Footlights and Forever (Echoes of Us Book 1) by Sebastian Sharpe

First in a new series following Austin and Dylan. Footlights and Forever is the start of their story, and does end on a cliffhanger but with lots of scope for an eventual HEA for the two.


From the Footlights and Forever blurb:

Dylan Cooper thought high school was tough, but nothing could prepare him for the drama that would unfold when his secret was out. Bullied for being openly gay, Dylan’s world turns upside down when he’s thrown into the spotlight by none other than the school's football hero, Austin Ridge. Austin’s unexpected friendship brings a whirlwind of emotions and challenges, as the two navigate the treacherous waters of adolescence, dreams, and heartbreak.

Set against the vibrant backdrops of New York, Los Angeles, and London, "Footlights & Forever" follows Dylan and Austin from the halls of high school to the dazzling stages of their futures. This tale of love, resilience, and self-discovery is the first in a series that captures the essence of youthful dreams and the heart-wrenching journey of finding one’s true self.

Join Dylan and Austin as they face their fears, chase their dreams, and discover that sometimes, the spotlight finds you when you least expect it.

Book One of "Echoes of Us" Trilogy


Rogue's review:

- series
- cliffhanger
- high school sweethearts

This is the start of a new series, which I think will be following the same couple through their lives. This first book in the series leaves us with a major cliffhanger, so if you hate those, wait for the whole series I guess 😂

This is Austin and Dylan's story. Dylan is the stereotypical nerd, bullied by the football team in high school, and while Austin is the captain of said team, he doesn't take part in the bullying - but neither does he stop it. Instead, he connects with Dylan and they end up boyfriends by the end of high school and end up at the same university. For the most part I liked both guys, I liked how Austin was so proud of Dylan and eventually stood up to him, but I didn't like how he could never see how toxic his friends were and how awful they were to Dylan until it was always too late.

Dylan too, I liked for the most part but hated how he lived his life around Austin, I think perhaps he needs to find himself a little more and maybe after this cliffhanger, he'll learn to stand up for himself a little more. There's a lot of scope for good things for these two, and I really am rooting for them getting their eventual HEA. This is a promising start to the series, and I'm invested enough that I'll stick with it and see the conclusion of Dylan and Austin's story.


Footlights and Forever is currently available as an e-book and paperback and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription