This Must Be the Place

Upon inheriting a queer bar from a dead relative, a newly out teen must learn the ins and outs of running a business while navigating first love in this tender romance from Quindlen (Her Name in the Sky). High school graduate Louisa returns to her hometown of Rustin, Ala., for the funeral of her great-uncle George, a local football hero. She expects a brief stay spent paying respects and catching up with friends before heading back to Connecticut, where she’s lived with her mother since her parents’ divorce. Instead, she learns that George was gay; that he had a partner, Hatch; and that he’s bequeathed his queer bar, the Frisky Cricket, to Hatch and Louisa. After realizing that a nearby university intends to buy the establishment and replace it with a football complex, Louisa determines to save it, though Hatch seems resigned to let it go. Meanwhile, Louisa navigates shifting friendships, including jealousy over her bestie’s bond with Aubrey, the daughter of the would-be buyer university’s new football coach. While the romantic chemistry between Aubrey and Louisa feels somewhat spare, Louisa’s acerbic and sharply drawn first-person narration coalesces in an insightful story that probes complex questions about legacy, community, and queer identity. Ages 14–up. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (May)