Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

Book Review

I had this book on my TBR for quite a while after seeing many of my book friends rave about it, so I was thrilled when Megan Rapinoe chose it as her November selection for her book club, The Call In, with Literati. For more info on Literati, check out my story highlight. 😊

This is a story about self-discovery, love and acceptance. Felix Love is comfortable with his transgender identity; however, when an anonymous student secretly hacks into Felix’s phone and displays images of him before his transition (along with his pre-transition deadname) in a gallery at school, Felix is forced to reexamine his relationships. Who would purposely out him in such a malicious and public way? As Felix devises a plan for revenge, he unexpectedly finds himself in a love triangle. At the same time, Felix begins to question his identify and starts to explore the different pronouns and identities that exists within the queer community.

My favorite part about this book was learning from Felix and witnessing his journey to discover his true self. I also enjoyed seeing him fall in love for the first time and experience the many highs and lows that accompany young love.

Admittedly, much of the book felt a bit young for me - especially some of the melodramatic interactions between Felix and his friends. However, this is a YA book and I fully recognize that I am not the intended audience for this particular novel. Nevertheless, I’m so glad this book exists… it’s so important for young people to grow up seeing characters they can identify with and this book does a terrific job of explaining in simple terms the various gender identities and exploring what it means to feel seen, understood and loved for one’s true self.

The book also dives into the various dynamics and biases within the queer community. As a Black, queer and transgender teen, Felix often feels he’s one marginalization too many - especially compared to his white, cisgender gay friends.

Overall, this was a sweet and educational read and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy YA or just want to learn more about the transgender experience through an approachable and engaging narrative.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5