I have to be honest, I think Adam Silvera is becoming one of my favourite authors, in spite of his seeming fascination with death. This novel stands alone, exploring themes of love, loss and grief through the lens of a teenage boy who has lost his first love. Throughout, the main character, Griffin, 'talks' to his lost live, Theo, to try and cling on to his memory as much as possible.

I do not have the ability to cry at books or films; it's just not something I've ever had happen. But if you are that kind of person, make sure you have plenty of tissues handy as you will absolutely definitely need them during the course of this read. The author captures beautifully the raw power of grief, the pain of unexpected loss and the conflict that rages in the inevitable blame game of survivor's guilt. Add to that the main character's compulsive tendencies and the emotional toll of this book is off the scale. The writing is nothing short of stunning.

The book is written in alternating chapters; the present, charting Griffin's processing of his ex-boyfriend Theo's death, attending the funeral and meeting Theo's new boyfriend, Jackson; and the History, tracking the development of Theo and Griffin's relationship from friends to more and back again. I liked this style as you would see their relationship blossom, which in turn offers more understanding and insight into Griffin's reaction to his passing. Equally however, I do think it could have worked well in a predominantly linear format (save the 'taboos'; the reveals work too well).

The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars from me is that there are a couple of moments which feel quite contrived and predictable. At the same time, however, there are a couple of nice moments that you don't necessarily see coming, which add yet more layers to the tale.

Overall, another amazing read from the author!