I got drawn into a book yesterday. In that beautiful, unexpected way. I sat down to read Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender in the afternoon and thought I’d made some headway into this novel I’d been meaning to read for six months. I thought I’d read for an hour and then widdle away the rest of the afternoon watching my Thai romantic dramas in front of the fire.
But I could not put it down.
Felix Ever After follows Felix, a black, queer, trans teenager who wants to fall in love but is still grappling with identity and self-acceptance. The story takes place in the summer in New York City, kicking off the action when an anonymous student publically displays a gallery of Felix of pictures before he transitioned along with his deadname . . . and follows up this hate crime with a barrage of transphobic messages. Felix wants revenge and on his search to uncover his abuser ends up learning about himself and about first love.
I found the plot engaging and fast-paced, the characters well-developed, and the writing beautiful. I really couldn’t stop reading and I ended up doing a cover to cover read yesterday . . . the best kind of days.
I don’t know why I was sleeping on this book. I mean, I knew it was good. I’d bought it (or had it gifted) months ago for a reason. But I struggle starting new things, but this read was well worth it. Also, the cover art is gorgeous.
With Love,
Natalie