And They Lived . . .

Reviews

Captures all the best and most terrifying parts of loving both yourself and others, masterfully balancing a dreamy romance with the raw honesty it takes to sustain it. This book is a true delight. Steven Salvatore writes complicated love stories with such sincerity, thoughtfulness, and emotional resonance. My heart didn’t stand a chance—I loved it from once upon a time all the way to its joyfully complex ever after. I devoured this novel. . . . Compulsively readable, unapologetically human, and refreshingly original, this is a modern gay fairy tale that will turn even the most jaded reader into a hopeless romantic. Reading And They Lived was like a jolt of lightning to my soul. The characters are so bright, the emotion is so vibrant, and the love is exquisitely electric. Chase's story is a reminder to all of us that we're deserving of love from ourselves and others, and—even through the hardships—to enjoy the journey and live. Sincerely funny and heart-achingly real. . . .Salvatore delivers the memorable queer fairy tale readers are craving! Salvatore has done a superb job of dealing with a dramatic complexity of issues while creating equally complex, highly empathic characters. Readers will urgently root for a happily ever after. Taking on coming out, the challenges of art-making, the importance of mentors who get where one is coming from, and the joys and terrors of romance, Salvatore sweeps readers off their feet. From Salvatore’s warm dedication onward, Kirt Graves ignites the pages with kaleidoscopic talent and charm. . . . Salvatore knows how to tell an empowering story. Graves embellishes with indispensable sparkle. A sex-positive, LGBTQIA+ romp through an artist’s freshman year of college, with quick, witty dialogue and sure pacing that makes it a perfect crossover title for older teens and college students in the vein of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl and Margot Wood’s Fresh. [Chase’s] growth, supported by queer mentors and friends, provides affirming representation of questioning and nonlinear healing . . . A dramatic and refreshing storm of emotion. This charming, joyful story—about self-love, fighting for what’s right, and the love to be found in chosen family—will make you want to put on a pair of red heels and blast Mariah Carey. Expand reviews