and published.
I Knew Him follows Julian, a seventeen-year-old boy who's only goal is to get out of his hometown the second he graduates so he can finally come out as bi. At the moment, he doesn't feel as though its safe for him to be himself, so he hides his queerness as deeply as he can ... until he meets the new kid, Sky, and begins to fall for him.
My heart just ached for Julian this entire book. I saw so much of myself in him when I was a teen, and there were many moments I was on the verge of tears ... both good and bad. Julian struggles so much with his sexuality, but every time he questions himself, you can also see him get a little stronger and a little more happier. He starts off the book being unable to even say the word "bi" to acknowledging it to himself, to saying it someone, and to slowly telling more people and fully embracing his identity. It's a beautiful, heartwarming journey, and one I know will resonate with so many readers.
The main theme of this book is understanding when it is safe for a queer person to come out, and that just because someone has shared a part of themselves with you does not entitle them to the same thing from you. I Knew Him is a quiet book but it has so many strong and powerful moments from discussions about accepting yourself, to coming out, to moving on from toxic people.
Although, overall, it's a soft novel, there are moments of homophobia and biphobia that are always called out -- scenes that highlight what so many queer people endure on a daily basis.
I highly encourage people to read this book. If you're looking for a quiet YA book that will still pack a punch, then look no further. Also, this book acknowledges that Hamlet and Horatio were probably queer and into each other, WHICH I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS.
Wouldn't it be wild if I had a boy hold my hand, and the world didn't end?
I wish I had a book like this when I was fifteen. This book would have made that little bisexual bookworm so seen and safe, and showed her that she was normal. This book is a reminder as to why we need -- and deserve -- to have #ownvoices books written and published.
I Knew Him follows Julian, a seventeen-year-old boy who's only goal is to get out of his hometown the second he graduates so he can finally come out as bi. At the moment, he doesn't feel as though its safe for him to be himself, so he hides his queerness as deeply as he can ... until he meets the new kid, Sky, and begins to fall for him.
My heart just ached for Julian this entire book. I saw so much of myself in him when I was a teen, and there were many moments I was on the verge of tears ... both good and bad. Julian struggles so much with his sexuality, but every time he questions himself, you can also see him get a little stronger and a little more happier. He starts off the book being unable to even say the word "bi" to acknowledging it to himself, to saying it someone, and to slowly telling more people and fully embracing his identity. It's a beautiful, heartwarming journey, and one I know will resonate with so many readers.
The main theme of this book is understanding when it is safe for a queer person to come out, and that just because someone has shared a part of themselves with you does not entitle them to the same thing from you. I Knew Him is a quiet book but it has so many strong and powerful moments from discussions about accepting yourself, to coming out, to moving on from toxic people.
Although, overall, it's a soft novel, there are moments of homophobia and biphobia that are always called out -- scenes that highlight what so many queer people endure on a daily basis.
I highly encourage people to read this book. If you're looking for a quiet YA book that will still pack a punch, then look no further. Also, this book acknowledges that Hamlet and Horatio were probably queer and into each other, WHICH I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS.
April 26, 2019
RATING: 5/5 STARS
Julian is a high school senior who's reluctant to come out as bisexual. He's just broken up with his girlfriend, Lucy, and is conflicted about how people will react to his sexual orientation so he hasn't shared his secret with anyone. He meets Ruth and her brother Sky, who are new to his school, and finds himself falling for Sky. Julian and Sky start spending more time together as they become lab partners, both audition for the theater's production of Hamlet, and talk outside of school. As Julian's feelings for Sky deepen, he embarks on a path of facing his identity and sharing his truth with those he loves.
I KNEW HIM surprised me in the best way. I was drawn to the premise of a bisexual character navigating new love, and of course the backdrop of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. I loved the quotes that were sprinkled throughout the book and mentioning of familiar characters from the play. It was interesting to see Hamlet and Horatio's relationship taken from a different angle, one that wasn't readily apparent to me when I first read Hamlet in high school. But that's the great thing about Shakespeare and other classics - there are so many ways to interpret the text and I don't think any of them should be considered wrong. I thought Hamlet was the perfect choice for a play that threads through Sky and Julian's relationship.
However, the focus of this book isn't Hamlet (if I wanted that, I would have reread the original). What really shines in this narrative is the main character, Julian. For a seventeen-year-old boy, he has a maturity and connection with his own feelings that I found refreshing and easy to relate to. Even as I felt myself urging him to share more of himself with his family and friends, I understood the hesitations and fears that held him back. I liked Julian as a character - I found his personality to be kind and I really rooted for him. He felt authentic to me as a teenager trying to figure out life and messy relationships.
Sky was also an extraordinarily likable character. I appreciated the inclusivity in making his ethnicity half-Filipino and half-white. The relationship between Sky and Julian is tender and slow-burn, and I loved every second. I think fans of YA romance will really enjoy reading about their friendship unfolding into something more. Their connection was believable and their dialogue was the perfect combination of levity and meaningful conversation. There wasn't any vague misunderstanding that came between the characters like I've seen in some tropes. Sky and Julian are supportive of each other, their aspirations, and their relationships with other people in their lives. Sky has his own talents and goals. There's a scene where Sky describes how he perceives light and shadow as he draws, which I thought was beautifully written.
The supporting characters in this novel are also stellar. I believe the way Sky and Julian's mothers are portrayed will resonate with many LGBT teens. Julian's relationship with his father develops in an unexpected way, which I found hopeful and uplifting. And Julian and Sky's friends (even exes) are well-characterized. I enjoy reading books where the main characters are not in a vacuum and have purposeful relationships with others.
From a bird's-eye view of this book, there are important themes for teens addressed, including the value of embracing peoples' differences even if you don't understand them and LGBT representation. I liked how Julian and Sky's intimacy was handled; Julian wasn't pressured by Sky to do anything he wasn't ready for. One grievance I do have about this book was the underage drinking. I don't think it should be normalized or considered okay, especially if the characters are getting extremely drunk and hungover. I do recognize that drinking was one of the only ways Julian was able to cope with his feelings and he realized it was unhealthy, and I appreciated that there was no drug use in this book.
In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to readers of the YA contemporary and LGBT genres. Abigail de Niverville is a promising new author and I hope to see more from her.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
Julian is a high school senior who's reluctant to come out as bisexual. He's just broken up with his girlfriend, Lucy, and is conflicted about how people will react to his sexual orientation so he hasn't shared his secret with anyone. He meets Ruth and her brother Sky, who are new to his school, and finds himself falling for Sky. Julian and Sky start spending more time together as they become lab partners, both audition for the theater's production of Hamlet, and talk outside of school. As Julian's feelings for Sky deepen, he embarks on a path of facing his identity and sharing his truth with those he loves.
I KNEW HIM surprised me in the best way. I was drawn to the premise of a bisexual character navigating new love, and of course the backdrop of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. I loved the quotes that were sprinkled throughout the book and mentioning of familiar characters from the play. It was interesting to see Hamlet and Horatio's relationship taken from a different angle, one that wasn't readily apparent to me when I first read Hamlet in high school. But that's the great thing about Shakespeare and other classics - there are so many ways to interpret the text and I don't think any of them should be considered wrong. I thought Hamlet was the perfect choice for a play that threads through Sky and Julian's relationship.
However, the focus of this book isn't Hamlet (if I wanted that, I would have reread the original). What really shines in this narrative is the main character, Julian. For a seventeen-year-old boy, he has a maturity and connection with his own feelings that I found refreshing and easy to relate to. Even as I felt myself urging him to share more of himself with his family and friends, I understood the hesitations and fears that held him back. I liked Julian as a character - I found his personality to be kind and I really rooted for him. He felt authentic to me as a teenager trying to figure out life and messy relationships.
Sky was also an extraordinarily likable character. I appreciated the inclusivity in making his ethnicity half-Filipino and half-white. The relationship between Sky and Julian is tender and slow-burn, and I loved every second. I think fans of YA romance will really enjoy reading about their friendship unfolding into something more. Their connection was believable and their dialogue was the perfect combination of levity and meaningful conversation. There wasn't any vague misunderstanding that came between the characters like I've seen in some tropes. Sky and Julian are supportive of each other, their aspirations, and their relationships with other people in their lives. Sky has his own talents and goals. There's a scene where Sky describes how he perceives light and shadow as he draws, which I thought was beautifully written.
