Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Wszystkiego, co najlepsze

One of the first books I've read with MC enby rep! Loved Ben's story and felt so seen by some aspect of each character. This book felt so human and raw and I loved every minute of it. But yeah I did cry a lot on Syd's couch LOL

Content Warnings

nat_kiverse's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

Me encantaría poder regresar en el tiempo y dárselo a mi yo más pequeñe para que sepa que no está sole. Éste libro es como un abrazo cálido.

Content Warnings

readwithbee's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book was alright! It wasn't bad but it didn't stand out as a stellar book for myself personally either. I would, however, like to note that I did listen to the audiobook of this and I REALLY think that my opinion of this was influenced by the narrator. They were very flat and the tone really affected the way the characters formed in my mind and made them rather boring.

That being said, these are the things I did enjoy:

• I'm glad to read non-binary representation. * See more on this later.
• This book actually did give me some things to ponder regarding my own internalized patriarchal perspectives that I wasn't even aware I had. As a non-binary person, this was so interesting.
• I liked Ben's sister and how she and her husband Thomas were so willing to support Ben.
• There's a lot of similarities between this book and some others I read recently. (I both enjoyed and didn't enjoy this fact.)
• I am glad it has a good ending.
• It is important to tell stories that show the trauma LGBTQ folks may face. And I think it's important to note that with family trauma, sometimes there is no happy ending.
• Im glad for mental health and therapy representation.

Things I didn't enjoy as much:

• I liked a lot of the characters but feel like I barely got to understand any of them. I think they're going to be very forgetable sadly because of this.
• I kind of wish that this book would have elaborated on how non-binary is an umbrella term and there are a lot of ways one can identify within that. Ben seemed to identify as agender - or lacking any gender. That's just not the only identity non-binary can mean when someone uses that and I wish it would have spoken more on that.
• The therapist seemed a little odd to me. The approach I mean. As someone who works in mental health, it felt as though their approach was more rooted in the therapists goal than Ben's. I prefer person centered approaches and hope to see more of that in books in the future.
• I've already forgotten bits from this book and I didn't take as many notes since I was often listening when driving. But the fact it's so forgettable to me when I just finished it yesterday is a bit of a bummer.

Overall, like I said, it wasn't bad and I think some folks are definitely gonna connect with it!

Trigger warnings: transphobia, family trauma, emotional abuse, homelessness.

Content Warnings

midnightbelles's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I don’t think I’ve read a book this fast in such a long time.
I randomly decided to pick this up at 2am after hearing a good review and I quite literally couldn’t put it down. Words can’t describe how comforting and heartwarming this book is and I really love that the authors note says that this is the story they needed when they were younger because that’s exactly how I feel. I wish it didn’t end but I love how the story professed and I loved getting to see Ben open up and become more comfortable with their identity and that they got their happy ending.

Content Warnings

maladaptivedaydreamer's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

kanthereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a sweet and soft read regarding identity and mental health.

The story follows Ben, a non-binary teen who has been kicked out of their home after coming out to their parents. They're now forced to live with their sister and her estranged husband. At their new school, nobody knows who they are but they're brother-in-law, and they plan to keep it that way. That is until they meet the optimist Nathan Allen. Nathan just happens to be everywhere Ben goes, preventing them from only having only art as a friend.

It was incredible to see their friendship blossom into a cherishable relationship.

One thing I didn't like about this book was how slow it was. The romance is limited to the end of the story. It was slightly disappointing that their romance was such a slow one. Even when we got it at the end, it was minimal.

Therefore, this book gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Content Warnings

alexlily's review against another edition

Go to review page

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Reread on audio this time around. Still one of my favourites. The anxiety rep is really good. I need a Hannah and Thomas in my life

Content Warnings

theheartisanaro's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

This bookwas really painful but also really good and important and so relatable and affirming and for that I'm very thankful and I think I always will be.

Content Warnings

More...