I requested and received an eARC of Right Beside You by Tucker Shaw via NetGalley. Eddie has just graduated high school and isn't sure what to do next. When he receives a request from his great aunt Cookie that he come to New York City and care for her, Eddie jumps at the opportunity for a change in his life. As he settles in, Cookie gifts him a vintage polaroid camera and asks him to take photos of cherished places that she is no longer able to visit. When he uses the camera, however, he finds himself transported back in time to the New York City of the early 20th century. As Eddie discovers more about himself and history (including the handsome Francis) he finds himself torn between the past and the present.

Eddie is such a wonderful protagonist and there so many things about his character that I really grew to appreciate throughout the story. Little things, like the reason behind the falling out with his best friend, his anxiety, the way he uses his imagination to center himself, made him feel very real and familiar to me. I found Right Beside You interesting before the more fantastical parts of story kicked in, but once they did I was even more excited about following Eddie on his journey. The struggle between the past and present may physically take the form of Francis (the whimsical and sweet boy from the past) and Theo (the caring and evidently striking fellow from the bakery where Eddie buys Cookie’s opera cake) but the book doesn’t get hung up on romance and has many important messages.

From the moment Cookie appeared on the page I found her to be a complete delight. Shaw is fantastic at creating vivid and memorable characters and Cookie is a shining example. I got a kick out of all of her wonderful references and the stories she told. Albert is another terrific character, and although the affection developed more slowly I really enjoyed his role in the novel and gaining a better understanding of him. Right Beside You has all of the right elements. A little romance, a little magic, and a lot of emotion go a long way. I’m not sure when or how it happened, but I do know that it didn’t take me very long to become invested in this story. In his book, Shaw writes a beautiful love letter to queer culture, history, and New York City that mesmerized me.

I think I expected the book to be a little different but it was also really sweet and inspiring. I love books where it's not just the characters falling in love or any kind of relationship blooming but also where they fall in love with where they've ended up. This was precisely that, with the places and the people and the feeling that Eddie found with all of it. It kind of reminded me of the movie Midnight in Paris which was sweet. The entire book made me feel, just feel so much and I can't say what beyond hope and kindness because it is a wonderful book. Overall, it was great to read!

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Tucker Shaw for this ARC!

This blends time travel with queer history in a way that feels both intimate and grand. Eddie’s journey is compelling, but the love triangle feels lopsided, with one connection much stronger than the other. A strange, thoughtful book that lingers.

The writing style makes this hard to get into. The mix of second and third person point of view is odd at times. Once invested, the middle is engaging, and the end leaves me with mixed feelings. Unsurprisingly for a time travel novel, there is not a balanced love triangle. Eddie spends more time with Francis or consumed by thoughts of Francis than he does with Theo, so any connection with the latter is only believable as the beginnings of a friendship or a crush. This book feels as much like a trip through queer history of the 1920s and 1930s as it does a love story or time travel novel. Interesting references, but just an okay romance.

A weird and wonderful read. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this early!

Although this book is categorized as a romance novel, I think it would be more aptly described as love letter to New York (present and past) through the lens of a coming of age story.

Our main character, Eddie, moves to New York City from his small Colorado town to help take care of his for his great aunt. Eddie had always dreamed about NYC, but finds the reality overwhelming. After being sent on errands by his aunt Cookie, Eddie faces real magic as he travels back and forth from the 1920s.

RIGHT BESIDE YOU by Tucker Shaw is such a tender and unique story, a perfect blend of queer romance and coming-of-age and I absolutely loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the advanced copy!

A strange little baby. That’s how Tucker Shaw called this story. Just like When You Call My Name, it’s a dedication. Again, to New York. To all those actors from the past. To a time when things were more simple.

Right Beside You is indeed a strange little baby. I had to get used to it first. It’s like someone is watching from a circling helicopter, and then suddenly, the helicopter quickly descends and zooms in on details. Details of New York, details of the past, details of Cookie’s ninety-nine-year-old life, and details of Eddie’s life.

This story is about being afraid to fail since everything we do is visible—through cameras, social media, and other apps on our phones. We always check things—whether a movie is good, whether a restaurant is good, or whether we’re driving the right way. According to ninety-nine-year-old Cookie, we’re afraid to be different, afraid to be ourselves. This applies to Eddie, too.

So Eddie escapes to the past, together with Francis, and lives like he never lived before. But there’s also Theo, who is such a sweet guy aka cinnamon roll in the present.

Don’t read this book because you want to read a romance. Because it isn’t. Read it because you want to read a love song about New York and the past. Because you want to read a love song to (queer) joy. And because you want to follow Eddie’s journey to growth, from a boy who hides to a boy who is brave and shines.

Eddie heads to New York City from his small town in Colorado to help care for his aging great aunt. As a queer kid he has dreamed of New York City and all the adventures he will have once he gets there, but the reality of his move is overwhelming once it finally happens. Cookie is 100 years old but does not let age define her. She has lived a colorful and adventurous life creating a large community amongst her people in New York City. She has lived an amazing life and wants to share as much of it with Eddie as she can.

Cookie creates opportunities for Eddie to see the magic of New York by sending him all over town to run errands for her. The twist comes in the form of real magic that not only transports him around town but through time into all different eras in New York. He gets to experience New York as Cookie had. There may or may not be a boy guiding him on all these adventures as well.

Such a great story of finding who you are and learning to live as your true self. I loved the relationships in this book and the beautiful description of New York City...past and present.

I was given an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley. Thanks to them for allowing me to read it early.

A speculative YA novel introducing the long and complex history of New York's queer people and their links to the American show business. Highly recommended. I hope it gets adapted into a TV show.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.