The supporting characters in this novel are also stellar. I believe the way Sky and Julian's mothers are portrayed will resonate with many LGBT teens. Julian's relationship with his father develops in an unexpected way, which I found hopeful and uplifting. And Julian and Sky's friends (even exes) are well-characterized. I enjoy reading books where the main characters are not in a vacuum and have purposeful relationships with others.
From a bird's-eye view of this book, there are important themes for teens addressed, including the value of embracing peoples' differences even if you don't understand them and LGBT representation. I liked how Julian and Sky's intimacy was handled; Julian wasn't pressured by Sky to do anything he wasn't ready for. One grievance I do have about this book was the underage drinking. I don't think it should be normalized or considered okay, especially if the characters are getting extremely drunk and hungover. I do recognize that drinking was one of the only ways Julian was able to cope with his feelings and he realized it was unhealthy, and I appreciated that there was no drug use in this book.
In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to readers of the YA contemporary and LGBT genres. Abigail de Niverville is a promising new author and I hope to see more from her.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
April 13, 2019
It wasn’t always about owing someone honesty. It was about whether telling them was safe.
On my blog.
Rep: bi mc, gay half-Filipino li, lesbian side character, gay side character
CWs: biphobia, implied emotionally abusive past relationship, past outing, homophobia from parents
Galley provided by publisher
I have to say I didn’t have any expectations going into this book. Sure, I was excited by the concept, but I wasn’t expecting anything. So, I was really pleasantly surprised by this book.
In I Knew Him, we’re introduced to Julian, a senior who is biding his time trying to pass as straight before he gets to college and can finally be fully himself. But then he meets Sky, a new kid at school, and gets involved in the school production of Hamlet (although this doesn’t play as big a role as you might expect).
WHAT I LIKED
> I loved how this book doesn’t force Julian to come out. It very much disseminates the message that you don’t owe anyone your coming out, especially when it might not be safe for you to. Which it definitely feels like isn’t talked about enough, particularly in YA lit. I don’t remember reading a book that’s said that message so clearly. Normally it feels like either “come out or you can’t be happy”, “come out or you’re lying by omission”, or even “come out or you’re a coward”. So to have a character say that you don’t owe anyone that? It felt good.
> One of the characters is casually biphobic (in that he doesn’t believe it’s a thing), and this book never let you think it’s condoning that. Every time this character says something along those lines, the book is obviously placing him in the “not good” category. Initially, I thought I’d have liked maybe some indication he might be coming to realise he’s being biphobic, but the extent to which he insisted it wasn’t a thing, even after Julian had come out to him? I’m glad that never happened.
> There was no relationship- or misunderstanding-based angst between Julian and Sky. It was just both of them communicating well and supporting each other.
> Julian’s ex-girlfriend, although she disappears for most the book, was actually really nice about finding out the truth. She just wanted him to be happy (and now I want her to be happy).
> Seeing older gay characters get to be happy and in love is always an amazing thing. I really liked how Julian didn’t actually begrudge his dad that after he left them and actively wanted it to work with David. And then his dad and David being supportive of him and Sky. It’s just beautiful.
> The word bi or bisexual is used a lot so I loved that, obviously.
WHAT I LIKED LESS
> I kind of wanted more of a slowburn between Julian and Sky, but actually, given that there was no relationship angst later on, and they just got to support each other unconditionally? I wasn’t bothered.
> Early on, I was very confused about why Julian felt he couldn’t come out to his mum or best friend. It becomes a lot clearer around a fifth through I guess, but at the beginning when the reader hadn’t been told, when he said he could never come out, I did lean towards thinking along the lines of “you’re bi, not dying”. He felt a little needlessly angsty (though obviously when it’s revealed why, you understand).
> Sometimes the writing felt a little clunky, but yeah. Only sometimes, and not enough for me to get thrown out of the story.
So, in the end, if you want a cute romance, with Hamlet themes, and which overtly recognises that Shakespeare was not as straight as you think, this book is definitely for you.
April 11, 2019
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was cute!
Admittedly, I haven’t read a whole lot of books with bisexual rep. They’re kinda hard to find, even in the YA audience, so to read this story about Julian and his journey to accept who he really is was rather cute. There’s a lot of internal struggling, especially as the book is told in first person POV, but overall this was a cute, fluffy, quick read.
The plotline itself is rather simple, as Julian is just a kid who decides to audition for a play his Senior year of high school, but I rather liked how Shakespeare was specifically chosen, and Hamlet especially for the supposed Hamlet/Horatio relationship. I had to read three Shakespeare plays during my high school career, and Hamlet in 12th grade was one of them. To this day there are rumors of Shakespeare (and most of his characters) being gay — or at the very least, Not Straight — so to use that alongside a boy’s struggle to accept his bisexual identity was rather clever, I think.
One of the things that stuck out the most to me regarding this book was definitely the biphobia coming from a fellow member of the LGBT+ community and a former friend of Julian’s. I, myself, am asexual and am currently questioning whether I’m heteroromantic or biromantic, so I’ve DEFINITELY seen gate-keeping from supposed members of the community — despite their supposed claims that only “cishets” are discriminatory. Julian’s friendship with this biphobic dude was absolutely toxic (and I fucking hate “cancel culture,” so that’s not a term I throw around loosely), and I think this is the first and only time I’ve ever seen such a thing in a book. Applause for that. Just because you’re LGBT+ doesn’t mean you get a free pass to hate on things you don’t understand.
I also really like how Julian’s relationship with his mother was explored. His mother is a character wary of the LGBT+ community — for reasons I won’t spoil here, but it’s not because of any bullshit “religious” reasons — and, even though many would see that as a flaw, enough was given about her background to be understanding. I loved Julian’s relationship with her, and his very real hesitance to let her know of his sexuality, and I thought that that, too, was a topic that isn’t really explored in YA without making the parent automatically come off as a total asshole.
Overall, this was quite a cute read and I enjoyed it! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC — I highly recommend this little story to anyone looking for a realistic approach to exploring bisexuality as a high school student!
This was cute!
Admittedly, I haven’t read a whole lot of books with bisexual rep. They’re kinda hard to find, even in the YA audience, so to read this story about Julian and his journey to accept who he really is was rather cute. There’s a lot of internal struggling, especially as the book is told in first person POV, but overall this was a cute, fluffy, quick read.
The plotline itself is rather simple, as Julian is just a kid who decides to audition for a play his Senior year of high school, but I rather liked how Shakespeare was specifically chosen, and Hamlet especially for the supposed Hamlet/Horatio relationship. I had to read three Shakespeare plays during my high school career, and Hamlet in 12th grade was one of them. To this day there are rumors of Shakespeare (and most of his characters) being gay — or at the very least, Not Straight — so to use that alongside a boy’s struggle to accept his bisexual identity was rather clever, I think.
One of the things that stuck out the most to me regarding this book was definitely the biphobia coming from a fellow member of the LGBT+ community and a former friend of Julian’s. I, myself, am asexual and am currently questioning whether I’m heteroromantic or biromantic, so I’ve DEFINITELY seen gate-keeping from supposed members of the community — despite their supposed claims that only “cishets” are discriminatory. Julian’s friendship with this biphobic dude was absolutely toxic (and I fucking hate “cancel culture,” so that’s not a term I throw around loosely), and I think this is the first and only time I’ve ever seen such a thing in a book. Applause for that. Just because you’re LGBT+ doesn’t mean you get a free pass to hate on things you don’t understand.
I also really like how Julian’s relationship with his mother was explored. His mother is a character wary of the LGBT+ community — for reasons I won’t spoil here, but it’s not because of any bullshit “religious” reasons — and, even though many would see that as a flaw, enough was given about her background to be understanding. I loved Julian’s relationship with her, and his very real hesitance to let her know of his sexuality, and I thought that that, too, was a topic that isn’t really explored in YA without making the parent automatically come off as a total asshole.
Overall, this was quite a cute read and I enjoyed it! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC — I highly recommend this little story to anyone looking for a realistic approach to exploring bisexuality as a high school student!
