Where We Go From Here
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
An absorbing debut novel about three gay friends in Brazil whose lives become intertwined in the face of HIV, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Bill Konigsberg.
Ian has just been diagnosed with HIV.
Victor, to his great relief, has tested negative.
Henrique has been living with HIV for the past three years.
When Victor finds himself getting tested for HIV for the first time, he can't help but question his entire relationship with Henrique, the guy he has -- had -- been dating. See, Henrique didn't disclose his positive HIV status to Victor until after they had sex, and even though Henrique insisted on using every possible precaution, Victor is livid.
That's when Victor meets Ian, a guy who's also getting tested for HIV. But Ian's test comes back positive, and his world is about to change forever. Though Victor is loath to think about Henrique, he offers to put the two of them in touch, hoping that perhaps Henrique can help Ian navigate his new life. In the process, the lives of Ian, Victor, and Henrique will become intertwined in a story of friendship, love, and self-acceptance.
Set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this utterly engrossing debut by Brazilian author Lucas Rocha calls back to Alex Sanchez's Rainbow Boys series, bringing attention to how far we've come with HIV, while shining a harsh light on just how far we have yet to go.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Even though they’re coping with truly heartbreaking circumstances, the characters in Lucas Rocha’s stunning debut novel prove that life is always precious. Victor, Ian, and Henrique are three young men living in Brazil and grappling with dramatically different experiences of HIV. One just tested positive, one just tested negative, and one’s been living with the virus for years. Each character narrates his own chapters in an intimate, first-person voice, giving us three distinct perspectives of their bonds of friendship and romance. We were deeply moved by the trio’s stories of found family as an antidote to the fear and loneliness that comes from being gay in a highly prejudiced society. Packed with lived-in details of Rio de Janeiro’s close-knit LGBTQ community, Rocha’s stunning story feels deeply personal, but its themes are universal.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
According to an author's note, Rocha was inspired to write this novel upon learning about the prejudice faced by HIV-positive people in Brazil; the result, his YA debut, features three young men, each with a different relationship to HIV. Henrique, 21, is HIV-positive but has an undetectable viral load due to medication, and is looking for a relationship with someone with whom he can be honest about his status. He'd like it to be Victor, a college student, but Victor, who has just tested negative, is angry that Henrique didn't reveal his status before sex, even though they used protection. When Victor meets 18-year-old Ian, who's just tested positive, he introduces Ian to Henrique for support. The three alternate the narration, and readers see Henrique's anger and loneliness, Victor's guilt about breaking up with Henrique, and Ian's efforts to cope with his diagnosis and meds (there are also glimpses of Brazil's free testing and treatment culture), all building to Ian and Henrique's growing friendship. Though characters feel differentiated more by externals (Victor's blue hair, Henrique's drag queen roommate) than by internals, the book effectively explores the tensions that stem from the prejudice and fear surrounding HIV. Ages 14 up.
