“Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World,” by Benjamin Alire Sánez is set to be released Oct 12. The novel is the sequel to Sánez’s novel “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” and is expected to further develop relationships and character arcs introduced in the first novel.

Ari and Dante first meet in 1987, in a Texan town and develop a romantic relationship. The novel’s inclusion of LGBTQ and Latino representation provides insight into the experiences of marginalized teenagers throughout the  iconic 1980s.

While the first novel in the series follows Ari and Dante’s early teenage years, the highly anticipated sequel will document their senior year of high school. In light of this, readers can expect the book’s subject matters to mature along with the characters.

Sánez’s writing realistically portrays teenage life, showcasing both its thrilling and uneventful moments. Working in tandem with his lyrical writing, his novels are deeper relatable.

This writing style should be used in the sequel as well, allowing the novel to feel like a worthy continuation to its predecessor. Creating a sequel to “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe”, especially after so many years, is a risk. Hopefully Sánez’s sequel will honor his past work and enhances the best qualities of the series.

“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” will be a tough act to follow. If Sáenz writes with the same eloquence and truthfulness he offered in the first novel, his sequel will meet the exceptionally high standard he has set for himself.