Where to Start with Aaron H. Aceves
For readers looking to dive into Aaron H. Aceves’s writing, the starting point is clear-cut: begin with his debut novel, This Is Why They Hate Us (2022). As a standalone contemporary young adult romance, this book serves as the perfect entry point into Aceves's signature style, which balances hilarious teenage antics with raw, honest discussions of mental health, bisexuality, and cultural identity.
The Standalone Novel
This Is Why They Hate Us (2022)
Set over a hot summer in East Los Angeles, the story follows Enrique “Quique” Luna, a 17-year-old high school senior who is determined to get over his unrequited crush on his best friend, Saleem Kanazi. The plan seems simple: Saleem is leaving L.A. for the summer, so Quique decides to explore other romantic prospects to distract himself. However, Quique’s chaotic quest leads him to juggle several different boys, including:
- Saleem Kanazi: His best friend and longtime crush, a bisexual Palestinian-American teen.
- Tyler Montana: A stoner-jock type who catches Quique's attention.
- Ziggy Jackson: The straight-laced senior class president.
- Manny Zuniga: A sweet boy who is actively interested in Quique.
Guided by his only confidante, Fabiola (the sole person Quique is out to at the beginning of the book), Quique goes on a messy, coming-of-age journey. Readers will appreciate the book's realistic depiction of teenage confusion, therapy, family dynamics, and the challenge of coming out as bisexual in a traditional community.
Anthologies and Guest Writing
If you have finished his novel and want to read more of Aceves’s shorter prose, you can look to his anthology contribution:
- “Watching Paint Dry” in All the Ways a Heart Burns: A Voyage YA Anthology (2023): Aceves contributed this short story and acted as a guest writer for the collection, which showcases stories about passion, obsession, and the intense emotions of youth.
Literary Journals and Short Fiction
Aceves is also a prolific short fiction writer, with stories featured across several literary reviews. While these are separate, standalone pieces rather than tie-ins to his YA universe, they showcase his evolution as a writer. Notable short works include:
- “Visions” – The Iowa Review (2025)
- “Remarkable” – Passages North (2023)
- “Sixteen Things You Learn After Leaving New York” – (mac)ro(mic) (2022)
- “What Remains” – The Florida Review (2021)
- “i” – Voyage (2021)
- “Campus” – them. (2021)
- “Fifteen Things You Learn After Moving to New York” – Flash Fiction Magazine (2021)
- “The Damn Season” – Epiphany (2021)
What to Know Before You Start
Aceves’s work is highly character-driven and grounded in the real-world experiences of growing up queer and Latinx in East Los Angeles. While This Is Why They Hate Us is a contemporary romance with plenty of humor and witty banter, it also handles heavy themes. Readers should expect honest depictions of anxiety, depression, and the struggle of finding self-acceptance while navigating cultural and familial expectations. There are no fantasy or supernatural elements; the focus is entirely on the messy reality of late adolescence.