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As Far as You'll Take Me

Phil Stamper (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 129 ratings · 87 reviews

The author of The Gravity of Us crafts another heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding the people who become your home--perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life--where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to exp ...more

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Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 9th 2021 by Bloomsbury YA

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· 129 ratings · 87 reviews

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Mar 06, 2019 Phil Stamper rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

[eyeballs emoji]

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Nov 20, 2020 Larry H rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, blog-tour

4.5 stars.

Phil Stamper's upcoming book, As Far As You'll Take Me , is an enjoyable, moving story about finally making your own way and finding your own people.

Seventeen-year-old Marty has never been more ready to leave his tiny, conservative Kentucky hometown. His parents disapprove of him being gay and have forced him to stay in the closet (what would their neighbors and the people from church think), so he’s headed to London for a summer music program. But the truth is, he never even got in ...more

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Sep 18, 2020 Daniel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtqia, own-on-kindle, ya

More reviews and recs on my blog: https://thedanielhurst.wordpress.com

As Far As You'll Take Me is about a gay teenager, Marty, who flees his religious household in Kentucky to try to make it as a professional oboist in London. As his time and savings dwindle, he also has to reckon with family and friends back home, new friendships and romantic prospects in London, and his anxiety.

This is a lovely story, and it touches on a lot of issues without losing its heart. As in Stamper's debut, The Gravit ...more

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Sep 07, 2020 Jordan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!

I love Marty's journey. I love everything this book deals with. I love how it's written. I just adore this novel and cannot wait for it to be released for everyone else to meet Marty.

Phil Stamper really did that with this book.

***Detailed Review Coming Soon(ish)*** ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 Ava rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

HFFNFGGGHHH YEAH THIS WAS REALLY GOOD.

I have all the feels over this, really - After his parents don't react well to Marty informing them he's gay, he tells them he's been accepted into a prestigious music program in London (a lie) and he's going to stay with his cousin for a few months (the truth). While in England, Marty starts opening up and exploring his own identity, sometimes in heartbreaking ways: while trying to impress the boy he's fallen for, he struggles with his relationship with foo ...more

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Oct 16, 2020 Jessica Braatz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: fans of Becky Abertalli, Rainbow Rowell, and real relationships

Shelves: favorites, arc

Oh this book...

As Far as You'll Take Me is an absolute knockout! Starting off, I was a little hesitant on whether or not I would love this book after hearing it compared to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and the works of Rainbow Rowell. However, Stamper did not disappoint.

As Far as You'll Take Me follows Marty Pierce and his journey of self-discovery in London. From rural Kentucky, Marty has only had a few chances to see the world. Sheltered by his Christian family, his one prior trip to Lon ...more

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Aug 31, 2020 Britt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: drc

Music + pride + coming of age + international travel = a permanent smile. Seriously, Stamper’s done it again. I desperately want a movie so I can watch it over and over again on the days I need a pick me up and can’t manage to crack open a book. This entire story is utterly marvelous and takes on big issues (sexuality, toxic relationships, eating disorders, religion...) in incredibly accessible ways. Thank you, Phil. This heartfelt ode to found family and finding yourself is exactly what I neede ...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Cassandra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, reads-of-2020

Damn. I came into this with no expectations at all and I may have just found a new treasure trove author for heartfelt contemporaries. This was smart, funny, and held that hard to define and hard to find emotional climate all YA books strive for.

I didn't just feel for Marty, I felt with him.

Since the release date is a ways off, I'll try to keep this as close to spoiler free as possible. In short: we get a story about my fellow Appalachian runaway Marty and the way we try to find ourselves, and ...more

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Aug 15, 2020 Meghan rated it it was amazing

Just as music can transport us to another place, this story transported me to London with Marty on his journey and all the hope, passion, worry, and joy found there. It's such a beautiful coming of age story and Phil Stamper writes in such a way that my heart ached when Marty's did, soared when he was soaring, and was filled with hope as he found his hope! I loved seeing Marty evolve into who he dreamed he could be as he found first love, friendship, and family all while playing his oboe. This s ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Dahlia added it

Shelves: quiltbag-ya, lgbtqreads, 2021-releases

Some good surprises in this one in terms of what it discussed and moves by the MC that had me turning pages much faster than usual for a romantic coming of age. Really appreciated the conversations about body image and toxic friendships, and God I love MCs who are really nerdy about their passions. (I learned way more about oboe than I expected, for sure!) Very happy to see this added to the gay YA canon!

