Under The Brighton Sky

By Jay Dean

A love story forged in the aftermath of violence - and held together by hope.

When seventeen-year-old Joe meets Chad, he isn't looking for rescue. He's just trying to survive, his past heavy with the weight of grief and the quiet damage left by people who should have protected him. Chad, older, steady and quietly kind, offers something Joe has never been given before: patience.

But when a brutal homophobic attack shatters their fragile sense of safety, everything changes.

As Chad fights to recover with a fractured memory and shaken confidence, Joe is forced to confront the cost of loving someone in a world that can still be cruel. Around them, Brighton hums with life: friends who become family, late-night parties and the stubborn return of laughter. Yet in the shadows, consequences gather for those who believe violence can be erased or excused.

Tender, raw and unflinchingly honest, Under The Brighton Sky is a contemporary LGBTQ+ novel exploring:

First love and the power of chosen family.

Healing in the wake of trauma and hate crimes.

Masculinity and vulnerability in the face of emotional survival.

Finding joy again after everything breaks.

Set in 2000's Brighton, this story is for readers of emotionally rich gay romance and literary fiction that balances darkness with light.

Because sometimes surviving isn't the end of the story. Sometimes, it's just the beginning.

Note: This story contains themes of homophobic violence, substance abuse and references to suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GTMRCJP1
• ISBN13: 9798247609117
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"