theblushbookworm 's review for:

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

4.0

dark emotional inspiring 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

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The perfect Pride month read! But of course since queer stories matter year round, I recommend this one year round :)

“Felix Ever After” follows trans teen Felix Love as he navigates anonymous transphobia at school, falling in love for the first time, and questioning his gender identity

Felix is a messy, imperfect main character, and I loved him for it. He’s at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities being Black, queer, and trans, and watching him find joy in spite of oppression was heartwarming. 

I also found the cast of equally messy and dramatic teenagers at his arts school in NYC to be a fun rollercoaster to ride along with. Their dynamics are so real to adolescence and the way each is exploring their identity within the LGBTQ+ community was eye-opening for me.

I mostly appreciated that “Felix Ever After” is a trans story, with Felix’ gender identity being central to the plot, but it’s also a story of acceptance, love, and finding yourself that I think anyone can relate to. Thank you Kacen Callender for sharing this deeply personal story and Felix with us, and happy Pride!