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Dec 02, 2020 ✫erin✫ rated it did not like it

I feel so bad for DNFing this book but the writing just wasn't for me! I really enjoyed the story and the plot, but wasn't able to push through. ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 Lu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: earc, in-english, trigger-warnings, lgbt

Thank you so much, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books and Bloomsbury YA, for the chance to read and review one of my most anticipated reads of 2021.

TW: anxiety, eating disorder, abusive relationship, underage drinking, forced outing, homophobia

Marty is seventeen, when he decides to leave his own home in Kentucky, where he feels unwelcomed and trapped as a gay young man and to move to London. With his meager savings, his oboe and the support of his cousin Shane, Marty is determined to live his life, ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Lisa Pineo rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, young-adult, arc-review, read-2020, romance, own, 2021-pub, lgbtqia2, not-out-yet, 4-star

"As Far as You'll Take Me" by Phil Stamper, Bloomsbury YA
Category: YA LGBTQ romance
*I received this ARC from Bloomsbury YA via a Goodreads giveaway in return for an honest review.
My rating: 4 stars
TW (trigger warnings): Homophobia, bullying

Description from the publisher:
Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life--where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexu "As Far as You'll Take Me" by Phil Stamper, Bloomsbury YA
Category: YA LGBTQ romance
*I received this ARC from Bloomsbury YA via a Goodreads giveaway in return for an honest review.
My rating: 4 stars
TW (trigger warnings): Homophobia, bullying

Description from the publisher:
Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and some savings from his summer job, but he's excited to start his new life--where he's no longer the closeted, shy kid who slips under the radar and is free to explore his sexuality without his parents' disapproval.
From the outside, Marty's life looks like a perfect fantasy: in the span of a few weeks, he's made new friends, he's getting closer with his first ever boyfriend, and he's even traveling around Europe. But Marty knows he can't keep up the facade. He hasn't spoken to his parents since he arrived, he's tearing through his meager savings, his homesickness and anxiety are getting worse and worse, and he hasn't even come close to landing the job of his dreams. Will Marty be able to find a place that feels like home?

A gay teen moves to London, finds new friends and and has his first romance in this second YA novel by Phil Stamper.
As someone who has always dreamed of uprooting my life and moving to the UK I loved the setting of this book. I am not a musician so all the talk about oboes and what people need to do to play instruments was more of a side annoyance than a element to pull me into the novel. I found Marty's anxiety attacks to be realistic as well as the situations the characters went through. The main characters were well-rounded and thought out but I found some of the secondary characters to be pretty one dimensional. I found that the added diary entries to show what happened a year before the story starts to work well.
Overall, I liked the book but I wouldn't say it drew me in and held my attention until the end. It took me longer than usual to read it because I didn't feel a huge pull to find out what happened next. The writing was good and I enjoyed the story, it just wasn't one of my favorites. ...more

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Jul 10, 2020 Night marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Can’t wait for this one!

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Oct 12, 2020 Emilie Willis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021-releases, lgbtq-read, arcs

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4.5/5 stars
CW: anxiety, toxic friendship, toxic/manipulative romantic relationship, homophobia, use of religion to justify homophobia and other judgmental behaviors, outing someone without their consent, disordered eating

Thank you to Netgalley & Bloomsbury YA for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: February 9, 2021

This was definitely a heavier read that I had anticipated, which I personally really loved but I'm mentioning it right in the beginning of my 4.5/5 stars
CW: anxiety, toxic friendship, toxic/manipulative romantic relationship, homophobia, use of religion to justify homophobia and other judgmental behaviors, outing someone without their consent, disordered eating

Thank you to Netgalley & Bloomsbury YA for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: February 9, 2021

This was definitely a heavier read that I had anticipated, which I personally really loved but I'm mentioning it right in the beginning of my review because I think it's important for people to be conscious of that before starting it.

To sum up the things I loved:
- Marty's character development. He really goes through an emotional journey throughout this book, and he does have incredibly low moments, but in the end he really came to terms with the fact that some things in his life were incredibly toxic for him and was able to leave those situations for the better. (view spoiler)

- I also really loved that the story was partly focused on music. I don't play nearly as much anymore, but I played piano consistently for about eight or nine years and I really love music in general. Plus, I feel like we don't get a lot of stories that center on music that aren't about singing or like, teenage bands, and it was refreshing to have a story center on something we don't see a lot.

- It was really heartwarming to see Marty go from a pretty homophobic & close-minded environment to a new friend group where queerness was completely normalized. Plus, that whole friend group was really nice to read about. I would've liked to see a little bit more of the side characters, but I still really enjoyed what we did get to learn about them.

- I really liked the exploration of mental health issues. I related to a lot of elements of the portrayal of Marty's anxiety and felt like it was very realistic, though I don't currently have any kind of diagnosed anxiety disorder so I would definitely take the word of people who do over mine on this. As for his struggles with disordered eating, I really appreciated the discussion of that topic, though I don't feel that it's my place to judge if the portrayal was good & realistic.

The only small issue I had is that (view spoiler) ...more

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Dec 12, 2020 Saima rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, read-in-2020, lgbt

3.8/5 stars.

TW: eating disorders, forced outing, homophobia, anxiety.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

As Far as You'll Take Me is a raw intense book about our main character Marty trying to make a new start in London, away from his small town and parents who aren't accepting of his sexuality. It depicts his anxiety incredibly well, as something that surrounds him and every move he makes, and encompasses the struggles of a gay teenager trying ...more

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Sep 13, 2020 Trinica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Release Date: Feb 9, 2021

'As Far As You'll Take Me' is a contemporary YA featuring Marty, an oboist who lies to his parents about being accepted into a prestigious London music program in order to escape the homophobia of his tiny hometown. In London, Marty deals with severe anxiety while navigating the difficulties of maintaining old friendships and forming new ones, coming to terms with his first situationship, and trying to survive in an expensive city with no job prospects and dwindling savi ...more

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Dec 11, 2020 Irisheyz77 rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: demographic-young-adult, diversity-glbtiqa, pov-single, pov-male, setting-england, source-netgalley, romance-mm, time-period-contemporary, setting-italy, music-and-musicians

3.5 stars

This one was a slow read for me....but not because of the story, at least not directly. I loved Marty and his journey of self discovery and how he traveled to London and did things even if they were out of his comfort zone. I loved the side characters and would love to have learned more about them or to have companion stories. This was a slow read because the setting was just so real....and in these days of Covid-19 restrictions where I can't travel to my favorite places it just made th ...more

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Dec 29, 2020 USOM rated it it was amazing

(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

TW: panic attacks, anxiety, homophobia, forced outting, restrictive eating and conversations about eating disorders

As Far As You'll Take Me is for all the music enthusiasts, for everyone struggling in toxic friendships, for anyone searching for some bravery to be ourselves. From the beginning, this book twisted my heart with how cute it was. Marty's narration feels casual, like someo ...more

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Dec 01, 2020 Thalyta S. rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-english, on-the-road-again, ya-contemporary, ya, summer-time, arcs, lgbtq, ownvoices, mental-illness-rep

As Far As You'll Take Me tells Marty's coming of age story. He moves to London to pursue his musical career and search for an inclusive and supportive family. He's also looking forward to escaping his not so gay-friendly hometown and family.

I loved so many things about this book, including Marty's journey to accepting who he is and learning what he wants from his relationships with his family, friends, and boyfriend. I actually loved seeing Marty being in a toxic relationship after a toxic relat ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 BookHugger rated it liked it

Shelves: read-2020, net-galley

Review to come closer to the release date!

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Dec 23, 2020 Dany rated it liked it

Shelves: edelweiss, lgbtqia, i-own-this-kindle-copy

Not as strong as Stampers debut, but yet a feel good, easy to read, coming of age novel.

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Jan 03, 2021 Amber K. rated it really liked it

I really loved this one!! I haven’t read the authors first book, but I plan to. If you’re look for a cute YA with depth, this is for you!

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Dec 30, 2020 Jessica added it

Shelves: 4-stars

This review and more can be found at www.thebookbratz.blogspot.com.

I received an ARC of AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that I did, because we loved working with Phil Stamper on his debut novel, THE GRAVITY OF US, last year, so when I found out that his sophomore novel was in the works, of course I added it to my TBR. After making AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME my last read of 2020, it's safe to say that I'm glad I got to close out such a chaotic year on This review and more can be found at www.thebookbratz.blogspot.com.

I received an ARC of AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME in exchange for an honest review, and I'm really glad that I did, because we loved working with Phil Stamper on his debut novel, THE GRAVITY OF US, last year, so when I found out that his sophomore novel was in the works, of course I added it to my TBR. After making AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME my last read of 2020, it's safe to say that I'm glad I got to close out such a chaotic year on a sweet note! So without further ado, here's my review:

As the summary explains, the story follows Marty, a gay teen escaping Kentucky for the summer to head to Europe and stay with his cousin. The excuse he tells his parents? He got into an exclusive summer program for musicians. The reality? He blew the interview but wanted to escape to London anyway, as the first step in his plan involving moving to Europe permanently, finding a permanent musical gig somewhere, and leaving his small town (and all of its small town mindsets) behind. But he's running out of money and finding himself caught up in more and more lies, so before he knows it, Marty is forced to make some important decisions, both involving his future and his friendships.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I'm really a fan of Phil Stamper's writing -- I felt like I was right alongside Marty for the entire adventure, from the nerve-wracking escape to Europe, to the anxiety about his future, to feeling lost and confused and infatuated by the prospect of first love. And I really loved the found-family aspect of this novel as well -- while not everyone Marty meets in London has his best interests in mind, the group he manages to find of new people who support and encourage him were really sweet, and I loved reading about all of his exchanges with them. This book definitely gave me a sweet, heart-warming feel that I loved from start to finish, even during the scary and anxious parts. I read over 250 pages of this book in a single day because I just didn't want to put it down and I wanted to find out how Marty's European adventure was going to turn out!

As someone who also hasn't ever been to Europe, seeing it all through Marty's eyes was also super interesting. I felt like a tourist watching everything unfold, and I loved it! I fell in love with the way he described the scenery, the cities, and all of the cool places he's been. I also loved seeing the differences in food and culture between the United States and Europe! Needless to say, this book definitely fueled my wanderlust, especially since this 2020 was the year that I was supposed to finally travel to Italy with my family, but that trip ended up being cancelled due to COVID. I can't wait until the world finally is safe enough to travel again one day, because now I'm even more eager to head to Europe!

(view spoiler)

Overall, I really enjoyed reading AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME, and it was such a sweet read to close off 2020 with. If you were a fan of Phil Stamper's debut novel, or just looking for a sweet contemporary coming-of-age read involving a European adventure and a found family, then look no further than AS FAR AS YOU'LL TAKE ME! I hope that you all enjoy this book as much as I did! ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-reads, 5-star-reads, arcs-2021-release

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and meagre savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to begin his new life - no longer the closeted kid who slips under the radar and is now free to explore himself and his sexuality without his parents’ disapproval looming over him. From the outside, Marty’s life seems like the perfect fantasy: in a few weeks he has made new f Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marty arrives in London with nothing but his oboe and meagre savings from his summer job, but he’s excited to begin his new life - no longer the closeted kid who slips under the radar and is now free to explore himself and his sexuality without his parents’ disapproval looming over him. From the outside, Marty’s life seems like the perfect fantasy: in a few weeks he has made new friends, he’s growing close to his very first boyfriend, and he’s travelling Europe. Yet Marty knows the facade he has put up can’t last long. He hasn’t spoken to his parents since arriving in Britain, his savings are dwindling, homesickness and anxiety are clawing at him and he hasn’t come close to landing a job of his dreams. Is it possible for Marty to find a place that feels like home?

