I’m not sure I have the words to adequately explain how much I loved this book. I will try, but it will likely be a mess. You have been warned.

Ok. So. This book hit really close to home. I was not prepared to see myself so clearly in Chase, even though I knew that he and I had a lot on common. It is no secret that I struggle with body dysmorphia and disordered eating. My relationship with food has been notoriously damaging.. Seeing Chase struggle in similar ways with using food and exercise as a control mechanism, watching him deal with body dysmorphia is ways wildly similar to my own, and seeing how he feels the sting of the same sort of comments I received was hard. It’s good though, because it’s reality, and there is no reason why we can’t read about it and talk about it. We should, because often times the shame of it compounds the issue. Add in the gender conversation and Chase was basically batting 1000 for me.

Now… the story. It’s everything. It’s everything college age me probably needed to read and see. The accuracy of that moment in time when everything is finally coming together only to fall apart again- I think we’ve all been there and Salvatore opens that door and let’s us see every beautiful, messy moment of it. We want Chase and Jack to figure their shit out, but we also know life isn’t always that easy. In the end what we want more is for them both to be okay, no matter what that looks like.

I already know that this will be a book I reread. I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on it in a few weeks.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and these opinions are my own. This is by far my favorite book I’ve read so far in 2022! I’ve never felt more seen then I did reading Chase’s story! Chase is just starting his freshman year of Art School and still struggling to find himself. He’s dealt with body dysmorphia for a long time and still struggling to understand his gender and what it means to him. He’s had a falling out with one of his best friends whose now in the same program and competing for the same prestigious mentorship as him. He’s also never been in love, but then he meets Jack who makes him feel more confident but is struggling with his own sexuality… can they make it work? With the help of his friends Rae and Benny Chase will navigate first love and finding himself! I connected to Chase in the first chapter of this book and from there I was on edge the entire time wanting nothing bad to happen to him! Having always dealt with my own negative body issues and still trying to figure out what being non-binary means for me Chase’s journey really resonated with me! So many things that Chase struggled with I could relate too! Steven Salvatore creates such lovable characters that I can’t put the books down! This book on exploration self-image, gender, sexuality is perfect for any reader! I’m still feeling all the feelings with this one! I cannot recommend it enough! So excited to get my physical copy in March!

And They Lived… follows Chase Arthur who couldn’t be more excited to start his freshman year at a small arts college. A huge Disney fan and obsessed with true love, Chase wants to be an animator. While he’s searching for his very own love story, he’s struggling with a lot: body dysmorphia, just recovering from an eating disorder, and figuring out his gender identity. Not to mention his ex-best friend Leila showing up at his college and battling him for a prestigious mentorship.

To say that Chase’s life is complicated when he meets and falls head over heals for Jak Reid would be an understatement. But as his relationship with the poet who is still trying to figure out his own sexual identity progresses, Chase begins to feel like things are making a turn for the better. When their relationship is ruined by an unexpected visit from Jak’s best friend however, Chase is forced to face his personal struggles and to learn to love himself first before opening his heart to others.

What a wild ride this book turned out to be. The thing I’ve learned about Salvatore’s novels is that they never go the way I expect them to and that makes for a truly unpredictable reading experience, which I always welcome.

What really struck me about And They Lived were its incredibly lively characters. Chase, of course, is super amped to start his freshman year, but the people he meets (as well as his best friend from back home) felt so vibrant and took up a real presence in the novel. Benny, Chase’s roommate for example, is so overwhelming in his enthusiasm and excitement that you can’t help but fall in love with him from the very first meeting. You really get to see Chase blossom in this new environment surrounded by supportive friends and the banter between Rae, Benny, Xavier, and Rhett was loads of fun. These characters are unapologetically themselves and I love that readers will find the message in this novel that you can be whoever you want to be because there are people out there to whom you are perfect.

