“So the sign for home is like someone kissing you twice, once near the mouth and once on your cheek just below your eye. Home went from being a place where you eat and sleep to the place where someone loves you.”

The Sign for Home was an incredibly educational, inspiring, and unique book. Arlo is a DeafBlind Jehovah’s Witness college student in need of an interpreter familiar with tactile ASL for his classes. Cyril happens to be just the man for the job, although his atheism and homosexuality don’t go over well with Arlo’s guardian and long-time interpreter.

The story contains so many educational elements about what it’s like to be DeafBlind and what happens when people are ignorant of or noncompliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is also a very powerful story of friendship that occurs between two unlikely parties, Arlo and Cyril. For the entire story, Cyril is pushing for accessibility, better technology and proper ethics when it comes to Arlo’s needs. Arlo’s guardian, Brother Birch, is absolutely despicable and honestly just did so many things to completely hold Arlo back and ruin his life. Meeting Cyril changes everything for Arlo, including being able to talk about the love of his life.

From what I know via Deaf friends, Blair Fell does an excellent job of portraying the life of a DeafBlind person and I love that he gives us Arlo’s point of view in addition to Cyril’s to really understand the mind of someone who is DeafBlind. I loved the Rochester references considering it’s where I live and the Deaf community here is huge, given NTID at RIT. This book is definitely not one that can be read in one setting based on educational content, assuming that the reader probably does not know that much about being DeafBlind. It’s honestly a lot to take in and is heartbreaking as Arlo’s story unfolds and you see the significant impact that lack of accessibility can have on someone’s life. The portraits of friendship and the story are absolutely beautiful and very redemptive for the heartbreaking elements. While this book was slower paced and I expected the romance to play a more major role based on the book’s marketing, I know that the content is something that will stay with me forever.

Thank you to Atria and Emily Bestler Books for the copy of this ARC.

I didn’t get the romance vibe. This book was deep, it was so much more. It opened my eyes to some ableist mindsets I have. Even as a mom with a disabled son in the eyes of the world, I kept thinking “oh they are taking advantage of him” to then be hit in the face with facts that he is more than a deaf blind person. He is a man who can think, and do whatever he wants. The true abuse with his uncles and party Molly, bothered me immensely. That is inexcusable. But realizing Arlo is this capable man no matter what conditions he may deal with. That was the highlight of the story. The romance element is fun, but I think it almost took away from the huge points of bringing light to ableism and just so much knowledge of the deafblind community. It was just an enlightening read that had me wanting to research so much when I was done reading. I however couldn’t rate it more than 3, because the story just wasn’t for me. The lessons were amazing though.

I liked this but I sometimes found my attention drifting. I do appreciate the diversity and care put into creating these characters but also hoped there was a bit more romance. I'd still recommend this to friends.

So Arlo is deaf and blind and Cyril is the interpreter for classes. While writing for his class he starts to remember old memories. It was an interesting concept. But it didn’t hold my attention

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell follows the story of Arlo. Arlo is deaf/blind and is assigned a new interpreter Cyril for a college writing course. Due to a writing assignment, Arlo unlocks memories of a lost love (told via flashbacks). The story was slow to start, but once it got going, I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended. I also thought the story ended too soon, I want to know what happens to Arlo next.

The Sign for Home is a really cute and incredibly diverse romance. I loved the characters, the disability representation was really thorough and well done, and the plot was really interesting. Overall I highly recommend this to romance readers, especially those hoping to diversify their TBR.

I always enjoy a coming-of-age tale featuring a merry band of misfits and a strong protagonist eager to make a way in the world. Add the fact that life does not come easy for most of these characters, and you have a charming tale of friendship, loyalty, adventure, and bravery.

Fantastic debut, full of rich characters. Arlo is intelligent, yet naive, and desperate to communicate. Cyril is his new (gay) tactile ASL interpreter who is also perhaps an alcoholic, and definitely lonely. Molly has been Arlo's interpreter for years, and is also a Jehovah's Witness, which may have made her make some decisions she now regrets. Hanne is Cyril's "crazy Belgian best friend" who is supportive of everyone. Fell really took the time to get into the mindset of a DeafBlind young adult. This novel really makes you think - about how you perceive the world and others, and access to that world. It's also funny and sad and enraging at times (you'll get mad about how some characters are treated).

"Arlo Dilly is young, handsome and eager to meet the right girl. He also happens to be DeafBlind, a Jehovah’s Witness, and under the strict guardianship of his controlling uncle. His chances of finding someone to love seem slim to none.

And yet, it happened once before: many years ago, at a boarding school for the Deaf, Arlo met the love of his life—a mysterious girl with onyx eyes and beautifully expressive hands which told him the most amazing stories. But tragedy struck, and their love was lost forever.

Or so Arlo thought.

After years trying to heal his broken heart, Arlo is assigned a college writing assignment which unlocks buried memories of his past. Soon he wonders if the hearing people he was supposed to trust have been lying to him all along, and if his lost love might be found again.

No longer willing to accept what others tell him, Arlo convinces a small band of misfit friends to set off on a journey to learn the truth. After all, who better to bring on this quest than his gay interpreter and wildly inappropriate Belgian best friend? Despite the many forces working against him, Arlo will stop at nothing to find the girl who got away and experience all of life’s joyful possibilities."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a difficult book to rate because while I truly liked the characters and wanted what was best for Arlo and Cyril I did not enjoy any part of the actual story. I was drawn to the book for the Deafblind representation and greatly appreciated how much I learned. However the religious aspect was too much for me and made the story seem to drag on. the ned then seemed rushed and underdeveloped. I am glad I read this even though at times I just wanted to put it down.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher of The sign for home for the eARC of this book.

Honest review.

The sign for home took me a few pages to get in to. But once I did I was hooked. I've not read a book that featured a deaf/blind character before and enjoyed being emersed into their community.

This was also my first book by this author and I genuinely enjoyed the book and plan to check out Blair Fell's other books.

Happy reading ❤️

Books that share the Deaf/Blind experience are hard to come by, so this one was very welcome. The differences between the characters, and their path to friendship was by turns humorous and touching.

This was a fascinating look at the DeafBlind community and the various barriers to access that they encounter. At first it seemed like a lot of layers all crammed into one book: a gay interpreter being paired with a Jehovah's Witness DeafBlind student who has been incredibly sheltered. But it didn't take long to really get into the characters' heads and by the end I was fully invested in the success of their adventure. It was funny, poignant, and at times heartbreaking, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I wanted to like this book. But I couldn’t get into it. The first one started strong and after that I just got lost and I couldn’t get my nose in it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book. Below is my honest review!

This novel tells the story of Arlo, a young man who is deaf and blind. I have never read a story with a deaf or blind main character before and I found this portrayal to be beautiful. I learned so much about the DeafBlind community through this book, and I have a deeper understanding of what their lives are like. Arlo’s struggle with his faith resonated with me so much as well, and I loved that the author didn’t shy away from the conflicting emotions that come with that.

The narration style for both main characters is stream of consciousness and I really enjoyed that. It felt like I was in the characters’ heads and feeling what they feel. The romance, while not the main part of the story, was also compelling.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or has ever felt lost, just trying to find that place to call home.

‼️content warnings: gaslighting, emotional abuse, religious trauma/abuse

I received this ARC from Net Galley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

I had expected a cute romance novel, but this is not it. This is more a coming of age tale with a romantic side story.

It is not a light, fluffy read.

It touches on faith, family and coming into your own as a young adult.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Sign for Home.

One of the reasons I love to read is because some books, besides non-fiction, teach me about subjects I never really thought about before.

The Sign for Home is such a book.

Arlo Dilly is young, handsome, a Jehovah's Witness, and DeafBlind. Five years ago, he met the love of his life but after a tragedy, his life remains in stasis, nursing his broken heart and living under the strict rules of his controlling uncle.

When a chance to attend community college arises, along with a new, open minded interpreter named Cyril, Arlo begins to learn that being DeafBlind is not an impediment to living a full life.

To say I learned a lot about the DeafBlind community is putting it lightly. The author had done copious research on this community and it shows; the methods to engage DeafBlind, ASL, how members of this community can learn to live independently, the resources available to them.

Wow, it was so much and yet not enough.

Readers are not just given insight as how Arlo perceives his world and goes about his day to day activities but we are also given a perspective as to how an interpreter collaborates with their consumer, how Cyril is an advocate for Arlo and how beneficial developing a respectful and trustworthy bond between an interpreter and consumer is.

