Publishers Weekly
06/24/2024
A teen’s grief over his boyfriend’s disappearance becomes all-consuming in this poignant novel from Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment). Iranian American Kam Khorramian started dating artsy, white-cued senior Ash Greene during the pandemic, when Kam was 15. But while on a trip the pair took to Joshua Tree National Park, Ash disappeared. Two years later, Kam has been having trouble navigating mental health-related challenges, his grades have plummeted, and he clings to the belief that Ash might still be alive despite gentle pushes from his movie-star handsome best friend Bodie—also gay and Iranian American—for Kam to move on. When it’s announced that the school’s annual gay-straight alliance trip is planned for Joshua Tree, Bodie, Kam’s mother, and the GSA adviser worry that the trip could be triggering for him. But Kam insists on going, hopeful that returning to the park will help him understand what happened. Dual timelines detail the looming Joshua Tree trip alongside flashbacks to Kam and Ash’s blazing, rocky relationship, all of which culminates in a heartfelt story about a teen struggling to accept painful realities. Ages 14–up. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT: “This story, told in three points of view from three generations of the same family, is nothing short of masterful. This is the kind of story that young adult literature is made for—a story of the heart, of the very real human struggles young people face and that adults try to—but never truly—forget.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)
“Nazemian expertly bridges the past and the present, exploring racism, homophobia, and relations between the United States and Iran along the way. His elegant prose propels this historically resonant and culturally nuanced family drama. A stunning intergenerational coming-of-age story.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Only This Beautiful Moment is a triumph. A touching story about family and identity, secrets and generational trauma, and, most of all, the love that brings us together.” — Arvin Ahmadi, author of How It All Blew Up
"Only This Beautiful Moment is the must-read book of 2023. Abdi Nazemian has managed to write a multi-generational story that is both universal and specific to the Iranian queer experience. I couldn't put it down. I can't stop talking about it and neither will you." — Firoozeh Dumas, New York Times bestselling author
“An absolutely mesmerizing exploration of grief and self-discovery. Abdi Nazemian is an unforgettable voice whose work reads like a gift to the queer community and beyond.” — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Only Abdi Nazemian can craft such a beautiful story about grief, the weight of addiction, and first loves. Iranian best friends Kam and Bodie will capture your hearts while the L.A. desert will haunt you. A true masterpiece!” — Lilliam Rivera, award-winning author of Never Look Back
“All the sweet and salty joys of candy, but with the nourishment of a home-cooked meal. This is a joyous and suspenseful reminder of the possibilities—and complications—of the human connections that make a life worth living.” — Eliot Schrefer, National Book Award finalist
"A teen boy finds himself after a tragic loss... a poignant and enjoyable whole that sensitively but honestly explores relationships, grief, identity, and addiction. A bittersweet and sincere coming-of-age story."—Kirkus — Kirkus Reviews
"Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment, 2023) has written a deeply felt and memorable love story between two highly empathic teens, a moving exploration of Kam and Bodie’s enduring friendship, both relationships ultimately inviting thought about the nature of love." — Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
2024-06-15
A teen boy finds himself after a tragic loss.
Iranian American high schooler Kamran Khorramian’s life is in upheaval. Two years ago, Kam’s boyfriend, Ash Greene, who’s cued white, disappeared during a camping trip in Joshua Tree National Park. Everyone, including Bodie Omidi, Kam’s lifelong best friend (who’s also gay and Iranian American), wants him to move on, but he just can’t let go—not as long as he believes that Ash could still be alive. The narrative structure engagingly alternates between Kam’s freshman and junior years. In freshman year, Kam and Ash meet and bond over a shared love of the music of Lana Del Rey, but Ash’s unpredictable behavior makes their relationship hard. In junior year, Kam struggles with grief, racially charged ostracization, and figuring out his future. Kam also has to learn to cope with the impact of substance abuse in his family, finding support and understanding in Alateen during junior year. Both timelines converge in an emotional denouement. The storytelling relies heavily on Kam’s amnesia surrounding the night of Ash’s disappearance, which feels cliched, and the ending is sweet but feels tonally disparate from the rest of the book. Ultimately, however, many of the novel’s elements come together to create a poignant and enjoyable whole that sensitively but honestly explores relationships, grief, identity, and addiction.
A bittersweet and sincere coming-of-age story. (author’s note)(Fiction. 14-18)
