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its_vendetta's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying and Deadnaming
Minor: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Medical trauma
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(If my tolerance for high school drama, love triangles, and partners kissing non-partners was higher, the star-rating would've also been higher. It's an excellent debut and I'll look forward to the author's future books!)
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Medical content, and Dysphoria
Minor: Racism and Sexual content
Carefully written by a trans author who cleverly conveys angst, anxiety, and reality without allowing it to feel gratuitously traumatizing or to overtake the joy of the story. YMMV, of course.hilwithonel's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
The prose were lovely while still having that YA approachability. All of the main characters were multi faceted. All the plot points were equally special: the music competition, Mile's identity, and the love story.
I can't personally speak to the challenges Miles dealt with as a trans male teenager but I can say that his heartbreak, his mistakes, and his growth were all just beautifully told.
Absolutely loved.
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying and Racism
lizslazylibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Dysphoria
Minor: Toxic relationship
olliereadabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I rate this 3.5 stars.
I decided to request this book because it was a LGBTQ coming of age book. About a transmasc character trying to exist as themselves and deal with a breakup from their very cishet ex-boyfriend.
I mentally split this book up into 3 sections. The beginning was slow, but it drew me in. I liked how the characters grew, how we were introduced to them slowly, but not painfully slow. The two girls (Rachel and Paige) felt the flattest but that may be because they’re not main characters like Eric and Miles.
When I got to the middle, in the thick of the drama, it fell kind of flat. The same drama repeated twice. Once with the boys (Miles, Eric and Shane) and then once with the girls (Rachel, Paige, and Josie). I know there was differences in the drama itself, but they were similar enough to feel repeated and flat.
At the end, what kept me waiting, was the tri-state competition and if Miles would win what he had been waiting for. Now to be honest, the outcome was not what I expected. It made me happy that it wasn’t what the reader would expect, and there was a spike of drama between competitors (and their piano teachers).
I’m glad there’s now queer books that cater to a variety of audiences, but a decent chunk of this book wasn’t for me, even as a Queer and Trans person.
Don’t let my review steer you from reading this, it is simply my opinion and how I view the book. If anything, allow it to help you decipher and understand the book more.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Sexism