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As You Walk On By
The Breakfast Club meets Can't Hardly Wait with an unforgettable ensemble cast in another swoony YA contemporary from award-winning author Julian Winters!
Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell's party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.
But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .
Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell's party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.
But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2023
69 people are currently reading
14062 people want to read
About the author
Julian Winters
22 books1,227 followersJulian Winters is the author of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award-winning Running With Lions; the Junior Library Guild Selections How to Be Remy Cameron and The Summer of Everything; and the forthcoming Right Where I Left You. A self-proclaimed comic book geek, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta, where he can be found reading or watching the only two sports he can follow—volleyball and soccer..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
June 16, 2023
I feel like it's been ages since I've read a YA contemporary book, and this one is a banger.
A dare to prompose to his crush has Theo retreating to an empty room at a party. His attempt to regain his composure and work up his nerve in solitude is interrupted again and again. Until his getaway turns into a group of five. New friends, an old friendship that still causes him guilt at how it ended, and a potential new romantic interest. This party away from the party is where it's at.
I loved this book. I fell into and devoured it. The complicated friendships, new and old, was so well done. From start to finish it was well structured. A good chuck is spent in a single room at a party with just five people, and I was never bored. I couldn't get enough of the group tbh. The romance was very sweet and I love how naturally it developed.
This is my first book from Julian Winters and I have to check out their other works!
A dare to prompose to his crush has Theo retreating to an empty room at a party. His attempt to regain his composure and work up his nerve in solitude is interrupted again and again. Until his getaway turns into a group of five. New friends, an old friendship that still causes him guilt at how it ended, and a potential new romantic interest. This party away from the party is where it's at.
I loved this book. I fell into and devoured it. The complicated friendships, new and old, was so well done. From start to finish it was well structured. A good chuck is spent in a single room at a party with just five people, and I was never bored. I couldn't get enough of the group tbh. The romance was very sweet and I love how naturally it developed.
This is my first book from Julian Winters and I have to check out their other works!
September 6, 2022
this is the best thing I've read in while / rtc!!
February 5, 2023
Julian Winters is easily one of my favorite authors. There's not one book of him that I don't like. Of course some of them are better than the others, and How to Be Remy Cameron has been my favorite so far. Now comes this book. It's definitely Julian's best book to date and my new favorite.
This book has all the basic ingredients of a typical Julian Winters book: a young boy, who's black and gay. His struggles with a predominately white (and rich) and heteronormative society are a recurring theme throughout the book. So it's certainly the perfect read for Black History Month.
But there's so much more. The main theme of the book is friendship. How you become friends, how you keep friends, how you loose friends. Who are your real friends and who's not. There are so many layers and perspectives.
This book is also not entirely protagonist-centered. I've grown a little bit tired of stories that are all exclusively about the single one protagonist, their problems and their thoughts only. This book is refreshingly different. Although it's from Theo's perspective (he's the sole narrator), there's a lot of room for the other characters and their problems, too. Theo is of course still the main character, but some of the side characters are more like semi-main characters.
Don't get me wrong, this book is not a heavy drama. Although it addresses some serious issues, it's still a cheerful and uplifting coming-of-age novel. It, of course, also has romantic sub-plot and a happy ending. And I liked the take on Breakfast Club. It worked surprisingly well.
So, in conclusion: I love this book and would like to see it made into a Netflix movie. 💕
This book has all the basic ingredients of a typical Julian Winters book: a young boy, who's black and gay. His struggles with a predominately white (and rich) and heteronormative society are a recurring theme throughout the book. So it's certainly the perfect read for Black History Month.
But there's so much more. The main theme of the book is friendship. How you become friends, how you keep friends, how you loose friends. Who are your real friends and who's not. There are so many layers and perspectives.
This book is also not entirely protagonist-centered. I've grown a little bit tired of stories that are all exclusively about the single one protagonist, their problems and their thoughts only. This book is refreshingly different. Although it's from Theo's perspective (he's the sole narrator), there's a lot of room for the other characters and their problems, too. Theo is of course still the main character, but some of the side characters are more like semi-main characters.
Don't get me wrong, this book is not a heavy drama. Although it addresses some serious issues, it's still a cheerful and uplifting coming-of-age novel. It, of course, also has romantic sub-plot and a happy ending. And I liked the take on Breakfast Club. It worked surprisingly well.