The story is also interlaced with excerpts from Chase’s story for the mentorship “The Prince Who Captured Lightning” that mirror his relationship journey with Jak which definitely added a more fantastical, fairytale-esque quality to the novel. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance in this novel (it takes a lot for me to be invested in insta-love, so take this with a grain of salt please), I did really enjoy seeing Chase and Jak bond over books, art and the power of words. Salvatore also doesn’t shy away from the tough moments where Jak describes his struggles with his conservative family and friends and the way internalised homophobia is incredibly hard to overcome. They both have their own struggles to overcome before they are ready to be with each other and that is definitely a core point in this novel. Still, there are moments of cuteness overload that balance out the heavier side of things. And I think anyone who’s ever had a crush on someone in the turbulent time of their first semester at college will relate with Chase and his dreams of having a happily ever after that’s worthy of Disney.

The focus in this novel, however, is solidly on Chase’s journey towards self-acceptance and love—both the love he should have for himself as well as learning to believe that he is worthy of love and I think this is where And They Lived… shines the brightest. Chase is filled with so much ambition and passion and dreams for the future, but he’s also riddled with self-doubt and I liked how we really got to see that juxtaposition and how much of what he thinks of himself is informed by how others treat him. His struggles with food and his gender identity, not to mention his ex BFF who invalidates him at every turn felt as painful as they were relatable. I think it was so important to see Chase trying out they/them pronouns as well as being comfortable using he/his for now because it showed how fluid gender identity is and that it’s really only up to yourself with what you feel comfortable and no one should be able to take that right from you.

An exploration of first love, being on your own for the first time and how to practice self-acceptance, And They Lived is an empowering reminder that we all deserve to live happily ever after—even if the reality looks different from what we’ve imagined it to be.

Hopeless romantic Chase Arthur is about to start his first year at college. While he gets to start at his first choice school in a top animation program, the doubt is creeping in. Desperate to dive into his first relationship, he’s not sure he’s good enough. Especially since he’s struggled with an eating disorder and doesn’t know his own gender identity.

Enter Jack Reid, a creative writing major concentrating in poetry. Chase falls hard for Jack the moment they meet. As Chase throws himself into a possible new relationship, Jack has his own difficulties and issues to deal with. Especially when it comes to his conservative family.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of this to review! Can’t Take That Away was an enjoyable read, so I was interested in getting to this one. Especially snce the cover is great! I really enjoy the color palette and just the overall style.

However, I have generally mixed feelings about this book. So, I’ll start with what I think Salvatore did well. One of the strongest aspects of their writing is character. Even if some of the choices and the aspects of the art program weren’t the most realistic, I think Chase and Jack are fully realized character. But, they weren’t my favorite. Benny, Chase’s roommate, might have been the best part of this book. They have a little group at college, and the way that the relationships evolve felt realistic for the most part.

Outside of the characters, some of the plot points felt a little clunky. Specifically surrounding the art school aspect of the story. While I only minored in art, I’m not sure freshman students would be making full on animation films in their first semester. From my knowledge of art programs, you start with the basics first, and then work your way up from there. Not to say freshmen couldn’t do it, but it just didn’t seem realistic to me.

Also hi, it’s 2022, please stop putting in comments about people being virgins when they go to college. Like, we know better than that, please stop doing it. Speaking of that, there are some pretty steamy scenes in here, so just be warned before going in if that’s not your thing. One of them happens kind of Titanic style?

All in all, I’m not really sure how to rate this one. Some good characters, but overall, a bit of a chaotic plot.

When I read the synopsis for this book I was so hyped, I’m a queer, trans, perpetually single student in art college and this book sounded made for me. And then I received a physical ARC with that GORGEOUS cover illustrated and my excitement grew even more. Well. That died out fast.
Earlier this year I received an ARC of this authors debut, Can’t Take This Away which I also gave a one star, but I wanted to give this a chance anyways since the synopsis hooked me and I hoped they would have gotten better since their debut. My main issues with cant take this away was the cringe-ness and unrealistic-ness and this book also had those issues MAJORLY.

