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purrson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
I was actually going to put this aside and come back to it later, but I picked it up and kept with it until the end. I love the cover, and the funny, sometimes acerbic tone the book takes is enjoyable. It was funny, sweet, the characters are lovable, the family conflicts (the MC has divorced parents) are relatable and resolved/handled well, and I’ll definitely keep it in mind when shopping for new YA for friends.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism and Transphobia
Minor: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Outing
bywayof's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
Genuinely the love story I didn't know I needed. As a queer person with a complicated relationship with love, seeing a story that reflected what I believed love to be in a lighthearted, funny, overall hopeful tone was so refreshing. Queer kids deserve love stories and this is one I'm glad to have read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Dysphoria, Deadnaming, and Sexual content
rileyswan's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
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
4.5
"I just don't know anything else about the woman except that she's one of those people who still have a Hogwarts house in their Instagram bio.
That's when I knew we wouldn't get along."
If you want a snarky, assholeish, but lowkey soft inside trans protagonist – this book is for you.
This topic can get a bit controversial at times, but fuck, I adore messy main characters. Neil Kearney is the perfect example. He's a raw disaster, and completely human.
He's trans. He's gay. He's fat. He has sex. He breaks hearts. He's mean. He's rich. He's rude. He's traumatised. He gets worse before he gets better. I root for him every step of the way, alongside his golden retriever love interest, who has a lowkey obsession with One Direction and a beautiful singing of voice.
That was the highlight for me, too: Neil and Wyatt's relationship.
Obviously, this isn't uncommon for a romance novel, but there was something different about them. I know what it was, too.
The Feeling of Falling in Love is the first book I've ever read where two trans people fall in love.
Their romance was all over the place, with trips and falls one after another, but it was true and real and sweet and I felt like I was watching a classic romcom made just for people like me.
Needless to say, this book was lovely. I can't wait to read from Mason Deaver again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Deadnaming, Sexual content, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Drug use
lim's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Transphobia
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Deadnaming, Classism, Alcohol, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Sexual content, Fatphobia, and Outing
dododenise's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
The first two thirds were perfection. Beautiful development and beautiful use of the fake-dating trope.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neil’s mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyatt’s relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Then came the third act drama, and I wish that was done differently. I know this book is following all the typical tropes and yet I hoped for a different ending. I hate it every time a romance book does this and this one was no different. I feel like a different ending would have felt nicer and healthier. Especially with Neil’s mom I wish it was handled differently. She is still not painted as perfect of course, but the road to forgiveness was entered too quickly. But also Neil and Wyatt’s relationship could have been given more time to deal with their issues and the way that Neil struggles with his emotions and his relationships. I was waiting for more shared conversations about this in particular.
In the end, I still flew through the pages. It was so easy and light to read that I lost track of time and kept going as long as I could.
And of course, I love the trans rep. Mason does it beautifully and it makes me want to read everything they write. Add to that their writing style that is perfect for me, and you get me gushing all over their books. I saw a lot of myself in Wyatt, both in their experience with their gender and their personality, so they were wonderful to watch and to see them grow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Outing, and Sexual content
jaelovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Transphobia
Minor: Vomit
1quillb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This was gonna be 4 stars but the part with Neil’s mom at the end really ruined it for me. She was insane and a horrible mother, and he had no reason to forgive her or say that he was in the wrong for saying so (because he absolutely was not). Sorry, Mason :/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders
jasperdotpdf's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Transphobia
Minor: Homophobia
anniereads221's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I really love Mason Deavers work!! They blew it out the park again with this one. I think this one is my favourite of theirs!! This was everything! I loved it!!!! Wyatt and Neil are the best
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Homophobia, Transphobia, Vomit, and Misogyny
Moderate: Deadnaming
Minor: Sexual content
Deadnaming is talked about but not done on the page explicitly