Genre: Young Adult
My Review - 5 Stars
I’m so glad this book exists in the world. This is an #ownvoices story about a nonbinary teenager coming out and then processing the aftermath. My heart broke for the way Ben's parents treated them but their estranged sister's olive branch gave me so much hope and I really enjoyed watching the evolution of their relationship with Hannah. And of course I loved their friendship with Nathan, even how resistant Ben was to see it as friendship at first, until Nathan’s charm wore them down. It was such a sweet love story.
While I appreciated the involvement of the therapist and felt it was very important for Ben to have a safe and unbiased space to process what happened, I wasn’t always sure about how she conducted her sessions. There were a few too many leading questions. However, I’m more picky about such things because I used to be a social worker.
I do hope that the next major YA story about a nonbinary teen will include a supportive coming out experience, minus any homophobic and transphobic parents. And of course, no forced outing. (Thankfully that didn’t happen in this book.) Yes, these are common experiences but I do wonder why so many of the touted LGBTQIA stories include these plot elements and what that says about cis-het readers being more comfortable with LGBTQIA pain and trauma than with their Happily Ever Afters.
Lastly, this is great on audiobook.
CW: toxic parents, character kicked out of their home after coming out, references to homophobia and transphobia, underage drinking, depression, anxiety, panic attack
Synopsis
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.
But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.
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