Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Music from Another World” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Music from Another World

Robin Talley (Goodreads Author)

4.40 · Rating details · 30 ratings · 24 reviews

It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk… ...more

Get A Copy

ebook, 304 pages

Expected publication: March 31st 2020 by Inkyard Press

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Music from Another World, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Music from Another World

Lists with This Book

YA Releases of March, 2020

47 books — 214 voters

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

2020 YA Books with (Possible) LGBT Themes

166 books — 202 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.40 ·

Rating details

· 30 ratings · 24 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Music from Another World

Sep 26, 2019 sarah marked it as to-read

have i been let down by every robin talley book except for as i descended? yes. will i still read all her books? also yes

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2020 Keelin Rita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I will never stop loving and crying over Robin Talley’s books. Music From Another World is another edition to her works of queer historical fiction. Here’s why I loved it so much: Two girls from two separate parts of California, both from religious families, both going to a catholic school, both have secrets. Sharon’s brother is gay, and Tammy is a lesbian. Both of these secrets could put an end to their lives. The story is told through letters and journal entries. Tammy and Sharon are put ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2019 Sally rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-books, 2019faves, netgalley, fiction

Part of me wishes I had had Robin Talley’s books when I was a teenager and part of me is just so thankful I have them now. Even at 33, I still need queer stories like this. I love this book almost as much as I love Patti Smith and that’s saying something. Can’t wait for the release date in March! Thanks to Netgalley for the arc! ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2020 Kara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Music from Another World in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

I devoured this book. This is my first Robin Talley book and I am hooked. I want to soak up everything she's ever written after reading this gem. While the book is set in 1970's California, there is such vivid detail in her writing that I felt like I was there. This book kept me up way past my bedtime (which is hard to do with two young kids at home -- sleep is very valuable these days!).

The ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 14, 2020 Sacha added it

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc. I’ll post a review upon publication.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2019 Zoe marked it as release-2020

Hasn't read Robin Talley's new book

Adds this with high hopes

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2019 Tzipora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was, somehow, my first time reading a Robin Talley book but I immediately want to run out and buy all her other books!

I had a bit of a rant recently with my gay male best friend about what a moment gay male books and love stories are having in the book world. And how much I so needed, wanted more lesbian ones. So needless to say, I was so happy to find Music from Another World on Net Galley and so jazzed when my request was approved. And while I’m already a bit off topic, since this book is This was, somehow, my first time reading a Robin Talley book but I immediately want to run out and buy all her other books!

I had a bit of a rant recently with my gay male best friend about what a moment gay male books and love stories are having in the book world. And how much I so needed, wanted more lesbian ones. So needless to say, I was so happy to find Music from Another World on Net Galley and so jazzed when my request was approved. And while I’m already a bit off topic, since this book is historical fiction and there’s a beautiful little note from the author at the end, I just have to add a little of my own history as it pertains to how this book made me feel and all it meant to me.

Growing up, I came out as a lesbian at 10 years old, in a time, while not so long ago, that just didn’t happen and I was met even more with incredulousness than hate from the adults in my life. How could I know so young? I’m so glad so much has changed in the world and continues to change, hopefully only for the better. In middle school, I had an incredible knack for finding the LGBT books I now realize we were so incredibly lucky to have in the vast library of our fine and performing arts school. This was a time when YA sections hardly existed in most libraries and I can only assume, the books I did find were some of the only ones like them at the time. My classmates, some of them queer or questioning themselves, could not even believe me when I’d show them these books. I cannot ever put into words what a lifeline they were. And that being in our school library, we all had access to them even if we didn’t feel safe taking them home.

I tell this story because LGBT YA, especially lesbian YA, has an immensely special place in my heart as you can imagine. These books are literal lifesavers to queer teens. And while YA has grown so much and gotten so diverse... this book, ahhh, it feels so much like the Nancy Garden and ME Kerr books I was finding and reading in the late 90s and early 00s. Talley mentions in her afterwards being a teen of the 90s, so I can only assume she was as influenced by those authors as I have been and I can’t think of a bigger compliment. This book not only took me back in time to it’s late 70s setting, but to all the angst and pain and joy of my own queer teen years.

