I loved this. Undeniably, it walks a line that allows it to be inclusive while also not pushing cis people too much, I think. But it’s also a really solid piece of YA romance with a sweet voice, plenty of well-earned cheese, and isn’t too easy. It doesn’t feel dark or like a horror story, and acknowledges the dangers of being trans, while also allowing Amanda to exist and be hopeful and inspiring. The audiobook narration was also _perfect_.

In looking through other reviews here, I saw one that links to allegations against the author. Domestic and sexual abuse, as well as mobilizing fans and followers against her ex-partner. These do seem pretty credible. Plenty of receipts. I recommend googling it to check out multiple sites and not just one. If it were any other book I might not rate it at all. This book does feel important though, and if I’m willing to leave reviews of Harry Potter books, despite JKR’s widely harmful views, I don’t think not evaluating the book is the answer. You could get this book second hand without supporting the author, or from the library, etc.