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A review by trizk
You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White
dark
tense
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? Yes
5.0
"Even if he spoke, every possible response would make him sound deranged."
You Weren't Meant to Be Human is a book both horrific and deeply humanizing. Usually when I hear YA authors will be having an adult debut, I'm a bit iffy about it. Authors will typically have the characters be a certain age but keep the same YA-eqsue writing. Thankfully, this book is not that. Even ignoring the horrific things that happen within this novel, White doesn't do any hand holding and fully trusts his audience to reach conclusions.
One thing I always love about his writing is the use of descriptions. In his books I feel like you can easily sink into them and picture what is happening. There is never a time where I'm saying something is overdescribed or should've been described more.
My favorite thing about this book has got to be our main character: Crane. He feels like a person with genuine flaws and I liked seeing his character development. His character is used to show an aspect of mental health that is often stigmatized. The aspect in question being the utilization of horrific thoughts to self punish yourself; keeping yourself in a loop. This belief that you deserve horrific things to happen to you is a bold but humanizing thing to include. Mainly due to the fact that many people (like me) who are trans and neurodivergent and have these horrifying thoughts about themselves are told never to discuss them or address it. It's easy for someone to isolate themselves and feel monstorous and betrayed by their own mind, so it's nice to see that in a character who is humanized. Queer rep that isn't tidy and "clean" is something I wish was more represented. So I'm grateful for a character like Crane, who is unflinching and raw with the horrors that come with being in a bad mental state, internalized transphobia as a trans person, and the stress involved with being in a horrifying politcal climate.
I also enjoyed the depiction of toxic relationships within this novel. You as the audience and even Crane himself can see all the red flags while also seeing what would incline him to stay. I also think this does a good job in depicitng trans people specifically in toxic relationships with someone cis and this feeling of someone validating you (even if it's half-assed and littered with red flags). Giving you that good feeling in contrast to when society and the political environment is hellbent on taking your rights away and calling you something that you aren't. I enjoyed the usage of news headlines to really drive this point home.
That goes to say, this book won't be for everyone. I think that people should def heed the trigger warnings before they pick this up. This is an adult novel and the author won't hold your hand to tell you what's good and what's bad. However, I'd definitely reccomend this to all the transmascs who are/were obsessed with Hannibal (2013).
I know some people found the end shocking, but I feel it was expected especially if you pay close attention to the story. I feel like some people might feel the ending was a bit rushed but I enjoyed it. I'd definitely go into this expecting more of a bittersweet ending.
Overall, this was an amazing horror story that I feel did an amazing job showcasing a forgotten part of our societies discussion in reproductive rights: Transmen/mascs.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this eArc in reutrn for an honest review.
You Weren't Meant to Be Human is a book both horrific and deeply humanizing. Usually when I hear YA authors will be having an adult debut, I'm a bit iffy about it. Authors will typically have the characters be a certain age but keep the same YA-eqsue writing. Thankfully, this book is not that. Even ignoring the horrific things that happen within this novel, White doesn't do any hand holding and fully trusts his audience to reach conclusions.
One thing I always love about his writing is the use of descriptions. In his books I feel like you can easily sink into them and picture what is happening. There is never a time where I'm saying something is overdescribed or should've been described more.
My favorite thing about this book has got to be our main character: Crane. He feels like a person with genuine flaws and I liked seeing his character development. His character is used to show an aspect of mental health that is often stigmatized. The aspect in question being the utilization of horrific thoughts to self punish yourself; keeping yourself in a loop. This belief that you deserve horrific things to happen to you is a bold but humanizing thing to include. Mainly due to the fact that many people (like me) who are trans and neurodivergent and have these horrifying thoughts about themselves are told never to discuss them or address it. It's easy for someone to isolate themselves and feel monstorous and betrayed by their own mind, so it's nice to see that in a character who is humanized. Queer rep that isn't tidy and "clean" is something I wish was more represented. So I'm grateful for a character like Crane, who is unflinching and raw with the horrors that come with being in a bad mental state, internalized transphobia as a trans person, and the stress involved with being in a horrifying politcal climate.
I also enjoyed the depiction of toxic relationships within this novel. You as the audience and even Crane himself can see all the red flags while also seeing what would incline him to stay. I also think this does a good job in depicitng trans people specifically in toxic relationships with someone cis and this feeling of someone validating you (even if it's half-assed and littered with red flags). Giving you that good feeling in contrast to when society and the political environment is hellbent on taking your rights away and calling you something that you aren't. I enjoyed the usage of news headlines to really drive this point home.
That goes to say, this book won't be for everyone. I think that people should def heed the trigger warnings before they pick this up. This is an adult novel and the author won't hold your hand to tell you what's good and what's bad. However, I'd definitely reccomend this to all the transmascs who are/were obsessed with Hannibal (2013).
I know some people found the end shocking, but I feel it was expected especially if you pay close attention to the story. I feel like some people might feel the ending was a bit rushed but I enjoyed it. I'd definitely go into this expecting more of a bittersweet ending.
Overall, this was an amazing horror story that I feel did an amazing job showcasing a forgotten part of our societies discussion in reproductive rights: Transmen/mascs.
Thank you Netgalley for providing this eArc in reutrn for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia