I Knew Him by Abigail de Niverville

Description

A role. A secret. And a truth waiting in the wings.

In I Knew Him, Abigail de Niverville delivers a tender and introspective coming-of-age story where identity, performance, and first love intertwine. Julian is determined to survive his final year of high school without drawing attention to himself. Keep his head down. Play basketball. Get into university. Then—and only then—he’ll come out as bisexual.

Simple. Controlled. Safe.

Until Hamlet enters the picture.

Encouraged to audition for the school play, Julian feels an unexpected pull toward the role of the troubled prince. The parallels are hard to ignore: a father who lingers like a ghost, a past relationship that won’t quite release him, and a mind that never stops turning. When he lands the part of Hamlet, everything begins to shift.

Especially when he meets Sky.

Cast as Horatio, Sky is magnetic—mysterious, teasing, and impossible to ignore. As rehearsals unfold, so does something between them. Conversations deepen. Walls begin to crack. And Julian finds himself sharing pieces of himself he’s never dared to voice aloud.

But honesty comes with risk.

As opening night approaches, Julian must confront what he truly wants—and whether he’s ready to face the consequences of being seen, both onstage and off.

Heartfelt and quietly powerful, I Knew Him explores the fragile courage of self-discovery, the intensity of first connection, and the ways we perform who we are before we learn how to live it.

Book Details
Author: Abigail de Niverville
Format: Paperback
Publication Date: April 15, 2026
ISBN: 1778135471