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Mixed feelings on this one. To start with the positive, I appreciated the trans rep and how Nicola Dinan wrote about both the difficulties and rewarding elements of transitioning. The novel was unapologetically queer, and I also liked its message about how sometimes we have to grow apart from certain people to come more into ourselves.

That said, I found the prose and the characters overall flat. There wasn’t that spark that gets me excited when I read really engaging literary fiction. I also thought Tom’s character was written in a kind of annoying way. He’s a cis gay white man who works as an investment banker, and while he does have flaws that are human and such, his immense privilege especially in contrast with Ming felt skirted around or even minimized in off-putting ways. I honestly didn’t understand why Ming was into him. I actually wish Tom had been reduced to a more minor relationship in Ming’s life and that more of the novel was from Ming’s perspective.

The writing and plot moved me more in a two star direction though I respect Dinan for addressing topics not often featured in contemporary lit. It’s been a meh reading year for me overall so hoping some of my next reads can change that up!