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344 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
“Why do you have to prove anything to anyone?”
The Written Review
OHMYGOSH. Goodreads Choice Nominees are in and My Reaction Video is up! Don't forget to vote!
Annnd here's my original reaction to this book!
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Oh my gosh. Can I rate this more than 5 stars???
“Queer folks are like wolves,” Julian told him. “We travel in packs.”
“Yadriel stared at the boy sitting next to him. A boy with a bright smile and an easy laugh. Who liked skateboarding the streets of Los Angeles and stargazing on the roof of his dad’s car. Who would do anything to protect his friends. Reckless and brilliant.”
“Yadriel wanted to chase down the sunset. To not let it rise. How long after he was gone would Yadriel be dreaming about Julian and this drive? Yadriel thought it would be worth the sleepless nights ahead.”
“Julian’s hips rolled, his head bobbed. Eyes closed and smiling, the firelight danced over his skin. Yadriel was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. To his foolhardy charm and striking features. Julian was achingly beautiful, but in the way a thunderstorm was beautiful—wild, rough, electric. And bound to leave devastation in his wake.”
“I kind of made a mess of things, huh?” Yadriel said. He wasn’t fishing for sympathy, just stating the obvious. Keeping secrets from his family. Putting his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion. Completely botching the conversation with Julian’s friends. More sneaking, more lies. He was in over his head.
“Yeah,” Julian agreed very matter-of-factly, not malicious or even teasing. “But now your mess is my mess, too.” He tilted his head toward Yadriel and spoke softly. “It’s bound to be easier if we’re both cleaning it up, right?”
“For the first time, it struck him how terribly unfair this all was. He hadn’t really thought about what it meant, when all of this was over, after he released Julian’s spirit and he was gone.
He didn’t deserve death. He didn’t deserve any of this. Julian had literally died protecting his friends. And Yadriel was quite certain he didn’t deserve Julian. There was no reason for Julian to help him find Miguel, but he did it anyway, and there was no way Yadriel could ever repay him.
He gave everything and expected nothing in return. Yadriel’s heart ached. No, none of them deserved Julian Diaz.”
* “I’m not letting you abandon me in a haunted church—”
“It’s not haunted!”
“If I’m in here, and I’m a ghost, then it’s haunted!” Julian shot back.
“Why did Yadriel always have to absolve people of their guilt? He didn’t want to be understanding. He didn’t have it in him to be forgiving this time.”
Because your cousin just died and everyone is in shock. Duh. Have a sit down with them later and explain how it makes you feel, but give them space to grieve first.
But seriously, I actually wrote a note about 2/3 through in my Kindle app — “Can we stop the lovesick gazing and get back to the plot, please?”
Imagine Yadriel instead of Demi Moore here. Keep the ghost.
"Queer folks are like wolves. We travel in packs."
He gave everything and expected nothing in return.
Yadriel's heart ached.
No, none of them deserved Julian Diaz.
"Don't mourn me.
If you cry for me, I grieve your pain.
Instead, if you sing to me, I'll always live and my spirit will never die."