Marty is a character you can’t help but adore. He’s a brave, old soul chasing his calling elsewhere in the world. Like all of us, all he truly wants is to fit in as who he is, not other’s impressions of him. I loved seeing this shy, LGBTQ+ character take on the world in any way he could, even if at times it was messy and bad for him. Marty is realistic, a perfect interpretation of a young adult simply wishing to live his life and gain new experiences. He doubts himself, he wonders about things he could have done differently and he is eager to step out of the shadows and into the sun.

Stamper’s inclusion of mental illness was pretty good in my opinion. He tackled anxiety, elements of depression and eating disorders. Each matter was handled with care but equally, was given enough focus for the reader to take note. They weren’t added as devices for you to purely sympathise with Marty as a character, but to relate to him as a person. Many teenagers experience some form of mental illness and it is important that it isn’t forgotten. Combine this with the addition of difficult friendships and we have a winner. It’s easy for a person to stick with the friends they’ve had for years when it is difficult to find new ones - even if they have a negative impact on your life. I empathised with the way Stamper had Marty reluctantly removing himself from previous toxic friendships and enjoyed seeing the highlights and more positive moments too.

Overall, As Far As You’ll Take Me is a fantastic story that proves being yourself is all you need to be and that no one should make you feel smaller than you are.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advanced copy. ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Starr ❇✌❇ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-order-considerations, got-an-arc, reviewed

I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: internalized fatphobia & eating issues, emotionally abusive friendship, outing
3

As far as Marty's parents know he's heading to London because he nailed his audition to the academy and he'll be back home in lovely, God fearing Kentucky in three months time. In reality, after the terrible audition he'd had the year before, the academy was never an option- but moving to London was. As long as he can just find a job, he won't ever have to go back again. But he I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: internalized fatphobia & eating issues, emotionally abusive friendship, outing
3

As far as Marty's parents know he's heading to London because he nailed his audition to the academy and he'll be back home in lovely, God fearing Kentucky in three months time. In reality, after the terrible audition he'd had the year before, the academy was never an option- but moving to London was. As long as he can just find a job, he won't ever have to go back again. But he doesn't expect to get wrapped up in things like trips or busking- and especially doesn't expect to get pulled into a relationship with a hot guy that is inexplicably into him.

At its core this is a book about finding yourself via travel/moving away from home. It succeeds as a "first time being independent" sort of story, so if you like your coming of age stories across the pond, then you'll have fun here.

But beyond that, there isn't too much to grasp onto. The dive into Marty's problems with homophobia in his hometown and his parents' response to him being gay, definitely adds a layer, and the music performance, but none of it ever feels weighty enough to stand fully on its own.

For things I did enjoy, it comes down to two thing. Firstly, I thought the way Marty falls into an eating disorder was handled well. It's not something you see all that often in these lighter books, and you don't see it often at all with a male main character. It happens slowly enough that it feels realistic, and also shows the risk that Marty's taken.

I also liked the exploration into Marty's terrible, emotionally abusive friendship. I've said it many, many times, but abusive friendships don't get shown enough in media or taken seriously. This one doesn't condemn Meagan quite as much as I'd like, because she is, in fact, an abuser. But the point of "just because you stuck together in a small town doesn't mean you owe each other anything" is a good one, and the breaking point was kind of cathartic.
I do appreciate the moments where Marty breaks away from passively expecting the universe to set him up and actually makes choices for himself, which happens far and few between, but is powerful the handful of times it does.

But, for the most part, this story was flat. Marty's personality wasn't one I could get invested in or relate to, and he mainly just feels one-sided for the majority of the book. His panic disorder is also brought up so often, with so much explanation, it feels more like a mini lecture on it than it does a character trait.
A lot of this book is cheesy and melodramatic, and carried by tropes. While the journal pages add an extra bit of context and break up more of the same, even those don't do that much because it's all about one event and it gets dragged out for so long that it stops being interesting.

