Bloomsbury presents Brighter Than the Moon by David Valdes, read by Anthony Cloyd. Shy foster kid Jonas and self-assured vlogger Shani met online, and so far, that's where their relationship has stayed, sharing memes and baring their souls from behind their screens. Shani is eager to finally meet up, but Jonas isn't so sure—he's not confident Shani will like the real him . . . if he's even sure who that is. Jonas knows he's trapped himself in a lie with Shani—and wants to dig himself out. But Shani, who's been burned before, may not give him a chance: she talks her best friend Ash into playing spy and finding out the truth. When Ash falls for Jonas, too, he keeps that news from Shani, and soon they're all keeping secrets. Will it matter that their hearts are in the right place? Coming clean will require them to figure out who they really are, which is no easy task when all the pieces of your identity go beyond easy boxes and labels. Lauded writer David Valdes offers a heartfelt, clever, and thought-provoking story about how we figure out who we want to be—online and IRL—for fans of David Levithan and Adam Silvera.
Mixing charm and humor with a cast of delightfully messy teens you can't help but root for, Brighter Than the Moon offers a refreshing exploration of friendship, love, online personas, and identity. David Valdes perfectly captures the earnestness of being a teen trying to figure out your place in the world.