Queer as Books | The Darkness Outside Us

The Darkness Outside Us

Eliot Schrefer

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They Both Die at the End meets The Loneliest Girl in the Universe in this mind-bending sci-fi mystery and tender love story about two boys aboard a spaceship sent on a rescue mission, from two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer. Stonewall Honor Award winner!

Two boys, alone in space. Sworn enemies sent on the same rescue mission.

Ambrose wakes up on the Coordinated Endeavor with no memory of a launch. There’s more that doesn’t add up: evidence indicates strangers have been on board, the ship’s operating system is voiced by his mother, and his handsome, brooding shipmate has barricaded himself away. But nothing will stop Ambrose from making his mission succeed—not when he’s rescuing his own sister.

In order to survive the ship’s secrets, Ambrose and Kodiak will need to work together and learn to trust each other . . . especially once they discover what they are truly up against. Love might be the only way to survive.

Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books of the Year
A Booklist Editor's Choice of the Year
A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book of the Year
A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults & Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Book of the Year *

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Posts about this title from Queer as Books

Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Jan 2 2025

My Top 15 Reads of 2024

This was such a hard year to choose my top books because I read so many amazing stories! Honestly, making a top 50 would’ve been easier 😂.

Books appear in alphabetical order.

31 books

Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Dec 30 2024

“The Brightness Between Us” by Eliot Schrefer: Review

📚🌈 Eliot Schrefer has done it again with “The Brightness Between Us”, crafting a sequel to “The Darkness Outside Us” that is both breathtaking and deeply moving. Was this sequel necessary? No. Was it what I expected? Absolutely not. Did I love every second of it? Yes, with my whole heart ❤️.

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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Nov 20 2024

"The Darkness Outside Us" by Eliot Schrefer: Video Review

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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Nov 20 2024

Queer Fantasy & Sci-fi Book Recommendations and Suggestions

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Alex (Pucksandpaperbacks)\ \ Alex (he/him/his)\ \ • Apr 10

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◼ ABOUT ME ◼ Hi, I'm Alex! My pronouns are he/him and I am a trans man. Welcome to my channel, Pucksandpaperbacks. I love to uplift queer and trans books from Young Adult fiction, queer romances & graphic novels, to memoirs. Thanks for stopping by! If you're new here, feel free to hit subscribe to join my community of Paperback Pals.

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11 books

Tongue in Cheek\ \ Carter\ \ • Aug 6 2025

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As I continue to plumb the depths of the MM romance genre, my tastes and favorites change. Even though I've been reading MM romance fairly consistently for the past few years, I also feel like I've only cracked the surface. Over the next year (and hopefully for many more after), I know I'm going embrace many more books as my favorites. But for today, here's my top ten.\ \ The Prospects by K.T. Hoffman\ \ \ \ Minor league second chance baseball romance with major league ambitions. Gene (a transguy) and Luis are two of my favorites. I also adore what Hoffman did with the announcers as well -- a great way to communicate baseball!\ \ Unwritten Rules by K.D. Casey\ \ \ \ Another second chance baseball romance? Yes, because they're great. We get deep inside the head of our male main character, Zach, and it's kind of a sad and uncomfortable place. But maybe he can overcome his issues and find a way to be with sexy sexy Eugenio...?\ \ Mistletoe & Mishigas by M.A. Wardell\ \ \ \ Big Boy and Small Man! One of my earliest MM romances and also a favorite. M.A. Wardell's entire Teacher's in Love series is great, but these guys had my heart.\ \ Muscle Cub by Slade James\ \ \ \ An over-40 writer needs to "get his groove" back and heads to the local clothing-optional men's camp. Surprisingly deep (in all the ways you can imagine).\ \ Sapphire Spring by C. Travis Rice\ \ \ \ I'm a big fan of all of C. Travis Rice's Sapphire Cove books, but Spring is definitely my favorite. Rice starts one of the characters so rock bottom, you'll find it hard to believe he'll dig himself back up and earn his happily ever after. But he will.\ \ Meet Me in the Sky by Jeffrey K. Davenport\ \ \ \ A charming and delightful and soulful read that is criminally under the radar.\ \ Tough Guy by Rachel Reid\ \ \ \ Look, everyone loves Shane & Ilya. And objectively, Role Model is the best Game Changers book. But Tough Guy is and will always be my favorite. I love Ryan so much, I just wanna hug him. And other stuff.\ \ Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles\ \ \ \ I need way more historical MM romance in my life. This is the first in a trilogy (HEA earned by the end of book 3) that is equal parts historical, MM romance, and thriller. A potent combo wielded expertly by Charles. She's so good.\ \ Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston\ \ \ \ I think RWRB was my... third MM romance? And I struck out pretty hard on the first two. I don't know that I even would have continued in the genre if this hadn't been my third. It lives up to the hype.\ \ The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer\ \ \ \ A YA MM romance that will bend your brain as much as it touches your heart. I am deeply ashamed that I haven't read the sequel yet.\ \ Join for free or login

My Favorite MM Romances (So Far)

10 books

Rachel Skye Reads\ \ Rachel\ \ • Jul 29 2025

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Read these if you like: Gay Books

Replying to @Chad Michael Read these if you like: Gay Books 📖 Winging It With You by Chip Pons 📖 The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R Samotin 📖 Carry On (Simon Snow Book 1) by Rainbow Rowell 📖 The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer 📖 The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E. M. Anderson 📖 A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander 📖 Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews 📖 A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland 📖 Heartstopper by Alice Oseman 📖 Darkhearts by James L Sutter #bookrecommendations #rachelskyereads #lgbtqbooks #readdiversebooks #booktok

9 books

Rachel Skye Reads\ \ Rachel\ \ • Jul 23 2025

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Pride Month Reading Wrap Up!

Pride Month Reading Wrap Up! 📖 The Friendship Study 📖 Volatile Memory (out July 22! Thanks @Tor Publishing Group for the ARC) 📖 Delilah Green Doesn’t Care 📖 The Darkness Outside Us 📖 Winging It With You 📖 ARC of the Universe (thank you @Nikki Alexander | Author for working with me at @The Nerd Fam) 📖 Blood and Brujas #readqueerallyear #lgbtqbooks #bookrecommendations #pridemonth #diversebooks

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Trash Panda’s Universe\ \ Trash Panda Leon\ \ • Feb 3 2025

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January Reading Vlog - A Mess In Distress Reads And Soft DNF's Books

#januaryreadingvlog #readingvlog

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Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Jan 2 2025

My Top 15 Reads of 2024

This was such a hard year to choose my top books because I read so many amazing stories! Honestly, making a top 50 would’ve been easier 😂.

Books appear in alphabetical order.

31 books

Queer as Books\ \ José\ \ • Dec 30 2024