Buried Feelings

by Kit Rosewater

When a San Francisco treasure hunt ropes two ex-besties back together, they’ll end up digging into their own complicated, buried feelings in this queer YA rom com!

Cam was the one who discovered the hunt. He brought it to Ivy like an offering, took her hand as they combed through San Francisco, searching for treasure and conspiring against the heteronormative agenda. But that was back then.

Now juniors, they're both out and proud—Cam as a trans man and Ivy as gay—but their friendship isn't as assured. Problem is, Ivy can’t reveal Cam’s past betrayal without airing closely guarded secrets of her own.

As Ivy comes across the missing link in the treasure hunt from their childhood, she’s certain she can put the clues together and finally come out on top in the cat-and-mouse game Cam’s been playing with her ever since their friendship ended.

Once Cam gets wind of Ivy’s renewed interest in the hunt, the ex-best friends will go head-to-head in their search for gold. But as they get digging, they’ll uncover more things buried between them than they bargained for.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 7, 2026

Reviews

[Avery · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Samantha Langdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book was a delight. From the start, following Cam and Ivy through the San Francisco treasure hunt was fun and engaging, even when the story slowed slightly in a few spots. Their history as former best friends added so much tension and heart, and their dynamic felt very real and very high school. I especially enjoyed how messy and human they both were, trying to navigate friendship, pride, and old wounds while still figuring out who they wanted to be.

Cam’s story as a trans character was handled with warmth and care, and I appreciated how naturally it was woven into the narrative without becoming heavy or overwhelming. Ivy’s perspective felt honest and relatable, especially as she worked through her own fears and secrets. The supporting characters added humor and charm, making the whole cast feel like a group of kids you could actually imagine going to school with.

What I loved most was that this book allowed queer teens to just exist. There is no sex and no unnecessary drama, just friendship, growth, history, and a lot of fun along the way. It was both silly and meaningful, and I think it would be a great read for high school students or anyone looking for a light, affirming queer story.

[Olys’ Notes · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley, 3.5/5
I simply love San Francisco and the whole premise of the book was a major reason why I decided to give it a go. The history and the landmarks mentioned were effectively integrated in the text and the author did a great job setting up this hunt for the reader. One factor that was not mentioned in the summary and that I found confusing while reading is the major presence of other characters that help Ivy solve the puzzles. It really felt like Cam was missing the majority of the book and just appeared for a small ending of it. It’s possible that the reason for this distance I’ve felt with Cam is from the perspective this book is written in (i.e. if it was third person, maybe there would not be a barrier for his character?). Which is also why their ‘rivalry’ didn’t really feel like a rivalry, as I am not sure that Cam would define it as such if the book had his pov. And not to mention, I have no idea of what to think about the mother/daughter relationship that this book portrays as well. However, the representation of queer history was very interesting and very engagingly presented in this book. Overall, it was a very fast read which captured my attention and that had a very quick and happy ending.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this novel!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read for anyone who had a hyperfixation with the movie National Treasure as a child. The romance plotlines are definitely 2nd to the overall treasure hunt/mystery solving but I still had a really fun time reading this. This book did a really good highlighting conversations around sexuality I don't often see in books. Ivy talks about how since coming to terms with her sexuality being a lesbian is something she is very proud and vocal about being. So I enjoyed getting to see how she tackles realizing that the feelings she had for Cam prior to his transition may still be lingering under the surface.

I think this book is probably best enjoyed in physical format. I loved seeing the treasure hunt clue pictures that were included in the book, and I wish it was easier to flip back and reference them when they came up again in the story while reading on Kindle.

Thank you Random House Children's Books, Delacorte Romance, and NetGalley for an ARC of Buried Feelings.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is amazing! This is the kind of book I’d like for all younger kids to read. Not only is it entertaining but it also provides a lot of historical context. Throughout the book, the main characters are learning more about queer history through a scavenger hunt. It feels as though the reader is also learning more. This books provides trans visibility/ different spectrums of queer love. It’s written perfectly for high school students. Exploring themes of love, coming of age, and accepting yourself. The writing style is very fluid and the story develops gradually and interestingly. It feels like such a fast yet engaging read. Would 100% recommend.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join Ivy and Cam on a National-Treasure-style hunt to dig up not only a rare and coveted artefact, but their feelings for one another. Along the way, they solve puzzles and ciphers themed around decades worth of San Francisco queer history. What I loved about their adventure was what I love about the early 2000s Nancy Drew PC games: that through the process of solving an exciting mystery, you learn something new and interesting about the way history influences the past. At times messy, funny, and charming, Buried Feelings is sure to suck you into the thrill of the chase. I know it did for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

[good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

What an absolute love story to San Francisco and it's queer history. I was apprehensive about reading something labeled as YA, but this was a really nice read. It was fresh, very fun, and felt very true to their ages. If I was 16-18 reading this it would have meant everything to read a queer story set in my home.

[Everett Featherstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following Ivy and Cam on their adventure was great. I think this book is great for young adults and teens based on themes, emotional experiences from the main characters, and conflicts that arise. Overall it was good, I would read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kit Rosewater for the advance reader copy.

[Katy Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buried feelings was a really enjoyable book. I did find that I had a hard time connecting with Ivy and Cam at first, but they both grew on me as the story progressed.

I really enjoyed the treasure hunt aspects as well as all the history that was included. I was learning right along with Shovels and REDACTED. This made the book feel a bit more alive and easy to get sucked into.

[Ivy C. Vitale]

a book releasing in my birth month with one of the protagonists sharing my name? yes, please !