Shit, this one is good. It’s been a while since I’ve been so engrossed by a book that I couldn’t put it down and even stayed up far too late just to finish it, but Steven Salvatore’s novel accomplished just that.

There is a lot packed into this novel, but it’s not so much that you lose track, or that pertinent details are omitted. What’s not said, doesn’t need to be said. Even without reading the author’s note at the end, it’s clear how much of himself Salvatore poured into Carey’s story.

Th language, the emotion, and the pacing of the story combine to really pull the reader in. Sure, I can relate to various things in the novel, but it’s really comes down to Salvatore’s writing and the choices made. There were times I braced myself for standard YA LGBTQ+ cliches, but they didn’t happen. In fact, without giving spoilers, some the directions the story takes were refreshing.

Sure, a lot happens to Carey in a short span of time, but what’s different is the level of support and hope. Those things don’t really waver or dissipate. It was nice to read something that is so consistently hopeful and empowering.

There are a lot of references to music throughout the novel, which I love. I might choose a different diva for my story, but I love Mariah (and the others) and can relate to that level of fandom.