Exquisite Things

"A sweeping love letter to queer resistance all the way to present day, steeped in references to the art, music, and culture that LGBTQIA+ communities have created and reveled in over years... The blend of history, pathos, and deeply dramatic pronouncements of love on Bram's part will appeal to fans of Selznick's Run Away With Me." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The difficult things did not erase the good experiences or undermine their impact on the main characters. If anything, they strengthened them... Another emotional and poignant story from Nazemian . . . the beating heart of this novel was the exploration of longing for a perfect world where everyone can live and love as their authentic selves . . . Young people will learn so much history just from reading this book. It is truly needed at this point in time as the banning and erasure of this history is back at the forefront of political discussion and policy. Many of the events, writers, artists, and musicians highlighted in the book really illustrated the power of speaking the supposed unspeakable and living one's life as a means of resistance. Overall, this was another exceptional story from Abdi Nazemian. The history packed into this novel makes it worth a read on its own. However, the focus on queer joy amidst the struggles and the importance of living for today also stood out . . . I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars." - Biblio Nerd Review

"This story is ultimately a love letter to the struggle for queer liberation . . . Nazemian's writing is lyrical and poetic. Every library, especially those looking for more LGBTQIA+ representation on their shelves, should have this on the shelves." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"A sumptuous, expansive, sexy and gorgeously written time hopping romance that proves that no matter the era, people are people and love is love." - Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and After Life

"From the libertine days of Oscar Wilde to the stifling nightmare of Margaret Thatcher, Exquisite Things shines as an epic gay romance that spans more than a century and that brings into sharp focus the shifting ground on which queer people stand from era to era. Abdi Nazemian's enchanting prose and adept research intertwine to deliver a riveting love story made all the more electric by its inclusion of cultural and political currents. What a clever way to unearth and share queer history! This seductive novel will educate you as it woos you." - Rasheed Newson, bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me

"Abdi Nazemian's powerful words cut through time and place to explore undying love and unyielding desire, reminding us that even when people want us to be invisible, we will never be erased. In a word: exquisite." - Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Guncle

"Abdi Nazemian is an author I turn to time and time again for portrayals of hope, joy, music, and the power of our own words, especially during dark and fearful times. Exquisite Things is dizzyingly epic, spanning lifetimes with sharp observations and a tender beating heart. I loved this book." - Amy Spalding, bestselling author of We Used to Be Friends and The Summer of Jordi Perez

"At once gorgeous and heartbreaking, Exquisite Things is a journey through first loves, queer communities, tragedy, and survival. Abdi Nazemian's delicate touch evokes hope that burns brighter than the loss that comes before it. A truly timeless masterpiece." - Julian Winters, award-winning author of Prince of the Palisades

"Both relevant and ancestral, queer and full of heart, messy and absolutely exquisite, Abdi Nazemian proves to not only be one of the great storytellers of our time but also a truly beloved elder of our community." - Jonny Garza Villa, Stonewall Award-winning author of Canto Contigo

"Every now and then you come across a book that will stick with you for a lifetime. This is one of those books. Abdi Nazemian expertly blends storytelling and history to give readers a love story and a message that is magic in every sense of the word." - Rachel Lippincott, New York Times bestselling author of She Gets the Girl

"Exquisite Things is a powerful, epic love letter to queer longing, chosen family, and the ache of wanting to belong-in any era. Abdi Nazemian's gorgeous prose will make you nostalgic for lives you've never lived, loves you've never known, and a world where everyone can be exactly who they are." - Daniel Aleman, award-winning author of Indivisible

"Nazemian once again expertly navigates a multiple time lines, interweaving moments of the various time periods and sharing the love and challenges of two enchanted boys who can never age. Reflecting themes of Wilde's works, Nazemian's latest speaks to society, morality, the corruption of the wealthy, and of course, the multitudes contained in queer identity. This clever approach to the potential of immortality is equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking." -Booklist (starred review) - Booklist (starred review)