Review - I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver

 

 

 

Title: I Wish You All The Best

Author: Mason Deaver

Pages: 336

Publisher: Push

Release Date: 14th May 2019

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

 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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My Review: 

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Macmillan Children's Books and NetGalley*

Ben De Backer is kicked out of their family home when they come out to their parents as nonbinary. With no other options, Ben calls their older sister, Hannah, who they haven't seen or spoken to in years.

Hannah and her husband, Thomas, who Ben has never met, let Ben move into their home, and to finish off the rest of senior year at the school where Thomas teaches.

Ben just wants to keep their head down and not draw attention, but a fellow student called Nathan seems determined to befriend them.

I had heard good things about this book, so I was excited to read it.

The book throws the reader straight into the deep end, with Ben being thrown out of their home right at the very start. I found this jarring, as I hadn't had time to get to know Ben, but that may have been the author's intention.

Ben was a likeable and relatable protagonist for the most part - while I did empathise with them, and knew that I couldn't even begin to know what they were going through, I did find the self-pity a bit annoying at times.

I liked the supporting characters and the relationships that Ben developed.

The plot was interesting and held my attention. However, I felt that from the beginning, I was never fully immersed or invested in what happened, which I think was down to the jarring opening.

I can see this being a very important book to a lot of people, and it is certainly an important topic, it just didn't hit home for me, unfortunately.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.