Oh the ending. I'm actually so emotional. I really really enjoyed this one; it just felt so welcoming and accepting of sexualities and the experience of coming out. I love how Julian forgave his father in the end, and yet still refused to let his toxicity back into his life, I feel like that really gave some peace of mind. I also hella liked how even though Julian was struggling so much with his college applications, and how it didn't all turn out as planned, it still ended happily; but still realistically. (I'm currently in the same position with applications so it was just especially comforting for me.) Overall, the writing was so good for a newbie author, I got extremely attached to the characters and everything was honestly just done so well!

Wow wow wow wow wow! Jonny Garza Villa literally had me feeling all the emotions as Julián explores the aftermath of coming out. I squealed when Cutie McCuterson, Mat, slides into Jules's DMs, and cried as he was pushed away by his father, having to learn the hard way that being openly gay can have seriously high highs and devastatingly low lows all at the same time. Garza Villa so perfectly found that balance of jubilation at being yourself after you come out that can come hand in hand with fear when we’re still in an environment that’s not safe. It’s so beautifully done, with both laugh-out-loud and heart-clutching moments, and I can't say enough that so many queer readers are going to see themselves in this story.

4.5 stars

How freaking adorable was this book?? Jules and Mat were so cute and this fun read was just what I needed to brighten my day. This is a coming of age story following Jules, a closeted Latino teenager who bonds with another boy, Mat, on social media and begins questioning whether he can be happy keeping part of himself hidden.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the realism it has. Jules' dad doesn't support him being gay and is physically and verbally abusive. Jules struggles with knowing that this isn't okay but also loving his only parent and wanting to have a relationship with him. His dad isn't just an evil person to be cast out, he raised Jules and they have had a lot of great, happy moments too. There are also some honest talks about sex, particularly gay sex and I appreciated that Jules and Mat had older siblings that wanted them to be safe and consensual.

Lou is a fantastic side character and I would read a sequel focused on her in a heartbeat. She's fun and doesn't let anyone stand in her way or attempt to put her down. She supports Jules from the beginning and has her own journey of discovering her sexuality. We could all use a friend like Lou!

I can't wait for this to be out in the world. What a fantastic debut! I'll be looking out for more books from this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for the copy.

Wow, what a great story. I've really been getting into YA books and this one didn't disappoint. I felt so much love for Julian in this book and the way his dad treated him made me cry. I felt myself rooting for him to get to California through the entire book. I don't want to give anything away about the story but I strongly recommend reading it because of the emotion I felt reading it.

I can't wait for this book to come out so I can share it with all of my friends who also enjoy YA LGBTQIA books.

Home is where the heart is. And the home in question is titled, "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun." I found home in a form of book and called it my comfort book. I have read this book in no more less than 15 days. It took me long enough to finish reading this because I never wanted this to end.

"You're my moonlight, Julián Luna. A brightness in the dark. I knew if I kept trying, one day I'd reach out and you'd be there. You'd be here." AHHHHH. I just can't seem to chill down after reading this beautifully written book. If I was asked to list out the things that I liked about this book, this review would probably end on 5k word count. But in short summary, I loved everything about this book.

First, let me point out the characters. Luna. My sweet boy. I couldn't have asked for a better MC than Luna. His voice is very interesting and relatable, that has helped factor in me loving this book more. Luna's actions are very much teenager and sensible that makes it justifiable to not hate him. He doesn't deserve any hate. Ever. Julian Luna never did and can never do anything wrong in his life, and I will die on that grave.

Now that I'm done tackling our MC, let's move on to his 'emotional support group'.

My parents: My child is okay
Me at 12 am: crying over a fictional friend group because they wish they had the same friend group.

And that, my friends is how I will sum up my feelings on Luna's friend group.

Another character I liked in this book is Itzel, but I don't want to further elaborate because it might be full of spoilers. However, I think we should all kneel to our Latina Queen.

Moving on from the friend group, Luna's love interest is also lovable. And I do love him too. Luna and his partner's chemistry is off the roof. I loved reading their scenes so much. I swear they're the softest gays to exist.

