Joey Mills doesn’t know who he wants to be. He isn’t even sure who he doesn’t. All he knows is

that he thinks about it less than other people who try to mold themselves into certain boxes they

are convinced they need to fit into. He always fit in just by being himself. Or maybe that is what

he trains his brain to believe, that he is who he wants to be, and that people want to be around

whoever he is. Thinking about it too much is a dangerous exercise in self-doubt, one he doesn’t

have the patience to participate in. Why doesn’t he tell people he is gay? Why is it off-limits if he

truly doesn’t worry about what people think of him? Maybe it’s time for a change.

 

Rise Up is a series of new adult novels that illuminates pivotal moments in the lives of LGBTQ

youth. Each novel features a fresh protagonist and his experience navigating the ups and downs

of adulthood. While the characters change and the stories vary, common themes--including the

struggle for independence, identifying one's passions, searching for acceptance and for love--are

interwoven through the pages of the novels. These stories will open your eyes to worlds of

possibilities, both conventional and off-beat, as these men take you on their journeys to self-

discovery.