First lets start with the cringe. I am a reader who cant deal with second hand embarrassment or annoying main characters and OOF did this book contain lots of that. Heres just a few examples of note:
- He put a stop motion gay Disney fanfiction done with barbies in his college portfolio,,,, AND IS PROUD OF IT
- The MC displayed said half naked, gay disney barbies in his dorm room,,, I would immediately request a room transfer if I was his roommate
- The MC wearing,,, a shirt with Disney’s prince Adam on it,shirtless as a grindr profile,,,, on the first day of college,,,,
- Basically this 18 year old has the personality of a millennial Disney adult and I hate him so much
- “Honey badger don’t give a shit is literally the best video on the interwebs” this is a real line that was said,,,, by an 18 yr old character,,,,
- Im not like other boys,,, I only carry my phone around to write poetry on,,,, yes this is a real thing the love interest said
- sexting poetry,,,,,, I cant
- The MC and LI snuck into a gallery where the LI stripped naked for erotic life drawing,,,, I wish I was lying
And this is only the tip of the iceberg of cringy happenings in this book

Next I should speak on is the unrealistic-ness of this book. If I wasn’t a college art student, I don’t think it would be as glaringly obvious, but since this setting is basically my life it made every mistake so so obvious:
- Saying Spider-verse, Coraline, and Spirited Away are Indie films???? Just because its not Disney doesn’t make it Indie?????
- Throwing it words like tortillons and chamois made it feel like the author was trying to hard to sound like a real artist 1) tortillons are the same as blending stumps don’t say ur MC is using both to draw and 2) I have never met anyone who actually uses these and if the do they definitely don’t call them tortillons 3) who on earth is blending there animation sketches?????
- Hes in advanced animation??? first semester??? wow this author did no research first semester of every art collge is core, you dont even touch your major. Its all color theory, gesture, the basics
- They’re animating shorts for a competition??? as college freshmen???? no nope nope thats not how this works no one even gets to make shorts till junior year , these kids shouldn’t even be animating a bouncing ball yet
- did this author even research how animation works. Where is the thumbnails? storyboarding? character design?
- This book really tried to say. one high school student. in just a few months. alone. made an entire rendered short. and went viral. absolutely the fuck he did not, at best that animation was an animatic this is not how animation works AT ALL and what is it with YA books and making things go viral, going viral is not common or easy
- also he was interviewed by “buzzfeed” aka “buzzword”??? and some how all these random people have watched that interview and ask him about it on campus. yeah no that would not happen god this is unrealistic
- He says hes now coloring his animation short after only TWO MONTHS OF WORK and four other classes???? no nonono thats not how this works that would take years and a whole team to do unless its like 15 secs long
- Theres a reception at the end of the semester where everyone shows their projects which are said to be amazing, all of them. I can promise you, if a group of animation freshman had to make full shorts in 3 months with a full class-load,,, they would all suck

My next issue I want to speak on is the diversity. For a queer book about art school, theres little diversity. Outside the MC theres only gay boys, all the girl characters are straight, and no one else is nonbinary or trans. As someone in art college its harder to finder a cishet student than a queer one. Also, Hey YA authors STOP INCLUDING MEMES AND POP CULTURE IN BOOKS!!! All it does is date it and make it cringy. The romance in this book has no chemistry and is very insta love, and honestly, extremely toxic, which I will get into next.

