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A review by kazbrek
Look Past by Eric Devine
4.0
So a disclaimer before I start this review: I am not trans, so please take my opinions on this book with a grain of salt. I don't know if trans reviewers have reviewed this, but definitely check out their opinions over mine.
I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.
Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.
I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable iswhere Avery is forced to present as a girl for a morning. It's written as awful and something that shouldn't have been considered, but it's there when it could have been left out.
All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers.
I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.
Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.
I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable is
All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers.