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jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
When I tell y'all that I don't think I'll ever recover from the way The Feeling of Falling in Love wrecked me and restored me, I'm not lying. Mason Deaver beautifully weaves together the story of a messy, lonely, teenage trans boy who's terrified of falling in love. This is the sort of book that teenage Jenni would have devoured and felt so seen while doing it.
Deaver explores so many important themes throughout the book with kindness, care, and compassion. At it's heart, this is main character Neil's coming of age. It truly felt like a warm hug to read this book. It serves as a reminder that a person came feel lonely but not be alone. That lgbtq+ kids and teens are worthy of love, community, belonging, and so much more. I really think that everyone should read this. And a special thanks to @atmreads and @bookish.millennial for the amazing recommendation!!
Deaver explores so many important themes throughout the book with kindness, care, and compassion. At it's heart, this is main character Neil's coming of age. It truly felt like a warm hug to read this book. It serves as a reminder that a person came feel lonely but not be alone. That lgbtq+ kids and teens are worthy of love, community, belonging, and so much more. I really think that everyone should read this. And a special thanks to @atmreads and @bookish.millennial for the amazing recommendation!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Deadnaming, Vomit, Medical content, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Outing
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
This is ranking as one of my top five YA reads ever!!!!!!
When I talk about contemporary YA being inspiring and full of bravery and hope, this is what I’m talking about. Mason Deaver illustrated such an authentic, goofy, messy, and tender story of accountability, self-reflection, classism, privilege, gender & sexual identities, friendship & romance.
This is ranking as one of my top five YA reads ever!!!!!!
When I talk about contemporary YA being inspiring and full of bravery and hope, this is what I’m talking about. Mason Deaver illustrated such an authentic, goofy, messy, and tender story of accountability, self-reflection, classism, privilege, gender & sexual identities, friendship & romance.
Neil broke things off with his friend-with-benefits Josh, but Josh does not believe that Neil feels nothing romantically towards Josh.
Neil enacts the rule that Josh created, which states that if one of them becomes serious with someone else, they’ll stop hooking up. Neil pretends to date his roommate Wyatt and takes Wyatt home to Los Angeles for a family wedding to prove it!
While Neil navigates the transphobia of some family members, he also is encouraged to explore his feelings about the familial dynamics at play by Wyatt. Neil has spent most of his life feeling like his mom hasn’t paid too much attention to him, centering her high-profile career and amassing wealth instead. It was so incredibly relatable (and made me wince at the same because woof, it hurt) to hear Neil discuss how though he may be braver and confident with friends at the boarding academy, the boundaries & behavior he dismisses is different when he is around his family. He had this awareness of being able to expect more from those he felt truly in community with, like his friends, yet felt nervous and too exhausted to ask for more from his family members. Educating and being the only person who calls others in is a heavy burden, and I think MD illustrated this perfectly in Neil’s situation.
Meanwhile, Wyatt is introduced to a life of luxury that he simply never could have imagined, as his two moms work incredibly hard to buy him the second-hand clothes that Neil often obliviously pokes fun at. Wyatt bravely speaks up when he is uncomfortable, & I felt so proud of him for voicing valid concerns & forcing Neil to expand his perspective when it came to attitudes and behaviors around money. Most kids are well aware of how their family fits into a social class hierarchy, especially in the 21st century (it’s hard not to notice who is going on vacation, buying new clothes, gets the brand new iphone every year, versus who is *not* doing those things, especially at the height of social media) & Wyatt is not naive in the way others perceive him. I really appreciated this representation of different socioeconomic classes. Wyatt also explores his own gender identity & I adored how these two affirm each other in that journey.
Neil enacts the rule that Josh created, which states that if one of them becomes serious with someone else, they’ll stop hooking up. Neil pretends to date his roommate Wyatt and takes Wyatt home to Los Angeles for a family wedding to prove it!
While Neil navigates the transphobia of some family members, he also is encouraged to explore his feelings about the familial dynamics at play by Wyatt. Neil has spent most of his life feeling like his mom hasn’t paid too much attention to him, centering her high-profile career and amassing wealth instead. It was so incredibly relatable (and made me wince at the same because woof, it hurt) to hear Neil discuss how though he may be braver and confident with friends at the boarding academy, the boundaries & behavior he dismisses is different when he is around his family. He had this awareness of being able to expect more from those he felt truly in community with, like his friends, yet felt nervous and too exhausted to ask for more from his family members. Educating and being the only person who calls others in is a heavy burden, and I think MD illustrated this perfectly in Neil’s situation.
