From Abdi Nazemian, the award-winning author of Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment, comes a suspenseful contemporary YA novel about loss and love.

Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. Something seems off about Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset . . . but only Kam returns.

Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship—and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.

Desert Echoes is a propulsive, moving story about human resilience and connection.

What really happened that night in the desert, and what secrets was Ash hiding?

• A Gripping Missing Person Mystery: Two years after his boyfriend Ash vanished in Joshua Tree, Kam returns to the desert searching for answers—and finds only more danger.
• An Unforgettable First Love: Kam is still haunted by his whirlwind romance with the enigmatic Ash. But to move forward, he must confront the shocking secrets buried in their past.
• Powerful Themes of Grief and Healing: A moving exploration of trauma, loss, and the resilience it takes to open your heart again after it’s been broken.
• Complex Family and Friendships: With his best friend Bodie by his side, Kam navigates the difficult truths about addiction and the secrets families keep.