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Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness

Book

Let Them Stare

A Novel

Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · May 20, 2025

Reading lane: YA Romance — LGBTQ+

An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller!

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At a Glance

Who It's For

Good for readers interested in personal developmentGood for fans of Young AdultGood for readers who enjoy YA Romance — LGBTQ+ and Romantic Comedy (YA).

Book Details

Authors
Jonathan Van Ness, Julie Murphy
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
May 20, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
YA Romance — LGBTQ+ · Romantic Comedy (YA)
Reading lane
YA Romance — LGBTQ+

Affinity

Publisher Categories

  • YA Ghost Stories

  • YA Romance — LGBTQ+

  • Dating & Sex (YA)

  • Emotions & Feelings (YA)

Show all 6 publisher categories
  • Friendship (YA)

  • Finding Your Footing

About This Book

An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller! From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love—and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown. Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their belo...

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An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller! From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love—and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown. Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their beloved car, to Bread—er, Brad—the most boring (and maybe only other) gay kid in town. When Sully’s internship goes up in smoke, they’re trapped in Hearst with no cash—and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary. There, they discover a vintage bag—like "put this baby in an airtight case at the MET" vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city. But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted. Literally. With the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died standing—no, floating—in their bedroom, Sully’s summer has a new purpose: 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank—after all, the Real Real doesn’t take poltergeist purses. With Rufus in tow, and Brad—who’s looking pretty scrumptious these days—playing chauffeur, Sully delves into the history of the town they’re so desperate to escape. Only to discover that there might be more to Hearst than they ever knew. “A quirky, passionate, rebellious, and quick-witted novel." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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