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r24's review
4.0
This book is too short. I have stumbled upon a rare trans book that does not dumb down the trans experience for cisgender readers, does not pretend that being trans defines a person in any way, and manages to craft a compelling story with characters who are more than just The Trans One. And you're telling me its 70 pages. Unacceptable. I need more.
Avi has six months to live, if he's going to trust the writing on the walls. Which, hey, mysterious writing? Sounds legit. Avi's main concern surprisingly isn't his impending death, but rather how the mysterious Wall Writer knew the name he hasn't told anyone else, and why a boy he's barely ever spoken to suddenly wants to be friends, while the rest of the school speculates endlessly about how he will die.
This is a very fast moving story, to fit everything in the few pages that it is takes skill without it feeling sloppy or rushed. The relationship between Avi and Ian felt sudden, they went from barely knowing each other to calling each other their boyfriend. Obviously this book skips a lot of time, it has to in order to cover the full 6 months, but I would've liked more time to be spent on developing their relationship. It was hard to root for them, or believe that they were really in love, when I hadn't really seen anything to suggest that they were. That being said, the further along the story went the more invested I was in their relationship, though I still struggled to believe they really liked each other, and weren't just together for the sake of being the two gay trans guys at school.
I've said it before, I will say it again, KEEP WRITING TRANS BOOKS FOR TRANS PEOPLE. Too often do I pick up a book featuring a trans main character, only to find their experiences are so surface-level, have been made so palatable for a cis audience who knows nothing about trans people, that it is impossible for me to read. It's boring. This? Not boring. Far from it. This book doesn't focus on Avi's dysphoria, it's just another part of his life. His coming out isn't played as another tool to make him miserable, it's sweet, and brief, in a way that feels authentic and heart warming to read. It's a good thing - too often is it treated like a disaster in other novels. Avi is trans, trans in a way that real trans people are. Complicated. People need to know that it is complicated.
In short (funny), go read this. It's been worthy enough to join my bottom line on bad trans book reviews, alongisde [b:Hell Followed With Us|57911600|Hell Followed With Us|Andrew Joseph White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630498579l/57911600._SY75_.jpg|90726926], as actually good representation. Well done, I adored this. Next time, write something longer. I need to see more books like this.
Avi has six months to live, if he's going to trust the writing on the walls. Which, hey, mysterious writing? Sounds legit. Avi's main concern surprisingly isn't his impending death, but rather how the mysterious Wall Writer knew the name he hasn't told anyone else, and why a boy he's barely ever spoken to suddenly wants to be friends, while the rest of the school speculates endlessly about how he will die.
I flip him off and turn away, keep walking. "I can't drink coffee. Get me something else."
This is a very fast moving story, to fit everything in the few pages that it is takes skill without it feeling sloppy or rushed. The relationship between Avi and Ian felt sudden, they went from barely knowing each other to calling each other their boyfriend. Obviously this book skips a lot of time, it has to in order to cover the full 6 months, but I would've liked more time to be spent on developing their relationship. It was hard to root for them, or believe that they were really in love, when I hadn't really seen anything to suggest that they were. That being said, the further along the story went the more invested I was in their relationship, though I still struggled to believe they really liked each other, and weren't just together for the sake of being the two gay trans guys at school.
In a way, I think I'm better off, not knowing how comfortable feels, having nothing to contrast against the discomfort of being looked at in public.
I've said it before, I will say it again, KEEP WRITING TRANS BOOKS FOR TRANS PEOPLE. Too often do I pick up a book featuring a trans main character, only to find their experiences are so surface-level, have been made so palatable for a cis audience who knows nothing about trans people, that it is impossible for me to read. It's boring. This? Not boring. Far from it. This book doesn't focus on Avi's dysphoria, it's just another part of his life. His coming out isn't played as another tool to make him miserable, it's sweet, and brief, in a way that feels authentic and heart warming to read. It's a good thing - too often is it treated like a disaster in other novels. Avi is trans, trans in a way that real trans people are. Complicated. People need to know that it is complicated.
