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archercm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
2.0
murdersquirrrel's review against another edition
2.0
In general this was an okay book, the writing was not as bad as it could have been. The main issues with this book are the massive amount of trigger warnings it needs, and the marketing and cover/summary making it sound like a cute romance. It's described as a "coming-of-age teen love story about a transgender boy", and sure that's true to an extent but there is so much transphobia here from so many sources that's painful to read, including the extremely graphic assault scene near the end that has no warning. The book is entirely marketed as a cute romance and that can be really harmful if you have triggers and just go into this looking for an optimistic trans story. Also, the moral of this book seems to be that going stealth is bad for yourself and the community and it will never work out no matter what, this theme is driven home so much by everyone "supportive" in Pony's life and it's really weird to read when Max is going on about how he won't be friends with Pony anymore if he continues failing the trans community by being stealth.
legobitar's review against another edition
3.0
I am ... not a fan. This book was a bit much too all over the place for me. 3 stars is stretching it.
yikeslou's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
2.5
Pony is a sweet, hilarious, and relatable MC who is surrounded by a troop of assholes (mostly teens which is semi excusable, they're still finding themselves and learning etc etc, kids are inherently a little self centered, still frustrating to read). Everything wrapped up VERY quickly compared to the slow burning romance plot, but hey I love a happy ending so I can't complain too much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Deadnaming, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
deschatjes's review against another edition
3.0
One of those books that grows on you as you read further & it gets better & better. A lot about honesty in relationships & balancing expectations with your true self
capriqueen's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The main theme of this book is about how fitting in is about hiding your true self, and doing that is never worth it, esp when it’s to fit in with jerks. It accomplishes it fine enough
I don’t love the notes of misogyny in the beginning with Pony’s thoughts about Georgia being a cheerleader, and I especially don’t like Max. I found him to be a toxic friend with all his ultimatums and demands of performative activism
I don’t love the notes of misogyny in the beginning with Pony’s thoughts about Georgia being a cheerleader, and I especially don’t like Max. I found him to be a toxic friend with all his ultimatums and demands of performative activism
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Toxic friendship
There is a graphic hate crime assaultindiekay's review against another edition
DNF
I got about 8 chapter in. And I was enjoying bits of it - I especially liked the characters flirting together. But when I got to the bit where Pony tells Georgia he's trans and she immediately tells him he's lying and blows up at him? Yeah no. I want to actually like my main characters and root for them to get together, and I can't read something like that and not think she's an asshole for the rest of the book. I knew if I did finish reading it I would have inevitably given it a 1 or 2 star rating just because of that scene.
I also found some of the references the characters made really weird for how old these characters are? This book came out in 2020, so I'm assuming it's set in 2019. So why does Georgia say her best friend is as pretty as Selma Hayek. That struck me as odd, because how many 18 year olds know much about Salma Hayek nowadays? And if they do, are they going to say their other 18 year old friends look like her? And Pony makes a reference to Meet the Fockers, and I don't think that movie has enough cultural impact for an 18 year old in 2019 to reference it casually? So these sort of instances took me out of the book a lot.
I don't know, I think if this book came out in 2010 it would have been ahead of its time and amazing, but as a 2020 book? It doesn't work for me. I think we're past the place where a main POV character getting angry at someone coming out to them.
There are a lot of other content warnings I've seen other people make for this book. Please heed those before reading.
I got about 8 chapter in. And I was enjoying bits of it - I especially liked the characters flirting together. But when I got to the bit where Pony tells Georgia he's trans and she immediately tells him he's lying and blows up at him? Yeah no. I want to actually like my main characters and root for them to get together, and I can't read something like that and not think she's an asshole for the rest of the book. I knew if I did finish reading it I would have inevitably given it a 1 or 2 star rating just because of that scene.
I also found some of the references the characters made really weird for how old these characters are? This book came out in 2020, so I'm assuming it's set in 2019. So why does Georgia say her best friend is as pretty as Selma Hayek. That struck me as odd, because how many 18 year olds know much about Salma Hayek nowadays? And if they do, are they going to say their other 18 year old friends look like her? And Pony makes a reference to Meet the Fockers, and I don't think that movie has enough cultural impact for an 18 year old in 2019 to reference it casually? So these sort of instances took me out of the book a lot.
I don't know, I think if this book came out in 2010 it would have been ahead of its time and amazing, but as a 2020 book? It doesn't work for me. I think we're past the place where a main POV character getting angry at someone coming out to them.
There are a lot of other content warnings I've seen other people make for this book. Please heed those before reading.
kris_k's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
iloveb00ks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
albanueva's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very tough, at moments. There are some quite violent scenes (verbally and physically) you should be prepared for. I think it depicts reasonably well the POV of a transgender teen who is just trying to appear normal, but also the POV of the girl who has a crush on him and suddenly discovers he's trans. She does not react well, at first, which I think it's realistic enough, considering they're just teens.
What I am a bit hesitant about is the too-good-to-be-true Disney-like ending, where in one small chapter all the problems suddenly find a solution and they lived happily ever after. I mean, it's very nice they have a happy ending, but this was kind of "too much" to have happened in one day.
What I am a bit hesitant about is the too-good-to-be-true Disney-like ending, where in one small chapter all the problems suddenly find a solution and they lived happily ever after. I mean, it's very nice they have a happy ending, but this was kind of "too much" to have happened in one day.