I enjoyed that beside the complex characters, the plot was also well-paced. There was never a dull moment in this book and the scenes was very much appropriate for coming-of-age novels, which I'm absolutely fond of. The culture embedded in this book also made the book riveting for me. I was engrossed into knowing more about the Mexican and Vietnamese culture. Its the food. The food got me weak on my knees. This book made me hungry wishing I could try out Luna's cooking.

Anyways, as I said I won't point out everything I liked about his book so that it won't be long. Everything about this book is perfect. I would yell at my friend group to buy this book as soon as it hits the shelves. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Skyscape for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Sunshine + Moonlight Stars

This was so good! YA can really go wrong for me easily so I was relieved to enjoy this. The authors’ voice for Julián is clear and compelling. As a coming-out and coming-of-age story there’s definitely some heavy topics touched on, but they were balanced well humor and love. Julián’s friends and family were well developed and nuanced. The romance between Julián and Mat had all the passion and whimsy of first love without being completely fantastical.

“But it’s because I love you. Even if I’m not ready to tell you yet. Even if I’m not sure you’d be ready to tell me you love me back yet.”

An emotional and engaging read for sure!

Content Warnings - Homophobia (Multi-lingual slurs), accidental outing, queer kid kicked out of home, emotionally and physically abusive parent, past suicide ideations (mentioned)

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa is a wonderful Young Adult contemporary that is equal parts heart-wrenching and heart-warming and packed with a healthy dose of yearning. If you’re a fan of queer books with enormous amounts of love, friendship and self-found strength then this is the next read you’re going to want to pick up (once it releases in June - thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!).
One of the most refreshing and interesting aspects that makes FHMftS stand out in comparison to other Queer Contemporaries is the fact that it follows Jules and his friends as they plan their next steps in life and apply to universities. The story spans nearly an entire year and as a result it never feels static or stuck in time as some YA contemporaries can.
Speaking of Jules’ friends, they were all stand-out characters and such a wonderful found family for Jules when he needed them most. His connection with them all was so significant in his story. Jordan was particularly memorable for me and he and Jules’ dynamic was so much fun. Their final scene had me weeping happy tears, they were a wonderful platonic duo.
Just as important in Jules’ story was his relationship with his family. From the heart-wrenching scenes with Jules’ deceased mother to the blood-curdling anger I felt whenever his father was on-page to the wonderful ball of teasing that was his sister Xo, Villa demonstrates just how complicated families can be. Jules’ final remarks to his father are so important and portray the important message that queer people owe nothing to those who want them to suppress themselves.
Of course, central to the story is Jules’ relationship with Mat. And, oh my, is it just wonderful. Long distances relationships are hardly ever (This was my first time reading about one) portrayed in YA books despite being such a real and staple of the queer experience - particularly in rural areas. As a result, this story felt so special. The yearning and the feeling of missing someone so deeply resonated with me and felt highly authentic. Mat himself was the perfect mix of flirty, smitten and adorable to play opposite Jules’ awkwardness. Their coming together and every scene they share make this book truly shine and provide for such a special and earned reading experience.
Voice is so important in this book: Jules’ voice is so clear and so funny. Villa has such a clear craft of this that truly shapes the story and makes every chapter and every decision feel real. The way Villa has his characters speak in different languages (most of the time while cursing) is such a wonderful touch and something that needs to continue to be normalised particularly in YA.
Fifteen Hundred Miles From the Sun is a five-star read for me as it blends so many of my favourite things - found family, complicated family dynamics, long distance pining, yearning and queer men - into a wonderfully queer story that tells the reader that their strength is within themself and that they never have to be ashamed about who they are.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Guys. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun was freaking adorable. It was seriously filled with so many cute ass moments. I'm pretty sure I fell in love with these pages, characters, and the overall story instantly. I will admit that I did cringe at a few moments but other than that - I really enjoyed this one.

