If Birds Fly Back

A sparkling debut about love, family, and the mysteries of the universe, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Nicola Yoon.

Linny has kept a journal of famous disappearances ever since her sister Grace ran away in the middle of the night. Sebastian is an aspiring astrophysicist with a working theory for everything—but the one thing he can’t figure out is the identity of his birth father.

They haven’t met—yet—but Linny and Sebastian have one thing in common: an obsession with famous novelist and filmmaker Àlvaro Herrera, who who went missing three years ago and has just reappeared. As their lives converge around the mystery of Àlvaro, they begin to uncover the answers they’ve been looking for.

With humor and heart, debut author Carlie Sorosiak weaves a story of searching for those who leave—and loving those who stay.

"If Birds Fly Back feels like that last hazy, sun-drenched summer of high school, when you know you'll need to find your place in the world, but you're busy laughing and falling in love under starlit skies. It's the rarest author who can pull off laugh-out-loud hilarious, profound, and breathlessly romantic, all in the most sparkling prose. That shortlist includes Rainbow Rowell, Nicola Yoon, and now, Carlie Sorosiak."—Jeff Zentner, acclaimed author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days

“IF BIRDS FLY BACK feels like that last hazy, sun-drenched summer of high school, when you know you’ll need to find your place in the world, but you’re busy laughing and falling in love under starlit skies. It’s the rarest author who can pull off laugh-out-loud hilarious, profound, and breathlessly romantic, all in the most sparkling prose. That shortlist includes Rainbow Rowell, Nicola Yoon, and now, Carlie Sorosiak.” - Jeff Zentner, critically acclaimed author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days

“A uniquely dazzling love story—sunshine flows through every electric page, and into your heart. Carlie Sorosiak writes with neon prose.” - Harriet Reuter Hapgood, author of The Square Root of Summer

“Should resonate with fans of Morgan Matson, John Green, and Rainbow Rowell.” - Kirkus Reviews

“In this charming novel about love and missing persons, two quirky teenagers embark on personal quests but end up finding each other...will hook fans of John Green, Sarah Dessen, and Jenny Han.” - School Library Journal

“A sweet love story with plenty of emotional heft...Fans of brainy romance will likely like this one.” - Booklist

“Sorosiak uses alternating voices, interspersed with Linny’s original screenplays and journal entries as well as select chapters from Sebastian’s favorite book of astrophysics, to tell their stories...these alternate forms of expression help flesh out the protagonists as Linny and Sebastian find their way through joy, sorrow, and personal heartaches to a more optimistic future.” - The Horn Book

“An engrossing combination of romance and self-discovery.” - Publishers Weekly