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A review by libraryofpeculiar
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
I totally understand why this book is so hyped and praised and recommended everywhere. This is a wonderful book about a wonderful boy (also problematic at times but what teenager isn't) who just wants to be loved. This book is about relationships but not only romantic ones, it's about love between friends, a love between a grandpa and his gay grandson, love between a dad and his trans kid. It's about the problems they face. And it's about accetance. Accepting yourself and loving yourself for who you are. Not backing down, but being proud and standing tall.
I cannot stress enough how good this book is. I have no words to even explain in how many ways this book touched me. It was like reading my own thoughts — the queer thoughts, love thoughts, life thoughts... I felt like I was reading about myself for the first time in my life. I'm not a trans man, but I am queer and I never felt connected with a character as I did with Felix.
Now, why I said Felix is problematic... C'mon, what he did to Declan was really shit. I understan pain and anger, but in my opinion Felix had absolutely no right to lead on Declan like he did. I'm glad he was aware of how shitty it was at least. I also think he treatet Ezra unfairly several times through the book. Ezra, however, wasn't any better. I do ship them though, quite alot! I've been rooting for them from the very first page.
This books is probably one of my favorite reads ever. The ultimate five star. Callender has a really easy to read wiriting style, the book was quite gripping and I couldn't put it down. I'm really happy with how they showed a life of a trans boy from the struggles with their identity, to struggles with his friends and family, school and love life. It felt so real and raw.
I hightly recomment this book to absolutely everyone. To the queers for obvious reason, and to the non queers to learn a thing or two.
One more thing I would like to say. The thing that made me want to lower my rating to 4 but it also seemed unfair. The constant HP references. This book was published in 2020, and all the JKR drama started way before that... I just don't understand why would a book that celebrates trans people have any HP references. It's very funny considering how Felix makes a whole speech how art created by problematic artists is also problematic because it's a piece of their soul. Absolutely hilarious. I am aware there are queer people that still love HP no matter what and that's all great, but alot of queer people find the mention of it triggering. Especially trans people. So why would you put this in a trans book? Anyway, I just wanted to point it out as a little TW/CW for everyone who's not comfortable reading that.
I cannot stress enough how good this book is. I have no words to even explain in how many ways this book touched me. It was like reading my own thoughts — the queer thoughts, love thoughts, life thoughts... I felt like I was reading about myself for the first time in my life. I'm not a trans man, but I am queer and I never felt connected with a character as I did with Felix.
Now, why I said Felix is problematic... C'mon, what he did to Declan was really shit. I understan pain and anger, but in my opinion Felix had absolutely no right to lead on Declan like he did. I'm glad he was aware of how shitty it was at least. I also think he treatet Ezra unfairly several times through the book. Ezra, however, wasn't any better. I do ship them though, quite alot! I've been rooting for them from the very first page.
This books is probably one of my favorite reads ever. The ultimate five star. Callender has a really easy to read wiriting style, the book was quite gripping and I couldn't put it down. I'm really happy with how they showed a life of a trans boy from the struggles with their identity, to struggles with his friends and family, school and love life. It felt so real and raw.
I hightly recomment this book to absolutely everyone. To the queers for obvious reason, and to the non queers to learn a thing or two.
One more thing I would like to say. The thing that made me want to lower my rating to 4 but it also seemed unfair. The constant HP references. This book was published in 2020, and all the JKR drama started way before that... I just don't understand why would a book that celebrates trans people have any HP references. It's very funny considering how Felix makes a whole speech how art created by problematic artists is also problematic because it's a piece of their soul. Absolutely hilarious. I am aware there are queer people that still love HP no matter what and that's all great, but alot of queer people find the mention of it triggering. Especially trans people. So why would you put this in a trans book? Anyway, I just wanted to point it out as a little TW/CW for everyone who's not comfortable reading that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Outing
Lots of H*rry P*tter references