This was a vividly told World War I historical fiction novel, unique in that it features an earnest romance between two boarding school boys who enlist and are separated at the front.
I was swept up by these characters, they were so endearing, and I get the “Heartstopper on the Western front“ description. My only quibbles were that this was pretty gritty as far war and battle scenes go, which is why I read very little WWI or WWII fiction. And I wish there was more time at Preshute boarding school with all of the characters before they go off to war, because there are SO many to familiarize with right from the jump. I wanted to visualize them as they saw each other: young, vibrant and innocent. There were a few flashbacks throughout the book, but not enough to give me an early investment in the friendships, and most importantly the romantic longing.
I was certainly invested by the end and the pacing was excellent - beautifully written and I flew through it while feeling all the feels. 
“It was a magical thing, to love someone so much; it was a feeling so strange and slippery, like a sheath of fabric cut from the sky.”