Adorable book! I am just thrilled about the inclusion of disability in novels- but especially the niche subgenre of NA. This is so heartwarming.

Wow! Blair Fell is Champion author! Her writing brings to light the intricacies surrounding the BlindDeaf community in a way that makes it impossible for the reader to not empathize with the characters in the story. Simultaneously, she brings humanity to people who may often be seen as a mystery to those of us who are Sight-Hearing (temporarily) Able. I can’t think of the last book I read where the characters evolved so thoroughly and believably in a single volume. Emotions run deep in this story of strength, humility, and compassion.
THIS is the book you MUST read this year!

This book is amazing.

A disabled coming-of-age story about breaking free of the confines of a suffocating religion and learning to stand up for yourself in an ableist world.

The story is told in dual POV with Arlo's perspective told in 2nd person and Cyril's perspective told in first person. I have never read a narrative told quite like this and while it took my brain a few chapters to really gt on board with this convention, the way these POVs were able to communicate nuance and establish intimacy were astounding.

Over the past year with #FreeBritney, conservatorships have been in the spotlight and this story tackles the inherent violent ableism of these relationships head-on.

The friendships and the relationships of care that develop between the characters as they learn to communicate are so profound, and I feel so grateful for the opportunity to read a fiction book about a DeafBlind person that is a story of liberation and not tragedy.

This is such a stunning story and I believe everyone should read it.

[NB: This is not a romance! I tend to see the literary world as split into two: romance novels and non-romance novels and I think because of the cover, the publisher, the strict dual POV, and the reference to Arlo's great love, I just assumed that this was a romance. If you follow my reviews for romance recs, just know that while I 100% recommend this book, it is not a romance novel!]

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this ARC.

CW: conservatorships, religious shame, discussions of rape, forced institutionalization, ableism

The Sign for Home is both fascinating and beautiful, so I want to start out by recommending it to everyone, especially those who want more disability representation in their reading lives.

I admit to not being sure how Fell would pull this novel off, and cringingly anticipating something pretty ableist, but I have never been happier to be proven wrong. This book was obviously deeply researched and written with the utmost respect to the Deaf and DeafBlind communities. After reading, I did some research on Blair Fell and discovered he was an ASL interpreter, which just made me love this book even more.

My favorite part was the last paragraph or so, which made me cry, but I also really loved how the characters had clear flaws, despite being good people overall. Not all writers can harness the nuance needed to portray such distinct three-dimensional characters, but Fell pulled it off beautifully. And I especially loved that their individual character flaws had real consequences for them all.

About three-quarters of the way through this book I found myself simultaneously unable to put it down and also dreading what might happen next. I could see things going wrong in so many ways and just wanted to reach in and grab these characters, who now felt like good friends, and keep them safe.

There’s more I could say about this book, but I don’t want to give too much away and ruin the experience for y’all! The Sign for Home releases April 5, 2022, so add it to your TBRs because this is a must-read!

I was pretty excited for this one as I'm always on the look out for more diverse main characters, but sadly at this time I have DNF'd it. I made it about 35% through but it's just so slow and nothing has really happened yet. I'm still only just getting to know Arlo. The actual story has yet to even begin.

While I have enjoyed hearing Arlo's inner thoughts and experiences as a DeafBlind person, I'm just finding it a chore to read because the story has yet to really get my attention. Maybe one day I'll give this one another go, but for now I've put it aside sadly.

I tried this book and quickly DNFed it. I was excited for a disabled main character but the content was too abrasive for me.

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell is about Arlo and Cyril. Arlo is DeafBlind and a devout Jehovah’s Witness. His goal is to attend a college writing program so he can better spread his faith. Cyril is an interpreter with dreams of moving to bigger and better places, and he is terrified of interpreting for DeafBlind clients ever since he had an uncomfortable experience when he first became an interpreter. This book is about how the two characters help each other to see the world as an incredible place for everyone. Throw in some lost love, a kooky best friend, and a great adventure, you have your story.

What I liked: The author demonstrates his experience is the field of interpreting through his writing. He is detailed enough that hearing people will understand the nuances, and those, with experience can also enjoy the story without it feeling like a crash course in Deaf Culture and ASL. The author goes beyond his own experiences and clearly sought out to people in the Deaf and DeafBlind community to make this story as enjoyable and impactful as it is.

To keep in mind: While I understood the artistic choice because of my experience with ASL and the Deaf Community, people unfamiliar might feel overwhelmed by the language used. The author writes Arlo using his native language of ASL, which has a very different grammatical structure than English. Arlo is an incredibly smart character, and Fell writes him as a proud ASL user.

Rating: I absolutely loved this book. After reading so many books where I do not see the students and friends accurately represented, this book was a breath of fresh air that teaches about language, culture, and basic human rights. For more information, I would recommend researching language deprivation, something far too many D/deaf and hard of hearing children face.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very different from anything else I've ever read before, yet I still enjoyed it. I'm more of a romance reader, and while this story does feature romance, first and foremost, this is Arlo's life story, once as a DeafBlind child, and now as a DeafBlind man. It is also Cyril's story, who is Arlo's interpreter, but even so, a large portion of his story is dedicated to the incredible young man he works for/with. Both characters opened my eyes to things that I- and most people, I'm sure- take advantage of. If I were to lose my hearing tomorrow, my first language- English- would allow the transition to sign language to be much easier than if I were born deaf. If I were to lose my sight tomorrow, my transition to braille would be easier because of my prior knowledge, as well. But imagine being born DeafBlind, or in Arlo's case, being diagnosed with Usher Syndrome type 1 (meaning that while he was born deaf, his vision will continue to deteriorate until he loses it completely) and being born in a home with a parent who does not know (and will not learn) ASL. And when you finally learn true ASL from your peers, you then have to take that knowledge, and turn it into written word. ASL may be based off the English language, but they are two different languages at the end of the day, because English adds contractions and structure and punctuations and words like read can mean two different things, to currently read or to have read in the past. It's insane. And I, as a hearing and seeing person, never thought about how lucky I am to not be challenged in this way.

All of this to say, Arlo may have to communicate differently from the rest of his college peers, and his written English grammar may not be up to par with someone trained in the field from the get-go, but he is so very brilliant, and truly kind. He loves with his whole heart, unconditionally. Another theme of this book would be that of religion. Arlo was raised as a Jehovah Witness first by his mother, and then by his Uncle, and nearly all of his peers or the adults in his life had been JW until Cyril. Arlo has battles with his "forbidden desires" and his desire to please Jehovah God. This adds another layer of intrigue to Arlo's character, as he is so desperate to do what's right, and to one day sit among the righteous. He is taught that he will see and hear in heaven- which I think is problematic in it's own right but absolutely the sort of thing religious institutions would spout out.

Basically, this story is really eye opening, and so different from anything I've ever even heard of. The only reason I gave it four stars, is because the first half is a little slow. The content is really important, in my opinion, but it just takes a moment to get through it.

This is a beautiful look into someone who is deaf and mostly blind looking for the life he has always wanted.
This is a journey for Arlo and also Cyril. And they both grow along the way.
I wanted more from them at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Atria/Emily Bestler Books,
Thank You for this eARC!

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

This is a phenomenal debut novel by Blair.

Here we have Arlo is looking for just the right girl. He is young, easy on the eye and determined. He is also DeafBlind as well as being a Jehovah’s Witness.
He currently lives with his uncle who is extremely strict on Arlo. And he doesn't think he will be able to find the right girl under the circumstances.

Once upon a time there was a girl Arlo met with the beautiful eyes and who the told him the most amazing stories through her hands.
Then a tragic accident happened, and their love was swept away forever!
Well that's what Arlo thought.

He has tried hard to mend his broken heart, after years of trying to do so he is assigned a college assignment which will uncover buried memories of his past.
He soon starts to wonder if the hearing people he thought he could trust has been lying to him along, and maybe his long lost love might be found again.

Not being able to trust what others tell him, Arlo convinces a couple of misfit friends to help him on a journey to find the truth.
Seriously, who better to bring on his journey than his gay interpreter and crazy inappropriate Belgian Best Friend?!
Despite the many hurdles throw his way, Arlo will not stop until the girl he needs to find is found.


WoW! WoW! WoW!

Honestly, this is my first book I've read with a MC that is DeafBlind.
And truth be told it opened my eyes to so much.
How something so small to me means the world to someone else! Selfish I know!
Like the things we take for granted.
But Arlo here I was absolutely captivated with him.
His character is one that you just love and adore.
I felt for him so many times on so many levels.
But this man is smart, and intelligent and the way he views the world is so beautiful!
We need more Arlos in the world!
The characters are well developed I also enjoyed the side characters. They were fun!
This unique coming of age, is so enthralling, entertaining, engaging and beyond amazing!
This story is one I couldn't put down. It has character, love and it made me seriously sit back and think!
People are so quick to judge. And the world doesn't need to be that way!
This is one story no one should miss reading!
And if you do pick it up.... You won't be sorry!

LOVED loved loved this book.

The writing had me captivated from the start to finish, and I found myself reading it almost straight through one sitting. I look forward to reading more by this author.

We've all heard of Helen Keller, but what is it like to be DeafBlind in modern times?

Arlo is an attractive 23-year-old man who has been deaf since birth and has lost almost all of his sight. He has an intelligent mind and a healthy body but is totally dependent on his aging guide dog, his antiquated translation equipment, his long-time interpreter, and his domineering uncle, the most respected elder in his Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall. Brother Birch became his guardian when Arlo's mother died. Arlo has been denied access to programs and devices that would make his life easier because a restricted future has been mapped out by his uncle, and his religious training has forbidden him to do many of the things he would like to do. When Arlo enrolls in a community college writing class, a second interpreter is engaged. Cyril has issues of his own, and his experience doesn't include much two-hand Tactile interpreting, but he needs the money.

As Cyril and a close female friend, along with Arlo's intimidating professor, slowly get to know Arlo as an aspiring writer with horrible grammar (a common result of having ASL as his first language) and a beautiful spirit, they have to decide whether they can help him access the additional resources he desperately needs without alienating Brother Birch into limiting Arlo's life even further.

An experienced interpreter himself, the author makes Arlo's struggle feel authentic for the most part. A riotous adventure toward the end of the book strains credulity but adds excitement, as the reader can't help but root for both Arlo and Cyril. I savored this in-depth look into the life of one particular DeafBlind character, the way ASL signs are sometimes lyrically created, and the advances in DeafBlind interpreting.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted review copy.

Wow- this was an incredible and unique book! The author quite obviously put a lot of research into learning about those who are DeafBlind and if added so much to the story.

The storyline follows Arlo, a DeafBlind twenty-something who has been living with his guardian and uncle, a strict Jehovah’s Witness. After talking his uncle into letting him take a college writing course, Arlo is paired with a new interpreter named Cyril, a fiery gay redhead who takes the young aspiring writer under his wing.

The unlikely pair begin an adventure that ultimately opens up whole new world beyond Arlo’s previous and secluded existence, and ultimately leads him back to his long lost love and finding his own voice. I absolutely loved this coming of age book and would highly recommend! 5/5 stars.

I was offered an Arc of this book via Netgalley from the publisher Atria books and asked to post my honest review.

First of all this book was incredible. It was not at all like anything I have ever read. Honestly, this was the first novel I have read where the main character is deafblind. I could not put it down. I was absolutely enthralled with Arlo and the way he perceives his world. This book was eye-opening to me. It made me realize just how little I know about the deaf and deafblind community. I had no idea that ASL and writing would be so different from one another in grammar and other aspects. Arlo is an extremely intelligent man and oftentimes people are quick to judge he isn't based on his writing is different from the typical hearing person.

Based on the book's cover I thought I would be reading something along the lines of a rom-com. Instead, it is a wonderful coming-of-age story about Arlo Dilly. There were so many times while reading that I just wanted to reach into the book and tell Arlo everything would be okay and (also to smack his uncle.) The inclusion in this book is phenomenal. I loved the different character perspectives between Arlo and Cyril. Not only did Arlo grow during the story, so did Cyril. When I came to the end of the book I was so sad that my journey with Arlo and Cyril had come to an end. The uncertainty in the ending was a little frustrating to me because I wanted to know exactly the outcome of their lives. However, in this instance, the uncertainty made sense and also made the book more real.

(I will also be posting my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and any other retailers closer to the publication date. As well as preordering my hardback copy. I just couldn't wait to read this and rate it on my goodreads account.)