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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
“no man can be a wave.”
i really, really liked this one! i loved the transfemme representation. the one thing that knocked it down a quarter star for me was the stereotyping. it was definitely intentional, and i appreciated it by the end, but in the beginning it made me slightly uncomfortable LOL. Phoebe is so strong and so sure of herself and learns how to stick up for herself and i love her for it!!! i’m so glad she was able to eventually see that her worth as a girl didn’t come from guys, and that she could help her friends see it too!!
i really, really liked this one! i loved the transfemme representation. the one thing that knocked it down a quarter star for me was the stereotyping. it was definitely intentional, and i appreciated it by the end, but in the beginning it made me slightly uncomfortable LOL. Phoebe is so strong and so sure of herself and learns how to stick up for herself and i love her for it!!! i’m so glad she was able to eventually see that her worth as a girl didn’t come from guys, and that she could help her friends see it too!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Transphobia
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer, Death, Lesbophobia
giving it a lower rating than I'd like on account of the too casual (and derogatory undertone) use of the word dyke by the main character's friend group and it never being addressed. that aside, I really liked how much mackenzie and phoebe grew as individuals and in their relationships to each other + other people. the conversations they had, including holding others and themselves accountable, were incredibly important and contained significant messages that more people should hear, especially those who want/need to be a better ally to trans folks. what I loved most is how realistic the story felt, from mackenzie's struggle to let go of her need for male validation and projection on phoebe to seek the same, to the two different ways that phoebe's first two boyfriends failed her because of misogyny and transphobia. phoebe isn't perfect herself, and she's messy in her own ways, but that's just as much as the next person – they're all teenagers in high school, after all.
I liked this. The transition into being a girl and realizing what a girl really is was really thought out. I liked how "being herself" and being nerdy wasn't the solution, but exploring new hobbies as well and discovering new parts of herself. I also liked that she didn't end up with either of the guys at the end. It felt more realistic, and helped drive the message home more about her being okay with herself just as she was. Instead, I liked how it ends with her developing friendship with Mackenize. And I liked how homophobia was addressed and present in more microaggression ways, rather than the whole school bullying her. It emphasized how shallow people's acceptance of your true self can be. And the fashions were to die for.