First thing first, I LOVE this novel. Love it. Is it bc of the sci-fi/magical blend? Bc of the whole community involved in the story? Bc the mother/daughter is so problematically relatable? Bc I love Jane and I love August in equal measure? Bc all the freaking characters are lovable and awesome and I’d like to be friends with them all? Bc there’s a psychic? Whatever. 

Meet August: fatherless with a toxic relationship with a mother she’s trying to get rid off. She moves to NY and ends up finding her own family, aka Niko, Myla, Wes, Isaiah, and Jane of course. You happen to see and live NY in the ’70s with all its queer scenario and NY today with all the queer scenario. This must be the most inclusive novel I’ve ever read. So what happens is: August meets Jane in the Q, except she’s not exactly the 20 something vintage girl she looks like.

And there are pancakes everywhere, and August is on the soft side of body-representation, and Jane is this freakingly cool woman. And there are references to Quantum Leap (Quantum Leap, Jesuschrist I loved that series and I’m pretty sure nobody remembers it, so I feel seen!) and the Goonies (I mean!!!) and the Breakfast Club (picture me heart-eyed).

So what I’m saying is: I’m going to read Red, White & Royal blue and probably have met my new auto-buy author.