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Sunset Springs
No job, no money, no love - and to make things worse, 27-year-old Charlie has no choice but to leave New York City and move in with his mom in his isolated and conservative hometown of Sunset Springs.
Home isn’t a comfortable place for Charlie. One of very few Black residents and the only trans person around town that he knows of, this will be Charlie’s first time back in Sunset Springs since he transitioned. He expects confusion and maybe even hostility. He definitely does not expect Jackson Ford.
Jack was the brooding yet beloved football star at their high school, but now, he’s an outsider after coming out as gay. When Charlie and Jackson fall for each other in a swift and surprising romance, Charlie has to decide if he’s willing to exchange his old dreams for a new one.
Sunset Springs is an audio novella about finding courage to allow unexpected change, even at the risk of a broken heart.
Home isn’t a comfortable place for Charlie. One of very few Black residents and the only trans person around town that he knows of, this will be Charlie’s first time back in Sunset Springs since he transitioned. He expects confusion and maybe even hostility. He definitely does not expect Jackson Ford.
Jack was the brooding yet beloved football star at their high school, but now, he’s an outsider after coming out as gay. When Charlie and Jackson fall for each other in a swift and surprising romance, Charlie has to decide if he’s willing to exchange his old dreams for a new one.
Sunset Springs is an audio novella about finding courage to allow unexpected change, even at the risk of a broken heart.
Audible Audio
First published June 3, 2021
9 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Kacen Callender
16 books2,592 followersKacen Callender is a Saint Thomian author of children's fiction and fantasy, best known for their Stonewall Book Award and Lambda Literary Award-winning middle grade debut Hurricane Child. Their fantasy novel, Queen of the Conquered, is the 2020 winner of the World Fantasy Award and King and the Dragonflies won the 2020 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
Callender is Black, queer, trans, and uses they/them and he/him pronouns. Callender debuted their new name when announcing their next young adult novel Felix Ever After in May 2019.
Callender is Black, queer, trans, and uses they/them and he/him pronouns. Callender debuted their new name when announcing their next young adult novel Felix Ever After in May 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
August 26, 2023
A M/M romance with a Black trans main character returning to his small hometown, dealing with the intersection of racism and homophobia, and connecting with a high school classmate who recently came out as gay. I thought it was a solid novella with cute moments that also shed a lot of light on the realities of existing in this space.
The reviews on this are really interesting. I do think that parts of this could come across as didactic because Callender is trying to provide information about the trans/Black experience that a lot of casual readers might not be familiar with. And maybe if we had a ton of representation like this in media and romance we might not need that, but as it is we kind of do. Because there just aren't very many books like this reaching a wide audience.
There are also a lot of complaints about the ending, which is similarly interesting to me. A romance needs an HEA OR HFN and I would say Sunset Springs is solidly in the HFN (happily for now) category. What's wild is the idea that after we see how many micro-agressions and worse Charlie experiences all the time in this small town, this is the place for his happily ever after? Yeah, he and Jack care for each other and have things to work out, but I have a hard time seeing Charlie's happy ending as staying full-time in a place that actively causes him harm, doing something that isn't really what he wants to be doing, in order to be with the white man he loves without him having to give anything up in return. And a place where they can't even go out on a dinner date without negative attention from townspeople. I don't know, to me this ending felt really appropriate. They're still together and will see each other regularly and maybe figure out a way to make things work long term, but without one person sacrificing his safety and happiness for the other.
The reviews on this are really interesting. I do think that parts of this could come across as didactic because Callender is trying to provide information about the trans/Black experience that a lot of casual readers might not be familiar with. And maybe if we had a ton of representation like this in media and romance we might not need that, but as it is we kind of do. Because there just aren't very many books like this reaching a wide audience.
There are also a lot of complaints about the ending, which is similarly interesting to me. A romance needs an HEA OR HFN and I would say Sunset Springs is solidly in the HFN (happily for now) category. What's wild is the idea that after we see how many micro-agressions and worse Charlie experiences all the time in this small town, this is the place for his happily ever after? Yeah, he and Jack care for each other and have things to work out, but I have a hard time seeing Charlie's happy ending as staying full-time in a place that actively causes him harm, doing something that isn't really what he wants to be doing, in order to be with the white man he loves without him having to give anything up in return. And a place where they can't even go out on a dinner date without negative attention from townspeople. I don't know, to me this ending felt really appropriate. They're still together and will see each other regularly and maybe figure out a way to make things work long term, but without one person sacrificing his safety and happiness for the other.
June 14, 2021
rep: Black trans gay mc, gay li
tw: transphobia, homophobia, racism
wholesome but not as wholesome as kacen's longer stories
tw: transphobia, homophobia, racism
wholesome but not as wholesome as kacen's longer stories
August 22, 2022
Small town romance novella with former high school classmates. Read via audible plus (narrated by Qamar Yochanan).
Read
July 2, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Transmisia
Homomisia
Outing
Alcohol consumption
Racism
Transmisia
Homomisia
Outing
Alcohol consumption
November 26, 2021
where is the HEA?!
July 2, 2021
A cute small town romance.
Charlie has nothing left: no job and no money. He sucks up his pride and moves back to his mom's in Sunset Springs. The small town is fine but they all knew Charlie before he transitioned and he's not ready to deal with the scrutiny or the transphobia. When Charlie runs into Jackson Ford, he's surprised by his taste in books. Then his mom tells him Jackson is the only openly gay man in Sunset Springs. Charlie doesn't want romance, but he can't deny he certainly has sparks with Jackson.
This was so cute. I loved the romance between Charlie and Jackson. I loved how much communication happened in this short book! It was so amazing to see frank conversations about what they wanted from sex between each other and what they wanted if they were to actually date one another. Charlie was an easy MC to root for, I could empathize for all the things he went through. I loved that Jackson never stepped away from harder conversations about trans identity or race and the intersections of those.
I really hope Kacen writes another episode of this because I want more after that ending. You can't just leave me on that open plain *cries*. I loved that this was a romance between two grown adults and I think I want to venture more into adult books as I also get older.
Rep: Black-biracial trans gay MC; white gay male love interest; MC's mother has lupus.
Content Warnings: Racism, transphobia, racial microaggressions, slurs, flashbacks of violence, homophobia, alcohol consumption, outing without consent, sexual content
Charlie has nothing left: no job and no money. He sucks up his pride and moves back to his mom's in Sunset Springs. The small town is fine but they all knew Charlie before he transitioned and he's not ready to deal with the scrutiny or the transphobia. When Charlie runs into Jackson Ford, he's surprised by his taste in books. Then his mom tells him Jackson is the only openly gay man in Sunset Springs. Charlie doesn't want romance, but he can't deny he certainly has sparks with Jackson.
This was so cute. I loved the romance between Charlie and Jackson. I loved how much communication happened in this short book! It was so amazing to see frank conversations about what they wanted from sex between each other and what they wanted if they were to actually date one another. Charlie was an easy MC to root for, I could empathize for all the things he went through. I loved that Jackson never stepped away from harder conversations about trans identity or race and the intersections of those.
I really hope Kacen writes another episode of this because I want more after that ending. You can't just leave me on that open plain *cries*. I loved that this was a romance between two grown adults and I think I want to venture more into adult books as I also get older.
Rep: Black-biracial trans gay MC; white gay male love interest; MC's mother has lupus.
Content Warnings: Racism, transphobia, racial microaggressions, slurs, flashbacks of violence, homophobia, alcohol consumption, outing without consent, sexual content
November 12, 2021
2.5 stars. I'm surprised, and kind of sad? I've loved everything I've read from Kacen Callender. Granted, that's just one of their middle grade books and one of their YA books, but I was swept away by their writing both times and was so excited to see that they wrote an adult m/m romance with a trans main character. But this was just... meh. Astoundingly okay. I didn't feel anything for these characters. There was no development anywhere in this; it just felt like the author was speed-running all of the expected story beats for a small town romance. Character who hates living in a small town leaves for the big city, comes back when they hit a rough patch, falls in love with a local. You won't be able to guess every story beat in this, but you'll be able to guess most of them. I appreciated that this talked about the experience of being black in a small town, and that it talked about queerness and trans identity, but most of the time I felt like I was reading (listening) from a pamphlet. Even if the plot/characters were bland, good writing could have saved it. I've come to expect beauty from Callender's writing, but there was none of that here.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Commarrah J. Yochanan, which was great, but this was one of those times that good narration couldn't really save a lacklustre story. Sad about it.
Content warnings: .
Listened to the audiobook as read by Commarrah J. Yochanan, which was great, but this was one of those times that good narration couldn't really save a lacklustre story. Sad about it.
Content warnings: .
September 6, 2025
Very enjoyable! I liked the uncertainty both MCs had about the relationship and the end.
Expect
- Trans rep
- Small town
- Forced proximity
- Friends with benefits (briefly)
- Midlife crisis
- Supportive family
Audiobook review: 5 stars
Qamar Yochanan was excellent in this!
Audiobook included with my Audible membership.
Expect
- Trans rep
- Small town
- Forced proximity
- Friends with benefits (briefly)
- Midlife crisis
- Supportive family
Audiobook review: 5 stars
Qamar Yochanan was excellent in this!
Audiobook included with my Audible membership.
October 29, 2022
This was lovely - a mm romance with a Black trans lead, and lots of discussion of the intersection of racism and queer/transphobia and the challenges and benefits of small town life. I also really enjoyed the ending although it was more of a HFN
June 27, 2021
Yes, yes I do because this was wayyy too short. lol
This romance novella was surprisingly wholesome in all the right ways, in spite of the setting taking place in an inherently queerphobic small town (which is wild ~ there's a sentence I never thought I'd say). I cannot stress enough the importance of healthy communication during relationships and prior to, as well as during and after, sex. These characters were never afraid to communicate what they wanted and I was *clap* here *clap* for *clap* it.
Former classmates Charlie (a black gay trans man) and Jack (newly outed white gay man) re-meet when Charlie moves back into town for the first time since transitioning after being laid off. Charlie is mentally preparing for confusion, transphobia, and even hostility at the beginning of the novella; but he is absolutely thrown for a loop when he meets Jack. *Cue Feels*
Honestly, this novella deserved to be so much longer in order to flesh out the characters and enhance their relationship and future in clearer detail. I wasn't aware this was a novella because my dumb ass never reads summaries in their entirety (or at all), so the abrupt ending had me a smidge disappointed.
I also wasn't too much of a fan of the developing internal mini dramas toward the second half of the narrative and felt they were forced in to give way to an unnecessary plot/conflict. Cheesy tropes and dialogue were also very prominent toward the end of the novella, which part of me can never take seriously lol.
Overall, quick and easy read that had me nodding at several points and rolling my eyes at others. There was even an educational scene on considerations to account for when partaking in sexual intercourse with a trans individual that I really appreciated. If you have audible and about 3 hours to spare - I definitely recommend picking this up! It's free, too.
Read via Audible by the author
CW: Racism, Transphobia, Homophobia
June 24, 2022
I have read and loved Felix ever after by Kacen Callender so I was curious about this novella.
It is a love story between a gay white cis guy and a gay black trans guy. It has a strong emphasis on showing the effects of homophobia and transphobia which was really interesting for me. At the same time the love story itself was cute and wholesome.
It is a love story between a gay white cis guy and a gay black trans guy. It has a strong emphasis on showing the effects of homophobia and transphobia which was really interesting for me. At the same time the love story itself was cute and wholesome.
August 15, 2023
This book was so gosh darn cute!
And it packed a powerful message about labels and identity.
Highly recommend this book.
It centres on a trans character returning to their bigoted town and they meet a kindred spirit in a recently outed guy.
They hit if off, despite some barriers both self imposed and by the town, but the question arises: Can they both be happy in a town like this?
C/W:
There is some transphobia which is challenged and also homophobia which is also challenged.
And it packed a powerful message about labels and identity.
Highly recommend this book.
It centres on a trans character returning to their bigoted town and they meet a kindred spirit in a recently outed guy.
They hit if off, despite some barriers both self imposed and by the town, but the question arises: Can they both be happy in a town like this?
C/W:
There is some transphobia which is challenged and also homophobia which is also challenged.
November 18, 2023
CW: homophobia, transphobia
This was a super quick listen and I quite liked it.
