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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
I've not read anything like this book and it was amazing!!
dark
emotional
hopeful
emotional
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
*Updated with trigger warnings added*
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
Genre: Contemporary YA romance (with a non-binary protagonist)
My rating: 3 stars
Short Summary: After Ben De Backer comes out as non-binary to their parents, they are thrown out of the house and forced to live with their estranged sister, Hannah, and her husband. At their new school, they meet a cute boy, Nathan.
>> TRIGGER WARNINGS: Panic attacks, transphobia, being kicked out of the house for being non-binary, alcohol use<<
My thoughts:
Plot: 2 stars
This is a very quiet book. Don't get me wrong; I generally love quiet books. I don't have to have action on every page. However, this book has no plot to speak of.
But that's not the worst thing about the plot. No, the worst thing about the plot is the passivity of the protagonist. I get that Ben is passive because they're depressed and have panic attacks, but surely they could do something for themself at some point during the book? Also, the whole climax is pretty unsatisfying.
Characters: 4 stars
I love Ben. Non-binary rep is so rare and it's so perfectly done in this book, and I also love Ben in general -- they're such a likable character. I also like Nathan since he's so positive and optimistic, and that's rare in YA characters since they always seem to be broody or moping. Hannah was really bland and a bit of a Mary Sue, though.
Writing: 4 stars
Quite well-written.
Setting: --
I honestly don't even remember the setting much at all. Of course, I did read this book several weeks ago, so I'm not sure if I remembered it better right after I read it or not.
Do I recommend it? Yes. I recommend it for the non-binary rep and the characters, but not the plot.
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver
Genre: Contemporary YA romance (with a non-binary protagonist)
My rating: 3 stars
Short Summary: After Ben De Backer comes out as non-binary to their parents, they are thrown out of the house and forced to live with their estranged sister, Hannah, and her husband. At their new school, they meet a cute boy, Nathan.
>> TRIGGER WARNINGS: Panic attacks, transphobia, being kicked out of the house for being non-binary, alcohol use<<
My thoughts:
Plot: 2 stars
This is a very quiet book. Don't get me wrong; I generally love quiet books. I don't have to have action on every page. However, this book has no plot to speak of.
But that's not the worst thing about the plot. No, the worst thing about the plot is the passivity of the protagonist. I get that Ben is passive because they're depressed and have panic attacks, but surely they could do something for themself at some point during the book? Also, the whole climax is pretty unsatisfying.
Characters: 4 stars
I love Ben. Non-binary rep is so rare and it's so perfectly done in this book, and I also love Ben in general -- they're such a likable character. I also like Nathan since he's so positive and optimistic, and that's rare in YA characters since they always seem to be broody or moping. Hannah was really bland and a bit of a Mary Sue, though.
Writing: 4 stars
Quite well-written.
Setting: --
I honestly don't even remember the setting much at all. Of course, I did read this book several weeks ago, so I'm not sure if I remembered it better right after I read it or not.
Do I recommend it? Yes. I recommend it for the non-binary rep and the characters, but not the plot.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
this is a very important book but unfortunately the writing is very not good
I really wanted to love this book, and while it's an important and sweet story, I can only say that I mostly liked it. Also, it will likely help to forge the way for even more stories mainstream YA about nonbinary identities to be published in the future, so that's a plus. I wish the book would've been more tightly edited--it could have been a powerful novella--because it reads a bit flat compared to other great YA that's been coming out. There's a lot of telling without showing. Still, and again, it's not a bad story at all and a quick read if the writing doesn't put you off. I'd love to see the author revisit the characters once they have more writing experience.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Mental illness