A poignant and evocative tale. Covers so many issues which are still relevant today. The narrative flows well, although the ending is a bit of an anti climax.

This is a book set in the 80’s/early 90s about the AIDS epidemic/pandemic (?). This follows Art, an openly gay teenage boy, his best friend Judy, and their love interest Reza, who is thinking more about his sexuality and how he may not be straight. Judy’s uncle is also a major character who has AIDS, and you see how this affects him throughout as well.

So, I loved the premise, and I loved the messaging. What I took away from this is, no matter what horrors the community faces, you should never let this take away your joy and your life. It was very emotional, and I think this should be available at every school everywhere, it provides history while also giving you hope.

I love reading about activism in books, especially YA books, to help spread the message that when things are bad, they don’t have to stay bad, and there is something you can do about that.

I didn’t love that Reza and Judy’s POV’s changed in the middle of a page without anything telling you they had switched perspectives aside from context clues. Maybe this was just the format from Netgalley, but it took me out of the story a few times. Also, the long chapters made the reading experience feel longer than it was. There was also a situation with Judy midway and I’m not sure I really understand why she reacted that way, although I understand why she would feel a certain way about it.

As an asexual, I do want to mention that it was uncomfortable how much sex was pushed in this book. I get why, it’s about an AIDS pandemic, we know how that’s transmitted and it made sense for that to be the focus. But when it started to feel like the narrator was saying you can’t have a relationship without sex, I was thinking about how that’s not the *best* message to give to teenagers and how they don’t HAVE to want it, like it or be ready for it yet (although there was a conversation about that and how you’re ready when you’re ready, which I appreciated).

Overall, I liked it and I would probably recommend this and read more by this author! I liked what it was saying to the reader and the history it provided.

Like A Love Story is a breathtakingly powerful and deeply moving novel that captures the intensity of first love, the pain of hidden truths, and the courage it takes to live authentically. Set against the vibrant yet tumultuous backdrop of 1989 New York City, Abdi Nazemian masterfully weaves a story that is both intimate and epic in scope.

With a cast of unforgettable characters—Reza, Judy, and Art—Nazemian explores themes of identity, friendship, activism, and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis. The narrative pulses with raw emotion and historical urgency, while also offering moments of warmth, joy, and hope. The relationships are complex and beautifully rendered, and the book’s message about love being a revolutionary act is both timely and timeless.

Nazemian’s writing is lyrical, empathetic, and rich in cultural detail, making Like A Love Story a standout coming-of-age novel that resonates long after the final page. It’s a must-read for fans of emotionally charged, character-driven stories that challenge and uplift in equal measure.

I have never read a book where each narrator has such a distinct voice than in Like A Love Story. Although the author notes that their personal story resonates more with one of the characters, I feel that each character was crafted with such individuality that I could pick up the book mid chapter and still know whose voice was speaking. This is really powerful and made me fall in love with each of the characters and their personal story. Although I have read quite a few LGBTQ+ fiction, I particularly enjoyed the historical context of this novel and seeing how whilst each individual in the book represents a different attitude towards the AIDS crisis, to me, it didn't feel forced. Nazemian includes a range of perspectives with sensitivity and nuance and I imagine that there will be lots of readers who relate to the many personal stories within these pages. I would highly recommend this book to students, educators and any other book lovers. It is a story I will think about long after closing the final page.