Let Them Stare

An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller! From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love-and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown. Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their beloved car, to Bread-er, Brad-the most boring (and maybe only other) gay kid in town. When Sully‘s internship goes up in smoke, they‘re trapped in Hearst with no cash-and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary. There, they discover a vintage bag-like "put this baby in an airtight case at the MET" vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city. But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted. Literally. With the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died standing-no, floating-in their bedroom, Sully‘s summer has a new purpose: 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank-after all, the Real Real doesn‘t take poltergeist purses. With Rufus in tow, and Brad-who‘s looking pretty scrumptious these days-playing chauffeur, Sully delves into the history of the town they‘re so desperate to escape. Only to discover that there might be more to Hearst than they ever knew. "A quirky, passionate, rebellious, and quick-witted novel." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) One haunted handbag. Two boys figuring out their hearts. And a small town with more secrets than sequins. Nemesis to Lovers: Sully needs a ride. Brad has their car. He‘s also the annoyingly handsome archnemesis Sully‘s been trying to escape for years. This is fine. Everything is fine. Drag Queen Ghost: Meet Rufus, the fabulous but forgetful 1950s drag performer haunting Sully‘s vintage bag. He‘s got secrets to spill, if only he could remember them. A Small Town with Secrets: Sully thought Hearst was just a place to escape. But with Rufus‘s help, they uncover a hidden history of queer joy, love, and resistance right under their nose. Found Family: With their best friends by their side and a ghost as their guide, Sully discovers that family isn‘t just who you‘re related to—it‘s who shows up when your life goes up in smoke.