The Ghosts We Keep - by Mason Deaver (Paperback)

About the Book

"Everything happens for a reason. At least that's what everyone keeps telling Liam Cooper after his older brother Ethan is killed suddenly in a hit-and-run. Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam has to not only learn to face the world without one of the people he loved the most, but also face the fading relationships of his two best friends in the process. Soon, Liam finds themself spending time with Ethan's best friend, Marcus, who might just be the only person that seems to know exactly what they're going through"--

Book Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, this book will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal and celebrate life in the process.

Everything happens for a reason.

At least that's what everyone keeps telling Liam Cooper after his older brother Ethan is killed in a hit-and-run.

Feeling more alone and isolated than ever, Liam has to not only learn to face the world without one of the people he loved the most, but also face the fading relationships of his two best friends in the process.

Soon, Liam finds themself spending time with Ethan's best friend, Marcus, who might just be the only person that seems to know exactly what they're going through-for better and for worse.

The Ghosts We Keep is an achingly honest portrayal of grief. But it is also about why we live. Why we have to keep moving on, and why we should.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Ghosts We Keep:

* "An unflinchingly honest story that doesn't shy away from the complex emotions of grief, but also offers a hopeful path forward." -- Booklist, starred review

"Liam's hard-won hope makes for an emotional journey that's as heart-expanding as it is heartbreaking." -- Publishers Weekly

"An honest look at the messy, overwhelming experience of coping with sudden loss." -- School Library Journal

"A nuanced exploration of grief and how it influences our relationships and sense of self." -- The Nerd Daily

Praise for I Wish You All the Best:

Named the Best YA Book of 2020 by Pink News

Nominated for the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Award, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Young Adult Fiction, and a NPR Book Concierge Pick

Named One of the Best Books of 2019 by Indigo, Autostraddle, Bitch Media, Book Riot, & Buzzfeed

A 2019 Junior Library Guild Selection & IndieBound Bestseller

"Heartfelt, romantic, and quietly groundbreaking. This book will save lives." -- Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"Tender and bursting with humanity, I Wish You All the Best tells a heartwarming queer love story without compromise." -- Meredith Russo, Stonewall Award-winning author of If I Was Your Girl

"A beacon of hope in a broken world. We all need this book." -- Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

"Emotional and heartfelt... This is the sort of novel that goes beyond being important; it has the potential to save and change lives." -- Kacen Callender, Stonewall Award-winning author of Hurricane Child and This is Kind of an Epic Love Story

"I Wish You All the Best reminds us that, when we open up to love, we have the capacity to become our most authentic selves." -- Adib Khorram, Morris and APALA Award-winning author of Darius the Great is Not Okay

"A truly unique and beautiful debut." -- Adi Alsaid, author of Let's Get Lost

"Profoundly poignant and often swoon-worthy... a stunning gift to the world." -- Jay Coles, author of Tyler Johnson Was Here

"An important and inspiring novel about identity, acceptance, friendship, familial relationships, and the people who become your family." -- Sabina Khan, author of The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali and Zara Hossain is Here

"A soft, sweet, and incredibly important story about a nonbinary teen finding their voice. This book is going to be so important to so many people." -- Alice Oseman, author of Radio Silence and Heartstopper

"A welcome addition to the growing body of LGBTQIAP+ literature." -- Booklist

"An honest coming-of-age and coming-out story... Deaver's treatment of Ben's nonbinary identity creates a realistic portrayal of their journey toward self-acceptance... through sympathetic characters and a hopeful narrative of empowerment." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A powerful illustration of the ways that compassion and love can overcome intolerance." -- Publishers Weekly

"There is tragedy at the heart of this story, but there is also tenderness. Deaver shows us that love, like gender, is fluid and nonbinary." -- NPR

About the Author

Born and raised in a small town in North Carolina, Mason Deaver is an award-nominated, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte. Their debut novel, I Wish You All the Best, was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and an NPR Concierge Book. Besides writing, they're an active fan of horror movies and video games. You can find them online at masondeaverwrites.com.