So, in conclusion: I love this book and would like to see it made into a Netflix movie. 💕
June 11, 2023
julian winters at his best
theo knows who he is—one member of a trio of friends who compete in dares every week. after his dare to ask out another out boy to prom goes awry, theo finds himself hiding in a bedroom during a party. but he’s not the only one hiding. over the course of the night, he’s joined by others—some strangers and some old friends. together, they all learn a little about each other, and even more about themselves.
there’s a niche in the YA genre that i have slowly learned i love. kids who think they know themselves, know who their friends are, know their place. kids who are forced to face the fact that maybe they don’t actually know these things. kids that look at where they are and who they surround themselves with and start to break those walls down. who find themselves by removing themselves from where they’ve always been.
this experience is mostly found in YA. it’s a time of fast change, a time on the precipice. on the edge of adulthood, on the brink of something new. it’s a time of leaving behind and going ahead. it’s the perfect time to figure out who you’re going to be after you leave, and who you’re going to keep with you.
but this experience is so universal. i feel like i’m constantly remaking myself, constantly reevaluating the friendships i’ve made. holding onto the frayed ropes of some bridges, and not looking back as others burn. YA captures this experience, but it doesn’t stop after high school . you spend your whole life finding yourself and finding the people who love the versions of you you unlock.
as you walk on by is julian winters at his best. i feel like i’ve been a fan for his books for so long, and i’m so glad i was able to thank him in person.
“makayla’s eyes are glistening, but she never lets a single tear fall. is that what we’re doing tonight? being strong? refusing to let the world crush us completely?”
theo knows who he is—one member of a trio of friends who compete in dares every week. after his dare to ask out another out boy to prom goes awry, theo finds himself hiding in a bedroom during a party. but he’s not the only one hiding. over the course of the night, he’s joined by others—some strangers and some old friends. together, they all learn a little about each other, and even more about themselves.
there’s a niche in the YA genre that i have slowly learned i love. kids who think they know themselves, know who their friends are, know their place. kids who are forced to face the fact that maybe they don’t actually know these things. kids that look at where they are and who they surround themselves with and start to break those walls down. who find themselves by removing themselves from where they’ve always been.
this experience is mostly found in YA. it’s a time of fast change, a time on the precipice. on the edge of adulthood, on the brink of something new. it’s a time of leaving behind and going ahead. it’s the perfect time to figure out who you’re going to be after you leave, and who you’re going to keep with you.
but this experience is so universal. i feel like i’m constantly remaking myself, constantly reevaluating the friendships i’ve made. holding onto the frayed ropes of some bridges, and not looking back as others burn. YA captures this experience, but it doesn’t stop after high school . you spend your whole life finding yourself and finding the people who love the versions of you you unlock.
as you walk on by is julian winters at his best. i feel like i’ve been a fan for his books for so long, and i’m so glad i was able to thank him in person.
January 13, 2023
After reading and loving Running With Lions... wow, a WHILE ago, I've read every single one of Julian Winters's books as they came out, and I don't know how he still keeps getting better with every book. This is definitely his best one yet, and for some reason I spent most of my time reading this on the verge of tears, just because I CARED. SO. MUCH.
It wouldn't be a Julian Winters book without an amazing friend group and a truly adorable romance, and those are again present here. I loved the cast of characters just SO much, as they were all extremely well fleshed out, complex characters, who all truly added something to the story, and I could only root for their friendship. This book has all the Breakfast Club vibes, just like the title and synopsis promised.
Most of all I loved seeing the growth Theo goes through with the help of these people. There's so much depth to him, and I was so happy reading the ending, and seeing him get what he'd always wanted but was afraid he wouldn't get because of who he was.
It wouldn't be a Julian Winters book without an amazing friend group and a truly adorable romance, and those are again present here. I loved the cast of characters just SO much, as they were all extremely well fleshed out, complex characters, who all truly added something to the story, and I could only root for their friendship. This book has all the Breakfast Club vibes, just like the title and synopsis promised.
Most of all I loved seeing the growth Theo goes through with the help of these people. There's so much depth to him, and I was so happy reading the ending, and seeing him get what he'd always wanted but was afraid he wouldn't get because of who he was.
July 31, 2025
cute and wholesome contemporary ya that has great vibes of found family. i liked the exploration of finding who your true friends are and having a character who actually takes accountability and apologizes in an organic way. 👍
March 18, 2023
story+characters for me were a 4/5 but the writing was a little…not my thing?? It took me ages to talk myself into pushing through since it feels like I’ve dnfd sm
May 1, 2023
It’s a bit cringe for me. Will suit the taste of younger readers best.
February 9, 2023
Everything about this perfect. The character development, the friendships, the family, the FOUND FAMILY.
The standing up for yourself and finally doing something for YOU for a change.
The letting go of old friendships and finding a home in a new group of friends ...
The "you can be friends with multiple people, you know."
Just give this book all the awards
I talk about books here: Instagram / TikTok / Linktree
The standing up for yourself and finally doing something for YOU for a change.
The letting go of old friendships and finding a home in a new group of friends ...
The "you can be friends with multiple people, you know."
Just give this book all the awards
I talk about books here: Instagram / TikTok / Linktree
February 3, 2023
4.5
!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!
September 12, 2022
LOVED. Absolutely loved. So much here about how we code ourselves depending on who we surround ourselves with, and how different the journey for queer brown and Black people is. Standing up for yourself instead of letting the current societal norms/expectations dictate your moves.
Rep: Black Gay MC, Black Gay LI, Black/japanese mixed SC, latinx bi LI, various BIPOC SC’s, bisexual single parent, Chinese nonbinary SC, Black queer SC CW: public humiliation, past death of grandparent, microaggressions, homphobia, underage drinking, weed, toxic gossip, sexism, mysoginy, sexual harrasment, biphobia, death of teen friend by car accident (past)
Rep: Black Gay MC, Black Gay LI, Black/japanese mixed SC, latinx bi LI, various BIPOC SC’s, bisexual single parent, Chinese nonbinary SC, Black queer SC CW: public humiliation, past death of grandparent, microaggressions, homphobia, underage drinking, weed, toxic gossip, sexism, mysoginy, sexual harrasment, biphobia, death of teen friend by car accident (past)
August 12, 2023
i love everything about this book in theory, but something didn't have me as fully invested as i wanted to be! highly recommended tho, and i hope i will love it more when i reread!
April 24, 2023
Julian Winters has done it again! He’s definitely become an autobuy author for me, because his books just continue to be among some of the most solid YA contemporaries one could ask for. This is no different, with a decently realized cast of characters thrust into a tight-knit environment ripe for engaging discussions about a whole array of difficulties that the average teen might face, including slutshaming, queer acceptance, racism, etc.
I think the pace was really good, considering I read this in one day in two sittings. Most of it takes place at a party, and that’s the part that shined the best for me, when everyone is pushed together.
Some parts were kind of unrealistic, like some of the dialogue and especially the social media aspects, but I’m willing to mostly overlook that for everything else that I thought was done well.
I’d urge YA fans to pick this one up if they need another queer contemporary in their lives (and when don’t you??)!
I think the pace was really good, considering I read this in one day in two sittings. Most of it takes place at a party, and that’s the part that shined the best for me, when everyone is pushed together.
Some parts were kind of unrealistic, like some of the dialogue and especially the social media aspects, but I’m willing to mostly overlook that for everything else that I thought was done well.
I’d urge YA fans to pick this one up if they need another queer contemporary in their lives (and when don’t you??)!
November 12, 2022
This is as close to perfect as a YA book can get bet 👌😌
Want to read
January 16, 2023love the breakfast club trope and can't wait to see it done here!
April 19, 2023
Trigger Warnings: racism, classism, past death of grandparents, underage drinking, biphobia, misogyny, toxic masculinity, sex shaming, heteronormativity, marijuana, death of a classmate, past break-up, friend break-up
Representation: Gay, Black, Bisexual, Nonbinary
As You Walk On By is a queer, YA contemporary with a great ensemble cast. Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at a party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.
When the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. As the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks. One by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame. What happens when they all come out of the bedroom once more?
