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shortstackz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
5.0
A beautifully written, bittersweet love story of the evolving experience of queerness. It's an introspective literary fiction that follows our two main characters: Tom and Ming. I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful the prose is, and how kind the perspective is to each of the characters as we explore how queer couples navigate and question one partner's transition journey.
Ming's character development across the whole book brings me so much joy for her, as she navigates her gender identity and finds her playwriter voice. I loved the added characterization of Ming being an immigrant from a country that would deny her existence, and discusses the very real inability to return to her home country (Malaysia) as herself. Ming brings up a lot of logistics of being a trans person, particularly a trans immigrant, that many cis-people (myself included) have had the privilege to not notice.
In contrast we also see Tom's perspective, which I think is really valuable to see how a cis-partner might cope with their partner transitioning during the relationship. Tom identifies as a gay man, and that complicates his relationship with Ming when she begins to transition. I found sitting in Tom's head really interesting to see how he navigates his love for Ming, and his attraction towards masculine features.
Ming and Tom love each other so much, and the bittersweet journey through Ming's transition is so beautifully complicated and heart-wrenching. At no point did I think either character wanted to deny Ming her gender identity, but love is more complicated than gender alone.
Ming's character development across the whole book brings me so much joy for her, as she navigates her gender identity and finds her playwriter voice. I loved the added characterization of Ming being an immigrant from a country that would deny her existence, and discusses the very real inability to return to her home country (Malaysia) as herself. Ming brings up a lot of logistics of being a trans person, particularly a trans immigrant, that many cis-people (myself included) have had the privilege to not notice.
In contrast we also see Tom's perspective, which I think is really valuable to see how a cis-partner might cope with their partner transitioning during the relationship. Tom identifies as a gay man, and that complicates his relationship with Ming when she begins to transition. I found sitting in Tom's head really interesting to see how he navigates his love for Ming, and his attraction towards masculine features.
Ming and Tom love each other so much, and the bittersweet journey through Ming's transition is so beautifully complicated and heart-wrenching. At no point did I think either character wanted to deny Ming her gender identity, but love is more complicated than gender alone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming and Death of parent
Minor: Deportation
ukponge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Death of parent, and Deadnaming
mingle_jingle's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An interesting premise, exploring the complexities and intersections of love, friendship, queer identity. It feels like an honest representative of the age group portrayed in the book, but I didn't find the characters particularly likeable.
It was thoughtful, sad, honest and poignant in so many aspects of the storyline and character development.
Although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I can see myself recommending this book to others - younger queer folks or parents of queer community members - to get an honest insight into the lives & loves of younger queer people. In this book, I particularly liked the representation of the family members of the two main protagonists.
It was thoughtful, sad, honest and poignant in so many aspects of the storyline and character development.
Although this book wasn't my cup of tea, I can see myself recommending this book to others - younger queer folks or parents of queer community members - to get an honest insight into the lives & loves of younger queer people. In this book, I particularly liked the representation of the family members of the two main protagonists.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Death, Eating disorder, and Transphobia
innae's review against another edition
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 received a copy in a giveaway from book riot. It is an uncorrected proof.
I have not read a lot of novels with queer characters, and none with a trans main character. I am glad this was my first one, because it is just so dang beautiful. It is more and less than a love story. It’s a story of friendship and transformations. Of learning about yourself. I really came to love Tom and Ming.
The POV switches between Tom and Ming throughout the novel. And while the changes take place at chapters, sometimes it took a bit before I knew who was voicing the chapter. This bothered me more at the beginning, and that was when the pacing also seemed a little slow. Just stick with it, the story unfolds and it is worth it.
I have not read a lot of novels with queer characters, and none with a trans main character. I am glad this was my first one, because it is just so dang beautiful. It is more and less than a love story. It’s a story of friendship and transformations. Of learning about yourself. I really came to love Tom and Ming.
The POV switches between Tom and Ming throughout the novel. And while the changes take place at chapters, sometimes it took a bit before I knew who was voicing the chapter. This bothered me more at the beginning, and that was when the pacing also seemed a little slow. Just stick with it, the story unfolds and it is worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content and Deadnaming
evfav's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was completely engrossed in this book, I’ve never finished anything so quickly because I was always wanting to pick it up and every time I did I got lost in it’s pages for hours at a time. This story broke my heart in all the ways I expected and some more that I didn’t. Every character revealed vulnerability and depth and felt so real. The way Tom and Ming’s relationship developed felt so natural and warmed and broke my heart. This was an amazing story about self discovery, learning to love yourself, and the hardships of growing into a chaotic world, but it was always grounded in the important lasting friendships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Dysphoria, Grief, Transphobia, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
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