Thanks very much to Lily at Soho Teen, who sent me not only a physical ARC, but a physical sale hardcover as well as my Netgalley ecopy to review. Amazing care put into this marketing.

I give this 3.5 rounded down to 3, because despite the thriller marketing blurbs, a thriller it was not quite, and the pacing left me setting it down and loath to pick it up again.

The plot here puts a slightly fresh spin on an old trope: the new, pretty girl at school bafflingly befriends the resident loner. But Gloss may be genuinely not just accepting of trans protagonist Max, but also very eager to make maybe-romantic, intimate overtures of companionship, very quickly.

I didn't get everything I hoped for in this story. I'd say it's a must-read for the representation in this subgenre, but the pacing really threw me, for a murder mystery and thriller. On the one hand, a slower pace does wonders for examining the trans experience, the character development, and relationship building. There was a shaving scene between Max and Gloss with erotic tension so thick you could cut it with a knife, pun intended. On the other, I'd expect something with a murder presented in the prologue, and a subsequent dual timeline, to really keep me tensely reading. Not the case here.

NO ONE LEFT BUT YOU is an incredibly readable book. One of the reasons I was interested in it was its comp to Euphoria and while I think it's quite an accurate one, I think it also reminded me of the atmosphere of some Caitlin Moran books, except much better.

While I don't think that the plot is revolutionary and I haven't encountered such a manix pixie dream girl in a long time, there's still a very compulsive quality about it. The character dynamic felt fresh even though it explored age-old issues at this point, and I loved that the writing felt like an elderly emo writing for the modern crowd (totally a compliment, not at all derogatory).

None of the characters are particularly LOVEABLE and I could see the twist coming from a mile away, but I just don't think that every book needs to approach everything from a previously unexplored angle. Max is still a very complex character and he was refreshing to read about. These people, including him, are messy and they've had their hearts broken and they don't know how or why. Regardless the set of circumstances, this will always be relatable.

The writing was intriguing to me. I'm really excited to check out more by Tash McAdam when I get the chance.

A very well-written, cut-throat and somehow provocative YA thriller.

The dual timeline makes the plot even more dense and full of suspense. The plot spilts itself in two parts: before and after. What leads to a traumatic event for the main character and how he tries to deal with its consequences. Both parts are gripping but I wish that the after was more present. I felt like the before chapters were more abundant.
The characters are well-developed and they all have some depth. Max is a very interesting character to follow. He wants to be loved but is used to being ignored. He wants to love but is scared of the way people behave near him. He wants to live a normal life but is instead drawn in a spiral of obsession and turmoil. I really appreciated Grant, he becomes a caring figure in Max’s life and it is really healthy for an anxious character like Max.

Some tiny things here and there made me give this book this rating instead of a 5-star rating, but I obviously recommend this novel. It is one of the best YA contemporary thrillers I’ve read in a while.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pace of No One Left But You alternated between medium and fast during the book’s first half. By the second half, it settles into a medium-fast pace until the end of the book.

Trigger/Content Warning: No One Left But You has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Death (graphic)
Drug Use (moderate)
Emotional Abuse (mainly off-page but graphic when on)
Toxic Relationship (graphic)
Transphobia (graphic)
Violence (graphic)
Blood (graphic)
Murder (graphic)
Toxic Friendship (graphic)
Alcohol (graphic)
Homophobia (graphic)
Suicidal Thoughts (moderate)
Dysphoria (moderate)
Bullying (graphic)
Deadnaming (minor to moderate)
Child Abuse (minor and off page)
Sexual Content: There is sexual content in No One Left But You. Most of the sex scenes are described from memory (like when Danny was having sex with a girl in the bathroom). There is one sex scene between Max and Danny that is nongraphic.

Language: There is graphic swearing in No One Left But You.

Setting: No One Left But You is set in Ridgepoint, England. There are also scenes set in London.

