If you're someone who grew up queer in a small town, or at the very least felt like an outsider no matter where you went. Or if you're someone having quarter-life crisis... This book may be perfect for you. 

This novel really brings out the uncomfortable truths of turning 30, going back to the hometown you never thought you'd go back to, and coming face-to-face with childhood problems and teenage mistakes. The time travel aspect of this book really tied it all together, it would not have made sense or hit the same way it did otherwise. 

Darby, the most perfectly imperfect character. I think it was important for his own development to have these interactions with his younger self. I think it was his own way of healing himself and his inner child. The decisions he made along the way were not always the best choices, but I feel like it's quite realistic to not always do things right the first time. The journey is sometimes more important than the destination. I feel like Darby's argument with Olivia was kind of pointless, and the fact that he ignored them for so long. There are plenty of other ways to introduce Darby's want/need to go back to Oak Falls, especially without leaving his friends in the dust. 

The book as a whole is very low stakes and the sci-fi aspect is pretty minimal/easy to digest. I thoroughly enjoyed the delivery of this book and all the issues it addresses (regardless of how they're resolved). I hope that if you choose to read this, that it will heal you a little bit as it did for me. 

*Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing for the ARC*