As Far As You'll Take Me

by Phil Stamper

Overview

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life—where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents' disapproval.

From the outside, Marty's life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he's made new friends, he's getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he's even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can't keep up the facade. He hasn't spoken to his parents since he arrived, he's tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn't even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

Acclaim for The Gravity of Us
An IndieNext List Pick
An Amazon Best Book

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547608645
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	03/29/2022
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	244,324
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Phil Stamper is the bestselling author of The Gravity of Us and As Far as You'll Take Me. He grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. He has a BA in music and an MA in publishing with creative writing. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of student debt. He works for a major book publisher in New York City and lives in New York with his husband and their dog.
www.philstamper.com
@stampepk

Editorial Reviews

12/14/2020

Seventeen-year-old Marty Pierce is a rule follower who googles everything in advance to avoid surprises. He’s also “pretty good at lying”—first to keep his sexuality a secret from his religious, homophobic parents, and now to craft an elaborate escape plan from his “suffocating” life in Kentucky. His folks think he’s headed to a summer music program in London, but he’s actually planning to use the three months to secure a professional oboe gig. A chronic worrier, Marty has a lot to cope with in London, even without constant fear that his lies will be found out: he’s busking to make ends meet, stressing about his body image, and navigating relationships, including a diverse new friend group, his domineering best friend back home, and a possible first boyfriend. Stamper (The Gravity of Us) alternates the plot with sections of the diary that Marty kept on an earlier, mishap-filled trip. Stamper piles problems on Marty both in London and at home, but the book’s real strength is Marty’s complexity: even when his anxiety flares up, he finds ways to maintain his mental health and cope with the things that threaten his dreams. Ages 13–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Brilliant, vital, and best of all: brave. As Far As You'll Take Me swells with big-hearted emotion, bold dynamics, and genuine wit. A truly masterful composition that I will be thinking about long after the final notes fade.” —Ryan La Sala, author of REVERIE and BE DAZZLED

“As Far As You'll Take Me is a beautiful tribute to every queer kid who's ever had to leave their home in order to find one.” —Leah Johnson, bestselling author of YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN

“Phil Stamper has written a heartfelt, triumphant novel about the courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone and the power in finding a family of friends who let you shine. Beautifully evoking the breathlessness of first love and the anguish of first loss, readers will be captivated by every swell in Marty's song.” —Maulik Pancholy, Stonewall Honor-winning author of THE BEST AT IT

“An honest, affecting novel about the lengths we must travel to find ourselves, and an ode to the people who sustain us along the way.” —Andrew Eliopulos, author of THE FASCINATORS

“A heartfelt and unvarnished portrait of the growth queer people experience when they finally set themselves free.” —Caleb Roehrig, author of LAST SEEN LEAVING

“Ardent, poignant and gripping, filled with lush descriptions and a witty narration, As Far As You'll Take Me is a moving tale of found family, letting go of the past, and forging a future determined by no one but yourself.” —Sophie Gonzales, author of ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED

“Stamper does a beautiful job with his characters and their intricate relationships.” —Booklist

“Stamper offers readers a realistic and sympathetic antihero.” —School Library Journal

“The book's real strength is Marty's complexity: even when his anxiety flares up, he finds ways to maintain his mental health and cope with the things that threaten his dreams.” —Publishers Weekly

“Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is the first love, first launch, astronaut story I didn't know I needed. I'm so starry-eyed for this wise, romantic gem of a book.” —Becky Albertalli, bestselling author of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA on THE GRAVITY OF US

“A big-hearted, witty, and intensely relatable debut about reaching for your dreams without losing what grounds you.” —Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING and TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET on THE GRAVITY OF US

“A grounded romance that shapes into its own lovely constellation.” —Adam Silvera, New York Times bestselling co-author of WHAT IF IT'S US on THE GRAVITY OF US

“The Gravity of Us speaks poignantly of the things that will attend every human endeavor: family, struggle to know one's self, and the kind of love that makes you feel like you're hurtling to the stars.” —Jeff Zentner, Morris Award winning author of THE SERPENT KING on THE GRAVITY OF US

“Phil Stamper's confident debut is an excellent exploration of modern social media, first love, and how to use your voice to do good, centered around the preparations for the first crewed mission to Mars. Calvin and Leon are fierce and sweet, and I never wanted their story to end. To put it bluntly, The Gravity of Us is out of this world.” —Shaun David Hutchinson, author of WE ARE THE ANTS, THE PAST, and OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED on THE GRAVITY OF US

“At once a tender love story and an honest exploration of anxiety, ambition, and family dynamics, Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us pulls you in and takes you on a beautiful, heartfelt journey. Never has the NASA space program seemed so romantic.” —Caleb Roehrig, author of LAST SEEN LEAVING and WHITE RABBIT on THE GRAVITY OF US

“A debut to remember, Stamper's The Gravity Of Us draws you in for a journey of family, friendships, and ambition while exploring the power of social media and our own voices. Equal parts thoughtful and heartfelt, this book never misses a beat. Cal and Leon have my heart drifting in orbit.” —Julian Winters, author of RUNNING WITH LIONS on THE GRAVITY OF US

“A sweet-spirited romance that will capture readers' hearts and imaginations.” —Booklist, starred review, on THE GRAVITY OF US

“Phil Stamper's The Gravity of Us is so interesting and well crafted that it's hard to believe it's his first novel. . . . Readers will root for Cal and Leon, their budding romance, their astronaut families and, of course, the prospect of life among the stars.” —BookPage, starred review, on THE GRAVITY OF US

From the Publisher

12/01/2020

Gr 8 Up—Eighteen-year-old Marty experiences anxiety that leaves him vulnerable to a variety of troubled relationships: with his nearly lifelong best friend, his mother, his potential new boyfriend, and the genuinely caring new friends he begins to make now that he's left his fundamentalist Christian Kentucky home behind to follow his musical passion in London. Stamper offers readers a realistic and sympathetic antihero on the cusp of taking control of his own life. The novel is heavily character-driven, showing Marty's social and psychological development across one summer through scenes that range from busking with his oboe to starving himself in order to lose weight. The emotional hues of each event, rather than dramatic detail, are the focus. Marty is insightful and introspective in a variety of relationships through which he develops recognition of his own and others' weaknesses and potential strengths. Opportunities for growth steadily present themselves, and it's the kind of emotional abundance older teens may experience as they emerge from the relative pliability of childhood into independence. Main characters' races aren't specified, and one secondary character has an Indian given name. VERDICT Anxious and introspective teens will recognize themselves in Marty, whether they too share specific life attributes, such as sexual orientation or musicality. Recommended.—Francisca Goldsmith, Lib. Ronin, Worcester, MA

School Library Journal

An audiobook narrated by Michael Crouch is always a treat, and this one is no exception. Marty arrives in London with his oboe and his dreams, looking for a fresh start and a place where he can be openly gay away from his conservative hometown. He soon makes new friends and even falls in love, but he also has to deal with anxiety, unhealthy relationships, and the challenges of being away from home. Crouch's narration is vulnerable and authentic; he sounds just like a 17-year-old queer kid who is figuring himself out. His portrayal of Marty's nervousness concerning dating, sex, and friendship is particularly poignant. Simply and beautifully narrated, this audiobook is a love letter to music and a celebration of the courage it takes to live authentically. L.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile

An audiobook narrated by Michael Crouch is always a treat, and this one is no exception. Marty arrives in London with his oboe and his dreams, looking for a fresh start and a place where he can be openly gay away from his conservative hometown. He soon makes new friends and even falls in love, but he also has to deal with anxiety, unhealthy relationships, and the challenges of being away from home. Crouch's narration is vulnerable and authentic; he sounds just like a 17-year-old queer kid who is figuring himself out. His portrayal of Marty's nervousness concerning dating, sex, and friendship is particularly poignant. Simply and beautifully narrated, this audiobook is a love letter to music and a celebration of the courage it takes to live authentically. L.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2021 - AudioFile