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A review by thea
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
5.0
i FLEW through this book — it was adorable, hilarious, so real, and spectacular. i’ve learned so much more about trans people, especially one of color. it was brilliantly said and the romance? i adore. i knew from the first few pages who i shipped felix was and i love the theme and lesson of going towards things that hurt you because it’s easier than going towards acceptance and love — like it was subtle yet it was obvious, and i love that.
it was really interesting going through felix’s searching experience of gender identity and it made me realize my privilege of never questioning my gender. this book made me realize a lot of things, privileges i wasn’t aware of — but that’s how privilege works right?
i don’t have a lot of LGBT+ friends, but this book made me realize i need some because it’s true:
Straight people are so exhausting.
i pride myself on being myself around others, but i’ve noticed there’s a difference when i hang out around straight people and people of my community — i’m more exuberant and energetic and just more me. i need some more of that in my life. but that leads to another problem that felix went through too, which is that we feel like a fraud. i’m pansexual, but there have been times when i’ve really doubted and questioned myself — it felt so right but i still doubted myself. and this book just gave me a big, warm hug and said, “it’s okay. you don’t need to have things figured out. it’s okay to question.” and i honestly didn’t know other people felt this way, but it felt good to be validated.
i’m also super glad that this book touched on the white, racist gays in the community. get called out bitches. actually — let’s look at this iconic leah moment again, shall we?
”[...] The real issue is that you’re used to having everything. You’re used to being a white guy in Brooklyn, used to always getting your way—no, fuck, I don’t care that you’re fucking gay, because people like Felix are queer and trans and Black, and they have to deal with so much more bullshit than you or me. And, okay, yes, you are marginalized for being gay, but instead of being a fucking ally to other marginalized people, people even more marginalized than you, you buy into the racist and patriarchal bullshit and act like you’re above them because you’re a white guy, and you act like they’re taking your space, and you think that you’re owed this whole fucking world, and when you don’t get what you want, you act like a fucking asshole...”
P O P O F F , L E A H
anyways yes, this book is a full 5/5 stars and nobody can convince me otherwise. the plot, great. the romance, amazing. the angst, wonderful. happy pride y’all
it was really interesting going through felix’s searching experience of gender identity and it made me realize my privilege of never questioning my gender. this book made me realize a lot of things, privileges i wasn’t aware of — but that’s how privilege works right?
i don’t have a lot of LGBT+ friends, but this book made me realize i need some because it’s true:
Straight people are so exhausting.
i pride myself on being myself around others, but i’ve noticed there’s a difference when i hang out around straight people and people of my community — i’m more exuberant and energetic and just more me. i need some more of that in my life. but that leads to another problem that felix went through too, which is that we feel like a fraud. i’m pansexual, but there have been times when i’ve really doubted and questioned myself — it felt so right but i still doubted myself. and this book just gave me a big, warm hug and said, “it’s okay. you don’t need to have things figured out. it’s okay to question.” and i honestly didn’t know other people felt this way, but it felt good to be validated.
i’m also super glad that this book touched on the white, racist gays in the community. get called out bitches. actually — let’s look at this iconic leah moment again, shall we?
”[...] The real issue is that you’re used to having everything. You’re used to being a white guy in Brooklyn, used to always getting your way—no, fuck, I don’t care that you’re fucking gay, because people like Felix are queer and trans and Black, and they have to deal with so much more bullshit than you or me. And, okay, yes, you are marginalized for being gay, but instead of being a fucking ally to other marginalized people, people even more marginalized than you, you buy into the racist and patriarchal bullshit and act like you’re above them because you’re a white guy, and you act like they’re taking your space, and you think that you’re owed this whole fucking world, and when you don’t get what you want, you act like a fucking asshole...”
P O P O F F , L E A H
anyways yes, this book is a full 5/5 stars and nobody can convince me otherwise. the plot, great. the romance, amazing. the angst, wonderful. happy pride y’all