I love the idea of this book. I think there needs to be many more of this sort of genre that offers representation to characters that we don't hear from as often. That being said, I am aware that the author is not trans and yet is trying to write this from a trans perspective. In a perfect world, maybe someday, this should be attainable and believable. In the current world though, even if this is researched to within an inch of its life, it is a big ask. It is difficult enough to try to write an opposite sex protagonist and make it believable, and this is the common scenario..But then to venture into an area of culture that is less discussed and portrayed publicly, especially in terms of finer details or relationships, that is incredibly hard to pull off and I don't think this book quite gets there.
I think maybe in another several years, once many more books from the LGBTQ perspective are mainstream, this will not be a big deal to try.
Thanks for the early edition and keep on going.
#SomethingLikeGravity #NetGalley #SimonandSchusterChildrensPublishing #MargaretKMcElderryBooks

We NEED more books that represent LGBTQI. We NEED books written by authors within that community for accurate and true representation. I was soo excited for this book and could not finish it because it just seemed like key parts of being a transgender teenager were not quite fleshed out,. I think a few tweaks could have helped.
Maia just annoyed me throughout what I read and the inconsistencies with Chris just made it feel like a rough draft of something that had potential.

Something Like Gravity was a touching and heart-provoking story about finding your way after experiencing a heart-breaking loss. Maia lost her older sister and is trying to pick up the pieces when she meets her next door neighbor, Chris. Together, these two find that they have an unbreakable connection and learn that you can find love when you least expect it.

I really liked this story and my heart broke for both of these characters. I couldn’t imagine all the things that Chris went through and I was so glad that he found Maia to bring love into his life. This is a great story that will stick with you long after you finish reading it.

Whew. Okay. Let me start with two things:

1) I am genuinely so sorry to any of my trans friends who may have been hurt by my initial positive rating/remarks about this book. I was seeing things through an incredibly ignorant (and cis) lens. This is one of those instances that reminded me that, when it comes to books that are not own-voice, I should really be looking for own-voice reviews before I start recommending these titles to others.

2) Honestly, feel free to stop reading my review here and check out the own-voice reviews here and here, because they touch on points that I would never have thought to criticize this work for (like the improper usage of a binder that seems to not have been well-researched at all on the author's part).

Something Like Gravity strikes me as the perfect example of why many (not ALL, but MANY) authors aren't capable of writing proper representation outside of their own lanes. What I thought was well-intended (if sometimes problematic) trans rep from a cis author is being called out by many own-voice reviewers as being very poor representation, and that hurts my heart, because I know there are own-voice books with trans representation that aren't getting the hype and marketing this book has received.

When I first finished the book, I gave it 4 stars because I had enjoyed it for the most part. Even to my misguided reading, there were some major issues I had (such as the trans character being outed without consent by another character spying on them while they changed clothes - I honestly almost DNFed the ARC at this point because it was so out of left field and infuriated me, but I kept going because I hoped it would be addressed fully later. Now I've come to realize that not only was it not handled well, but frankly, it shouldn't have happened at all, at least not without TWs for trans readers who could be immensely triggered by it). That said, I thought the characters were fairly likeable and I think Smith's prose is really lovely.

After reading multiple own-voice reviews, though, I've come to realize that there are a lot of issues with this book — but that's not the only reason I changed my rating. I finished this book about 2 months ago at the time I'm reviewing it, and it has been so immensely un-memorable that I literally forgot it was on my "RTC" shelf until earlier today. When I sat down to review it, I struggled to even remember what had happened because, in hindsight, these characters and this romance are bland. Maia is low-key awful, Chris' entire personality revolves around 10% PTSD, 90% running (and there are some comments made about Chris' views of his own body that are a struggle), the plot is mostly non-existent, and I couldn't tell you a single thing about any of the side characters if my life depended on it.

All in all, this was a mediocre book made worse by poorly-researched representation. I definitely want to try more of Amber Smith's work because, like I said, her narrative voice itself is really nice and I've heard many people say her plots and characters are usually a lot better than this. But... yeah, this one didn't do anyone any favors.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I devoured this book and absolutely loved it!! The characters were so likable and their love story was adorable and sweet despite the heavy, real-life issues they were both dealing with. This was my first book from Amber Smith and I can't wait to read more by her. This was a wonderful YA novel that made me ugly cry at 3 am and I highly recommend it! Thank you to @netgalley for the copy!

I found the characters in this book unrealistic and one dimensional. Without a strong link to the characters, it's hard to stay engaged with the plot.

A story of dealing with trauma and figuring out who you are after life has changed, this book has a powerful message of hope and healing.
After Chris almost runs over Maia with his car, their relationship isn't off to the best start. But since Chris is new in town and doesn't know Maia's past, they gravitate toward each other. After all, they are neighbors, at least for the summer. They can't ignore each other forever, especially in a small town like Carson.
Told in alternating chapters, we really get to get in the heads of both Maia and Chris. Despite a rocky beginning, they quickly become close, utilizing the freedom of summer to just be together.
It’s a beautifully written story!

Something Like Gravity is a remarkable story that follows two characters trying to navigate their new lives in different ways. For Chris, he is a trans man who is trying to navigate his newfound acceptance of his identity the affect it has had on those around him. However, due to the hatred and bigotry that he has faced leading to an assault that landed him in the hospital, Chris has moved in with his aunt miles away from home. This is a genuine issue and the way the author does not shy away from the brutality of the scene while also not just giving it to the reader initially, allowing some build-up creates an impact on the reader. The scene inserts itself suddenly, and yet the flow to it, the buildup and the context connect with the reader. This is something that unfortunately happens every day, where brutality and assault like the one Chris endures makes the news, and the way Smith brings it to young readers allows the reader to understand and empathize with Chris while also bringing light to the issue. The way Chris operates the way he grows his sense of trust and identity; it is all done so well in the novel to the point that the reader can grasp who Chris is as a person.

For Maia, her world has turned upside down because her sister died suddenly of an undiagnosed health issue. Her life was always living in her sister’s shadow, and she was content with that until she was not. That is the part of the story that breaks her because she does not ‘know how to navigate this new world without her sister overshadowing. She does not know how to be Maia without her; she never had an identity of her own. Maia spends the earlier parts of the novel trying to connect with who her sister was. For Maia, her journey is all about navigating through her anger and her grief.

The story brings these two characters together so that together they find the acceptance, love, and inner peace they need. Through each other, they can look inside themselves and find the peace that they need. It is an empowering message to readers no matter what situation they are going through. That is why Something Like Gravity is such a compelling read, it resonates with the reader and makes for in a genuinely compelling read.

It’s very unfortunate that books that are only available in PDF expire. Although I downloaded it, I can no longer access this title and can’t download again now that it’s been archived. May I respectfully request that you make your titles available for a Kindle download so they don’t expire? Thank you.

I adored this novel. I saved the ARC for pride month and I honestly felt so connected to the story. I loved that we got to see a transgender character since there isn’t a lot of that in YA novels. I am amazed at this book.

This book was great. Fantastic characters and subject matter. I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author. I also love the cover.

I think this book provides a great narrative around the topics of transgender youth, rural areas, and teenage love. Insights the reader gets into the minds of the 2 main characters can reach to an audience that might not find their voices/identities represented in mainstream literature. I definitely will use this title as a reader's advisory tool and recommend that teens and young adults read this.

I thought that this book was sweet, poignant, kind and thought provoking. A great insight into anothers world, with kindness and feeling. To feel comfortable in your own skin takes true acceptance of who you are, and books like these provide a connection for those that may well feel outside. I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.

Tough situations handled well by author!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Margaret K. McElderry Books for the opportunity to read and review Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith!
First we meet Chris, who’s changed identities. Next is Maia who has lost her sister Mallory. Both main characters feel lost and, while Chris is struggling with the transformation of being transgender, Maia is trying to figure out the basics of who she is without her sister. The two of them work through some of their struggles together but Maia seems to be having a more difficult time adjusting personally than Chris. Transgenderism is handled perfectly from all perspectives, personal, family, friends and romantic relationships. Being transgender would be difficult enough as it is, but adding a relationship would make everything even more complicated. How and when do you tell your romantic interest or even just a new friend? They have a right to know, so their feelings are respected too. The author approaches these issues gently and respectfully for all sides involved. Losing a loved one is also part of this book and that’s something that all of us will have to deal with at sometime in our lives. These tough situations are handled well by the author, who also shares her own experiences with sexuality. I wish the cover was better though; I can see it being a deterrent for readers. 3.5 stars!

