received an ARC of this book from the publisher. I loved that this book very much felt like JVN speaking, as a big fan it was hard not to read it in their voice. The back and forth between history and now, and the lense of a queer relationship then and now was interesting and unique. What I didn’t love as much was a random ghost story, it didn’t add much of anything to the story for me. I think it would have been just as interesting, if not more so, if the history and back story was a collection of letters etc. the ghost story felt silly in a way that made the book feel YA. As it’s an ARC, I’m not sure if it’s intended to be YA but for me it left something to be desired. I’d love to see JVNs voice in something a bit more adult in the future. I’ve read their bios and own story and found them so much more interesting than this. That said, it was an easy read and if you can hang with the silly humor of a random ghost trapped in a purse, you may enjoy it.

realy charming story with some good vibes and interesting discussion. our protag is awesome, as is the LI, Brad, and the ghost, Rufus. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

4 Stars
A quirky, fun novel featuring Sully who doesn't know which direction that want to go in life. Sully thought they wanted to be an influencer but that's not in the cards.

Instead, they are trying to find a way to get out of town when they find an expensive vintage handbag that may finance their escape. The Butler bag could be a ticket out of their small hometown. Hovering inside the Butler is a ghost. The ghost and Sully bond very deeply and the mystery unravels of how. Rufus died and what happened to the love of his life.
Rufus was abandoned and he has no memory of how he died.

Sully and friends go on a mission to bring closure and make an astounding discovery of their town. Highly recommendable.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. I have to start by saying Jonathan Van Ness is a treasure. This book is amazing from the coolest dino cover ever to a beautifully-written story about a nonbinary teen who has to start from scratch after their post-high school plans fall apart. It's been a rough year for LGBTQ+ people in the US and I imagine that this book can uplift so many hearts and make people feel less alone. Obviously it's important for cisgender people to read it too because learning more about life from another POV helps everyone.

While this delightful book is described as a young adult novel, its message is for people of all ages. With the perfect combination of heart, humor, and mystery, Sully and Rufus had my heart from the very beginning. I am typically not a fan of the paranormal genre but the haunted purse was sheer genius. I'll never look at a thrift-store hand bag in the same way again!

The story begins with the protagonist, Sully, a gender-nonconforming teen, preparing to attend a high school graduation party hosted by their mother. Sully is excited to be leaving their small home town tomorrow, for a larger city in which they hope to find acceptance and to begin a delicious internship in the fashion industry. When the job falls through, hours before his flight, Sully is left to quickly figure out a summer job and make new plans. Sully immediately goes to the second-hand shop in which they had been employed, to inquire about resuming their job. While there, Sully spots what they believe to be an authentic vintage handbag, that if authenticated could provide funding for life in another city. Later, at home, Sully learns the bag is inhabited by the ghost of a lively drag queen, Rufus, from the 1950's. Rufus desperately wants to know how he died and what became of his one love.

What follows is an entertaining ghost-story adventure where the authors seamlessly parallel Sully and Rufus's stories of queer life, small-town bigotry, and resilience. A story where Sully learns that everyone's life is hard, that places cannot change without people who are willing to facilitate change, and the importance of fighting for their queer past and its future. This wonderful story sheds light on the advances that have been made in the LGBTQ movement, but also how far we have to go.

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

This book follows a nonbinary teenager who lives in the small town of Hearst and is about to leave for New York City for a new job and an exciting new life in the big city. Until, they lose that job right before their flight (dun dun dun)

I'm conflicted on this one because I thought, Sully was very cute and sweet. And I loved their relationship with their parents. But unfortunately, the writing style just did not click with me. I think a lot of the extra humor lines in here can be cut. Not because they were all unfunny, but because it just felt a little overdone. It was distracting and hard to get through. Something about the way this was written reminded me of one of those short stories in standardized tests like the SAT, which isn't really the style of writing I enjoy.

But I love the spirit of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the early access!

Clever, funny, and full of heart. While I was initially skeptical about the longevity of a book told so distinctly in a contemporary voice (what happens when the slang ages out?) I soon realized that’s the point. This book celebrates now as much as then, reminding readers of all ages of the importance to hold both our history and our present close in our hearts—all while putting a new spin on ‘do you, boo!’

