TILL THE LAST BEAT OF MY HEART

A teen discovers his necromantic powers and the cost of defying death when he accidentally resurrects his ex–best friend.

Jaxon Santiago-Noble, a gay Afro-Latine boy who’s Puerto Rican and Dominican, lives with his mom above his family’s funeral home. Unlike his father, who lived and died a mystery, Jaxon’s mother has never hidden her work from him. Having dead bodies in his basement feels like a normal part of life—until Christian Reyes arrives in the morgue after a fatal car crash. Against his mother’s wishes, Jaxon sneaks into the basement to say goodbye, but as he’s processing his unresolved feelings, he unknowingly calls Christian’s soul back into his broken body. With the Mami’s help—and the use of his father’s heirloom pocket watch—Jaxon temporarily brings Christian back to life, but reversing death requires a sacrifice. Mexican American Christian will die again if he and Jaxon can’t find a way to fully restore his life force. This emotional and heart-poundingly suspenseful debut intertwines romance with supernatural horror. As Jaxon attempts to understand and control his powers, he navigates complex relationships with his family and friends. Forgiveness and accountability are important parts of Jaxon’s character growth, elements that pair well with the underlying themes of culture and community. Bou-Montes also includes destigmatizing representations of mental illness; Jaxon’s anxiety is sensitively woven into his characterization.

A nuanced romantic thriller.