The final issue I need to speak about is the problematic and triggering content. Up till like page 250 this was just a cringy, badly written romance. But then out of literally NOWHERE it got extremely triggering with no warning whatsoever. Can we PLEASE normalize trigger warnings in books with notes of pages that contain them?? Please???
- The MC and LI are having sex and suddenly the LI best friend walk in on them and starts hurling explicit slurs and threats of outing. Like in the span of one page it went from just a cheesy sex scene to extreme homophobia and fatphobia. In response the LI takes space from him and they separate for a while
- In response to the LI being outed, the MC makes himself the victim and basically gaslights the LI to thinking he’s at fault for them breaking up. Like im sorry??? The LI got outed to a homophobic family and I’m supposed to feel bad for the MC here????
- Next there was TW graphic depictions of disordered eating and purging, which really need a warning before getting marketed to teems
- So now, after being outed and gaslighted, the LI makes a big romantic gesture at the animtion reception, the LI stands up, grabs the mic, and reads shitty poetry to try and win back chases love, never acknologing just how shitty the MC treated him. I hate this book.

And then of course it got a happily ever after, somehow. They are in love and back together, the MC gets an animation internship as a freshman, and the LI family is suddenly supportive. The End. All I have to say in conclusion is that Chase is the real antagonist, and I side with his bully who shit talks him and his work, shes right and should say it

Rep: Nonbinary, queer, gay, jewish
CW: Eating disorder, divorced parents, sexual innuendos, explicit scenes, slurs, outing, homophobia, fatphobia, extremly triggering scene pg 258, purging, suicidal thoughts, underqge drinking, recreational drugs

Content Warnings: sexual content, graphic binge eating and purging, body dysmorphic disorder, homophobia, misgendering

Publishing Date: March 8, 2022

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

“And They Lived” was a super fun read, and I enjoyed how Chase was brought to life, and how he changed and grew over the course of the book. There was on-page therapy, complex relationships with others, the figuring out of gender, relationships, and so much more. I can’t wait to buy this book when it comes out!

When I first started the book, Chase just leapt off the page. He was brimming with personality, and he had genuine interests and passions. I don’t think I’ve read many main characters that had as distinct a voice as Chase did, and it really made me smile. I loved how his interest in storytelling and fairy tales showed itself in his everyday life and his commentary about romance, friendship, and school. It was really refreshing to read, and I really enjoyed seeing the world through Chase’s eyes.

I also loved how Chase was (at the moment) a he/him nonbinary person. That’s something I haven’t seen in literature before, and it really made my day when I saw Chase discussing it with his professor for the first time.

Another thing I loved about “And They Lived” was the writing style. I loved how the prince’s story interwove with Chase’s story, and how the plot of that developed as Chase had revelations and experiences with friendships and college. The writing style seemed to really capture Chase’s voice, and every time I picked up the book I was always drawn into the story and everything that it shared. It really made me smile.

In the beginning, I was concerned that some scenes would not be addressed later in the book, and that Chase would be a problematic character. But they were addressed! And there was therapy in the book! It was super nice to see a main character go to therapy, and work on his mental health, and not having all of his mental health issues dealt with by the end of the book. Chase also received support from his friends and family, which was really nice.

If there was something to critique about this book, I would have wished some of the side characters were more developed. I really wanted to know more about Chase’s family (especially his mom and sister), and instead I only got a brief mention of them in the beginning, middle, and end of the book. I know that there is only so much page space that a book can have to be considered publishable, but I would have enjoyed a few more mentions of Chase’s family. However, Chase did have a strong group of friends (outside of a relationship! it was awesome!) and I really enjoyed getting to know them and learning about them. For Rae being Chase’s best friend, I felt like we saw more of his new college friends than we did her, and I would have liked to have gotten to know Rae more as well.

In the book, Chase and his ex-best-friend Leila attend the same college, and tensions arise from that. I got to know her quite a bit as the book went on, but I continued to find myself wanting more, even after the last page had turned (or well, scrolled, due to the fact that I was reading on my phone). However, I loved the complexity of Leila’s and Chase’s relationship, and how they interacted with each other.

I can’t comment much on the college portion of the book, purely because I am not in college and I am not sure if this is how college works. However, I did really enjoy how the art contest tied into the plot and Chase’s story. The layers reflecting how Chase was feeling and thinking when it came to his art piece and his relationships were very well done, and I enjoyed reading about the support and community that Chase found at college. It made me excited to go to college!

