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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
This felt like the trans and queer version of Somebody, Somewhere, which is to say that is a gorgeous, big-hearted, funny, heartwarming story of middle-aged (and in this case, teenaged) coming of age in a Midwest small-town. I listened on audio, which is excellently narrated by three separate voice actors, including the author herself.
One note is that this book takes place during the fall of 2016 with the presidential election and a local state senate election playing significant roles in the setting. It was fascinating and upsetting to look back on that period of time and how many steps back we’ve taken since then on trans rights
One note is that this book takes place during the fall of 2016 with the presidential election and a local state senate election playing significant roles in the setting. It was fascinating and upsetting to look back on that period of time and how many steps back we’ve taken since then on trans rights
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Books by authors named Emily are just superior, I don’t make the rules. Literally name one book by an Emily that doesn’t slap. You can’t. This one was particularly nice. I laughed, I teared up, I audibly gasped, and I was really grateful that the tension I was holding watching time tick by in the dates at the top of the chapters was resolved in an unexpected way. It reminds me that, while 2016 had viscerally awful moments, it was also the year I fell in love with a girl and a girl fell in love with me, and neither of us lied to each other about ourselves.
Also, would not have known this was a first novel if I didn’t already follow Emily St. James’s career. The POV work is very technically impressive and adds a lot that I imagine some English teacher at a hippie dippie school would want to assign essays about. This is the highest compliment.
Also, would not have known this was a first novel if I didn’t already follow Emily St. James’s career. The POV work is very technically impressive and adds a lot that I imagine some English teacher at a hippie dippie school would want to assign essays about. This is the highest compliment.
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:
Complicated