Return to Jack and Damon’s queer love story in the poignant sequel, Jack’s Ever After.
Jack Martin’s life feels like a dream come true. He’s surrounded by supportive friends, his music is thriving, and he’s head over heels for the boy of his dreams. Jack’s fairy tale seems complete. But as he enters his eleventh-grade year at Nolan High School, Jack soon learns that every fairy tale has its villains. In this gripping continuation of the bestselling modern, queer fairy tale Jack’s on Fire, Jack discovers that not all endings are as happy as they seem.
Join Jack as he navigates the many twists and turns of high school, friendship, and love. With its compelling exploration of chosen family and the complexities of young queer love, Jack’s Ever After will captivate you until the very last page. Discover what lies beyond the happily ever after in this stirring queer tale that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you yearning for more.
In the return to Jack and Damon’s love story, Jack’s Ever After, Owen Lach has created a sequel that is poignant, authentic and beautiful. Part of what makes this such a beautiful story is that Jack is never painted as perfect. He has his ups and downs, those moments of insecurities and complexity that we all have. His life’s not easy but neither is everything all bad. It is a true love story, in that Jack and Damon face hurdles that real life throws at them and have to figure out a solution that works best for them and also what’s most important to them.
Owen Lach gives a modern spin to what it’s like for a queer love story and gives us authentic moments that many queer young adults face as they navigate high school and friendships. I love the frank discussion of sex, discrimination, the subtle micro aggressions and bigotry that can happen in society. The ups and downs of the challenges Jack faces are what make the novel so dramatic yet hopeful. It is the complexities that will captivate you and the genuine characters that will leave you loving this authentic and beautiful love story. My only regret was that it was over much too soon and left me wanting way more story. While the pacing is perfect for a young adult audience, I very much feel there is more story to tell about Jack and Damon and I sincerely hope there will be a third book.
Rating: 5 out of 5 kisses.
