• Age: 14 to 18
• Grade: 9 to 12

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.

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book, Only This Beautiful Moment, The Chandler Legacies, and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the television series Ordinary Joe and The Village. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online at abdinazemian.com.

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Praise for ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT: “This story, told in three points of view from three generations of the same family, is nothing short of masterful. This is the kind of story that young adult literature is made for—a story of the heart, of the very real human struggles young people face and that adults try to—but never truly—forget.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

“Nazemian expertly bridges the past and the present, exploring racism, homophobia, and relations between the United States and Iran along the way. His elegant prose propels this historically resonant and culturally nuanced family drama. A stunning intergenerational coming-of-age story.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Only This Beautiful Moment is a triumph. A touching story about family and identity, secrets and generational trauma, and, most of all, the love that brings us together.” — Arvin Ahmadi, author of How It All Blew Up

"Only This Beautiful Moment is the must-read book of 2023. Abdi Nazemian has managed to write a multi-generational story that is both universal and specific to the Iranian queer experience. I couldn't put it down. I can't stop talking about it and neither will you." — Firoozeh Dumas, New York Times bestselling author

“An absolutely mesmerizing exploration of grief and self-discovery. Abdi Nazemian is an unforgettable voice whose work reads like a gift to the queer community and beyond.” — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Only Abdi Nazemian can craft such a beautiful story about grief, the weight of addiction, and first loves. Iranian best friends Kam and Bodie will capture your hearts while the L.A. desert will haunt you. A true masterpiece!” — Lilliam Rivera, award-winning author of Never Look Back

“All the sweet and salty joys of candy, but with the nourishment of a home-cooked meal. This is a joyous and suspenseful reminder of the possibilities—and complications—of the human connections that make a life worth living.” — Eliot Schrefer, National Book Award finalist

"A teen boy finds himself after a tragic loss... a poignant and enjoyable whole that sensitively but honestly explores relationships, grief, identity, and addiction. A bittersweet and sincere coming-of-age story."—Kirkus — Kirkus Reviews

"Nazemian (Only This Beautiful Moment, 2023) has written a deeply felt and memorable love story between two highly empathic teens, a moving exploration of Kam and Bodie’s enduring friendship, both relationships ultimately inviting thought about the nature of love." — Booklist