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ki31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
salinafloye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
This was a great short read and not entirely what I was expecting but a great way to kick off pride month for me 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
blurrypetals's review
3.0
This, for some reason, reminds me of the book The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich: excellent in concept and theory, not so much on the execution.
I'm so there for the idea that Peter Pan is actually the identity a trans Wendy Darling assumed. I love the idea of mixing the struggles of a young trans person with the, "I won't grow up," ideology of Peter Pan. I even enjoyed the idea of introducing a little romance to an older, more "grown up" Peter, but for whatever reason, I just didn't really buy into the plotline with Hook. I expected the romance to be with Ernest, the only real Lost Boy other than Peter himself. Their chemistry was much more believable and immediate so I was honestly a little disappointed with the direction that was taken instead.
My other issue was that I didn't feel as if Peter learned anything or changed by the end of the story. Hook did, which was nice, but the name of the book isn't James Hook, it's Peter Darling.
With all that said, I did enjoy myself. I have an extremely soft spot for all things Peter Pan, especially things like this that reinvent and reimagine the story and characters we know so well. Hopefully someone else will take notes from this and write a better, more engaging story to match the enrapturing themes.
I'm so there for the idea that Peter Pan is actually the identity a trans Wendy Darling assumed. I love the idea of mixing the struggles of a young trans person with the, "I won't grow up," ideology of Peter Pan. I even enjoyed the idea of introducing a little romance to an older, more "grown up" Peter, but for whatever reason, I just didn't really buy into the plotline with Hook. I expected the romance to be with Ernest, the only real Lost Boy other than Peter himself. Their chemistry was much more believable and immediate so I was honestly a little disappointed with the direction that was taken instead.
My other issue was that I didn't feel as if Peter learned anything or changed by the end of the story. Hook did, which was nice, but the name of the book isn't James Hook, it's Peter Darling.
With all that said, I did enjoy myself. I have an extremely soft spot for all things Peter Pan, especially things like this that reinvent and reimagine the story and characters we know so well. Hopefully someone else will take notes from this and write a better, more engaging story to match the enrapturing themes.
jdhwoods's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cklbrown9's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
keitodesuu's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
More fanfic adjacent than I was expecting, but that made it a fun and indulgent read
pearyaoki's review
4.25
This was cute! A very sweet and quick peter pan retelling.
The author did end up changing quite a bit about Neverland and how it works so I do wish it had been expanded and explained a bit more rather than it did.
Also I adored the ending!
The author did end up changing quite a bit about Neverland and how it works so I do wish it had been expanded and explained a bit more rather than it did.
Also I adored the ending!
trin's review
4.0
Lush and romantic, this is the rare pro-romance that reads like fanfic -- which, if you know me at all, is the opposite of a snide comment: it is the highest, highest compliment.
My one regret is that this isn't longer, a) because it would give me more to enjoy, and b) because it would allow some elements that were slightly underdeveloped to be better served. Chant has a lot of fascinating ideas about story and identity about which I would happily read several more book-length explorations. I hope he writes them.
My one regret is that this isn't longer, a) because it would give me more to enjoy, and b) because it would allow some elements that were slightly underdeveloped to be better served. Chant has a lot of fascinating ideas about story and identity about which I would happily read several more book-length explorations. I hope he writes them.
carriesheri's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.25
judeandolin's review against another edition
5.0
This tiny book packs an adorable punch. For the first half (about 100 pages), I was really wondering what the heck I was going to rate this. I wasn't too enthused yet (though it was cute and enjoyable), and I was considering putting it down and starting something else. Luckily I stuck with it! It was such a cute book, and the last few scenes warmed my cold, shriveled heart so much that I had to give it five stars.
Basically, Peter is trans, born Wendy. I was a little confused by the premise, mostly because I read it incorrectly ("life with Wendy Darling" instead of "life as Wendy Darling", so I thought Peter had grown up with Wendy and married her or something before returning to Neverland). Peter gives up Neverland to return to his family, but is miserable living a lie and returns after ten years. The book doesn't come right out and spell this out, but there are flashback scenes and dreams that will be confusing if you don't understand this.
He comes back to find that a new boy, Ernest, has taken over leadership of the Lost Boys, and has entered into a truce with Captain Hook. Peter finds this boring and sets out to destroy the truce and restore excitement to Neverland.
[This was the part I didn't really like, though it was true to the original in some ways. I had a hard time believing that Peter was actually 20-something and not still a little kid, because of his wanton disregard for lives, his love of violence, etc. It makes sense in the original, but it was hard to suspend my disbelief and remind myself that he was supposed to be an adult now.]
So Peter enters into a new war with Captain Hook, and he couldn't be more excited. Hook shares the same feeling; his life had grown rather boring without Peter there to spice it up. So, things escalate and Peter and Hook find themselves trapped underground due to a cave in. This is when it started to get adorable. Stuck together and relying on each other to escape, Hook and Peter begin to talk and see each other in a new light. They realize that they're both in Neverland to escape something in their real lives, and this knowledge brings them closer together.
Without spoiling the ending, just know that it's the sweetest thing I've read in a long time.
Overall this was an absolutely adorable book about overcoming your demons and finding the person who will love you as you want to be loved.
Basically, Peter is trans, born Wendy. I was a little confused by the premise, mostly because I read it incorrectly ("life with Wendy Darling" instead of "life as Wendy Darling", so I thought Peter had grown up with Wendy and married her or something before returning to Neverland). Peter gives up Neverland to return to his family, but is miserable living a lie and returns after ten years. The book doesn't come right out and spell this out, but there are flashback scenes and dreams that will be confusing if you don't understand this.
He comes back to find that a new boy, Ernest, has taken over leadership of the Lost Boys, and has entered into a truce with Captain Hook. Peter finds this boring and sets out to destroy the truce and restore excitement to Neverland.
[This was the part I didn't really like, though it was true to the original in some ways. I had a hard time believing that Peter was actually 20-something and not still a little kid, because of his wanton disregard for lives, his love of violence, etc. It makes sense in the original, but it was hard to suspend my disbelief and remind myself that he was supposed to be an adult now.]
So Peter enters into a new war with Captain Hook, and he couldn't be more excited. Hook shares the same feeling; his life had grown rather boring without Peter there to spice it up. So, things escalate and Peter and Hook find themselves trapped underground due to a cave in. This is when it started to get adorable. Stuck together and relying on each other to escape, Hook and Peter begin to talk and see each other in a new light. They realize that they're both in Neverland to escape something in their real lives, and this knowledge brings them closer together.
Without spoiling the ending, just know that it's the sweetest thing I've read in a long time.
Overall this was an absolutely adorable book about overcoming your demons and finding the person who will love you as you want to be loved.