Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Patrick Ness doesn't mess around. Release is a gutsy, literary coming-of-age novel that treats its gay teen protagonist with full humanity—messy relationships, explicit sex, religious family tension, and all. The single-day structure (think Mrs. Dalloway meets Forever) is ambitious, and when it works, it really works. The emotional honesty is the draw here: no tidy resolutions, no sanitized teen romance, just Adam trying to figure out who he is and what he's willing to let go of.

That said, this is firmly older-teen territory. The sexual content is detailed and frequent (though not gratuitous), and the emotional weight of family rejection and internalized homophobia is real. Some readers found the ghost subplot distracting, but the core story—Adam's reckoning with his identity and his family—is powerful.

If your teen is ready for unvarnished, sexually explicit YA that treats queer identity as fully human and complex, this is a strong pick. If they're not there yet, wait a year or two.

Age Fit

This is for mature 15+ readers who can handle explicit sexual content and heavy emotional themes around queer identity and religious family conflict. Not for younger teens or tweens—the sexual detail and raw emotional intensity require a certain level of maturity.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

Tackles coming-of-age themes with emotional honesty—gay teen navigating family tensions with evangelical Christian parents who don't know he's out, relationship confusion, workplace stress. The tone is raw and real rather than sanitized, which is developmentally appropriate for older teens wrestling with identity and acceptance. Models authentic friendship through Angela, but the family dynamics are strained (not resolved in a neat bow). Not chaotic pacing, but emotionally heavy throughout the single day it spans.

Imaginative

72

Structurally ambitious—Ness weaves a contemporary realism story with a parallel magical-realist thread (inspired by Mrs. Dalloway's stream-of-consciousness and Judy Blume's Forever). The single-day timeframe with flashbacks and a ghost subplot shows creative risk-taking. Invites readers to think about narrative structure and how stories can be told. However, it's more literary experimentation than world-building or creative play; the imaginative lift comes from form rather than fantastical content.

Safe

45

Common Sense Media notes 'a large amount of sex' and explicit content (though Guardian clarifies it's 'explicit without being X-rated'). Multiple sexual encounters are described in detail. Heavy themes include religious family rejection, internalized homophobia, breakups, workplace ultimatums, and a supernatural death subplot. This is firmly YA/older teen territory—not something a younger kid should stumble into. No toxicity or gore, but the sexual content and emotional intensity warrant the low safety score for general audiences.

Enriching

79

Patrick Ness (A Monster Calls) delivers a nuanced exploration of queer identity, religious family dynamics, self-acceptance, and the courage to live authentically. The literary influences (Woolf, Blume) elevate it beyond typical YA fare. Readers get insight into the specific pressures faced by LGBTQ+ teens in conservative communities, the complexity of first love vs. new love, and how we build and dismantle emotional walls. The 'darkly funny' tone (per synopsis) prevents it from being preachy. Strong empathy-building and identity work for the right reader.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Patrick Ness brings the literary chops—structurally daring, emotionally honest, no neat answers
Authentic portrayal of queer teen experience in a religious household without sugarcoating the pain or the joy
The single-day timeframe with interwoven past and present creates urgency and depth
Celebrates sex as something joyful and human ('the funnest, funniest thing two people could do together') rather than shameful
Strong friendship dynamics—Angela is ride-or-die without being a stereotype

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What to Watch For

Multiple explicit sexual scenes—this is not a fade-to-black YA romance
Religious family rejection and the weight of staying closeted at home will hit hard for some teens
The magical realism subplot (ghost story) feels disconnected to some readers per Goodreads reviews
Emotionally heavy from start to finish—not a light beach read

Conversation Starters

"Adam loves Enzo but is dating Linus—have you ever felt confused about who you're supposed to love vs. who you actually love?"
"How would you handle it if your family's beliefs made you feel like you couldn't be yourself at home?"
"The book celebrates sex as joyful and funny—how do you think our culture talks about teen sexuality, and is that helpful or harmful?"
"Adam's whole life seems to unravel in one day—when have you felt like everything was falling apart at once, and what helped?"

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