November 21, 2022
A queer Australian teen joins a community theater production to woo his online crush in this frothy romance by Madden (Anything But Fine). Seventeen-year-old white Noah Mitchell distracts himself from constant school bullying by playing online games with his secret crush, whom he knows only as MagePants69, or M. Though Noah desperately wants to meet M IRL, M’s mother forbids him from sharing personal information; all Noah knows is that they live in the same town. But when M reveals that he’s in a play and his online absences match up with rehearsals for Noah’s mom’s local production of Chicago, Noah joins the cast using his mother’s connections. At rehearsals, he meets white Eli Callaghan, who resembles M’s avatar. Convinced they’re the same person, Noah endeavors to woo Eli while keeping their established connection secret. As rehearsals progress, Noah struggles with learning the choreography and standing up to his bullies, and Eli’s jealousy over Noah’s tentative friendship with the show’s lead often stalls their budding relationship. Noah’s initial social isolation, slowly building confidence, and gradual realization that people want to be his friend outside of the internet are sensitively wrought, making for an absorbing protagonist readers can’t help but root for. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management.
June 28, 2022
Noah and Eli play an online computer game together most nights. They take down swamp goblins and drink virtual flagons of ale for hours at a time, but they still don’t know each other’s names. The list of things they do know about each other: they both live in Ballarat, Victoria; they are both 17; they are both gay; and they both ‘think that viral cat videos are the only good things to ever come from social media’. The other thing Noah knows for sure: he is in love. Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell is a coming-of-age novel with a classic risk-it-all romance narrative. Noah is willing to take any chance to meet Eli in person, even if it means joining the local production of Chicago alongside his mum. But will he tell Eli who he really is? Will they even be compatible offline? This queer Australian romance is a true-to-life teenage story that explores friendship, family, first love and why honesty is always best even if it’s the harder option. With the characters and setting sharing similarities with his own life, author Tobias Madden creates an authentic story that is completely charming, wholesome and smile-inducing. The plot is fast-paced and easy to get absorbed in, the kind of book you could easily finish in one sitting. Those who couldn’t get enough of Red, White and Royal Blue, Heartstopper and Madden’s first book Anything But Fine will thoroughly enjoy his second novel, recommended for readers aged 14 and up.
Lisa Schuurman is an editor, writer and book reviewer. Read her interview with Tobias Madden about Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell here.