A review by beca_reads
Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

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

3.5

I have so many feelings about this book, it's hard to put it into words. We follow August who has recently come out as Transgender to his family. Unfortunately his parents are not understanding, and results in his Aunt taking him under her wing and moving him to New York where he can attend performing Arts school. August has always wanted to perform on stage and this gives him the chance, though his parent's actions still control some of his decisions. August ends up putting on a persona that is not him, this honestly makes him quite a unlikeable character for most of the book but it is clear that deep down this is not the real August. We follow him as he works out the actor he wants to become, and the people he meets along the way that helps him.  The book discuss transphobia within school, and the theatre, as well as discussing conversion therapy which his family want to put him into. This is not a light read at all and has trigger warnings for: transphobia, conversion therapy, homophobia, dead naming, and miss gendering. 
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