Inspired by Judy Blume’s Forever and Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway , this novel that Andrew Smith calls “beautiful, enchanting, [and] exquisitely written” is a new classic about teenage relationships, self-acceptance—and what happens when the walls we build start coming down. A Kirkus Best Book of 2017! Adam Thorn doesn’t know it yet, but today will change his life. Between his religious family, a deeply unpleasant ultimatum from his boss, and his own unrequited love for his sort-of ex, Enzo, it seems as though Adam’s life is falling apart.  At least he has two people to keep him sane: his new boyfriend (he does love Linus, doesn’t he?) and his best friend, Angela. But all day long, old memories and new heartaches come crashing together, throwing Adam’s life into chaos. The bindings of his world are coming untied one by one; yet in spite of everything he has to let go, he may also find freedom in the release. From the New York Times bestselling author of A Monster Calls comes a raw, darkly funny, and deeply affecting story about the courage it takes to live your truth. One day. One choice. And a collision of the real and the magical. Gay Romance: Navigating the heartache of a first love for his ex, Enzo, while discovering what might be real with his new boyfriend, Linus. - A Preacher’s Son: Adam struggles to find his own truth while living under the yoke of his strict, evangelical father. - Magical Realism: As Adam’s world unravels, a parallel story unfolds involving a murdered girl’s spirit and an ancient faun, blending the supernatural with the starkly real. - Dual Narrative: Told with the same emotional depth as A Monster Calls , this story weaves two realities together over the course of a single, unforgettable day. Praise for The Rest of Us Just Live Here: “Fresh, funny, and full of heart: not to be missed.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for The Rest of Us Just Live Here: “Ness’ deadpan sci-fi novel pokes fun at far-fetched futuristic fantasies while emphasizing the important victories of merely living. This memorable, moving, and often hilarious read is sure to be a hit.” - Booklist (starred review) “Patrick Ness is an insanely beautiful writer.” - John Green Praise for The Rest of Us Just Live Here: “Fans of madcap humor and satire and those seeking more thought-provoking alternatives to the usual fare will appreciate this unique and clever take on a familiar trope.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for The Rest of Us Just Live Here: “Clever and laugh-out-loud funny, the supernatural side notes add tension and humor to the story. This is highly recommended for libraries serving young adults.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review) “Every sentence in this gorgeous little novel feels perfect and necessary. This focused, humane book is a joy.” - The New York Times Book Review ★ “Literary, illuminating, and stunningly told.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ★ “A frank, riveting portrayal of a gay teenager’s sexual awakening.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A heartbreaking dual narrative follows Adam, a gay teenager with homophobic parents, and the ghost of a classmate murdered by her meth-addicted boyfriend, over the course of one, defining day. In the hours before a going-away party for his first love, Adam Thorn has fateful confrontations with his evangelical pastor father and with the creepy boss who has been sexually harassing him. But the real bombshell is dropped when Angela, a friend Adam relies on, announces that she’s moving from Washington State to the Netherlands for senior year. Ness ( The Rest of Us Just Live Here ) interleaves Adam’s multipronged crisis with a strand tracking the murdered girl’s spirit as it seeks revenge (in the company of a seven-foot-tall faun) against her killer. Adam’s story dominates the narrative and provides a frank, riveting portrayal of a gay teenager’s sexual awakening (an endnote acknowledges the influence of both Woolf’s Mrs . Dalloway  and Blume’s  Forever ). The paranormal storyline isn’t quite as affecting as the plotline that follows Adam, but it conveys a sense of the mystery that can infuse ordinary lives.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “This book’s self-awareness lends its events a dreamlike feel. Though it functions as an accessible, standalone coming-of-age story, awareness of its influences makes for a layered reading experience.” - The Horn Book “Told in alternating chapters narrated by both main characters, this novel (heavily influenced by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Judy Blume’s Forever ) is meant for sophisticated readers who will appreciate its various textual subtleties, minute attention to detail, and sophisticated sexual symbols and scenes which are explicit yet celebratory, serving to provide important contrasts between unhealthy and loving relationships.  Adam is immensely likeable and his story is hilarious, gripping, and viciously insightful th