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Open, Heaven

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Open, Heaven

By: Seán Hewitt
Narrated by: Sebastian Croft
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


When James meets Luke, everything changes – an exhilarating tale of hidden desire and sudden freedom in the wild countryside.

THE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER

James dreams of another life far away from his small village. Almost an adult, his newfound desires threaten to unravel his shy exterior. Then he meets Luke. Unkempt and handsome, charismatic and impulsive, he has been sent to stay with his aunt and uncle on a nearby farm.

With the passing seasons, a bond emerges between them that transforms their lives. Yet James 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?

‘An achingly beautiful story of first love’ Guardian

‘Superb’ Sarah Perry

‘Beautifully written, deeply felt’ Michael Magee

‘Gorgeous… I promise it’s amazing!’ Jack Edwards

‘Heart-rending… Propulsive’ Financial Times

(C) Seán Hewitt 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Coming of Age Editors Select Friendship Genre Fiction LGBTQIA+ Creators Literary Fiction Romance Small Town & Rural Heartfelt

Editorial Review

Queer fiction that reads like poetry
Although Open, Heaven may be his debut novel, award-winning poet and memoirist Seán Hewitt is no stranger to good writing. Set in a remote English village in the early aughts, this heart-wrenching coming-of-age story captures the yearning, sorrow and angst of exploring your sexuality and finding first love. Hewitt perfectly depicts the nuance and heartbreak of young queer discovery, and also explores the often thin line between platonic and romantic entanglements. Told in the lyrical prose of a poet—and beautifully performed by narrator Sebastian Croft— Open, Heaven is sure to be one of the most bittersweet novels of the year, and perfect for anyone in need of a good ugly cry. —Michael C., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

An achingly beautiful story of first love in the English countryside . . . Lyrical, atmospheric and transporting
Hewitt is superb in his loving and acute descriptions of the natural world (SARAH PERRY)
A gorgeous debut novel about an all-encompassing first love… I promise it’s amazing! (Jack Edwards @jack_edwards)
Heart-rending . . . sensuous and decadent
A beautiful, lyrical and tender novel of youthful passion and the longing for connection (FERDIA LENNON, author of Glorious Exploits)
A beautiful novel about how a first love can shape a whole life (HELEN MACDONALD, author of H is for Hawk)
A mature and complete debut novel . . . The central relationship occurs by light, sensitive touch, and reaches arresting emotional depths
Blisses with the bright verdure of youth . . . It’s a novel about us (KAVEH AKBAR, author of Martyr!)
A gorgeous debut . . . a novel that thrums with hidden love and concealed truths (ANDREW McMILLAN, author of Pity and Physical)
A luminous portrayal of two teenagers bonding with each other over one heady, transformative year
All stars
Most relevant
A sensitive, touching exploration and capture of First Love. Of UNREQUIETED first Love in all its thrilling life changing secrecy and fear. Its exhilaration and heartbreak. It’s hopes and possibilities.. The sheer ecstatic highs and the bruises.. It’s exactly the debut novel I expected from this fabulous writer. Stands as a mini classic in my books! Outstanding. Epic in its intimacy. Lands straight in the heart.

Perfection. Every word rings true

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In truth I found this book through 'Heartstopper'; Sebastian Croft now found here narrating. I wasn't sure what to expect, but certainly didn't expect to find myself lying in bed crying at 2am at how accurately descriptive and relatable this story was to my own experiences - growing up queer in the Welsh countryside in the early 2000s.
The story is beautiful written with such poetic descriptions of everything from the scenery to how James - the main character, feels and experiences the world. It really serves to conjure up such vivid imagery as you listen/read along, masterfully stirring emotions and bringing you into the shoes of the protagonist so clearly in every scene.
Sebastian Croft's narration certainly didn't disappoint, with a resonance to his voice that you could listen to for hours, along with his fantastic Northern accents put on for Luke amongst other characters of the story.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. I'll be purchasing other works by Sean Hewitt, that's for sure, and I openly yearn for there to be a sequel to this story!
Buy it, enjoy it. You won't be disappointed!

A beautiful story, both wonderfully written and narrated!

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Having spent my entire adolescence in (undeclared) love with a straight schoolmate, I empathised 100% with the novel's hero. Sean Hewitt perfectly captures the agony and ecstasy of this delightful doom.

Beautifully written, beautifully read

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A beautiful story, thoughtfully read by Sebastian Croft. The pain & wonder of unrequited love explored in a sensitive, moving narrative.

Fantastic narration

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Lyrical, tender and beautifully observed, Open, Heaven is a queer coming-of-age novel about first love, memory, identity and loneliness. Hewitt captures the quiet ache of adolescence—and the search for connection—in a way that felt deeply relatable to me and my own experiences.

Just brilliant

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