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Kirkus Reviews

Byhlesbrown

In this religious fiction sequel, a gay teen tries to navigate faith, tumultuous family secrets, and first love.

Fifteen-year-old Randy Carter lives in Las Vegas and loves skateboarding barefoot, spending time with his best friend, Keisha, and being an acolyte to his caring priest and mentor, Father Sean. In many ways, Randy would seem to be the typical, self-proclaimed “skater boy,” but two things set him apart: He hopes to one day become a priest, and he is gay.

Just as Father Sean is helping Randy to understand how his religion and his sexuality do not have to be contradictions, a hunky boy named Michael Keller moves to the neighborhood. The two teens are instantly drawn to each other and begin a whirlwind romance, giving Randy his first taste of sex and love.

While the community around them is mostly accepting—except for a few homophobic individuals—Michael and Randy’s consuming passion brings up big questions about their future and their pasts. Randy’s volatile, drug-addicted mother, whom he only ever calls by her first name, Kyte, has always kept the identity of his father a secret. Meanwhile, Michael continues to try to prove his devotion to Randy again and again, but his far-fetched explanations for why he seemingly has no parental supervision lead to other questions that threaten to tear them apart.

Both an outlandish teen soap opera and an endearing story of acceptance and faith, Brown’s novel offers a fresh and convincing world of queer teens who are surprisingly spiritual and earnest. The author makes it easy to feel Randy’s thrill of first infatuation with excellent narration. (“The warmth of Michael’s body passed right through his skin and penetrated deep into his core,” Brown writes of one of the teens’ passionate reconciliations.) But by the end, a suicide, a paternity test, and an FBI investigation are only some of the events stuffed into the narrative as the story ties up its most captivating elements into a knot of plot twists.

An intriguingly sweet and authentic teen romance that takes several jarring turns.

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    Paul B.

    Byhlesbrown

    This book and series face an intense issue that is common in the Catholic Church. Tackles it head on in fact, and for that the author should be praised. Not always the easiest read, this is still an important one and would recommend to those interested in the inner dynamics of the Catholic Church and its priests.

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    Nakoa H.

    Byhlesbrown

    Compelling Drama with Depth Compelling Drama with Depth– This book delves into the complexities of morality, redemption, and the human condition with gripping intensity. Through Bishop Sean Foley’s turbulent journey, readers are drawn into a world of intrigue, heartache, and ultimately, resilience. With its authentic portrayal of flawed characters and ethical dilemmas, it leaves a lasting impact that prompts reflection and empathy.

  • Luis J.

    Byhlesbrown

    That line in your blurb about Bishop Sean Foley facing an accuser who was “judge, jury, and executioner” made me stop mid-scroll like, “Alright, who brought courtroom thunder into the Vatican?” The tension between Foley and Cardinal Nwadike reads like someone took faith, politics, secrets, and emotional landmines, mixed them together, and said, “Good luck, reader.” I could practically hear the walls of Rome whispering.

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    Frank G. D.

    Byhlesbrown

    Intriguing PageTurner—Absolutely brilliant. Les Brown tells a story that is complex, multi-layered, full of strange landscapes as divergent as organized crime and monastic life, yet one so well crafted that the reader becomes engrossed in it, unable to put it down. Intriguing PageTurner—Absolutely brilliant. Les Brown tells a story that is complex, multi-layered, full of strange landscapes as divergent as organized crime and monastic life, yet one so well crafted that the reader becomes engrossed in it, unable to put it down.

  • Gordon Jefrries, NetGalley Reviewer

    Byhlesbrown

    The story of Tony Keating (Kit Foxx) is heartbreaking at times and uplifting at other times, but always gripping — a story that, once you get started, you struggle to put down. Each chapter builds on the last, and yes, you want to read it all, but at the same time you don’t want it to finish. Maybe it hasn’t yet — there is surely a sequel in the pipeline. If not, there should be. Enjoyed every minute, and highly recommend. Reviewed on NetGalley, September 24, 2026.