Last Seen Leaving

Starred review from October 24, 2016
Fifteen-year-old Flynn Doherty's competing desires to uncover the secrets behind his ex-girlfriend's disappearance and keep his own secrets hidden propel debut author Roehrig's powerful thriller. Flynn and January were happy enough when they both went to the same high school in Ann Arbor, Mich. Then January's mother married a wealthy state senator and whisked January away to a nearby private school. The couple drifted apart, and Flynn's reluctance to have sex drove a final wedge between them, leading January to break up with him just days before she vanished. Flynn's realisticâand desperateâattempts to keep his budding sexuality under wraps (he's gay) infuse an already tense plot with the added stress of coming out. The police initially think that January is a runaway, but Flynn refuses to believe that she would simply disappear, instincts that prove correct as the evidence points to something more violent. A compelling mystery and characters with fully developed strengths and flaws make Roehrig's novel an important addition in the world of queer young adult fiction. Ages 13âup. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio.

Can Flynn find his missing ex-girlfriend? Or is she worse than missing?Flynn, a sophomore, and his girlfriend, January, started going out the beginning of freshman year. Since her stepfather, a state senator with national aspirations, moved her family to a mansion and put January in a private school, the two white teens have begun to drift apart. One night, she pressures Flynn to have sex for the first time and breaks it off with him when he refuses. That's the last time he sees her. The police question him, but Flynn can't tell the whole truth for fear of making himself look guilty...and revealing his biggest secret: he's gay. Investigating on his own, he learns that January had secrets of her own and had begun behaving erratically. January's very hot co-worker, Kaz, a Muslim, tells him that January quit her job and was telling lies about Flynn. Could someone be responsible for her disappearance? Is she still alive? Can he uncover the truth? Debut novelist Roehrig peoples his sensationalistic, twisty mystery with credible characters, especially narrator Flynn, whose struggles with coming out will resonate with young gay teens in more mundane circumstances. Witty, realistically foulmouthed dialogue and the suspenseful, well-laid mystery will keep pages turning, as will the budding romance between Flynn and Kaz. Readers won't be able to put it down. (Thriller. 14-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-This thriller follows Flynn as he tries to solve the mystery of his missing girlfriend, January. The more he discovers, the more confused he is as he uncovers the secrets she has been keeping from him. January had been distant ever since her mother remarried and moved her into her politician stepdad's fancy house and switched her to private school. Though the couple tried to stay together through the changes, Flynn's own secret was a source of strife, and January broke up with him after a fight right before her disappearance. That she's no longer his girlfriend doesn't stop Flynn from caring about her, and he doesn't give up looking for answers. His search for January leads to his own revelation as he is forced by circumstances to come out to his parents and friends. Learning the truth about January leads Flynn and his new friend Kaz into danger and intrigue as they find themselves falling for each other and solving the mystery. The characters are believable, the mystery is interesting, and the action is often fast-paced. Flynn's internal struggle to open up about his sexuality carries weight, and readers will be drawn into his emotional journey and his adventures in amateur sleuthing. VERDICT A fun mystery with a credible emotional pull; a general purchase for most YA collections.-Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2016
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This truly hair-raising, standout mystery thriller from debut author Roehrig will keep readers guessing until the end. When sophomore Flynn Doherty comes home to find police vehicles parked outside his house, he finds himself facing plenty of questions about his missing girlfriend, January. The last time Flynn saw January, she was emotional and desperate to be intimate. When Flynn refused, the two parted on unsteady terms and January all but accused Flynn of being gay, a truth he has been avoiding for years. With the police hesitant to trust Flynn, he takes matters into his hands and launches his own investigation with January's coworker, friendly and sexy Kaz. More than just fully realized, Roehrig's characters feel real. And if Flynn's circumstances are a bit sensational, his struggles with identity and relationships certainly aren't. Though this is not a typical problem novel, Roehrig gives equal deference to the mystery of January's disappearance and Flynn's coming out and subsequent burgeoning romance with Kaz. Deftly weaving fast-paced mystery with vivid, affecting flashbacks, Roehrig coaxes readers along at just the right pace and pulls the rug out from under them in the best way possible with a knockout ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2017
When Flynn's girlfriend, January, disappears, the police consider him a suspect. Between the official investigation and Flynns unofficial one, January's many secrets come to light, as does one of Flynn's: he's gay. Passive Flynn's transformation into a hero who breaks into buildings for clues and confronts a rapist (and dates the hottest guy in town) is improbable, but the mystery offers some unexpected twists.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2016
Can Flynn find his missing ex-girlfriend? Or is she worse than missing?Flynn, a sophomore, and his girlfriend, January, started going out the beginning of freshman year. Since her stepfather, a state senator with national aspirations, moved her family to a mansion and put January in a private school, the two white teens have begun to drift apart. One night, she pressures Flynn to have sex for the first time and breaks it off with him when he refuses. Thats the last time he sees her. The police question him, but Flynn cant tell the whole truth for fear of making himself look guiltyand revealing his biggest secret: hes gay. Investigating on his own, he learns that January had secrets of her own and had begun behaving erratically. Januarys very hot co-worker, Kaz, a Muslim, tells him that January quit her job and was telling lies about Flynn. Could someone be responsible for her disappearance? Is she still alive? Can he uncover the truth? Debut novelist Roehrig peoples his sensationalistic, twisty mystery with credible characters, especially narrator Flynn, whose struggles with coming out will resonate with young gay teens in more mundane circumstances. Witty, realistically foulmouthed dialogue and the suspenseful, well-laid mystery will keep pages turning, as will the budding romance between Flynn and Kaz. Readers wont be able to put it down. (Thriller. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.