In it, you will meet Jules and Mat. Oh lord, these two had undeniable chemistry. They also had a lot of moments when they were vulnerable. Either way, I loved watching these two go through their own ups and downs. Life is never easy - especially for anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community but I couldn't help but cheering for these two once something great came their way.

I will admit that this took me on an emotional roller coaster that I wasn't fully prepared for. Which was great, really, because it just kept me turning the pages due to falling in love with everything. Every little thing.

All in all, the ending was adorable and it just made me smile. Definitely happy that I got the chance to dive into this book before it came out. I can't wait for it to be published so everyone can enjoy it's awesomeness!

So this book is the cutest and loveliest thing I've read. I've really enjoyed it. Plus, I fell in love with a Mexican food. I want to eat all of the kind of Mexican dishes, for real.
Here were going through the story of Julián. A boy who is try to live his life as he wants. But being accepted is too hard. He's gay and he's too scary about loosing everyone in his life. But the fact is, that all the people around him knows yet what happens. His friends are just the most supportive people I ever met. They love him and always will be with him. Same with his sister and his grandpa (such a lovely character❤️).
But there will be always people with some weird morals. People that always knows how the man need to be a man. The correct way to be a man. In my opinion, it's absurd.
So, this kind of person is Julian's dad. I really hated the way he treated his son. He's the perfect example of how to not treating your children.
Speaking about the book. It's a very nice and cute story but not much happening here. It's more about Julian and how he spends the time with his friends or Mat. The written is good. There a lot of Spanish words, I loved it, but I know Spanish. So, maybe for someone who doesn't speak it, may results a bit difficult to understand some things. But, it's a great way to learn some cool words.
So, in conclusion, Ive enjoyed this book. It's a quick read and very nice.
Thanks to the author for writing such a lovly story.

It was a very bad decision. To come out on twitter. While drunk. But there you have it. When Jules wakes up from his night’s extravagance, life is totally different. And what will his Mexican father say? I know what my Cuban father would say. And he was a nice guy. Jules’ father is not. A Senior in high school, Jules finds a kindred soul on Twitter and the love story that ensues is a sweet coming of age story that will resonate.

I was expecting to enjoy this, but I didn't expect to have this many feelings about it. I cried, I laughed out loud, it was such a good read.

At first, I was a little afraid this would be a heavy read, because it does deal with parental abuse. And there were definitely heavy parts. But I felt like they were handled so well, and they were really balanced out by the happy and fluffy parts.

My favourite part about this was the romance, because it's an internet romance and it's long distance. For me personally, most of my friends are online friends. And I feel like that's the case for many people nowadays. But I don't think I've ever seen something like this in YA before, and I loved it.

There's some great healthy discussions about sex as well that I think are so important to have in YA, and they were told in a funny way too, which was just so well done. It was mostly about gay sex education and it included aspects I've barely ever seen YA books touch on but that will be so important for queer teens to read.

It took me 18 days to finish this book and I also feel like it put me in some kind of reading slump but anyway. I'm actually so sad to actually write that I didn't enjoy this book that much -- and for the dumbest reason ever. All of you know I'm Vietnamese. And I was over-joyed to discover that the love interest in this story was gay and Vietnamese. But let's be honest here: my joy was kinda ruined by the name of the character. And yeah you can say that I'm nitpicking and it's just a small detail but I believe that it's so important when we, Vietnamese readers, don't have a lot of stories with Vietnamese characters. So the love interest's name is Mặt Trời which literally translate to "sun". And yeah it's cute and it actually matches with the main character's family name "Luna" which means "moon". But here is the problem: Mặt Trời isn't a name. It just means sun. And you know I really really thought I was imagining stuff like -- I know my Vietnamese isn't the best so I actually asked my mom and a friend about it. They both said it wasn't a name. It just means sun. Like the sun in the sky. It's not a the type of "name" with a meaning behind it (for example: "Delphine" means "dolphin").