Music from Another World is told in alternating journal entries and pen pal letters between Sharon, a Catholic teen in San Francisco who has a gay brother, and Tammy, a teen in conservative Orange County whose aunt is married to a Baptist preacher and hanging on the coattails of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaigning. Tammy has known she was a lesbian for a long time but has to stuff it down while stuffing envelopes for her aunt and uncle’s anti-gay campaign work. She’s never met another gay person and addresses her journal to Harvey Milk, the newly elected San Francisco city supervisor, and the first gay person Tammy has ever seen that is proud of who he is. Sharon, meanwhile, is the only person who knows her brother Peter’s secret and at the opening of the book, ends up joining him on Castro street for a protest against Anita Bryant and a law that had struck down an anti-discrimination clause in Miami. Sharon, who has never really felt like she fit in anywhere, is exhilarated by the Castro street vibe. Both Sharon and Tammy both end up discovering and bonding over punk music, especially Patti Smith. And through their letters to one another, the two find solace and understanding and eventually open up more and more.

One of my favorite things about this book is how politically active Sharon and her brother Peter are and later Tammy too, campaigning for Harvey Milk and against a California proposition that would ban gay teachers. In her afterward, Talley notes that the current political climate was part of what inspired her to write this book and I really hope it helps inspire teens to get involved. I was 14 when my state ended up passing the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and I remember feeling so helpless. Reading a book like this one, learning more about queer history and the amazing advocates and leaders who had come before, would’ve been amazing and I can only hope given the current state of things, teens feel empowered reading this. Frankly, even as an adult, I sure did.

I think this story was so excellently told that I don’t want to give even a hint of spoilers but I adored Sharon and Tammy and Peter. I loved the queer community they found in San Francisco and how beautifully embraced they were by slightly older members of the community. I loved the punk music and could relate to how much music helped me survive my own teen years (for me it was the Lilith Fair women singer-songwriters and later some of the very same punk music the girls were discovering). Robin Talley writes teens who are just that- real teenagers with all their worries, angst, hope, joys, discovering the world around them and themselves. As much as the YA genre has grown, I think it’s still a bit too rare to read teens who come across their own age and if the nostalgia I felt from this book is any any indication, teen characters who behave as teens still have a broad appeal. But truly, I think books like this belong first and foremost to queer teens who need them most and I so want to put a copy of this book into the hands of every young queer woman out there!

I adored this book so, so much! I can’t wait for it’s release in March and will be talking it up a lot. Highly recommended, to everyone, but especially to queer women and teens. And a huge thank you not only to Net Galley and the publisher, but to Robin Talley herself, for taking me on this incredible ride and writing a book that speaks so truly to queer history and experience in so many ways.

“It’ll be alright.” Evelyn said, her voice resolute. “We’ve lost every fight so far, but we’ll win the war. That’s why Harvey’s doing these debates—to change as many hearts and minds as we can. Every time we go out into the community, we’re showing the public that gay people are no different from them.” ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 06, 2019 Tzipora rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebooks, historical-fiction, lgbt, netgalley, young-adult, read-in-2019

Just realized my review never posted from Net Galley for some reason!

This was, somehow, my first time reading a Robin Talley book but I immediately want to run out and buy all her other books!

I had a bit of a rant recently with my gay male best friend about what a moment gay male books and love stories are having in the book world. And how much I so needed, wanted more lesbian ones. So needless to say, I was so happy to find Music from Another World on Net Galley and so jazzed when my request Just realized my review never posted from Net Galley for some reason!

This was, somehow, my first time reading a Robin Talley book but I immediately want to run out and buy all her other books!

I had a bit of a rant recently with my gay male best friend about what a moment gay male books and love stories are having in the book world. And how much I so needed, wanted more lesbian ones. So needless to say, I was so happy to find Music from Another World on Net Galley and so jazzed when my request was approved. And while I’m already a bit off topic, since this book is historical fiction and there’s a beautiful little note from the author at the end, I just have to add a little of my own history as it pertains to how this book made me feel and all it meant to me.

