The Boy I Love Audiobook By William Hussey cover art

The Boy I Love

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All I think, all I feel, all I know is pressed into this moment. And what I know is that I can’t let him go.

1916. Returning to the Front after injury, nineteen-year-old Stephen wonders what he’s fighting for. Then he meets Private Danny McCormick, a smart, talented new recruit. From their first meeting, there’s something undeniable between them – something forbidden by both society and the army. Determined to protect Danny, Stephen must face down the ignorance of his superiors as well as the onslaught of German shells and sniper fire. As the summer ticks down to the Battle of the Somme, will Stephen and Danny’s love save them – or condemn them?

This book contains slurs that we today recognise as insulting and unacceptable but which were commonly and casually used during the period. These words and phrases do not reflect the opinions of the author and publisher, but it is important in a historical work of fiction to reflect the reality of the world in which the story is set.

2026, The Carnegie Medal for Writing Outstanding book written in English for children and young people, Short-listed

©2025 William Hussey (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing Historical Historical Fiction LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction Romance

Critic reviews

'It’s a tale from the past, with a message for today. A stunningly poignant, devastating, and ultimately beautiful tour-de-force.' (Simon James Green, author of Gay Club!)
'Deft, tender and unflinching, The Boy I Love is a terrific achievement that grips like a thriller throughout. A love story, a war story, a story of sacrifice and redemption, it shows how the best of humanity can endure even in the darkest times. Breathtakingly good.' (Jonathan Stroud)
'Magnificent. It takes a special writer to simultaneously capture both the horrors of war and the joys of true love, but William Hussey manages it effortlessly. My new favourite YA love story.' (Phil Earle, award-winning author of When the Sky Falls)
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