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adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia
emotional
lighthearted
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
Ah young love. 🥰 The angst, the intense emotions and avoidance of said emotions, the mystery and self-discovery. Kacen never fails to get me all in my feelings. I loved all of these characters (minus they who shall not be named), and how complicated they were. How raw the conversations were and how honest they were even when they weren't being completely honest. That love declaration scene is straight out of when Harry met Sally, but done in such a sweet way. I can see myself reading this again for sure. There is something powerful about looking at ourselves and seeing the real us in every situation. The strength and weakness. The courage and fear. The longing for love and the embodiment of worthiness. All existing at once in a beautiful tapestry of humanness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Abandonment
Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia
emotional
hopeful
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
I really love Kacen Callender's coming of age YA novels. This book, like Lark & Kasim, is filled with messy, imperfect, and lovable characters. Felix spends a lot of this book questioning his identity and trying to figure out his place in the world. I can only imagine how relatable that must be to any trans kids reading along. Felix speaks to a lived experience while also still always learning. I found the relationships in this book to be a little less endearing than in Lark & Kasim, but again, teens are messy! They aren't always going to say or do the right thing!
One thing I do want to mention is that there are an OBSCENE amount of HP references throughout this book. This book was published in May 2020, and I think JKR had already shown her ass by then, but I'm not sure how mainstream the knowledge was. Take care of yourself while reading.
One thing I do want to mention is that there are an OBSCENE amount of HP references throughout this book. This book was published in May 2020, and I think JKR had already shown her ass by then, but I'm not sure how mainstream the knowledge was. Take care of yourself while reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Abandonment
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Alcohol
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Abandonment
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kacen Callender’s „Felix Ever After“ is a vibrant, heartfelt celebration of identity, love, and self-discovery. With its richly drawn characters, emotionally resonant themes, and a compelling narrative, the novel shines as a standout in contemporary young adult literature.
At the heart of the story is Felix Love, a Black, queer, transgender teen navigating the complexities of self-acceptance and belonging. Felix’s journey is deeply moving, as he grapples with questions about his identity and self-worth while facing external challenges, including transphobia and racism. Callender’s nuanced portrayal of Felix’s internal struggles and triumphs is both relatable and empowering, offering readers a story that feels authentic and deeply personal.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unapologetic representation of marginalized identities. Felix’s experiences as a transgender teen are handled with care and honesty, making the story an essential read for readers seeking to see themselves reflected on the page. Beyond Felix, the novel features a diverse cast of characters who add depth and richness to the narrative, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and inclusivity in storytelling.
Callender’s writing captures the raw emotions of adolescence with striking precision. Felix’s yearning for love—both romantic and familial—is profoundly relatable, as is his struggle to reconcile his insecurities with his desire to live authentically. The novel is filled with moments of vulnerability and growth that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s arts scene, the novel brims with creativity and energy. Felix’s passion for art serves as a powerful metaphor for his journey of self-expression and discovery. The city itself feels like a character, its diversity and vibrancy mirroring the complexities of Felix’s world.
At its core, „Felix Ever After“ is a love story—about loving others and, most importantly, learning to love oneself. Through his relationships with friends, family, and potential romantic partners, Felix comes to understand that love is messy, multifaceted, and ultimately transformative. The novel’s emphasis on the power of self-love is a message that will resonate with readers of all ages.
My only critique would be that while Callender ambitiously tackles many important topics, at times the narrative feels overwhelmed by the sheer number of issues it tries to address. This can dilute the impact of individual moments, making certain themes feel underexplored or rushed.
„Felix Ever After“ is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of self-discovery and the courage it takes to embrace one’s true self. With its heartfelt prose, unforgettable protagonist, and powerful message of acceptance, the book is a testament to the importance of visibility and representation in literature. Kacen Callender has created a story that is both a mirror for those who need to see themselves and a window for those who need to understand others.
At the heart of the story is Felix Love, a Black, queer, transgender teen navigating the complexities of self-acceptance and belonging. Felix’s journey is deeply moving, as he grapples with questions about his identity and self-worth while facing external challenges, including transphobia and racism. Callender’s nuanced portrayal of Felix’s internal struggles and triumphs is both relatable and empowering, offering readers a story that feels authentic and deeply personal.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its unapologetic representation of marginalized identities. Felix’s experiences as a transgender teen are handled with care and honesty, making the story an essential read for readers seeking to see themselves reflected on the page. Beyond Felix, the novel features a diverse cast of characters who add depth and richness to the narrative, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and inclusivity in storytelling.
Callender’s writing captures the raw emotions of adolescence with striking precision. Felix’s yearning for love—both romantic and familial—is profoundly relatable, as is his struggle to reconcile his insecurities with his desire to live authentically. The novel is filled with moments of vulnerability and growth that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s arts scene, the novel brims with creativity and energy. Felix’s passion for art serves as a powerful metaphor for his journey of self-expression and discovery. The city itself feels like a character, its diversity and vibrancy mirroring the complexities of Felix’s world.
At its core, „Felix Ever After“ is a love story—about loving others and, most importantly, learning to love oneself. Through his relationships with friends, family, and potential romantic partners, Felix comes to understand that love is messy, multifaceted, and ultimately transformative. The novel’s emphasis on the power of self-love is a message that will resonate with readers of all ages.
