Jonny Garza Villa

Digital audiobook performed by Avi Roque

This is a YA gay romance featuring two very likeable young men facing serious life decisions. Ander is an artist and planning to go to college to further his studies in art. He has a chance at a prestigious scholarship, but feels he should take a gap year first. Santiago is an undocumented immigrant without family who takes a job in the restaurant Ander’s family runs. When they meet, sparks fly.

Oh, the intensity of young love. The passion and fierceness of the feelings. I really liked these two young men. Ander is very “out there” … he’s expressive and expansive in his art and in his feelings. He never holds back. Santi is more reserved, partly because of his natural personality, but also partly because he HAS to live under the radar to avoid being deported.

These two face some very tough decisions. Should Ander give up his dream college program because Santi cannot travel with him? Should Santi go back to Mexico to deal with a tragedy in his own family? Can the love they feel for one another survive such a separation? What choices do they have?

They are lucky in that Ander’s family is incredibly supportive of them both. While they are understandably upset that Ander would even consider abandoning his college dreams for Santi, they love him and respect his decisions. And when ICE arrives, they support and fight for Santi equally.

I do have a complaint, however. I’ve seen comparisons to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and the feelings and tenderness of first love certainly hold up to that comparison, but to ME, the language here (significant use of the ‘F’ bomb) and the sexual content seem more adult than YA. It’s a beautifully told love story, but Villa could have done it with much less swearing and graphic sex.… (mer)

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an arc of this book

This was the fluffy and cozy queer romance I've been needing! I loved Jules and Mat so much, seeing their relationship develop and bloom when they finally meet in person was just lovely to read. The author breathed so much life into all of his characters, even the side characters, that all of their dynamics were so great to witness. The rep in the book is beautiful as well, and Ioved the inclusion of spanish phrases throughout. Jonny Garza Villa put his whole heart into this novel and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a cute and diverse romance!… (mer)

Jonny Garza Villa has pulled no punches with their debut novel, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. While some of those punches come while the characters deal with hard issues like anxiety and homophobia, some of them are happy punches - the romance in this book is fantastic from start to finish. A reader may read a description of the novel and think it's just another coming-out, queer teen YA romance, but you could not be more wrong. Everything in the book, from the characters to the language to the romance tropes, have the unique touch I hope Villa continues in their future works. Everything from the way the main character comes out to the way his friends handle it is new and refreshing. The cultures Villa depicts feel authentic and integral to the story without feeling shoehorned in. The drama is appropriately melodramatic without feeling over the top, and the stakes feel sufficiently high without feeling artificially inflated. Overall, I have nothing but compliments for the book. The characters are amazing, the plot is exciting, and the writing is fantastic. 5/5 stars.… (mer)