Kelly Quindlen is the bestselling author of the young adult novels She Drives Me Crazy (winner of the Volunteer State Book Award), Late to the Party, and Her Name in the Sky. Her books have been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Vulture, and Paste. Kelly enjoys speaking to high school GSAs, PFLAG groups, and all manner of LGBTQ+ positive organizations. She lives in Atlanta with her fiancée and their saucy cat, Peach Marie. kellyquindlen.com

"This Must Be the Place is an ode to community, family, and the persistence of queer joy in unexpected places. Louisa's world feels lived-in and achingly real, and her story shines with wisdom, warmth, and vulnerability. As always, Kelly Quindlen shoots straight for the heart--and she never misses." --Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"Poignant and unapologetically empowering, This Must Be the Place is an earnest exploration of legacy, community, queer identity, complex relationships, and the necessary spaces where we find ourselves. A joyful read and Quindlen's best yet!" --Julian Winters, USA Today bestselling author of Last First Kiss

"One of the most layered, heartfelt books I've ever read. Quindlen is at her absolute best as she captures the multifaceted soul of the queer community, both past and present, through the warm and colorful lens of the Frisky Cricket. Reading This Must Be The Place is exactly like stepping behind a secret waterfall and finding all of your people waiting for you." --Kit Rosewater, author of All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey

"This Must Be the Place is a triumphant homecoming to Rustin, Alabama, a place aglow with first loves and old flames--and to the Frisky Cricket, a space electric with charm and glitter. Quintessential Kelly Quindlen, these pages are filled with humor, heart, and deeply human characters. It's a love letter to the havens queer people have built to hide in, and to the people who help us step into the light." --Jen St. Jude, author of Where You'll Find Us and If Tomorrow Doesn't Come

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Pub date: 2026-05-26

Length: 288 pages