Bookseller Reviews
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A Spellbinding Debut!
{Thank you to Penguin for sending me a copy to review!}
Wow. Open, Heaven is by far one of my favourite reads of this year so far.
Taking place over... READ MORE
Tender, troubled, beautiful
Set in an English village, and following the course of a year, this is a queer coming-of-age story full of the yearning of first love and the intense longi... READ MORE
If you've ever had a crush on someone and been afraid to tell them, you must read this!
First of all, I remember thinking 'this prose is so beautiful it feels like poetry' so imagine my (un)surprise to find out that the author is also an accom... READ MORE
Captured what it’s like to be a teenager
This really captured the intensity of emotions in your teens and made me feel sad and nostalgic at the same time. Most of the book was in-depth journeys th... READ MORE
A heart-aching portrait of youthful longing
There was no way I wasn’t going to love this book. Already a fan of Hewitt’s poetry (which you should immediately go and read) I was excited to see how he ... READ MORE
Beautifully Written
Beautifully written story about a young boy who has came out. His family struggled with his revelation but when he sees a young man, Luke, he falls in love... READ MORE
A delicate and poignant coming-of-age story
I already loved Seán Hewitt's memoir, so I was very eager to read his debut novel. And boy, it did not disappoint. Sixteen-year-old James, who just came ou... READ MORE
A stunning novel that will stay with me forever
This is one of the most gorgeous books I've ever had the pleasure to read and I urge anyone to pick it up. It will break your heart and mend it back togeth... READ MORE
A luminescent debut from one of the most brilliant young poets writing today. Open, Heaven is a gorgeous, heartbreaking queer coming-of-age novel on the unrelenting yearning and agony of first love. Hewitt's writing is (unsurprisingly) poetic and emotive and perfect for fans of Douglas Stuart, Garth Greenwell and Tomasz Jedrowski.
Synopsis
Set in the English countryside, Open, Heaven unfolds over the course of one year as two teenage boys meet and transform each other’s lives.
On the cusp of adulthood, James dreams of another life far away from his small village. As he contends with the expectations of his family, his burgeoning desire – an ache for autonomy, tenderness and sex – threatens to unravel his shy exterior.
Then he meets Luke. Unkempt and handsome, charismatic and impulsive, he has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle on a nearby farm. Luke comes with a reputation for danger, but underneath his bravado lie anxieties and hopes of his own.
With the passing seasons, the two teenagers grow closer and the bond that emerges between them transforms their lives. James falls deeply for Luke, yet he is never sure of Luke’s true feelings. And as the end of summer nears, he has a choice to make – will he risk everything for the possibility of love?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Vintage Publishing
- ISBN: 9781787335196
- Number of pages: 240
- Dimensions: 224 x 145 x 24 mm
- Weight: 347g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allBrilliant Debut!
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
Quite simply I think this is a brilliant debut, absolutely loved the writing.
Very happy to say t... READ MORE
A beautiful tender story of first love and longing
"Love confused me, bewildered me, tore me apart, but not because it was not love, but because I thought it was fake, some unreal version that did not accor... READ MORE
Just superb in so many ways
What a superb, nostalgic read. I absolutely loved this novel and, consequently, I recommend to everyone!
We meet James, a gay married thinking back to h... READ MORE
Budding great writing
I just love it when I take a chance on a debut author on NetGalley and end up finding a glorious story and budding great writing. Open, Heaven is one of th... READ MORE
A stunning and intimate debut
I just love it when I take a chance on a debut author and end up finding a glorious story and budding great writing. Open, Heaven is one of those finds – i... READ MORE
A beautifully written and psychologically acute depiction of a friendship and an infatuation
Many thanks to the author, Sean Hewitt, Netgalley, and the publishers, Vintage, for a digital ARC of this book, which comes out in the UK on 24 April. I wa... READ MORE
Captivating exploration of burning adolescence
Written in such captivating prose, the novel captures exactly the awkwardness and innocence of a boy growing up in the countryside and recognising his diff... READ MORE
Tender, queer yearning portrayed beautifully
I read this as part of a pile of 10 I took on holiday with me and this was easily my favourite. It really does capture so perfectly those first stirrings o... READ MORE
So good!
Seán Hewitt is one of my favourite writers, and Open, Heaven quickly became one of my most anticipated reads for 2025.
This is absolutely Hewitt's take ... READ MORE
AN EXQUISITE NOVEL
SEAN HEWITT – OPEN HEAVEN *****
This is an exquisite novel. His prose, descriptions of the village where he lived and loved as a boy, the seasons, remind ... READ MORE
Beautifully written, but falls a little flat.
Open, Heaven tells the story of James as he returns to the countryside he grew up in to reminisce on the year he spent meeting and falling in love with Luk... READ MORE
A very promising debut
Teenage James lives in a small village in England with his parents and younger brother Eddie. He is painfully lonely and has always struggled to make frien... READ MORE
Beautifully written debut novel
Seán Hewitt is a poet, memoirist, novelist and literary critic – both his debut poetry collection “Tongues of Fire” (2020) and his memoir “All Down Darkne... READ MORE
Coming out first love.
Open, Heaven by Sean Hewitt
When James Legh is scrolling through a collection of on line photos from the village where he grew up, he comes across a not... READ MORE
The challenges of adolescence.
This is a sensitive and important analysis of the challenges posed by male adolescence.. James lives in a small village and has to work to help the family ... READ MORE
Lyrical & Heart wrenching
James, a shy 16 year old, lives with his parents and younger brother in a small village in the north of England. Lonely and aware his sexuality has isolate... READ MORE
Five stars!
Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt is a breathtakingly poetic book that captures the intensity of first love, longing and the quiet ache of self-discovery. Set in... READ MORE
Exquisitely written and supremely enjoyable
This was my first experience reading Sean Hewitt and I suspect that I will read many more as this was so exquisitely written and supremely enjoyable.
J... READ MORE
Relatable, heartbreaking but also triumphant and beautiful, Open, Heaven is a must-read
Open, Heaven by Seán Hewitt is set to be published on 24th April 2025 by Jonathan Cape.
The story follows James, a young gay student from the fictional ... READ MORE
A Wonderful Debut Novel
Sean Hewitt's debut novel 'Open, Heaven' is a beautifully written coming of age story.
It is told in a dual timeline where James returns to the village of... READ MORE
Brings back beautiful and troubled memories
Have just read this incredibly beautifully written book.
It took me back to a time I was once young and had similar feelings. An outstanding book. Broug... READ MORE
Beautifully written, poetic, wonderful, raw, open and honest.
I am trying to find the words to describe how I feel about Open Heaven, and the only word that comes to mind is sensational.
The feelings I have towards... READ MORE
A stunningly beautiful novel
This is a beautiful book to read. I advise you to read it slowly and savour the words of this debut novel by poet, Séan Hewitt.
James is a 16 year old b... READ MORE
Stunningly beautiful
From the first page to the very last I was held by Seán Hewitt’s stunningly beautiful writing in Open, Heaven. This is a tender, emotional coming out story... READ MORE
Coming of age
Looking back to a year of momentous events on the cusp of adulthood, James goes back to the village of his childhood, the scene of his sexuality being laid... READ MORE