We Burned So Bright – TJ Klune

Published By: Tor
Pages: 176
Released On: 30/04/2026

Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good, long life. Together, they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.

Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth, and in a month, everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.

Suddenly, after forty years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.

On the road, they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how – impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, new friends.

And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.

Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?

*****

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I LOVE Klune’s books!

Oh I wanted more but at the same time it was just enough. To draw it out longer would be to lose some of its nuances, but it would also give us longer time to read his words.

It’s a basic plot – two husbands driving to an unknown end before the world dies. There’s not much more than that. But it’s got such depth and such heart. He has managed to say so much with so little and he’s done it as perfectly as I expected from him.

I wish we had more time with Don and Rodney. They were gorgeous. Grumpy old men, set in their ways, but oh so in love it would be sickening if I wasn’t also in love with them.

It’s a quick read, a matter of hours, but you’ll want to take your time with it. It leaves you speechless by the end of it, everything about it – story, character, emotion, use of words – is done to perfection and you can’t imagine any other author giving it such beauty.

I’m not a huge fan of star ratings as I find them too subjective to be helpful, but I’ll say now, if I could give this all the stars in the sky, I would.

If you’ve never read his books before and aren’t sure if they’re you kind of thing, then start with this one. It gives you everything Klune has to offer but in a small dose. And then you can move on to the rest of his work, because believe me, once you’ve read one, you’ll want to read the lot.

It’s so heartbreaking but heartwarming and even though it’s the end of the world, it’s filled with such hope and love. It’s sad, tragic, scary, emotional…all that, yes. But it’s joyful and hopeful and sweet (maybe bordering on twee but I don’t care) and just so absolutely full of love and is just gorgeous.