WAVELENGTH

A camera-shy singer and an angry punk rocker find a common bond.

Sasha and their brother, Augustus, form the pop duo Admirer—but Sasha is tired of fame. For years, they’ve worn a helmet with a reflective visor in public, even while performing, and it’s become part of their brand. They even pretend to date Isabelle, their actor friend—it’s great for the algorithm. But when Augustus is arrested, Sasha is expected to reveal their face and defend him on a talk show to drum up popular support before the trial. Sasha, who believes Augustus is in the wrong, decides it’s time to disappear. They head to a “nowhere city” to start over—and finish high school. There, nonbinary Sasha meets bisexual Lillian, who’s still reeling from a recent breakup, as well as her bandmates, Cyprus and Quinn, who’s gay and transgender. Lillian immediately feels pulled toward the mysterious Sasha, and they connect over their deep love of music—although Sasha is clearly hiding something. The story unfolds in Sasha’s and Lillian’s alternating first-person perspectives and includes songwriter Lillian’s lyrics. Plett shows the power of music to express one’s feelings and form connections with others, and they emphasize the importance of having safe spaces to exist unapologetically and explore being queer. Quinn and Cyprus are strong side characters, contributing to the overall affirming and celebratory atmosphere. Most main characters present white, and Quinn is cued as having Middle Eastern ancestry.

An emotional, heartwarming debut filled with queer joy.