Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a gifted copy of this book via netgalley and in exchange I'm leaving an honest review.
I knew I would love this book when I saw in the synopsis that this is a trans and queer story. I haven't read many books with a trans main character, and I thought that was really cool.
This book alternates between the present and the past, the present being after the murder, the past being well, in the past.
Max, having felt alone after transitioning, makes friends with the mysterious, beautiful Gloss. She takes him under her wing, gives him a place to stay so he doesn't have to face his home life, and she quickly becomes his everything. They're closer than friends, but they're not in a relationship. She has secrets.
When someone dies at a party, an intoxicated Max panics--did he kill them? Was it Gloss? What really happened that night?
This book tells a difficult story about seeing the good in people, even when it has dangerous consequences. No one wants to believe their loved ones are dangerous. It's intense, and Max appears to be an unreliable narrator. The after timeline left me on the edge of my seat. I devoured this book. I would have read it even faster if I weren't in a chronic pain flare. I read the majority of the story in the last couple days, finishing it late last night. I really enjoyed this book. If you're looking for a queer thriller, this one is a great choice for you.

A really important, gripping story. It made me very emotional a few times. Young adult readers will love this one. I'll make sure to recommend it to them upon release.

I love queer books, especially without there being a complete romantic aspect of the book. Book’s where queer characters exist like normal are so important for EVERYONE to read.
I don’t truly know what I was expecting, but I enjoyed the story. Max and Gloss’ relationship was an interesting dynamic. I don’t really like the fact that everyone changed how they felt about Max when Gloss came in and changed him, but I do like the relationships that developed.
Michelle was a pick me. Gloss’s line about Danny having the emotional capabilities of a Bop-It was my favorite insult i’ve ever heard in my entire life and i will be using it

Thank you to the publisher for the arc!


Loved the trans rep. I think this is a good starting point if someone wants to get into YA thrillers however this wasn’t for me.

My heart cried many times for this one. The story of a trans boy, Max, and how his coming out has affected all of his relationships. And the story starts off with someone dead. It's told in an alternating dual timeline of before and after the person was killed. And Max can't really remember anything because he wasn't exactly sober.

I'd say this was more thriller lite because the thrillery parts are really right at the beginning and at the end. The middle is the story from Max's POV and how he is managing his life and he deal with a supportive dad but alcoholic abusive mother, an ex who's now his bully, his old friends who have to stay away from him now because of said ex, and a new girl who's come into his life and from the literal second she walked into his classroom they connected and they become seemingly inseparable.

Although I was looking for something a bit more quicker paced, this was a heartbreakingly beautiful read about how things aren't always as they seem. Being a teenager can be incredibly hard on it's own, now add to that other teenagers with their own things going on, with their own home life that may or may not be great, their own feelings about who they are as they are on the verge of their adult lives beginning, and you end up with this beautiful and sad story about healing, growth and acceptance.

DNFing at 10%. I love the overall message and trans rep, but it just isn’t engaging to me. I find Gloss to be an annoying character and I’m not invested enough to see what happens to her. Thanks anyway for the ARC!

"No One Left But You" by Tash McAdam is a compelling YA thriller that weaves together themes of self-discovery, friendship, love, and the consequences of obsession. The story centers around Max, a newly out transgender teenager facing challenges at school after his summer romance turns into bullying. Determined to keep his head down and graduate, Max's life takes an unexpected turn when the enigmatic Gloss, the new It-girl in town, takes an interest in him. Thriving under her attention, Max finds himself caught between romance and obsession, willing to do whatever it takes to keep Gloss by his side.

The novel is structured in two parts, "Before" and "After," which effectively build suspense and intrigue. The "Before" section portrays Max's struggles and blossoming under Gloss's attention, while the "After" delves into the aftermath of a tragic event at a party gone wrong, with Max trying to uncover the truth amidst his own fuzzy memories.

Tash McAdam's writing is poignant and evocative, effectively capturing the emotional journey of a young transgender protagonist. The portrayal of Max's coming-of-age experience and his navigation through love, hurt, and identity is authentic and moving. McAdam skillfully integrates songs and poems, adding depth and creativity to the narrative.

The novel expertly blends thriller elements with a character-driven story, keeping readers engaged and invested in Max's journey. However, some readers may find it hard to believe Gloss's quick transformation from a stranger to Max's best friend, raising questions about her motivations. Additionally, the emphasis on physical beauty in the two main love interests could be seen as somewhat unrealistic and may not fully reflect the diversity of young people and their experiences.

Overall, "No One Left But You" is a beautifully crafted story with a well-executed mystery at its core. It explores themes of self-acceptance and the complexities of relationships while highlighting the experiences of a transgender protagonist, making it a significant addition to YA literature. Despite minor issues, the novel offers a compelling and emotionally resonant reading experience that will undoubtedly resonate with readers who appreciate diverse stories with trans characters at the forefront.

Great characters and character driven story. Lots of drugs and drinking. Excellent use of dual timelines. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This was a well written story of trans boy, his love and hurt over his ex and his love for his new friend, This is a story of coming to terms with who you are and with finding your place in the world. It is also a mystery, someone dies and who killed him. There were songs and poems included and lots of beautiful moments. A few small issues I had was Gloss choosing him as a best friend overnight and why did his two loves have to be so beautiful, so exceptional. It does a disserve to younger people, all that beauty, rather than ordinary people and their beauty

Thank you NetGalley and Soho Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved everything about the book. The dual timeline, before and after That Night, the mystery that kept me guessing, finding things out in drips that kept contributing towards the whole picture, and of course the characters. Max is such a relatable, angsty character. I could totally see myself in his over-thinking, wondering whether Gloss hated him because he hadn't seen a text for half an hour, and doubting people giving him compliments or caring about him. And I loved seeing his growth, seeing him become more confident and comfortable in his own skin throughout the book! He was such a well-written character that will definitely stick with me. The details regarding his transition, his relationship with his parents, friends and peers at school was wonderfully written, and at times heartbreaking. Nothing was lacking from this book in my opinion, and I could hardly put it down until I reached the last page!

I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book when it releases, and annotating it like crazy!! The writing was beautiful and there were just so many things that were relatable that I wanted to highlight and underline and draw hearts around! Without a doubt, this book gets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

Really enjoyed this one. It felt very cinematic and felt like I was watching a movie, I can picture it all very vividly. The synopsis mentioned Euphoria and I can definitely see the comparison.

Thriller-ish, also details the transition of the main character Max and how his gender identity affects relationships with friends, family, love interests, etc. Told in dual timeline. There were a few chapters in the middle where I thought one of the main characters might actually be a serial killer so A+ for an epilogue.

I absolutely loved this, it was intriguing from the start and I couldn’t stop reading, I found it really interesting to see max’s journey