Come Home to My Heart by Riley Redgate
Summary via Publisher: Gorgeous in its sincerity and its precision—in its raw, honest depiction of what it feels like to be a gay teen in a world that says that you don’t deserve a home.
Gloria Forman and Xia Harper go to the same high school in a small South Carolina town, but they couldn’t be more different. While Gloria is part of the popular, Christian crowd, Xia sleeps through class, antagonizes anyone who dares talk to her, and buries herself in books that help her pretend she’s somewhere else—anywhere that being lesbian wouldn’t be a waking nightmare.
When the two form an accidental friendship, they begin noticing each other in ways they promised themselves they’d avoid. After all, Xia’s isolation is self-imposed for a reason, and the last thing Gloria needs is more upheaval, especially after her parents kicked her out of the house for being gay. Ever since, she has spent her nights under the stage in the school auditorium and her days terrified of being discovered.
Xia just wants to keep her head down until the end of senior year. Gloria just wants to keep her living situation quiet until her parents come around. But as their feelings for each other intensify and the truths they’ve hidden work their way to the surface, what they truly want will change forever.
My Thoughts: The summary really is quite accurate here. Gloria and Xia’s story is raw and covers a lot about what it’s like to be a gay teen in a space that isn’t designed for them and isn’t encouraging or nurturing.
One of the layers in this book is the effect of religious beliefs on the community and specifically on Gloria and her family. A large swath of the community, including the teens, are Christians. Some are conservative, but what we see throughout the story is that there is a variety of beliefs and that Gloria’s beliefs are still meaningful for her even though in some ways, the beliefs of her parents are causing the rift between them. Gloria is very conflicted about her family, but she maintains her personal beliefs and still finds meaning and hope there.
The relationship between Gloria and Xia is also an interesting one to see develop. On the surface they appear to be very different, but that’s a big part of the story. Both of them have been quite busy keeping others from knowing them beyond the surface. They’re both protecting themselves and making sure that people don’t get too close. As they become more and more themselves, they are able to slowly allow others to know them even though that vulnerability sometimes brings pain and they realize their fears were legitimate. Fortunately, some people also exceed their expectations and surprise them in loving and caring ways too.
This is a rose and thorn kind of book. There are many moments of pain in the lives of both Xia and Gloria, but as they are blooming and coming into their own, there is a beauty too. It’s not perfection. It’s messy because even rose bushes go through storms at times and there can be mud and petals strewn about.
Recommendation: Get it soon. This is one of those quieter types of books heavy on the emotions. In all of the ups and downs though there is hope, love and healing.
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Pages: 336
Availability: May 6, 2025
Review copy: Digital copy via Publisher