Tropes: Found Family, Dealing with Sexual Orientation and Abuse, Coming of Age, Set in Modern Day, The Red Herring, The Protagonist is the Suspect, The Dramatic Reveal, Twist Ending

Age Range: I recommend No One Left But You to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Before: Having come out as trans, Max is having a hard time. Danny (his ex-boyfriend) is tormenting him, and his friends (who are mutual friends with Danny) are avoiding him. All he wants to do is get through the school year and graduate. Then Gloss starts school mid-year, and Max’s life changes. As Max’s friendship with Gloss deepens, so does his obsession with keeping her as his friend.

After: Max is left in shock when Danny is killed at a party thrown by Gloss. He also refuses to believe that Gloss would kill someone who is that important to him. Determined to discover the truth, Max digs into what happened that night. What he finds could implicate himself and potentially send Gloss to prison. Will Max uncover the truth? And will he be able to accept the evidence that he has found?

Main Characters

Max: Max was significantly damaged, and his point of view on events in the book can seem a little fuzzy. So, I took everything I read with a grain of salt. But I did like Max. He was one of the realest characters that I have read to date. He took things to heart, had anxiety when his best friend didn’t text him back right away and loved a boy that could/would never love him back. In the Before segments of the book, I enjoyed seeing Max come out of his shell and embrace himself. A lot of that was because of Gloss. But some of it came with maturity and happiness in his body. By the end of the book, there was an added depth to his character that wasn’t there initially. Loss of love and accepting that he couldn’t change the person who was supposed to love him unconditionally shaped him.

Gloss: I didn’t know what to make of her at first. She seemed almost too good to be true, and in a way, she was. Gloss reminded me of a butterfly. She would flit from person to person. But she always came back to Max. She knew that he was hurting. She was his biggest supporter and champion. But she also had this side where she could be cruel and mean. So, it wasn’t a big stretch to imagine Gloss killing Danny.

Danny: Danny was an absolute bully when No One Left But You started, and I didn’t like him. But, as the book went on and the author revealed his and Max’s previous relationship, I understood why he was so upset. When that scene on the beach, where everything was laid out, my opinion of Danny started to change. When Max visited his father (after Danny’s death) and saw what Danny was living with and why he couldn’t accept himself, my opinion of him shifted. I didn’t quite like him, but I understood him.

My review:

No One Left But You surprised me. I thought this book was going to be your typical young adult thriller. You know, the kind where the killer is evident and the reasons the killer did what they did were even more. You can scratch that because this book isn’t even close to being typical. I was engrossed by No One Left But You and couldn’t put it down. It took me four hours to read (and yes, I stayed up late to finish it). It had some of the most relatable, compelling characters I have read.

No One Left But You is split into two sections-Before and After—the Before section details Max meeting Gloss and his life up to the night of Danny’s murder. The After section details Max’s grieving for Danny and his looking into why Gloss could have killed him. The author did a great job of keeping those two storylines apart. I had no issues of knowing if I was in Before or After. The author marked it at the beginning of the chapter. I also want to note that Max is a very unreliable narrator. In the After parts of the book, he wasn’t sure what happened that night because he had been drinking. In the Before, he was dealing with a lot (abusive mother, largely absent but supportive father, bullying, and Gloss), and all of that stress made him seem off-kilter (and very needy) for most of the Before sections.

The storylines in No One Left But You were well written. I connected with the characters and had my favorites and had ones that I didn’t like. I liked how the author used the Before sections to explain what happened in the After sections. The author did merge both storylines by the end of the book. They did it with a twist, and I didn’t see that twist coming. But looking back, I totally could see the tiny little arrows pointing towards that person.

I loved the end of No One Left But You. I liked seeing Max happy and seeing him with his friends. And the song that was sung at the end of the book, well, it broke my heart. I loved this ending for the book.

Many thanks to Soho Press, Soho Teen, NetGalley, and Tash McAdam for allowing me to read and review this ARC of No One Left But You. Any opinions expressed in this review are mine.

No One Left but You follows trans teen Max. Things have been rough since is summer romance Danny has turned into his bully. Everything changes for Max when a new girl Gloss moves into town. Max and Gloss become really good friends. One day they throw a party and someone ends up dead. Everyone believes that Gloss is the killer but Max does not believe that. Max is determined to piece together what happened that night and figure out the real truth.

I really did like this book. I loved all of the queer representation. I thought the story was really interesting. BUT this was marketed as a thriller and it just was not. A lot of this book focuses on Gloss and Max's friendship. Which I really enjoyed because Gloss was the person that made Max feel seen. She helped Max realize that he is perfect the way he is. The thriller vibes to be seemed like an afterthought to the main story. It did not seem like the thriller vibes were thought out. So I do wish it gave me more of those vibes. I did not feel like the end was very satisfying. But it was a wild story and I really did enjoy it.

Thank you so much Soho Teen for sending me a copy of this book.

When you’re trans and your summer hookup has been avoiding you since you came out because he says he’s not gay, would you link up with the first person who makes you feel whole since then? Max does. Gloss is the new girl at school and immediately takes Max under her wing and he doesn’t mind at all. Months later, Max’s summer hookup is dead and fingers point towards him and Gloss.
Watching Max blossom was such an experience. Seeing him finally do things to be happy himself made me happy. My heart hurt for Danny and I wanted more than anything for him to not be dead.
I hated Gloss 🤪 I thought she was a bitch and clearly not good for Max. I felt like all characters outside of Gloss, Max, and Danny needed so much more development. No one had any personality except one thing about them. I also wouldn’t really consider this a thriller.
Due to many of these reasons, the ending was the most disappointing ending in a book I’ve read in a while. The good did outweigh the bad which is why I gave No One Left but You by Tash McAdam 3.75⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This YA thriller is messy, intense, and anxiety riddled in all the right ways. Max is at a turning point in understanding himself and his place in the world, and learning to push back against the ways folks treat him. Filled with queer hopes, desires, and essence, this tale kept me wondering how everything went down.

Not for the faint of heart, for this story touches on a real subject that had me in literal tears. Max is a trans boy and coming out has affected his relationships with friends and family. His love Danny has turned bitter towards him and starts to bully him, that is till new girl Gloss comes to town and befriends Max. But there’s a fine line between friendship and obsession and Max will do whatever it takes to keep her by his side.

This is told in two points of view, first before the murder, which happens at the beginning of the book, and after. Drugs and parties start to change Max and he can’t remember how the murder happened as he drank to heavily that night. Fingers point to Gloss but Max knows she couldn’t.. but if she didn’t, who did?!

Trash’s writing really gravitates towards you and you inner demons. It’s poetic and real, especially in the world we live in today. The story has a lot of personal growth, especially Max as a character, but also deals with hardships and grief. It’s very eye opening when you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes and learn from them. Like what it’s like to be Trans in todays society.

There’s no romance and it’s more of a dark thriller, but if you’re looking for a new perspective and something with heart, than I say grab this book… and some tissues!

Rating: 2.5

DNF @54%

I liked the trans representation and that's about it. I didn't care about anything happening in the plot. If this was just a contemporary fiction book, instead of a "mystery/thriller", I'd probably like it more.

Tash McAdam's No One Left But You is not just a thriller but also a poignant coming-of-age story that resonates with authenticity. It deftly handles the complexities of being a trans teenager, foregrounding Max's experiences and struggles, which makes it an important addition to the realm of LGBTQ+ literature. The novel forces readers to confront the blurred lines between friendship and manipulation, love and obsession, and truth and lies.

McAdam's writing is evocative, bringing to life the small-town atmosphere and the complicated dynamics of the characters. The narrative is rich in suspense, making it an enthralling page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat. No One Left But You is a must-read for those who crave diverse and emotionally charged stories, with trans characters at the forefront, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. It's a tale of survival, self-discovery, and the dark secrets that lurk in the shadows of even the most unexpected friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a powerful coming of age story filled with grief, acceptance, and unrequited love. Max is a trans boy who would rather hide from his problems. His home and school life are rough. The boy he was in love with turned on him when he came out. His mother drinks and denies his new name and his gender. Then he meets Gloss. Gloss allows him to open up and be the real him. Gloss tells him he’s handsome and holds his hand. But in the background, there’s still Danny. And after a parity goes horribly wrong, Max struggles with all the complicated feelings swirling in his head. The story goes back and forth between before and after a horrible murder has occurred.

I liked Gloss, even if she was the blueprint for a manic pixie dream girl. She literally checked every box. She was good for Max, despite the cliche. Max was sweet and I dig the emo boy vibes he was trying to throw out. He really just wanted to be seen as a boy and loved. I even felt bad for Danny. He was a bully, but he didn’t know how else to be. His dad was an asshole who abused him and him being gay had to have made things worse at home, making Danny want to take it out on everyone. Did he need therapy? Yes.

I kinda of guessed who the murderer was as the story was ending. I knew it made no sense for it to be Bliss. I loved the year after epilogue. I’m so glad max is happy. This story was fast paced and seeing Gloss and Max together made me smile.

I want to start off by saying that Tash McAdam did a wonderful job writing this book. The story was engaging and had me hooked from the very beginning. All of her characters were easily imagined and played their roles perfectly.

This book is about a trans teen who had a summer fling with a popular boy who turns into a bully once the new year of school starts - turning all of Maxs friends against him - making him feel alone.

In comes new girl - Gloss - who befriends max and helps him become more himself than he ever thought possible.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s lots of twists and wow moments and definitely some heartbreaking moments as well.

I throughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley and SoHo Teen for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Max has recently come out as trans, and it’s made high school tough. He’s being bullied by Danny, someone he’d had a bit of a summer romance with. He wants to fade into the background and just make it to graduation, but when a new girl arrives at high school, everything changes, and Max finds himself walking the line between obsession and love. But when someone dies after a massive party gone wrong, everyone is convinced they know who did it and why – will Max learn that he’s placed his trust in the wrong person?

This story was told with a dual timeline, Before and After. Because of this, there isn’t much suspense relating to the murder. We find out early on who the victim was, so it comes down to a question of who committed the crime and why. However, the lack of suspense wasn’t an issue as this work was more of a character-driven read than a plot-driven one. The characters were well developed and complex, especially Danny and Max. I enjoyed the dynamics of their relationships as well as them as individual characters.

I liked that the author didn’t shy away from hard or difficult topics in this read. Bullying, identity struggles, self-harm, and transphobia are all incorporated throughout the read. However, the author managed to include these in ways that didn’t define the characters and honestly used them to craft a story that was mostly positive throughout. This made for a well-rounded and engaging book and helped to bring the character to life.

This is a YA work, but it certainly didn’t fall into YA tropes that often leave me dissatisfied. I recommend this read to anyone interested in a character-driven work that explores the life of a trans high school student with a murder mystery element to it. My thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published November 7, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

💋BOOK REVIEW💋

No One Left But You - Tash McAdam
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

“A trans teen is swept up in a whirlwind friendship with lethal consequences in this taut YA thriller, for fans of Sadie, Andrew Joseph White, and HBO’s Euphoria.”

I loved this raw, lyrical thriller. We follow newly out trans guy and musician Max as he deals with how his transition has impacted his relationships, friendships and self image. We see all of his grief and doubt in such a raw, real way and the use of song lyrics was such a great touch! When he meets and becomes close with Cool Girl™️ Gloss, a social world he never knew opens up to him and for a bit, he finds himself totally lost in it. To the point of potentially being involved with a murder and increasingly turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

I was so happy Max eventually found himself and that acceptance allowed him to have meaningful friendships, with or without Gloss. Seeing Max’s confidence grow as the story progresses was definitely a highlight!

This is told in a dual timeline - before the murder and after - and that added so much to the story. The story is twisty and at times unreliable and shows that things aren’t always what they seem on the surface.

Highly recommend if you like:
- Queer, twisty thrillers
- Character development
- Dual timelines
- Teen angst
- Heavy topics

Thank you @soho_teen, @soho_press and @tashmcadam for my gifted copies!

Publish date: November 7, 2023 ✨

At first glance, this book is marketed as a thriller, but it delves deeper into the complexities of adolescence and self-discovery. Max’s journey from the beginning to the end of the novel is the heart and soul of the story. Tash McAdam beautifully portrays his growth and transformation, making it a character-driven narrative that captures the essence of coming of age.

The comparisons to Euphoria were one of the reasons I picked up this book, and I must say, I could see the connection. This story dives into the lives of teenagers dealing with a range of issues. It tackles the struggles of relationships, and sometimes the dark realities of youth, painting a vivid picture of the challenges teens face today.

However, it’s important to mention that this book isn’t without its darker aspects. I would recommend checking trigger warnings before jumping into this book, it contains content that could be distressing for some readers. These challenging elements contribute to the book's raw and authentic portrayal of the complexities of adolescence but may not be suitable for everyone.

In summary, No One Left But You is a captivating story that blends thriller and coming-of-age mystery. It’s fast-paced and follows the remarkable growth of Max, the protagonist, and deals with the trials and tribulations of youth. If you are looking for a Euphoria-type experience in book form, this is worth a read.

This was an amazing taut thriller, character development stood out for me, but the plot wasnt lacking either, I loved the dual timeline and it never got muddled which is usually the case sometimes with that format, an evocative queer thriller thats a must read for fans of the genre

Thrillers can be hit or miss for me, but I gave No One Left But You a shot because it has a trans MC. And I'm glad I did! It wasn't a new favourite, but I did enjoy my time with this book.

I liked the overlapping timelines of "before" and "after" the murder and how things came together. Although the synopsis made it sound like the "after" would involve a lot more sleuthing and trying to figure out who did it, when really not much happened except a police interrogation and mourning with friends. Regardless, the mystery was sufficiently suspenseful and I didn't figure it all out til the end.

Max was a great MC, with a lot of depth and growth throughout the story. Gloss was also an interesting character, although sometimes a bit unbelievable. I think I would have liked to see some of the side characters more developed. I didn't always get a sense of who they were besides some basic descriptions of their personality and home life.

Overall, I thought this was a great moody read and I will definitely be recommending it to others for its trans rep and readability.

Thank you to Soho Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

If you like the teen angst, characters and vibes of Skins UK and Euphoria, I think this one is for you. Told in “Before” and “After” chapters, we follow newly out trans guy Max who is being bullied by his closeted ex. He then meets the enigmatic and glamorous Gloss who takes him under her wing where he begins to feel like he can be the guy he wants to be. After a party gone wrong where a boy is killed and Gloss confesses to the murder, Max tries to remember what happened. This was one I absolutely needed to take slower than I normally would. It’s definitely more character driven than plot, but I thought this was a beautiful coming of age story with a bit of a mystery. I loved that the author included a content warning page at the beginning of the book and also an author’s note about trans youth. I really enjoyed Max’s POV, but I couldn’t help but wonder how this book would have been with multiple POVs. I don’t think it needed them, but it would have been interesting to read. Overall, I very much enjoyed this one and I’m glad I took my time with it.
TW: alcohol abuse, drug use, violence, mental illness, homophobia, transphobia, bullying, child abuse and neglect

Thank you NetGalley and SohoTeen for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.

The dual timeline POV is always *chefs kiss*i my opinion. I absolutely loved Max as a character and the growth that happened as the plot progressed. I loved Grant as a character too, At times I had to put the book down to mentally process what I'd just read and have a bit of a mental omg moment.

My only issue was some casual spelling errors which interrupted the flow of the story, but I'm sure they will be corrected.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read this copy in return for an honest review.