This book is stunning. It gives real insight into the lived experience of the men who served on the front line during WWI and really shows just how much they all sacrificed whilst doing so. Not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination but an important one.

I liked this different approach to a WW1 story very much, it captured the terror and the boredom of life in the Belgian/French trenches very evocatively.
I also liked the author's bravery in how seriously the ending played out (no spoilers) it would have been very easy to have taken easier or more obvious routes.

Having read widely around the topic for project work during the 14-18 Commemorations I had fun spotting the references (always subtly done) from older WW1 literature and also via the bibliography finding some new to me books on the topic.

William Hussey is one of my favorite YA authors. Hideous Beauty is a gem, and I expected to find the same writing, the same emotions, and the same kind of love story from that book in The Boy I Love, a YA story about English boys going to war in France in 1916. The best book I’ve ever read about WWI (or actually overall) is In Memoriam. So, I expected a YA version of that book, the vividly written scenes in the muddy trenches, the brotherhood between those soldiers, the hurt and the pain, and above so much love.

Did I get all of this? Yes, because The Boy I Know is a beautifully written story that took me to those grimy trenches and let me feel the brotherhood between those men. It made me fall in love with Danny, sweet, cheerful Danny and made me want to throw my fist at Gallagher and Beddowes (please know I’m not a violent person) for the terrible men they were. It made me weep because of Ollie, oh sweet Ollie, and smile when Stephen and Danny admitted their feelings for each other. It made my heart thunder in my chest when, for one moment, Stephen thought Danny had died, and it made me feel so much more.

After finishing this book, I only wanted one thing, though. That I had read In Memoriam after this one and not before. How is it possible to compete with such a masterpiece? And maybe it’s not fair to compare those two stories.

So, If you haven’t read In Memoriam yet, read this one first. If you think In Memoriam is too triggering, you might want to try this one since it’s less graphic. And if you’ve loved any of William Hussey’s books and/or In Memoriam, I’d still recommend reading this one too.

Stephen is returning to fight in WW11 after being wounded in battle for which he received a medal. However he feels a fraud as he is only 19 and he felt he hadn’t shown bravery when the rest of his platoon were killed. He’d also been greeted by his gruff father telling him a neighbour had been killed. Stephen had loved that neighbour but when discovered by Stephen’s father he’d given him the ultimatum of joining up or forever being banished.
Returning to France Stephen felt dead inside. But he soon took a cheeky new recruit under his wing as Danny had caught his eye.
What followed was the horror of war and the disregard those in charge had for the men they were supposed to be leading in the build up to the Battle of the Somme.
It’s in turn a horror and a love story of men whose dreams were considered abhorrent by others. A wonderfully written novel

I think I'm in the minority for this one, but this book wasn't the one for me. I find YA novels hit or miss - this one skews a bit younger, which I found hard to connect with given the subject matter. That said, this book will 100% have its audience. I didn't find it as bleak as it could have been - the Battle of the Somme looms over our characters, but apart from that, it really held back on the graphic brutality in favour of developing the characters and relationships. Definitely recommending for teen readers for these factors!

Queer stories have always existed and I love that they are being reclaimed and told.

At just nineteen, Stephen returns to the trenches, wounded but determined to lead his platoon. Haunted by the loss of his first love, he questions what he's fighting for until he meets Private Danny McCormick, a sharp, outspoken recruit. Their connection is undeniable, yet forbidden by both society and the army. As Stephen strives to protect Danny, he battles not only the enemy but also the prejudices of his superiors.

Set against the brutal backdrop of the Somme in 1916, William Hussey’s novel is a powerful, unflinching portrayal of war. While a poignant romance anchors the story, it doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the battlefield. This bittersweet tale gives a voice to the silent queer men of history, brought to life by Hussey's vivid and moving prose. An extraordinary work that stays with you long after the final page.

Thank you so much to the author - William Hussey and the team at both Andersen Press and Tandem Collective UK for running this book tour!

I was first introduced to William’s writing through his Killing Jericho series, and from there I’ve only read on with his works, particularly his YA writings. William’s new novel was absolutely fantastic, and personally one of his best yet, I know it was certainly one of my favourites that he’s written thus far!

The story is powerful and balances the emotions of war with the passion of the heart. Stephen’s trauma from his first visit to the front and the loss of his previous platoon is something he carries with him heavily as he’s reassigned the likes of Spud, Taffy, Percy, and even little Ollie. His request for Danny as his squire arise from his urges to shelter an innocent from his own experiences with war, but it is not just how own experiences as Stephen is fuelled by the guilt of losing his past love Michael, and he sees much of Michael in Danny at the start, before separating the two into their own separate people; the care between the two only grew which was endearing, and to see the two them blossom even in the most inconvenient and brutal circumstances was a true pleasure to be witness to.

It was fantastic to see the glossary of sorts included in the back with terms and definitions for some of the war terminology used throughout the books, further emphasising the amount of research that went into this book, as well as the pride in writing and the accessibility of reading his book too!
It is safe to say I’ll be awaiting its full release so I can finally put a gorgeous cover to this beautiful story and show it off to everyone I know!

An absolutely extraordinary piece of work. While there is a romance at the centre of this novel, there is no romancing of the grim realities of war. William Hussey’s vivid writing is unflinching in bringing this story to life.



A bittersweet and incredibly moving tale. But perhaps the most moving thing of all is that these silent queer men have been given their voice back. And, in William Hussey, what a voice they have.

This was both a vivid description of war and a tender love story - fantastic! William Hussey's best novel yet

A wonderfully written novel that delves into a side of the First World War that is often missing from war literature. Hussey brilliantly crafts his characters so that it is easy for the reader to sympathise and root for them. The blossoming romance between Danny and Stephen is written so poignantly and captures how even in the darkest of times that love can prevail. There story is one of countless unnamed men during the war and Hussey is able to capture their story in a masterful way. The cast of characters that we meet alongside Stephen’s journey are developed and become an integral part of the story that the reader is left to care for as well (or at least most of them). I’ll be recommending this novel highly to people upon its release and be sure to make sure that our library is stocked with copies of its own.