I read this book as part of a video project that I was working on and I saved this book for last because I was pretty sure that it was going to be my favourite book of the project. Thankfully, in this instance I was correct and I absolutely adored this book but oof! that is a lot of expectation to put onto a book!

This is my second time reading a book from Aiden Thomas and, whilst I didn’t dislike Lost in the Never Woods, it hasn’t left too much of a lasting impression on me. It is easy to understand why this was the first book that Thomas published because it feels as though it is a deeply personal book as it explores multiple aspects of his identity and does so in a way that was completely full of love. I really enjoyed the way that various Latinx communities’ cultures formed part of the story and this is a story which could have easily veered into uncomfortable territory if someone outside of the community tried to write it. There was a particular scene where one of the characters wields a chancla which felt so authentic and I could easily imagine Thomas recounting the way that this scene was inspired by a fond memory of childhood. This affection was clear throughout this book.

There was something really comforting about this book where grief and death are not seen as something to be feared but rather seen as a fond friend and given respect within the various communities depicted. It is too easy to have tunnel-vision around the experiences that you have had around death and forget that there is no universal experience of what death means. I found it really healing to see the way that those no longer alive are revered and love is offered to them. I am not a stranger to loss in my life and a relatively recent one sits heavy in my heart so I find a catharsis in stories where the topic is openly present but it was refreshing that such a story managed to give a joy to the pain.

The brewing romance between Yadriel and Julian was so incredibly sweet and there were some gorgeous moments - THE YEARBOOK! - but there definitely felt as though there was a scythe hanging over their relationship as we knew that eventually they would have to say goodbye. The way that the ending of this book handled this was very interesting and could have easily veered into cheap territory but Thomas expertly managed to stick the landing.

One thing I will say is that I had watched a purportedly spoiler-free talk from Thomas at the end of last year so I knew not everybody was as they seemed. I wish that I had read this book without that knowledge because I have no way of knowing how I would have felt without that knowledge. I don’t think it took away from my enjoyment of this book in any way but it felt as though I didn’t get to read the book for the first time.