This was a wonderfully fun and delightful book that has with it the tinge of emotion that I always expect from JVN. I was so excited to read a work of fiction by him and I knew that his caring, empathy, and compassion would fill this book but I was not expecting to feel so much for Sully and Brad, but this JVN and Julie Murphy took a story that could have easily gone of the top camp and crafted a story that uses that expectation to help explore the history of what would become the LGBTQ+ Movement and highlight an age appropriate exploration of how far, and sadly in somw cases how little, things have changed. Rufus and The Butler Bag were a wonderful addition to this story that allowed for so much hidden depth to be discussed.

Beautifully written, emotionally moving, and ever so hopeful this is a book that so many will find joy in and find comfort in seeing themselves in.

Thank you Harper Collins and Net Galley for sharing this e arc with me!

What an amazing book! I've already recommended it to three students and one colleague. This book is a magical ghostly adventure, and I loved everything about it. Sully is wonderful, and everything about them made me happy. They are so authentic to themself, and they aren't afraid to speak up when they are being mistreated or misgendered. I found their energy to be a positive force in this book, and they worked hard to help Rufus find their way "home". I cannot recommend this book enough, and I can't wait to add a copy of it to my book collection.

Sully has finished high school and plans to go to NYC to intern there. Sadly, that goes up in smoke and she's stuck in Hearst. She flirts with Brad and the two become a couple, but not before she buys an elite handbag from a used clothing store. If she can sell it for cash, she can still leave Hearst. But the bag is the home of Rufus, a drag queen from the 50s that is now a ghost. Sully is trying to help Rufus determine his past all the while dating Brad and keeping him in the dark.
At the beginning of the book I thought Sully was gay because of all the references to her but when she fell in love with Brad, I was confused.
The ghost bit is a stretch, but it brings out what happened to LGBTQ in the 5os. (I came along in the 60s and it wasn't much better until the 70s).
The book is accepting of gays and brings out the astonishment of the earlier treatment of gays.

Sully is a queer kid who can’t wait to get out of the town of Hearst, where there’s only one gay guy, the future politician Bread….Brad. Things are looking up when they find an antique handbag that could sell for enough to get them out of the small town forever….except that said bag is inhabited. By the ghost of a flamboyant Gay man, Rufus, from the 1950’s, who was also .a female impersonator named Tallulah.

As Sully and Brad both try to unlock the mysteries of Rufus’s past and the mysteries of their town, it turns into a in depth, sometimes sad, sometimes tragic, look at queer history.

This is an amazing, extremely needed book. Especially now. Both for queer kids, who will find some hope and comfort in Sully’s story….and in Rufus’s. Because even for a ghost, it gets better, but also for those who seem to think the 1950’s was an idyllic past that we should try to return to. If you have a queer kid who is terrified of life right now, read this book. If you have queer students, read this book. And if you somehow think that voting queer people out of existence is a good thing, definitely read this book.

This is a great book. It’s an important book. It’s a wonderful book. Thank you for letting me read it.

OMG this was one of the BEST queer YA small town books I've read since Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell!!! I have been a HUGE fan of both JVN and Julie Murphy so it was an easy click to grab their latest book as soon as humanly possible.

TRUST! It did NOT disappoint!! There is great found family, an AMAZING queer historical mystery that is sure to enlighten younger readers about what it was like to be queer in the 1950s and such a hopeful, heartwarming story about small town queer communities. I want more books like this one!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy. I will be screaming about how amazing and IMPORTANT this book is all year long! Do yourself a favor and pre-order it now. You will NOT be sorry or regret it.

I unfortunately DNF'd at the 30% mark. I was so excited to read something from JVN and Julie Murphy (who I have read before) but this one was a struggle for me

A paranormal mystery extravaganza about finding how to fit in a world with big shoes to fill! I I love the boldness this bleeds about love, friendship, and breaking conformity!

JVN and Julie Murphy are two of my favorite people, so I knew their collaboration was going to be fabulous! This story was so quirky--the haunted handbag threw me for a loop at first, but it was the exact sort of camp that felt fitting for these two authors. I really appreciated that Sully, throughout the book, knows who they are and never doubts that their parents or friends are in their corner. Rather than being a journey of self-discovery, this is a journey of self-growth as Sully recognizes the trailblazers that paved the way for them to live authentically and the hidden queer history of their hometown. The writing was really engaging and the fast-paced nature of uncovering the mystery of said haunted handbag kept me reading. I really enjoyed this campy contemporary mystery and I think this would be a great addition for YA collections and school libraries.

