How to Lose Yourself Completely

A teen grappling with grief and anxiety is sent to wilderness "adventure therapy," where he meets a group of friends--and a girl from his past--who will change his life forever. This captivating novel is perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and John Green.

Ever since Sean's death, Case's anxiety has been spiraling. Sean wasn't just his older brother--he was also Case's best friend. The only person who really got him.

When his parents suggest "adventure therapy," Case is desperate enough to agree. Maybe roughing it in the woods with a group of anxious strangers will help him find a way forward. After he boards the bus, he sees the one person he's been trying to avoid: Diana. Sean's girlfriend.

Once they set off, there is the expected cringey singing and forced sharing. But when their counselor mysteriously disappears, the trip suddenly turns into a journey of survival. This group of kids, with nothing in common but their prescriptions and lack of social skills, will have to band together to make it back home. In the process, they will change each other's lives forever.

From award-winning author Peter Bognanni comes a profound, surprising, and hopeful novel about grief and love.

Author: Peter Bognanni
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 8.48h x 5.61w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781250409348
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
School Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 76
Publishers Weekly 04/06/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2026

About the Author
Peter Bognanni's first novel, The House of Tomorrow, won the L.A. Times Book Award for First Fiction and was adapted into a feature film starring Ellen Burstyn and Nick Offerman. His second novel, Things I'm Seeing Without You, was published in four countries and is currently in development for television. Peter teaches Creative Writing at Macalester College.