Coming out is hard, especially when you have two gay moms. At least it is for Simon Bugg. He doesn’t want the world to think that having gay parents has turned him gay. And he certainly doesn’t want anyone to know about the alien in his stomach that’s trying to kill him.
It’s Simon’s senior year and his world just turned upside down. When his mom scores a dream job, Simon lands at a new school away from the only friends he has ever known. Now, his mom is overworked and chronically stressed, and his deadbeat dad is back on the scene. Navigating a new school and new friends is a challenge for a neurotic overthinker, and Simon finds himself turning to his rescue cat and a local barista for support. But when Simon meets the handsome PJ in drama class, he gets talked into a date that he derails in spectacular fashion.
With a little help from his friends—new and old—Simon finds his way back to PJ. But how can he have a real relationship with the boy of his dreams when he’s convinced he’s going to die? No one knows about the nightly alien attacks at 11:22. Why then, and why do they keep getting worse? Simon must face a dark secret inside before he loses his chance with the boy he loves.
This is such an original queer YA coming-of-age novel, as it blends sci-fi elements, romance, and emotional family drama. It’s also Steven Gellman’s debut novel and shows a lot of ambition—the synopsis makes it seem like a typical queer teen romance, but by the midpoint you’ll realize there’s a lot more going on. Woven into are compelling themes, including self-discovery, mental health issues, parent-child relationships, LGBTQ+ family representation, first love, and more!
The story is told in Simon’s 1st-person POV, and you get pulled into his anxious, often fearful mindset right from the opening chapter when he veers his car off the road after an “alien attack.” He’s also very much an unreliable narrator (at times) as he’s often overwhelmed and his perception of things can be very off. But you’ll still root for him as he tries to cope with starting a new school for senior year and has so many things thrown at him, including the monster within!
His family life is very interesting—he has two lesbian mothers, Lindsay and Carol, whose gay relationship is wonderfully normalized in the story. But his biological mother is visibly overworked, and his absent father reappears during a very difficult time in the story, all causing Simon more inner turmoil that feels SO relatable and makes you want to give him a hug! The romance between Simon and PJ is sweet and has its own minor conflicts, but it’s secondary to the coming-of-age and emotional family drama—which made the book stand out more for me! And a real highlight is Simon’s friendships—from lifelong friends Mags and Neil to new friendships with Paul and Letica, there’s a rich diversity of characters of different sexualities and genders, from shy introverts to eccentric extroverts—very engaging!
The only thing that held me back from giving this a five-star is the writing style. It’s noticeably straightforward and sometimes simple in how it describes characters’ emotions and reactions. The story got much more layered and emotional by the second half that I didn’t even notice anymore. Later on, there are a few emotional and disturbing reveals that you won’t be expecting, but you may predict the source of the “alien attacks.”
What I liked most is that the book didn’t end with a cheesy, typical HEA where everything feels so unrealistic. That wouldn’t have matched this story, and the author did a great job of emphasizing Simon’s emotional arc while leaving his future open-ended but optimistic! If you have access to the audiobook, there’s also an original song sung by the author at the end that shares the book’s title that leave you both smiling and emotional.
Narrator Performance
Somewhere in Nowhere is narrated by award-winning narrator Michael Crouch. He portrays Simon with an introspective voice layered with anxiety and vulnerability, which suits the conflicted, unstable teen who’s constantly overthinking. In his inner monologues, Crouch really emphasizes his uncertainty as he navigates his first day at a new school, coming out, and grappling with what he believes are alien attacks happening inside him at 11:22 PM. The scenes of the alien attacks, whether they’re in his car, in bed, or while spending time with PJ, are very powerfully narrated, and you can literally feel Simon’s physical discomfort and spiraling fear almost as a personal experience. If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety or panic attacks, these scenes may be triggering or may just hit close to home because of how authentic the performance feels.
The delivery of the exchanges between Simon and love interest PJ makes their connection feel genuine and warm—and even if you’re questioning how quickly their feelings develop, Crouch makes their chemistry feel real. He also does a great job giving Simon’s friend group distinct and memorable voices, including PJ, Neil, Max, Paul, Leticia, and his mentor Hector, which makes it almost feel like you’re listening to a coming-of-age film.
One of the standout parts of the performance is how Crouch narrates Simon’s interactions with his family. His two mothers, Lindsay and Carol, are voiced with distinct personalities and voices that make them feel very authentic as a couple with differing opinions. Carol’s emotional investment in Simon is conveyed as so heartfelt during some heartbreaking plot points. Simon’s complex relationship with his returning father is also executed well, as their brief conversations and Simon’s inner processing really capture his resentment and confusion in a realistic way.
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go. And once you finish the story, don’t skip the original song performed by the author—it’s a beautiful closing touch that will leave you with warm, reflective vibes!
Narrator Performance
Somewhere in Nowhere is narrated by award-winning narrator Michael Crouch. He portrays Simon with an introspective voice layered with anxiety and vulnerability, which suits the conflicted, unstable teen who’s constantly overthinking. In his inner monologues, Crouch really emphasizes his uncertainty as he navigates his first day at a new school, coming out, and grappling with what he believes are alien attacks happening inside him at 11:22 PM. The scenes of the alien attacks, whether they’re in his car, in bed, or while spending time with PJ, are very powerfully narrated, and you can literally feel Simon’s physical discomfort and spiraling fear almost as a personal experience. If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety or panic attacks, these scenes may be triggering or may just hit close to home because of how authentic the performance feels.
The delivery of the exchanges between Simon and love interest PJ makes their connection feel genuine and warm—and even if you’re questioning how quickly their feelings develop, Crouch makes their chemistry feel real. He also does a great job giving Simon’s friend group distinct and memorable voices, including PJ, Neil, Max, Paul, Leticia, and his mentor Hector, which makes it almost feel like you’re listening to a coming-of-age film.
One of the standout parts of the performance is how Crouch narrates Simon’s interactions with his family. His two mothers, Lindsay and Carol, are voiced with distinct personalities and voices that make them feel very authentic as a couple with differing opinions. Carol’s emotional investment in Simon is conveyed as so heartfelt during some heartbreaking plot points. Simon’s complex relationship with his returning father is also executed well, as their brief conversations and Simon’s inner processing really capture his resentment and confusion in a realistic way.
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go. And once you finish the story, don’t skip the original song performed by the author—it’s a beautiful closing touch that will leave you with warm, reflective vibes!
Somewhere in Nowhere is narrated by award-winning narrator Michael Crouch. He portrays Simon with an introspective voice layered with anxiety and vulnerability, which suits the conflicted, unstable teen who’s constantly overthinking. In his inner monologues, Crouch really emphasizes his uncertainty as he navigates his first day at a new school, coming out, and grappling with what he believes are alien attacks happening inside him at 11:22 PM. The scenes of the alien attacks, whether they’re in his car, in bed, or while spending time with PJ, are very powerfully narrated, and you can literally feel Simon’s physical discomfort and spiraling fear almost as a personal experience. If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety or panic attacks, these scenes may be triggering or may just hit close to home because of how authentic the performance feels.
The delivery of the exchanges between Simon and love interest PJ makes their connection feel genuine and warm—and even if you’re questioning how quickly their feelings develop, Crouch makes their chemistry feel real. He also does a great job giving Simon’s friend group distinct and memorable voices, including PJ, Neil, Max, Paul, Leticia, and his mentor Hector, which makes it almost feel like you’re listening to a coming-of-age film.
One of the standout parts of the performance is how Crouch narrates Simon’s interactions with his family. His two mothers, Lindsay and Carol, are voiced with distinct personalities and voices that make them feel very authentic as a couple with differing opinions. Carol’s emotional investment in Simon is conveyed as so heartfelt during some heartbreaking plot points. Simon’s complex relationship with his returning father is also executed well, as their brief conversations and Simon’s inner processing really capture his resentment and confusion in a realistic way.
If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go. And once you finish the story, don’t skip the original song performed by the author—it’s a beautiful closing touch that will leave you with warm, reflective vibes!
