Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Queer friends face senior year in satisfying duology finale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In AFTERGLOW, the boys have returned from their transformative summer away from Gracemont Village, Ohio, to finish senior year. Gabe co-heads his school's first LGBTQ advocacy group and makes the best of his long distance relationship with Matt. Heath and Reese are finally a happy couple, but Heath faces a health crisis that could rob him of his college dreams, and Reese's new passion for drag will take him far away from Heath after graduation. Sal's fragile relationship with his mother is tested as he decides to pursue local political leadership, instead of an elite college education. They stumble, keep secrets too long, make hard decisions, but always, they show one another joyful love and support. But can they stay best friends as their dreams take them in such different directions?
Is It Any Good?
This duology closer is a charmer – full of queer joy, relatable dilemmas, and a truly enviable group of friends. Afterglow continues the story of the four life-long friends featured in Stamper's Golden Boys. As in the first book, readers get to revel in Sal, Gabe, Resse, and Heath's quirky and affectionate friend group, but Afterglow goes deeper into the lives and dreams of each boy, and the book is better for it. Higher stakes and a faster-moving plot means readers will be even more invested in the lives of each character. When the boys win, it's hard not to cheer (and hard not to cry when things don't go the way they'd hoped). Queer readers who live in or grew up in rural towns can find hope in the boys' personal successes and in their efforts to make lasting positive social change. All readers will be able to connect in some way with the characters' worries, dreams, and experiences. A satisfying, worthy read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the unique challenges each character in Afterglow faces in their senior year. Who do you most relate to? Why? Where do you go for support when you are stressed about the future?
The queer characters in the book are often thinking about their safety as out gay men in their community. Why is that? What kinds of things can straight people do to make it safer and more comfortable for queer folks to be out in public?
Talk about how the parents and adults in this book do and do not protect queer kids in their families and community. Did any of the adults surprise you? How? Which adults in your life are supporting you as you grow toward adulthood?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Friendship
- Topics : Activism , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury YA
- Publication date : February 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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