Right Where I Left You
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
"Some books are downright fun, and Right Where I Left You is one . . . Winters sends a quiet but important message that queer Black and brown kids deserve to live happily ever after too. . . Winters weaves all of these threads—the romance, the relatable anxiety, the message — into a book that, like a crush, you won’t be able to get out of your head."—The New York Times
Isaac Martin is ready to kick off summer. His last before heading off to college in the fall where he won't have his best friend, Diego. Where—despite his social anxiety—he’ll be left to make friends on his own. Knowing his time with Diego is limited, Isaac enacts a foolproof plan: snatch up a pair of badges for the epic comic convention, Legends Con, and attend his first ever Teen Pride. Just him and Diego.
But when an unexpected run-in with Davi—Isaac’s old crush—distracts him the day tickets go on sale, suddenly he’s two badges short of a perfect summer. Even worse, now he’s left making it up to Diego by hanging with him and his gamer buddies. Decidedly NOT part of the original plan. It’s not all bad, though. Some of Diego’s friends turn out to be pretty cool, and when things with Davi start heating up, Isaac is almost able to forget about his Legends Con blunder. Almost. Because then Diego finds out what really happened that day with Davi, and their friendship lands on thin ice. Isaac assumes he’s upset about missing the convention, but could Diego have other reasons for avoiding Isaac?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Winters (The Summer of Everything)presents two queer boys' transformative summer navigating first love, evolving relationships, and fear-inspiring change in this bighearted friends-to-lovers romance. Gay, Black and Mexican comic book enthusiast Isaac Martin, 18, has grand plans for the summer before college separates him and his bisexual Puerto Rican gamer best friend, Diego Santoyo. Together, they'll attend their first Pride and score tickets to an epic convention, Legends Con, to meet their favorite comics creators. But when con tickets sell out while Isaac is distracted by a former crush, bisexual Brazilian classmate Davi Lucas, their plans begin crumbling. Following an emotionally charged blowout with Diego, Isaac maneuvers unexplored feelings of love and abandonment, addresses tumultuous familial challenges, and learns to be brave. Script excerpts from Isaac's comics artfully parallel the boys' emotional journey ("This is the worst idea you've ever had. But I'm glad it's you I'm stuck here with"). Isaac and Diego's intimate connection, facilitated by healthy communication and individual vulnerability, is one to be cherished. Employing a winsome queer and racially diverse cast, compassionate prose, and a joyful tone, Winters skillfully explores myriad walks of LGBTQ life. Ages 12–up.