3.5 stars rounded up. This book was very sweet and a quick, engaging read. The characters were well developed and I really cared about them. Their relationship built in a very authentic, relatable way. I also appreciated the feminism and themes of enthusiastic consent that were woven into the story. At the same time, I didn’t fall head over heels into the story the way I do with some really compelling books (like Eleanor and Park), and while I appreciate what the author was doing with the transgender perspective, I always hesitate over someone who isn’t actually part of a marginalized group trying to write from the perspective of a member of that group. Particularly when Chris is grappling with what it means to be a man and how that feels to the women around him - I just wasn’t sure, because I haven’t lived that experience myself, and neither has the author. I know from the acknowledgements that she consulted with LGBTQ experts (and, I hope, with actual trans people) but it still gives me pause. Overall, though, a thought-provoking and enjoyable book.

Finally, a FTM main character that doesn’t spend the whole novel ruminating about their self-hatred! I feel like that’s a theme especially in AFAB (assigned female at birth) trans YA novels and have no idea why. It’s definitely not healthy for cis or trans readers. Chris was a lot more comfortable with himself. I think that’s important to portray and gives a lot more nuance to the typical stories written about trans characters.

Also, I liked that Chris’s entire story didn’t revolve around him being trans. It is a huge part of his identity, but he’s also interested in getting to know Maia and helping her come to terms with the loss of her sister. Sometimes, a trans character’s gender identity overpowers YA books to the point where there’s no other plot points or characterization. This book does explore how many trans people feel and what it’s like to be attacked for choosing authenticity. This book is not an easy read because Chris and Maia are both going through hard things, but their relationship gives them a person to talk and empathize with as they go through the healing process.

Me 10 seconds after I finished this: pretty sure my heart just got torn into like 300 pieces.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I mean I feel like it’s obvious that transgender representation is great, but I know there are already some and probably will be more once this book is published. The fact that this book is written by a cis woman, and I get it as much as I can (coming from a cis woman.) but I think having just about any (obvi not putting anyone down or in a negative light) transgender representation is a good thing. We’re getting better at those things becoming more of a norm and not weird or unacceptable.

I also love (obviously it’s sad) the realistic story of grief we have from Maia. That yes, unfortunate as it is, this stuff happens. People pass away unexpectedly, and grief is a THING, it doesn’t go away in two months and people truly react in different ways even though it may not technically be in the “right way” but grief and one’s mind does not care.

I loved The Way I Used To Be, haven’t had a chance to pick up The Last To Let Go yet. But when I found out I got approved for Something Like Gravity, I was so happy cause the summary sounded great+I knew I liked this author already. Highly recommended to pick it up once it is published. 😊

A beautiful summer romance story that goes way beyond romance. Main characters Chris and Maia think that they're meeting at exactly the wrong time. Chris is recovering from a brutal attack and beginning to transition, and feeling like his mom hates him. He's in Carson to get away from it all, definitely not to fall in love. Maia is working through her grief and bewilderment and guilt over her sister's sudden death, everything in her life, her folks, her friends, everything, seems to be falling apart, definitely not good a time to go head over heels for the new boy in town.

The writing is superb, the characters take on life beyond the page, readers will be right in there with them, hoping and having hopes dashed, hurting and healing and learning and growing right along with Chris, Maia and their loved ones. The story will resonate with readers on multiple levels, from LGBTQIA+ folks, to their loved ones and allies. A must read for those who enjoyed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and It's Not Like It's a Secret.

This sounds like a great book but issues with the app will not allow me to read it. I wish it was in kindle format. I will grab it when it is published to check out!

Something Like Gravity is a heartwarming story about two teens finding love while trying find themselves. Chris is trying navigate life as transgender and Maia is trying to figure out how to go on without her sister. What starts out a cute summer contemporary blossoms into a beautifully honest story of love and loss. I loved that the author skipped the traditional coming out story and just let Chris be Chris. There's not enough books with transgender characters and this book does a wonderful job of getting you into their heads. I was fully engrossed in this story and couldn't put it down.

Title: Something Like Gravity

Author: Amber Smith

Series: Standalone

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Likes

This book was an absolute joy to read. I was in it from start to finish. It is heart-wrenching, with gorgeous writing and a wonderful story. What initially drew me to this book was the rep. It contains LGBTQIA+ rep; Chris is transgender. I always appreciate this rep in books, when it is done well: and it is in this one. You can feel Chris' raw emotions and the pain that he is enduring due to some traumatic events that have occurred in his life. The reality of this is painful as a reader but it is something we need to recognize, and work on changing. I feel that our words are power and using affirming language and being supportive to those in the trans (and LGBTQIA+ community at large) is vital. Trans rights are human rights. This is what the book made me think about. It made me think about advocacy and the dire situation we are in right now in our society. I feel that that is the mark of a truly moving book that everyone should read. Along with this strong representation, Maia and Chris go through a summer of coming to terms with many different elements about their relationship, as well as themselves. It felt real and applicable to their ages, so that was also an important part of this story.

Dislikes

Truly, I can't say I disliked much. This book was so worth the read and I was so glad I got to read it early. I'd really love to read more books like this--if you can think of any, please leave them in the comments! I think this was a perfect standalone and the perfect contemporary to read to break up my fantasy binge. 

Recommendation

I would recommend this book, truly, to everyone. It is a moving read and it will give you chills as you read it.

I am unable to read this book. I opened it in Adobe Digital Editions on my ipad but it will not let the page turn. I have tried converting it to be read on the kindle and that wont work either since it is protected. I have also tried opening in overdrive and on my laptop and nothing will work so unfortunately I cannot read/review this book. I am leaving feedback since I want to read the book and don't want my percentage to decrease because of lack of ability to open the pdf.

This was a sweet and uplifting YA novel about a transgender teen Chris trying to figure out his life and a teen Maia dealing with the unexpected loss of her older sister. There are so many important lessons in this book about love, compassion and finding your self worth. I really enjoyed the story of Chris and Maia, although it was bit bittersweet. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed and would have enjoyed a bit more story. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

A year ago, Chris was badly beaten by group of males who hated Chris for being trans.

A year ago, Maia lost her sister Mallory due to an undetected heart defect.

Now, Chris finds himself in a small town in North Carolina, ten hours away from his home in Buffalo, spending the summer with his aunt after his parents decide that they need some time separate from him.

Maia finds herself avoiding all of her friends, wallowing in grief, unable to live for herself.

But on the day that Chris moves in with his aunt, they unexpectedly meet after Chris almost hits Maia with his car. The two then slowly become friends while considering the possibility of a romance.

Something Like Gravity is an honest look at what can happen when two people, left broken in different ways (Chris with his possible parental rejection and trauma from being beaten, Maia with losing her sister), find each other.

While this read can be heavy at times, it feels real. While I cannot speak on the accuracy of the trans rep, it doesn’t feel exploitative, and the author appears to have done her research. The grief from Maia and her family feels extremely real as well.

This is a solid read, and it’s one that I recommend. Something Like Gravity releases June 18.

<i>Something Like Gravity </i>by Amber Smith is the kind of book that leaves me feeling like it really just wasn't meant for me. And as much as I wanted to love this book, largely due to one of its main characters being deeply interested in space--which I love--and character dynamics that I had been deeply looking forward to, I was massively bored through the majority of this novel. There were very few moments where I found myself perking up to read it and, after a while, finishing the book eventually felt like a chore. Which, ultimately, is something I'm rather disappointed with as I really wanted this book to succeed. The main character is trans-male, something I have unfortunately only come across in fiction once prior to this book. If that's not a sign that we need more trans characters in fiction, I don't know what is. And so, I was excited to get a chance to read this one and I looked forward to singing its praises. But, try as I might, I just couldn't get into the story.

And I think it was because of Maia, the young girl who lives next door to main character Chris' aunt with whom he is staying for the summer partially as a result of bullying in his hometown and partially out of a desire to get away from his parents. You see, Maia's sister has died recently and she's working her way through grief by carrying around one of Mallory's old cameras and attempting to understand her sister through the photography she loved so much. I think, ultimately, I just didn't really care all that much about Maia's story. I didn't understand Chris' interest in her, and at the end of the day she was the one driving what the two of them got up to during their time together and it was <i>so damn dull</i>.

Now, the funny thing about it all is the fact that it was decently reminiscent of how I might've spent my summer when I was that age, but the problem that brings me is the fact that I spent many of my summers fairly bored. And I don't know who in their right mind would want to read a book that follows one of the more dull summers they've ever had. And this, my friends, is why I tend to avoid contemporary when I can. I find, more and more, that those stories are not the kind that I find interesting. And while I will say that this story definitely wasn't for me, it might be for you. If you're a fan of contemporary and you want to read a story about a transgender boy working through issues I imagine many might (and honestly, this was the highlight of the book), and a girl dealing with loss, then maybe you'll enjoy this. If you don't like contemporary, though, I'd avoid it.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

RATING: 5/5 STARS

I am so excited about the young adult genre embracing diversity in many upcoming releases. Books like SOMETHING LIKE GRAVITY are important because they speak to people, let them know they're not alone in what they're going through. And for those of us who haven't had a similar experience to Chris and Maia's in this book, it helps us understand and treat others with empathy.

This book was beautifully written. It's a story about Chris, a transgender boy, falling in love. It's also about processing past trauma, being accepted by family, preserving friendships, and coming to terms with one's identity. The writing is gorgeous and vulnerable. The main characters have had to deal with a lot for being so young, and the way they are portrayed is mature yet realistic, flawed, and human. Amber Smith's style is pensive and lyrical. Chris and Maia's emotions come alive on the page. Elements of astronomy and photography are also threaded throughout, giving the book an additional creative touch.

An aspect of the novel that really resonated with me was Chris realizing how being alone with Maia when it was getting dark outside held a completely different meaning to him as a man than as a woman. When he vowed he would never be a man who made "harmless" but threatening actions towards women, it was such a powerful and profound moment. I applaud Amber Smith for that.

Chris and Maia's relationship was stunning. Her acceptance of him, and his body, was so tender and heartwarming. They had a deep connection that wasn't characterized by insta-love or petty sources of conflict. I enjoyed following their development and emerging comfort in their own skin and in each other throughout this narrative.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book if you are a fan of the YA genre, romance, LGBT characters, and just stories about the human experience in general. This is a powerful read by already-established author Amber Smith (who is not trans, but is lesbian and a supporter of the LGBT community). I also highly recommend this to readers who liked IF I WAS YOUR GIRL by Meredith Russo.

A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram

Character-driven books that deal with tough stuff have always been my favorites because .all humans can find a way to identify with the story. This was a fierce, honest love story. It was my first book with a transgender main character, and I hope to read more as the years go on. I’m excited to have this available to my students when it gets published!

This book was a beautiful exploration of tragedy, healing, and rebirth, in a way.

A story of two teens, each grappling with their own secrets, falling in love and trying to heal from their own various experiences.

The trans+ representation in this is thoughtful and adds an important voice to YA literature.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year! I absolutely enjoyed it the entire way through. I can’t wait to see how the author grows in her writing and to see how her book makes others grow in themselves.

This was incredible. This story follows Chris, a transboy teen, and Maia, his next door neighbor after Chris chooses to live with his Aunt for a few months. So, this was amazing at breaking both Chris and Maia and why they worked together and also why they didn’t. It took complex themes and wove them into a kinda cliche narrative about two people, and two families, on the brink of collapse, and turned it into a cropping, sad, and inspiring contemporary.

Amber Smith’s writing was fantastic, and she has a really way of pulling at your heart-strings in a non-exploitative way that still give you major feels. This book was atmospheric, low-key when it needed to, and emotional even during the quietest of moments.

Thank you for the early read for this! I really like this book I couldn’t put it down it was so good!