A visceral exploration of the eternal and misguided search for pain-free happiness in an almost-now Brave New World.
Quinlan has an uncanny ability to become someone else, especially if that person is dead.
Working for an elite government program, Quinlan is a “closer.” She enters the lives of the bereaved and temporarily plays the role of the deceased in order to bring closure to the grief-stricken. Having had this job since she was a child, 17-year-old Quinlan is starting to feel hairline fissures in her psyche, finding it increasingly difficult to recall her own personality. Quinlan is driven both by compassion to help the despairing and pressure from her father, who is the head of the grief department. Her latest assignment requires deeper immersion than ever before, and her father is secretive about the details. She becomes Catalina, a beloved daughter who died of mysterious causes. Catalina’s boyfriend, Isaac, is included in the assignment, and Quinlan, her own loneliness heightened by his need, finds herself drawn to Isaac’s desperation and passion. As the melancholy and eerie story unfolds, Quinlan realizes that no one is telling her the truth, and her life has never been her own. Exploring the topic of memory manipulation as a cure for distress, this stand-alone prequel offers shadowy references to Young’s previous novels, The Program (2013) and The Treatment (2014).
A visceral exploration of the eternal and misguided search for pain-free happiness in an almost-now Brave New World. (Dystopian romance. 14-18)Pub Date: April 21, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-3765-3
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2015
Though bold and atmospheric, this high-concept story never achieves liftoff.
A girl enters into a marriage contract with a god to save her family.
Eighteen-year-old Lacrimosa “Lark” Arriscane expects to graduate from school and step into a curator position at the gallery housing the works of her favorite painter. She never imagines that instead she’ll be expelled from Marchmain Academy, sent away from the city and back to her seaside hometown of Verse, where her brothers run a salt mine. But her family’s troubles have only just begun; the mine is failing, and Lark’s brothers owe a steep debt to the neighboring Felimath family. When Lark learns she can save the mine and her brothers by agreeing to marry Therion, the chthonic god her family worships, she barely hesitates. But the betrothal goes horribly wrong, and Lark must form a fragile alliance with the Felimath siblings, Alistair and Camille, childhood friends with whom her relationship has soured. As the three delve into myths and mysteries, Lark’s romantic connections with both siblings begin to bloom. Clipstone’s dreamily romantic writing can be gorgeous, and this moody folktale is well imagined. There’s a lot of missed potential, however: Some underdeveloped plotlines slow the narrative, and vague characterization prevents the emotional beats from landing. Still, the unique premise and skillful prose may keep readers engaged. Lark and her brothers have olive skin and “hair and eyes the color of honey”; the Felimath siblings are cued white.
Though bold and atmospheric, this high-concept story never achieves liftoff. (Fantasy romance. 14-18)Pub Date: July 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250348906
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
A cute story populated with appealing characters.
Soon-to-be high school senior Harry has to choose between his charming ex-boyfriend and the new boy in town.
Harry doesn’t have time for boys this summer—he is focused on writing a screenplay to help him get into college and begin his Hollywood career. Then he meets Logan, who is staying with his aunt and uncle in the small Florida town of Citrus Harbor for the summer and working at the beach club Harry’s family frequents. Unfortunately, Grant, Harry’s ex, is back in town, and even though Harry likes Logan, there are still sparks and memories between him and Grant. The story is both modeled on and heavily references romantic comedy films ranging from the 1970s to the 2000s. Weber sets out to capture the feel of those classic rom-coms and largely succeeds. Everything from the meet-cute to the makeup kiss is sweet and satisfying. The other narrative influence is, surprisingly, superhero movies, reflected in the excerpts from Harry’s fictional screenplay that are interspersed between the chapters. This debut is a light beach read that scratches an itch for readers craving a gay romance that incorporates classic romance tropes. All main characters are implied to be White except for Harry’s best friend, Hailey, who is Filipina.
A cute story populated with appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-335-42590-4
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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