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dtaylorbooks's review
5.0
This was another surprise book that snuck up on me. Another in the pile of me trying to find comp titles for my own book for query (this one wasn’t a fit), I started reading it and wasn’t that into it, but eventually I found myself devouring it. The voice was less of a draw than what was actually going on in the plot and it was the plot that really kept driving me forward. I wanted to know what happened.
I think LOOK PAST might be the first book I’ve read from a transgendered individual’s POV and it definitely provides a different perspective on life, that’s for sure. Not being well-versed in this area, I can’t tell you how authentic the voice is, or how authentic it is against someone who’s writing #ownvoices, which this book is not. It felt authentic. I felt Avery’s emotions and how he struggled, how something as seemingly small as his uncle calling him his nephew is so big to him. I just didn’t quite grasp why putting on a dress was so monumentally triggering for him, and that’s on me. It didn’t take me out of the story at all, but I kept searching for reasons within the text to help me understand why this was such an issue. I think it has to do with the heinous amount of pressure that’s put on Avery to be “normal” and to be a girl when he’s not. He’s doing everything in his power to take control of his identity and move it away from what everyone else wants him to be. He gets support in all the right places, but there’s a far greater lack of it outside of that close circle. So to effectively undo the strides he’s taken to claim his true identity, to succumb to the will of an irate mob that wants him to fit into a particular mold and will still think him a freak anyway, to force him to be truly uncomfortable in his skin and in his life, that makes sense to me as to why the simple act of putting on a dress wasn’t so simple.
I can see how some people would read this book and think it’s too extreme or that things like this don’t happen, but it felt painfully realistic to me and it feels like sects of these non-denominational bible churches keep growing (or I’m more aware of them because they’re not that common in New England but they are everywhere else). They’re more concerned with being CHRISTIAN than being Christ-like and the extent they’ll go to force their will on others is abhorrent. Not to mention the statistics on violence against transgendered people, especially transgendered people of color, simply for being who they are. LOOK PAST did not feel so fictionalized as to be completely out of reach. Unfortunately it felt all too real and I think that’s one of the reasons why this book really hit home for me. This is a ripped from the headlines type of book.
The ending both provided a lot of closure and had me going meh. I think the book needed the type of ending it provided just to provide some light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise it would have been dark as hell. Although, I’m more inclined to think that, in reality, it would not have ended the way it did. Don’t get me wrong, death can open people’s eyes. But it can also shut them tighter too.
Overall LOOK PAST is a good, engaging read. It was hard to put down and I basically swallowed it in maybe three days. A compelling thriller and a brutal, gut-wrenching look into the life of someone I don’t think enough of us get exposure to.
4.5
I think LOOK PAST might be the first book I’ve read from a transgendered individual’s POV and it definitely provides a different perspective on life, that’s for sure. Not being well-versed in this area, I can’t tell you how authentic the voice is, or how authentic it is against someone who’s writing #ownvoices, which this book is not. It felt authentic. I felt Avery’s emotions and how he struggled, how something as seemingly small as his uncle calling him his nephew is so big to him. I just didn’t quite grasp why putting on a dress was so monumentally triggering for him, and that’s on me. It didn’t take me out of the story at all, but I kept searching for reasons within the text to help me understand why this was such an issue. I think it has to do with the heinous amount of pressure that’s put on Avery to be “normal” and to be a girl when he’s not. He’s doing everything in his power to take control of his identity and move it away from what everyone else wants him to be. He gets support in all the right places, but there’s a far greater lack of it outside of that close circle. So to effectively undo the strides he’s taken to claim his true identity, to succumb to the will of an irate mob that wants him to fit into a particular mold and will still think him a freak anyway, to force him to be truly uncomfortable in his skin and in his life, that makes sense to me as to why the simple act of putting on a dress wasn’t so simple.
I can see how some people would read this book and think it’s too extreme or that things like this don’t happen, but it felt painfully realistic to me and it feels like sects of these non-denominational bible churches keep growing (or I’m more aware of them because they’re not that common in New England but they are everywhere else). They’re more concerned with being CHRISTIAN than being Christ-like and the extent they’ll go to force their will on others is abhorrent. Not to mention the statistics on violence against transgendered people, especially transgendered people of color, simply for being who they are. LOOK PAST did not feel so fictionalized as to be completely out of reach. Unfortunately it felt all too real and I think that’s one of the reasons why this book really hit home for me. This is a ripped from the headlines type of book.
The ending both provided a lot of closure and had me going meh. I think the book needed the type of ending it provided just to provide some light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise it would have been dark as hell. Although, I’m more inclined to think that, in reality, it would not have ended the way it did. Don’t get me wrong, death can open people’s eyes. But it can also shut them tighter too.
Overall LOOK PAST is a good, engaging read. It was hard to put down and I basically swallowed it in maybe three days. A compelling thriller and a brutal, gut-wrenching look into the life of someone I don’t think enough of us get exposure to.
4.5
serukis's review
3.0
When the body of Mary Mathison is discovered, the community is in shock. Avery, a young trans man who loved Mary and has a healthy interest in forensics, is determined to discover her killer. And then the killer sets his sights on him.
This was a good read, albeit a bit intense for me in places. (I'm working through PTSD and having to be careful what I read, but this was for study.)
What I really loved was that the plot was not about Avery's transition, although the driving force was the fact he is trans. It is a big improvement on the coming out/acceptance plot that normally is rife in these kinds of stories. Obviously, Avery being trans was still an important part of the plot, and one day I would love to read a story of a trans character where that is not the case, but this book is a step in the right direction.
Devine has obviously done his research. Avery is a well-rounded character who is not defined by his transness. He is also kind of an asshole, which was refreshing. I really liked him and really felt for his struggle. The other characters in the novel were well-crafted as well, particularly Avery's brother, his girlfriend, and his best friend.
I do have some criticisms, however. The first criticism I have is that in some places it seemed a little over the top, especially in regards to the religion and the hatred of Avery that stemmed from that. Perhaps it's because I live in England and haven't ever experienced a religious group as strong-minded as Pastor Mathison's, but my belief was stretched at times.
Also, the police were completely incompetent, particularly Avery's uncle, Tom, who kept spilling details of the investigation to him. Also stretched my belief a bit.
I also am not sure how comfortable I am with Avery's transness being the motive for murder, but it also doesn't surprise me.
All in all, however, I did enjoy this read. Just be careful reading it if you're sensitive to violence.
This was a good read, albeit a bit intense for me in places. (I'm working through PTSD and having to be careful what I read, but this was for study.)
What I really loved was that the plot was not about Avery's transition, although the driving force was the fact he is trans. It is a big improvement on the coming out/acceptance plot that normally is rife in these kinds of stories. Obviously, Avery being trans was still an important part of the plot, and one day I would love to read a story of a trans character where that is not the case, but this book is a step in the right direction.
Devine has obviously done his research. Avery is a well-rounded character who is not defined by his transness. He is also kind of an asshole, which was refreshing. I really liked him and really felt for his struggle. The other characters in the novel were well-crafted as well, particularly Avery's brother, his girlfriend, and his best friend.
I do have some criticisms, however. The first criticism I have is that in some places it seemed a little over the top, especially in regards to the religion and the hatred of Avery that stemmed from that. Perhaps it's because I live in England and haven't ever experienced a religious group as strong-minded as Pastor Mathison's, but my belief was stretched at times.
Also, the police were completely incompetent, particularly Avery's uncle, Tom, who kept spilling details of the investigation to him. Also stretched my belief a bit.
I also am not sure how comfortable I am with Avery's transness being the motive for murder, but it also doesn't surprise me.
All in all, however, I did enjoy this read. Just be careful reading it if you're sensitive to violence.
rachelannekass's review
4.0
Please see full review at: http://basicbookblog.com/look-past-by-eric-devine/
This book tells the difficult story of love, loss, grief, and the trauma of being sought out by a deranged killer.
This book tells the difficult story of love, loss, grief, and the trauma of being sought out by a deranged killer.
reviewsmayvary's review
4.0
3.5 stars. Read for #RocTBF2018. In this book, a girl is dead and her used-to-be-love-interest is being targeted with messages about the death. The used to be love interest in question is transgender and the killer is threatening to target him next if he doesn't start being a girl again.
I'm making it sound sillier than it is, I think. If you're into YA suspense, this isn't a bad pick. The main character is a little annoying though, not really understanding that his life is actually in danger even though a girl is already dead. I hate clueless main characters. But, you can't have everything, right?
I'm making it sound sillier than it is, I think. If you're into YA suspense, this isn't a bad pick. The main character is a little annoying though, not really understanding that his life is actually in danger even though a girl is already dead. I hate clueless main characters. But, you can't have everything, right?
alexfallgren's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book and I was really excited to see a trans boy MC. I felt like the author got all the gender stuff right and everything else.... not so much. Avery felt real and I was totally invested in him... but he was the only one. The other characters seemed flat. The cops were unprofessional and ineffective. And the religiosity was generic. I would have loved a real examination of what motivates this kind of fear, this kind of hate, and the way that hate and some churches become intertwined, but instead it just felt flat. Also, I spotted the killer the first time they made an appearance.
I'd still recommend it to a teen searching for a trans boy on the shelves because there are so few, but I feel like there was much more this book could have done.
I'd still recommend it to a teen searching for a trans boy on the shelves because there are so few, but I feel like there was much more this book could have done.
kazbrek's review against another edition
4.0
So a disclaimer before I start this review: I am not trans, so please take my opinions on this book with a grain of salt. I don't know if trans reviewers have reviewed this, but definitely check out their opinions over mine.
I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.
Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.
I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable iswhere Avery is forced to present as a girl for a morning. It's written as awful and something that shouldn't have been considered, but it's there when it could have been left out.
All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers.
I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.
Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.
I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable is
All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers.
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