What a truly wonderful book!

This was one of those books that I was taking every possible opportunity to listen to. It’s set during that one, epic summer holiday that happens between your A levels and freshers week, and we follow Elsie across these summer months. She has big plans, but of course plans can change!

This book had so much in it – family secrets, long-lost loves, long distance crushes, queer friendships, and more. I felt so emotionally invested every step of the way, and I really felt the ups and downs that Elsie went on.

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I loved the relationships between the different queer characters in this book. I thought it was a really good depiction of not just romantic relationships but also the friendships and kinships between queer people, and I really felt that sense of belonging that Elsie found.

I also really liked the way the book explored how queerness is seen in different cultures. Many of the characters in this book, Elsie included, have a range of cultural influences in their lives, and I loved how the author included these themes. It was also fascinating to see how these different influences affected the characters, and how it helped them shape a sense of their own identity.

The inclusion of queer people from different generations was also a great touch. I remember very vividly how it felt when I first started interacting with the queer community outside of my own peer group, and it’s such a fulfilling moment that was vividly captured.

There was also excellent narration from Siu-see Hung, who didn’t just perform the text in an immersive and engaging way, but also nailed an astounding range of accents!

I received a free copy for an honest review.