Matthew J. Metzger

Okay, I'll admit. Having previously read Like the First Moon Landing, I went into this one with a bias against Hélène. I didn't want to like her, but I hoped to be persuaded to do so if that makes sense. And I did … eventually.

Hélène does not make herself a sympathetic character. I couldn't muster even a single spark of compassion for her until halfway through the book. I got there in the end, though.

In terms of vibe, this book reminded me a lot of SJ Morden's One Way. If you don't mind a story with a central character who's hard work, give this one a try.… (more)

There's a lot of yelling in this story. I loved this story. I hate yelling. But I loved this story. If I could, I would give five stars for Eli and Rob, and Danny, and another five for the story and the rest of the characters. Eli and Rob are volatile and often wrong, but so right for each other despite the friction between Eli's parents and Rob because of his rough background. Well, among other frictions. They handled Eli wanting to transition to male badly. I have it on good authority that this is a great trans story.

I want a Rob. I live too sheltered a life, obviously.

The ending. Another five stars for the ending, seriously. FIFTEEN STARS.

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I loved and needed the humor lacing this story. It eased Anton into his new school and the crowd of semi-rabid puppy-like classmates Jude is part of and Anton finds himself among. The acceptance Anton has at home is lovely, but living as a boy is still harder than he wishes it was, and a new school is always scary. This is beautifully written and edited, the characters are delightfully colorful and complex. Anton feels real to me, his challenges worried me and his successes have me still grinning.

One element Metzger uses well in this story is anger. It's not always well-aimed, but every now and then, getting mad IS the best reaction.

Highly recommended.… (more)

I am not this book's intended audience. I'm decades beyond young adult.

The pace is slow; I started skimming at 55% in, because it was that or stop.

There's too much physical aggression between the friends for me to take it very seriously, by which I mean I kept picturing cartoon teens. But they are each distinct and made a good group. Well done, author.

The serious topics of being HIV-positive and handling mental illness are well enough handled (this is British) and only one parent is terrible, which I found comforting. I loved the frank safe sex talk considering the (medically-minimized) danger to the partner, very smart. So was Charlie's trans identity. He just is a guy and his body differences are just part of that. Adam's acceptance was no struggle at all, he fell for Charlie the person.

I just wish the filler dialogue and the dithering had been edited out. Oh well. :)… (more)