I knew this was going to be good - it’s from William Hussey after all- but I didn’t expect my heart to be in pieces throughout the whole book.

19 year old Stephen is returning to the WW1 front line as a lieutenant; he has been promoted for surviving an atrocious onslaught in his previous role. He has huge survivors guilt, compounded by the loss of his secret childhood love Michael, who has also died in battle.

Stephen knows that he has become emotionally hardened and hollowed out by what he’s seen so far. When he meets new recruit Danny on the train back to the front, he feels a spark of who he used to be and a flicker of recognition for someone else like him. It is illegal be gay, of course, and if anyone finds out that Stephen is gay he is likely to be severely punished.


The bond between the men quickly grows, neither of them able to say what they would like to, but relying on the other more than they can say. They are tasked with sketching out the German frontline so that it can be attacked in what is promised to be a glorious guaranteed victory. Reading this over 100 years later, it is heartbreaking and utterly frustrating to know what’s ahead for the men.

Sublime writing that had me in tears again and again

William Hussey, take a bow.

I've read and enjoyed The Outrage and Broken Hearts and Zombie Parts, so I knew I would enjoy The Boy I Love. But I didn't just enjoy it, I felt it with every fibre of my being and wanted to both devour it and take my time with it. This is Hussey's best work so far, and that's saying something because he was already doing pretty well. I was astounded with the level of intricate detail in this novel. Anyone would think Hussey served in WWI given the level of detail he has included in terms of the logistics, the hierarchies, the strategic manoeuvres etc.

When it comes to the two main characters, Stephen and Danny are really well realised though Hussey's writing. When we meet Stephen, he is set to return to the front following a period of leave. His former platoon was lost in the trenches to German bombers and he was the sole survivor, living with that guilt and feeling totally unworthy of the medal for bravery he received as a result. We learn that despite being raised by a vicar, he grew up exploring his sexuality with another local boy, Michael, but Michael has already died at war and Stephen is devastated to have lost the boy who helped him learn who he was. However, Stephen meets another young soldier on his journey back to France, Danny, and feels an instant connection. Stephen decides to do for Danny what he could never do for Michael; he makes a vow to himself to protect Danny, and he manages to get him transferred to his own platoon. During their arduous journey to the front, Stephen and Danny begin to fall in love. These moments are gentle and evocative. I found myself rooting for them and turning the page in eagerness to see how they're relationship would progress.

I have seen some reviews criticise the speed of Stephen and Danny's relationship, but we have to consider the circumstances they found themselves in and that being sent to the front, watching their peers die around them, never knowing how much longer they would have, having both already experienced trauma etc would impact the urgency of their love for each other. It's rather foolish to take all of this into consideration and still say "but they fell in love too soon" or "Stephen moved on from Michael too quickly". We can't even begin to understand what it would have felt like to march towards your almost inevitable death. Of course they skipped a few stages. And I'm so glad they did because I adore them together.

This is a very worthwhile read for anyone interested in love stories, particularly LGBTQ+ romance, and/or war stories. A great choice for school libraries with KS4 or KS5 students. I don't think this for younger students because Stephen and Danny are both 19 and the complexity of their situation within the context of the time period would be lost; although maybe very well read Year 9s might be able to appreciate it.

Thank you to netgalley and Andersen Press for the ARC.

I went into this expecting a YA WWI romance. I'm a little jaded perhaps, but far too often people use 'YA' as a label to be a little laissez-faire for my liking, just because your audience is younger doesn't mean they deserve any less of a rich story, or any covering up of the glossier parts of the truth. This is even more poignant for stories that are set in WWI. For me as a kid in London I remember being taken to WWII shelters, and being shown reconstructions of WWI trenches, being taught about the horrors of war, about trench foot, and talking to WWII survivors.

It may be simply that I'm older now, but at the time none of it made sense, I couldn't emotionally connect with it, with the loss. When you're 13, 18 seems old, when you're 37, 18 seems like a child.

This was a remarkably well done book, I hadn't expected it to be set in 1916, I'd expected more 1918, but that's entirely on me, and while there was a little glossing over of the end, it was still a fitting ending.

Well researched, relatable characters, and a compelling story. Was it a HEA? I'd say it was as HEA as you'd expect whilst keeping it realistic, which actually, I value a lot more than historicals that make everything magically OK for queer characters.

5*

Utterly poignant.
If ever there was a missing piece of history that needed to be redressed , it is this and Hussey does it so beutifully through a love story against the backdrop of war. Beautifully empathetic, really authentic and although the love story is the draw, Hussey somehow manages to keep the reader fully aware of how awful it must have been.
Loved it!

