I want to start by saying that one day this book will be very important to someone. The struggles faced by Dean throughout the story are sure to hit a cord with not just teens (or adults for that matter) struggling with their gender identity, but also with anyone who is struggling with their identity period. The story feels very real and honest and raw while still managing to remain accessible. There are clear struggles (romantic ones, friendship ones, family ones) but ultimately it is still a story about the importance of found family and finding friends who will do whatever they can to love and support you.

This is one of my favorite things I've read this year, and I can't wait for it to hit shelves next year so everyone else can experience it also.

Enjoyable, quick read that many young readers will find relatable and helpful. I appreciated that this book isn't full of tragedy, but it also isn't a perfect world. Dean's parents and classmates and friends have a tough time giving Dean exactly what he deserves and needs in those moments, and I think many will have had similar experiences with coming out.

Enthralling, descriptive and emotional. What an incredible debut novel! Dean Foster is a senior student focused on the theater as a career. This is the only simple layer to this student. Not only is Dean wrestling with the typical angsts of a teenager, but we get to follow in the journey of discovery, understanding, why those childhood years of being forced into dresses, a female lifestyle, felt foreign, wrong. Through research on Google and YouTube, Dean becomes aware, she is not a lesbian, but a trans male. The book opens up the world of LBGTQ in a fascinating YA tale, I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I look forward to more books from Ray Stoeve.

It's pretty rare that I read a book over night these days but this book erased time for me. This is a book about Dean Foster, a queer teen coming to terms with being trans in high school. He auditions for Romeo & Juliet and gets the part of Romeo, the story starts there and follows him all the way through his last performance. The friendship and sense of community in this book left me overjoyed and filled with an immense hope. This book was also personally special because my 'first love' in high school went through the very same thing and so Dean wasn't just a character but someone I deeply cared about and a story I always hoped could be told. This was a really wonderful book.

The first brief chapter says it all:
I think I might be trans.
I mean, I know I am.
I think.
This is a thoroughly engaging exploration of identity, belonging and becoming; disappointment, loss and learning how to be the person inside. A captivating story of liberation.

Dean Foster begins senior year uncertain.

She's had girl pronouns her entire life and came out to her family as lesbian just a few years ago. (Dad is accepting, Mom is still slightly on the fence).

But she's increasingly feeling like something is wrong. It's only through YouTube and lots of research does she understand who she really is - and she's actually a guy.

But knowing and making that transition are two entirely different things. He feels stuck in his life - can't continue living by she/her but also can't find it within himself to tell his friends and family.

But then, Dean is given a part in the school play - a leading role actually. Romeo.

And Dean takes a deep breath and decides to play Romeo as a guy.

And another breath...and he comes out.

There's just something about a good coming out story that has me reading them like candy.

Overall, I loved the concept of this book - Dean getting Romeo's part, he balancing his high school life with coming out, and the way family adjusts and overcomes.

However, I did have a difficult time getting into this one. I just felt like a lot of drama was...Dean-made.

Some of the stuff I'm like - yeah, I get it Dean. Let me give him a hug.

But other bits had me going like...jeez...I want to shake him.

You can't expect everyone to understand every single nuance of the LGBTQ+ community and transitioning within 48 hours of you telling them you want to change your pronouns...especially considering you took literally years to learn all of these concepts.

One characters asks for time to read and learn about being trans and Dean just goes to his friends to complain about how unaccepting they are and how terrible his life has become.

It felt like he was looking for a fight in everyone and when they weren't going to step up for a fight, he'd storm out anyway then snip to all his friends about the terrible people out there.

To be fair, not the whole book was like that. There were elements that worked well and I loved watching him become more comfortable in himself and watching him learn about himself.

I adored his girlfriend and I really wish the relationship was given more leeway in this book but ah well. Can't have it all.

It's refreshing to see Romeo and Juliet used as an intertext not for star-crossed lovers, but for figuring out and loving one's true self. Also lovely: an understanding, caring teacher who nonetheless doesn't have the perfect advice but tries hard anyway. The cast of characters is mostly thoughtfully crafted, surrounding protagonist Dean with people who love and support him, even if they stumble at times.

Bring on all the trans coming out and self acceptance stories, please! This heartwarming story is about Dean Foster’s coming out and understanding himself as a trans guy. The timeline of the story starts with the auditions for Romeo and Juliet and follows through the last performance. I enjoyed the presence of high school theater and the way it gave Dean opportunities for growth without overtaking the plot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the way it presented queer friendships and community. Not everyone was entirely accepting, but there was other support when Dean needed it. I definitely look forward to reading more novels by this author.

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved how it reflected on the trans experience in a way that demonstrated there are many ways to be a trans man. For instance, Dean realizes he wants to get top surgery and take hormones, but he admits he doesn't want a penis. Dean also meets many different people through his trans teen support group who all emphasize this point (like Jade who doesn't care about passing as a woman)--that there are many different ways to be out and trans. I really appreciated this representation of community because many books about trans teens lack this component; they act as though the internet and other resources do not exist. Moreover, I really liked how we were on this journey with Dean. He doesn't fully know himself, so we as readers are learning alongside him. Overall, I loved Dean's journey of self-discovery, and I am positive other readers will feel the same way!