A look at finding your true self, overcoming personal trauma and diving into your own soul. This will leave readers feeling emotional

I thought Something Like Gravity would have some scientific elements regarding space and the stars, but those references were few and far between. Chris enjoys looking through his telescope, and it's a passion he wants to pursue in the future, but it isn't a main focus of the story. He'll share facts with Maia, and those were interesting (especially about the binary stars), but I wish there had been more.

Amber Smith has written a beautiful story about self-discovery. Chris is finally figuring out and committing to who he is, and Maia is learning how to exist without her sister. It took tragic circumstances for both of them to start really living, and we see how they use each other to overcome their sadness and fear. They didn't immediately click from the start, because Maia is a very angry person, but it felt like a realistic portrayal of feelings and emotions. She was hurting and she lashed out, and Chris was endlessly kind and patient.

I know I've said this before, but I dislike it when the main conflict is based on a lie. Maia lies to Chris at the very beginning of their friendship, and then it snowballs out of control. She didn't need to lie, and she had plenty of opportunities to tell him the truth. Honestly, I thought she would have come clean long before everything blew up in her face. Chris's reaction was understandable at first, but then he took it too far. He let his pain and anger cloud his judgement, and he was unnecessarily cruel and unforgiving. What Maia lied about really had nothing to do with her relationship with Chris, but he took it very personally, and it altered both of their lives in a big way.

Additionally, I think this book could have been a little shorter. It lagged in some places and I never felt compelled to pick it back up. The pacing is incredibly slow, and there's very little action, but I know some of you enjoy books that focus more on character development (which there is a lot of). However, if some of the story had been condensed, I think it would have made for a quicker and more enjoyable read.

The ending was both satisfying and disappointing.

I believe Something Like Gravity tells a story that needs to be told. I think it's a book a lot of people will be able to relate to, and not just because one of the characters is transgender. Although, I do think it's awesome that they are getting more representation in YA books. Something Like Gravity is about falling in love, and learning how to love yourself. It's also about knowing when to let go, and when to hold on.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on June 11, 2018.

This was such an emotional, sweet and important book. On a cultural level, it is so important to see trans characters in books and how they navigate relationships. Chris and Maia are well written characters with lots of emotional depth. It’s a sweet romance story at times and a complex emotional story at others and a wonderful read.

Amber Smith never, ever fails, and with this story, she stopped all traffic lights and made a statement: Whatever you decide to be, you are beautiful. and you are loved. You can FIND LOVE and FEEL LOVE. You can be a transgender boy or queer girl. You have the right to present yourself however you want to and nobody should judge you.

But being a teenager isn't easy at is it, let alone when you just came out and fully presented yourself as a boy. The bullying is real and sadly, it's a tragedy many young teens and even adults have to go thru nowadays. the presentation of grief and acceptance mixed in this book makes it one of a kind. The words, the fun times, the sadness but also the challenges and acceptance for both Maia and Chris are THE perfect elements for this beautiful #summer read. This is a coming of age story meant to leave a profound and wonderful lesson: reinvention is equivalent to self love and self love is the first step before loving anybody else. We as a society need more stories like this one, more elements of maturity in books, more realistic characters like Chris and Maia, who, by all means, left us with a story to be remembered. How I wish they would make this into a movie. It deserves all the praise.

Thank you SO MUCH Simon & Schuster for the privilege of granting me access to this title. My apologies for sending feedback so late.

This was such a good story with well developed characters about a trans gender boy. I love that it’s cute but also deals with serious real life issues. I feel that it is such an important read for everyone.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Chris, who is transgender, goes to North Carolina to stay with his aunt for the summer after being beaten up by some classmates at his New York high school. There, he meets Maia, who is grieving the death of her sister. While their first meetings don't go well, Chris and Maia feel drawn to one another and can't deny the connection or the way they feel truly alive in each other's company.

The story had a nice blend of their relationship and Chris and Maia's individual issues. Chris and Maia were both easy to relate to, even if you haven't been in their specific situations, and I couldn't help but root for them. Maia had some cringe-worthy moments where you wanted her to do the right thing, but as teens often do, she tried to avoid embarrassment. The author notes that she is lesbian, but not trans, and as I am not trans either, I cannot attest to how well she did at representing a trans boy in this book.