I love William Hussey's books, especially his Killing Jericho series, but I have recently started to read some of his other novels, and so I'm excited to add this to the list.

This one sounded really beautiful. I was asked a few months ago by an ignorant person on social media, "why do you read gay books when you're not gay". And I was so dumbfounded, like I could only read books written by an author, or featuring a character, who is LGBTQ+ if I was myself LGBTQ+. I don't read "gay books" because it's written by a gay author, and I don't read "gay books" because the characters are gay. I read this book because I am a fan of William's writing and the story sounded interesting. The reason I read "gay books" like William's, is that they are perfect. They are beautiful, and they carry so much hope for readers young and old, and that is proven in this book.

It is such a beautiful love story. I imagine there will be comparisons to Alice Winn's In Memoriam (which is one of my favourite books ever!). As a reader I'm okay with the comparisons, and I hope William is too. There's room for what are, at their very heart, two beautiful love stories.

It's a war book, but it's not about the war, not really. It's about a man and about love at a time when love was very binary. It shows that love is, and should be, love. Just love.

It's still hard for me to believe that these men, these boys, were risking their lives to save people, the same people who ignorantly believed their romantic notions to be wrong. They couldn't forgive homosexuality, even if such a person was responsible for their survival. I know it was a different time, and I'm lucky enough that for most of my life, LGBTQ+ topics and people have generally been accepted. There's obviously still issues and I'm not going to gloss over them, nor am I going to pretend I'm an expert, but I still struggle to understand how someone could forget all the heroics a man had done for their safety just because of who they love. It angers me.

It is full of metaphors and exquisite poetic language. This can often be stifling and get in the way of the actual story but William has done it so well that it only enhances everything. It paints a picture - not always a happy picture - that tugs at your heartstrings right frrom the very start.

I have read a lot of war books in my time, fictional and non-fiction, WW1 and WW2, and after a time you think you've read it all. And yet this book showed me a part of the war I knew only in passing; I do know of the battle of the Somme but not all the details. This was a (excuse the choice of words) lovely thing to read, as the men involved in every aspect of the war should be remembered. I know this is a novel and the characters and goings-on are fictional, but the setting, the battle, the losses - all of that is very real.

William has covered crime thrillers and fantasy, and now dips his toe into war stories. And whilst I have only read his crime novels so far, judging by the reviews I've seen of his others, he is an author who can excel in all genres, thanks to the powerful characters he creates.

It is a sad story at times, yes, that's to be expected with a book set during WW1. There is injury and death and grief, but amongst all of that there is love and hope and friendship.

There is a plot obviously, it's about the war and the men in it. But for me, this is mostly character, and I much prefer character development over plot any day, and William has mastered that. These men, Stephen and Danny, they are kids really, still teenagers, seen too much and asked to do more than anyone of their age should do. But they're determined not to let it darken their love, which is difficult to do as two gay men in 1916.They weren't going to let prejudice stand in their way, let pain and death spoil their happiness. This story is theirs, from start to finish. We see them develop over a short space of time, as individuals, as comrades, and as loves. And it is so tenderly done, so sensitive and so beautiful. And for me, it's probably one of the best character creations I've read in a long time.

Whilst it is a sad book in many ways, I felt I was coping quite well. But it got to about 85% of the way through, and I couldn't hold it in anymore and I spent the rest of the book in tears.

This was absolutely stunning! I’ve been a big fan of Will since his first book came out way back when and it’s been a joy to see his career climb to new and wonderful heights with every book he releases. Beautifully written and so full of heart I adored every single second of the reading experience. And yes, it made me cry.

A beautiful and harrowing story shining a light on parts of WWI not often talked about. The detail woven into this story is amazing, I have a much better understanding of how things were now, thank you!

William Hussey just has a way of destroying every single one of my emotions with his books and I'm thrilled that The Boy I Love has continued this trend.

It was so refreshing to read a World War One book that didn't focus on the battle but more on a forbidden live story between two young male soldiers and their fight for their survival both at the Front and amongst their peers.

With the relationship being the focus, you just fall in love with Stephen and Danny and the way their love for each other grows is nothing short of enchanting in every way. Alongside the most lovable platoon members, this opportunity to embrace them all makes the book's final sequences even more devastating. (And if that's not enough, the bittersweet Epilogue will completely finish you off 😭)

I also loved the little Easter egg and nod to one of the most famous writers to have come out of World War One - in fact, having taught said writers works for so many years in my teaching career, his name made everything even more impactful.

An absolute triumph!!

I have loved every William Hussey book I’ve read so far, but this didn’t quite hit the spot for me.

As always with Hussey, the actual writing is wonderful, easy to visualise and easy to get into. However, I just don’t think the content and story was for me. I do tend to struggle with war stories, but wanted to give this a go as Hussey is such a favourite of mine.

Unfortunately the characters and romance were very hard to root for which made it a struggle to read. Something just didn’t click with me. A disappointment because I love reading queer historical romance stories.

Was expecting the setting and war themes to be more impactful than they were. I will say perhaps this book struggles due to some of its similarities to In Memoriam. That book had such a profound impact on me, that similar content probably has too much to live up to.

I’m sure lots of people will get a lot out of this one, but it wasn’t for me.

I'm really sad to say I gave up on this one. It jumped too quickly from mourning the great love he had before to suddenly being mad about this (frankly irritating) new boy. A shame as I had loved the previous few Hussey books I read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andersen Press for the arc.

The Boy I Love is a beautiful, if bleak, story that is so wonderfully told by William Hussey. Stephen, a Lieutenant at 19, serving in WW1, has returned to the front after an injury and losing his first love. He meets Danny and, after feeling an instant connection to this Private, Stephen feels compelled to protect him from the world.

I imagine it isn’t easy to write a YA story set in the trenches of WW1 and find the balance between just enough, and too much detail, before it tips it over into adult fiction. Hussey does a stellar job of this; particularly in showing how the horrors of WW1 weren’t always the creation of the enemy. I often found myself sickened more at the attitudes of the period and the actions (or inactions, as the case may be) of senior officers, especially knowing this inspired and based on real events.

Stephen and Danny were a joy to spend 300 pages with. I grew to hold such affection for them and got incredibly nervous as the page numbers increased, desperately wanting to know their fate (and also not) but also wanting to make my time with them last. I felt the need to shelter them from everything and keep them in that French villa forever. Making us love the main characters is to be expected, but managing to write the supporting cast of fellow soldiers in such a way that they felt equally as important isn’t an easy task. It’s inevitable in a book set in WW1 that we’re going to lose some of the supporting cast, and I shed many tears each time.

I’m so excited to buy this for our students, as I know they’re going to love it, and I can’t wait until next year when I can buy a hard copy for myself.

The year is 1916. The Great War rages on. Stephen has returned for his second stint in the trenches as an Officer in the army. The last time he was here, he lost the man he loved. The man hardly anyone else knew he loved. This time, he’s come to battle the ghosts of his past. Danny, on the other hand conscribed as soon as he was required to. He’s a green boy, uncertain of what waits for him ahead in battle. Neither of them, however, foresaw that in a field of loves and lives lost, the love of their life may begin…

The Boy I Love by William Hussey is released by Andersen Press on 23rd January 2025.

As I’m writing this, I’m about ten minutes free of the tears stopping rolling down my face. The tears before that, however, lasted for the best part of half an hour. This book is a masterpiece of melancholic beauty.

I never usually struggle for words when writing these reviews as I oftentimes make notes as I read, or I read in segments so write maybe a paragraph or two in my natural breaks. I read this book in 2 sittings with only sleep in the middle.

Entranced by the bittersweet realisation that this wondrous work of fiction could very well have been a thing of fact, I found it hard to not emotionally invest in the words Hussey writes. From the characterisations to the descriptions, Hussey’s voice is a work of elegance in drawing readers in and directing their emotions from page to page.

If you’re not like myself (a bit of history fan), you could enter this book with no real understanding of the First World War. Most people I know think of it as the surface level thing we learned about in school. Hussey’s prose is as informative as it is descriptive that this will likely act the most engaging history lesson you’ve ever partaken in. From his description of the situation – a hard thing to summarise whilst trying to progress a narrative – to the vividly heart stopping depictions of life in the trenches and on No Man’s Land, Hussey sold The Boy I Love to me to such a degree, I would not have been surprised if the end of the novel was ‘Inspired by True Events’.

Stephen and Danny’s love, without wanting to give any spoilers, is a loop-de-loop of heartbreaking and heartmaking all at the same time. There’s a bittersweetness to this novel because of this, but I don’t think the story would’ve been faithful to its setting and inspiration without it. Usually it takes a series, and even then, the second or third outing, for me to fall besotted with characters the way I have with these two in one novel. They’re a couple I will think about for a long time to come, and two characters I can tell will remain with me always. (Note: I’m tearing up as I type this, because I genuinely adore these characters).

The only conclusion I can think to write to my review of The Boy I Love is Read. This. Book. I can guarantee you will not regret it, and I truly long for the day I get to see Stephen and Danny in some other media, whether this be stage, TV or film. Alongside the many re-reads I foresee for myself with Hussey’s novel in years to come, I look forward for the many tears that will be shed in re-embracing The Boy I Love.

I’m torn on this! While I loved the initial concept, the book itself was a drag to read in some parts. I wish the story leaned more into the war aspect, seeing as that was a big part of why I wanted to read it. Danny and Stephen were alright main characters, I wasn’t overly invested in them but I did want the best. Surprisingly, the epilogue was my favourite part, it was full of emotions and heartbreak and seemed much more carefully written than the rest of the book. This story covers an important part of history, and gives voice to a community that is often ignored in historical fiction, so I applaud Hussey for that.

Everything about this book is so beautiful, it's hard to know where to even start this review.

Okay characters, let's begin there! Stephen is absolutely perfection in my opinion. He's everything I love an mc to be. His story intrigued my from the very first page and the way his story slowly unfurls throughout the chapters, blending his past and the events that led him to the main time line and the things that happen during the main plot was so well done! I honestly felt so connected to him and invested in him very early on. Similarly, Danny is a fantastic love interest. the way he's described through Stephen's eyes is so touching and just a joy to read, despite the many threats they face as individuals and as a couple.

All of the side characters were beautifully written too but to save time I'm just going to say that every character feels so alive so it's easy to get invested in all of them. I always think it's particularly special when author manages that from just one Character's perspective and William Hussey made it look effortless.

The overall plot was every bit as compelling and painful as I expected it to be, perhaps even more so. It was also very beautiful which is very fitting given the narrative. The contrast between the beautiful love between two men and the horrific war that threw them together is just... well beautiful and painful in equal measures.

I don't really know what else to say, other than that I kind of wish I could read it again for the first time, not because there's lots of unexpected twists and turns (this story really doesn't need them), but because the experience of getting to know these characters within this time line, was so touching.

A must-read for fans of ‘In Memoriam’! As soon as I heard this was a YA version, I knew I had to pick it up. While I couldn't help but compare the two, ‘The Boy I Love’ holds its own, offering a powerful yet delicate balance of war’s horrors and the tender, forbidden love that blooms in its shadows.

Hussey’s writing transports you to the grimy trenches of WWI, immersing you in the brotherhood and trauma of frontline soldiers. It’s less graphic than its adult counterpart, but still captures the brutality of war in a way that’s accessible for younger readers without losing emotional impact.

Stephen’s perspective is beautifully written, his emotions and internal struggles portrayed with raw honesty. Hussey masterfully shows us the masks worn by both enemies and friends, crafting a vivid image of the tension, camaraderie, and longing that defined the summer of 1916.

The historical detail is stunning, painting a vivid backdrop for Stephen and Danny’s sweet, slow-burning relationship. Their connection—despite differences in rank—rises quietly, each stolen moment of tenderness standing in stark contrast to the devastation around them. It's a love story built on trust, healing, and survival, anchored in friendship yet filled with an aching, fleeting desire.

A moving, visceral, and unflinching look at quiet romances lost to the shadows of war. Highly recommended!

I’ve read quite a few WWI trenches stories (Birdsong, All The Light We Cannot See, All Quiet on the Western Front, In Memoriam) and this one stands amongst them for storytelling. Hussey draws you in, and the dramatic irony that the reader experiences knowing they’re about to go through the Battle of the Somme is heart wrenching. Will be filing this under ‘WHY CAN’T THEY JUST BE TOGETHER?!’

Hussey has written a tender story set in the brutal landscape of World War One, where of course homosexuality is illegal.

I found the novel very engaging and I devoured it quickly. I enjoyed the writing style and the way the plot was crafted.

The characters are very likeable and I quickly found affection for them. Stephen was written beautifully, as a weary and jaded 19 year old, aged prematurely by his time at the front. Contrasted, is the joyous, youthful and untainted Danny, only months apart in age, but worlds apart in war experience. Their interactions are heartwarming, and the relationships in the book are well crafted and believable.

An emotional depiction of finding love in the darkest of times, with characters you'll take to your heart. Go be immersed in their world.

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.