July 23, 2019
3.5 stars. I wanted to read this because it's a Hamlet/Horatio story, which is one of my favourite ships. There wasn't much Hamlet and Horatio (too bad!), but I still enjoyed reading this. I didn't have super strong feelings about it beyond it being nice, though there are some good messages here and it's an enjoyable low-angst YA coming-out story. Julian is bi and doesn't want to come out because he doesn't feel safe and that's okay and I love that it's presented that way. I love the message that you can come out to whomever you want and you don't have to come out to people who don't deserve to know or people who will hurt you. Biphobia by a member of the queer community is front and center in this book and is discussed a lot and I really liked that it was addressed. I loved that it was set in a small town in Canada. The cover is lovely and matches this quiet story very well.
April 21, 2019
Abigail de Niverville’s I Knew Him is a great YA read with lots of Hamlet, a sweet romance, and an interestingly complex bisexual protagonist. I breezed through this novel but I wish that some characters and the writing were stronger.
Julian is a high school senior who just needs to pretend to be straight for one more year. He’s reluctant to come out as bisexual, especially to his mom and best friend. Julian is also dealing with the fallout from his parents’ divorce. When his friend talks him into auditioning for the school production of Hamlet, he’s hesitant but is drawn to the play. Then, mysterious Sky moves to town and Julian becomes fascinated with this smart and sensitive boy. When Julian wins the part of Hamlet and Sky is cast as Horatio, the boys grow closer. As Julian begins to fall for Sky, he is forced to confront parts of himself that he has buried.
This is a moving story which looks at many relevant issues. de Niverville presents a refreshing take on bisexuality. She doesn’t shy away from repeatedly using the term. She deftly explores coming out and bisexual erasure. There’s a range of well-written and poignant responses to Julian’s bisexuality, including some painful biphobia from a gay character. There are also several other interesting and different LGBT characters.
Julian’s relationships with his parents are well-written and authentic. de Niverville also realistically explores the changing landscape of friendships and relationships. I also love the inclusion of Hamlet and the parallels between the play and the storyline.
Julian is an interesting and authentically written protagonist. I like his maturity and his willingness to learn and grow. I particularly like how well his sexuality is handled.
I just love Sky! He’s sweet, sensitive, and realistic. Sky is half Filipino and I like that his ethnicity isn’t just a throwaway gesture.
I love the sweet and supportive relationship between Julian and Sky. There’s some angst but thankfully no unnecessary drama. The somewhat slow-burn development of their relationship feels real. I like that the boys get to know each other before the romance happens. I particularly like the unique way that the issue of intimacy is handled.
However, Julian’s friends could have been better written. I sometimes struggled to tell them apart. I wanted to like Kelsey because she seems interesting but I feel like I barely know her. Julian’s ex-girlfriend Lucy also lacks sufficient characterization. Additionally, Julian’s best friend Will is one-dimensional. I also wish the friendship between Will and Julian was more developed given Will’s role in Julian’s life.
I also wish that the writing was stronger. Some of the characters unnaturally pop in and out of the narrative. Additionally, while I like the quiet character-driven story, the plot could have been a little more exciting. The story sometimes drags and the beginning is especially slow. de Niverville hints at several things that could have made the plot more interesting but she does not follow through.
I Knew Him is a solid and moving book. While I wish the writing and some of the characters were more developed, I enjoyed this gentle story. de Niverville’s refreshing presentation of bisexuality as well as the wonderful relationship between Sky and Julian make the book really memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈 bisexual rainbows out of 5!
Julian is a high school senior who just needs to pretend to be straight for one more year. He’s reluctant to come out as bisexual, especially to his mom and best friend. Julian is also dealing with the fallout from his parents’ divorce. When his friend talks him into auditioning for the school production of Hamlet, he’s hesitant but is drawn to the play. Then, mysterious Sky moves to town and Julian becomes fascinated with this smart and sensitive boy. When Julian wins the part of Hamlet and Sky is cast as Horatio, the boys grow closer. As Julian begins to fall for Sky, he is forced to confront parts of himself that he has buried.
This is a moving story which looks at many relevant issues. de Niverville presents a refreshing take on bisexuality. She doesn’t shy away from repeatedly using the term. She deftly explores coming out and bisexual erasure. There’s a range of well-written and poignant responses to Julian’s bisexuality, including some painful biphobia from a gay character. There are also several other interesting and different LGBT characters.
Julian’s relationships with his parents are well-written and authentic. de Niverville also realistically explores the changing landscape of friendships and relationships. I also love the inclusion of Hamlet and the parallels between the play and the storyline.
Julian is an interesting and authentically written protagonist. I like his maturity and his willingness to learn and grow. I particularly like how well his sexuality is handled.
I just love Sky! He’s sweet, sensitive, and realistic. Sky is half Filipino and I like that his ethnicity isn’t just a throwaway gesture.
I love the sweet and supportive relationship between Julian and Sky. There’s some angst but thankfully no unnecessary drama. The somewhat slow-burn development of their relationship feels real. I like that the boys get to know each other before the romance happens. I particularly like the unique way that the issue of intimacy is handled.
However, Julian’s friends could have been better written. I sometimes struggled to tell them apart. I wanted to like Kelsey because she seems interesting but I feel like I barely know her. Julian’s ex-girlfriend Lucy also lacks sufficient characterization. Additionally, Julian’s best friend Will is one-dimensional. I also wish the friendship between Will and Julian was more developed given Will’s role in Julian’s life.
I also wish that the writing was stronger. Some of the characters unnaturally pop in and out of the narrative. Additionally, while I like the quiet character-driven story, the plot could have been a little more exciting. The story sometimes drags and the beginning is especially slow. de Niverville hints at several things that could have made the plot more interesting but she does not follow through.
I Knew Him is a solid and moving book. While I wish the writing and some of the characters were more developed, I enjoyed this gentle story. de Niverville’s refreshing presentation of bisexuality as well as the wonderful relationship between Sky and Julian make the book really memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈 bisexual rainbows out of 5!
April 29, 2019
This is a book of finding oneself, accepting oneself and living life to the fullest. It is a light-hearted yet heart touching read and deals with a teen boy accepting what he feels. Julian, a sweet boy living with his single mom, has just realized that he likes both girls and boys. Not sure how the world will view him, how his mother would accept him after his father's debacle, whether his friends would understand him, this young boy keeps living each day with conflicting feelings.
As if things were meant to be, he lands a pivotal role in Hamlet, meeting his Horatio in Sky and things begin to turn for the better. Julian realizes what falling in love means and he is not rushing into things. Himself and Sky begin as friends move on to crushes and then to relationship. This world we live in is so cynical, and the brunt of that has to be faced by our children who are struggling to find normalcy in being different.
Imagine putting yourself out there for people to judge you at such a small age, and judge you they do ! Julian's daily struggle with accepting himself is so emotional to me as a mother. It is so important as parents that we provide a safe and secure environment to our kids, where we can encourage them to accept themselves, to support them at all costs, even when we don't know how. The first step to face the world, is to accept the truth yourself and own it. Easier said than done, definitely ! But, this is the point where we have to start believing in ourselves. I liked the scenes with his dad and his partner too. Looks like that there is hope at the end of the fight ! Huge appreciation for Julian's mom as well. She is not all that sure of the future, but she stays strong for her son. Will, seemed to be a hypocrite.. My way or the high way, kinda.. Jesse seemed intriguing as well..
Sky and Julian fit together like a perfect puzzle and that was the highlight of the story. Just two normal teens falling in love, discovering their bond, their true friends, meeting the families for the first time..and all that jazz.. I was in awe at the maturity shown by Sky's character, in giving time and space for Julian to deal with his feelings. Grown up women can learn from him !
Sweet and full of emotions, this story is targeted for the teens still trying to find their feet in this big bad world. As for me, this story was a little too young for me, but it was a good one.
As if things were meant to be, he lands a pivotal role in Hamlet, meeting his Horatio in Sky and things begin to turn for the better. Julian realizes what falling in love means and he is not rushing into things. Himself and Sky begin as friends move on to crushes and then to relationship. This world we live in is so cynical, and the brunt of that has to be faced by our children who are struggling to find normalcy in being different.
Imagine putting yourself out there for people to judge you at such a small age, and judge you they do ! Julian's daily struggle with accepting himself is so emotional to me as a mother. It is so important as parents that we provide a safe and secure environment to our kids, where we can encourage them to accept themselves, to support them at all costs, even when we don't know how. The first step to face the world, is to accept the truth yourself and own it. Easier said than done, definitely ! But, this is the point where we have to start believing in ourselves. I liked the scenes with his dad and his partner too. Looks like that there is hope at the end of the fight ! Huge appreciation for Julian's mom as well. She is not all that sure of the future, but she stays strong for her son. Will, seemed to be a hypocrite.. My way or the high way, kinda.. Jesse seemed intriguing as well..
Sky and Julian fit together like a perfect puzzle and that was the highlight of the story. Just two normal teens falling in love, discovering their bond, their true friends, meeting the families for the first time..and all that jazz.. I was in awe at the maturity shown by Sky's character, in giving time and space for Julian to deal with his feelings. Grown up women can learn from him !
Sweet and full of emotions, this story is targeted for the teens still trying to find their feet in this big bad world. As for me, this story was a little too young for me, but it was a good one.
April 19, 2019
Look. Look. This is like when you hand someone a bag of a plastic cookie cutters and a log of rainbow sprinkle sugar cookie dough and somewhere, in the process, the shapes got messed up and came out being only a vague similarity to the shape they were meant to be. They’re still sweet, still edible, but not at all what was planned or meant to be.
Which is to say that I didn’t hate this book, not even close, but I didn’t really like it, either.
Julian is a high school student trying to get through his last year with his head down so he can graduate and go off to college and be the person he feels he’s meant to be—and that involves being openly bi and proud, a thing he refuses to let himself be in his small town around his mother, his best friend, and his ex-girlfriend that he’s been off and on with for years that he has now officially called it quits with.
So it throws a massive wrench into his plans when not only does he get roped into doing the school’s reenactment of Hamlet by a couple of friends as one last hoorah for the nostalgia to come, but he ends up meeting Sky, one of the two new kids in school, and they develop an intimate connection that forces Julian to come to terms with the fact that he might not be able to escape everyone first.
In concept, this book was monumental for kids that deal with biphobia of close-minded and/or religious varieties and it deals a heavy hand in reminding LGBT+ kids that you owe absolutely no one your coming out of sexuality or identity; not even someone you’ve been friends with since you were kids, especially if you don’t feel safe by any means.
The problem is that like the other book I recently read and nitpicked for the exact same problem (so it’s fresh on the mind), the characters and their relationships lacked any depth or development, jumping from point A to point F in one big, clumsy leap. There’s a couple of time skips meant to add weight and time that are really just haphazard trips through the plot that should have been used to develop Julian and Sky’s budding relationship, at the very least. The pacing doesn’t do them any favors either considering the author implied near in-love feelings within the first week of meeting. The only redeeming thing about this was that despite the scattered jump into the relationship, Julian and Sky have no real angst between them. They have a very healthy and communicative dynamic that lends to a solid, unconditional support system between them, which was extremely sweet.
So. Like I said, in theory, this book holds a lot of weight and importance because not only does it deal with biphobia and what it means to deal with that even from someone that’s also part of the LGBT+ community, but it shows happy and healthy and functioning LGBT+ adults that have gone through hardship and have seen the other side, too. It’s something of a promise. It has a gay couple that instead of struggling with angst between them, they take on the outside forces together without missing a beat. It has friends and family that do accept their loved ones. It is a good book in concept.
It’s just that the book itself, the overall plot and execution, was a little… flat and disappointing because it felt rushed and underdeveloped in many ways. It felt an awful lot like reading the outline. I like the back and forth, the slow burn, the ‘will they, won’t they’ between two characters that aren’t together when the book starts. I like watching the relationship blossom and grow into something pure and tender and passionate, I like watching the characters fall in love so I can, too. So it’s very hard for me to connect to and enjoy a book that doesn’t have this and instead has something that’s very, very close to insta-love and makes the whole book feel awkward and forced.
But.
If you don’t mind that, if the lack of that isn’t a huge deal-breaker for you like it is me, then you might really and truly like this book because. Really, honestly, I would still recommend it if you want a quick read that covers a lot of bases in exploring bisexuality and how even other LBGT+ members have biphobia due to an unhealthy social stigma (there’s a world of psychology and a whole essay behind that), has a healthy and supportive lead gay relationship and side relationship, that also deals with learning how to be wholly yourself when you’ve spent so long fighting it.
It just wasn’t for me due to that one huge deal-breaker so it’s about a solid two stars.
Which is to say that I didn’t hate this book, not even close, but I didn’t really like it, either.
Julian is a high school student trying to get through his last year with his head down so he can graduate and go off to college and be the person he feels he’s meant to be—and that involves being openly bi and proud, a thing he refuses to let himself be in his small town around his mother, his best friend, and his ex-girlfriend that he’s been off and on with for years that he has now officially called it quits with.
So it throws a massive wrench into his plans when not only does he get roped into doing the school’s reenactment of Hamlet by a couple of friends as one last hoorah for the nostalgia to come, but he ends up meeting Sky, one of the two new kids in school, and they develop an intimate connection that forces Julian to come to terms with the fact that he might not be able to escape everyone first.
In concept, this book was monumental for kids that deal with biphobia of close-minded and/or religious varieties and it deals a heavy hand in reminding LGBT+ kids that you owe absolutely no one your coming out of sexuality or identity; not even someone you’ve been friends with since you were kids, especially if you don’t feel safe by any means.
The problem is that like the other book I recently read and nitpicked for the exact same problem (so it’s fresh on the mind), the characters and their relationships lacked any depth or development, jumping from point A to point F in one big, clumsy leap. There’s a couple of time skips meant to add weight and time that are really just haphazard trips through the plot that should have been used to develop Julian and Sky’s budding relationship, at the very least. The pacing doesn’t do them any favors either considering the author implied near in-love feelings within the first week of meeting. The only redeeming thing about this was that despite the scattered jump into the relationship, Julian and Sky have no real angst between them. They have a very healthy and communicative dynamic that lends to a solid, unconditional support system between them, which was extremely sweet.
So. Like I said, in theory, this book holds a lot of weight and importance because not only does it deal with biphobia and what it means to deal with that even from someone that’s also part of the LGBT+ community, but it shows happy and healthy and functioning LGBT+ adults that have gone through hardship and have seen the other side, too. It’s something of a promise. It has a gay couple that instead of struggling with angst between them, they take on the outside forces together without missing a beat. It has friends and family that do accept their loved ones. It is a good book in concept.
It’s just that the book itself, the overall plot and execution, was a little… flat and disappointing because it felt rushed and underdeveloped in many ways. It felt an awful lot like reading the outline. I like the back and forth, the slow burn, the ‘will they, won’t they’ between two characters that aren’t together when the book starts. I like watching the relationship blossom and grow into something pure and tender and passionate, I like watching the characters fall in love so I can, too. So it’s very hard for me to connect to and enjoy a book that doesn’t have this and instead has something that’s very, very close to insta-love and makes the whole book feel awkward and forced.
But.
If you don’t mind that, if the lack of that isn’t a huge deal-breaker for you like it is me, then you might really and truly like this book because. Really, honestly, I would still recommend it if you want a quick read that covers a lot of bases in exploring bisexuality and how even other LBGT+ members have biphobia due to an unhealthy social stigma (there’s a world of psychology and a whole essay behind that), has a healthy and supportive lead gay relationship and side relationship, that also deals with learning how to be wholly yourself when you’ve spent so long fighting it.
It just wasn’t for me due to that one huge deal-breaker so it’s about a solid two stars.
April 28, 2020
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, NineStar Press!
In his senior year of high school, Julian has one goal: be invisible. All he wants is to study hard, play basketball, and pretend he’s straight for one more year. Then, he can run away to university and finally tell the world he’s bisexual. And by “the world,” he means everyone but his mom and best friend. That’s two conversations he never wants to have.
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?
In his senior year of high school, Julian has one goal: be invisible. All he wants is to study hard, play basketball, and pretend he’s straight for one more year. Then, he can run away to university and finally tell the world he’s bisexual. And by “the world,” he means everyone but his mom and best friend. That’s two conversations he never wants to have.
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?
April 10, 2019
This book conquered my heart! This is exactly the kind of queer contemporary YA that I needed right now.
I really loved Julian. His struggles of accepting his bisexuality were very relatable, like him wondering if he should even bother telling people he's bi, if he might find a girl he'll end up marrying. But then he meets Sky and everything changes! I really enjoyed reading about their first interactions, I'm glad that their conversations were actually quite awkward at times. Reading about Julian and Sky getting to know each other was such a treat! A lot of romance books seem to skip over that part, but these two learn about their different hobbies, favorite movies, their taste in music and much more. The development of their relationship felt really natural. This book also refrained from a lot of annoying clichees and Sky and Julian were always honest with each other, could always lean on each other.
A different aspect that I really enjoyed reading about were Julian's struggles with his family. His worries about his dad moving on from him and his mother and he having a sort of reunion with his dad and his new boyfriend (and wasn't that just the cutest chapter ever?). And also his anxiety about coming out to his mom, which was very understandable, considering the reasons his dad left.
Overall, this book was just a lot of fun to read and I definitely recommend it!!
I received and ARC of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved Julian. His struggles of accepting his bisexuality were very relatable, like him wondering if he should even bother telling people he's bi, if he might find a girl he'll end up marrying. But then he meets Sky and everything changes! I really enjoyed reading about their first interactions, I'm glad that their conversations were actually quite awkward at times. Reading about Julian and Sky getting to know each other was such a treat! A lot of romance books seem to skip over that part, but these two learn about their different hobbies, favorite movies, their taste in music and much more. The development of their relationship felt really natural. This book also refrained from a lot of annoying clichees and Sky and Julian were always honest with each other, could always lean on each other.
A different aspect that I really enjoyed reading about were Julian's struggles with his family. His worries about his dad moving on from him and his mother and he having a sort of reunion with his dad and his new boyfriend (and wasn't that just the cutest chapter ever?). And also his anxiety about coming out to his mom, which was very understandable, considering the reasons his dad left.
Overall, this book was just a lot of fun to read and I definitely recommend it!!
I received and ARC of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2019
I'm tired so this is the best review you're going to get. 4 stars.
Rep: LGBTQIA+ CAST, bi MC, gay LI, lesbian SC, gay SC, mixed race characters.
TW: major biphobia, homophobia, homophobia from a parent, implied emotionally abusive past relationship, outing, underage drinking.
I started reading I Knew Him once before and didn’t make it past the first few chapters for some reason, but I decided to commit myself to the story this time because it had been burning a hole in my TBR for the better part of a year and now boy do I wish I’d read it sooner.
I Knew Him is the story of seventeen year old Julian who is desperately trying to pass himself off as straight while navigating the last few semesters of high school, set to the backdrop of Shakespeare.
It’s one of those stories where the book they’re reading at school, or in this case the play they’re performing, resonates deeply with the main character and seems to mirror entire scenarios of adolescent drama and events that are unfolding in the characters life. And you know me, I love a good cliche so this was right up my alley.
In I Knew Him, Julian is cast as the lead in the school’s production of Hamlet, much to his surprise, alongside the new boy at school, Sky.
He breaks up with his girlfriend Lucy in the first few chapters - which was a long time coming apparently - and shortly after he’s introduced to Sky. As Julian and Sky spend more and more of their time together inside and outside of school and the theatre, Julian begins to realise that what he wants most out of life is to be himself unashamedly with the person he loves. And choosing who to share his most guarded secret with (or if he will at all) becomes more and more important to him every day.
The most important part of this story for me was the way coming out was portrayed. So often characters are expected to be out and proud otherwise their whole existence is a lie, but reality is so different. I Knew Him shows you how hard it can be to express who you really are to the people closest to you, whether you’re scared of their reaction or not. It was so realistic to me. I felt like I was back in 2014 struggling to find the right words to tell my family I was bisexual - the words that would cause the least disappointment. And I wish more than anything that this book had been around then. I might have understood better that coming out is not about pleasing the people around you, it’s about being honest with yourself. Julian proves that as long as you can admit who you are to yourself, you shouldn’t have to tell anyone else shit.
At first it’s unclear (more-so to anyone who’s never had to “come out”) why Julian desperately wants to keep his sexuality a secret. He’s trying so hard to fly under the radar in a small town, while also trying to maintain perfect grades and you can quite literally feel his struggle as though it’s pouring off the page and into your own body. He has only recently come to terms with the fact that he’s bisexual, and while he knows that’s nothing to be ashamed of he is still beyond reluctant to come out for fear of how his friends and family will react.
It’s when Julian meet’s Sky and starts to fall for him that you really start to understand why he’s forcing himself to keep his bisexuality a secret.
Julian was terrified to tell Will about his relationship with Sky and Sky says something so important. He says “You gave him safety. He doesn't do the same for you” and that cut me to the bone. I wish someone had told me that before I came out to my best friend.
I can’t even touch on the rejection Julian was subjected to by his own mother because it makes me so angry I might pelt my laptop. Not angry at the author, but angry because while some people might just see it as a plot device, that kind of scenario is very very real for those of us who identify as LGBTQIA+. It happens every day and most people don’t have the support network that Julian was lucky enough to have.
“What would it be like to wake up with someone you cared about? Would it make you love them even more? Would it hurt you more if you had to leave them, if they had to leave you?”
Now, I hate to do this, especially on a four star review, but there were a few things in this novel that really felt off to me - parts that could have been developed better or parts that were just not okay at all in my eyes.
All that being said I loved the story. It was a little stiff in some parts of the dialogue, and I would have loved a little more slow-burn and more character development, but we can’t have everything can we. All in all I’m glad that I put it down when I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a contemporary YA romance because it hit the right spot perfectly this time around.
Rep: LGBTQIA+ CAST, bi MC, gay LI, lesbian SC, gay SC, mixed race characters.
TW: major biphobia, homophobia, homophobia from a parent, implied emotionally abusive past relationship, outing, underage drinking.
I started reading I Knew Him once before and didn’t make it past the first few chapters for some reason, but I decided to commit myself to the story this time because it had been burning a hole in my TBR for the better part of a year and now boy do I wish I’d read it sooner.
I Knew Him is the story of seventeen year old Julian who is desperately trying to pass himself off as straight while navigating the last few semesters of high school, set to the backdrop of Shakespeare.
It’s one of those stories where the book they’re reading at school, or in this case the play they’re performing, resonates deeply with the main character and seems to mirror entire scenarios of adolescent drama and events that are unfolding in the characters life. And you know me, I love a good cliche so this was right up my alley.
In I Knew Him, Julian is cast as the lead in the school’s production of Hamlet, much to his surprise, alongside the new boy at school, Sky.
He breaks up with his girlfriend Lucy in the first few chapters - which was a long time coming apparently - and shortly after he’s introduced to Sky. As Julian and Sky spend more and more of their time together inside and outside of school and the theatre, Julian begins to realise that what he wants most out of life is to be himself unashamedly with the person he loves. And choosing who to share his most guarded secret with (or if he will at all) becomes more and more important to him every day.
“Wouldn't it be wild if I had a boy hold my hand, and the world didn't end?”
The most important part of this story for me was the way coming out was portrayed. So often characters are expected to be out and proud otherwise their whole existence is a lie, but reality is so different. I Knew Him shows you how hard it can be to express who you really are to the people closest to you, whether you’re scared of their reaction or not. It was so realistic to me. I felt like I was back in 2014 struggling to find the right words to tell my family I was bisexual - the words that would cause the least disappointment. And I wish more than anything that this book had been around then. I might have understood better that coming out is not about pleasing the people around you, it’s about being honest with yourself. Julian proves that as long as you can admit who you are to yourself, you shouldn’t have to tell anyone else shit.
At first it’s unclear (more-so to anyone who’s never had to “come out”) why Julian desperately wants to keep his sexuality a secret. He’s trying so hard to fly under the radar in a small town, while also trying to maintain perfect grades and you can quite literally feel his struggle as though it’s pouring off the page and into your own body. He has only recently come to terms with the fact that he’s bisexual, and while he knows that’s nothing to be ashamed of he is still beyond reluctant to come out for fear of how his friends and family will react.
It’s when Julian meet’s Sky and starts to fall for him that you really start to understand why he’s forcing himself to keep his bisexuality a secret.
Julian was terrified to tell Will about his relationship with Sky and Sky says something so important. He says “You gave him safety. He doesn't do the same for you” and that cut me to the bone. I wish someone had told me that before I came out to my best friend.
I can’t even touch on the rejection Julian was subjected to by his own mother because it makes me so angry I might pelt my laptop. Not angry at the author, but angry because while some people might just see it as a plot device, that kind of scenario is very very real for those of us who identify as LGBTQIA+. It happens every day and most people don’t have the support network that Julian was lucky enough to have.
“What would it be like to wake up with someone you cared about? Would it make you love them even more? Would it hurt you more if you had to leave them, if they had to leave you?”
