Blurb

A lonely teenage genius who believes there’s a connection in everything finds his theory put to the test when a mysterious mentor and an enchanting artist enter his life, launching a summer-long search for the true meaning of connection.

Sixteen-year-old Amaro Marzano sees connections everywhere—in the quantum world, in the patterns of nature, in the verses of Rumi. Yet, in his own life in working-class Worcester, Massachusetts, he feels profoundly disconnected. Trapped by the volatility of his strict father and the weight of family expectations, Am finds solace in the quiet orbit of school, the library, and his two best friends.

But his world fractures and reforms when two new connections emerge: David Butler, a recluse with a library holding ten thousand books, who becomes an unlikely mentor; and Ginnevra Poppoli, a captivating mime artist who offers the breathtaking possibility of first love.

As Am navigates escalating family crises, intellectual awakenings, and the bittersweet intensity of young love, he must rely on his “found family” and his own novel ideas to forge and maintain relationships in a world where true connection has become a radical act.

Review

The character building, relationship and interactions throughout the story are superb. Over a short period of time, one summer, Am experiences so much that changes him and influences how he views the world as a teenager, mainly through his encounters with David, a reclusive mentor and G, a magician and mime artist. Both of them help Am grow emotionally and intellectually in their own separate ways.

In contrast, Am’s family, his father in particular, do now seem to know Am at all and have very tradition views about how he should be, which causes a lot of friction.

Set in modern day, it is refreshing to have a teenage character who loves learning from books, listens to classical music and wants deep and meaningful discussions about the meaning of life, connections and everything in-between, shunning the social media distractions of our modern era.

Told chronologically over the summer from Am’s point of view, the story unfolds almost lyrically, with a final chapter (out of time and pov sync) that is needed but delivers a gut punch. No spoilers here though.

Themes of family, friendship, life, relationships, trust, abuse and growing up are all entwined with deep philosophical questions and thinking, showing connections in everything.

Thanks to the author and @The_WriteReads for an eARC to read and review for this tour.

About the book

Genre: Coming of Age

Age Category: Young Adult

Number of Pages: 302 Pages

Publication Date: September 1, 2026

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250677029-the-connection-in-everything 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/63ea812b-1960-4d82-831d-aed30221a290 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0gAvoKCM (USA) https://a.co/d/0cvPGuMr (Canada) https://amzn.eu/d/01drZdG3 (UK)