Who doesn’t love a coming of age story?!

I love the representation in the story of the DeadBlind community. It was very eye opening to me on not only their struggles, but also the different ways of communication. It’s refreshing to read a story from that point of view.

The spiritual abuse is here was just awful. The mistreatment and control in Arlo’s life is hard to read about, but ultimately important.

The ending was a bit out there. I think it could have been wrapped up better, but overall, I really liked this!

*special thanks to Atria for sending me an ARC for review

Although this book is promoted as a romance, it is really more of a coming of age. Yes, there is some romance, but it's not a major part. This is more the story of Arlo, Arlo is a young DeafBlind Jehovas Witness. (yes, that's a lot to take in). The blurb states that Arlo realizes he has been deceived and goes searching for his lost love. While that's true, it's more the story of Arlo finding himself and his own voice (so to speak).

The story alternates chapters and when it is Arlos' turn, it is written in ASL, which is structured differently than English. I love the fact that it shows us so much more about this world. I think it gives this story so much more authenticity. That being said, I had a hard time adjusting to reading the grammar, structure and spelling of ASL. I had to really concentrate on hearing his voice in my head. I think it was really well done. However, I read to escape, and this book didn't offer me much of an escape - I had to put it down a few times and take a break.

It is a very good story. I love the growth of Arlo. I love the research that this author has obviously done. However, all that being said, this was not my cup of tea. I found myself skimming here and there just to move it along. .

I struggle with how to rate this. If this type of book if up your alley - you will probably love it. If you read to be about the journey, not the destination, this would work for you. For people like me who read to immerse themselves in another world and connect with the characters, it might not be the book for you. (An example of this is The English Patient. Although this book has nothing in common with it really, if you loved that book, you might love this. I personally hated it and was bored and distracted)

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

So, this is a tough review to write. I have never read a book about DeafBlind individuals and I do not know their experience so I cannot comment on how accurate this book is. However, I think what threw me off of this book is the narration of our main character. It was written in second person and it distracted me from the content of the book. I think it would have felt more intimate and personal written from first person. Perhaps that is nitpicky, but I feel like it decreased my investment in the story. It was still an interesting read, but I just didn't feel...there. Does that make sense?

Arlo Dilly, one of the main characters in this book, is a young DeafBlind man. After a college writing assignment brings up memories from his past, Arlo and his new DeafBlind interpreter Cyril, embark on a journey to help Arlo reconnect with a lost love,

I was immediately drawn to this book as I have not come across a DeafBlind character yet. I found Arlo's character to be very compelling and loved the interactions he had with the other characters.

I wasn't too sure about the way his character's POV chapters were written (in second person) but it was an interesting approach.

Overall I thought this was a lovely story and one I will be recommending to friends.

This book was literally so cute, I did not want to put it down. I found Cyril and Arlo such enjoyable characters, and I loved reading about how Arlo went from just a job, to an amazing friend!

The Sign for Home, by Blair Fell, follows young Arlo, a DeafBlind student who also happens to be a Jehovah’s Witness.

I was initially drawn to this book by its title: The Sign for Home. As a current ASL student, I was intrigued and wanted to know if the book had anything to do with American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. I was thrilled to find out that the story is not only about a Deaf student, but a DeafBlind student. Most books fail to be inclusive of Deaf Culture, or the Deaf Community at all, so I was excited to read a story featuring a DeafBlind lead.

The book fits a lot of the trends that are becoming more and more prevalent these days, although I was expecting romance to be at the center of the plot, not a secondary plot line. Still, the representation and explanation of some aspects of Deaf and DeafBlind Culture was refreshing to finally see included in a novel. The author does a good job of guiding the reader on Arlo’s journey with him. This book is perfect for those looking for a fun adventure that’s inclusive, informative, and entertaining!

4.5 rounded to 4 stars

Arlo Dilly is a 23-year-old DeafBlind Jehovah Witness student. Molly is a middle-aged interpreter who also is a Jehovah Witness. Cyril is a red-headed gay DeafBlind interpreter in his mid 40s. Hanne is a 39-year-old Belgian “madwoman.” These are the key characters in The Sign for Home.

The story is told from two viewpoints in alternating chapters. Arlo’s part is told in 2nd person narrative. Cyril’s is written in 1st person. I’m not a fan of 2nd person narrative, but it wasn’t all that hard to adjust to.

