An acutely observed coming-of-age novel, of the first time you fall - in love? in something with another boy, wanting to be with them, be them, destroy them, the conflation and confusion of love and jealousy, the vying for attention and approval of them and others. This, doubled up with being the headmaster’s son, its own use case of seeding a need for rebellion, the mix of wanting but not wanting that affirmation. Oh the turmoil of it all! Amherst does this so well, an impressive debut indeed.