And you know I tried to look past it because I think I know why the author choose that name. I believe they wanted to play with the "sun/moon" ship -- with the fact that one character was a bit more moody than the other. It also perfectly fits the title right? "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun" e.g from Mat since he's literally the sun? I tried so hard to look past it because in itself, the rep wasn't that bad -- even though I did raise my eyebrows for another detail but nobody is going to catch it I guess. I don't know if the author asked for a Vietnamese sensitivity reader or not but ultimately, the rep wasn't that bad. Not the best for sure -- because I'm sorry the name made me blink for ten minutes -- but not the worse.

This "small" detail kinda ruin my enjoyment but it's definitely on me, not the author -- well just a bit I guess -- because at the end of the day, the story and what it tries to do was actually pretty good. I actually liked how the author shows that long-distance relationship actually word; if only you want them to work. I liked how communication was one of the main focus of this story and it was actually refreshing to see in a story with teenagers as characters. Communication is healthy and sexy if you ask me. The author also shows that communicating isn't just something you can stop once you're in the relationship, especially when you're doing long-distance. With Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, the author shows that communication isn't just something you can abandon and I particularly loved how the two characters communicate during their first time. Especially when they asked each other if they were okay with certain things. (If communication is sexy, consent is too).

The main focus on the story though is how, in the end, queer people deserves to find joy and happiness no matter what. With this story, the author makes you understand that queer people, especially queer people of color are worthy of love, no matter what people may say. And it is such an impactful meaning, especially in a book which especially targets queer latinx teenagers -- and more broadly: poc -- because we face so many hardship. Between racism and racism within the lgbtqa+ community but also rejection from our family because of cultural differences. I especially liked the author's note where they say that they wanted this story to be a happy one but sometimes, this happiness can't happen without some pain. I can't say it better than the author themselves:

"I say all this not to diminish the beauty of the aforementioned joy you will find here but to acknowledge the reality that for queer people of color, for queer Latinxs, Chicanxs, Mexican Americans, joy is very much tied to trauma. Two sides of the coin that is our lives."

Fifteen Undred Miles from the Sun is ultimately a story about love -- love you find with someone else, love you find within yourself.

Jonny Garza Villa has written a captivating, swoon-worthy novel perfect for readers a wide variety of readers. Garza Villa manages to poignantly and accurately reflect the struggles Jules faces after he comes out while not centering the pain of queer young people. This is ,more than anything, a story of love and hope- one that readers will clutch to their chest upon finishing. Very highly recommended.

Jonny Garza Villa has written sunshine itself. Jules's story isn't a sugar-coated fairytale, and it's important for readers to be aware that the book touches on the harsh realities queer youth face (in this case, a Mexican-American cis gay teen boy). However, Garza Villa takes us on a journey filled with hope, levity, and a heart-bursting romance. When I tell you this book made me believe in good things again, it is an understatement. Jules doesn't always love himself. He doesn't always trust that the boy fifteen hundred miles away from him is genuine. I felt like shaking him and taking him away from everything that hurts, but also Mat has every right to be the new standard for YA love interests, and watching them grow as individuals and as a couple? Chef's kiss.

I firmly believe Jules's story will save lives, and I want this book is as many hands as possible.

"Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun" it's a book that talks about trauma, suffering and sadness, but most of all about love and hope. A book that's gay as f*ck and that teaches us that there's always light at the end of the journey... even if it's in an unexpected way.

The main and secondary characters are endearing. The romance is incredibly cringey, which is PERFECT because they're teens and teens, from the POV of us people that are way past that stage, are cringey AF. The topics are well balanced, from the typical "which university to choose" and "what about my high school friends", things we're used to, to physical abuse because of homophobia, internalized homophobia, chosen families blood related or not and the distance we put from being something we don't wanna be.

It's a lovely yet crude book, full of hope, as I already said, but (thank God) lacks the false optimism some books have. As a tiny yet really important example: redemption arcs are nothing but gained, and the author knows that.

PS: the author (Jonny uses they/them, btw) starts the book with a author's note where they say that if you're not ready to read this book either now or in a million years, it's okay and you don't have to. Your (our) mental health is important, as well as our physical security, and they add some trigger warnings which is necessary and really appreciated.

THE YEARNING! This book had my perfect balance of having tension in the relationship while also allowing the readier to experience the main character's love story in all different stages. Seeing their relationship grow and struggle while Julian and Mat allowed the reader to feel for and connect with them, while also making the moment when they meet even more joyful. While this does touch on harder topics with Julian's relationship with his father, this is also a heart-warming read full of queer Latinx joy. I absolutely adored it!

You know that feeling when you finish a book and you don’t think you’ll ever be able to read anything else ever again? You have been ruined for all other books, and nothing could possibly satisfy you except reading this particular book for the first time again, which makes you very petulant because it’s impossible? This is one of those books for me.

I didn’t go into reading lightly. The author’s note says outright that hey, some of this is going to be hard to read, especially if you’ve lived any of it. There is a rawness to this book, not only because the author is putting so much of themself out there, but also because the homophobia, abuse, outing, and feelings of isolation are—tragically—a fairly universal experience for LGBTQ+ kids. Even if it hasn’t happened to you, you may have that niggling fear that it will happen to you if you aren’t cautious.

If you do find yourself able to read through the more intense parts, you’ll find that Jules’s story is also funny and romantic and hopeful and that his life is filled with love. For better or worse, Jules, Mat, and their extensive and chaotic cast of friends and family are some of the most realistic characters I’ve read in a long time. And as for the couple, I would die for them. More than once, if I had to. I’m not sure how yet, but I would find a way to make it happen.

In summary: 5/5, would read for the first time again, and I can’t wait for the book to be unleashed upon the world so I’ll have people with whom to discuss my feeeeelings and share direct quotes.

2.75* I want to preface by stating that I am an undocumented Mexican immigrant living in California. I feel like I need to provide context for some of the things I am about to say.

First, let me start off by saying that I REALLY wanted to love this book. I was expecting it to be one of my favorite books of 2021, but while I did have fun reading, I wouldn't say I necessarily loved this book. Assuming that the target audience is today's (queer) teens, I understand why the writing took on a stream of consciousness approach. That's just how teens are. However, I think the book spent a lot of time telling rather than showing. Overall, I did think the premise was... cute. A bit cheesy, but queer people have never been given the chance to be cheesy and corny the way heterosexual people have. I just wish it was executed in a way that made me root for the main couple.

*The next part of my review will include a few spoilers.*

If you are reading for representation and diversity, this book is full of it. From food to dialect to regional differences, this book explains how even within different cultures, we have things that tie us together. Jordan, Jules' friend who is Black, seems to adopt some of the Mexican culture in his surroundings, specifically the dialect and slang that they use. Jules and Mat's mother, both different races, bond over their cultures' food. Jules and Mat's father acknowledge the well known struggle some people of color face when other people don't understand or mispronounce their names without any effort to correct themselves.

In terms of coming out stories, I like that this acknowledges the harsh realities queer Chicanxs/Latinxs face without damning or vilifying the entire culture. Jules' relationship with this dad felt very real and personal. My dad is almost exactly the same and I also have the complicated relationship with the way I feel about him. I wish the author would've gone more into depth with the feelings that come with loving someone while also fearing their hatred of you.

Again, there was a lot of telling and not enough showing. I feel like the author used dialogue as a scapegoat in which characters spent more time giving speeches about how much they care for each other instead of simply showing us where that love comes from. Maybe it's because they're just teenagers on stan twitter, but I did not feel the chemistry between Jules and Mat at all. It all felt so rushed and sudden which might be realistic but it also straight up bored me at times. I spent more time looking forward to his interactions with his family/friends and the nostalgia his senior year brought me than caring about their relationship.

