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foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Pretty adorable! I loved the pronoun fluidity and search for finding the right ones.
Rep: Triracial (white, Japanese, Afro-Caribbean) bisexual trans male MC, questioning genderqueer androphile asexual love interest with anxiety, lesbian side character.
CWs: Alcohol consumption (including underage), drug use, dysphoria, gaslighting, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks/disorders, toxic relationship, transphobia/transmisia, mentions of past coming out, discussion of past suicidal thoughts and attempt, mentions of past bullying, arophobia/aromisia.
Rep: Triracial (white, Japanese, Afro-Caribbean) bisexual trans male MC, questioning genderqueer androphile asexual love interest with anxiety, lesbian side character.
CWs: Alcohol consumption (including underage), drug use, dysphoria, gaslighting, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks/disorders, toxic relationship, transphobia/transmisia, mentions of past coming out, discussion of past suicidal thoughts and attempt, mentions of past bullying, arophobia/aromisia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Bullying
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
leocancer's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
memorable's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is just so pure! I loved every minute reading it! I especially liked the way Emery Lee portrayed Devin’s way of finding eir pronouns.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Bullying, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
Divorce Use of wrong pronounsemily_mh's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.25
This was just a really joyful book on trans love and trans joy. It really spoke to me given what I am discovering about my own gender identity, and the endgame romance made me feel all mushy (I basically fell in love with Devin). The reason this book did not get 5 stars is that I wish the ending was slightly different. Basically, I wish Noah hadn't had a tiff at the end over Becca. This felt really irrational and kind of against his character development and left his and Becca's relationship in a weird place again. I didn't so much mind his freak-out over Devin, but NOAH should have been the one to make the grand gesture for Devin, not the other way around. This would have given their relationship a little more power equality, and cemented more of Noah's character development, which I otherwise loved.
The main criticism of this book that I see other people have is that Noah is a bad main character. I want to challenge this as I think for the most part that's an unfair reason to dock the book stars. First of all, his narration is conversational and engaging. People say he is annoying, when really he is just cocky and confident which is a trait lauded in other beloved fictional characters (e.g. Tony Stark). And yeah, he's definitely not a perfect person, but that's a lot to expect 16 year-old - plus, he does undergo character development during the novel and recognises his own flaws. Finally, his flaws make him intensely relatable. Everyone messes up, especially at that age, and Noah's character shows how you can grow from those experiences. I really think that the ending of the book is just the beginning for his personal development. This is not to defend some of the decisions he makes, but to drive home the point that imperfection doesn't equal a bad character!
The main criticism of this book that I see other people have is that Noah is a bad main character. I want to challenge this as I think for the most part that's an unfair reason to dock the book stars. First of all, his narration is conversational and engaging. People say he is annoying, when really he is just cocky and confident which is a trait lauded in other beloved fictional characters (e.g. Tony Stark). And yeah, he's definitely not a perfect person, but that's a lot to expect 16 year-old - plus, he does undergo character development during the novel and recognises his own flaws. Finally, his flaws make him intensely relatable. Everyone messes up, especially at that age, and Noah's character shows how you can grow from those experiences. I really think that the ending of the book is just the beginning for his personal development. This is not to defend some of the decisions he makes, but to drive home the point that imperfection doesn't equal a bad character!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Cursing, Transphobia, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Religious bigotry, Racism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Mental illness, Infertility, and Infidelity
xoodlebooks's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. The story and writing style just weren’t for me. Also, the main character was super unlikeable. I normally don’t mind unlikeable characters, but this character really irked me. The way he wasted money also bothered me. Yay for rep, though! I am sure other people will like this story more than I did. Also, this is probably the first traditionally published YA book I’ve read that has neopronouns on the page!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug use, and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying and Suicide attempt
maisierosereads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Review to come!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Transphobia
Minor: Drug use and Racism
Underage drinking Relationship between a 16yo and an 18yomezzano's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Emery Lee's debut novel Meet Cute Diary strongest attribute in certainly in its representation. In the story, we have a trans and multi-racial protagonist with friends and family that love him. There is a Cuban supporting character who is genderqueer and asexual. The protagonist's best friend is a lesbian. Minor characters in the story are also shown to be a part of the LGBT community. The amount of casual questioning and embracing of pronouns and identity is a joy to see in Young Adult literature today.
Noah Ramirez runs a popular blog dedicated to giving trans people everywhere hope for their "happily ever after." Only a few people know his secret, like his best friend Becca. When Noah decides to spend a summer in his brother's college town while his parents get their new home set up in California, he secretly hopes that finally, one of his fictional "Meet Cutes" can become the real deal. The premise of this book is very sweet, and is a relatable theme for teenagers everywhere learning to handle changes in their lives. This book discusses a range of relationships and the main character must learn for himself what it truly means to be in a healthy and dedicated relationship with another person.
At times, the book can be frustrating due to Noah's self-centered and dramatic nature. Many opportunities to provide support for friends and loved ones with dialogue are often exchanged for venting sessions and rants. Noah is a judgmental person with a quick temper, and none of these things change by the end of the book. Early on, opportunities for genuine connection are brushed aside for fantastical blog ideas. By the end of the book, Noah does learn some things about what it means to recognize others' needs (and his own), but there is a feeling that it is "too little, too late" to make a fully satisfying ending.
Noah Ramirez runs a popular blog dedicated to giving trans people everywhere hope for their "happily ever after." Only a few people know his secret, like his best friend Becca. When Noah decides to spend a summer in his brother's college town while his parents get their new home set up in California, he secretly hopes that finally, one of his fictional "Meet Cutes" can become the real deal. The premise of this book is very sweet, and is a relatable theme for teenagers everywhere learning to handle changes in their lives. This book discusses a range of relationships and the main character must learn for himself what it truly means to be in a healthy and dedicated relationship with another person.
At times, the book can be frustrating due to Noah's self-centered and dramatic nature. Many opportunities to provide support for friends and loved ones with dialogue are often exchanged for venting sessions and rants. Noah is a judgmental person with a quick temper, and none of these things change by the end of the book. Early on, opportunities for genuine connection are brushed aside for fantastical blog ideas. By the end of the book, Noah does learn some things about what it means to recognize others' needs (and his own), but there is a feeling that it is "too little, too late" to make a fully satisfying ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Vomit
Unlisted content warnings: Aphobia Transphobic and aphobic remarks are made in this book. There is a suicide attempt described in the book (no real details, delivered "as a rumor") The main protagonist
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