Felix Ever After

A good idea and written well, but as I said to my other half, it has every iteration of parent going. Most of them are awful, but even the ones that are lovely and trying their best in tough situations are portrayed as evil. Its ridiculous.

The heading says it all

4.5 starsHeadlines:Roller coaster emotionsA road to understandingJourneysThis book packed a punch to my heart, my emotions and it also paved a way to learning. I feel like this book should be a high school must-read, to provide a space for identificaton for teens questioning but also to inform, teach and give the opportunity to walk for a little while in Felix's shoes. I threw myself into this story, the characters and they educated me and I loved them.There is a world of hurt in this read, be ready. Felix was the kind of endearing and relatable character, finding his way, himself and often a bit of loner apart from his bestie. The hurt from family quarters was something deep, the hurt that arose from actions in school nearly did me in, my jaw drop and I felt.The story was so quintessential age 17 in lots of ways but through the lens of someone experiencing life in a way many of us will not. This isn't an overtly educational book but it really did educate me about that thing I am most interested in - people's lived experiences. There were so many lines in this book, often inner monologue that struck me and stayed with me. Here's a few.I guess it just feels like I have one marginalisation too many, sometimes."The pride march is in a couple of weeks," they say."But sometimes, it can be difficult to find pride for ourselves."Read. This. Book.

👑 THE PLOTWe join Felix at the summer art classes he’s taking in preparation to apply for the college of his dreams. But one morning he discovers that someone has printed out old pictures from his private Instagram account and hung them up around the school for everyone to see, revealing his deadname to his classmates.With his best friend Ezra, Felix becomes determined to discover who was behind the gallery, all whilst trying to figure out the confusion he’s been feeling over his identity, and the changing feelings he’s having towards certain people in his life.👑 THE CHARACTERSFelix is a character who people will be able to see themselves in, especially people who are struggling with similar identity issues. Each person has their own unique journey when it comes to discovering who they are, but there are feelings and experiences that many people will be able to relate to. He’s a character who is far from perfect, but his mistakes are completely normal and only make him more endearing.Whilst I adore the bond between Felix and Ezra, I’m glad that Felix was able to open up to more people over the course of the story, rather than staying within the bubble of safety that Ezra provided. His interactions with others, like Declan and Leah, were exciting to read. I was also grateful for the relationship between Felix and his father. Things aren’t perfect, but both of them are trying.I will say there’s a bit of a love triangle in this book. We all know I’m not a huge fan of The Triangle™️, but I think it worked in this case. I was torn on who to root for though, which was probably down to my own preference of certain tropes.👑 REASONS TO LOVE➸ A celebration of identity. This book is all about discovering and celebrating who you are. There are a lot of labels out there. Some people will find one that calls out to them, that feels right. Some people might never find one that seems to fit, and that’s okay.➸ Realistic romance. Felix has never been in a relationship before and finds himself confused over his feelings. The reality is that romance is complicated, especially between people who have already established specific relationships with each other.➸ Important conversations. This story does a perfect job of inserting conversations we need to be having. We need to be calling out the abuse that trans people have to deal with on a regular basis.👑 THE FINAL WORDFelix Ever After warmed my heart as much as it broke it. We absolutely need more Own Voices stories like this in YA, more characters for people to see themselves represented in. It reminds readers that it’s okay to be confused and question identity, even after we think we’ve got it all figured out.

I read Felix Ever After in one sitting as it was such an engaging story. Felix is seventeen years old with a passion for art. He's also Black, queer and transgender, and worries this is one marginalisation too many. The story is Felix's journey as he learns to love and accept himself, to give himself validation rather than seeking it from others. It's an empowering tale and one that I think will resonate with many readers.A lot of the action takes place at the private art school Felix attends (thanks to his dad working multiple jobs) alongside his best friend Ezra. Most of the other students are queer or openly accepting but one day an anonymous person displays photos of Felix pre-transition alongside his deadname. Felix then begins receiving transphobic messages, full of hateful sentiments. It's sickening to read and I can only imagine how violating it must be for Felix.Felix also questions the acceptance of his father who, despite paying for his hormones and top surgery, refuses to use his name and sometimes even uses his deadname. I thought their relationship was authentically portrayed and I was pleased with its resolution. But it's the friendship with Ezra that shines through the story. Ezra is an amazing person and such a supportive friend. I don't want to spoil anything that happens but it's epic and a rollercoaster of emotions.Felix Ever After deserves a place in every school library as it might just save someone's life. I hope my review encourages you to pick up this book but it's the opinion of #ownvoices reviewers that really matters so please go check those out.

A wonderful coming-of-age story, with well-rounded and diverse characters. I loved the LGBTQIA+ elements presented in this story. Felix is Queer and transgender and I feel like the author did a great job in presenting the struggles of being different in a world where people judge you based on appearances. This book tackles some delicate issues like transphobia, bullying, catfishing, and name shaming but it also talks about family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. Overall, it was a heartwarming story and I would recommend trying it on audio as well; the narrator puts a lot of feeling into portraying the characters.