There were a few particular things that bothered me too much for me to give this a higher rating. First, what the heck is a "Latinx aesthetic"? I've noticed that a few authors of color seem to write stories with a white audience in mind and I don't think it's always intentional. Maybe it's because the author is a second gen, but I don't know a single normal latinx person alive that does normal, everyday things, and thinks to themselves "this is such a Latinx aesthetic." It felt like the author was telling a nonLatinx audience "this is what Latinxs do and like!!" which becomes borderline dangerous when we start being perceived and identified by these self imposed stereotypes. Also, the author is Mexican, writing Mexican characters. I promise it is okay to call things MEXICAN and not Latinx. To say something is a Latinx aesthetic is dangerous because there is no such thing as a single Latinx culture. If they want to call it a Mexican aesthetic, then fine, go for it.
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Another thing that bothered me, and I'm sure the author meant well, was this second gen savior B.S: "I'd rather do something that helps remind these kids that they are human." What is it about second gens and thinking undocumented people don't consider themselves human? The line bordered on white savior-ism and as an undocumented immigrant, if you're only going to talk about us to make your main character seem like a good, charitable, woke guy, just don't about us at all.

Overall, I did think the book was funny and cute at times. I think these relationships and stories need to be told and explored. I guess I just expected more.

Thank you to Skyscape and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am so happy that this was my first ARC review because there is no other book that is worthy! It was fantastic, amazing, astounding; this book was everything and more than I could have imagined. I did not know that much about the book when picking it up but the concept sounded great because I am a sucker for virtual romances and also I liked the cover.

Julián Luna, also known as Jules to his friends was an amazing protagonist! At the beginning of the book, Jules does not have much self-confidence, and he allows his insecurities to take over. When he accidentally comes out, he is terrified about what everyone will say and thinks he will be all alone. However, he soon realizes that he still has people who care and love him. This helps him to never give up on his dream, no matter what is thrown his way. 

Things that I adored: 

Romance - The romance between Mat and Jules is excellent! They meet through Twitter, but that does not stop them from being the most adorable couple I have ever read. They compliment each other so well. Mat is a ray of sunshine that Jules needs in his life while Jules keeps Mat grounded. I was screaming at the banter that the two of them shared. Mat always was there for Jules, even if he did not fully understand. There was never a point in time where I was not rooting for them. 

Friendships - The friend group in this book was so great and I felt like they were my friends. Jordan, Lou, Rolie, Itzel, Piña were so supportive of Julian and this made me so happy. I loved that they all came from different backgrounds, but if anyone said anything to Jules, they made it clear that they had his back. It was also great to see them laugh together, play soccer, hang out like average friend groups.

Food & Heritage - Many of the characters came from different backgrounds such as Mexican and Vietnamese. It was great to read about the different heritages. The food is what stuck out for me. There was so much food that made me hungry while reading this. Nearly every chapter they were eating or cooking something delicious.

Serious conversations - This book dealt with serious issues that many LGBTQ+ people can experience and it was written so well. I felt so connected to Jules that it was so hard to see him go through these struggles. Please look at the trigger warnings before reading this book. 

Honestly, my words will never be able to describe how much this book truly impacted me. I will hold this book close to my heart forever! It was wonderful!

It’s 2am, I just finished this breathtakingly beautiful book, I have tears streaming down my face, and I don’t know how to put into words how much I love it. I’m going to write an actual review tomorrow but I just need everyone to know right now that I’m in love with this book and I will be recommending it to everyone when it’s released!

Update: I’ve had time to process and I just loved this book so so much, I don’t even know how to accurately explain it. My favorite thing about it is how authentic everything felt from the fear and pain Jules deals with before and after coming out, to the way Spanish is so effortlessly mixed in with all the conversations Jules has, to the raw emotions of first love, and to the beautiful friendships he has. I cried, I laughed, I felt the anxiety and fears of being on the verge of adulthood and all that that entails, and I just wanted to hug each and every character (except for the obvious). I could go on and on with all the things I absolutely adored about this book but just know that when I finished it at 2 in the morning, I had tears streaming down my face because of how much I loved it. 100% my favorite read of the year so far! Please, please do yourself a favor and buy this book when it’s released on June 8th, you will not regret it!

TW: physical and mental abuse and the affect that has on mental health, homophobic language, and forced outing. - Jonny wrote a great authors note before the first chapter that explains the triggers really well so make sure you read that before you start!

Review on my Instagram @courtsrecsandreviews as well!