What do you think?
Rate this book
Desert Echoes
From Abdi Nazemian, the award-winning author of Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment, comes a suspenseful contemporary YA novel about loss and love.
Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. Something seems off about Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset . . . but only Kam returns.
Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship—and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.
Desert Echoes is a propulsive, moving story about human resilience and connection.
Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. Something seems off about Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset . . . but only Kam returns.
Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship—and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.
Desert Echoes is a propulsive, moving story about human resilience and connection.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
About the author
Abdi Nazemian
12 books977 followersAbdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment - winner of the 2024 Stonewall Award and 2024 Lambda Literary Award - and Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book and one of Time Magazine’s Best YA Books Of All Time. He is also the author of the young adult novels Desert Echoes, The Chandler Legacies, and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the television series Ordinary Joe and The Village. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online at abdinazemian.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 14, 2024
History is All You Left Me meets Hideous Beauty
Sometimes, we have to look back in order to move forward.
Abdi Nazemian is a superb YA author. His previous books, Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment, were fantastic. And here’s another amazing one. Think of History is All You Left Me, but maybe most of all Hideous Beauty. Desert Echoes is a beautiful, sad boy story, a mystery imbued with hope, written in a dual timeline: the year Kam returned from Joshua Tree without Ash, and two years later when Kam goes back to Joshua Tree and has to face what happened back then.
There’s Covid in this book, talk of masks, social distancing, and vaccines, things I hate to see in stories—I even DNF’d books with mentions of Covid in it. But for the first time, I didn’t mind because the Covid references portrayed loneliness and the loss of human connections so beautifully, both significant themes in this story. Kam craves those connections so much, of course with Ash, but maybe even more with his parents and Bodie, his best friend.
In the now chapters, Kam’s grief is palpable on every page. In the videos he watches, in the music he listens to, in the conversations he has with Bodie. And slowly, I realized his pain wasn’t only because of Ash’s disappearance. The same applies to the then chapters. The love Kam and Ash had for each other felt so energetic, almost frantic. I smiled so many times, and still …
When I found out more about the truth, my heart ached for Ash. At the same time, I wanted to hug Bodie so badly because his love for Kam shone so brightly from page one, and Kam was so oblivious.
This story is about first love and moving on, about (co)dependency and cravings, and like I said above about loneliness and human connections. And just like Only This Beautiful Moment, this story is incredibly personal. Tears burned in my eyes while reading the last chapter and then I started to smile so much! This story, including the title and the cover is gorgeous!
Thanks so much again, HarperCollins International, for allowing me to read this beauty! I will gush about it wherever and whenever I can!
Follow me on Instagram
Sometimes, we have to look back in order to move forward.
Abdi Nazemian is a superb YA author. His previous books, Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment, were fantastic. And here’s another amazing one. Think of History is All You Left Me, but maybe most of all Hideous Beauty. Desert Echoes is a beautiful, sad boy story, a mystery imbued with hope, written in a dual timeline: the year Kam returned from Joshua Tree without Ash, and two years later when Kam goes back to Joshua Tree and has to face what happened back then.
There’s Covid in this book, talk of masks, social distancing, and vaccines, things I hate to see in stories—I even DNF’d books with mentions of Covid in it. But for the first time, I didn’t mind because the Covid references portrayed loneliness and the loss of human connections so beautifully, both significant themes in this story. Kam craves those connections so much, of course with Ash, but maybe even more with his parents and Bodie, his best friend.
In the now chapters, Kam’s grief is palpable on every page. In the videos he watches, in the music he listens to, in the conversations he has with Bodie. And slowly, I realized his pain wasn’t only because of Ash’s disappearance. The same applies to the then chapters. The love Kam and Ash had for each other felt so energetic, almost frantic. I smiled so many times, and still …
When I found out more about the truth, my heart ached for Ash. At the same time, I wanted to hug Bodie so badly because his love for Kam shone so brightly from page one, and Kam was so oblivious.
This story is about first love and moving on, about (co)dependency and cravings, and like I said above about loneliness and human connections. And just like Only This Beautiful Moment, this story is incredibly personal. Tears burned in my eyes while reading the last chapter and then I started to smile so much! This story, including the title and the cover is gorgeous!