When people call this a twist on “The Breakfast Club,” they aren’t kidding! This book is not entirely one-sided. Instead, this book offers a lot of room for the other characters and their problems, too. Yes, Theo is still the main character, but some of the side characters are more important than in other stories. Since the characters are brought together in a less than likely interaction, the story is able to start breaking down the barriers between them and allow the characters to see that their normal circles can be limiting or superficial in some ways. I loved this theme of the story: realizing how important it is to be who you really are despite what the people around you may think or want. This book is also light and refreshing. The overall themes and events are not too heavy and it makes a perfect ya story!
Representation: Gay, Black, Bisexual, Nonbinary
As You Walk On By is a queer, YA contemporary with a great ensemble cast. Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at a party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.
When the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. As the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks. One by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame. What happens when they all come out of the bedroom once more?
When people call this a twist on “The Breakfast Club,” they aren’t kidding! This book is not entirely one-sided. Instead, this book offers a lot of room for the other characters and their problems, too. Yes, Theo is still the main character, but some of the side characters are more important than in other stories. Since the characters are brought together in a less than likely interaction, the story is able to start breaking down the barriers between them and allow the characters to see that their normal circles can be limiting or superficial in some ways. I loved this theme of the story: realizing how important it is to be who you really are despite what the people around you may think or want. This book is also light and refreshing. The overall themes and events are not too heavy and it makes a perfect ya story!
April 8, 2023
Eu comecei esse livro numa madrugada e tive de me controlar para conseguir largar esse livro. Eu achei incrível como o autor conseguiu criar personagens tão complexos e cativantes, mesmo com as escolhas questionáveis do Theo, eu ainda me via torcendo por ele.
Todo a discussão sobre raça, sexualidade e de classe social foi muito bem desenvolvida. Eu me senti compreendido quando os personagens falavam sobre as dificuldade de simplesmente ser um pouco egocêntrico e sobre o esforço constante para ser percebido como alguém que merece estar em um determinado lugar.
Eu queria muito dar 5 estrelas, mas o final foi muito apressado. Também acho que tinha muito espaço para desenvolver mais a história que não foi completamente aproveitado. Alguns personagens mereciam mais destaque e eu não ficaria descontente de ler mais 100 páginas sobre essas histórias.
ps: preciso de mais livros assim.
Todo a discussão sobre raça, sexualidade e de classe social foi muito bem desenvolvida. Eu me senti compreendido quando os personagens falavam sobre as dificuldade de simplesmente ser um pouco egocêntrico e sobre o esforço constante para ser percebido como alguém que merece estar em um determinado lugar.
Eu queria muito dar 5 estrelas, mas o final foi muito apressado. Também acho que tinha muito espaço para desenvolver mais a história que não foi completamente aproveitado. Alguns personagens mereciam mais destaque e eu não ficaria descontente de ler mais 100 páginas sobre essas histórias.
ps: preciso de mais livros assim.
July 7, 2024
Such a sweet read!! Really loved all the characters, maybe not Jay so much 😂 But they all brought different perspectives and flavour to this book and 🥹 so glad I gave this book a chance, was a bit corny at times but the good corny yk 🥹
March 16, 2023
SUCH a good YA book! I’d love to see this made into a movie.
January 28, 2023
thank you to penguin teen for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
so, now, i don’t know how to start this one. i think, mostly, i’m just disappointed. this was my first julian winters book and it just wasn’t it for me. and i know i’m going to be a minority in my thoughts on this one. neither great nor noticeably bad, it just sits smack dab in the middle at alright. and honestly, that’s sometimes the worst place a book can be. it unfortunately means i’ll probably forget everything that happened in a few days, honestly.
none of the characters particularly stuck out to me as interesting to hear much from. the pacing was a bit odd with ~70% been spent at this party, breakfast club style, and then the rest was big time gap after another. and, idk… nothing really excited me much when reading. and side-note, did the teens really have to be recording *everything*? it felt overkill and sometimes felt like the only way we could move the plot along.
what i can say, is that this book had really good queer representation. like as with many queer teens, i feel like we (knowingly or unknowingly) gravitate towards each other. and that what these characters did, forming a lil found family of rainbow. that was by far my favorite part of this book. and the part i’ll remember best.
