Title: Felix Ever After
Author: Kacen Callender
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 368
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Copy: Purchased
Availability: Out now!
Summary: From Stonewall and Lambda Award-winning author Kacen Callender comes a revelatory YA novel about a transgender teen grappling with identity and self-discovery while falling in love for the first time.
Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.
When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….
But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.
Review: It’s Pride Month! I’d say it’s the perfect time to pick up Felix Ever After, but any and every month is the perfect time to check this book out. Just look at that beautiful cover. And the story itself? Well, let’s get this review rolling!
First of all, if you’re like, “hey, I already read Felix Ever After” — then check out the group discussion between the four of us Rich in Color bloggers here. We’d love to hear your thoughts as well. Comment on our discussion post or Instagram or tweet us on Twitter.
Ok, back to this review. It’s going to be short and sweet, because I’d rather save you the time of reading this review and urge you to read the book! We’ve got an excerpt here: Click HERE to read the first two chapters of Felix Ever After!
Felix Ever After follows Felix Love as he applies to college, specifically Brown, navigates his friendships (and potential relationships), all while dealing with an anonymous classmate sending him transphobic messages. Felix comes up with a plot for revenge, but things don’t turn out the way he expects.
I am so, so glad that Felix Ever After exists, particularly for the QTPOC teens who will get to encounter this book on their library shelves. Felix Ever After center Felix’s struggles with believing that he is one marginalization too many to be worth of love. He’s Black, queer, and transgender. The dedication page of the book sets the tone for the book: “For trans and nonbinary youth: You’re beautiful. You’re important. You’re valid. You’re perfect.” Felix, spoiler alert, comes to embrace that he is worthy of love, and that is so powerful.
I highly recommend Felix Ever After. The story is just as beautiful as its cover, filled with hope and love and a nuanced discussion of identity. Get it ASAP, trust me.
Recommendation: Buy it now!
It was a sweet book, and I really liked Felix and Ezra. As a woman with a 17-year-old, I did wonder who the parents were of these kids. They seemed to do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, including staying out all night. I don’t know any of my kids’ friends who’d be allowed to do that. Maybe things are different in NYC, I suppose?