The thrust of the story revolves around Arlo’s desire to live his own life and not live under the rules of his strict uncle who wants Arlo “protected” so he can be a voice for Jehovah God. Cyril and Molly both interpret for Arlo but are very different people and do not see eye to eye. Hanne adds flair and daring to the mix.

Arlo also yearns to get out from under the shadows of his past. He was in love once. Well, actually, he is still in love, but his sweetheart is gone forever. He cannot seem to recover from this. He tries his best to move on with the help and the trust he has in the people of his small world, but he just can’t get her out of his mind. Can he ever find peace?

I found this tale to be unique, educational, and very moving. I loved Arlo and Cyril and was amused by Hanne. There are several not so nice characters who are fun to dislike. I learned A LOT about the DeafBlind community, not only regarding their struggles to navigate amongst the seeing-hearing community, but all the various ways they can communicate and sometime live totally independent lives. I found all this very fascinating. I also received a good beginner’s lesson in the Jehovah Witness religion. Arlo’s journey to break free from his stifling restrictions and find his own way to a better life, the life he wants, a life that is sublime, is inspiring in so many ways. It will be a while before I forget Arlo Dilly.

I strongly recommend The Sign for Home for those of you who want to learn something new and to be presented with a wonderful story that will stay in your hearts for a long while.

I wish to thank Emily Bestler of Atria Books, Net Galley, and Blair Fell for an advanced copy. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell is an excellent fictional coming of age story that is fresh, unique, and endearing. I really liked it.

I just loved this book! Arlo Dilly is a character one cannot just help but love. My heart went out to him so many times…but don’t let his modifications fool you, he is smart, inquisitive, and yearns to find more out of life and love.

I loved the inclusion of a character that is blind/deaf. Definitely a huge void in regards to books including those challenges. It was refreshing and fascinating to see the world through his mind. His explorations, his growth, his stumbles along the way, all made him more lovable than the page before. In fact, the full cast of characters were unique, broad-based, and enjoyable. I always love my characters to be fallible yet possess a good heart. I also enjoyed the threads of obstacles and mystery interwoven as well.

A great book that I highly recommend and will remember for quite a while.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Emily Bestler/Atria Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/5/22.

This novel, written by Blair Fell, tells the story of two drastically different men coming together and learning that they may not be that different after all. Arlo, a young DeafBlind man, was raised in a strict Jehovah’s Witness environment. Cyril, an ASL interpreter on the brink of middle age, is assigned to interpret Arlo’s college writing summer course. Despite being wary of using tactile signing, Cyril takes the assignment as a gateway to moving to Philadelphia in the fall, a step he deems necessary to improve his life. A writing assignment brings back difficult memories of lost love for Arlo, which sets him on a path to chasing a second chance with his high school girlfriend.

I was instantly drawn to this book first by the cover, which is very similar to the recent trend of cartoonish covers on romance novels, and also the representation promised by a DeafBlind main character. However, the comparison to a modern romance novel stops at the cover. The beginning of the book starts out very slow with the characters being introduced. As someone with Deaf friends and a passable knowledge of signing (not ASL), I found the descriptions of tactile ASL and the intricacies of Arlo’s (and other character’s) disabilities enlightening, however it was very slow reading. I didn’t feel like I was hooked into the story until halfway into the book. The book switched POVs between second person (Arlo) and first person (Cyril). I love that Fell uses actual structure and grammar of ASL, which really helps drive home the major differences between ASL and written/spoken English.

The description of the book mainly describes it as a romance, but I would say romance only accounts for about 20% of the book as a whole. It felt like the romance was glossed over and left me feeling underwhelmed. Much more time is spent watching Arlo discover a world where he could live an independent life as a disabled person, which is sparked by Cyril’s influence. Watching a friendship blossom between these two had me rooting for both of them.

I'm a firm believer in the need for accurate representation in literature. Blair Fell did a fabulous job in this aspect especially in demonstrating the differences in grammar and structure between English and ASL. Fell also did a wonderful job in describing protactile interpretation and haptics in communicating with a DeafBlind person. Also, Fell did a great job making you feel the emotions of the characters. That being said I struggled to enjoy the story given the repetitiveness of the Jehovah Witness beliefs. While Arlo being a Jehovah's Witness is a large part of his character for much of the book, I struggled to continually read what felt like the same phrases over and over. It did take me a while to really become drawn to the story but as it went on I found myself more curious as to what would come next. Also, there were a few topics in this book that I personally disagreed with and thus made me not connect as well with the literature. Despite these things, the representation of the DeafBlind, depiction of the struggles those with exceptional needs face in getting equal access, and other important matters discussed in this book were well done and most needed!

