A struggling 19-year-old returns to his hometown for a fresh start, but his secrets and desires refuse to be left behind.

Kevin Summers wants to be loved, but love is complicated. Beneath the teen's façade lies a secret struggle. His secure and happy boyhood in the '60s and '70s gives way to the challenges of adolescence and the pressures of early adulthood. Relationship betrayal and abuse now leave Kevin an unemployed college dropout on the brink of hopelessness.

As Kevin picks up the pieces of his life, he reunites with former friends and meets new acquaintances. Some are old flames now extinguished, while others become reignited ambers that roar with heat. Kevin now faces a pivotal choice. Is he ready to confront his fears and secret desires for a second chance at love and happiness?

Like Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman and Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, Boys Like Kevin invites readers to reflect upon their coming-of-age experiences of secrets, desires, and self-discovery. The novel exemplifies the complexities of sexual orientation and the resilience and hope required to find authenticity in one's self.