so, now, i don’t know how to start this one. i think, mostly, i’m just disappointed. this was my first julian winters book and it just wasn’t it for me. and i know i’m going to be a minority in my thoughts on this one. neither great nor noticeably bad, it just sits smack dab in the middle at alright. and honestly, that’s sometimes the worst place a book can be. it unfortunately means i’ll probably forget everything that happened in a few days, honestly.
none of the characters particularly stuck out to me as interesting to hear much from. the pacing was a bit odd with ~70% been spent at this party, breakfast club style, and then the rest was big time gap after another. and, idk… nothing really excited me much when reading. and side-note, did the teens really have to be recording *everything*? it felt overkill and sometimes felt like the only way we could move the plot along.
what i can say, is that this book had really good queer representation. like as with many queer teens, i feel like we (knowingly or unknowingly) gravitate towards each other. and that what these characters did, forming a lil found family of rainbow. that was by far my favorite part of this book. and the part i’ll remember best.
September 1, 2023
2023 reads: 194/350
after a dared promposal at a party goes horribly wrong, theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom. one by one, classmates of his, none of whom he’s close with, join him in the room, forming an unlikely bond.
i’ve only read one other book by julian winters, but with how much i liked it, i was really excited to read more of his. now, i’m even more interested in reading more of his books!
i’m always a sucker for YA books about high schoolers figuring themselves out and standing up against their parents’ wishes, and this was no exception. i also enjoyed how theo realized that maybe his best friend really wasn’t the best.
after a dared promposal at a party goes horribly wrong, theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom. one by one, classmates of his, none of whom he’s close with, join him in the room, forming an unlikely bond.
i’ve only read one other book by julian winters, but with how much i liked it, i was really excited to read more of his. now, i’m even more interested in reading more of his books!
i’m always a sucker for YA books about high schoolers figuring themselves out and standing up against their parents’ wishes, and this was no exception. i also enjoyed how theo realized that maybe his best friend really wasn’t the best.
December 16, 2023
i was debating dnfing it but I’M GLAD I DIDN’T
i have reaf every book by julian winters and i was never ever disappointed (didn’t change with this one) MY BABY THEO navigating life and toxic friendships and school
i just love every single character no notes
except that it was kind of slow for which i took a star!
i have reaf every book by julian winters and i was never ever disappointed (didn’t change with this one) MY BABY THEO navigating life and toxic friendships and school
i just love every single character no notes
except that it was kind of slow for which i took a star!
March 4, 2023
4.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s
"As You Walk On By" by Julian Winters
“Rule number one to accepting any dare: never agree to something you're not 99.5 percent positive you can complete.”
This was a heartwarming young adult novel that explores the complexities of family, friendship, and love.
Winters does an excellent job of weaving together themes of grief, love, and self-discovery in a way that feels both authentic and relatable. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, and the relationships between them feel genuine and complex. Winters also does a great job of exploring the experiences of queer and BIPOC characters, highlighting the intersections of their identities and the unique challenges they face.
"As You Walk On By" by Julian Winters
“Rule number one to accepting any dare: never agree to something you're not 99.5 percent positive you can complete.”
This was a heartwarming young adult novel that explores the complexities of family, friendship, and love.
Winters does an excellent job of weaving together themes of grief, love, and self-discovery in a way that feels both authentic and relatable. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, and the relationships between them feel genuine and complex. Winters also does a great job of exploring the experiences of queer and BIPOC characters, highlighting the intersections of their identities and the unique challenges they face.
December 31, 2023
Okay so i got this book because 1) i was intrigued by the stuck-in-a-room-at-a-party-meeting-people blurb and 2) the cover is beautiful and i can say it was everything it promised to be. Its i guess a character study of TJ, and his comign-of-age junior year in which he realised some stuff about his friends, his dad, and mostly, himself. What really stood out to me was the characters, who are complex, deep and most of all loveable. I think this is a great read, and it will catch you of guard with its depth (at least i hope so!)
September 24, 2023
3.75 ⭐️ sweet, quick romcom - wasnt necessarily bad, but it wasnt like REALLY good. it deals w a lot of problems ik lots of teenagers deal with
Want to read
May 4, 2022the cover of this book is STUNNING
January 10, 2023
This was so so good! More to come.
April 22, 2023
2.5 if im being generous :/
May 6, 2023
dnf at 43%, just meh, not feeling it
May 30, 2023
this was just hard to read 😭😭
Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews