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acetheticallyy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
sierranorgan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this one, except for the narrator. They kinda ruined the experience for me and I think I would’ve liked the story better if I had read it versus listened to it. Sweet story overall though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
xeniba's review
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
I’m so happy with the trans YA novels I’ve been reading lately, including this one. Justice and Spencer are precious together and I’d really love to see what happens next. I appreciated how supportive almost everyone was and the diversity of the characters. Some folks might argue it’s unrealistic, but a) it’s a novel and b) queer trans POC youth deserve to have stories like this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Drug abuse
mary_johnston's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
5.0
Becky Albertalli explained my feelings toward this book pretty damn well, cause boy did I love it!
It tackles topics like identity, fear of coming out, bullying, and what that can do to a person, being on the spectrum and, my absolute favorite one, religious bigotry.
It tackles topics like identity, fear of coming out, bullying, and what that can do to a person, being on the spectrum and, my absolute favorite one, religious bigotry.
"Spencer always assumed that coming out was a one-way thing, that the responsibility fell on him, and him alone. But Coach's story made him reconsider. Just because the onus always fell on trans and queer people, didn't mean it should."
Being excluded from society because of the person you identify as is such bullshit and should not be happening anymore, although it still is. And then, as Spencer also said plenty of times, he had it very good compared to other people which is really inhumane when you think about it. Trying to conform to the so called "norms" could mentally and physically harm a person and this book shed some light on that. It also paid tribute to many transgender people and queer people alike, the most obvious one, and intended so, is for Aiden Rivera Schaeff, this being one of the many reasons I enjoyed reading the book as much as I did.
The Passing Playbook also has in main focus "football" and the bonds created between teammates and their coach as well as the struggles they encounter together. It described this relationship as a very healthy and warm one, without any prejudices. In the end, they are a family and they have each other's back.
I've never cared much for football or any other sport in general and I had a sort of hesitation before picking the book up, because of this. However, now that I've finished it, I think of football as a less brutal sport, in which the aim is not just to kick the ball.
The Passing Playbook also has in main focus "football" and the bonds created between teammates and their coach as well as the struggles they encounter together. It described this relationship as a very healthy and warm one, without any prejudices. In the end, they are a family and they have each other's back.
I've never cared much for football or any other sport in general and I had a sort of hesitation before picking the book up, because of this. However, now that I've finished it, I think of football as a less brutal sport, in which the aim is not just to kick the ball.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
sandy_21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Deadnaming and Drug abuse
sapphichalo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a sweet YA contemporary about a trans boy, Spencer, who starts a new high school after being bullied at his old school and joins the football team. I enjoy a good sports romance when it's well written and makes you invest in the sport being played, and this was both of those things.
Spencer is a lovely main character whose generosity, passion for football and desire to help other queer kids makes him instantly likeable. At times he makes a few poor decisions, such as lying to his parents, but we see him learn from his mistakes, apologise, and grow as a person after seeing the consequences of his actions (also, which teenager hasn't told their parents a small lie here or there? I imagine, not many).
Throughout the story, we see Spencer in the process of his transition, going to medical appointments and mentioning the changes to his body. It was lovely to see a young character have the full support of his parents for his transition and be happy and confident in the process. In general it's just lovely to see trans joy and gender euphoria in any novel.
We also see Spencer grow into someone who wants to fight for queer and trans rights, while navigating burgeoning romantic feelings. The romance is the main focus of this story (well, that and football) and it's a soft, hopeful enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The love interest, Justice, comes from a very religious family and is dealing with how to reconcile his queer identity with his religion. I would have liked to see a little more in-depth discussion of this towards the end of the story, as it felt like he didn't have much discussion with his parents (or we didn't see it) before moving away from them.
There's also autism rep in the book, as Spencer's younger brother is autistic, and I can't speak to the representation, but there were times when I was worried that Spencer was positioning his brother as a difficulty in his life.
Overall, this is a lovely, uplifting story about love, sport, family, and queer communities.
Content warnings for transphobia, misgendering, past bullying and death threats, religious bigotry and homophobia from religious figures, mentions of an overdose and a previous child death.
This is a sweet YA contemporary about a trans boy, Spencer, who starts a new high school after being bullied at his old school and joins the football team. I enjoy a good sports romance when it's well written and makes you invest in the sport being played, and this was both of those things.
Spencer is a lovely main character whose generosity, passion for football and desire to help other queer kids makes him instantly likeable. At times he makes a few poor decisions, such as lying to his parents, but we see him learn from his mistakes, apologise, and grow as a person after seeing the consequences of his actions (also, which teenager hasn't told their parents a small lie here or there? I imagine, not many).
Throughout the story, we see Spencer in the process of his transition, going to medical appointments and mentioning the changes to his body. It was lovely to see a young character have the full support of his parents for his transition and be happy and confident in the process. In general it's just lovely to see trans joy and gender euphoria in any novel.
We also see Spencer grow into someone who wants to fight for queer and trans rights, while navigating burgeoning romantic feelings. The romance is the main focus of this story (well, that and football) and it's a soft, hopeful enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The love interest, Justice, comes from a very religious family and is dealing with how to reconcile his queer identity with his religion. I would have liked to see a little more in-depth discussion of this towards the end of the story, as it felt like he didn't have much discussion with his parents (or we didn't see it) before moving away from them.
There's also autism rep in the book, as Spencer's younger brother is autistic, and I can't speak to the representation, but there were times when I was worried that Spencer was positioning his brother as a difficulty in his life.
Overall, this is a lovely, uplifting story about love, sport, family, and queer communities.
Content warnings for transphobia, misgendering, past bullying and death threats, religious bigotry and homophobia from religious figures, mentions of an overdose and a previous child death.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
jessnreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
jodierose14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
battlefieldpoet's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
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? Yes
3.5
This books has really great representation! Sometimes the scenes were a little awkward and things jumped from an emotional moment to some action, but overall this book is a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Transphobia