OPEN, HEAVEN

Sebastian Croft gives a quiet, emotional performance of this tender debut novel by Irish poet Seán Hewitt. Sixteen-year-old James's small world breaks open when a new boy, Luke, arrives in his rural village in the north of England. James's feelings for Luke overwhelm him, and over the course of a year their friendship slowly transforms his life. Croft's soft narration captures the melancholic intensity at the heart of this audiobook. He brings the English village to life in his portrayal of secondary characters, but it's his voicing of Luke--full of palpable desire, longing, loneliness, and love--that makes his performance stand out. This is a beautiful book about queer friendship, self-discovery, and the ways that important places and important people sometimes blend into each other. L.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]