Meanwhile, Wyatt is introduced to a life of luxury that he simply never could have imagined, as his two moms work incredibly hard to buy him the second-hand clothes that Neil often obliviously pokes fun at. Wyatt bravely speaks up when he is uncomfortable, & I felt so proud of him for voicing valid concerns & forcing Neil to expand his perspective when it came to attitudes and behaviors around money. Most kids are well aware of how their family fits into a social class hierarchy, especially in the 21st century (it’s hard not to notice who is going on vacation, buying new clothes, gets the brand new iphone every year, versus who is *not* doing those things, especially at the height of social media) & Wyatt is not naive in the way others perceive him. I really appreciated this representation of different socioeconomic classes. Wyatt also explores his own gender identity & I adored how these two affirm each other in that journey.
Neil and Wyatt navigate so much in this coming-of-age novel, and though Neil especially fumbles through a lot (obviously our third-act break up, but don’t worry, this *is* a romance lol), the fact that these teens took the time to examine the harm they caused, and moved forward with much more intention and mindfulness was so lovely.
No review I write will ever do this book justice so please read it! Thank you sm to @atmreads for the rec <3
No review I write will ever do this book justice so please read it! Thank you sm to @atmreads for the rec <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Vomit, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Classism, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Outing and Sexual content
valreadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book is advertised as a romantic comedy. it is not that.
I was not rooting for the main couple. At all.
Here's the thing, in order to want the main couple to fall in love and end up together and have their happily-ever-after love story you need to believe that they're good together. You have to like the characters.
The main character of this book is the most unlikeable protagonist I have read in a while, especially because, as the reader, you're supposed to be rooting for him. Neil is a rich, self-centered, self-pitying, excuse-ridden mess. He expects everyone around him to live constantly accommodating his needs and wants. Even at the end, when he's supposedly "redeemed," he continues to have expectations and demands of the people around him.I was actually upset when he decided to randomly show up at Wyatt's house. Neil's whole arc revolved around him becoming more empathetic and kind; There is zero empathy in immediately demanding a relationship from the guy you decided to insult and send home for basically zero reason. No one is safe from Neil's whining and his excuses. He uses every inconvenience is his life as a way to write off his bad behaviors. Even his gender identity and journey is finely crafted in his internal monologue as this get-out-of-jail free card for not knowing how to treat others around him with basic empathy and respect. The whole arc with his mother was greatly upsetting. Neil blamed her for his bad childhood and his terrible experiences which was, in my opinion, incredibly unfair. Yes, in the end he does end up taking some responsibility for his own actions, but it felt cheap after berating his mother who, while misguided, was trying her best. Either make it more nuanced and real, or write it out. Neil does not deserve to placate his own guilt by targeting his family.
Wyatt, the main love interest, was sweet. He seemed to be authentic and naive and all of the good things Neil isn't. In a way, he was meant to help Neil become better, but he really just made me more aware of what a terrible person he was.Also the "hallmark moment" made me want to claw my eyes out. Like, Neil trying to make his Beverly Hills problems seem comparable to Wyatt's made me laugh out loud (not in the good way).
I was rooting for Wyatt. I was rooting for Josh. I was rooting for everyone that wasn't Neil.
Wyatt and Neil were just not meant to be. Maybe if Neil was able to step back (like really, really far back) and re-evaluate himself and his choices, it could have worked. But guess what? He can't. Not with this short of a time frame.
This could have been a better book if Neil and Wyatt had not ended up together (sorry not sorry).
I was not rooting for the main couple. At all.
Here's the thing, in order to want the main couple to fall in love and end up together and have their happily-ever-after love story you need to believe that they're good together. You have to like the characters.
The main character of this book is the most unlikeable protagonist I have read in a while, especially because, as the reader, you're supposed to be rooting for him. Neil is a rich, self-centered, self-pitying, excuse-ridden mess. He expects everyone around him to live constantly accommodating his needs and wants. Even at the end, when he's supposedly "redeemed," he continues to have expectations and demands of the people around him.
Wyatt, the main love interest, was sweet. He seemed to be authentic and naive and all of the good things Neil isn't. In a way, he was meant to help Neil become better, but he really just made me more aware of what a terrible person he was.
I was rooting for Wyatt. I was rooting for Josh. I was rooting for everyone that wasn't Neil.
Wyatt and Neil were just not meant to be. Maybe if Neil was able to step back (like really, really far back) and re-evaluate himself and his choices, it could have worked. But guess what? He can't. Not with this short of a time frame.
This could have been a better book if Neil and Wyatt had not ended up together (sorry not sorry).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Classism and Toxic relationship
Minor: Dysphoria, Homophobia, Deadnaming, and Outing
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Outing, Sexual content, Death of parent, Vomit, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Classism
aexileigh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Sexual content, and Outing
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
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
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
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