Thanks so much again, HarperCollins International, for allowing me to read this beauty! I will gush about it wherever and whenever I can!
Follow me on Instagram
Read
September 28, 2024Review coming soon!
Read
September 10, 2024i think this was very special and would probably make a great movie <3
August 29, 2024
Well this was an emotional journey.
Really appreciated the range of topics this young adult novel touched upon. Dealing with grief and survivor’s guilt, the challenges of addiction for both addicts and those who love them, and having the strength to follow your own path despite familial expectations.
I thought the book dealt with these topics very well with nuance and sensitivity.
I also thought the depiction of Bodie and Kam’s friendship was brilliant. It felt so real. Totally captured the joy of teen friendships, but also the complexities of navigating friendship when you’re growing up, changing and experiencing difficult things.
Interestingly when I picked this up, I thought it would be more mystery type vibes. And whilst there was a little of that, this book is way more about emotional growth and healing. There was lots of sad moments, but also a lot of hope. 💜
It was perhaps a little too intense for me at times, but actually I think things do feel super intense when you’re a teenager. Im sure lots of this book will speak to lots of people. 💜
I received an advanced digital copy of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Really appreciated the range of topics this young adult novel touched upon. Dealing with grief and survivor’s guilt, the challenges of addiction for both addicts and those who love them, and having the strength to follow your own path despite familial expectations.
I thought the book dealt with these topics very well with nuance and sensitivity.
I also thought the depiction of Bodie and Kam’s friendship was brilliant. It felt so real. Totally captured the joy of teen friendships, but also the complexities of navigating friendship when you’re growing up, changing and experiencing difficult things.
Interestingly when I picked this up, I thought it would be more mystery type vibes. And whilst there was a little of that, this book is way more about emotional growth and healing. There was lots of sad moments, but also a lot of hope. 💜
It was perhaps a little too intense for me at times, but actually I think things do feel super intense when you’re a teenager. Im sure lots of this book will speak to lots of people. 💜
I received an advanced digital copy of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2024
An absolutely beautiful read. My heart ached for Ash, for Kam, for Bodie... All of them deserve the world despite the shit that they're going through.
Marieke's review sums up everything so perfectly.
Abdi Nazemian is making his way towards my auto-buy list of favourite authors...
Marieke's review sums up everything so perfectly.
Abdi Nazemian is making his way towards my auto-buy list of favourite authors...
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 30, 2024another victim of my mood reading 🫣
i need to come back to this one when it isn't halloween time since all i want to read right now is spooky vampire halloween horror stuff.
i need to come back to this one when it isn't halloween time since all i want to read right now is spooky vampire halloween horror stuff.
September 11, 2024
It was the second day of January 2022 when the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing happened. It doesn’t matter what the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing was for me, we all have our own variation of the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing. A moment in time at which life rotates on the axis. We were someone else before this moment and now we are not, irrevocably and irreversibly changed in an instant.
When the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing happened, I lived my life as a hamster running on a wheel - through a perpetual and never-ending cycle of terror, grief, loss, almost loss, devastation, shattering. Around and around in dizzying circles, I would run with my shoelaces untied and just when I would catch my breath on even ground, it would fall out from under me again and I’d be sprinting. It’s been two years now, closer to three, and I still live in an embarrassing terrorized half-life in a half-world where everything, even the atoms and molecules, is built upon my pain. It’s the center of everything. It’s a horrible, myopic way to live. It gnaws, it tears, it destroys. Rotting from the inside out – consumed with agony, anger, and narcissism. Worst of all is the way the rot feels infectious – seeping through and poisoning your loved ones. A burden that’s weight you’ve unloaded on those you love most.
Until today, I had yet to find a work of art that fully captures what it feels like to live in my mind since it all happened. Great, stunning works have cobbled together all the pieces and parts individually, but, for me, this book is the most complete and comprehensive description of how it feels to be stuck between yearning for something unattainable as you grieve for a version of both yourself and the world that can no longer exist no matter how much you beg and plead and yearning to learn to exist in this new world with hope and strength to move forward. If someone wanted to truly know me, I’d put this book in their hand.
Nazemian’s work has always been an unrelenting mirror for me. The characters he gives life to and the worlds he builds feel as if they create an unflinching portrait of me– reflecting back the most glamorous and generous traits along with the ugliest and cruelest traits I contain. Each time I find a new piece of myself, a new picture of human existence as it is and how it could be, I am equally provided solace and challenged. Along the way, I always find a new way to know myself just a little better. As the pages turn, life opens up to me in ways I hadn’t even begun to conceive of.
As Desert Echoes hits its climax, Kam, our protagonist, ruminates on his loss and his grief and ultimately comes to this stunning conclusion: “I forgive myself for surviving.” A sentiment written so simply, so plainly, in only five words. It felt like my heart had stopped and jumped completely out of my chest. How was it just today I learned that it might be time for me to forgive myself? Since the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing happened, I’ve spent all my energy attempting to overcome erratic sways of emotion and trying to forgive the people, places, and things I’ve lost, but never myself. It struck me so deeply; the truth is I’m still a little shaken by it and its aching simplicity. I feel so grateful to have been able to read it. I feel so grateful to be able to read those words whenever I need them. I feel so grateful that I’ll be able to read those words even when one day I might not need them so desperately anymore. I feel humbled by our ability to know and connect to one another through the written word and I am endlessly thankful for the people brave and vulnerable enough to put pen to paper.
A BRIEF CODA:
“I forgive myself for surviving.” Every day I’ll mull over those words – I'll say them back to myself and I’ll really believe it.
When the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing happened, I lived my life as a hamster running on a wheel - through a perpetual and never-ending cycle of terror, grief, loss, almost loss, devastation, shattering. Around and around in dizzying circles, I would run with my shoelaces untied and just when I would catch my breath on even ground, it would fall out from under me again and I’d be sprinting. It’s been two years now, closer to three, and I still live in an embarrassing terrorized half-life in a half-world where everything, even the atoms and molecules, is built upon my pain. It’s the center of everything. It’s a horrible, myopic way to live. It gnaws, it tears, it destroys. Rotting from the inside out – consumed with agony, anger, and narcissism. Worst of all is the way the rot feels infectious – seeping through and poisoning your loved ones. A burden that’s weight you’ve unloaded on those you love most.
Until today, I had yet to find a work of art that fully captures what it feels like to live in my mind since it all happened. Great, stunning works have cobbled together all the pieces and parts individually, but, for me, this book is the most complete and comprehensive description of how it feels to be stuck between yearning for something unattainable as you grieve for a version of both yourself and the world that can no longer exist no matter how much you beg and plead and yearning to learn to exist in this new world with hope and strength to move forward. If someone wanted to truly know me, I’d put this book in their hand.
Nazemian’s work has always been an unrelenting mirror for me. The characters he gives life to and the worlds he builds feel as if they create an unflinching portrait of me– reflecting back the most glamorous and generous traits along with the ugliest and cruelest traits I contain. Each time I find a new piece of myself, a new picture of human existence as it is and how it could be, I am equally provided solace and challenged. Along the way, I always find a new way to know myself just a little better. As the pages turn, life opens up to me in ways I hadn’t even begun to conceive of.
As Desert Echoes hits its climax, Kam, our protagonist, ruminates on his loss and his grief and ultimately comes to this stunning conclusion: “I forgive myself for surviving.” A sentiment written so simply, so plainly, in only five words. It felt like my heart had stopped and jumped completely out of my chest. How was it just today I learned that it might be time for me to forgive myself? Since the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thing happened, I’ve spent all my energy attempting to overcome erratic sways of emotion and trying to forgive the people, places, and things I’ve lost, but never myself. It struck me so deeply; the truth is I’m still a little shaken by it and its aching simplicity. I feel so grateful to have been able to read it. I feel so grateful to be able to read those words whenever I need them. I feel so grateful that I’ll be able to read those words even when one day I might not need them so desperately anymore. I feel humbled by our ability to know and connect to one another through the written word and I am endlessly thankful for the people brave and vulnerable enough to put pen to paper.
A BRIEF CODA:
“I forgive myself for surviving.” Every day I’ll mull over those words – I'll say them back to myself and I’ll really believe it.
September 6, 2024
“I’m here in the present, haunted by the memory.”
Desert Echoes revolves around the grief of Kam, a junior in high school who is struggling to move past his boyfriend, Ash, who mysteriously disappeared in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park. Kam grapples with his traditional Iranian parents who do not understand his sexuality while also watching their marriage fall apart due to his father’s addiction. In between this, he has to deal with his classmates blaming him for Ash’s disappearance while his best friend pressures him to leave the past in the past. When the Gender and Sexualities Alliance at his high school decides to have their annual trip at Joshua Tree National Park, Kam must decide whether going back is the right thing for him, even if it's against the wishes of the people who care about him. Or, if returning there after two years will do more harm than good.
Abdi Nazemian’s novel is a devastating tale of heartbreak and perseverance. Kam seems to face one obstacle after another: coming out to his parents, navigating a relationship while trying to keep the peace with his best friend, and watching those he loves crumble under weights he doesn’t understand. The novel is told through two time periods. During “First Year,” Kam and Ash meet and a relationship begins to form. In “Junior Year,” Kam is failing to come to terms with the fact that Ash is most likely gone. I enjoyed the flashbacks, as they made it possible to understand the depth of Kam’s feelings towards Ash and the stances of Kam’s family and friends, including why they never quite trusted Ash. I found myself a little disappointed as moments that felt significant seemed to be brushed past, and scenes I anticipated went by too quickly. The majority of the novel was spent building up to the potential moment that Kam would go to the desert, and the ending came rather abruptly. I did find other aspects of the book enjoyable, as I thought the characters were well-rounded and carefully developed within the plot. Overall, I found Desert Echoes very interesting and structurally unique, but I found the compassion lacking as the novel came to a close.
Desert Echoes releases on September 10th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank SparkPoint Studio, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Desert Echoes revolves around the grief of Kam, a junior in high school who is struggling to move past his boyfriend, Ash, who mysteriously disappeared in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park. Kam grapples with his traditional Iranian parents who do not understand his sexuality while also watching their marriage fall apart due to his father’s addiction. In between this, he has to deal with his classmates blaming him for Ash’s disappearance while his best friend pressures him to leave the past in the past. When the Gender and Sexualities Alliance at his high school decides to have their annual trip at Joshua Tree National Park, Kam must decide whether going back is the right thing for him, even if it's against the wishes of the people who care about him. Or, if returning there after two years will do more harm than good.
Abdi Nazemian’s novel is a devastating tale of heartbreak and perseverance. Kam seems to face one obstacle after another: coming out to his parents, navigating a relationship while trying to keep the peace with his best friend, and watching those he loves crumble under weights he doesn’t understand. The novel is told through two time periods. During “First Year,” Kam and Ash meet and a relationship begins to form. In “Junior Year,” Kam is failing to come to terms with the fact that Ash is most likely gone. I enjoyed the flashbacks, as they made it possible to understand the depth of Kam’s feelings towards Ash and the stances of Kam’s family and friends, including why they never quite trusted Ash. I found myself a little disappointed as moments that felt significant seemed to be brushed past, and scenes I anticipated went by too quickly. The majority of the novel was spent building up to the potential moment that Kam would go to the desert, and the ending came rather abruptly. I did find other aspects of the book enjoyable, as I thought the characters were well-rounded and carefully developed within the plot. Overall, I found Desert Echoes very interesting and structurally unique, but I found the compassion lacking as the novel came to a close.
Desert Echoes releases on September 10th, 2024.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank SparkPoint Studio, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
September 21, 2024
"Desert Echoes" by Abdi Nazemian is a total gem. If "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" was your thing, you'll probably eat this one up too. It's packed with love, mystery, and all that soul-searching stuff we can't get enough of in a good book.
