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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I wanted to love this book. Love the disability representation + written by a disabled author so it felt authentic. Some funny parts. However, the plot wasn’t very original and I found myself disliking some of the characters. Recommended for teens.
Thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Random House Audio for the audiobook.
Thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Random House Audio for the audiobook.
funny
medium-paced
If you are looking for a love story to make your heart flutter then look no further than Chaz Hayden's novel The First Thing About You.
The brilliant story of Harris and Nory. Not forgetting Miranda, H's nurse and Zander the witty best friend.
I adored this tale. Yes Harris has muscular atrophy but Chaz does a fantastic job of showing that his diagnosis and the wheelchair in which he sits, do not define him as a person.
The author himself has the same in real life so there is experience within and I felt like this book was showing us a part of Chaz and his positivity really showed in the words on the pages.
This is a story that is sweet, funny and honest. A truly refreshing debut that I feel many people, young and old, could benefit from reading.
All the stars for this book!
The brilliant story of Harris and Nory. Not forgetting Miranda, H's nurse and Zander the witty best friend.
I adored this tale. Yes Harris has muscular atrophy but Chaz does a fantastic job of showing that his diagnosis and the wheelchair in which he sits, do not define him as a person.
The author himself has the same in real life so there is experience within and I felt like this book was showing us a part of Chaz and his positivity really showed in the words on the pages.
This is a story that is sweet, funny and honest. A truly refreshing debut that I feel many people, young and old, could benefit from reading.
All the stars for this book!
This book was sooooo freaking good.
I am not a funny person. This book made me audibly chuckle or laugh out loud MULTIPLE times.
I’m not gonna lie, I was a little scared and leery of the Miranda situation potentially turning uhhh inappropriate, but I’m so glad it did not. Honestly her trauma made me really understand what happened and Harris handled it so maturely.
Man. This was a well written book tbh. I sort of wish the side characters had more depth, (Xander) but I completely understand how necessary it was to focus on the main character’s growth.
I need to say again, this book is funny as hell.
I am not a funny person. This book made me audibly chuckle or laugh out loud MULTIPLE times.
I’m not gonna lie, I was a little scared and leery of the Miranda situation potentially turning uhhh inappropriate, but I’m so glad it did not. Honestly her trauma made me really understand what happened and Harris handled it so maturely.
Man. This was a well written book tbh. I sort of wish the side characters had more depth, (Xander) but I completely understand how necessary it was to focus on the main character’s growth.
I need to say again, this book is funny as hell.
3.5 stars. This was a great audiobook! I loved Harris and Nory & Zander so much! Such great characters and great disability representation. But I felt so weird about Miranda’s entire role in the book. She acted so inappropriate with Harris and I felt like it was never addressed and her purpose was never fully explained.
Harris is a fifteen-year-old doing his best to be a normal teenager. The only problem? He has spinal muscular atrophy, rendering him wheelchair-bound, which is something that a lot of people cannot see past. As Harris notes, 'I would never be normal in the eyes of society'. Nevertheless, Harris doesn't let society's misconceptions stop him from making the most out of his high school experience. He makes friends, goes to parties, and pursues the object of his affections, all while discovering that there are people out there who can accept him for who he is.
Chaz Hayden has hit the mark with this debut novel by tapping into his own lived experience (Hayden has the same condition as Harris) to create an authentic narrative voice. An abled person writing this could have easily fallen into the trap of relying on stereotypes, or reducing the disabled character to 'inspiration porn'. This is why it's important that marginalised and under-represented people are given a platform to tell their own stories.
Hayden shows us what it is like to live with a condition that renders you different to others, but he also highlights the commonalities we share that make us human. At its heart, this is a story about what it means to be a teenager searching for acceptance and a sense of belonging, which anyone can relate to.
Many thanks to Walker Books and NetGalley for providing me with a Digital Review Copy.
The First Thing About You is out on 6th September 2022.
Chaz Hayden has hit the mark with this debut novel by tapping into his own lived experience (Hayden has the same condition as Harris) to create an authentic narrative voice. An abled person writing this could have easily fallen into the trap of relying on stereotypes, or reducing the disabled character to 'inspiration porn'. This is why it's important that marginalised and under-represented people are given a platform to tell their own stories.
Hayden shows us what it is like to live with a condition that renders you different to others, but he also highlights the commonalities we share that make us human. At its heart, this is a story about what it means to be a teenager searching for acceptance and a sense of belonging, which anyone can relate to.
Many thanks to Walker Books and NetGalley for providing me with a Digital Review Copy.
The First Thing About You is out on 6th September 2022.
I was so blown away by this book and it got me hooked right away!
The story basically follows a teenager with spinal muscular atrophy and his family moving to a different town. The adjustments to a new school and area as well as new friends/crushes.
This story reminded me a lot of the Paul Rudd movie “The Principles of Caring” which I highly recommend!
This book brought a lot of feelings of empathy for his disability as well as joy seeing him adjust and be treated like a person instead of a bother.
I definitely recommend this for anyone! It’s short and a quick read but so powerful.
The story basically follows a teenager with spinal muscular atrophy and his family moving to a different town. The adjustments to a new school and area as well as new friends/crushes.
This story reminded me a lot of the Paul Rudd movie “The Principles of Caring” which I highly recommend!
This book brought a lot of feelings of empathy for his disability as well as joy seeing him adjust and be treated like a person instead of a bother.
I definitely recommend this for anyone! It’s short and a quick read but so powerful.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
No
medium-paced