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Title: Find My Way Down to You

Author: Julian Winters

Publisher: Viking Books

Publication date: August 4, 2026

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Summary

August has been struggling after the sudden death of his boyfriend, London, almost two years ago. He feels guilty for being the driver in the accident that suddenly ended his life. In his struggle, August accidentally finds himself in the Underworld. With an opportunity to find London again. What August doesn’t expect is to possibly start developing feelings for someone else. And to learn something about his past that might just affect his future.

Review: Find My Way Down to You

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for an advanced copy of Find My Way Down to You by Julian Winters! The comp titles for this book are actually spot on: You’ve Reached Sam meets Hadestown. Those vibes absolutely fit this story that heavily deals with grief.

One thing that Winters always excels at in his novels is the character development. At the beginning of this story, August is so lost. He is deep in his grief, unsure of what his future looks like without the boy he was making plans with. Then we get to meet the characters of the Underworld, and they help shape this new world for August and for the reader. This version of the Underworld felt grounded in reality, helping August on his journey of grief.

In addition to the characters and the world building, there are some stunning quotes in this book as well. One in particular stuck out to me: “Grief needs to be felt. It is not a burden. It is a reminder. You were given the choice to love. To be loved. And you took it.” It sums up the overall themes of this story so well, and even those that might not feel this kind of grief can find a connection in August’s story.

Also, the cover of this is gorgeous. Props to the designer of the cover for that. If you’re a fan of sad books with elements of hope sprinkled throughout, definitely pick this one up when it comes out in August.

5/5 stars

By Amanda

An avid young adult reader and reviewer, I'm also a coffee connoisseur and a playlist curator. Current teen librarian-in-training.

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