Will, an agender teen, struggles with the haunting aftermath of parental abuse as they forge a new life and love in this novel that is perfect for fans of If These Wings Could Fly and Last Night at the Telegraph Club.
Will is a 17-year-old on the cusp of freedomâfreedom from providing and caring for their abusive, addicted mother, freedom from their small town with an even smaller mindset, and freedom from having to hide who they truly are. When their mother dies months before their 18th birthday, Will is granted this freedom earlier than expected. They begin to dream of escaping to the big city of Baltimore, of dating the magnetic and gorgeous Julian, and of living, unencumbered and free.
But their motherâs last words haunt Will. With her dying breath she cursed them, claiming her death was their fault. Soon their motherâs drug-dealing past threatens Willâs shiny new future, leaving Will scrambling to find their beloved former foster parent Raz before Child Protective Services or their motherâs drug associates find them first. But how do you reconnect with family and embark on a new love when youâre convinced you destroy everything you touch?
"A bittersweet portrait of an agender teen finding true family following parental abuse ⌠MacGregor sensitively renders Willâs harrowing circumstances, culminating in an emotionally satisfying resolution."âPublishers Weekly