In 1934, life in Brookburn, Indiana, is quiet, simple, and peaceful, but young dreamer Levi Beckerman yearns for more. When the carnival shows up for the Fourth of July, heâs entranced by its many temptations. None is more seductive than the charismatic barker, Sebastian Gustineau.
Sebâs been a part of the carnival for almost a decade. Once, it provided him the escape he needed from a life he thought he didnât want, but now, he craves things it can never offer. Flitting from dusty town to dusty town, he loses himself in pretty dalliances. Levi seems like the perfect distraction, until a single conversation convinces him that preserving Leviâs innocence and way of life is more important than his momentary satisfaction.
However, his plan to discourage Levi goes horribly wrong. When Leviâs family is threatened, Levi fights to protect them, doing what he can to hide the secrets heâs sheltered his entire life. The only person he trusts is Seb. He just isnât sure if the growing bond between them is enough to save them all.