Miles is going through a difficult time right now. Vivian, a trans girl he fell for, dropped out of school for, and moved in with, attempted suicide and is left in an irreversible coma. Pressure is put on him to fight for her right to die with dignity, something her parents are actively fighting against just as they fought against her transition. Vivian and Miles ran an online blog about queer advocacy, so Vivian’s case has become famous, putting even more stress on Miles. His mothers realize he is struggling and send him for a month to Iceland. This epistolary novel recounts Miles’s time there as he grapples with grief and guilt. Unfortunately, Vivian is a two-dimensional character and the other gender nonconforming person who is present assaults and robs Miles. However, the protagonist’s dealing with his loss and his return to art is a touching journey. There is good queer representation in other ways; Miles struggles with his pansexual identity, there is a gay Icelandic love interest, and Miles’s mothers are adorable. VERDICT Though flawed, this is a good purchase for where road trip novels are popular.

I don’t know how to recommend this book.  I’m a grown adult and wouldn’t consider myself a prude, but this book is pretty explicit. It claims to be a book following someone through their grief of losing a girlfriend, their first love, but really just turns into a summer of sex in Iceland as he tries to forget his pain.   There were definitely parts that were unnecessary, as if they were just put in for shock value.  I also feel like the book to tries to represent as many minority groups as possible which just made it feel forced, like the author was just checking boxes.

After talking with one of our openly LGBTQ+ students, who had also read the book, we agreed that it would be good to keep in our collection.  While the writing isn’t the best, for someone who is still searching for answers, it would be good to have another account of someone who is still exploring their true self.