And Then He Pressed Play

by Robert J. Halliwell

Sixteen-year-old A.J. Walker is openly gay, painfully Canadian, and very much out of his depth. He’s wanted to do his school’s exchange program for years, but now that he’s landed at an all-boys school in Glenbridge Ireland, he’s starting to question his decisions. Armed with nothing more than his trusty Discman and an accent that makes him stand out, A.J. has one get through the Irish school year.

Born and raised in Glenbridge, Bren O’Shea has never known how to sit still or keep quiet. He’s also never known a day without laughter. Even when things get bad, Bren always knows how to get a smile out of someone, whether they asked him or not. His mam always says he needs to think before he acts, but as long as his heart’s in the right place, what’s the harm in a bit of impulse?

Glenbridge is the sort of town where everyone knows everyone—and unfortunately for A.J. once someone thinks they know you, it’s hard to change their mind.

After a rocky start that ends in disaster, Bren and A.J. need to decide if it’s worth reaching out to someone who’s so different from you—especially when one of you has to leave in June.

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 23, 2026

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In, “And Then He Pressed Play,” author Robert J. Halliwell has written a sweet LGBTQ+ romance, with a cozy Irish setting, and dipped in so much mid-2000’s nostalgia that I could hardly put it down, and I read in just 2 sittings.

A.J. and Bren couldn’t have been more different from each other, but watching them fall in love was beautiful, and they make a truly adorable couple.

As the story takes place in 2006/2007, there is some period-typical homophobia from various characters (in words, attitudes and actions) but it was handled with exceptional care, and as a gay man who came of age during the time that this story is set, I really appreciated that the author didn’t gloss over how difficult it could be, especially in a school setting. It made me feel incredibly seen.

We’re not even a month into 2026, yet I can safely say that this will be one of my favourite books of the entire year!

“And Then He Pressed Play,” is scheduled for release on February 23, 2026, and if you’re a reader of LGBTQ+ romance, you definitely will want to pre-order this one as soon as possible!

Thank you to Robert J. Halliwell and BookFunnel for allowing me the honour of reading this one early!

[Eoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read to kick off 2026! It was really cool to get access to an ARC copy to read before release. As a queer person from Ireland, this is my first time reading a novel about queer people set in Ireland, and that fact alone made this read really special for me.

As I read through the book I became completely enamoured with Bren and A.J.’s story. By the time I was reaching the ending I truly didn’t want it to end, I would love to read what happens next for them in a sequel!

The only aspect of the novel that didn’t quite work for me was the references to different things within Irish culture. Some of the inaccuracies took me out of the story a little bit, but that’s only because I’m Irish myself and can spot them! To an average reader this wouldn’t even register.

Despite those small inaccuracies, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this sweet love story, I really hope it gets a follow up in the future, I’d love to see where these characters go next…

Final rating: 4.5⭐️/5⭐️

[Keearagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

After just 5 chapters I'm hooked. I can't wait to see how this story unfolds and see Bren and A.J's relationship evolve.

So far the book seems strong and is shaping up to be a worthwhile read. It covers an often underrepresented experience, and as an Irish reader, I really appreciate how it goes beyond surface-level aspects of Irish culture. The book explores both Irish and Canadian perspectives, and I can already tell it's going to tackle important topics around class and socioeconomic struggles as well as the struggle queer people face in unwelcoming environments.

In the climate of today it's so important to keep telling queer stories, especially ones that we don't see in media often. This book will definitely have an impact on readers and I can't wait to read the whole thing and recommend it to everyone I know.

[Steve J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I was introduced to the author thanks to a recommendation by Simon Doyle, whose books I enjoy a lot. I was delighted when Robert Halliwell sent me an ARC to read, and I was not disappointed. Our two protagonists, AJ from Canada and Bren from Ireland, were endearingly cute as they slowly accepted the fact that they really liked each other. I wish that the bully who beat up AJ had more of a comeuppance, but I guess you can’t have everything. It was nice that the boys had a full supporting cast of friends and in particular Bren’s mam; they provided both encouragement and emotional help to the two boys.

I will add the author’s other book, “The ties that bind” to my TBR list.

[Lee Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm far too attached to AJ and Bren, they're so sweet and I loved every minute of this book. I love all of the little details to life in Ireland and I just ate up every word I read because I just couldn't put it down. Every thought has been about these boys and how much I loved this book.

This book was filled with ups and downs that felt so real and raw. Truly, the whole way I loved both boys and I felt such a connection to the characters and I felt proud of their achievements and upset for their downfalls.

I will likely be thinking about this book for weeks to come. I know it's early but this will possibly be my favourite book of 2026, it's definitely leagues above the others that I read in 2025. Definitely worth your time and money, trust me, you won't regret this fantastic read.

[Alistair Deyell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I started reading "And Then He Pressed Play," I couldn't stop. The way all of these normal, awkward teenage situations were written was refreshingly real and accurate. As I read and watched the relationship between AJ and Bren grow, I found myself subconsciously beaming more often than not. I was excited to see a good representation of high school queer romance, especially including a fellow Canadian. Halliwell includes the realistic struggles that come with being an openly queer couple in school, which adds to the authenticity of the book. I have grown to really love these boys, and I hope everyone else does too!