I how the author wrote authentically from Arlo's point of view, in the first person. At first, I found it difficult to read his chapters from this perspective but I understand it was necessary to get into Arlo's mindset.

I loved Cyril; he was kind and honorable, his emotional outbursts when he's frustrated or angry at how Arlo is treated was genuine and sincere.

The growing friendship between Cyril and Arlo was wonderful to read; how Cyril's sincerity and concern for Arlo stems from his dedication as a committed interpreter.

This was a funny, intriguing, informative, warm, sometimes funny, sometimes very sad story.

I'd recommend The Sign for Home to anyone who is looking for an unique read and enjoys learning something as well.

This was just a miss for me - I don't know that I was the right audience? I was SO excited about this one with the premise and representation of the DeafBlind community. However, I felt like this was geared towards a 20/30s audience with a character that was much more immature/juvenile for that age range.

I felt like my eyes were opened to the challenges of the DeafBlind community - one that I don't ever see represented in fiction, so that was awesome. However, I grew tired of Arlo's immaturity.

Thank you for the opportunity to read early, but this one just didn't hit for me. However, I think this will hit with most readers!

Wow, wow, wow, this book stole my heart.
Blair Fell wrote a beautiful, complex story with beautiful, complex characters.

When we meet Arlo, the DeafBlind, Jehovah's Witness Protagonist of this story, he's hiring a new Tactile Sign Language Interpreter to interpret his writing class. Enter Cyril, a gay, jaded interpreter who wants nothing more than to get out of Poughkeepsie, and who is honestly a little anxious about working with a DeafBlind consumer.

Through his class, Arlo uncovers the secrets that his caretakers have been keeping from him for years. With Cyril's help, Arlo is able to reconnect with his lost love.

I was completely engrossed in this story. Blair Fell is an incredible writer who can easily transport his readers into the character's inner thoughts. Writing Arlo's chapters in second person was unique and extremely effective. It's easy to feel transported into Arlo's body and thoughts. The reader is easily able to connect with Arlo's lived experience.

Every single character that we meet is relentlessly human. Their inner struggles are displayed plainly on the page, and it's easy to wonder what you would do in the difficult ethical situations presented. Every single character is flawed and struggles with their demons. The beautiful characterizations make this book compulsively readable.

Blair Fell also does an incredible job of using his book as a teaching tool. I learned so much about the various aspects of being an interpreter and the various communication methods that are available to DeafBlind people. But learning all of this never felt like learning. It just felt like reading! Truly amazing.

I read an ARC of this book thanks to Atria Books & Netgalley

I went into this expecting a light romance novel, and that's NOT the case at all. This is more a coming of age tale with a romantic side story . It's a heavy novel, about faith and family and coming into your own as a young adult.

I've never read a book with a deafblind character and it was challenging. There were a few times early on that I thought about quitting because the writing was difficult to follow and repetitive during scenes with signing. I realized I wanted to quit because I was uncomfortable outside of my normal reading material. I stayed with it and am so glad I did!

The novel alternates between two points of view. One is Cyril the interpreter's first person perspective. The other is Arlo's point of view, and it's written in second person. That took some getting used to but eventually worked very well at getting me to think and feel from Arlo's perspective.

This is a powerful novel, the writing is strong and I'm glad I read it. But the cover and blurb are misleading. I wouldn't recommend this for romance readers in general. It would be a better fit for readers of coming of age stories and literary fiction.

Wow! Just Wow! What a wonderful book and an excellent coming-of-age story.

This book is a dual perspective between Arlo Dilly a DeafBlind man who is much more than those around him believe and his new interpreter Cyril. Arlo is a Jehovah's Witness starting community college and Cyril needs a job this summer to help him get out of Upstate New York once and for all.

This rich and heartwarming coming-of-age story lets the good guys win and love concurs all. The friendships built really grow and help the characters become better communicators by the end. There were plenty of lighthearted and funny moments that made the story interesting and compelling. This was like nothing I have ever read before and I loved how Blair Fell was able to describe how Arlo felt and used ASL to have rich conversations with those around him.

Final Thoughts - The friendships made in this story, are real and honest with each other and show that home doesn’t have to just be a singular place but where people love you most.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!