My only critique would be that while Callender ambitiously tackles many important topics, at times the narrative feels overwhelmed by the sheer number of issues it tries to address. This can dilute the impact of individual moments, making certain themes feel underexplored or rushed.
„Felix Ever After“ is a beautifully crafted novel that captures the essence of self-discovery and the courage it takes to embrace one’s true self. With its heartfelt prose, unforgettable protagonist, and powerful message of acceptance, the book is a testament to the importance of visibility and representation in literature. Kacen Callender has created a story that is both a mirror for those who need to see themselves and a window for those who need to understand others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Outing, Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Abandonment
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia
Minor: Deadnaming
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I listened to this book with Libby through my library.
Brief Summary: Felix Love is a 17-year-old dreaming of attending Brown University to become an artist. As he navigates his high school summer art program and spends time with his friends, Felix's life is turned upside down when someone steals his old Instagram images and plasters them across the school lobby with his dead name. As Felix tries to uncover the person behind the heinous act, he finds himself in a complicated relationship triangle. While Felix navigates the bullying and his feelings Felix also begins to learn more about himself than he thought possible.
Thoughts: Callender captures the chaos of high school. The heightened emotions, the volatile friendship dynamics, the hope of what college will open up for you, and the awful nature of being on the cusp of adulthood with no idea who you are. All of that Callender is displayed on the page.
Felix is such a sweet and real teenage character on the page. Callender accurately describes the terrifying nature of being on the cusp of adulthood. Felix wants to go to Brown so badly that he is so paralyzed by his fear of not achieving his goal that he is self-sabotaging himself by not working on his art portfolio. This interwoven with Felix's journey to greater self-discovery also felt so natural.
I also appreciated how Felix's love interests experienced fear about their desire to pursue art for their careers too. The way that Callender integrated the uncertainty of youth with the larger socioeconomic dynamics was an interesting discussion throughout the book.
Felix is my favourite character in the book. I was emotionally invested in his story and once I started listening I did not want to stop. My second favourite character was Leah. She was entertaining and so supportive. I love how her and Felix's relationship developed throughout the book.
I enjoyed the romantic relationship triangle throughout the book. I am also overjoyed that Felix ended up with Ezra and not Declan. I did appreciate Declan's arc throughout the book, but it wasn't a relationship I was rooting for. Callender did an excellent job of bringing that arc to a close without it feeling forced or making either Felix or Declan out to be the villain of that dynamic.
However, I wished we had another chapter at the end that focused a bit more on how Ezra and Felix's relationship developed. Callender gave us a lovely discussion about Felix and Ezra's fight, but it just felt that the romance sort of dropped off.
The ending of this book, like the entirety of this book, was beautifully written. If you love coming-of-age, first-love books with messy friendships and love triangles this book is for you.
Brief Summary: Felix Love is a 17-year-old dreaming of attending Brown University to become an artist. As he navigates his high school summer art program and spends time with his friends, Felix's life is turned upside down when someone steals his old Instagram images and plasters them across the school lobby with his dead name. As Felix tries to uncover the person behind the heinous act, he finds himself in a complicated relationship triangle. While Felix navigates the bullying and his feelings Felix also begins to learn more about himself than he thought possible.
Thoughts: Callender captures the chaos of high school. The heightened emotions, the volatile friendship dynamics, the hope of what college will open up for you, and the awful nature of being on the cusp of adulthood with no idea who you are. All of that Callender is displayed on the page.
Felix is such a sweet and real teenage character on the page. Callender accurately describes the terrifying nature of being on the cusp of adulthood. Felix wants to go to Brown so badly that he is so paralyzed by his fear of not achieving his goal that he is self-sabotaging himself by not working on his art portfolio. This interwoven with Felix's journey to greater self-discovery also felt so natural.
I also appreciated how Felix's love interests experienced fear about their desire to pursue art for their careers too. The way that Callender integrated the uncertainty of youth with the larger socioeconomic dynamics was an interesting discussion throughout the book.
Felix is my favourite character in the book. I was emotionally invested in his story and once I started listening I did not want to stop. My second favourite character was Leah. She was entertaining and so supportive. I love how her and Felix's relationship developed throughout the book.
However, I wished we had another chapter at the end that focused a bit more on how Ezra and Felix's relationship developed. Callender gave us a lovely discussion about Felix and Ezra's fight, but it just felt that the romance sort of dropped off.
The ending of this book, like the entirety of this book, was beautifully written. If you love coming-of-age, first-love books with messy friendships and love triangles this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Grief, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Sexual content
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a trans man I really appreciated the representation and I love that it explores still questioning when you had previously thought you have found your label. I am very much here for the endgame and the romance in the book, Ezra and Felix are adorable, friends to lovers is always the best but I think I’m biased I feel like whilst the relationships were messy for parts some important conversations were had!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Outing, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This book was fun, and cute, and sweet. I found myself pretty annoyed by Feix's behavior sometimes, I felt like he had some really definitive character flaws that he never really ended up getting over it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Toxic friendship