Reviews

This was a nice, nearly angst-free coming out story, despite it taking place in Texas. It's very much the same feel as [book:Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda|19547856], but without the blackmail plot. Or really any kind of plot.

Júlian accidentally outs himself in a drunken tweet and ... everything is ok. His friends are cool with it. His siblings are cool with it. Everyone's super supportive. He gets an online boyfriend in Mat, who lives in L.A., and he's super supportive too. Mat is out and his Vietnamese family is super okay with it and with Jules. Only Jules's dad poses a threat, but he apparently doesn't monitor his teenage son's online activities and somehow never finds out about the tweet. When the dad does eventually find out, it goes predictably but since this is mostly angst-free, Jules doesn't end up in a terrible position as a result. Jules is on the soccer team, and his teammates are all either cool with the gay or are kept in check by his best friend on the team who stands up for him.

This is a great comfort read, and I enjoyed how Mat and Jules got to know each other, even if Jules was a spaz now and again, for semi-understandable reasons. I really liked how they managed their relationship being long-distance. That was the strongest part of the story. Jules felt the distance when he needed comfort, but they deal with it as best they can and there's no melodramatic 80% breakup, which was refreshing. His friends and siblings being way too interested in his sex life was weird, as that always is, and I don't know why authors feel the need to have everyone in the MC's life be so nosy in this regard. Why? It's creepy.

The narrator, Avi Roque, did a decent job. He sounded reasonably close to seventeen, though the stereotypical Mexican accent for every single Mexican-American character was grating as hell. I'm Mexican-American. I know tons of Mexican-Americans. None of us talk like that, except maybe ironically. Please, narrators, stop using that accent. Thankfully, he didn't attempt any Vietnamese accents.

So like I said, there's minimal angst and lots of comfort, but it's not really memorable.

rfonta69801's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

achilleanshelves's review against another edition

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5.0

Content Warnings - Homophobia (Multi-lingual slurs), accidental outing, queer kid kicked out of home, emotionally and physically abusive parent, past suicide ideations (mentioned)

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa is a wonderful Young Adult contemporary that is equal parts heart-wrenching and heart-warming and packed with a healthy dose of yearning. If you’re a fan of queer books with enormous amounts of love, friendship and self-found strength then this is the next read you’re going to want to pick up (once it releases in June - thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!).
One of the most refreshing and interesting aspects that makes FHMftS stand out in comparison to other Queer Contemporaries is the fact that it follows Jules and his friends as they plan their next steps in life and apply to universities. The story spans nearly an entire year and as a result it never feels static or stuck in time as some YA contemporaries can.
Speaking of Jules’ friends, they were all stand-out characters and such a wonderful found family for Jules when he needed them most. His connection with them all was so significant in his story. Jordan was particularly memorable for me and he and Jules’ dynamic was so much fun. Their final scene had me weeping happy tears, they were a wonderful platonic duo.
Just as important in Jules’ story was his relationship with his family. From the heart-wrenching scenes with Jules’ deceased mother to the blood-curdling anger I felt whenever his father was on-page to the wonderful ball of teasing that was his sister Xo, Villa demonstrates just how complicated families can be. Jules’ final remarks to his father are so important and portray the important message that queer people owe nothing to those who want them to suppress themselves.
Of course, central to the story is Jules’ relationship with Mat. And, oh my, is it just wonderful. Long distances relationships are hardly ever (This was my first time reading about one) portrayed in YA books despite being such a real and staple of the queer experience - particularly in rural areas. As a result, this story felt so special. The yearning and the feeling of missing someone so deeply resonated with me and felt highly authentic. Mat himself was the perfect mix of flirty, smitten and adorable to play opposite Jules’ awkwardness. Their coming together and every scene they share make this book truly shine and provide for such a special and earned reading experience.
Voice is so important in this book: Jules’ voice is so clear and so funny. Villa has such a clear craft of this that truly shapes the story and makes every chapter and every decision feel real. The way Villa has their characters speak in different languages is such a wonderful touch and something that needs to continue to be normalised particularly in YA.
Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun is a five-star read for me as it blends so many of my favourite things - found family, complicated family dynamics, long distance pining, yearning and queer men - into a wonderfully queer story that tells the reader that their strength is within themself and that they never have to be ashamed about who they are.

ameserole's review against another edition

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4.0

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Guys. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was freaking adorable. It was seriously filled with so many cute ass moments. I'm pretty sure I fell in love with these pages, characters, and the overall story instantly. I will admit that I did cringe at a few moments but other than that - I really enjoyed this one.

In it, you will meet Jules and Mat. Oh lord, these two had undeniable chemistry. They also had a lot of moments when they were vulnerable. Either way, I loved watching these two go through their own ups and downs. Life is never easy - especially for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community but I couldn't help but cheering for these two once something great came their way.

I will admit that this took me on an emotional roller coaster that I wasn't fully prepared for. Which was great, really, because it just kept me turning the pages due to falling in love with everything. Every little thing.

All in all, the ending was adorable and it just made me smile. Definitely happy that I got the chance to dive into this book before it came out. I can't wait for it to be published so everyone can enjoy it's awesomeness!

daydreamingreview's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 ★
This was such a great story depicting love, healing and hope from a YA perspective that felt very relevant to growing up today with everything teens have going on in this world. Mat and Jules’s were such a heartwarming couple to route for, I really enjoyed their story and the modern aspect of them meeting online was new for me and it worked really well. This was a tough read in terms of reading what Jules goes through on their journey finding themselves but seeing them have the end that he dreamed about was worth the heartache. Just a really important story to read in my opinion. The friendships also were amazing and I loved every second of their interactions lol

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