Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

17 reviews

toriwm02's review

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Suicidal thoughts

xendude's review

emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed this! As a trans dude whose into theater and closeted from religious parents in pa, this book called me by name. August was relatable for me, and I can relate to losing yourself in safety. Every single one of August's struggles I had felt too. Honestly almost cried. Been on a binge for more books with kids like me, but this one may not be topped. I recommend if you want feels and found family!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, and Deadnaming

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Violence and Toxic relationship

starasphodel's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dysphoria, Deadnaming, and Homophobia

kaylaellis's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Suicide, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

imstephtacular's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Cursing, Mental illness, and Outing

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Sexual content

kayladaila's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Infidelity, Outing, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Cursing

Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Forced institutionalization

hopelessforeva's review

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dysphoria, Outing, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

housedominic's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Dysphoria, Bullying, Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

t_swizzle's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Outing, and Homophobia

cora_hreads's review

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Act Cool was a book that taught me a lot about the different parts of being a transgender actor; from trans/homophobic family members you still love to petty directors who want their fifteen minutes of fame regardless of who they hire. I feel that I came out of this reading with a lot more consideration and knowledge about how I can try and help the trans people around me, at least the best I can. I would recommend this for someone who wants to see what they can do to help others while still getting a good story over the course of the book.

The reason why Act Cool is only 3 stars is because the basic plotpoints weren’t as impactful as they could’ve been. Personally, I feel that this story was more plot-driven when it should’ve been character driven. Important scenes, like being with the Conversion cast and director and August confronting his parents, had a relatively large impact, but that was because it more directly related to the main character. At the Rocky Horror party, August leaving his friends and calling out Tess didn’t feel like August was caught between two worlds — professional vs. personal — but just petty and that the newfound fame from Conversion was getting to his head. I would’ve liked to see more sensory detail, especially when describing the boys’ dressing room, the auditorium where they performed Grease, and August’s hometown house. All of those locations were/are central to August’s character and the plot of Act Cool, and should’ve been put forth with more importance to match the intensity of the characters, emotions, or situation.

Overall, I give Act Cool 3/5 stars. It taught me a great deal about what transgender people may go through, which I will be forever grateful for. I only wish that there was more detail to fully immerse readers into the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt