“Brilliantly relatable…a compelling exploration of friendship, individuality, and the shared struggles that make us who we are.” –Booklife Editor’s Pick
“Much like finding love when you’re least expecting it, sometimes a book comes along and literally takes your breath away.” –Reader Views
Charley Byrne isn't really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xander's circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation. She thrives, even leaving her comfort zone to join protests in a city struggling with social justice ills.
But the new friendships bring back-to-back betrayals that threaten the bookstore-Charley's haven-and propel her into a dangerous depression. Can her friends save the store? And Charley?
Beautiful and Terrible Things offers a compelling portrait of modern American life in a major city with its vibrant culture and rampant social issues. At once enlightening and entertaining, it reminds us that friendship has the power to validate, destroy, transform, and save lives.
- 2024 Indies Today Best Literary Book of the Year Winner
- 2024 Gold Winner, Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards - LGBTQIA+
- 2024 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Finalist
- 2024 Sarton Award Finalist
- 2024 American Fiction Awards Finalist - General Fiction
- 2024 American Writing Awards Finalist - LGBTQ
- 2024 Readers' Favorite Awards Honorable Mention - Fiction-Social Issues
Book Review:
Some books don’t just tell a story—they hold a mirror to your heart. Beautiful and Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens is one of those rare reads that stays with you long after the final page.
Charley Byrne is 29, stuck in emotional exile above the bookstore she clings to like a life raft. Her world begins to shift when she meets Xander, a magnetic activist who gently pulls her back into life’s messy, beautiful chaos. What follows is a journey through love, vulnerability, deep friendship, and the raw realities of living in a world full of both injustice and unexpected grace.
This book doesn’t shy away from hard truths—grief, betrayal, identity, and the fragile mental health we don’t talk about enough. But it also celebrates the fierce love and support that can grow from found family.
A timely, heart-wrenching, and ultimately uplifting read. For anyone who's ever felt broken, this book reminds you—you’re never alone.
