Afterglow (Golden Boys

The golden boys return after a summer apart. The four best friends—Gabriel, Sal, Heath, and Reese—know senior year will have its challenges but also its triumphs. Heath has his relationship with Reese and his future at Vanderbilt. Reese knows his fashion designs show promise, hopefully enough for school in New York. Gabriel has high hopes for a long distance relationship with Matt, and Sal has high political aspirations fueled by his previous internship.

However, it’s the small things that might rain on their last year in school. Can Gabe maintain his long-distance relationship? If he can’t, do Reese and Heath have a chance? What is that pain in Heath’s shoulder and will it ruin his aspirations for college? And finally, how is Sal going to tell his mom that he doesn’t want the plan they built? So much can change in one year.

This book is a slow burn as the four best friends come of age and look at the rest of their lives head on. Drama is frequent as they question their choices and their futures, but overall it is a sweet queer romance, worthy as the sequel to Golden Boys or as a stand-alone read.