I really enjoyed seeing the characters progress in this story. The story was well paced and well written. I was hooked from the beginning and devoured it in just a few sittings.

Thank you Netgalley and Storytide for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy deliver a heartwarming, campy, and delightfully supernatural YA novel with “Let Them Stare,” combining humor, queerness, and mystery into an unforgettable story. At the heart of the novel is Sully, a nonbinary teen who is more than ready to escape their small Pennsylvania town—until life throws a wrench in their plans. Stuck without a job, a car (sold to the unexpectedly adorable Brad), or a backup plan, Sully stumbles upon an old Butler bag at a thrift shop, unknowingly unlocking a mystery that has been waiting decades to be solved. Inside the bag is Rufus, the ghost of a queer man from the 1950s with unfinished business, and from that moment on, the adventure—and shenanigans—begin.

Sully is an instantly lovable protagonist—sharp-witted, resilient, and deeply relatable. Their journey is not just about solving Rufus’s mystery but also about navigating their own identity, belonging, and what it means to be visible in a world that often misunderstands them. Their evolving relationship with Brad, whom they initially dismiss as boring (“Bread”), adds another layer to the story. As Sully learns to look beyond surface impressions, Brad surprises them with his quiet support and understanding, making their romance a slow-burn delight that is both playful and meaningful.

The book seamlessly weaves together a fun supernatural mystery with deeper discussions of queer history, transphobia, and the weight of always feeling like an outsider. Rufus’s story provides a touching look at the struggles and joys of queer life in the past, showing that even in the darkest times, community and love have always found ways to flourish. Sully’s narration keeps the tone light, filled with humor and sass, even as the book explores serious themes. The writing captures the best of both authors—Murphy’s knack for compelling, authentic characters and Van Ness’s signature warmth and effervescence.

While I did wish for even more depth in character exploration, “Let Them Stare” remains an uplifting and empowering read, celebrating queer identity in all its messy, glorious, and resilient forms. This book is a joyful reminder that queer people have always existed, always resisted, and always found ways to shine—even when the world tells them not to.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of Let Them Stare in exchange for an honest review. This book is a cozy hug by JVN and Julie Murphy!

Literally masterpiece? No. Beautiful silly paranormal story about a young person finding their place? Yes.

Also, Sully and Brad give David and Patrick of Schitt’s Creek energy and I loved it.

Let Them Stare is a delightful product of the combined energies of Jonathan Van Ness and Julie Murphy. Sully, who was all set to exit their hometown of Hearst, suddenly finds themselves stuck there sans job, sans car (sold to the adorbs Brad/Bread), and sans Plan B. With their last $75 (since Brad refuses to accept the Venmo refund for the car he purchased less than 24 hours previously), Sully buys what appear to be an authentic Butler bag from Yesterday's Tomorrow- the vintage thrift shop where they were previously employed. What Sully could not possibly anticipate was the Butler bag being the residence of Rufus- a ghost with an unknown past and a need to know what happened to him.

Essentially, from there, shenanigans ensue.

This book was really enjoyable- and while I have no idea how much of a joint effort this was between Van Ness and Murphy, I felt as though I could hear their distinct voices coming through the characters in the most delightful way. The pair essentially use a light-hearted and fun supernatural mystery to take on transphobia. It ends as a celebration of the way we all (should) have a place we belong regardless of anyone who tries to claim otherwise.

This book hit all the right spots on my reading check list.
Queer main characters? Thrift store scores? History? Mystery? LGBTQ+ history? Ghost story?
Yas queen!!
I loved the way the characters experienced the journey of uncovering a purpose in their own time and space. Sully has several features of my own child and I could almost hear their voice!
The good, bad, ugly, and wonderful parts of history came to life in this book and I think it's also a great introduction to queer history in a unique way.
There were also bits that I highlighted as standout quotes, one specifically about how we are paving the way for those who come after us. "Let Them Stare" gives light to those who have come before us, and it does so in a beautiful, fun, and entertaining way.