Now, I hate to do this, especially on a four star review, but there were a few things in this novel that really felt off to me - parts that could have been developed better or parts that were just not okay at all in my eyes.
All that being said I loved the story. It was a little stiff in some parts of the dialogue, and I would have loved a little more slow-burn and more character development, but we can’t have everything can we. All in all I’m glad that I put it down when I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for a contemporary YA romance because it hit the right spot perfectly this time around.
April 4, 2019
3.5
This was a solid read for me and one of the only books I've read with a Bi protagonist. Jules was a great character, one who I related to in a lot of different ways as he wants to run from his problems but grows able to face them head-on. His thoughts and feeling and how he handled different situations throughout the book was so mature and in other places so naive, just like so many teens out there. The author didn't shy away from creating such a realistic cast of characters all with their own problems. This was such a good story, one that needed to be told and I know can help so many teens and adults struggling with their sexuality and struggling with relationships, parents and friends included.
I do wish we got to see more interactions with Jules's friends as I didn't feel there was as much connection there as what was needed. Another thing was, in some places, I did feel like the pacing was a little too slow for my tastes. This did bring my rating down a little as while it was a pretty quick read, I did find my getting distracted in some parts where I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I wanted to be.
This was a solid read for me and one of the only books I've read with a Bi protagonist. Jules was a great character, one who I related to in a lot of different ways as he wants to run from his problems but grows able to face them head-on. His thoughts and feeling and how he handled different situations throughout the book was so mature and in other places so naive, just like so many teens out there. The author didn't shy away from creating such a realistic cast of characters all with their own problems. This was such a good story, one that needed to be told and I know can help so many teens and adults struggling with their sexuality and struggling with relationships, parents and friends included.
I do wish we got to see more interactions with Jules's friends as I didn't feel there was as much connection there as what was needed. Another thing was, in some places, I did feel like the pacing was a little too slow for my tastes. This did bring my rating down a little as while it was a pretty quick read, I did find my getting distracted in some parts where I wasn't as engrossed in the story as I wanted to be.
May 4, 2019
a very adorable little YA romance
rarely read anything set in Canada so that was new
Cute and sweet ,, very sweet but idk
It was good
rarely read anything set in Canada so that was new
Cute and sweet ,, very sweet but idk
It was good
April 15, 2019
What a phenomenal coming of age tale. Julian is coming to terms with his sexuality while navigating his last year of high school.
His relationships with his friends, his parents, and the new boy in school complicate his journey. The author does an excellent job of conveying his conflicting thoughts about who to come out to and who to avoid showing his true self to.
The slow burn is endearing, giving the reader time to get to know the love interest and how he fits into Julian's life.
I enjoyed the clever incorporation of Hamlet and its parallels to Julian's life.
There are some surprising reactions to Julian's sexuality, and I felt his trepidation at coming out. His actions and feelings come across as very genuine and realistic, and I appreciate not everything being resolved with a nice, shiny bow. Because life is messy, especially for a high school student.
***ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ***
His relationships with his friends, his parents, and the new boy in school complicate his journey. The author does an excellent job of conveying his conflicting thoughts about who to come out to and who to avoid showing his true self to.
The slow burn is endearing, giving the reader time to get to know the love interest and how he fits into Julian's life.
I enjoyed the clever incorporation of Hamlet and its parallels to Julian's life.
There are some surprising reactions to Julian's sexuality, and I felt his trepidation at coming out. His actions and feelings come across as very genuine and realistic, and I appreciate not everything being resolved with a nice, shiny bow. Because life is messy, especially for a high school student.
***ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ***
December 19, 2021
Title: I Knew Him
Author: Abigail de Niverville
Publication Date: April 15th, 2019
Rating: 5/5
Description (from goodreads):
“In his senior year of high school, Julian has one goal: be invisible. All he wants is to study hard, play basketball, and pretend he’s straight for one more year. Then, he can run away to university and finally tell the world he’s bisexual. And by “the world,” he means everyone but his mom and best friend. That’s two conversations he never wants to have.
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?”
**I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, NineStar Press!**
Oh. My. Word! This book is amazing! I am extremely grateful to have had the chance to read this book and to write this review. I kind of relate to this book in some ways, being bisexual myself. I was a bit worried going in initially because some books that feature a gay or bisexual character that I have read in the past were a major disappointment. Those books always featured the character as “I’m bisexual, but of course I will still end up in a heterosexual relationship.” This book did not do that!
Julian is such an amazing character. I loved that we actually got to see how his thoughts worked while dealing with him discovering his bisexuality. We get to know how he feels about everything and we learn why he does the things he does. He is definitely a well rounded and relatable character. I really connected with him. Sky is adorable, and really good for Julian.
This book explores the truth of how differently people actually react to someone coming out as gay/bisexual. We get to see some of the slightly hurtful side of reactions, but we also see how a lot of people are accepting. It shows that friendships naturally change when this happens, but not always for the worse!
I will 100% recommend this book! I will probably re-read it soon. That’s how much I love it!
Author: Abigail de Niverville
Publication Date: April 15th, 2019
Rating: 5/5
Description (from goodreads):
“In his senior year of high school, Julian has one goal: be invisible. All he wants is to study hard, play basketball, and pretend he’s straight for one more year. Then, he can run away to university and finally tell the world he’s bisexual. And by “the world,” he means everyone but his mom and best friend. That’s two conversations he never wants to have.
When he’s talked into auditioning for the school’s production of Hamlet, Julian fears that veering off course will lead to assumptions he’s not ready to face. Despite that, he can’t help but feel a connection to this play. His absent father haunts him like a ghost, his ex is being difficult, and he’s overthinking everything. It’s driving him crazy.
The decision to audition leads Julian on an entirely different path. He’s cast as Hamlet, and the boy playing Horatio is unlike anyone Julian has met before. Mysterious and flirtatious, Sky draws Julian in, even though he fears his feelings at the same time. As the two grow closer, Julian begins to let out the secrets he’s never told—the ones that have paralyzed him for years. But what will he do if Sky feels the same way?”
**I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher, NineStar Press!**
Oh. My. Word! This book is amazing! I am extremely grateful to have had the chance to read this book and to write this review. I kind of relate to this book in some ways, being bisexual myself. I was a bit worried going in initially because some books that feature a gay or bisexual character that I have read in the past were a major disappointment. Those books always featured the character as “I’m bisexual, but of course I will still end up in a heterosexual relationship.” This book did not do that!
Julian is such an amazing character. I loved that we actually got to see how his thoughts worked while dealing with him discovering his bisexuality. We get to know how he feels about everything and we learn why he does the things he does. He is definitely a well rounded and relatable character. I really connected with him. Sky is adorable, and really good for Julian.
This book explores the truth of how differently people actually react to someone coming out as gay/bisexual. We get to see some of the slightly hurtful side of reactions, but we also see how a lot of people are accepting. It shows that friendships naturally change when this happens, but not always for the worse!
I will 100% recommend this book! I will probably re-read it soon. That’s how much I love it!
Read
May 4, 2021Ah this was so wonderful! I couldn’t put it down.
May 1, 2019
Nothing is as healing as a happy coming-out story without any relationship angst. Reading this made me feel so warm and happy. Also it's so great reading a book set in Canada by a Canadian author!
April 17, 2019
3.5 Stars
I requested I Knew Him as soon as I noticed there are references to Shakespeare in it.MM and Shakespeare are totally my cup of tea and having them together is always a recipe for enjoyment.
This is a well written contemporary YA novel with low angst and a rather cute love story between the main characters.
It was a bit slow for me at the beginning but somewhere around 30% I warmed up to it and read with interest until the end.
I liked a lot the bi representation in the book. Julian, the main character is bi and trying hard to hide it until he finishes school but the appearance of Sky makes it an impossible task. Thus we are witnessing all of Jules’ internal turmoil during these coming-of-age and coming out moments.
I didn’t care much about the secondary characters except Will. Not because he was a lovable character but because he was complex and controversial. If I have to pick a secondary character I’d read a whole book about, it will be him.
Indeed part of I Knew Him revolves around the rehearsals and staging of Hamlet in high school which was a bonus.
Overall the book was okay, not something that rocked my world but it had sweet moments and such that make you think. If you want to read contemporary YA with great bi representation and hints of Shakespeare, you should definitely go for it!
I requested I Knew Him as soon as I noticed there are references to Shakespeare in it.MM and Shakespeare are totally my cup of tea and having them together is always a recipe for enjoyment.
This is a well written contemporary YA novel with low angst and a rather cute love story between the main characters.
It was a bit slow for me at the beginning but somewhere around 30% I warmed up to it and read with interest until the end.
I liked a lot the bi representation in the book. Julian, the main character is bi and trying hard to hide it until he finishes school but the appearance of Sky makes it an impossible task. Thus we are witnessing all of Jules’ internal turmoil during these coming-of-age and coming out moments.
I didn’t care much about the secondary characters except Will. Not because he was a lovable character but because he was complex and controversial. If I have to pick a secondary character I’d read a whole book about, it will be him.
Indeed part of I Knew Him revolves around the rehearsals and staging of Hamlet in high school which was a bonus.
Overall the book was okay, not something that rocked my world but it had sweet moments and such that make you think. If you want to read contemporary YA with great bi representation and hints of Shakespeare, you should definitely go for it!
May 26, 2019
''It’s not always easy being honest with yourself.''
My heart is full and warm! This was so sweet and precious. I absolutely appreciated the way bisexuality was addressed in this story. Not many books i’ve read, have address all the struggles and phobia related to bisexuals and I found that in this story, the fears and struggles that Julian goes through felt real. I love the communication, the understanding and the trust between Julian and Sky, I love how their relationship developed throughout this story, I love how they represent for each other a safe place. Them together just felt so real. Also, I LOVE that Sky is Filipino and that this story takes place in Canada and was written by a Canadian author!
My heart is full and warm! This was so sweet and precious. I absolutely appreciated the way bisexuality was addressed in this story. Not many books i’ve read, have address all the struggles and phobia related to bisexuals and I found that in this story, the fears and struggles that Julian goes through felt real. I love the communication, the understanding and the trust between Julian and Sky, I love how their relationship developed throughout this story, I love how they represent for each other a safe place. Them together just felt so real. Also, I LOVE that Sky is Filipino and that this story takes place in Canada and was written by a Canadian author!
August 28, 2019
Received from Netgalley. So this one took me a little longer to read. I slogged through the first chapter and tossed it on the back burner. I find the whole jealous, pushy girlfriend annoying. Once I picked it up again and got to the first meeting, things quickly improved, and I really enjoyed it. It’s a coming out story, with a lot to sort out before graduation.
When he’s not pretending to be someone else, Jules is a teenager struggling with who he is, but coupled with Sky he’s sweet and happy. I liked the support all around. Didn’t like Will. No sex but plenty of kissing. I liked the play stuff as well.
When he’s not pretending to be someone else, Jules is a teenager struggling with who he is, but coupled with Sky he’s sweet and happy. I liked the support all around. Didn’t like Will. No sex but plenty of kissing. I liked the play stuff as well.
February 9, 2025
I Knew Him follows Jules who doesn’t want to come out as bi because of his bi-phobic best friend and a worry about how his family and town will perceive him is he does.
I liked how this book tackled biphobia, and homophobia in general, and the message it portrays to teens who may be reading this and want to come out. As a bi girly, it was warming and touching to see support and love, and biphobic comments and behaviour questioned.
It was a good story, but for me there was nothing super special about it to warrant a higher rating
I liked how this book tackled biphobia, and homophobia in general, and the message it portrays to teens who may be reading this and want to come out. As a bi girly, it was warming and touching to see support and love, and biphobic comments and behaviour questioned.
It was a good story, but for me there was nothing super special about it to warrant a higher rating
June 30, 2020
Fue una lectura dulce pero un poquito densa.
Puedo comprender que el miedo al rechazo es paralizante a veces, pero el dramatismo adolescente ante la aceptación de su sexualidad a veces es agotador y este libro se sintió así por momentos.
Puedo comprender que el miedo al rechazo es paralizante a veces, pero el dramatismo adolescente ante la aceptación de su sexualidad a veces es agotador y este libro se sintió así por momentos.
May 4, 2019
What a splendid debut novel. I particularly enjoyed the fact that there wasn’t just 1 LGBTQIA character. It makes the story more complex and realistic.
November 4, 2019
this story does a great job at addressing misconceptions about identity and orientation. i just wish i felt more for the characters. but its still a quick and cute read.
↠ 3 stars
↠ 3 stars
June 29, 2019
2019 Pride month read #15
I wasn't sure about the rating, but then I remembered why this book is so important.
One, it raises awareness of problematic behavior going on in the LGBTQ community and this is something that's still very much needed, with all the biphobia and transhobia, racism and bigotry, and so-called Drop the T "movements" and petitions.
Two, it portrays a healthy relationship between two teens who support each other and are there for each other in difficult moments. There's no miscommunication angst, there's no relationship drama, no break-ups, just a steady, strong, and above all, mature relationship.
Three, this is a story about a struggle that also sends a message that coming out isn't something you need to do to be happy and true to yourself and that you don't owe anyone anything.
Four, it portrays parents who make mistakes out of their own hurt or ingrained beliefs, who are flawed, but who, at the end of the day, still love their kids unconditionally and are willing to change and learn and who are willing to grow into better people so they can be better parents to their kids.
I wasn't sure about the rating, but then I remembered why this book is so important.
One, it raises awareness of problematic behavior going on in the LGBTQ community and this is something that's still very much needed, with all the biphobia and transhobia, racism and bigotry, and so-called Drop the T "movements" and petitions.
Two, it portrays a healthy relationship between two teens who support each other and are there for each other in difficult moments. There's no miscommunication angst, there's no relationship drama, no break-ups, just a steady, strong, and above all, mature relationship.
Three, this is a story about a struggle that also sends a message that coming out isn't something you need to do to be happy and true to yourself and that you don't owe anyone anything.
Four, it portrays parents who make mistakes out of their own hurt or ingrained beliefs, who are flawed, but who, at the end of the day, still love their kids unconditionally and are willing to change and learn and who are willing to grow into better people so they can be better parents to their kids.
April 9, 2019
This is a refreshingly realistic tale. When readers meet Julian, the bi-sexual main character, he is afraid to admit things to himself and anyone else. As we follow him in his senior year of high school, navigating Friday night parties, basketball season, meeting the stunning new boy with beautiful eyes, Julian stops fighting what he feels. He draws strength from those around him he can trust, and ultimately he ends up with that new boy and far less afraid of himself.
I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
July 28, 2020
i really wish that there was more slowburn between the two but thats the only thing i have with this but nevertheless i love the way they talk about coming out in this so much
April 20, 2019
I have a weakness for Shakespeare and if I am honest it is the main reason this book caught my eye. The author shared a post on twitter about her book being a YA contemporary with a sprinkle of Hamlet, and bi-sexual and lesbian rep. I'll admit she had me at hamlet but I'm also a sucker for #ownvoices books and representation. So here we go!
The Story
I Knew Him follows Julian who is just trying to make it through the last year of school pretending to be straight so he doesn't have to deal with explaining to people how he feels. His plan is to survive the year and then run away to university and tell the world who he is. He means everyone but his mom and best friend. Those are two conversations he doesn't want to have. However, there is just a slight glitch in his plans and his name is Sky.
I love that Sky and Julian's relationship takes time to develop, I appreciated that their internal struggles were not erased just because they liked each other. Their relationship is healthy, based on understanding, respect, and not diminishing each other's experiences based on their own. Sky is out and Julian is not, and we get to see how that plays out in an honest an open conversation between the reader and Julian, but most importantly we see Julian grow and understand who he is and why it matters, and why his happiness matters more than all the secrets he wasn't willing to share with the world.
Coming to the end of the book really left me feeling like I was Julian and I had grown. That we had finished this journey together, that we loved, doubted, cried, shared so many things but that at the end we made it!
Fun Details
The Shakespeare references in this book are so well timed and spread throughout the book that it gave my Shakespearean heart life. Julian and Sky's relationship is a slow burn romance and man does he keep you at the edge of the seat, feeling butterflies, every time Sky is around. That is the main attraction of this book, it engages you in a way that you feel that his story is yours too, and you just want to keep discovering yourself in it.
Let's talk about representation
Rep that can be found in this book: Lesbian rep, Bi-sexual rep, and Gay-Filipino rep
I loved that Abigail decided to showcase more than one person's coming out experience, it really gives you some perspective about how different individuals handle this moment and why or why not they choose to share it with some people and not others. It also discusses what it means to be an ally and touches on what a safe place looks like for someone struggling with their sexuality.
