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longlost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. Autistic rep AND queer rep ?? All I want in life. Unfortunately I just could not vibe with the book or its characters.
Lukas and Jeremy's relationship was not enjoyable to read about during most points of the book. It came off as TOO mean-spirited so so often and I genuinely don't see why
I DID enjoy the queer power message in this book, and while I didn't enjoy the shitty school system it also reflects reality unfortunately so. I wish I could have liked this book more because I'm 100% behind Jeremy's fight to change the Code so that the harassment he's facing is Actually Acknowledged but I couldn't stand the main plot of fighting over the Homecoming crown even if I could sympathize with both character's motivations. The actions they took against each other just felt too mean-spirited.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, Ableism, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Grief, Dysphoria, Cursing, Misogyny, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Blood, Death, Racism, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
aslanjude's review
- 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
Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
alyxinthestars'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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, Ableism, Bullying, Dysphoria, Grief, Hate crime, and Sexual assault
Minor: Biphobia, Alcohol, Car accident, Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism
lish_reads's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Transphobia, Hate crime, Dysphoria, Deadnaming, Ableism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Biphobia, Misogyny, Death, Blood, Alcohol, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
c95newman's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. In the beginning both Jeremy and Lukas are self destructive assholes. But all their self destructive tendencies come from a place of fear, of loneliness, and of insecurity. They feel so real, human, and authenticly teenaged.
Representation is really important and this book thrived in that area. There were aisian characters, nuerodivergent characters, and non binary characters. And lots of characters go on journeys of accepting themselves or someone else in a way that feels natural.
The big themes of the book was masculinity and what it means to be a man, and found family. The discussions around Jeremy and his struggles with toxic masculinity really resonated with my fears as a trans man. And the found family dynamics are so key to any queer story.
And outside of it being exciting to read a trans story, this story was just so captivating! Its a drama filled with missed connections, high school angst and passionate moments. Its everything you could ever want from a drama.
I think that May the best Man Win was everything I wanted from a transmasc drama. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good redemption arc, anyone who is trans, and anyone who loves a trans person in any capacity. 5/5 stars.
Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Homophobia, and Sexual harassment
seawarrior's review
- 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
4.0
Both boys could be horrible throughout the story. I spent most of it angry with Jeremy in particular. However, I did see my own angry, terrified, newly transitioning teenage self reflected in his rage and self destructive views. Anger is a key theme throughout the book; Jeremy takes it out on others, while Lukas turns it against himself.
It's not exactly rewarding to see the ugliest parts of transitioning into a boy transcribed into words, but I do feel it's important. It's rare to find stories that tackle the grief and the rage that trying to find yourself again as a self-made man can inspire. Walking the line between rejecting toxic masculinity from your personhood and protecting yourself from the wrath those who embrace it feel towards you can feel like an everlosing war, especially when trapped in environments with hateful men who are never held accountable. At the same time, we risk losing formerly close relationships with cisgender women who struggle to understand us as both a male and as someone who's experienced similar gender-based violence all our lives. Finding community again in these circumstances can be rough, but it is possible once we learn to let our anger evaporate and trust that our loved ones will protect us once we part with the armor that rage provides. I feel relieved to find a story that embraces these difficult issues as a part of it while still reminding the reader that our lives aren't as hopeless as they can sometimes feel.
I was also excited to find out that Lukas was autistic. His own struggles with wanting to control how people viewed him felt really relatable to me too. Yet I didn't feel he was able to have his tangled emotions and self-hatred resolved as much as Jeremy did, which was disappointing.
Overall, this story was one I really loved. It presents itself less as puzzle piece that fits exactly in place to validate the reader and more like a series of ever-shifting mechanisms that shy away from snapping together so simply. I don't think that's necessarily a flaw. These characters hold a lot of meaning for me and I expect them to stick with me for a long time. If their author ever wants to continue their story, I would be delighted to re-enter their world.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Cursing, Dysphoria, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia, Biphobia, Drug use, Alcohol, Antisemitism, and Racism
westcdf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
ajankloss's review
- 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
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
danielghurst's review
- 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
This book has a lot to praise, most significantly the important representation within both the two main characters and the supporting cast. Readers from myriad backgrounds and identities will see teenagers like them on the page. It's nice to see characters with serious flaws and supporting characters with thought-out arcs and full lives, even if much of it is off the page. We also see the characters face discrimination, which happens in various forms and in a range of severity.
I'm so glad this book is out in the world. I'd strongly recommend it for teen readers!
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook!
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Ableism, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Misogyny, Outing, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
mrsmiralda's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Deadnaming, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Death