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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Originally posted at OMFG!Books
What a book. No, really. What. A. Book. This book does it's job well. Powerful is a word I would use to describe it. While contemporary isn't generally my cup of tea I'm glad I accepted the offer to review from the publisher.
What I really enjoyed was the different POVs. If it was only told through one I don't think that the book would be quite the same. It's a really good way of getting into all of their heads; seeing why they do the things they do, understanding why they say the things they say, feel how they feel, etc. and that really helps with such sensitive subject matter. That's another thing I really liked about the novel: how well the author went about the subject. She did it in such a realistic, positive way and I thought that was fantastic. I liked the pace of the book as well. Fast but not too fast. It played like a really good movie in my head.
This is a book that will get people talking. I got so invested in the story I found myself crying and wanting to throw it against a wall when certain things happened. I got very attached to these characters, especially Max, who is such an endearing young man. The topic of this book is something that needs to be talked about more and I think that the more people that read this, and pass it on to friends because they're going to want to talk about it too, the more the issues will be heard. I'm repeating myself but the author did such a fantastic job in doing this. This book is something both adults and teens need to read and to discuss. The book makes you think, and that is the best kind of book.
What a book. No, really. What. A. Book. This book does it's job well. Powerful is a word I would use to describe it. While contemporary isn't generally my cup of tea I'm glad I accepted the offer to review from the publisher.
What I really enjoyed was the different POVs. If it was only told through one I don't think that the book would be quite the same. It's a really good way of getting into all of their heads; seeing why they do the things they do, understanding why they say the things they say, feel how they feel, etc. and that really helps with such sensitive subject matter. That's another thing I really liked about the novel: how well the author went about the subject. She did it in such a realistic, positive way and I thought that was fantastic. I liked the pace of the book as well. Fast but not too fast. It played like a really good movie in my head.
This is a book that will get people talking. I got so invested in the story I found myself crying and wanting to throw it against a wall when certain things happened. I got very attached to these characters, especially Max, who is such an endearing young man. The topic of this book is something that needs to be talked about more and I think that the more people that read this, and pass it on to friends because they're going to want to talk about it too, the more the issues will be heard. I'm repeating myself but the author did such a fantastic job in doing this. This book is something both adults and teens need to read and to discuss. The book makes you think, and that is the best kind of book.
ok so firstly, shame on me for waiting 6 years to pick this up!
this was a really honest and heartbreaking story about gender identity that centered around the lives of one family.
Max, our ‘Golden Boy’, is an intersex teen who, through his narrative and his family/friends narrative, we begin to discuss identity, gender, and sexuality and how it shapes our lives.
it’s hard to describe how this book impacted me but i can say that i definitely learned more about gender and intersexuality. i think the insight into the trauma, dysphoria, and anxiety that some intersex people deal with was an interesting conversation.
CW: sexual assault, rape
this was a really honest and heartbreaking story about gender identity that centered around the lives of one family.
Max, our ‘Golden Boy’, is an intersex teen who, through his narrative and his family/friends narrative, we begin to discuss identity, gender, and sexuality and how it shapes our lives.
it’s hard to describe how this book impacted me but i can say that i definitely learned more about gender and intersexuality. i think the insight into the trauma, dysphoria, and anxiety that some intersex people deal with was an interesting conversation.
CW: sexual assault, rape
Now I need to pick up the thousand pieces my heart broke into. This book destroyed me. Poor lovely fantastic little Max.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abortion, Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content, Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment
There is a graphic, on the page, rape scene early on in the book.
Much of the book is dedicated to a main character’s pregnancy and there is a lot of mentions, discussions, thoughts of abortion.
i can't decide. most of the books i have read so far this year have had ableist slurs and phrases, and this book is no exception. :/ i think it does a good job in exploring gender and sex, but it can be tough to read the problematic thoughts/acts as this book is told from many perspectives.
* Rating removed as I don't agree with the 4.5 star rating I had given it. That rating is higher than I would currently give. However, it feels disingenuous to greatly reduce the rating without having reread it.*
2015: 4.5 stars. I really loved this book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I found some of the middle section quite slow.
2021: in hindsight I was neutral towards this book. I conflated the fact that it talked about important issues with it being an amazing book.
2015: 4.5 stars. I really loved this book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I found some of the middle section quite slow.
2021: in hindsight I was neutral towards this book. I conflated the fact that it talked about important issues with it being an amazing book.
I really wish more people would read this book! So important. Also, the audiobook is great. I loved how real everyone felt. Go read it!!!!!
(TRIGGER WARNING: explicit rape scene)
(TRIGGER WARNING: explicit rape scene)
I'm never going to read this book again, but it was good. It just was too much for me. Right from the beginning, I experienced the trauma that the character experienced as I was reading and it was too much. I wanted to like characters but then they contributed to my second-hand trauma and I couldn't like them.
Wow. This book was just... wow. I seriously cannot describe everything I felt and thought about while reading this. It was a real rollercoaster that surprised me in every way.
It's definitely not intended for young readers who are not mature enough to deal with such serious themes (there's a huge TRIGGER for rape and sexual harassment in general in this book, so be aware of that!!!!) but it's definitely poignant for more mature young readers and also adult readers. I absolutely loved the family dynamics here, and the shifting PoVs enriched the story beautifully. It's also a very educative book about very important stuff that is not talked about enough! In many many ways, I am glad I read this, and I hope it will stick with me for a long time.
It's definitely not intended for young readers who are not mature enough to deal with such serious themes (there's a huge TRIGGER for rape and sexual harassment in general in this book, so be aware of that!!!!) but it's definitely poignant for more mature young readers and also adult readers. I absolutely loved the family dynamics here, and the shifting PoVs enriched the story beautifully. It's also a very educative book about very important stuff that is not talked about enough! In many many ways, I am glad I read this, and I hope it will stick with me for a long time.