I was also so excited to find out that Sky was Filipino! Where I used to work there were many gay Filipinos who worked with me and one of the reasons they worked for the company, was that within the walls of our ship they were safe. They could be anyone they wanted to. Sometimes being home for them didn't necessarily mean safe. So, they would lose their mind if they heard there is a story written with a main character that is and feels like them. Sometimes non-own voices authors erase the identity of a character and all we learn about them is that they are gay or part of the community. However, it is so important that their identities are visible in stories like this because the LGBTQIA+ community is so diverse, and it is a disservice to continue telling the same story, considering that there are so many other experiences out there.
Let's talk about real experiences
This book gives words to the many feelings that someone struggling to come to terms with themselves could encounter. Don't get me wrong, not everyone has a scary coming out experience or story to tell, but some people still do. Abigail touches on some of these experiences like bi-phobia, involuntary outing of their sexuality, abuse in a previous relationship and homophobic parents. A person not believing what you feel is real, being outed before you are ready or having your parent look at you differently because of what you just shared could be devastating. Navigating these waters with Julian (MC) really puts you smack in the middle of his experiences and the consequences of them.
Rating 5/5 ❤❤❤❤❤
This book is an ode to being yourself, a reminder that your happiness and well-being matters. A book that provides insight into experiences that some people might not know of. Abigail educates readers while telling us a beautiful coming of age story. She's created a safe place for all the humans out there out or not that may be seeking a book that speaks to them. I hope in the future stories like these continue being told.
The Story
I Knew Him follows Julian who is just trying to make it through the last year of school pretending to be straight so he doesn't have to deal with explaining to people how he feels. His plan is to survive the year and then run away to university and tell the world who he is. He means everyone but his mom and best friend. Those are two conversations he doesn't want to have. However, there is just a slight glitch in his plans and his name is Sky.
I love that Sky and Julian's relationship takes time to develop, I appreciated that their internal struggles were not erased just because they liked each other. Their relationship is healthy, based on understanding, respect, and not diminishing each other's experiences based on their own. Sky is out and Julian is not, and we get to see how that plays out in an honest an open conversation between the reader and Julian, but most importantly we see Julian grow and understand who he is and why it matters, and why his happiness matters more than all the secrets he wasn't willing to share with the world.
Coming to the end of the book really left me feeling like I was Julian and I had grown. That we had finished this journey together, that we loved, doubted, cried, shared so many things but that at the end we made it!
Fun Details
The Shakespeare references in this book are so well timed and spread throughout the book that it gave my Shakespearean heart life. Julian and Sky's relationship is a slow burn romance and man does he keep you at the edge of the seat, feeling butterflies, every time Sky is around. That is the main attraction of this book, it engages you in a way that you feel that his story is yours too, and you just want to keep discovering yourself in it.
Let's talk about representation
Rep that can be found in this book: Lesbian rep, Bi-sexual rep, and Gay-Filipino rep
I loved that Abigail decided to showcase more than one person's coming out experience, it really gives you some perspective about how different individuals handle this moment and why or why not they choose to share it with some people and not others. It also discusses what it means to be an ally and touches on what a safe place looks like for someone struggling with their sexuality.
I was also so excited to find out that Sky was Filipino! Where I used to work there were many gay Filipinos who worked with me and one of the reasons they worked for the company, was that within the walls of our ship they were safe. They could be anyone they wanted to. Sometimes being home for them didn't necessarily mean safe. So, they would lose their mind if they heard there is a story written with a main character that is and feels like them. Sometimes non-own voices authors erase the identity of a character and all we learn about them is that they are gay or part of the community. However, it is so important that their identities are visible in stories like this because the LGBTQIA+ community is so diverse, and it is a disservice to continue telling the same story, considering that there are so many other experiences out there.
Let's talk about real experiences
This book gives words to the many feelings that someone struggling to come to terms with themselves could encounter. Don't get me wrong, not everyone has a scary coming out experience or story to tell, but some people still do. Abigail touches on some of these experiences like bi-phobia, involuntary outing of their sexuality, abuse in a previous relationship and homophobic parents. A person not believing what you feel is real, being outed before you are ready or having your parent look at you differently because of what you just shared could be devastating. Navigating these waters with Julian (MC) really puts you smack in the middle of his experiences and the consequences of them.
Rating 5/5 ❤❤❤❤❤
This book is an ode to being yourself, a reminder that your happiness and well-being matters. A book that provides insight into experiences that some people might not know of. Abigail educates readers while telling us a beautiful coming of age story. She's created a safe place for all the humans out there out or not that may be seeking a book that speaks to them. I hope in the future stories like these continue being told.
May 19, 2019
This book, I felt it in my bones, and I wished that I had something like this to read when I was in high school. To have something like this to relate to would have made it a little easier getting through the school day surrounded by people who didn’t have to fear being true to themselves.
Julian has a plan during his final year I high school. He’s going to pass his classes, play basketball, and not tell anyone that he’s bisexual. The best laid plans never work. He is talked into auditioning for Hamlet and it brings him down a path he didn’t expect. He lands the part of Hamlet, meets a boy who sparks feelings in him, comes to terms with why his father left his mother, and comes to realize that his happiness matters just as much.
I want to say how much I related to Julian. I’ve had friends who couldn’t believe in bisexuality. You either are, or you’re not gay. There’s nothing else. This was before I knew there was more than gay, lesbian or bisexual identifiers (I live in the deep south and still haven’t come out completely – gotta do this in my own time right?). I felt his fear at coming out to a friend who had a track record of calling him a coward or a liar for not ‘picking’ the gender he wanted to be with. It hurt seeing Julian struggle with all the feelings revolving around Will, but it was one hundred percent real.
Sky was such a beautiful, creative character. I was intrigued with his first appearance on page. He’s smart, kind, sensitive and is everything that Julian needs at this moment of his life. They were so great to each other. Listening, reassuring, understanding, supportive. It’s what everyone needs in a relationship and they had it.
Julian’s relationship with his Dad was touching. They were unsure of where they stood with each other but they learned how to be father and son again. Julian learned that family doesn’t have to be traditional, but happiness is important. To lie to yourself is to set yourself up for some pretty tough times. His mother’s reaction broke my heart. Like damn, why did it have to happen that way. I was pretty close to crying at one point and that isn’t an easy feat with me.
This book left me feeling hopeful, happy and excited for the possibilities that life could bring. I thoroughly enjoyed this, plan on buying a physical copy, and making sure I recommend this to everyone I think needs this in their life. If you are a YA fan, this is definitely worth a read – an possibly a reread.
Julian has a plan during his final year I high school. He’s going to pass his classes, play basketball, and not tell anyone that he’s bisexual. The best laid plans never work. He is talked into auditioning for Hamlet and it brings him down a path he didn’t expect. He lands the part of Hamlet, meets a boy who sparks feelings in him, comes to terms with why his father left his mother, and comes to realize that his happiness matters just as much.
I want to say how much I related to Julian. I’ve had friends who couldn’t believe in bisexuality. You either are, or you’re not gay. There’s nothing else. This was before I knew there was more than gay, lesbian or bisexual identifiers (I live in the deep south and still haven’t come out completely – gotta do this in my own time right?). I felt his fear at coming out to a friend who had a track record of calling him a coward or a liar for not ‘picking’ the gender he wanted to be with. It hurt seeing Julian struggle with all the feelings revolving around Will, but it was one hundred percent real.
Sky was such a beautiful, creative character. I was intrigued with his first appearance on page. He’s smart, kind, sensitive and is everything that Julian needs at this moment of his life. They were so great to each other. Listening, reassuring, understanding, supportive. It’s what everyone needs in a relationship and they had it.
Julian’s relationship with his Dad was touching. They were unsure of where they stood with each other but they learned how to be father and son again. Julian learned that family doesn’t have to be traditional, but happiness is important. To lie to yourself is to set yourself up for some pretty tough times. His mother’s reaction broke my heart. Like damn, why did it have to happen that way. I was pretty close to crying at one point and that isn’t an easy feat with me.
This book left me feeling hopeful, happy and excited for the possibilities that life could bring. I thoroughly enjoyed this, plan on buying a physical copy, and making sure I recommend this to everyone I think needs this in their life. If you are a YA fan, this is definitely worth a read – an possibly a reread.
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