A letter from justin a. reynolds, author of EARLY DEPARTURES

Dear Reader,

This story exists because I can’t let my friend go.

I want to know where he is, if he’s okay. I want to tell him he’s still the funniest person I know. Thank him for calling me out when I was wrong. Let him know I’m okay, but I miss him. That I wish I’d told him I love you more. That I’m sorry that whenever I said it, my voice had that weird helium inflection to make it sound light and punchline-ish. I’m sorry I felt the need to tack on man at the end every time. Because the truth is, I love you.

Early Departures is about the type of best friendship that’s urgent and infinite. The kind where you create a world for yourselves—a kingdom—filled with inside jokes, and you remember whens.

This is a story about two teen boys forming a bond to last forever. Except this story explores what happens when it doesn’t; when your heart breaks in ways it can’t heal.

This is also a story about sibling love, about the family we’re given. And like Opposite of Always, about the family you find, that finds you even when you’ve lost yourself.

This is a tale of being alone but not lonely. Of hilarious sidewalk interviews, of a strange milk factory, of twilight sprints across beaches, of emotional roller coasters and literal ones, too.

But most of all, this is a story about losing someone, but never, ever letting go.

I hope you enjoy.

justin a. reynolds

justin a. reynolds has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always, his debut novel, was an Indies Introduce selection and a School Library Journal Best Book, has been translated into seventeen languages, and is being developed for film with Paramount Players. He lives in northeast Ohio with his family. You can find him at www.justinareynolds.com.