In short (funny), go read this. It's been worthy enough to join my bottom line on bad trans book reviews, alongisde [b:Hell Followed With Us|57911600|Hell Followed With Us|Andrew Joseph White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630498579l/57911600._SY75_.jpg|90726926], as actually good representation. Well done, I adored this. Next time, write something longer. I need to see more books like this.
knivesgf's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.75
sandy_reads_books's review
This story was harder to read than Epistolary. It was also very good and awesome and amazing, but oof it was also a lot. Queer love is the best and it just makes you feel good but Avi is just in a really bad place and it’s kinda scary. I’ve never been depressed, or at least I don’t think I have, so feeling this way or having someone close to you feel this way seems very scary especially because I would feel so helpless. I know that trans people specifically can often face issues with depression and I hate that it seems so common and what that says about the society we live in. Nevertheless, I’m happy that this story exists and that it is out there for people to read. I enjoyed it and I think if more people read it they would enjoy it too.
chanadevorah's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
emeliestegbornblixt's review
3.0
I really wanted to love this more than I did. Unfortunately something about the writing didn't click for me. And I wanted a bit more of Avi as a character - basically everything I know about him is that he's trans, jewish, depressed and bullied. Some of that dissatisfaction is probably due to the representation of depression, and how it sort of eats up everything else. Which is a good and realistic representation of depression. But I would have liked a few more glimpses to flesh him out as a character.
Oh well. I did like this, but I think it's my head more than my heart that likes this, which is why I'm dissatisfied. Maybe I had too high expectations as well.
The best part of this story was undoubtedly the demon part. I don't know, maybe wholesome demons is my new favourite thing in fiction? More demons, please.
Oh well. I did like this, but I think it's my head more than my heart that likes this, which is why I'm dissatisfied. Maybe I had too high expectations as well.
The best part of this story was undoubtedly the demon part. I don't know, maybe wholesome demons is my new favourite thing in fiction? More demons, please.
jiggityjordyn's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
just wasn't that interesting to me tbh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
lelex's review
5.0
Making life out of life. I have never loved any short story more than this. It's my favorite brand of a mix of urban fantasy and kitchen witch magic (heh) with trans/queer themes. The style is so bright and intense and emotional and I love love loved it.
“You’re so weird, Avi,” he says, like it’s a gift I’ve given him."
and
"I whisper the only word I know for sure is magic. Please." both touched me in the sweetest melancholy way.
Absolutely recommend.
“You two are cheating me,” she whispers, quiet enough for only me to hear. “I’ve never been so delighted.”
“You’re so weird, Avi,” he says, like it’s a gift I’ve given him."
and
"I whisper the only word I know for sure is magic. Please." both touched me in the sweetest melancholy way.
Absolutely recommend.
“You two are cheating me,” she whispers, quiet enough for only me to hear. “I’ve never been so delighted.”
beastbark's review
3.0
Avi Cantor Has Six Months to Live is a nice story with authentic and diverse representations of trans characters and queer families. It's a realistic and touching portrayal of the trans teenaged experience with mental illness and isolation, and has a lot to offer as a comfort read for transmasculine readers in the same age group (that is, if the heavy subject matters aren't a deterrent for finding comfort in this work). I'm giving this one three stars because it's a true middle for me: it was okay. I enjoyed reading it well enough, but there are some parts that didn't quite land with me. I don't think Avi was as fleshed out as he could have been; as another reviewer pointed out, the reader isn't shown anything about him other than the fact that he's trans and lonely and cursed. Ironically, Ian was more developed than Avi, but still felt kind of flat to me. I also wasn't super compelled by the story's magic; it felt disjointed, sometimes like it barely believed in itself.
Overall, it's a nice read, and it's obviously well-received for good reason. The T4T romance is sweet (though this also didn't super work for me), and it's overall really nice to see gay trans boys who have a happy ending that isn't forced.
Overall, it's a nice read, and it's obviously well-received for good reason. The T4T romance is sweet (though this also didn't super work for me), and it's overall really nice to see gay trans boys who have a happy ending that isn't forced.