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ascmis's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 - it was well-written, and i liked the discussions on sexuality and gender, but i think the author could have forgone the romance aspect.
neither declan/felix or ezra/felix is given enough depth to make the resolution (or the relationship development) believable. declan’s confession of love came WAY too early into the book, and his entire infatuation with felix felt like a ploy made for the sole purpose of having a love triangle in the book.
author should have just focused on ezra and felix.
neither declan/felix or ezra/felix is given enough depth to make the resolution (or the relationship development) believable. declan’s confession of love came WAY too early into the book, and his entire infatuation with felix felt like a ploy made for the sole purpose of having a love triangle in the book.
author should have just focused on ezra and felix.
13mcgrj's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this!
I’m starting to enjoy more LGBTQ reads lately.
The self discovery in this was inspiring to read about!
I felt for the characters and the difficulties they were facing.
I liked seeing their HEA’s at the end of the book!
I’m starting to enjoy more LGBTQ reads lately.
The self discovery in this was inspiring to read about!
I felt for the characters and the difficulties they were facing.
I liked seeing their HEA’s at the end of the book!
zumbador's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
I found this book painful to read, but for the right reasons: because for once the teen characters are realistic, and realistically confused and annoying as well. Felix is flawed in ways I found believable. He makes snap judgements based on his own insecurities, is defensive, angry, and starts off with little self knowledge.
The descriptions of transphobia aimed at him were painful for me to read, especially his relationship with his father, who hasn't entirely accepted his identity as a boy / son / man.
That said, I a bit disapointed by the ending. It felt rushed, and many of the things the writer set up, didn't really pay off in a believable way.
The build up of who was responsible for the transphobic attacks and harassment didn't entirely land as the boy responsible was on the periphery of the story and not really known by me as a reader until the reveal.
Felix's realisation that he's a demiboy was not satisfying to me. I didn't believe that in all the time he'd spent online and encountered alternative terms to "transman" such as nonbinary, genderfluid, demiboy and all the rest, he never wondered if those fit him. If he did, the text doesn't show it.
So to have him go home after a brief conversation at a meeting of other queer people sharing their experiences, come across demiboy and immediately it clicks, felt far too easy. It would have worked better for me if he'd formed some kind of connection with one of the people at the meeting and had more conversations with them - possibly the nonbinary person, I think they were called Bex?
Before landing on "demiboy" as the perfect term. Or maybe he could have become more comfortable with the idea that there isn't a perfect label for him, and it's OK if he's not sure what he is?
The same is true for the romance. The interaction with Declan was messy and painful, with Felix really not coming out looking great, but that was fine. Things can be messy. But to end that with him getting together with his best friend Ezra in a real Romance with a capital "R" was not great for me. One of Felix's lessons he needed to learn was that there's a difference between limerence and love, and that he doesn't need romantic love to prove that he's worthy of love. That platonic love can be just as powerful, and familial love as well. That maybe what he needed was a break from Declan and Ezra, to find out who he is as an adult in his new after school life. It's like the story set up several really messy, realistic situations with Ezra crushing on Felix, and the two of them not being honest with one another about their mutual attraction, and then whoops it's tied off with a perfect sparkling glitter-bow of romance.
The descriptions of transphobia aimed at him were painful for me to read, especially his relationship with his father, who hasn't entirely accepted his identity as a boy / son / man.
That said, I a bit disapointed by the ending. It felt rushed, and many of the things the writer set up, didn't really pay off in a believable way.
The build up of who was responsible for the transphobic attacks and harassment didn't entirely land as the boy responsible was on the periphery of the story and not really known by me as a reader until the reveal.
Felix's realisation that he's a demiboy was not satisfying to me. I didn't believe that in all the time he'd spent online and encountered alternative terms to "transman" such as nonbinary, genderfluid, demiboy and all the rest, he never wondered if those fit him. If he did, the text doesn't show it.
So to have him go home after a brief conversation at a meeting of other queer people sharing their experiences, come across demiboy and immediately it clicks, felt far too easy. It would have worked better for me if he'd formed some kind of connection with one of the people at the meeting and had more conversations with them - possibly the nonbinary person, I think they were called Bex?
Before landing on "demiboy" as the perfect term. Or maybe he could have become more comfortable with the idea that there isn't a perfect label for him, and it's OK if he's not sure what he is?
The same is true for the romance. The interaction with Declan was messy and painful, with Felix really not coming out looking great, but that was fine. Things can be messy. But to end that with him getting together with his best friend Ezra in a real Romance with a capital "R" was not great for me. One of Felix's lessons he needed to learn was that there's a difference between limerence and love, and that he doesn't need romantic love to prove that he's worthy of love. That platonic love can be just as powerful, and familial love as well. That maybe what he needed was a break from Declan and Ezra, to find out who he is as an adult in his new after school life. It's like the story set up several really messy, realistic situations with Ezra crushing on Felix, and the two of them not being honest with one another about their mutual attraction, and then whoops it's tied off with a perfect sparkling glitter-bow of romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism
bibliobrittish's review against another edition
5.0
My only regret is that I didn’t read this ages ago.
candragonsread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
keyaunnalb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
walkerff's review against another edition
5.0
this book!!!!!!! the way it depicts the messiness of queer coming of age in healthy v unhealthy relationships and exploration of gender identity is simply!!!! wonderful!!!! i loved that the queer characters (like ALL of the cast basically) were allowed to learn and grow and not be perfect on the first try at everything, especially relationships. and the ending was BEAUTIFUL! the angst was oW but solved SO WELL that i might even say it was worth it
bananna_books's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a good book. Identity and belonging are central themes to this book and they’re really essential and important. I love the book for what it is.
I just personally don’t recommend my future self reread it, or at least skip like the first 40%. Felix longs to experience love. While it developed into an interesting storyline, I personally do not want to sit through his early musings again. It felt a little too much like hs (Felix is a high school student after all) for my current interests.
I just personally don’t recommend my future self reread it, or at least skip like the first 40%. Felix longs to experience love. While it developed into an interesting storyline, I personally do not want to sit through his early musings again. It felt a little too much like hs (Felix is a high school student after all) for my current interests.