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A review by mrsmiralda
May the Best Man Win by Z.R. Ellor
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book could’ve been great but it was missing so much. Not only is the main character Jeremy so incredibly problematic and toxic, there’s just some horrible things that happen in this book that go unaddressed and ignored. Lukas, who is autistic, is questioning his sexual identity after his ex boyfriend (Jeremy) transitioned ftm. There’s plot points I won’t get into, but at one point Lukas shares videos of Jeremy before he transitioned as an oversight (which seems like a crappy oversight, seeing as Jeremy makes it very clear all of the time how he wants zero association with who he used to present as) and Jeremy threatened to out Lukas’s autism to the school. Lukas feels some type of way about his autism so that was really uncool, but it was glossed over and not really talked about afterwards…???
Also, the school administrators SUCKED. As a future educator, I would’ve liked to see some positive teachers or administrators but instead all we see is teachers who deadname and misgender Jeremy, physical abuse due to transphobia being ignored, and the school system overall disappointing neurodivergent children. It was really frustrating for me to read because it’s unfortunate that this is the reality for most students. I vow to be different and I just wish there was some semblance of hope among the adults in this book. But not one of them was a positive influence.
I can’t speak on the trans rep or the autistic rep, but from my perspective, the book was missing key elements to make it be an empowering story. It was full of miscommunication that made me want to tear my hair out, and the ending felt rushed. I’m just disappointed.
Also, the two side characters that were used for plot development felt like diversity points. Sol is a Hispanic non-binary person and Naomi is an Asian girl and they are both used and treated like trash the entire time. And somehow they both forgave the trash they were handed without so much as apologies? Are they not worth anything?
There was also a line in the book that was quite lesbophobic about TERFs being mainly lesbians? Completely unnecessary.
Just…this book made me so angry. I don’t recommend this unless you like dumpster fire.
Also, the school administrators SUCKED. As a future educator, I would’ve liked to see some positive teachers or administrators but instead all we see is teachers who deadname and misgender Jeremy, physical abuse due to transphobia being ignored, and the school system overall disappointing neurodivergent children. It was really frustrating for me to read because it’s unfortunate that this is the reality for most students. I vow to be different and I just wish there was some semblance of hope among the adults in this book. But not one of them was a positive influence.
I can’t speak on the trans rep or the autistic rep, but from my perspective, the book was missing key elements to make it be an empowering story. It was full of miscommunication that made me want to tear my hair out, and the ending felt rushed. I’m just disappointed.
Also, the two side characters that were used for plot development felt like diversity points. Sol is a Hispanic non-binary person and Naomi is an Asian girl and they are both used and treated like trash the entire time. And somehow they both forgave the trash they were handed without so much as apologies? Are they not worth anything?
There was also a line in the book that was quite lesbophobic about TERFs being mainly lesbians? Completely unnecessary.
Just…this book made me so angry. I don’t recommend this unless you like dumpster fire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Death