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silvern0va's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay. It was a cute, fluff piece. It was about a 5 hour read. My only issue is it's incredibly cliche and almost reads like the author's highschool fantasy, but maybe that's the cynic in me.
samjoc's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
abisliterarylounge's review against another edition
challenging
tense
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
agreevious's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sjeast17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria, Hate crime, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
perusinghannah's review against another edition
3.5
Stay Gold is an ownvoice YA contemporary novel for the trans kids, and it's filled with so much love. While I can't speak to the actual representation, I thought this novel was tackling a lot of discussions that sadly still need to be had, ranging from safety and the need for visibility, to activism an allyship.
I also thought the author brought his main character Pony (yes, that's where the title comes from) to life with a lot of vulnerability and tenderness. There was a lot of nuance to him that made for an interesting reading experience, and I enjoyed following him as he slowly stepped into himself and his voice.
I just really wish the same could be said for our other main character, Georgia. The "not like other girls, this cheerleader actually has some personality!" bullshit was far too strong for way too long, and everything that made Georgia 'quirky' felt incredibly forced. It's clear she only exists for the purpose of illustrating Pony's hardships, and had she been a side character (who are also all very caricaturish and flimsy), this wouldn't have bothered me as much as it did with her sharing equal page time. She does have some growth towards the very end, but she never felt like a solid person to me.
So not a perfect novel for me, but that's okay. It's definitely one I am glad exists in the world, especially for the kids like Pony who are just trying to live authentic lives in communities that may not want to let them.
I also thought the author brought his main character Pony (yes, that's where the title comes from) to life with a lot of vulnerability and tenderness. There was a lot of nuance to him that made for an interesting reading experience, and I enjoyed following him as he slowly stepped into himself and his voice.
I just really wish the same could be said for our other main character, Georgia. The "not like other girls, this cheerleader actually has some personality!" bullshit was far too strong for way too long, and everything that made Georgia 'quirky' felt incredibly forced. It's clear she only exists for the purpose of illustrating Pony's hardships, and had she been a side character (who are also all very caricaturish and flimsy), this wouldn't have bothered me as much as it did with her sharing equal page time. She does have some growth towards the very end, but she never felt like a solid person to me.
So not a perfect novel for me, but that's okay. It's definitely one I am glad exists in the world, especially for the kids like Pony who are just trying to live authentic lives in communities that may not want to let them.
julesthefool's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
paydendyer's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Wish I would've read the other reviews before reading this. It started out good but had quite a lot of triggering things, especially for it being a YA novel. The ending felt very rushed, and the hate crime towards the end was alarming and graphic. I didn't like how the book focused so much on Pony not being out, and how everyone around him pressured him to be out. I think the author was maybe attempting to make a point of why it's not always safe for trans people to be out with the scene towards the end, but it just felt like a terrible way to do that. I don't like the idea that trans people have to be educating other people- some people choose to but nobody should have to. I didn't like Georgia's character and I definitely didn't like how it took Pony being hate crimed to make her want to be with him. Also the dad's words were very triggering as well. Realistic I guess, but just not the type of trans media I was searching for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Hate crime
Moderate: Emotional abuse
melye's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Would have loved this as a teen