Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a hot take because this book is so popular, but I found Felix an annoying narrator. The plot is very similar to other YA novels I've read - notably Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda / Love, Simon. Felix Ever After is also really heavy on like, LGBTQIA+ Vocabulary 101 that also hampered Juliet Takes a Breath - but Juliet had other strengths that made it worthwhile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4 5 Stars. I really enjoyed this book. Not only was it from a unique perspective, it was also committed to being honest and frank. One of the greatest things I think this book does I'd contribute to and foster conversation about gender identity and sexual orientation. Filled with wonderful insight and a few new-to-me terms, it was a fun story despite the transphobia, homophobia, and racism. It was amazing to have an intersectional look at a character. Felix is trans, queer, and black. It's a perspective we don't get very often at all.
My drawbacks were the pacing was a little slow at times and I really didn't like how with each new direct message (DM) on Instagram we began at the beginning of the conversation to see the new message. It just took the wind out of the sails for me. But it didn't happen very often, so that's good. Another quibble is how I know Felix is 17 and all, but damn can he come across a little immature and amazingly single minded. From the fixation on every new possible transphobic suspect to how he can hyper focus on how his dad won't use his name, Felix just comes across as though he is immature masquerading as mature. With his dad, he never once considers the changes his dad has gone through and has to go through. Another gripe is how quickly turns happen with explosive emotional moments and then they seem to disappear - like with (no spoilers!) finding out someone you thought you knew is actually a transphobe and yet it just seems like they are still around in the background with other friends of yours.
Overall, however, it was an interesting take on a suspenseful mystery mixed with a little MM romance love triangle sort of thing, mixed with a self exploration of identity. Just plain identity in all its iterations. I really recommend this to anyone who has felt lost, anyone in the LGBTQ community, or anyone who wants to know what it's like being queer in our "enlightened" age.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
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: Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming, Drug use, Homophobia, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
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
i loved it so much, i've been seeing it around a lot so glad i finally picked it up! it literally had me crying on the bus i 100% reccomend :]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
This is a YA coming-of-age story about Felix, a Black, trans, queer teen who loves art and hanging out with his best friend. But when someone posts photos of him pre-transition and begins bullying him online, he decides to fight back by catfishing the person he thinks is responsible.
One of the main things I liked about this book is the way it portrays teenagers being messy and complicated, and gives them the space to grow and make mistakes. Felix's actions aren't always well-thought out or honorable, but they come from a place of wanting to stand up for injustices and defend himself.
Something else I loved about this book is the way the author encourages us, through the narrative, to be our authentic selves. Felix wants to be able to be his authentic self without worrying about prejudice but he fears that he's 'one label too many'. Throughout the story, we see him begin to accept every aspect of who he is, while also discovering new things about himself, like the fact that he's a demiboy.
The book also shows is the beauty of unconditional love from parents, even those who make mistakes. Felix's father makes a lot of missteps throughout the story (misgendering and deadnaming Felix) while he's trying to unpack his own internalised transphobia. This irritates Felix at first, but he begins to realise that his father is really trying and only wants him to be happy and loved.
Friends-to-lovers is so underrated (especially when it's childhood friends or they've been friends for YEARS) and Felix Ever After does it so well. The gradual realisation that Felix likes his best friend romantically is exciting because he has an inkling that those feelings are mutual. Plus, the two of them already know each other so well that Felix can envision how good they'd be together in a romantic relationship.
The only downsides to this book are that I think I lost some of my connection to the characters by listening to it on audio and there were also a lot of HP references that didn't really need to be there.
Other than that, this was a hopeful, uplifting story of love, friendship, and acceptance. It feels like a heart-felt love letter to trans and queer readers and teens saying, you're loved and you're enough.
Content warnings for transphobia and homophobia, outing, deadnaming (Felix's deadname is never mentioned on-page) and misgendering, bullying and cyber bullying, toxic friendships, absentee parent, casual use of drugs.
One of the main things I liked about this book is the way it portrays teenagers being messy and complicated, and gives them the space to grow and make mistakes. Felix's actions aren't always well-thought out or honorable, but they come from a place of wanting to stand up for injustices and defend himself.
Something else I loved about this book is the way the author encourages us, through the narrative, to be our authentic selves. Felix wants to be able to be his authentic self without worrying about prejudice but he fears that he's 'one label too many'. Throughout the story, we see him begin to accept every aspect of who he is, while also discovering new things about himself, like the fact that he's a demiboy.
The book also shows is the beauty of unconditional love from parents, even those who make mistakes. Felix's father makes a lot of missteps throughout the story (misgendering and deadnaming Felix) while he's trying to unpack his own internalised transphobia. This irritates Felix at first, but he begins to realise that his father is really trying and only wants him to be happy and loved.
Friends-to-lovers is so underrated (especially when it's childhood friends or they've been friends for YEARS) and Felix Ever After does it so well. The gradual realisation that Felix likes his best friend romantically is exciting because he has an inkling that those feelings are mutual. Plus, the two of them already know each other so well that Felix can envision how good they'd be together in a romantic relationship.
The only downsides to this book are that I think I lost some of my connection to the characters by listening to it on audio and there were also a lot of HP references that didn't really need to be there.
Other than that, this was a hopeful, uplifting story of love, friendship, and acceptance. It feels like a heart-felt love letter to trans and queer readers and teens saying, you're loved and you're enough.
Content warnings for transphobia and homophobia, outing, deadnaming (Felix's deadname is never mentioned on-page) and misgendering, bullying and cyber bullying, toxic friendships, absentee parent, casual use of drugs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia
Moderate: Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Dysphoria
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
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, Outing
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Dysphoria
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Transphobia
emotional
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
*4.5 stars*
"It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance."
Look at me! I'm late for the party! Again! Honestly, because of the hype that this book got when it let's try". Turns out I really liked this book. It has really good character development (especially when it comes to issues of identity). True, sometimes, Felix came across as a little whiny to me (look, I understand that a lot that happened in the book was horrible, and for the most part I was on team "Felix", but there were instances when I was rolling my eyes because I don't have patience for "teen/ schoolyard bullshit"), but I still was rooting for him and I really liked his development as a character because that development felt realistic and measured, not rushed.
Another thing that I really appreciated was the pacing. Things were not rushed and everything fell into place at the right time, giving time to the characters to digest everything good and bad that happened. It also gave time to the readers to get to know the major characters. Also, I couldn't figure out who was the one to outed Felix, and that's a thing that I liked about books that involved mysteries because it gets me engaged in the book.
I think that the only thing a little more negative that I have to say is that I don't agree with the end. Look, this has nothing to do with the book itself because the end actually makes a lot of sense, it just that the trope used its not my kind of trope. It's more of a "me thing" than a "book thing".
Overall, I really recommend this book. It's a solid story about discovering your identity, perfect for every lover of "YA" literature.
"It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance."
Look at me! I'm late for the party! Again! Honestly, because of the hype that this book got when it let's try". Turns out I really liked this book. It has really good character development (especially when it comes to issues of identity). True, sometimes, Felix came across as a little whiny to me (look, I understand that a lot that happened in the book was horrible, and for the most part I was on team "Felix", but there were instances when I was rolling my eyes because I don't have patience for "teen/ schoolyard bullshit"), but I still was rooting for him and I really liked his development as a character because that development felt realistic and measured, not rushed.
Another thing that I really appreciated was the pacing. Things were not rushed and everything fell into place at the right time, giving time to the characters to digest everything good and bad that happened. It also gave time to the readers to get to know the major characters. Also, I couldn't figure out who was the one to outed Felix, and that's a thing that I liked about books that involved mysteries because it gets me engaged in the book.
I think that the only thing a little more negative that I have to say is that I don't agree with the end. Look, this has nothing to do with the book itself because the end actually makes a lot of sense
Spoiler
(but, I'm a sucker for the "enemies to lovers" trope and, because of that, I would prefer that Felix ended up with Declan instead of Ezra)Overall, I really recommend this book. It's a solid story about discovering your identity, perfect for every lover of "YA" literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Gaslighting, Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content