Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very underwhelmed and I don't want to read about teenagers anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Transphobia, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated
Beautiful and insightful, definitely worth reading.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Stalking, Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Outing, Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Classism
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Medical content
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
If you have ever been unsure of who you are or what love feels like, Felix Ever After is the book for you. If you’ve ever been bullied, felt like your parents didn’t understand you, said the wrong thing that did (or almost did) cost you a dear friend… you’ll find something to relate to in Felix Ever After. If you are anywhere in the LGBTQIAP+ community, Felix Ever After will make you feel seen. This book received a lot of hype when it was published in 2020. It deserved every bit of it.
I loved Felix Ever After because it made me cry. It dug into my heart. I loved Felix. I loved the complexity of the assembled cast. I loved the truth. And I loved the love. Kacen Callender built a collection of robust characters in this book that surprised you in ever scene. Many of the surprises were good… and many, many were disappointing, horrifying. Callender did an amazing job capturing the complexity of the human experience and conflict in the psyche while raising injustices and prejudices faced by the LGBTQIAP+ community. From outside and inside the community.
This book is about identity and learning to love yourself. It’s difficult – very difficult – when there are people telling you that you are not worth loving because of your identity. Felix faces this throughout his summer program at St. Catherine’s in New York. From an emotional perspective, Callender had me from the first chapter. I can’t emphasize enough how impactful this book is. From a technical perspective, I think Callender did an amazing job reflecting our world. There is joy and love, but there is also so much grief and self-hate and doubt. About so many things – not just identity. There are amazing conversations and horrible behavior is called out.
Which brings me to the warnings.
The protagonist is deadnamed publicly and by family. It is addressed in different ways through the book – transphobia and addressing it is a major theme. There’s transphobic bullying, conversations about invasion of privacy, cyberbullying, encouraging illegal activities (phone hacking), manipulation, disowning, abandonment, divorce, and I’m sure other triggers I missed. This book is filled with sensitive content and while there is so much good in it, readers should tread carefully.
Outside these warnings, Felix Ever After is a book I’d enthusiastically recommend to anyone. It has representation and messages that are so important, particularly for those still exploring their own identity – which is many adults who didn’t have the language when they were younger, as well as young adults. I wouldn’t recommend it to children because of the reading level … but everyone else. Everyone else. This book should be a library staple.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Lesbophobia
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
It’s a coming of age book in the new age. I love that Felix finds himself and so so young. But also, everyone in this book is a classic annoying teenager and it’s hard to not go into teacher mode and tell them all that most of what they are complaining about will not matter after they graduate. But once I got beyond that, I was able to enjoy the story more. Felix identifying as a demiboy and showing how many other identities there are out there I know is life changing for so many. It was wonderful to read this during pride in San Diego as it is set during Pride time in New York. It felt so wonderful to look around and see all the Felix and friends at Pride. I love seeing books like these and having them around for my high school kids when they ask for recommendations. More books like these please 🥰
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
No
Very moving first person account on finding their authentic self and seeing multiple sides to the characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
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
I was reading A Discovery of Witches but I needed to take a break from it and read something a bit more sugar sweet. Felix Ever After definitely fit the bill! I've always been a sucker for a good coming of age story and this one was absolutely what I needed. We originally got this book from our local library for my school's GSA. They have very kindly allowed us to borrow copies of LGBTQ+ young adult literature to read together and discuss and I am so glad that this was the first one we read!
The novel itself centers around a transgender man named Felix Love who is trying to navigate the perilous waters between the shallows of childhood and the uncharted seas of young adulthood. More than anything else, Felix wants to fall in love but feels deep down that he is undeserving of the experience. Sure, he has his best friend, but he is looking for a deeper connection. However, just as he is getting into the swing of things, his deadname and his old pictures pre-transition are posted up as a gallery without his permission by an anonymous bigot. On top of that, the creator of the gallery starts to send him transphobic messages on Instagram. Believing that he has found the perpetrator, he begins a quest for revenge that inadvertently lands him in a love triangle. Layered on top of this is Felix's quest inward, as well, as he questions his own identity both as an artist as well as in terms of his gender.
The novel itself was extremely sweet. I definitely had a huge grin on my face by the end! The characters were well thought out and the main characters had a good deal of depth. It was a privilege to see Felix grow as a person and begin to open up and allow himself to let go and truly be himself. Watching him peel off insecurity after insecurity and transform into a strong and confident demiboy was beautiful. I also absolutely loved that we, as the reader, never ever ever hear or discover Felix's deadname or hear about what he looked like pre-transition. I feel like that is something many trans individuals need to go through. People are always asking them about their deadnames or their lives pre-transition. They don't realize that a deadname is called a deadname for a reason. It's dead and gone. It's no longer in use. Knowing it is not necessary to knowing the individual. While I may not be a part of the trans community, a lot of my students are. Seeing them represented so honestly and beautifully was amazing!
At first, I was a little sad that we never got a resolution to the question of Felix's mother. She existed like a ghost. However, after finishing the book and truly reflecting on it, I realized that that was how it was meant to be. Not every thread of a story can be resolved. In life, there are many threads you just need to cut off and cast into the wind. The section where Felix deleted all the emails, he said "Something I'd been holding in my chest, anger and hurt and pain, starts to fade away. It wasn't anger and hurt and pain I'd had for my mom. Though I've got plenty of that, too, this was anger an dhurt and pain I'd had for myself, for writing all those fucking emails in the first place--for refusing to let go" (327). This catharsis of letting go, shedding dead weight, and making room for the things that matter was what this novel was building up to. The finale of him rushing off the pride to find Ezra and truly feeling for the first time unadulterated joy and acceptance and love was one of the most beautiful endings I have read in a while.
Whoever you are, wherever you are in your own journey, I believe that this should be read by everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Outing, Abandonment
Minor: Gaslighting, 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