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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.)
stephlo's review against another edition
3.0
Though this book touches on so many important topics, and I’m glad I read it, I thought the concept was better than the execution.
Not only did many plot-defining moments seem fairly unrealistic to me (the MC just kept forgetting things that were actually huge to his life so I didn’t get how he could just? forget??? since he was also super worried about them?), but the plot was thin because the entire book was pretty much about Dean coming out (as one would expect from the summary). But basically his entire personality was being trans and liking acting, which made it harder to connect to him—and I so badly wanted to get to know him more wholly. The other characters were also fairly surface level, and that was also fine, but I wished for some more nuance in their relationships to each other—specifically Dean + Zoe’s relationship.
Because the entire book was just Dean coming out in various ways, and he faced a lot of transphobia (like a lot a lot), it felt like a really negative story except for the tail end. That’s not a complaint about the writing because that’s what some people want to consume, but I personally struggled with how painful it all was for Dean so constantly. Although the book doesn’t really put Dean in a depressive or suicidal box in the face of his intense and traumatic problems, I think it could be potentially triggering for people that struggle seriously with those issues. It was just a really really hard emotional read; I’m cis and I imagine for trans readers it would be both relieving (having a character that you resonate with is almost always a positive feeling) and painful (because, so much transphobia).
But like, the author touched on so many important issues in these pages without it feeling forced. It was a very comprehensive intro to trans struggles type of book; I just didn’t feel like it was fully fleshed out in a satisfying way. I did, however, really appreciate how realistically awkward and messy real life can be and the message the author tried to send.
Not only did many plot-defining moments seem fairly unrealistic to me (the MC just kept forgetting things that were actually huge to his life so I didn’t get how he could just? forget??? since he was also super worried about them?), but the plot was thin because the entire book was pretty much about Dean coming out (as one would expect from the summary). But basically his entire personality was being trans and liking acting, which made it harder to connect to him—and I so badly wanted to get to know him more wholly. The other characters were also fairly surface level, and that was also fine, but I wished for some more nuance in their relationships to each other—specifically Dean + Zoe’s relationship.
Because the entire book was just Dean coming out in various ways, and he faced a lot of transphobia (like a lot a lot), it felt like a really negative story except for the tail end. That’s not a complaint about the writing because that’s what some people want to consume, but I personally struggled with how painful it all was for Dean so constantly. Although the book doesn’t really put Dean in a depressive or suicidal box in the face of his intense and traumatic problems, I think it could be potentially triggering for people that struggle seriously with those issues. It was just a really really hard emotional read; I’m cis and I imagine for trans readers it would be both relieving (having a character that you resonate with is almost always a positive feeling) and painful (because, so much transphobia).
But like, the author touched on so many important issues in these pages without it feeling forced. It was a very comprehensive intro to trans struggles type of book; I just didn’t feel like it was fully fleshed out in a satisfying way. I did, however, really appreciate how realistically awkward and messy real life can be and the message the author tried to send.
mediocre_writings's review against another edition
5.0
“Not that I hate my body. There are just parts of it that aren't what they should be.”
I was really excited to read this book and I had high hopes. They were not disappointed.
What stood out to me, among the rest of the books with trans-rep that I have recently read, was that the main character was still figuring out who he was.
In “Felix Ever After”, “Cemetery Boys” and “May the Best Man Win”, all of the main characters already know they are trans men and have been out for a while.
“Between Perfect and Real” deals with the insecurity and the self-doubt of first getting that hunch, that: oh shit, I think this is me.
It deals with the YouTube-binges that I know all too well.
It deals with the struggle of needing to tell someone but also being so, so scared they will say something wrong.
It deals with coming out, with parents reactions, with bullies in school and relationships that are threatened.
It had me hooked from the first sentence.
Dean, at the time of his coming out, is dating a gay girl, which is hard to figure out, now that he realised he is a guy and has to wonder whether his girlfriend will ever really love him, or just the idea of him from before.
It deals with dysphoria and how you only start to notice it once you’ve admitted it’s there and how difficult it can be.
The side characters were fleshed out quiet well and I sympathised with most of them.
The vibe overall is more light and easy to read, but there are also some dark chapters that deal with rejection and hard feelings.
There is really not much left to say except that I loved every second of this book and devoured it in an afternoon.
5/5 Stars
caoidh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Transphobia
roman_13's review against another edition
5.0
This book hit close to home.
As a transguy myself this book was a perfect representation of what I felt the first time I came out. All the thoughts, all the if's and but's you could imagine. This is a road of self discovery that never ends. And it isn't always pretty. This book doesn't sugarcoat the way transitioning is.
It doesn't expect the main character to know all the answers, to solve every problem with a smile on his face. It also navigates safe spaces and not so safe spaces as high school. It deals with the reality many lgbtq+ people go by and gives a voice to those who are still not sure where they belong.
As a transguy myself this book was a perfect representation of what I felt the first time I came out. All the thoughts, all the if's and but's you could imagine. This is a road of self discovery that never ends. And it isn't always pretty. This book doesn't sugarcoat the way transitioning is.
It doesn't expect the main character to know all the answers, to solve every problem with a smile on his face. It also navigates safe spaces and not so safe spaces as high school. It deals with the reality many lgbtq+ people go by and gives a voice to those who are still not sure where they belong.
reecejustreads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
There were a few things that I felt like were missing but I overall felt like this was a great story. I really felt seen and totally related to Dean. Great start to October reading
There were a few things that I felt like were missing but I overall felt like this was a great story. I really felt seen and totally related to Dean. Great start to October reading