Only a month after the release of his breathtaking debut novel, Samuel Miller can already be considered an accomplished author. With a book tour almost complete, an abundance of rave reviews online, and even a quick stint in a booth at New York City's BookCon, the YA genre has gained a new star.
Stacked amongst the likes of John Green sits "A Lite Too Bright," released on May 8, 2018. The captivating story follows Arthur Louis Pullman the Third, an eighteen-year-old whose future just went up in flames. Five years after the mysterious death of his grandfather, a famed Salinger-esque novelist, Arthur is still searching for clues that will help unravel the secrets he is sure are buried somewhere. Ditching his family in California, he races and retraces across the United States in hopes of uncovering the truth about his family history.
It is nothing less than absolutely riveting and I quickly recommended it to everyone within earshot after devouring it in two days. The originality of the story makes it refreshingly perfect -- it's difficult to label because there are so many pieces to it. Young love, loss, family drama, coming-of-age... to pick one would be unjust to every other element this book brings to the table. But its ambition takes it to newer and greater heights than could ever be expected of an author as young or new as Miller.
And as if you didn't need any more reason to fall deeply in love with Miller's writing, the novel is littered with poetry, and each image seems to be more beautiful than the last. The thrilling twists and unpredictable turns this novel leads its audience on is not unlike the wild ride that protagonist Arthur is on throughout its 400-plus pages.
Miller himself is no stranger to traveling from coast to coast, having spent his late teens and early twenties in a fifteen passenger van touring with the Midwestern-bred rock band, Paradise Fears. Along with five high school friends, Miller led the group with lead vocals and was on the road regularly from 2011-2016. So it's no surprise that he has an impeccable knack for writing about a life on the road, as well.
If you're still skeptical, it's already Buzzfeed-approved, making it onto the list of "27 YA Books You'll Want To Devour By The Pool This Summer." If you're smart, you'll stay ahead of the game and pick it up today.
