In a Heartbeat

by Markus Harwood-Jones

A romance about a trans teen boy who wants to get away to reinvent himself, only to find someone who loves him for who he is.

Two people just have a way of finding each other

Lucien has always felt lonely, even though he lives in a big city. Desperate to be somewhere no one knows him, Lucien decides to spend his last semester of school in a small town — somewhere he can get a fresh start. The last thing he expects is to make friends and, even scarier, find someone he’s interested in. Alder seems interested in him, too, but when Lucien starts to hear rumours about Alder’s past, he wonders if finding love is too good to be true.

MARKUS HARWOOD-JONES is a visual artist and author. He has self-published several works of non-fiction short stories and zine collections. He is also the author of the Lorimer Real Love teen romances Just Julian, Romeo for Real, We Three and Confessions of a Teenage Drag King. Markus lives in Toronto, Ontario.

About the Author

Markus Harwood-Jones

MARKUS HARWOOD-JONES is a writer, visual artist and documentary filmmaker. He has self-published the short story collections Confessions of a Teenage Transsexual Whore and Everything & All at Once. His feature film Mosaic tells the story of his journey across Canada and the United States to learn more about the trans community. He is author of the Lorimer Real Love teen romances Just Julian, Romeo for Real, We Three and Confessions of a Teenage Drag King. Markus lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Reviews

"This story isn’t just about teen romance, but also gives subtle insights into the angst of many trans kids...Harwood-Jones has done a great job of characterizing the real emotions and anxieties of trans teens...This is a wonderfully hopeful story, and I can’t wait to put a copy in my junior high classroom library."

Jen Bragg, Wayves Magazine

This brief read with a simplified style intended for reluctant and struggling teen readers, provides much-needed queer representation for this format.

Kirkus Reviews

Every teenager could identify with the need or want to start afresh where no one knows you, especially after a life-changing experience. Nonetheless, young LGBTQ+ youth will easily be able to see themselves reflected within the story.

Sarah Wethered, CM Review of Materials

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