It has been a while that I read a book that has opened my eyes on a few issues. And this book did that exactly, without cutting the entertainment factor. Let us get on to the book review of I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver, shall we?
Have you read I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver? How did you like it? What other books have you read with a NB/nonbinary/enby lead? Let's talk. Share on XAbout I Wish You All the Best
Book Name: I Wish You All the Best
Author: Mason Deaver
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Young adult
Characters: Ben De Backer, Nathan Allen, Hannah and Thomas, Mariam
Setting: Raleigh, North Carolina , The USA
Summary of I Wish You All the Best
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as a nonbinary, it doesn’t go well with them. They are thrown out of their house and is forced to reach out to their estranged sister Hannah and her husband, Thomas.
Thomas and Hannah let Ben to stay with them and help them join a new school. Ben comes out only to them and their therapist and wants to keep a very low profile at their new school.
But when Nathan Allan, a charismatic student, decides to befriend them and to include them in their gang, Ben’s plan fails spectacularly.
What does Ben actually want? Is it okay if they were actually attracted to Nathan? Read I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver to know more!
Book review of I Wish You All the Best
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver is probably the first book I have read with a nonbinary/enby lead and honestly, I have learned a lot from it. Yet educating the readers about nonbinaries is not the main motive the book.
The book is filled with sadness and poignancy due to the plot. And at the same time, I Wish You All the Best makes sure there is hope and a chance for happiness.
I love the fact that the romance was not an end or to cure all the mental health issues. While I am all fluffy rom-com books, I somehow love the fact that I Wish You All the Best was not one of them, mainly because the topic is very important. And kudos to the #ownVoice author to have handled it so well.
If I had to complain about just one thing: I wish we had heard a little more about their relationship with Nathan, after the big reveal. You know, sorta acceptance or them dealing the issues together as a couple etc. Of course, that I Wish You All the Best didn’t do that doesn’t reduce it for me in any way.
What worked for me
- I loved how I Wish You All the Best deals with anxiety and mental health as a part of identity crisis and then its acceptance.
- Romance takes a backseat to themes like identity and friendship.
- I really liked the friendship between the two main characters and adored Nathan.
What may have been better
- I wish the big reveal to Nathan happened a little bit earlier.
Content warning:
Disowning parents, Kicked out of the house, panic attacks and depression, peer pressure into drinking, constant misgendering, stressful coming out.
Bottom line
I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver is an emotional and heart wrenching book that will not just educate the readers but also an entertaining read. Kudos to the author in maintaining that delicate balance.
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Let’s chat
Have you read I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver? How did you like it? What other books have you read with a NB/nonbinary/enby lead? Let’s talk.
Ah yes, I remember this one! It was heartbreaking but also heartwarming at the same time, dealing with a lot of issues while also being an entertaining read. I loved how the romance takes a back seat as well, and there’s a developing friendship before romance between Ben and Nathan. I also loved his sister and her partner though? The fact they were supportive and accepting of him just made me want to 😭.
If I remember, I think I also wanted more from their relationship beyond the reveal. Honestly, if the book were longer, I wouldn’t have complained at all or even noticed.
I read this one about a year ago and it has really stayed with me. I still think about it from time to time. The first chapter absolutely broke my heart. I just wanted to hug Ben. But I loved watching as they continued on, opened up to their sister, started therapy, made friends.