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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[Note: this whole review is just an uncertain rant about how Lou's gender was treated in this book. Warnings for transphobia and invalidation of gender identity]
I read this book months ago at this point and I've been really hesitant to write this for a while, because no one has mentioned it and idk maybe I'm overreacting, but I just felt the need to mention it because it still bothers me.
While there were quite a few things I didn't think in this book (most just standard things that can be boiled down to a simple 'not for me' thing) I still think about how Lou was treated, especially in regards to his identity? And like, no one has mentioned this so again, maybe an overreaction, but I...didn't like the conversations about how he experienced gender. I think the thing that sticks out to me the most was Dylan having a conversation with their Pear and essentially suggesting that he was wrong in the way he viewed gender (in regards to himself). And I really...didn't like that? Like, there's no wrong way to experience or view your own gender, even if it's different from how other people view it. And it felt extra weird because Pear is non-binary and (as far as I know for book one), Lou is a binary trans boy. Like obviously there's going to be a difference in how these two view their individual identities.
I also found it a little ironic how Dylan would get mad at Lou because he was concerned over how she treated him in regards to his identity (which is a valid concern considering literally everyone in this book outside the main cast are super transphobic towards him), but she would do things that felt like she was invalidating actually invalidating him. Especially that conversation with Pear.
And I think part of this is because, well, non-binary people obviously view gender differently than binary trans people. We tend to be looser with gender and definitions for obvious reasons, but that's because we are outside the binary. And for binary trans people to be more strict with their definitions of gender and how their seen is perfectly valid! Having a more specific way to view your gender is fine. And idk, there were so many small things that Dylan did or said that made it seem like it was wrong and I didn't like that. I also think it would be fine if Dylan realized it was wrong or something, but it was just set up that she was completely right in this.
(Also I would provide quotes for all of this, but again I read this months ago and I no longer have a copy of the book aha I didn't expect this to bother me for so long).
Anyways, again, I might be overthinking it, but I thought I'd mention it here.
I read this book months ago at this point and I've been really hesitant to write this for a while, because no one has mentioned it and idk maybe I'm overreacting, but I just felt the need to mention it because it still bothers me.
While there were quite a few things I didn't think in this book (most just standard things that can be boiled down to a simple 'not for me' thing) I still think about how Lou was treated, especially in regards to his identity? And like, no one has mentioned this so again, maybe an overreaction, but I...didn't like the conversations about how he experienced gender. I think the thing that sticks out to me the most was Dylan having a conversation with their Pear and essentially suggesting that he was wrong in the way he viewed gender (in regards to himself). And I really...didn't like that? Like, there's no wrong way to experience or view your own gender, even if it's different from how other people view it. And it felt extra weird because Pear is non-binary and (as far as I know for book one), Lou is a binary trans boy. Like obviously there's going to be a difference in how these two view their individual identities.
I also found it a little ironic how Dylan would get mad at Lou because he was concerned over how she treated him in regards to his identity (which is a valid concern considering literally everyone in this book outside the main cast are super transphobic towards him), but she would do things that felt like she was invalidating actually invalidating him. Especially that conversation with Pear.
And I think part of this is because, well, non-binary people obviously view gender differently than binary trans people. We tend to be looser with gender and definitions for obvious reasons, but that's because we are outside the binary. And for binary trans people to be more strict with their definitions of gender and how their seen is perfectly valid! Having a more specific way to view your gender is fine. And idk, there were so many small things that Dylan did or said that made it seem like it was wrong and I didn't like that. I also think it would be fine if Dylan realized it was wrong or something, but it was just set up that she was completely right in this.
(Also I would provide quotes for all of this, but again I read this months ago and I no longer have a copy of the book aha I didn't expect this to bother me for so long).
Anyways, again, I might be overthinking it, but I thought I'd mention it here.
This was such pure queer wish fulfilment fluff and it was so good
Also I headcanon Dylan as autistic, yeah
Full review tomorrow when I get some energy right now it’s just !!!!!!!!
Also I headcanon Dylan as autistic, yeah
Full review tomorrow when I get some energy right now it’s just !!!!!!!!
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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