Reviews

this book was barely reaching 4 stars but I couldn't decide! it's a story about coming to terms with your situation and yourself, even when you have a million different things happening at the same time.

Content Warnings

atticusbinch's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

I wish I liked this book as much as other people do. It may seem silly, but as someone who's nonbinary and already come out to their partners, I found it particularly hard to believe that Ben's parents knew the meaning of the word enough to understand that it should be labeled as 'deviant.' There wasn't a bunch of background info given about them, so I can't speak on their knowledge of gender politics, but I found this aspect hard to believe. They'll accept that their child might be gay as a consolation (later in the book), yet they find being nonbinary really bad? It doesn't add up for me. Also, I'm unsure if it was the fact that I listened at 1.5-2.0x speed, but I felt the pacing was super fast for the book to have barely had anything going on in it. We didn't even know that Nathan liked Ben until the last moments of the book. The payoff of enduring the story didn't feel good. There was no relief and happiness when they got together for me. More like an acknowledgment of its occurrence. It's disappointing and underwhelming in a way I didn't expect. I'll give Mason Deaver another chance because the book wasn't horrible -- just not good? Character development needs a lot of work too!

literaryleftie's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book was the perfect start to 2022. It took a heavy topic but made it so that it wasn't hard to read. It wasn't super heavy, but it hit all the right spots. I loved this book.

simonizzys's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

this book was so beautiful - i don’t really have anything else to say except that everyone should read this book

lausjourney's review

Go to review page

lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

tomoshiekah's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful sad

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

taylersimon22's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A regular book about a regular teen who happens to be nonbinary. Not enough drama for my usual taste, but nonbinary kids deserve stories that aren’t over the top dramatic too

More...