Kam, this 15-year-old kid, is head over heels for Ash. But Ash? He's like a pro at disappearing acts. Then bam! On a Joshua Tree trip, Ash vanishes into thin air, leaving Kam solo.
Jump ahead two years, and Kam's still a mess. Then, out of the blue, he's back at Joshua Tree on a school trip. He's all about solving the Ash puzzle, but he might just end up in a pickle himself.
Nazemian's writing? It's off the charts. The story hops between two timelines - when Ash pulled his vanishing act and Kam's comeback tour two years later.
Gotta hand it to the book for tackling some heavy stuff. It dives into grief, survivor's guilt, addiction's ripple effects, and the whole "following your own path despite family pressure" thing. And it doesn't just skim the surface - it goes deep with a ton of heart.
Now, I get it - another COVID story? Eye roll, right? But trust me, it works here. It captures that isolated, cut-off vibe we all went through, the kind that still lingers for a lot of folks.
The friendship between Bodie and Kam though? Spot on. It nails the awesomeness of teen friendships, but also the tricky parts when you're growing up and life throws curveballs at you.
With that said, the way Kam's feelings come across is just *chef's kiss*. Whether he's glued to screens, blasting tunes, or hanging with Bodie, his pain just leaps off the pages. I was hooked.
This book's an emotional rollercoaster, for real. It's super personal and hits you right in the feels. I might've gotten a bit misty-eyed here and there, not gonna lie.
Bottom line: if you're after a book that'll pull you in and make you feel all sorts of things, Nazemian's got your back. It's a page-turner that'll have you all in on the story from start to finish.
Kam, this 15-year-old kid, is head over heels for Ash. But Ash? He's like a pro at disappearing acts. Then bam! On a Joshua Tree trip, Ash vanishes into thin air, leaving Kam solo.
Jump ahead two years, and Kam's still a mess. Then, out of the blue, he's back at Joshua Tree on a school trip. He's all about solving the Ash puzzle, but he might just end up in a pickle himself.
Nazemian's writing? It's off the charts. The story hops between two timelines - when Ash pulled his vanishing act and Kam's comeback tour two years later.
Gotta hand it to the book for tackling some heavy stuff. It dives into grief, survivor's guilt, addiction's ripple effects, and the whole "following your own path despite family pressure" thing. And it doesn't just skim the surface - it goes deep with a ton of heart.
Now, I get it - another COVID story? Eye roll, right? But trust me, it works here. It captures that isolated, cut-off vibe we all went through, the kind that still lingers for a lot of folks.
The friendship between Bodie and Kam though? Spot on. It nails the awesomeness of teen friendships, but also the tricky parts when you're growing up and life throws curveballs at you.
With that said, the way Kam's feelings come across is just *chef's kiss*. Whether he's glued to screens, blasting tunes, or hanging with Bodie, his pain just leaps off the pages. I was hooked.
This book's an emotional rollercoaster, for real. It's super personal and hits you right in the feels. I might've gotten a bit misty-eyed here and there, not gonna lie.
Bottom line: if you're after a book that'll pull you in and make you feel all sorts of things, Nazemian's got your back. It's a page-turner that'll have you all in on the story from start to finish.
September 18, 2024
Another stellar novel from Nazemian. It’s an emotional, compelling, tragic yet hopeful story about a young Iranian kid’s first love(s) and understanding of the truly harrowing nature of addiction.
I was convinced the story would involve some sci-fi elements due to the discussion and theory of time travel, but that’s forgotten about early on. It didn’t erase any enjoyment I had from the story, but would have been interesting to see it pursued a little more. Instead, we spent a lot of time learning about the two most important men in Kam’s life.
I absolutely fell in love with Ash and admired how patient he was when Bodie was being obnoxious, which was quite a bit in this book. I loved the dichotomy of how perfect he was on the outside, but broken on the inside despite seeming to really have a life that most gay men would dream of.
The dynamic between Bodie and Kam was one of the things I loved most about the book despite wanting Kam to eat dirt at certain points. I had to keep reminding myself that he’s young and immature and has no lived experience to fall back on. But the resentment that affects both Bodie and Kam are various points and tests their relationship is very relatable.
