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callidoralblack's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Minor: Sexual content, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, and Infidelity
ruby_02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Transphobia
its_vendetta's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying and Deadnaming
Minor: Racism, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
rbjennings's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Homophobia and Transphobia
piperclover's review
- 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
3.75
In this book, its the father who champions feminism and loved having a daughter to support but now doesn't know how to communicate with a son, even if he is fundamentally the same child. Miles's mom is perfectly accepting and supportive of his gender transition but can't accept his new found sexuality as gay. Both of his parents love him but they struggle to accept his new identities because they don't align with what they expected their child to be like. This tension made for an interesting dynamic between Miles and each of his parents and, like in May The Best Man Win, illustrates how even the most liberal and supportive parents often do fail to apply their general beliefs of equality and acceptance to their own children.
Eric is a really great character. He's sweet and provides a quiet, calm acceptance of Miles's identity so he makes a great emotional rock for Miles. He had one line that really cracked me up laughing: "You're the one who sat in my lap Miles". It was so funny because it was early on in their relationship so it was the first time we saw his sassy or playful behavior. He has his own struggles with being bisexual/pansexual (I can't remember which was used) and I think it was handled in a really authentic but was to digest and still fun to read about way. His sister Nina has down syndrome and it was nice rep. She isn't a focal point and her down syndrome isn't a plot point but its mentioned and her needs are discussed often. Plus she's just a cute character.
There are a few things that bothered me. 1) The first 40% is so slow I almost dnf'ed multiple times. 2)
Graphic: Transphobia and Homophobia
Moderate: Infidelity
novella42's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Cursing, and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content, Deadnaming, and Racism
lilythebibliophile's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
2.75
Reviewing this book is tough, because:
♢ Did this book have authentic queer and trans rep? Yes.
♢ Was the representation joyful, hopeful, and supported by other characters in the story? Yes.
♢ Do I think queer and trans readers will feel seen and safe reading this story? Yes.
♢ Is there a dearth of these kinds of books in the publishing industry? Yes.
However, I have two critiques:
♢ The cheating present in this story is not handled well. To me, if you cheat on your partner even once, you are a cheater for the rest of your life. Period. You can never go back to being a person who stays faithful to their partner. Cheating on your partner means crossing this huge moral boundary you can never un-cross.
Yet in this story, cheating is framed as a useful tool to help characters figure out what they really want. And the characters who cheat don't face proper consequences. What message is this giving younger teen readers?
And when I say the characters don't face proper consequences, I mean one character barely has to grovel before their partner takes them back. Even if the cheater had groveled more, their partner was too good for them in the first place. It seemed like their partner was more apologetic than the cheater was at the end of the story.
♢ During the emotional climax of the story, Miles blows up at almost everyone in his life on separate occasions. He tells his one friend "fuck you" and that she's being hysterical, he yells at his piano teacher, and he has an outburst when he's on the phone with his other friend. I am a teenager, and I'm about the same age as Miles. I have never and would never blow up at my friends like that, let alone at a teacher who's trying to help me?
Being a teenager with life problems is not an excuse to throw temper tantrums. These actions are indicative of a behavioral problem, yet they are normalized and forgiven almost instantly.
I understand the need for queer and trans rep where the characters aren't "model queer people" or "model trans people," where they make mistakes and have relationship problems. Yet I've never read another YA book (queer, trans, or otherwise) where the main character behaved so poorly and where their actions were normalized and excused almost instantly.
♢ The cheating did provide much-needed conflict to the story, but is that really an excuse? It's one thing if
♢ This book is better-written than the other Wednesday Books rom-com I read this month, but I am truly shocked at the actions of these characters and how they are portrayed.
♢ I liked the piano aspect of the plot. It was unique and meaningful.
Moderate: Infidelity and Transphobia
nyquillll's review against another edition
- 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
I think what I appreciated most about the book is the care and intention behind Miles’ experiences that are talked about and how sensitive topics are talked about. As the author, who is also transgender, writes in a note before the novel begins, this book is largely about trans joy but it also doesn’t shy away from some of the harsher realities of being transgender.
The book touches on gender expression, gender identity, gender dysphoria/body dysphoria, sexual orientation, the messiness of dating within a friend group, the highs and lows of high school, the love and dedication of being a musician/a pianist, the confusing and twisting path to finding yourself, the scars we carry from past wrongs and our attempts to find and do better in the present, radical acceptance and love, taking responsibility for the hurt we cause and trying to make amends, the pains of being a teenager in high school and the heavy insecurities, the exhilaration that comes from accepting who we truly are and being brave enough to be who we are even if we’re scared, the importance of building strong community around you, not basing your identity on what you do but who you are, and lots of wholesome trans joy and trans love.
I am grateful to this author and this book for opening my mind to new perspectives, especially as I attempt to navigate my own gender expression and gender identity.
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Some of my favorite quotes:bisonprints's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Biphobia, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
_moonsongenthusiast_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Sexual harassment and Ableism