I Wish You All the Best (vuoden 2020 painos)

Actual Rating: 4.75 stars

I’m not crying, you’re crying! ( )

“So, we’ll sit here in silence?”
“I’m cool with that, the world is too loud sometimes.”

FORMAT READ: Audiobook (Recommended)
SIMILAR VIBES: The Hate U Give, Eliza and Her Monsters, What If It’s Us
READ FOR: a Sherlock Holmes spin-off
TW: genderphobia/homophobia, abuse
READING LEVEL: Level 1-2 out of 5

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OVERALL THOUGHTS: 4.0

The book features a non-binary character and the commentary about gender awareness was so prevalent. I was so invested in Ben and Nathan was just so pure. It honestly made me think about the LGBTQ awareness and I think this book was able to achieve what it was meant for.

It wasn't so dark and negative all of the time but also was able to show positive sides of Ben's situation which I think made it easier for me to relate to as a story for someone who does not have similar labels as Ben.

I thought the representation talk was really great. I actually learned from it and I think other people would too.

“The universe doesn't have to exist outside this bedroom, and that's perfectly okay.”

There were just some inconsistencies in the writing that bothered me a bit but, neverhtheless, this is definitely a book that should be in the hands of more people. It's just one of those books that I know would find home and would save someone out there.

“Labels can help people find common ground.”

PLOT: ★★★☆☆
WRITING STYLE: ★★★☆☆
CHARACTERS: ★★★★☆
THEMES: ★★★★★
PACING: ★★★★☆
PAGE TURNER: ★★★☆☆ ( )

Powerful, comforting, and truly very very warm. Don't think I didn't notice how everyone around Ben was perfectly sweet and so willing to help.......and, well, it was kind of a breath of fresh air, to know that no matter how harsh it got with their parents or their anxiety, they would have so many people eager to help them on their feet and tell them not to give up. Super sweet. Comfort book. ( )

There's a lot to love here. The POV character Ben and their love interest Nathan are a great couple, and the romance is charming and full of sweet teenage obliviousness. It's great to see a nonbinary YA romance.

But there is something weird in the dynamic with Ben's parents and also with their therapist. I wasn't convinced by the parents' actions - they didn't seem internally consistent, but instead like they were driven by the demands of the plot. And the therapist's advice about how to deal with Ben's parents seemed pretty far off-target to me a lot of the time, like the therapist was following Ben into black and white thinking about their parents instead of taking a broader view.

That said, this was still a good, quick read, and I'd like to see more from this author. ( )

I feel noticed ( )