Reviews

Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live by Sacha Lamb

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.”

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.

alkka's review

emotional hopeful 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

1.25

numinousspirit's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

wetdryvac's review

4.0

Nifty.

arimoloney's review

4.5

This book was gorgeous. I loved the subversion of tropes, the main characters were so relatable (As a transmasc person) and I adored the writing style. I appreciate how the conflict didn’t come from either of the main characters’ families. I just wish it was longer! It felt like there was more to say. Also the magic was really cool! 

nikereadsbooks's review

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was such a good story and I'm really glad I found it thanks to the Trans Readathon lists. 
For such a short story, it accomplished to have both an intersting plot and characters. The magic element of the story was something I liked too, as well as the conclusion concerning the curses and Avi's decisions. He was a great character, and his relationship with Ian made me feel really soft. 

misssusan's review

4.0

a perfect high school fairytale about a depressed jewish trans boy finding love and acceptance. also a truly excellent take on lilit

4 stars

prebeartobemoosified's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

i reread this every few hears and it’s wonderful every time. perfect perfect story

heresthepencil's review

4.0

rep: gay trans Jewish mc, gay trans li, wlw trans mother, wlw mother, Black side character

this was so sweet & soft & quite possibly introduced the gayest family i have ever known