Growing up, I came out as a lesbian at 10 years old, in a time, while not so long ago, that just didn’t happen and I was met even more with incredulousness than hate from the adults in my life. How could I know so young? I’m so glad so much has changed in the world and continues to change, hopefully only for the better. In middle school, I had an incredible knack for finding the LGBT books I now realize we were so incredibly lucky to have in the vast library of our fine and performing arts school. This was a time when YA sections hardly existed in most libraries and I can only assume, the books I did find were some of the only ones like them at the time. My classmates, some of them queer or questioning themselves, could not even believe me when I’d show them these books. I cannot ever put into words what a lifeline they were. And that being in our school library, we all had access to them even if we didn’t feel safe taking them home.

I tell this story because LGBT YA, especially lesbian YA, has an immensely special place in my heart as you can imagine. These books are literal lifesavers to queer teens. And while YA has grown so much and gotten so diverse... this book, ahhh, it feels so much like the Nancy Garden and ME Kerr books I was finding and reading in the late 90s and early 00s. Talley mentions in her afterwards being a teen of the 90s, so I can only assume she was as influenced by those authors as I have been and I can’t think of a bigger compliment. This book not only took me back in time to it’s late 70s setting, but to all the angst and pain and joy of my own queer teen years.

Music from Another World is told in alternating journal entries and pen pal letters between Sharon, a Catholic teen in San Francisco who has a gay brother, and Tammy, a teen in conservative Orange County whose aunt is married to a Baptist preacher and hanging on the coattails of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaigning. Tammy has known she was a lesbian for a long time but has to stuff it down while stuffing envelopes for her aunt and uncle’s anti-gay campaign work. She’s never met another gay person and addresses her journal to Harvey Milk, the newly elected San Francisco city supervisor, and the first gay person Tammy has ever seen that is proud of who he is. Sharon, meanwhile, is the only person who knows her brother Peter’s secret and at the opening of the book, ends up joining him on Castro street for a protest against Anita Bryant and a law that had struck down an anti-discrimination clause in Miami. Sharon, who has never really felt like she fit in anywhere, is exhilarated by the Castro street vibe. Both Sharon and Tammy both end up discovering and bonding over punk music, especially Patti Smith. And through their letters to one another, the two find solace and understanding and eventually open up more and more.

One of my favorite things about this book is how politically active Sharon and her brother Peter are and later Tammy too, campaigning for Harvey Milk and against a California proposition that would ban gay teachers. In her afterward, Talley notes that the current political climate was part of what inspired her to write this book and I really hope it helps inspire teens to get involved. I was 14 when my state ended up passing the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and I remember feeling so helpless. Reading a book like this one, learning more about queer history and the amazing advocates and leaders who had come before, would’ve been amazing and I can only hope given the current state of things, teens feel empowered reading this. Frankly, even as an adult, I sure did.

I think this story was so excellently told that I don’t want to give even a hint of spoilers but I adored Sharon and Tammy and Peter. I loved the queer community they found in San Francisco and how beautifully embraced they were by slightly older members of the community. I loved the punk music and could relate to how much music helped me survive my own teen years (for me it was the Lilith Fair women singer-songwriters and later some of the very same punk music the girls were discovering). Robin Talley writes teens who are just that- real teenagers with all their worries, angst, hope, joys, discovering the world around them and themselves. As much as the YA genre has grown, I think it’s still a bit too rare to read teens who come across their own age and if the nostalgia I felt from this book is any any indication, teen characters who behave as teens still have a broad appeal. But truly, I think books like this belong first and foremost to queer teens who need them most and I so want to put a copy of this book into the hands of every young queer woman out there!

I adored this book so, so much! I can’t wait for it’s release in March and will be talking it up a lot. Highly recommended, to everyone, but especially to queer women and teens. And a huge thank you not only to Net Galley and the publisher, but to Robin Talley herself, for taking me on this incredible ride and writing a book that speaks so truly to queer history and experience in so many ways.

“It’ll be alright.” Evelyn said, her voice resolute. “We’ve lost every fight so far, but we’ll win the war. That’s why Harvey’s doing these debates—to change as many hearts and minds as we can. Every time we go out into the community, we’re showing the public that gay people are no different from them.” ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2019 Alexa Blart, Library Cop rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, childrens-and-ya, lgbt, two-girls-kissing, history-business

3 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a follower of Robin Talley's work for a few years now, and can honestly say that this is one of her better books—which are often hit or miss with me. In a lot of ways, it reads like a spiritual successor to her 2018 book Pulp, which explored queer history through the medium of 1950s lesbian pulp novels. Music from Another World dives back into queer history by exploring the 3 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a follower of Robin Talley's work for a few years now, and can honestly say that this is one of her better books—which are often hit or miss with me. In a lot of ways, it reads like a spiritual successor to her 2018 book Pulp, which explored queer history through the medium of 1950s lesbian pulp novels. Music from Another World dives back into queer history by exploring the gay rights movement of the late 1970s through the frame of friendship struck up between two pen pals: Tammy, a lesbian teen from an ultraconservative, religious family, and Sharon, a good Catholic girl from San Francisco who is struggling to come to terms with her brother's revelation that he's gay. Talley's initiative to bring LGBT history to young queer readers of today is one of the things I liked most about Pulp, and liked even better about Music from Another World: the high-stakes political environment and the atmosphere of protest were exciting, and incredibly relevant to today, as well.

The friendship between the two main characters really worked for me and felt like it unfolded authentically. Tammy and Sharon are paired up at random by their respective schools to complete a summer pen pal project. Both have reason to feel like outsiders in their school and home life, and find that an impartial friend, whom they've never met in person and who know nothing about their lives, to be a kind of safe space. Eventually, this alliance leads to trust, and eventually deep friendship. To say anything more would be to spoil several great plot twists, but suffice to say: the progression of these two girls from lost, friendless individuals to each other's best friends is the heart of this novel and, in my opinion, executed flawlessly.

The historical aspects of the novel were mostly well done and interesting. There were times when I felt that they could have been a little more complete (or at least mentioned in the afterward, which, hey, they might be once the novel's gone to print!). Harvey Milk is significant in the novel, appearing several times in person (and serving as a proxy for Tammy, who feels she has no one to talk to who understands her, and addresses her diary entries to Harvey), but there are several references to Dan White without any explanation of his significance beyond his political role. Granted, the novel ends before Harvey Milk's assassination, but from the tone the novel took whenever mentioning Dan White, I felt the reader was supposed to know who he was. (I only did because I read Cleve Jones's book When We Rise last year—LGBT history was definitely not part of my high school curriculum.)

I also tend to find Talley's storytelling to be juvenile and overly simplistic at times. This isn't necessarily a condemnation; Talley's heroines are young teenagers, and therefore I'm not the target audience for her work. I do, however, take issue with the cartoonishly evil way Tammy's evangelical Christian family are painted. Again, as a Christian, this is possibly a matter of personal preference, but it does feel somewhat shortsighted to portray one side as altogether evil (for reasons extending beyond not being supportive of gay liberation). Certainly, people like Tammy's Aunt Mandy exist, and Anita Bryant, who is mentioned several times in the text, is a historical figure. But it rubbed me the wrong way that Aunt Mandy was a Bible-bashing sociopath with no true moral compass and multiple sins to her name.

Overall, though, I really liked the book, and even learned a thing or two about what it was like to grow up LGBT in the turbulent end of the 1970s. I really hope Talley continues to write LGBT history—this is clearly the place where she shines. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 26, 2019 Jacquelyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: advance-copies, lgbt

*Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

Sharon and Tammy, high school pen pals, are struggling to discover themselves in the hopeful and volatile world of the late 1970’s gay rights movement in this epistolary novel. Tammy has to hide her identity from her church-founding, Anita-Bryant-worshipping family in Orange County; and Sharon regularly sneaks out with her gay brother, Peter, for activist causes and punk rock shows. The girls *Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review*

Sharon and Tammy, high school pen pals, are struggling to discover themselves in the hopeful and volatile world of the late 1970’s gay rights movement in this epistolary novel. Tammy has to hide her identity from her church-founding, Anita-Bryant-worshipping family in Orange County; and Sharon regularly sneaks out with her gay brother, Peter, for activist causes and punk rock shows. The girls find in each other the kind of friendship that will transform their lives.

This is such a cute and inspiring story, historical and relevant, but I would definitely give it a content warning for queers who have lived in very religious, anti-gay homes. Even though my upbringing was comparatively tame (an unspoken, but taught, “that doesn’t happen in our family”), my blood still boiled when I read about Aunt Mandy, and I had to step away from the book when I got too upset. Tammy’s relatives are so manipulative, unforgiving, and cruel, it’s tantamount to child abuse. Which happens, and is important to address, but I think Tammy should be in therapy where she can learn that she’s the victim of their sadism, and none of it was her fault, and God actually doesn’t think she’s gross or should go to hell, etc. I think it would be helpful for the book to include resources for teens who have been abused like Tammy was.

This leads to something I really loved about the book: the importance of found family. This story demonstrates that queer found family is necessary for literal survival (if Tammy didn’t have Sharon to turn to, statistically she would probably have taken her own life), exploring identity, growing, and thriving. To find people and places where we can feel safe and seen is vital, and is something that we have to fight for, apparently, all the time.

Tammy, Sharon, and Peter fight for acceptance on individual levels, with Sharon and Peter sneaking to the Castro and volunteering, and Tammy attempting to distance herself from her family. But freedom and acceptance as individuals is also dependent on freedom and acceptance at local, state, and federal levels, and their personal crusades naturally lead into political activism, knocking on doors, marching, demonstrating, and voting. In showing how absolutely imperative it was to get involved in these politics of the 70’s, Talley makes a clear case for getting involved in the politics of today. We’ve got to research, talk, organize, march, demonstrate, and vote, because nobody else is going to fight for us, and even though these events seem so long ago, gay rights are still a recent thing and our hold on them is so tenuous, it’s going to take all of us to keep them.

This is a great book for teens to learn about Harvey Milk, the “gay panic” of the 70s, and the importance of taking an active role in fighting for your rights. It’s also just a great book, period.

Rating: four stars. ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 24, 2019 Christine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, historical-fiction, read-in-2019, young-adult

Robin Talley's latest book, set to release in March 2020, takes place in the late 1970s in California. The epistolary novel is told in diary entries and letters between Tammy Larson and Sharon Hawkins, who were assigned to be pen pals. Tammy is a closeted lesbian living in Orange County. Her aunt forces her to participate in an anti-gay political campaign. She writes unsent letters to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk instead of keeping a diary. Sharon lives in San Francisco. After her Robin Talley's latest book, set to release in March 2020, takes place in the late 1970s in California. The epistolary novel is told in diary entries and letters between Tammy Larson and Sharon Hawkins, who were assigned to be pen pals. Tammy is a closeted lesbian living in Orange County. Her aunt forces her to participate in an anti-gay political campaign. She writes unsent letters to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk instead of keeping a diary. Sharon lives in San Francisco. After her brother comes out to her as gay, Sharon promises to keep his secret from their mother and regularly visits Castro Street with him.

I loved learning more about LGBT+ history from reading this book, just like I did with Talley's last novel Pulp. In the late 1970s, across the United States, anti-gay activists tried to pass laws to make it legal to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation. In 1978, Californians voted on Proposition 6, a (failed) ballot initiative which sought to prevent LGBT+ individuals from working in California public schools. In the book, both Tammy and Sharon are involved in a political rally and demonstration against Proposition 6.

While reading the book, it stuck out to me how Tammy and Sharon were both politically involved in issues they cared about. This parallels how 21st century youth are fighting for issues they care about in politics or in the mass media at large. Talley addresses this similarity in her acknowledgments.

The idea for Music from Another World came about as I reflected on this history [of the movement for LGBT+ equality], particularly in light of the activism we’re seeing around us right now as a new and powerful generation fights back against a frighteningly emboldened conservative movement.

Even though this book took place more than fifty years ago, the political activism and fight for LGBT+ equality remain important societal issues. Overall, I am giving this book 4 stars. I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 14, 2020 Michael Turpin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Robyn Talley's writing first sucked me in with Pulp, so I jumped at the chance to read Music From Another Room. The interplay between Tammy and Sharon as pen pals will spark nostalgia in anyone old enough to have had a mandatory pen pal, and will immerse younger readers in a time where your friends weren't right at your fingertips. While I did not love all of the plot developments in this relationship, I understand why, for the purposes of the novel, why Talley handled them the way she did.

As in ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 22, 2019 LesReview rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was given this ARC via Net Galley and publisher for an honest review. Many Thanks!
So the very first book I read by Robin Talley was Lies We Tell Ourselves and was blown away. When I saw this book I knew I had to get my hands on it and was not disappointed.
This story is set in 1977 and involves Tammy Larson and Sharon Hawkins both who live in California. Tammy Larson is from Orange County, a very conservative city and is secretly gay. She comes from a Uber conservative family that not only runs ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 09, 2019 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag Like · see review

Dec 09, 2019 Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

I don't typically read YA books, but this one seemed interesting to me because it was historical fiction/romance. I went into this one with high hopes and Talley did not disappoint. I admit it started a little rocky because I needed to get use to the format. Both MC's mainly write in their diary. Sharon writes in the Dear Diary format and Tammy writes into her diary to Harvey Milk. Once they start writing to one another the Dear Tammy/Sharon comes into play. By the time I got 1/4 way into it, I ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 01, 2019 Danielle rated it liked it

Set in 1977 two teenage girls bond over punk music during a school assigned pen pal exercise. Tammy is a lesbian trapped in a super strict Christian family and school run by her aunt who is fighting to pass stricter laws against homosexuality. Sharon lives in San Francisco where she's struggling to hide the fact that her brother has recently told her he is gay and their involvement in the gay rights movement where she also discovers punk.

This is an epistolary novel with the story told through ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 17, 2019 S rated it it was amazing

So this is based back in the 70s during the Prop 6 debate. It's done in a diary and penpal letter format and it works well in this case. You get a good feel of what's going on from both MC point of view and still get a few 'where did that come from' bits. A few happy tears and a few sad tears and a way better book then I was expecting. Pick it up when it comes out. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. 4.5 stars

flag Like · see review

Jan 16, 2020 Liz Chambliss rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect blend of historical fiction and contemporary LGBTQIA romance. It was easy to read the way it was written between pen pals, and all of the historical and musical references were great. I would definitely read another book by this author, and I would recommend this to anyone that likes diverse reads or historical fiction. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read it early.

flag Like · see review

Dec 23, 2019 Anna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Summer 1977, and Tammy and Sharon have been paired up together for a pen pal project for their high schools. The purpose of the pen pal project is to strengthen students’ faith over the summer and into the first term of their junior year of high school.

Both are reluctant about this project, and both keep a journal outside of the letter writing project. Tammy writes to Harvey Milk, an elected supervisor for San Francisco Board of Supervisors (the first openly gay man to be elected in California). ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 17, 2019 Whittney Hooks rated it it was amazing

Her best book since Lies We Tell Ourselves. Such wonderful YA lgbt Historical Fiction; this book is so important for young people.

flag Like · see review

Jan 20, 2020 Shira added it

Shelves: queerios-and-milk, slj-reviews

Book review and rating to come

flag Like · see review

Dec 08, 2019 Cas marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: wishlist, lgbt

lesbian romance?? Robin Talley?? Pen pals?? The 70s?? My hometown????
Very excited.

flag Like · see review

Dec 31, 2019 Nicole marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaways, shelf-tbr-arc

I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway!

Review to come soon.

flag Like · see review

Jan 07, 2020 Liz Chambliss rated it really liked it

flag Like · see review

Melissa Cheresnick rated it it was amazing
Jan 05, 2020

Britt Mitchell (The Book Trove) rated it it was amazing
Nov 19, 2019

april rated it it was amazing
Dec 03, 2019

Nicole Melleby rated it really liked it
Jan 03, 2020

Darcy rated it really liked it
Jan 12, 2020

Sara rated it it was amazing
Jan 06, 2020

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

LGBT

26 users

Historical > Historical Fiction

23 users

Young Adult

20 users

See top shelves…

About Robin Talley

Robin Talley

1,135 followers

I live in Washington, D.C., with my wife, our baby daughter, an antisocial cat and a goofy hound dog. Whenever the baby's sleeping, I'm probably busy writing young adult fiction about queer characters, reading books, and having in-depth conversations with friends and family about things like whether Jasmine's character motivation was sufficiently established in Aladdin.

My website is at ...more