that_bookworm_guy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
This is a hard book to review because right up until the ends, I really didn't like the characters. I get the point being made, I do. Some of the trans information and statistics were well done and a good addition.
First of all, I defo want to put here that I am a trans man. So this is my view as just 1 trans person.
First of all, the romance. I'm defo not great at reading romance, but I definitely didn't find it cute. This could just be me, I'm really aware that romance just isn't my thing. But it felt so focused. I hated, hated how Pony chased Georgia after she said she didn't want to date him. He was counting down the days it had been since they kissed and was purposely making situations hoping for a kiss. And then after a big love show, she turned him down because he is trans and she was worried about her image. I know this is meant to be a point of growth for the characters as she learns that it doesn't matter but yeah, I didn't like this.
Max, a trans friend, keeps putting pressure on Pony to be out and proud as a trans man when he keeps repeating that he wants to live stealth after what happened before. Then threatens that if he isn't out he will end the friendship. Emotional blackmail. Nope. As a trans person, I don't know a single trans person who would do this to another trans person. He does apologise later, but only after Pony comes out and gets attacked. Max is an incredibly shitty person and apologising is the very least, but yeah, I defo wouldn't trust or forgive someone for doing that. This is such a harmful situation, Pony should have 100% cut Max out of his life at the first sign of emotional manipulation. I really hope trans youths know that they don't ever have to come out like this. I live stealth in my life at work and I would 100% cut out a friend who expected me to share things online such as Facebook where it could risk outing me. Because respect is the least I ask for. Let alone from another trans person.
The book also got very dark very suddenly at the end. I understand it happens in life. That trans people get assaulted, and that trans people are at a higher risk of suicide. But I just don't think this was handled well at all. It was almost sudden with no warning.
If you're expecting a cute romance with some hard hitting bits, then it's worth looking into the TWs. Because this gets incredibly dark.
There is also theme throughout where Georgia is trying to find out Pony's deadname. It's revealed in the end, and although Georgia says that she didn't really need to know what it was and it doesn't matter, it would have been a much nicer thing if the name was never revealed to the reader. If it truly doesn't matter, then don't mention it. I understand the point that was trying to be made, but it would have made a bigger point to not make a huge point of it. The first 2 letters are revealed part way through the book and I feel like it almost leads the reader to want to figure out his deadname.
I've rated this 2.5/3* simply because there were some good points in this book and I was semi enjoying the train wreck of the romance thinking that it was just me not enjoying romance, but there are definitely some huge red flags with the romance.
First of all, I defo want to put here that I am a trans man. So this is my view as just 1 trans person.
First of all, the romance. I'm defo not great at reading romance, but I definitely didn't find it cute. This could just be me, I'm really aware that romance just isn't my thing. But it felt so focused. I hated, hated how Pony chased Georgia after she said she didn't want to date him. He was counting down the days it had been since they kissed and was purposely making situations hoping for a kiss. And then after a big love show, she turned him down because he is trans and she was worried about her image. I know this is meant to be a point of growth for the characters as she learns that it doesn't matter but yeah, I didn't like this.
Max, a trans friend, keeps putting pressure on Pony to be out and proud as a trans man when he keeps repeating that he wants to live stealth after what happened before. Then threatens that if he isn't out he will end the friendship. Emotional blackmail. Nope. As a trans person, I don't know a single trans person who would do this to another trans person. He does apologise later, but only after Pony comes out and gets attacked. Max is an incredibly shitty person and apologising is the very least, but yeah, I defo wouldn't trust or forgive someone for doing that. This is such a harmful situation, Pony should have 100% cut Max out of his life at the first sign of emotional manipulation. I really hope trans youths know that they don't ever have to come out like this. I live stealth in my life at work and I would 100% cut out a friend who expected me to share things online such as Facebook where it could risk outing me. Because respect is the least I ask for. Let alone from another trans person.
The book also got very dark very suddenly at the end. I understand it happens in life. That trans people get assaulted, and that trans people are at a higher risk of suicide. But I just don't think this was handled well at all. It was almost sudden with no warning.
If you're expecting a cute romance with some hard hitting bits, then it's worth looking into the TWs. Because this gets incredibly dark.
There is also theme throughout where Georgia is trying to find out Pony's deadname. It's revealed in the end, and although Georgia says that she didn't really need to know what it was and it doesn't matter, it would have been a much nicer thing if the name was never revealed to the reader. If it truly doesn't matter, then don't mention it. I understand the point that was trying to be made, but it would have made a bigger point to not make a huge point of it. The first 2 letters are revealed part way through the book and I feel like it almost leads the reader to want to figure out his deadname.
I've rated this 2.5/3* simply because there were some good points in this book and I was semi enjoying the train wreck of the romance thinking that it was just me not enjoying romance, but there are definitely some huge red flags with the romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
being_stupid's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing and Transphobia
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Deadnaming
forrestalexander's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-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
3.5
I have a ton of conflicting feelings about this book. I was searching for a story about a trans boy because there are so few out there, and of course, the ones that do exist out there are almost always laden with trauma - including this one.
This book is heavy - so heavy, I almost didn't finish reading it. I wanted to put it down multiple times, so I took breaks, but I kept reading.
In the end, I'm glad I did. I kept flip-flopping between liking and hating the book because it was so dark and triggering for me, but in the end, I liked it. Many of the characters experience such tremendous character growth, and there are heart-warming moments.
With that being said, if you're looking for a sweet, coming-of-age book about a boy who happens to be trans, this isn't it. This book is dark, sad, and heavy, and I would tell anyone who wants to read it to know that beforehand.
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, public outing
This book is heavy - so heavy, I almost didn't finish reading it. I wanted to put it down multiple times, so I took breaks, but I kept reading.
In the end, I'm glad I did. I kept flip-flopping between liking and hating the book because it was so dark and triggering for me, but in the end, I liked it. Many of the characters experience such tremendous character growth, and there are heart-warming moments.
With that being said, if you're looking for a sweet, coming-of-age book about a boy who happens to be trans, this isn't it. This book is dark, sad, and heavy, and I would tell anyone who wants to read it to know that beforehand.
TW: dysphoria, transphobia, homophobia, deadnaming, bullying, use of slurs, suicidal thoughts, public outing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Deadnaming, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, and Physical abuse
endlessly_a_bibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Get ready to cry in good and bad ways! I am not trans and will not try to speak on trans issues like I know or it’s my place, especially with the author being trans. There are wonderful parts of this book, this most poignant being the leading man, Pony. His character, his personality, and his witty banter made him so lovable. But the blatant transphobia from the leading lady, Georgia, being explained away at the end I can understand being incredibly frustrating. His friends and his sister being so incredibly pushy to him having to out himself to be a true member of the community was rough. I can’t imagine wanting to keep a friend that forced my hand like that. It could be incredibly trigging for those that have been publicly outed or hate crimed. I think it’s an important book that showcased issues I’m assuming the author felt close enough to to write about. I still cried, I still loved the writing, and I will still promote books by trans authors. But I think there were valid criticisms by reading other reviews
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Transphobia
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