Let Them Stare: A Novel

An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller!

From Emmy Award winner Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye and #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a bighearted story about friendship, love—and discovering the secrets and beauty of your own hometown.

Sully is ready to get out of Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship secured, the gender-nonconforming eighteen-year-old is trading in their stifling small town for the big city. Sully even sells their beloved car, to Bread—er, Brad—the most boring (and maybe only other) gay kid in town.

When Sully’s internship goes up in smoke, they’re trapped in Hearst with no cash—and no car. Desperate, they go to the thrift store, their personal sanctuary. There, they discover a vintage bag—like "put this baby in an airtight case at the MET" vintage. If Sully can authenticate it, the resale value would be enough for a new life in the city.

But when they begin to investigate, Sully finds themself haunted. Literally. With the ghost of Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with no memory of how he died standing—no, floating—in their bedroom, Sully’s summer has a new purpose: 1) help this ghostly honey unlock his past and move on and 2) make bank—after all, the Real Real doesn’t take poltergeist purses.

With Rufus in tow, and Brad—who’s looking pretty scrumptious these days—playing chauffeur, Sully delves into the history of the town they’re so desperate to escape. Only to discover that there might be more to Hearst than they ever knew.

“A quirky, passionate, rebellious, and quick-witted novel." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Sully’s summer plan is officially dead. The new one involves one ghost, one car, and one boy who’s suddenly not so boring.

• Rivals to Lovers: He bought Sully’s car. Now he’s their only ride. Brad might have been boring, but forced proximity and late-night drives reveal he’s anything but.
• A Fabulous Ghost Story: The key to Sully’s future is a vintage handbag haunted by Rufus, a drag performer from the fifties with a forgotten past and impeccable style.
• Queer History Mystery: To free the ghost (and make bank), Sully must uncover the secrets of a town they thought they knew, connecting with a queer past they never imagined.
• Gender Nonconforming Hero: A heartfelt and hilarious coming of age story about friendship, love, and discovering that the most glamorous thing you can be is yourself.