Justin A. Reynolds

Justin A. Reynolds wrote Opposite of Always, his debut novel which has been translated into seventeen languages, and is being developed for film with Paramount Players. What if you could bring your best friend back to life—but only for a short time? Jamal’s best friend, Q, doesn’t know that he died, and that he’s about to die again. He doesn’t know that Jamal tried to save him. And that the reason they haven’t been friends for two years is because Jamal blames Q for the accident that killed his parents. But what if Jamal could have a second chance? A new technology allows Q to be reanimated for a few weeks before he dies permanently. Can Jamal fix everything if he can’t tell Q the truth? Justin A. Reynolds’ Early Departures (Katherine Tegen Books) weaves together loss, grief, friendship, and love in an homage to the bonds that bring people together for life—and beyond. In a starred review, Booklist called it “[…] propulsively readable. There are some big questions about choice, consequences, loyalty, and love in this novel, and Reynolds beautifully complements those heavy concerns with the sweet, funny, and genuine voice of his protagonist.”