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tellingetienne's review
5.0
Defying Convention is an unexpected and delightful novella that delves into meeting your best friend and the person you love for the very first time. Danny and AJ have been constant fixtures in each other’s lives for the last five years, but thanks to the internet, they’ve never been in the same room as one another. Brought together by fanfiction and fandom – with hours of getting their nerd on together online - Danny and AJ decide to spend the weekend with one another at a fan convention.
I saw this novella on the Less than Three website and knew I had to read it as soon as possible. When I saw that it was on NetGalley I jumped, and I am so glad I did. Defying Convention was everything I was expecting it to be and more. It was a sweet romance that left me wanting to know more about AJ and Danny, had me wanting to continue where it left off into their long-term story.
Beyond just being a sweet romance, it also offered representation of transgender and non-binary identities that is so rarely seen in published fiction. That fact alone was enough to have me pick up the novella. Defying Convention explores self-acceptance, anxiety, meeting online friends, and making spaces for yourself in a way that will come off as honest and familiar to many readers who are active in fandoms or even just on Twitter.
I definitely recommend that people spend the few dollars to pick up this story, it’s worth it!
I saw this novella on the Less than Three website and knew I had to read it as soon as possible. When I saw that it was on NetGalley I jumped, and I am so glad I did. Defying Convention was everything I was expecting it to be and more. It was a sweet romance that left me wanting to know more about AJ and Danny, had me wanting to continue where it left off into their long-term story.
Beyond just being a sweet romance, it also offered representation of transgender and non-binary identities that is so rarely seen in published fiction. That fact alone was enough to have me pick up the novella. Defying Convention explores self-acceptance, anxiety, meeting online friends, and making spaces for yourself in a way that will come off as honest and familiar to many readers who are active in fandoms or even just on Twitter.
I definitely recommend that people spend the few dollars to pick up this story, it’s worth it!
ratatouille1312's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tangleroot_eli's review
4.0
One thing that consistently impresses me about Less Than Three is its comittment to characters that read like real people with real problems, making them so much more relatable. In this case, we have Danny's social anxiety issues and AJ's highly overdeveloped care-taking inclinations. Not a story that'll change the world, but you'll recognize at least some aspect of yourself in these characters, and that will probably make your day at least a little brighter.
undertheteacup's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
catship_system's review
3.0
It was cute, but didn't really click with me (except for the sparse smut).
More words: https://cafe.sunbeam.city/~/CatOnBook/read-defying-convention-by-cecil-wilde
More words: https://cafe.sunbeam.city/~/CatOnBook/read-defying-convention-by-cecil-wilde
terriaminute's review
5.0
Five stars for sweetness. Seriously, if you need a short, sweet friends to lovers story between a trans guy with anxiety and a POC whose pronoun is they, both geeks, at a convention, here you go. It's low-key and satisfying. No caveats on these counts. I'd give four stars for plot, since I generally prefer a little more challenge, but it left me happy. All the stars.
stifledlaughter's review
5.0
A super fun and charming book! I really liked the main characters, and the handling of the real awkwardness of meeting someone "offline". AJ was a great nonbinary character (I particularly liked the discussion on top surgery from both Danny and AJ's perspectives). Danny was relatable in their nervousness. A lovely read that will leave you very warm and satisfied.
sashastorylover's review
4.0
4.5 stars!
so sweet and adorable!!!
Defying Convention is a novella about two online friends who are meeting for the first time to attend a convention together. They have crushes on each other and they are very cute and I love their love.
The story is told in dual 3rd person pov. Danny and AJ both have distinct voices and personalities. They are round and realistic characters. Danny is bisexual transgender man, he’s about 25 years old I think. He likes scifi movies and he’s just great. AJ is bisexual nonbinary person, they are of Sri Lankan decent and also about 25. AJ is chemist and they are a fan of comics. Also AJ has pink hair. I’m so weak for pink hair, they were my instant fave.
I love the romance between these two. It’s clear they have had five years of shared history and friendship before they start dating. They are such good communicators! They talk things through, making sure everyone is comfortable with what they are doing. I adore strong open recurring verbal consent in romance. The romance feels genuine and sweet. Also there are excellent sex scenes, high praise!
This novella is truly a gem. I haven’t expected anything less from Cecil Wilde, their A Boy Called Cin is stellar and Defying Convention is amazing as well.
CW: panic attacks, anxiety, low self-esteem, deadnaming
so sweet and adorable!!!
Defying Convention is a novella about two online friends who are meeting for the first time to attend a convention together. They have crushes on each other and they are very cute and I love their love.
The story is told in dual 3rd person pov. Danny and AJ both have distinct voices and personalities. They are round and realistic characters. Danny is bisexual transgender man, he’s about 25 years old I think. He likes scifi movies and he’s just great. AJ is bisexual nonbinary person, they are of Sri Lankan decent and also about 25. AJ is chemist and they are a fan of comics. Also AJ has pink hair. I’m so weak for pink hair, they were my instant fave.
I love the romance between these two. It’s clear they have had five years of shared history and friendship before they start dating. They are such good communicators! They talk things through, making sure everyone is comfortable with what they are doing. I adore strong open recurring verbal consent in romance. The romance feels genuine and sweet. Also there are excellent sex scenes, high praise!
This novella is truly a gem. I haven’t expected anything less from Cecil Wilde, their A Boy Called Cin is stellar and Defying Convention is amazing as well.
CW: panic attacks, anxiety, low self-esteem, deadnaming