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24carrotgay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
aristotle & dante discover the secrets of the universe meets we are the ants!! this book made a habit of ripping my heart apart and then putting it back together. while a good bit of the story is lighthearted, it was much more intense and emotional than i expected. i loved every second though. the imagery of the sun and moon, mat and luna, was EVERYTHING!! this book is an instant fav!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry
tkhenry99's review
3.5
It was fine but wasn’t really for me. I just wasn’t interested in these particular characters or their stories, and I don’t really care for this kind of writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime and Child abuse
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Outing
marissasbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had a strong feeling I would love this book and I'm so happy I was right!
This book follows Jules through his senior year as he drunkenly comes out on Twitter, falls in love with his Twitter crush, and figures out his future.
As the author warns in their author's note this story has a lot of joy but also a lot of pain and angst and trauma ranging from parental abuse, homophobia, forced outing, and Jules being kicked out of his home. But there is so much love and support in this story from all other sides.
Jules has his older sister who doesn't hesitate to take him in and step up as his guardian. He has his grandfather who makes it clear that he loves him no matter what and doesn't agree with his father's actions. And he has a great group of friends who stick by his side even when he's being a hot mess.
And we can't forget about Mat, the beautiful boy in LA who catches Jules' eye on Twitter and becomes a flirty online crush prior to Jules coming out. After Jules comes out he fills a role that as much as everyone else in Jules' life loves him they can't fill because they're not queer and can't relate to many of the things that Jules is feeling and going through.
I loved the humor and the characters and all of their dynamics and personalities and the fact that this is such a love letter to Chicanx culture from the language to the food to the celebrations. And there's also so much love to Mat and his Vietnamese heritage and time spent on his family and culture. I can't express how much I loved every time they said I love you in their respective language or used slang or nicknames so naturally, neither feeling like they needed to stick to English with each other (which is really such a small thing, the bar is on the literal floor, but it means so much).
I can't wait for readers to discover and love this book now and for years to come. I can only dream that this book will help open the door to future QPOC YA books.
This book follows Jules through his senior year as he drunkenly comes out on Twitter, falls in love with his Twitter crush, and figures out his future.
As the author warns in their author's note this story has a lot of joy but also a lot of pain and angst and trauma ranging from parental abuse, homophobia, forced outing, and Jules being kicked out of his home. But there is so much love and support in this story from all other sides.
Jules has his older sister who doesn't hesitate to take him in and step up as his guardian. He has his grandfather who makes it clear that he loves him no matter what and doesn't agree with his father's actions. And he has a great group of friends who stick by his side even when he's being a hot mess.
And we can't forget about Mat, the beautiful boy in LA who catches Jules' eye on Twitter and becomes a flirty online crush prior to Jules coming out. After Jules comes out he fills a role that as much as everyone else in Jules' life loves him they can't fill because they're not queer and can't relate to many of the things that Jules is feeling and going through.
I loved the humor and the characters and all of their dynamics and personalities and the fact that this is such a love letter to Chicanx culture from the language to the food to the celebrations. And there's also so much love to Mat and his Vietnamese heritage and time spent on his family and culture. I can't express how much I loved every time they said I love you in their respective language or used slang or nicknames so naturally, neither feeling like they needed to stick to English with each other (which is really such a small thing, the bar is on the literal floor, but it means so much).
I can't wait for readers to discover and love this book now and for years to come. I can only dream that this book will help open the door to future QPOC YA books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent
perpetualpages's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CWs: Verbal and physical child abuse; physical assault; homophobia; homophobic slurs (English and Spanish); bullying; non-graphic allusions to suicidal ideation; disownment; descriptions of PTSD, panic attacks, and depressive episodes; some exploration of grief; references to underage drinking, some graphic allusions to sex
Jonny Garza Villa really and truly didn't have to write the perfect book. But they did, and I'm forever grateful.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun very much feels like a successor to Ari & Dante, especially in its deliberate, slow pace. This is a story that meticulously takes you through the seasons of Jules' senior year, reveling in moments of friendship and love while also confronting homophobia head-on. It's a story about love in all its power and its limitations—exploring what love can do and what it can't. Love can support you, protect you, and keep you going when things get tough, but at the same time, love can't make up for everything when it's not supported by action.
Whether that means a father who refuses to acknowledge his son's queerness or a long-distance boyfriend who's struggling to figure out how to show up for someone when you can't physically be there, the story deftly explores both love's power and its failings. Even though this is a book that's not afraid to acknowledge the hardships queer people face, it's also largely about finding out which friends are true and learning to find joy in the communities we build for ourselves. This is a story that perfectly captures those high school friendships where buying a $2 soda from a fast food drive through on your way to the beach after school is an adventure you'd take over and over again and where piling onto the same bed together is an appropriate response to someone's depressive episode—those ride-or-die friendships that make your soul sing.
Not only that, but FHMFTS is a love story for the ages and exactly the love story we need right now. It's very rare that we get to see a story that both understands and celebrates online, long-distance romance. Not only is this a story that validates long-distance relationships, but it shows how integral online relationships can be in day-to-day life. Besides his physical presence, you miss nothing of Mat throughout this story. He is every bit as vibrant and present in Jules' life as Jules other friends from school are. He supports Jules, cheers him on, and wants the best for him, all while trying to maintain clear and open communication.
They run into pitfalls along the way, and the distance definitely tests both of them in different ways, but their relationships is every bit as real and beautiful as any other romance out there. They have A-plus level chemistry and banter, yes, but I think their relationship is so memorable because they're both learning not only how to see the other person for everything they are, but how to allow themselves to be seen in return. Letting yourself be known, in all your messiness and in all your mistakes, is an act of love and bravery, and that is ultimately what makes their relationship so satisfying to read.
Oh yeah, and they're funny as fuck.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is a book that will make you laugh, a book that will make you smile right after it makes you cringe, and a book that will make you feel above all else. Trust me when I say you do NOT want to miss this book. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to absolutely everyone.
Jonny Garza Villa really and truly didn't have to write the perfect book. But they did, and I'm forever grateful.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun very much feels like a successor to Ari & Dante, especially in its deliberate, slow pace. This is a story that meticulously takes you through the seasons of Jules' senior year, reveling in moments of friendship and love while also confronting homophobia head-on. It's a story about love in all its power and its limitations—exploring what love can do and what it can't. Love can support you, protect you, and keep you going when things get tough, but at the same time, love can't make up for everything when it's not supported by action.
Whether that means a father who refuses to acknowledge his son's queerness or a long-distance boyfriend who's struggling to figure out how to show up for someone when you can't physically be there, the story deftly explores both love's power and its failings. Even though this is a book that's not afraid to acknowledge the hardships queer people face, it's also largely about finding out which friends are true and learning to find joy in the communities we build for ourselves. This is a story that perfectly captures those high school friendships where buying a $2 soda from a fast food drive through on your way to the beach after school is an adventure you'd take over and over again and where piling onto the same bed together is an appropriate response to someone's depressive episode—those ride-or-die friendships that make your soul sing.
Not only that, but FHMFTS is a love story for the ages and exactly the love story we need right now. It's very rare that we get to see a story that both understands and celebrates online, long-distance romance. Not only is this a story that validates long-distance relationships, but it shows how integral online relationships can be in day-to-day life. Besides his physical presence, you miss nothing of Mat throughout this story. He is every bit as vibrant and present in Jules' life as Jules other friends from school are. He supports Jules, cheers him on, and wants the best for him, all while trying to maintain clear and open communication.
They run into pitfalls along the way, and the distance definitely tests both of them in different ways, but their relationships is every bit as real and beautiful as any other romance out there. They have A-plus level chemistry and banter, yes, but I think their relationship is so memorable because they're both learning not only how to see the other person for everything they are, but how to allow themselves to be seen in return. Letting yourself be known, in all your messiness and in all your mistakes, is an act of love and bravery, and that is ultimately what makes their relationship so satisfying to read.
Oh yeah, and they're funny as fuck.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun is a book that will make you laugh, a book that will make you smile right after it makes you cringe, and a book that will make you feel above all else. Trust me when I say you do NOT want to miss this book. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to absolutely everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
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