If I were younger, I'd probably like this book more, but it wasn't one I could connect to. I've seen this story done better before, and I think it just didn't do enough. ...more

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Dec 10, 2020 B.S. Casey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Release Date: Expected Expected 9th February 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / LGBT

Marty doesn't think he's the protagonist in anyones story. But now he's getting his own story. After months of meticulous planning, he's heading across the world to London to stay with his cousin under the guise of reauditioning at his dream music school ... but he isn't coming back. With an overly religious family who can't quite accept him, questionable friends and anxiety that is almost crippling him, there's Release Date: Expected Expected 9th February 2021

Genre: Contemporary Fiction / LGBT

Marty doesn't think he's the protagonist in anyones story. But now he's getting his own story. After months of meticulous planning, he's heading across the world to London to stay with his cousin under the guise of reauditioning at his dream music school ... but he isn't coming back. With an overly religious family who can't quite accept him, questionable friends and anxiety that is almost crippling him, there's nothing for him there.

After a deadly combination of jetlag and infatuation leaves him crushing on his cousins best friend within minutes of arriving, Marty is finally ready for adventure. He's got his Oboe, he's got a cute boy, a team of musicians who are slowly becoming friends ... and a glimmer of hope that might finally be in sight. But boys suck, families suck, and anxiety sucks, so it's not going to be easy.

'As Far As You'll Take Me' is told from two points of Marty's life - his current adventure and old journal entries from the last time he tried to follow his dreams - slowly filling out all the pieces of this wonderful character who was so very easy to fall for the more we got to know him. The story was slow in places and looking back, not very much happened but when reading I was so wrapped up in what Marty was thinking or planning next that I just didn't notice at all. There were so many things about this book that I saw coming, which to begin with kind of threw me out of the story - but this isn't a murder mystery, it's about life. And the way this was written made me feel like I was a friend, quietly watching Marty ignore countless red flags as people so often do and wait for him to wake up and see the truth.

This was a truly warming and uplifting tale about acceptance, love, and self-discovery in all it's forms with an ending that left me bursting with pride.

Sometimes, the best reinvention is finding yourself.

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

TW: Homophobia / Anxiety / Eating Disorders

Thank you to Netgalley and Phil Stamper for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Siobhan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

As Far As You'll Take Me is a YA coming of age story about a teenager trying to find his place and purpose away from his family and hometown. Marty's been dealing with his religious parents' disapproval since he came out to them last year, but now he's taking a leap into the unknown, and going from Kentucky to London to try and live his dreams of becoming a musician. Only problem is, he's lied to his parents about why he's there (he didn't get into the music school he was hoping for and is inste ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 Poppy rated it really liked it

I highly enjoyed Phil Stamper's space-race YA romcom 'The Gravity of Us', so I was incredibly excited to read his new novel 'As Far As You'll Take Me'. As a music nerd (clarinet) and (up until very recently) Londoner, I loved the focus on a group of passionate musicians trying to make a living in our wonderful capital city. Marty is from Kentucky, a conservative small town, coming to London for a summer music programme at a prestigious academy... Or at least that is what his very religious and j ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Kera (featherboundbooks) rated it really liked it

A wonderfully sweet and sad book about discovering who you are through ups and downs.

Marty is a gay teenage boy in a very conservative town... and family. While he has a couple of really good friends and his parents DO know he is gay, he is still stuck. Hating everything about small Kentucky life, he ventures off to stay with his cousin and aunt in London.

It all starts when a trip to London the previous year with his parents goes drastically wrong. He tanks his musical audition for entry into a ...more

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About Phil Stamper

Phil Stamper

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Phil Stamper grew up in a rural village near Dayton, Ohio. He has a B.A. in Music and an M.A. in Publishing with Creative Writing. And, unsurprisingly, a lot of student debt. He works for a major book publisher in New York City and lives in Brooklyn with his husband and their dog.

THE GRAVITY OF US is his first novel, but he’s no stranger to writing. His self-insert Legend of Zelda fanfiction came ...more