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The Boy I Love

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About this listen

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.

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

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)
All stars
Most relevant
Beautiful story, very poignant and the narration was some of the best I have ever heard in an audiobook. So many accents done perfectly with a great singing voice too. Bravo!

The Narrator was epic!

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I absolutely loved The Boy I Love. It was a heart-wrenching read, beautifully written and deeply moving. From the very first page, I was drawn into the world of characters who felt so real, their emotions so raw, that their love story stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

As a young adult, I would have given anything for a book like this—one that centred on the love story of two gay men, set against the backdrop of World War I. Representation matters, and William Hussey has given us something truly special: a story that doesn’t just include LGBTQ+ characters but places them firmly at the heart of history, reminding us that love, in all its forms, has always existed, even in the most difficult times.

Thank you, William Hussey, for crafting a novel that is both tender and powerful, and for ensuring that these stories are told. The Boy I Love is a book I wish I had in my youth, and one I hope will reach and resonate with many young readers today.

As a young adult, I would have given anything for a book like this

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Blimey that was good. The storyline, the narrative - I couldn’t wait to listen again. One of the best I have read.

Wow that was good

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I have never read a war novel that more perfectly describes the hopeless unfairness the teens in the trenches must have felt. A true master.

heartwrenching

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Smashed this out in a weekend and was truly captivating. I loved listening to the toils and challenges throughout

Gripping listening

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