Nazemian just keeps it interesting at every page and I always walk away from his books feeling some kind of emotion which is all I can ask for.
I was convinced the story would involve some sci-fi elements due to the discussion and theory of time travel, but that’s forgotten about early on. It didn’t erase any enjoyment I had from the story, but would have been interesting to see it pursued a little more. Instead, we spent a lot of time learning about the two most important men in Kam’s life.
I absolutely fell in love with Ash and admired how patient he was when Bodie was being obnoxious, which was quite a bit in this book. I loved the dichotomy of how perfect he was on the outside, but broken on the inside despite seeming to really have a life that most gay men would dream of.
The dynamic between Bodie and Kam was one of the things I loved most about the book despite wanting Kam to eat dirt at certain points. I had to keep reminding myself that he’s young and immature and has no lived experience to fall back on. But the resentment that affects both Bodie and Kam are various points and tests their relationship is very relatable.
Nazemian just keeps it interesting at every page and I always walk away from his books feeling some kind of emotion which is all I can ask for.
July 9, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the E-Arc of this book! I am so conflicted about this book and after much deliberation, decided on three stars. I loved Like a Love Story, so I was so excited to read this one. While still a truly brilliant novel, I still had some issues with it. For one, I thought the way the timelines were placed did not work as well for the mysteriousness that the book was trying to convey. The timeline pattern would go present, past, present, but I feel it would have worked better as past, present, past, present. Because we start in the present and end in the present, some things are spoiled prematurely. The timeline pattern I suggested would have added more suspense. Also, as much as I liked Bodie, he would be REALLY unlikeable at times, bordering problematic. In the end, I realize why his character acted like that, but it was still a little off putting. Ash was also off putting at times and it almost seemed like his character was not fully developed… maybe that was because of his mysterious, but I feel as if he could have been developed more.
Overall, I did enjoy this book…. But to me, it really does feel like it is unfinished.
Overall, I did enjoy this book…. But to me, it really does feel like it is unfinished.
September 17, 2024
I am a puddle of tears. Full review to come.
**review**
15-year-old Kam is haunted by the disappearance of his boyfriend Ash, and two years later, he returns to Joshua Tree seeking closure. There, he confronts his past and faces new dangers, all while grappling with the possibility of opening his heart to love again.
I didn’t even need to know what this book was about to know it was a must read for me. I got this book in the mail yesterday and finished just before midnight, ending in a puddle of tears.
Abdi Nazemian knows how to tug at your heartstrings, make you root for his main character, help you understand the character’s journey, and yes he knows how to make you cry.
I absolutely loved the evolution of Kam. The past and present timeline was so effective, as was splitting the book into 3 parts. Really no spoilers here, but oh my GOSH how sweet is Bodie? Seriously, I melted. What a great guy. Also, really loved Kam’s viewpoint of his relationships, friendships, and what he values. His growth was *chef’s kiss.* and THAT ENDING?? Read it and find out why I was a mess. Another incredible read by @abdaddy 😭🥹🥰💙 - and do not miss the emotional author’s note.
**review**
15-year-old Kam is haunted by the disappearance of his boyfriend Ash, and two years later, he returns to Joshua Tree seeking closure. There, he confronts his past and faces new dangers, all while grappling with the possibility of opening his heart to love again.
I didn’t even need to know what this book was about to know it was a must read for me. I got this book in the mail yesterday and finished just before midnight, ending in a puddle of tears.
Abdi Nazemian knows how to tug at your heartstrings, make you root for his main character, help you understand the character’s journey, and yes he knows how to make you cry.
I absolutely loved the evolution of Kam. The past and present timeline was so effective, as was splitting the book into 3 parts. Really no spoilers here, but oh my GOSH how sweet is Bodie? Seriously, I melted. What a great guy. Also, really loved Kam’s viewpoint of his relationships, friendships, and what he values. His growth was *chef’s kiss.* and THAT ENDING?? Read it and find out why I was a mess. Another incredible read by @abdaddy 😭🥹🥰💙 - and do not miss the emotional author’s note.
August 2, 2024
I got an eArc and since the book is not out yet I'm gonna try to say this with the least spoilers as possible but OMG I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I was really in love with Abdi's previous book Only This Beautiful Moment and was so excited when I heard about this (also as a Brazilian, I love the little message at the end to the brazilian readers <3<3). I love the characthers, their relationships are not perfect, that's kinda one of the main themes the age gap of Kam and Ash, with Kam barely entering puberty and Ash already being a senior that is ready to become an adult was a such a red flag once it was pointed it out by Bodie, but it kinda matches the way that Kam ideolized his first love. Also I love Bodie. I got where his plot was going really early on and I love it because there where so many little interactions hinting at it and was really satisfied with how the story went, I love the pinning and drama between the two.
September 9, 2024
I don’t read YA often but when I love it I love from my heart. This book really is beautifully written. Like the author poured his own soul into it. And if you read Author’s Notes, you know why.
The book is heartfelt and sensitive, like Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe. It explores identity, longing and grief from a POV of a teenager dealing with losses in his life and navigating complexities of human relationships and his own emotions. But there is also a mystery surrounding a boy’s disapperance that makes me go “just one more chapter”. I don’t want to spoil the book for you, so I will not talk about the plot too much but It’s a beautiful comimg-of-age story that I would recommend to everyone.
“love is like two solitudes protecting, bordering, and saluting each other.” 🥹
The book is heartfelt and sensitive, like Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe. It explores identity, longing and grief from a POV of a teenager dealing with losses in his life and navigating complexities of human relationships and his own emotions. But there is also a mystery surrounding a boy’s disapperance that makes me go “just one more chapter”. I don’t want to spoil the book for you, so I will not talk about the plot too much but It’s a beautiful comimg-of-age story that I would recommend to everyone.
“love is like two solitudes protecting, bordering, and saluting each other.” 🥹
September 24, 2024
What a beautiful story!
This is a novel that hooked me by the blurb, I was interested to know what happened to ASH and at Joshua Tree. Abdi does an amazing job of keeping you as a reader wanting to know more, from the first page I was unable to put this book down for even a second. This author touches on a range of tough topics but does it in a way that really gets you thinking, from addiction to survivors guilt I really enjoyed how these themes were portrayed and played out in this YA novel.
A unique and captivating plot unlike anything ive read before in a young adult book. You can tell Nazemian really took his time when writing this book and you can tell with amazing attention to detail as well as the way you can feel the main characters emotions through the pages of this book. Filled with hard times, heartbreak and determination this is definitely a book you need on your tbr!
This is a novel that hooked me by the blurb, I was interested to know what happened to ASH and at Joshua Tree. Abdi does an amazing job of keeping you as a reader wanting to know more, from the first page I was unable to put this book down for even a second. This author touches on a range of tough topics but does it in a way that really gets you thinking, from addiction to survivors guilt I really enjoyed how these themes were portrayed and played out in this YA novel.
A unique and captivating plot unlike anything ive read before in a young adult book. You can tell Nazemian really took his time when writing this book and you can tell with amazing attention to detail as well as the way you can feel the main characters emotions through the pages of this book. Filled with hard times, heartbreak and determination this is definitely a book you need on your tbr!
August 27, 2024
Sweet, bitter, and heartfelt. I must admit that I thought this had paranormal elements going in. That description! But this is very much down to earth. I’m hesitant to spoil the issue at the heart of the matter. At the same time, my criticisms have to do with the pacing and suspense of disbelief needed there. Sudden info dumps, amnesia, turns of character … I get that the lead has quite a filter, but it was a bit too much. Here’s what’s excellent: rich and imperfect characters grappling with trauma and grief and the American way. Some of the conversations had me cringing … not because they were unrealistic, but the very opposite. This may be a challenging read for younger folks.
September 10, 2024
Read if you like:
• Young Adult Contemporary
• LGBTQIA+ representation
• Stories centered on friendship and love
• Books that handle difficult topics like grief and addiction with care
• Books that make you cry
• Iranian-American representation
To literally no one’s shock, another book from this author that grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the last. ♥️ This is such a special story that has so many layers and nuances that unfold throughout the book. The characters are all so complex and beautiful. Although it’s a small part, I enjoyed the mystery element intertwined in the overall story. Without giving anything away, the ending of the book is such perfection. 🥹
• Young Adult Contemporary
• LGBTQIA+ representation
• Stories centered on friendship and love
• Books that handle difficult topics like grief and addiction with care
• Books that make you cry
• Iranian-American representation
To literally no one’s shock, another book from this author that grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until the last. ♥️ This is such a special story that has so many layers and nuances that unfold throughout the book. The characters are all so complex and beautiful. Although it’s a small part, I enjoyed the mystery element intertwined in the overall story. Without giving anything away, the ending of the book is such perfection. 🥹
September 14, 2024
This book. I honestly do not have the words. It is such an incredible read about grief, loss, friendship, and learning to love again. Finding family in others when your own has problems and having friends who never give up on you. I loved how the author described Kam and his grief, it just resonates so much if you've ever lost someone. Bodies and his banter were a great touch to an otherwise hard to read (in places) story. I had a feeling how the end was going to turn out, and I was right, I was so ready for it!
September 23, 2024
I originally found Abdi Nazemian's work after reading Only This Beautiful Moment and proceeding to tell everyone I knew about it. I sped through Desert Echoes, finishing it in almost one sitting. While I was a little disappointed that I knew how the ending was being set up I'd still highly recommend Desert Echoes. Now I need to go back and read everything Nazemian has written because he's becoming one of my favorite YA authors. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.
August 7, 2024
Emotional, heartfelt story that is clearly personal to the author, which enhances the experience of reading it. First love, longing for connection, and learning to move on are prevalent in the book and it is all well-done!
September 24, 2024
I don’t usually love YA, but I seem to love everything Nazemian writes. He captures teen life and love and heartbreak so beautifully every time, while always being inspired by his Iranian and queer identity and love of music. And the author’s note was ❤️.
September 11, 2024
Rounded up
September 27, 2024
3.75 ish?
September 27, 2024
Confusing. Boring. Wouldn’t finish (only 22% read) because it’s such a waste of my time.
September 28, 2024
*4 stars*
September 26, 2024
4.5 🌟
[gifted/pr]
"We never know where life will take us, but I do know that wherever we end up, our past always travels by our side.''
_________________
Wow, where to even start! This is such a lovely exploration of friendship, love, loss, and grief. Set between the past and present, we get to explore Kams' story and the mystery surrounding his grief and longing to find out what happened to Ash. Kam and Bodhis friendship is beautiful. Having friends who never give up on you is something to truly treasure.
The fact that this story was so personal to the author made it all the more special. I had the pleasure of attending a PR event for this book a few weeks ago. Hearing Abdi talk so passionately about this book and the origins of such a heartfelt story made it all the more powerful.
I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you so much, @abdaddy and @littletigerbooks, for sending me my copy and HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY! 🥳
[gifted/pr]
"We never know where life will take us, but I do know that wherever we end up, our past always travels by our side.''
_________________
Wow, where to even start! This is such a lovely exploration of friendship, love, loss, and grief. Set between the past and present, we get to explore Kams' story and the mystery surrounding his grief and longing to find out what happened to Ash. Kam and Bodhis friendship is beautiful. Having friends who never give up on you is something to truly treasure.
The fact that this story was so personal to the author made it all the more special. I had the pleasure of attending a PR event for this book a few weeks ago. Hearing Abdi talk so passionately about this book and the origins of such a heartfelt story made it all the more powerful.
I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you so much, @abdaddy and @littletigerbooks, for sending me my copy and HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY! 🥳
August 1, 2024
Kam hasn’t been okay for two years when Ash disappeared when they took a trip to Joshua Tree. He wonders if Ash is still alive. His friend, Bodie, wants him to move on, but Kam doesn’t know how. He thinks sometimes “we have to look back in order to move forward.” When there’s a trip back to Joshua Tree, Kam goes thinking Ash might be alive two years later. When Ash’s sister tells Kam something he didn’t know, it changes things. Is Kam able to move on and accept something he didn’t know about?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews