I’m genuinely amazed that this is Curtis Garner’s debut novel. I couldn’t put it down and found myself reflecting on it long after I finished. The writing is exceptional, capturing Isaac's emotional journey so vividly. I could feel his struggles with self-worth and the way he sought validation in his relationships. It brought me back to my own transition from adolescence to adulthood, evoking the pain and uncertainty of that time, along with the all-too-easy tendency to lose oneself in someone else.

What I loved most was the authenticity of the characters, especially the relationship between Isaac and his mother. Their journey of self-discovery as they navigate new chapters in their lives felt so real and relatable. This book is destined to become a queer classic, and I can’t wait to follow Curtis Garner’s journey as an author and see what he brings us next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for this ARC!

“Isaac” is the coming of age story of our central character, Isaac, who lives with his mother and stepfather in London. Isaac is gay, in his last year of sixth form, and has recently started hooking up with other guys via Grindr. This is also how he meets Harrison, who he quickly develops feelings for and a relationship with.

This book truly knew how to hit you right in the guts, showing us all of Isaac’s struggles in a way you cant help emphasising with and, unfortunately, relating to.

He deals with body-image and mental health issues, an upset in his family life, and an abusive relationship with a significantly older man.

This is the kind of book that I really wish I would’ve been able to read when I was around the same age as Isaac is in this book, and I’m glad that it exists now for others to read who may be in similar situations. It doesn’t shy away from showing the negative side of things, rather than just glamourising the lifestyle Isaac chooses to lead in the beginning of this book.

I really cherished the way Isaac’s relationship with his mother and his best friend were described, and the author did a wonderful job of showing how having a support system can really make all the difference.

Overall I think this was a lovely, emotional read, and I really hope that the right people are able to find this at the right time in their lives and feel comforted seeing themselves and their experiences represented.

3.5 stars
Isaac is a compelling coming-of-age story set in the digital age.
It is a quick and engaging read, and Isaac’s relatable as the main character.
In some ways, if you like Call Me By Your Name, you might enjoy this book - though, they are very different in their settings.
Characterisation 3.5
Plot 3.5
Prose 3
Themes 5

4.5!⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
A beautiful and poignant coming of age read. Isaac's naievity is frustrating and heartbreaking to read at times, it is easy to forget how young he is as he goes through a tumultuous journey of self discovery.
Skillfully written, relatable and shedding light on some incredibly important subject matter that we don't see enough of! Isaac's relationship with his mother, cherish and later his uni friends are heart warming to read. His disastrous relationship with Harrison on the other hand shattered my heart for poor Isaac. Very very nearly a 5 star read for me, I just wanted a little more for Cherish who was treated pretty appealingly by Isaac at times and didn't quite have the full redemption journey I was hoping on this - however I have battled with this thought as Isaac is still so very young. An important read and excellently executed.

I picked up the novel because I'm curious about the ways in which the young(er) generation imagines growing up/becoming queer. It's sweet. Here, coming of age (graduating high school, going to college, first sex, first love) is interspersed with body image issues (which I found lacking in motivation), family issues (though thankfully not with the main character's sexuality), power relations, and finding a voice through writing. I love it even more because of the coincidence that much of the action takes place in Lewisham, where I stayed when I visited London this year.

Isaac is an uncompromising and vivid portrait of that liminal time between A-levels and university.



It really captures that late-teenage experience, where emotions come the size of articulated lorries and every decision feels vital and precipitous.



Queer readers own memories of first loves and misguided teenage dalliances will certainly be provoked while you read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc. This is a complex and in depth look at a young man discovering himself and his identity. It doesn't shy away from painful things. The writing is great, the characters well rounded. I saw myself and my friends in the interactions between Isaac and Cherish