Review: I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver*

 *I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published on Yours, Chloe are completely honest and my own, and are in now way influenced by the gifting opportunity.

Title: I Wish You All The Best
Author: Mason Deaver
Genre:  LGBTQIA+ Young Adult

Trigger warnings:  Transphobia, Misgendering, Rejection From Parents After Coming Out, Panic Attacks

Rating: ★★★★★

I Wish You All The Best is the story of Ben, a teenager who comes out to their parents as non-binary and is thrown out and forced to move in with their estranged sister Hannah and her husband Thomas, attending therapy to try and process their parents’ rejection and the anxiety and panic attacks is has triggered. When they relocate to move in with Hannah, Ben has to move schools mid-way through their senior year and tries to keep a low profile but the outgoing and charismatic Nathan takes Ben under his wing and makes them part of his wider friendship group. Slowly Ben and Nathan’s friendship begins to grow and their feelings begin to change, giving Ben a chance to start a happier new life as his authentic self.

This book has been on my to-read list for a while now so I was excited to have the opportunity to read and review it following it’s UK publication and I was definitely not disappointed. I normally write notes on the book I’m reading as I go along, to prepare for reviewing, but I was so captured by the story that I read it in a single sitting, barely even pausing for breath.

I Wish You All The Best is a complex yet powerful coming of age story of acceptance, friendship and love which is equal parts heart-warming and heart-breaking. Mason Deaver has a truly beautiful writing style which is so engaging yet easy to read. I was astounded to read that it was their debut work and really look forward to seeing more from them in the future because they truly are one of the current standout authors, particularly within queer fiction.

Ben was an incredible protagonist who I didn’t feel ready to part with when the story came to a close. Nathan is just joy personified in a character and the unconditional acceptance Ben receives from the entire friendship group was incredibly heart-warming. The slow burn romance between Ben and Nathan was truly beautiful and the scenes on Nathan’s rooftop were some of the best romantic scenes I’ve read in a long time. Also, the scene where Ben comes out to Nathan was particularly powerful and Nathan’s immediate apology for having unknowingly misgendered Ben so many times just melted my heart.

I Wish You All The Best has strong mental health representation through it’s authentic portrayal of Ben’s experiences of anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I also enjoyed the positive portrayal of therapy, particularly seeing Ben’s initial resistance to attending the sessions grow into appreciation of the positive impact talking to an impartial person can have.

Through reading I Wish You All The Best I feel I’ve learnt so much about non-binary experiences, therefore enabling me to be a better ally. Ben’s story has made me consider things I previously wouldn’t have as a cisgender person, such as how commonly used terms of endearment for friends and siblings are gendered. The intolerance and prejudice shown by Ben’s parents was a heart-breaking and difficult read but it’s so important that we don’t shy away from these stories.

My only possible criticism for the book would be that it wasn’t longer. I was so captivated by Ben’s story that I would have loved it to be longer to allow for a deeper exploration of certain characters, particularly Maleika and Sophie who brought such joy to the story, and certain aspects of the plot such as Ben and Hannah reconnecting after being estranged for over a decade.

Overall, I Wish You All The Best is a powerful truly ground-breaking story that I think everyone should read at least once. It’s going to be particularly impactful for both members of the LGBTQIA+ community and those who want to become better allies. I was so delighted to hear that the book is being adapted into a film and I’m really excited by the casting and the opportunity to see Ben’s story portrayed on the big screen.