The author manages to rip your heart out without seeming like he ever tries to. The small, simple observations on people and relationships cut really deep for me. Theo was the group's anchor and they all find themselves confused and helpless without him - Griffin is especially torn between his dislike for Jackson and the feeling that he can relate to him most of all. We soon learn that there is a complex web of relationships at play here, as we are introduced to Theo's new boyfriend from California, Jackson, and the third member of their friendship group, Wade. The story (or 'history) is revealed by Griffin as he comes to term with the death of his best friend and first love, Theo.

The book is driven by its characters - Griffin, Theo, Wade and Jackson - jumping back and forth between the loss of Theo in the present and their intertwining histories. Perhaps Silvera is just fantastic at putting himself into other people's minds, but I got the sense that this was a very personal story, told from someone who knows a lot about love and loss.

History Is All You Left Me is a deeply sad book, perfectly in tune with human nature and yet never manipulative as it explores love, friendship and grief between four boys. I stayed up late last night to finish this book and, I confess, I had chills down my spine as I came to the final page.

PRAISE FOR HISTORY IS ALL YOU LEFT ME: ‘There isn’t a teenager alive who won’t find their heart described perfectly on these pages.’ Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go ‘This book will make you cry, think, and then cry some more.’ Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything ‘Sweetly devastating, passionately honest, breathtakingly human.’ Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs.People are complicated puzzles, always trying to piece together a complete picture, but sometimes we get it wrong and sometimes we’re left unfinished. Griffin must make a choice: confront the past, or miss out on the future… But as their relationship becomes increasingly complicated, dangerous truths begin to surface. Now, reeling from grief and worsening OCD, Griffin turns to an unexpected person for help. Theo was his best friend, his ex-boyfriend and the one he believed he would end up with. Griffin has lost his first love in a drowning accident. It hurts even more because this isn’t the first promise you’ve broken. And you should know I’m really pissed because you swore you would never die and yet here we are. You’re still alive in alternate universes, Theo, but I live in the real world where this morning you’re having an open casket funeral. 1 BESTSELLER THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END comes an explosive examination of grief, mental illness, and the devastating consequences of refusing to let go of the past.

History is all you left me about