The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper Published by Bloomsbury on February 4 2020
Genres: Young Adult, LGBTQIA, Contemporary
Goodreads
As a successful social media journalist with half a million followers, seventeen-year-old Cal is used to sharing his life online. But when his pilot father is selected for a highly publicized NASA mission to Mars, Cal and his family relocate from Brooklyn to Houston and are thrust into a media circus.
Amidst the chaos, Cal meets sensitive and mysterious Leon, another “Astrokid,” and finds himself falling head over heels—fast. As the frenzy around the mission grows, so does their connection. But when secrets about the program are uncovered, Cal must find a way to reveal the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.
Expertly capturing the thrill of first love and the self-doubt all teens feel, debut author Phil Stamper is a new talent to watch.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. This does not influence my thoughts on the book or this review.
The Gravity of Us was one of my most anticipated read of 2020 and it totally did not disappoint!
Cal has his life all figured out. As a top influencer on StarWatch, he’s got an internship lined up at Buzzfeed and his future career all figured out. When his father is chosen to be a potential NASA pilot on their mission to Mars, Cal is uprooted from his NYC life and into an unknown world in Houston. In this new environment, he has to deal with a bigger media spotlight but he finds some new friends and a potential romance with fellow “Astrokid” Leon. The Gravity of Us is a thrilling fish-out-of-water story and an adorable romance.
I really liked Cal as a character. I felt that he was definitely fleshed out and could be relatable for readers. Though the book was only in Cal’s point of view, I also really liked Leon. I think Leon was one of my favourite characters and the representation of his depression will resonate with many readers. The family dynamic between Cal and his parents was also interesting. They weren’t the closest family unit but I liked the growth they all displayed over the course of the novel. The characters all felt real and I could tell that Stamper gave them all the care they needed.
Of course, the romance between Cal and Leon was super adorable! It was a bit fast-paced and had a smidge of instalove but I wasn’t too mad about it. I think their romance was just genuine and adorable and I could definitely see many readers loving it.
I think The Gravity Between Us is a solid debut that I’d recommend for fans of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda or any contemporary YA fan!