This was definitely an HFN, and I really appreciated that despite their feelings for each other, Charlie and Jackson choose what’s right for each of them, rather than putting their new relationship first. In a lot of romance that would have been what happens, so I like that this went a different way, and that Charlie and Jackson both committed to the relationship, while also choosing what was right for them.
This was a super quick listen and I quite liked it.
This was definitely an HFN, and I really appreciated that despite their feelings for each other, Charlie and Jackson choose what’s right for each of them, rather than putting their new relationship first. In a lot of romance that would have been what happens, so I like that this went a different way, and that Charlie and Jackson both committed to the relationship, while also choosing what was right for them.
April 23, 2025
This book’s biggest weakness is honestly just how short it was. The set up and story really did pique my interest, and I was finding myself growing fond of the characters, but shortly after that it ends.
It’s not sudden or badly ended or anything, I could just see the story fleshed out more to really do it justice.
It’s not sudden or badly ended or anything, I could just see the story fleshed out more to really do it justice.
March 25, 2023
2.5⭐ This was a really cute novella with amazing trans rep. I thought this brought up so many good discussions and the romance was adorable. UNTIL THAT ENDING. I'm so annoyed by that ending... No HEA. You've been warned 😅
March 7, 2024
Rounding up to five stars
Kacen Callender's voice super works for me!
Kacen Callender's voice super works for me!
February 16, 2022
So good! Just needed an epilogue!
June 14, 2021
I had stars in my eyes .... until it just ENDED. I love these audible original snippets and how that's opened me up to so much diversity! But I'm a true romance lover and that means I like the full bodied tale. Where's my HEA!?!
September 1, 2023
Charlie's character felt severely underdeveloped (personality-wise) and his narration was quite whiny and preachy which made the book feel like a chore to get through. It felt less like a queer romance that touched on serious and deserving topics and more like a lecture. I found myself slowly resenting Charlie more and more, as well as his repetitively pessimistic outlook. I think if his character had maybe had more dimension, it wouldn't have felt so much like a 3hr lecture.
I also feel like Charlie gave Jack way too little credit and made it seem like he should have been some kind of bumbling hick (which is ironic given Charlie's general preachiness about acceptance and open-mindedness) I understood that he was generally wary of people, especially from his hometown, but this went beyond that and continued even after they had gotten to know eachother. It was just a bit irritating that he constantly underestimated Jack and instead of being pleasantly surprised and moving on, made his decency into a whole thing about how literally everyone else is an asshole.
Jackson seemed like a really cool character and I desperately wanted to know more about him, but didn't get that. He was the gay outcast that was cool in highschool and surprisingly accepting but that was it.
Charlie kept repeating some points that felt quite obvious or rehashing situations in his mind which may have been fine in a full length book but seemed detrimental in this really short one.
I also feel like Charlie gave Jack way too little credit and made it seem like he should have been some kind of bumbling hick (which is ironic given Charlie's general preachiness about acceptance and open-mindedness) I understood that he was generally wary of people, especially from his hometown, but this went beyond that and continued even after they had gotten to know eachother. It was just a bit irritating that he constantly underestimated Jack and instead of being pleasantly surprised and moving on, made his decency into a whole thing about how literally everyone else is an asshole.
Jackson seemed like a really cool character and I desperately wanted to know more about him, but didn't get that. He was the gay outcast that was cool in highschool and surprisingly accepting but that was it.
Charlie kept repeating some points that felt quite obvious or rehashing situations in his mind which may have been fine in a full length book but seemed detrimental in this really short one.
November 18, 2022
Eh, I could have done without this story. It just didn't feel like it was a fictional piece. I love reading about diverse characters, but Charlie's narration was too whiny and also...too preachy. I get it, Charlie. People can be assholes, but you don't need to mention that in every single line of the story. I want to learn more about you as a person, to understand your hangups, and also, to see why you start to develop feelings for Jackson. I don't need to hear about homophobia, transphobia, racism, and literally every single reason you have for not living your own life and being a dick.
This story was just horribly flawed. I've read books with gay, trans, bi, pan, demi, non-binary, lesbian, gender fluid characters and this story just...couldn't figure out what it wanted to be. I don't know how else to say it without sounding like I'm a privileged asshole, but I think I can criticize a story that doesn't do what it set out to do well or at all. I've read books that do this well, that tackle the hard issues, that are uncomfortable and informative and interesting and emotional and feature real character growth, but this was not that at all. This was just an uneven, impersonal story with a whiny narrator who didn't really connect to anyone in the story, barely even his own mother.
The end.
This story was just horribly flawed. I've read books with gay, trans, bi, pan, demi, non-binary, lesbian, gender fluid characters and this story just...couldn't figure out what it wanted to be. I don't know how else to say it without sounding like I'm a privileged asshole, but I think I can criticize a story that doesn't do what it set out to do well or at all. I've read books that do this well, that tackle the hard issues, that are uncomfortable and informative and interesting and emotional and feature real character growth, but this was not that at all. This was just an uneven, impersonal story with a whiny narrator who didn't really connect to anyone in the story, barely even his own mother.
The end.
November 15, 2021
Reread November 2021
I loved this one! I'm definitely here for small town romances. Even as a short story, this packed in rep and content. The MC, Charlie, is Black and trans and ends up back in his hometown after getting laid off. He helps out in his mom's bookstore when he finds himself face to face with someone he went to high school for. He's worried about being outed as trans and ends up learning that the friend actually just came out as gay and has been going to his mom for support because the small town is intensely queerphobic.
I appreciated the ending for this so much. It felt realistic and not idealized at all. I would love to read a longer story with these two.
rep: Black trans MC, cis gay white love interest, disabled Black secondary character with chronic pain (Charlie's mom)
CW: racism, homophobia, transphobia
I loved this one! I'm definitely here for small town romances. Even as a short story, this packed in rep and content. The MC, Charlie, is Black and trans and ends up back in his hometown after getting laid off. He helps out in his mom's bookstore when he finds himself face to face with someone he went to high school for. He's worried about being outed as trans and ends up learning that the friend actually just came out as gay and has been going to his mom for support because the small town is intensely queerphobic.
I appreciated the ending for this so much. It felt realistic and not idealized at all. I would love to read a longer story with these two.
rep: Black trans MC, cis gay white love interest, disabled Black secondary character with chronic pain (Charlie's mom)
CW: racism, homophobia, transphobia
August 17, 2022
LGBTQ+ romance set in a bigoted small town where almost everyone is awful. But the romance doesn't make up for it. It starts more out of a convenience than anything else, and I never felt any actual connection between the two MCs. And then there's the ending. WTF. How the heck is that a happy ending? I really didn't like this at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
This was a cute small town romance featuring a trans queer male and his high school classmate.
I enjoyed the story and liked that it was a "Happy For Now" ending. Some people won't like that, but I did considering the length of the story we got.
Charlie returns back home to Sunset Springs after being laid off from his job in the city. He takes it as him being a failure, although it all seems to work out nicely since he gets to see his mom (who is 100% supportive) and help her keep their bookstore afloat while she battles with her health. But it's not only returning home as an adult that is getting Charlie down, it's the fact that his town treated him kind of badly while growing up because of the color of his skin. Now, he has to add on the fact that he is a trans male and they only knew of him as a girl. He really isn't looking forward to the small town life. But when his mom introduces him to the only open gay man in the town, they realize they knew each other in high school AND....well, things get a little messy with the town and with what these two want from each other.
I actually really enjoyed this small town romance between Charlie and Jackson and the things they had to overcome. I think one of the things people did not like was the ending. And honestly? I liked it. It's a "Happy For Now" ending and it felt right for these two. Did I want more? Sure. But I liked the way Charlie and Jackson worked through the couple little issues they had and how they did it while having open conversation about their concerns with themselves, their goals and the way they see their lives going from there.
Cute story. Good characters. A Happy for now ending that worked for me and I enjoyed the narration. It seemed believable and worked for the novella.
I enjoyed the story and liked that it was a "Happy For Now" ending. Some people won't like that, but I did considering the length of the story we got.
Charlie returns back home to Sunset Springs after being laid off from his job in the city. He takes it as him being a failure, although it all seems to work out nicely since he gets to see his mom (who is 100% supportive) and help her keep their bookstore afloat while she battles with her health. But it's not only returning home as an adult that is getting Charlie down, it's the fact that his town treated him kind of badly while growing up because of the color of his skin. Now, he has to add on the fact that he is a trans male and they only knew of him as a girl. He really isn't looking forward to the small town life. But when his mom introduces him to the only open gay man in the town, they realize they knew each other in high school AND....well, things get a little messy with the town and with what these two want from each other.
I actually really enjoyed this small town romance between Charlie and Jackson and the things they had to overcome. I think one of the things people did not like was the ending. And honestly? I liked it. It's a "Happy For Now" ending and it felt right for these two. Did I want more? Sure. But I liked the way Charlie and Jackson worked through the couple little issues they had and how they did it while having open conversation about their concerns with themselves, their goals and the way they see their lives going from there.
Cute story. Good characters. A Happy for now ending that worked for me and I enjoyed the narration. It seemed believable and worked for the novella.
October 1, 2021
I was looking for something short and sweet and found Sunset Springs via my audible PLUS subscription.
While there is a sweet romance between Charlie and Jack, the HFN ending makes me think the main focus of the story was Charlie's journey. He was a 27 year old man trying to figure out the way forward after a professional setback, coming home to a community he never felt comfortable in while re-connecting with family and friends. Some things were exactly as he thought, but there was much more that wasn't. It was nice to see him unwind and settle in as the weeks progressed. I'd be curious to see how things worked out for him and Jack down the road, but it's clear to me that Charlie is better for his unexpected trip home.
I've read books by and about transgender authors and characters, but not many, and I think Sunset Springs does a great job meeting the moment.
While there is a sweet romance between Charlie and Jack, the HFN ending makes me think the main focus of the story was Charlie's journey. He was a 27 year old man trying to figure out the way forward after a professional setback, coming home to a community he never felt comfortable in while re-connecting with family and friends. Some things were exactly as he thought, but there was much more that wasn't. It was nice to see him unwind and settle in as the weeks progressed. I'd be curious to see how things worked out for him and Jack down the road, but it's clear to me that Charlie is better for his unexpected trip home.
I've read books by and about transgender authors and characters, but not many, and I think Sunset Springs does a great job meeting the moment.
February 14, 2024
Sunset Springs by Kacen Callender is a small town love story and a great audiobook novella.
With nothing left and his life in shambles, Charlie has to leave NY and head back home. He now has to try and regroup in a very small town where he is the only trans person.
I enjoyed this novella a ton. I love Callender's writing. Their lgbtq+ stories are such a joy to read! I enjoyed reading the emotional journey both the MCs go through in such a short time. They're navigating being free in their hometown while also trying to explore their feelings for each other. Having the story set mostly in a bookshop was really cute!
Definitely recommend!
With nothing left and his life in shambles, Charlie has to leave NY and head back home. He now has to try and regroup in a very small town where he is the only trans person.
I enjoyed this novella a ton. I love Callender's writing. Their lgbtq+ stories are such a joy to read! I enjoyed reading the emotional journey both the MCs go through in such a short time. They're navigating being free in their hometown while also trying to explore their feelings for each other. Having the story set mostly in a bookshop was really cute!
Definitely recommend!
June 3, 2022
I’m not super into short stories and this is an example why. There wasn’t a lot of depth to this story and the MC’s fell in love within a month of knowing each other which isn’t unheard of but still. I don’t necessarily need a slow burn but I would like for things to be kinda realistic. I really liked the setting of this one though and I really did end up liking Charlie a lot. Would recommend for a super short read!
May 31, 2024
this was a cute small town romance between a trans man and and he’s old school class mate. The small town is set in their old fashioned ways and Charlie and Jackson have to deal with allot of off handed comments and stares and glares. That didn’t stop these 2 in finding their way. My only negative was I wish it was Longer.
June 15, 2021
A small town romance and sharing and working to understand other people’s experiences.
I also liked how each person stayed true to their own dreams and while still supporting each other. Even when the other person’s dreams were different.
I also liked how each person stayed true to their own dreams and while still supporting each other. Even when the other person’s dreams were different.
March 9, 2024
I'm sad this book was so short!!! I thought it was cute, the story of coming back to the town you grew up with as a new you, a better you, the real you. It's scary and somehow finding love. So cute! I loved this.
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