4.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"As You Walk On By" by Julian Winters

“Rule number one to accepting any dare: never agree to something you're not 99.5 percent positive you can complete.”

This was a heartwarming young adult novel that explores the complexities of family, friendship, and love.

Winters does an excellent job of weaving together themes of grief, love, and self-discovery in a way that feels both authentic and relatable. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, and the relationships between them feel genuine and complex. Winters also does a great job of exploring the experiences of queer and BIPOC characters, highlighting the intersections of their identities and the unique challenges they face.