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underoos47's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tamarina's review against another edition
3.0
There is something missing in this book that I found hard to point out at first, but thinking about it a little more I think what I miss is character depth. The characters all felt kind of flat and unoriginal:
- trans guy who uses theatre to figure out his gender
- helper Black gay friend who likes sewing
- good bisexual ally who likes drawing and OF COURSE ends up with a non-binary person because that's what bisexuality is all about
- disappointing lesbian feminist girlfriend who likes coloring her hair
- asshole jock with disinterested parents
- liberal dad who lacks courage
- conservative mom who wants to live her life through what she thinks is her daughter
- non-binary person with no character whatsoever
- and then Jade, the only person who I found a bit more original as a radical Black trans girl.
I felt like it was all a bit cliche, and the characters felt like puppets instead of real people with complex inner lives.
That said, I did want to read on just to find out how everything would play out. I liked the scene during the play where Dean and the asshole jock kind of seemed to process their shit together, even though it still felt a bit unresolved. And there was a certain sweetness to the book, all those young queer kids figuring stuff out.
I liked Ronnie the most but was also pissed about him being portrayed almost solely in the service of his white friend. The storyline about his parents first not allowing him to attend a creative college and then changing their minds was totally boring and not enough of a stand in for actual character development and storyline.
So yeah. Sweet queer kids, but could have been written so much better in terms of character development.
- trans guy who uses theatre to figure out his gender
- helper Black gay friend who likes sewing
- good bisexual ally who likes drawing and OF COURSE ends up with a non-binary person because that's what bisexuality is all about
- disappointing lesbian feminist girlfriend who likes coloring her hair
- asshole jock with disinterested parents
- liberal dad who lacks courage
- conservative mom who wants to live her life through what she thinks is her daughter
- non-binary person with no character whatsoever
- and then Jade, the only person who I found a bit more original as a radical Black trans girl.
I felt like it was all a bit cliche, and the characters felt like puppets instead of real people with complex inner lives.
That said, I did want to read on just to find out how everything would play out. I liked the scene during the play where Dean and the asshole jock kind of seemed to process their shit together, even though it still felt a bit unresolved. And there was a certain sweetness to the book, all those young queer kids figuring stuff out.
I liked Ronnie the most but was also pissed about him being portrayed almost solely in the service of his white friend. The storyline about his parents first not allowing him to attend a creative college and then changing their minds was totally boring and not enough of a stand in for actual character development and storyline.
So yeah. Sweet queer kids, but could have been written so much better in terms of character development.
samsbooks06's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
priorglass's review against another edition
4.0
This hurt. A lot. But I'm glad it ended on a note of hopefulness for the near future.
leepetterson's review against another edition
3.0
read it in an attempt to diversify the authors i read and ultimately was a "read in one sitting not because it's good but because it's easy"
galiotooo's review against another edition
Didn’t like the Candace of the audio book narrator and reading a high school romance at 26 felt a little weird to me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
forestthing's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Every time I read about the book it was about how informative it was for people who don't know a lot about trans identities or the lives of trans people. I can say that the book is equally enjoyable when you are not as new to the topic. Especially the se ond hand gender Euphoria was really nice. The characters are lovely and even though they are all teenagers the book is enjoyable as an adult.
I listened to the audiobook and I think I would recommend that especially to people who have a hard time to adjusting to seeing a person they who as who they are.
I listened to the audiobook and I think I would recommend that especially to people who have a hard time to adjusting to seeing a person they who as who they are.
graybulla's review
5.0
Oh gosh, where do I even start?
This book is gorgeous. Dean is one of my favorite protagonists in a long time, and his relationship with his friends was delightful and surprising at times, heartbreaking at others, and it all felt very, very true to my experience growing up as a trans teenager with mostly cisgender friends.
My favorite moments had to do with Dean's complicated experiences as he came out. Before this, I don't think I've ever read a book that felt like an accurate depiction of what it's like to realize your gender, and can I just tell you? I felt like breaking down and crying reading it. Not just because of how hard Stoeve hits the nail on the head when it comes to dysphoria, anxieties around passing, hearing your correct pronouns, etc and etc--but because of how seen I felt for the first time ever. There are a few other books that I feel reflect my experiences as a trans person post-coming out, but never any that really dive into the pre-transition and early-transition feelings, which are confusing and heavy and weird and amazing and necessary. Stoeve really got at the heart of change and growth in this.
This isn't even touching on how, in every other aspect, this book is still gorgeous--the prose is clear and succinct and flowing, and the characters feel effortlessly real, and the pacing is smooth and somehow subtle.
Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
This book is gorgeous. Dean is one of my favorite protagonists in a long time, and his relationship with his friends was delightful and surprising at times, heartbreaking at others, and it all felt very, very true to my experience growing up as a trans teenager with mostly cisgender friends.
My favorite moments had to do with Dean's complicated experiences as he came out. Before this, I don't think I've ever read a book that felt like an accurate depiction of what it's like to realize your gender, and can I just tell you? I felt like breaking down and crying reading it. Not just because of how hard Stoeve hits the nail on the head when it comes to dysphoria, anxieties around passing, hearing your correct pronouns, etc and etc--but because of how seen I felt for the first time ever. There are a few other books that I feel reflect my experiences as a trans person post-coming out, but never any that really dive into the pre-transition and early-transition feelings, which are confusing and heavy and weird and amazing and necessary. Stoeve really got at the heart of change and growth in this.
This isn't even touching on how, in every other aspect, this book is still gorgeous--the prose is clear and succinct and flowing, and the characters feel effortlessly real, and the pacing is smooth and somehow subtle.
Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A really tender coming of age story about a young trans boy who is finding the courage to embrace who he has always felt himself to be all while dealing with complicated romantic relationships and less than supportive parents. Perfect for fans of Felix ever after or Tobly McSmith. Great on audio too.
CW: transphobia
CW: transphobia
l_brina's review against another edition
3.0
This was a likable book about a transgender teen going through his transition. I liked this book and I don't have much to say about it. I didn't not like anything, at least I don't think so (at the moment). I think I might've been taken aback by something but I don't remember. (I finished this book like 3-4 hours ago and my memory can be super short sometimes.)