All in all, I really did enjoy “And They Lived”, and I will definitely be buying it when it comes out. The book had a lot of diversity, and complex relationships with mental health, gender, and other people, that I haven’t seen much in YA. It made me smile, and laugh, and nearly cry, and I hope it does the same for you all.

Contemporary, college setting, relationship drama, mean girls... are never what I reach for, but I loved this book, almost against my will. There is something to be said for internal conflict, and using art and a method to express yourself. I really enjoyed this.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA Children's Books and Bloomsbury YA, for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

TW: BDD, eating disorder, misgendering, depression,

Chase Arthur wants to be an animator, he's a huge Disney fan, obsessed with true love and his search for his own, but he doesn't believe he's enough for anyone, struggling with body dysmorphia, recovering from an eating disorder and figuring out his gender identity. Now starting his freshman year of his dream college, he has to face being alone and awy from his mother and sister, finding new friends and battling his ex best friend Leila for a prestigious mentorship. His life is complicated when he meets and falls in love with Jak Reid, a poet who is still trying to figure out his sexual identity and struggling with a conservative family and best friend. When the famous best friend visits campus and ruins Chase's and Jack's new relationship, Chase is forced to learn to love himself first and then accept others in his heart.

I absolutely loved reading And they lived... It was rare to find myself so involved in a book and to find characters so relatable, who spoke so clearly and profoundly to me and this book is a truly masterpiece. Chase Arthur is a wonderful, realistic and brilliant main character. He's filled with dreams, passions and desires and I love his entusiasm and his journey of self-love.
His struggles with food, feeling, gender identity and ex BFF are extremely relatable and well written and I loved Chase's journey towards self-acceptance and love.
The plot is intertwined with Chase's story for the mentorship "The prince who captured lightning" and his journey and the prince's and the knight's reflect one other, using Chase's and Jack's story as inspiration.
I loved Chase's and Jack's relationship, their bonding over books, art and words, their significance and how they grow to love one other, how, each in their own way, are struggling to accept and embrace each other fully.
The author did an outstanding job talking about their struggles, family abuse, internalized homophobia and how is hard and also important taking care of oneself.
While Chase starts a journey to love and accept himself, facing his traumas and family abuse, Jack has to do his own, accepting his sexual identity and facing his family and best friend, confronting his fears.
The characterization is amazing and I felt really involved in reading this book, not only as a fairytale and Disney fan, but also because the author did a magnificent job with the relationships and friendships, the found family and discussing many important themes with sensitivity and care.
The found family, the friends Chase finds are truly brilliant and I love his relationship with Rae and Benny, Xavier and Rhett, their banter, their amazing support and help. Love and friendships are important themes in this book and And they lived... is a joy for the eyes, funny, captivating and full of amazing characters, brimming with life and energy.

And they lived...is a queer love story, a sex-positive, fairytale inspired novel, a story of self love and self acceptance and I really appreciated the importance of the therapy in understanding and accepting oneself. Chase's journey was empowering and moving and I loved how he learn he can't control others' reactions but his own, how to love himself and to face the world. About his figuring out his gender identity I also loved how the author underlines how Chase is comfortable to use he/him for now, but trying with they/them, still trying to figure himself out and how the answers are not finite and clear, but the lines blur.
I've also loved the importance given to the fairytales and their false ideas about happy ending and how the important thing is living, facing the life,taking a chance and while facing the bad and gritty parts of live, maybe finding someone and facing them together and growing up together. I loved Jack's ideas about this.

I absolutely recommend this book! It's funny, sex-positive, brilliant and with amazing characters, impossible not to love.

I appreciated all the nuances in this book. It tackles so many issues that are extremely important, especially with LGBTA+ teens. Gender identity, nonbinary and genderfluidness, body dysmorphia, self-love, friendship, first-loves, and what beautiful and tender sex scenes--I am so glad a book like this is written and that it is out there in the world for teens (and others) to read.