The Sign For Home by Blair Fell is a dual POV novel that follows a young man and devoted Jehovah’s Witness named Arlo, as well as his new interpreter Cyril, who is weary of taking on the job due to the DeafBlind nature of interpreting.

The accuracy of representation and true characterization that Blair Fell brings to the disabled cast of her book, especially Arlo, is something I have never read before in regards to DeafBlind representation. She not only crafted realistic, likable characters but also made them human, instead of wholly focusing on the interpreter’s perspective and seeing the DeafBlind man as a prop. This is what made the book truly stand out to me.

4.5 stars rounded up. :)

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬!

3.5☆ rounded up!

“The Sign For Home” by Blair Fell is perfect for those who love drama. This particular story follows a boy named Arlo, who is deaf and blind. Arlo is also a devotee for the Jehovah’s Witness. We are introduced to another character, Cyril, who is an interpreter. Cyril is quite scared to be an interpreter for the DeafBlind due to an experience he had which left him extremely uncomfortable. There is indeed romance, in which I absolutely loved to see how that worked out!

The author did a fantastic job at portraying each character, sharing experiences of their own with the community. I was quite surprised as to how well the characters were written!

You can read the blurb or check out more reviews on Goodreads, but I’m going to tell you how this book made me feel. Nervous with a heightened sense of curiosity. Introspective is another. I have never really spent time thinking just how much the deaf-blind community is reliant on others. Having to have complete faith in those around you, to be honest, open, professional as well as moral. There is so much happening and so much information given by the author, Blair Fell. You can tell Fell devoted time to be acute and shine a light on this portion of the population. I leave this read feeling inspired to learn more and to reevaluate how I would interact with a person within that community. Love has many forms and everyone is entitled to feel that love and be loved in return.

The Sign for Home has found a home within my heart. What a wonderful thing to happen. Especially from a debut author. Well done, Blair Fell!

~Tanja

The Sign for Home is an adult contemporary fiction book about a DeafBlind man named Arlo and his interpreter Cyril. The chapters alternate between their perspectives. When the story begins, the two are just beginning to work together, and there are some things that cause them tension. Most notably, Arlo is a Jehovah's Witness and lives with a very strict (in some ways abusive) uncle. Cyril is not religious and he's gay. They are also navigating the best way to work together as Arlo starts to attend community college.
Arlo has had a lot of traumatic experiences in his past, the details of which are revealed slowly throughout the book as the two men get to know each other better. I loved watching the evolution of their friendship and teamwork. There are also some side characters that are interesting and I liked watching all the different combinations of interactions.
I'm not Deaf so I can't speak on how accurate the representation in this book is, but I learned a lot about different accommodation tools and DeafBlind culture from this book. I loved that Arlo's dialogue is written with the syntax of signed language rather than just English.
This book doesn't shy away from issues such as abuse, accessibility, language deprivation, and more. For that reason, I would give this a content warning for mistreatment of disabled people. There are also conversations about sexual harassment, sexuality, rape, bullying, and religious abuse. I did dislike some of the ways that the characters spoke about women (it felt oversexualized). And despite the cheerful cover, this is a serious book and not a romance. However, there is a hopeful tone within the heavy subject matter, the friendships are kind, and it's not all bad!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book with a disclaimer about the triggering subject matter! I'm glad that I read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this inspirational story of love, friendship, determination, and coming of age for a young man with visual and auditory disabilities.
Arlo met the love of his life at a school for the deaf, and then she disappeared. Was she gone forever?
He has never forgotten her or her beauty.
He then begins a journey to find his love with the help of his friends..
This is simply a beautiful novel that had me cheering for Arlo as well as his interpreter who will stop at nothing to assist his friend/client.

I was asked to read “Sign for Home” by Blair Fell. According to the publisher’s note, the author has more than two decades as a ASL interpreter but how he manages to get into the protagonist’s head the way he does is utterly outstanding.

Arlo is DeafBlind and in need of a tactile interpreter (think of what Annie Sullivan did for Helen Keller). He is being raised by his strict great uncle (and as a Jehovah’s Witness) and feels shame for the relationship he once had with a girl who was taken away from him. He hires Cyril who opens Arlo’s world. Unlike his uncle, Cyril allows Arlo to make his own decisions. More important, he believes in Arlo’s potential.

Yet, DeafBlind people need two translators and all good stories need an antagonist. Arlo’s is Molly, who is both a friend to his uncle and a Jehovah’s Witness. Believing that Cyril would lead Arlo a sinful path, Molly does her best to interfere with Arlo and Cyril’s friendship. Can Arlo break away to stand on his own and perhaps be reunited with his first love?

The story moves from Arlo’s point of view to Cyril’s. The author does a magnificent job in capturing both voices—I could really imagine what it’d be like to rely on my other senses (like smell, taste and touch) because I could not hear and my sight was waning. Cyril is also an awesome character—it’s hard to play favorites.

To say I have read nothing like this would be an understatement.

My thanks to publisher, the author and NetGalley for this sweet book.

When I think about romance books, you think you've seen it all. Wrong. This book was nothing like I expected and was so different from other new adult, romances out here. The main character Arlo is deaf, blind, a Jehovah's Witness, and is chasing a second chance at love. I love seeing diverse representation in books - there are not enough books with diferently-abled representation, and this is so important and what drew me to the book.. The book was definitely unlike anything I have read before - I recognize this book may not be for everyone, but it is such a fascinating read and the diifferent POV/MCs makes it such an interteresting read.

Thank you for the early copy! This book will definitely stick with me for a while....

I know Zadie Smith made it cool to dunk on Jehovah's Witnesses by portraying them as automatons with cartoonishly ridiculous beliefs, but that doesn't make it any less mean-spirited. And while authors might find it effective to lampoon JWs for comic or artistic effect, the sad thing is that most readers are going to assume that it's accurate. Some details, like the names of the meetings, are years out of date, while others, like the constant talk of Judgement Day, missions, and Arlo's hearing being restored in heaven, are just completely wrong. This book is doubly uncomfortable, as its portrayal of a person with hearing and visual impairment makes him into a collection of quirks and a smell detective--by the time he points out a professor smells like the beef patties she was cooking and wins a seat in her class, I was cringing so hard. Well, that and him having to call his great aunt "Mrs. Brother Birch." It felt like Rain Man starring in a Todd Solondz movie.

And honestly, I think there could have been a good story here. The author does capture the disconnects in communication between people with deafness and the ableist world around them, the abuse and infantilization that people with disabilities often find at the hands of caregivers and educators. But I think we needed a little more to root for in both Cyril and Arlo.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Truly knowing the world is less about whether you can see or hear and more about the intensity of your curiosity and intelligence.”
-chapter 8, page 56

✨This book is an example of why I love reading. The possibilities are as vast as the ocean. What we learn, what we discover, the unknown of what awaits as we read that very first page holds all the excitement of a new journey, a new story.

✨This novel was so unique and like nothing I have ever read before. Arlo, our main character, lives at a boarding school run by his uncle, who is a strict Jehovah’s Witness. Arlo, who is in his early twenties, is a DeafBlind man, navigating a controlling environment with little freedom and choice. We see this in the way he’s treated by his uncle, and also his long-term interpreter, Molly. Molly doesn’t always give him all the information he’s entitled to. She also treats him like a child and tries to make decisions for him.

✨Arlo’s primary communication is through Tactile ASL. He’s taking his first college course and needs an additional interpreter. This is where we meet Cyril. Cyril becomes the advocate that Arlo truly needs, and helps change the course of Arlo’s life. There are kind and beautiful characters you’ll meet who help Arlo along the way, and also people you just want to rescue him from. We get stories from his youth where he met his dearest and closest friends. We also get the story of his first love. This novel will have you run the gamut of emotions. You will just be rooting for Arlo and also hoping he finds the girl he loved.

✨There are so many wondrous things in this book. You feel deeply for these characters and learn a lot through their journey - especially Arlo’s trials and triumphs.
Its heartbreaking and endearing, funny and real. It contains all the kinds of stuff that just sticks in your heart. Truly an amazing read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS BOOK WITH ME!
The topic is very important to me. My mom is a bilingual speech therapist.
Thank you!