This is another book that I’ve had for a while, but for whatever reason, I hadn’t gotten to it. I added it to my 24 in 2024 challenge pile and am so happy that I did. While this is a young adult novel, it is set in the late 1980s/early 1990s, when I was a teen, so these characters really resonated with me!

The book focuses on three characters: Reza – a young man who recently moved to New York from Canada when his mother remarried; Judy – a budding fashion designer whose uncle is living with AIDS; and Art the gay son of a very conservative couple who is best friends with Judy and attends Act Up! rallies, documenting them through pictures.

When Reza meets Judy on his first day of school, she is immediately smitten with him, and the two begin dating. The problem is that Reza is gay but terrified of coming out, mainly because with all of the misinformation about AIDS in the news, he is afraid he could catch it simply by admitting he is gay. When Art shows an interest in Reza and a crush develops, the two young men have to figure out how to navigate these new feelings and decide how to break the news to Judy.

The relationships between the characters are beautifully portrayed, with each one facing their own struggles and obstacles. Reza’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance is a central theme of the novel, and his evolving relationship with Art and Judy is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. His internal struggle with his sexuality and fear of being ostracized by his family and community is portrayed with raw emotion and authenticity. I distinctly remember sitting in my health class in high school and our health teacher telling us that we would only have to worry about catching AIDS if we were gay. At this time, I was very much struggling with my own identity and what it meant to be gay. These words terrified me and really stuck with me for several years (and affected my ability to develop any sort of healthy relationship with other gay men). To say that I connected with Reza in this way is an understatement. I shared every fear he had and understood why he felt the way he did.

As far as the other characters go, Art, the rebellious photographer who captures the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis, adds another layer of intensity to the narrative. Art is deeply involved in the fight against homophobia and discrimination that was so prevalent at this time. Not only is he knowledgeable and determined to take a stand, Art knows exactly who he is and won’t let anyone tell him otherwise. Art is who I aspired to be when I was younger. Rounding out the three, Judy’s unwavering support for her uncle Stephen, who is living with AIDS, is a testament to the importance of straight allies – especially at this time in history.

Nazemian does a fantastic job of transporting readers to the streets of New York City in the late 80s with vivid descriptions that bring the setting to life. The backdrop of the AIDS epidemic looms large throughout the book, serving as a reminder of the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community during this tumultuous time. As someone who lived through this period in history, I found myself deeply moved by the story and the characters’ experiences. I also loved how the author weaved in the obsession the three teens had with Madonna and her impact on the LGBTQIA+ community at this time. I was just as obsessed with her as these three, so this, too, really resonated with me.

Overall, I found this to be a powerful and heartfelt novel that captures the essence of the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nazemian has crafted a beautiful and impactful novel that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished the last page. It’s a love story, yes, but it’s also a story of friendship, acceptance, and the power of standing up for what you believe in. This is a must-read for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community.