DON'T LET ME GO

Two boys are repeatedly reincarnated together, finding love throughout history—but with loss soon following behind.

At a summer carnival in present-day Orlando, Florida, Riley Iverson faints upon meeting his friend’s “hot new neighbor,” Jackson Haines. Seeing Jackson conjures up a vision of the two of them together in Pompeii. Riley retreats further behind the walls he’s put up to protect his bruised heart. Jackson, who’s a straight jock, feels pressure from his high-achieving parents, and he’s not sure whether he plays football for himself or because it’s expected. He’s haunted by something that led him to leave Tallahassee, but meeting Riley makes the adjustment easier. It feels like they’ve always belonged together, leaving Jackson questioning his sexuality. Both boys, who are coded white, begin suddenly passing out and dreaming of steamy interludes between their past selves—as well as their subsequent deaths. All of this makes finding a way forward together difficult: How much is a life with one’s soulmate worth if it means you don’t get to live long at all? With flashes of humor and wisdom sprinkled throughout, this layered story of love cut short is endearing, entertaining, and full of heartache. The blend of love and tragedy on both cosmic and familial scales will appeal to fans of Adam Silvera, and the occasional commentary on the current state of queer rights makes it a topical and necessary exercise in solidarity for queer teens.

A sweet, heartbreaking summer romance with a timey-wimey twist.