This is such an important book. Read it

3.75⭐️

Morgan and Eric were born on the same day, same year. They were always best friends, but as they enter their teenage years things start to get more complicated. Morgan is struggling with her life as a boy when she feels like a girl, and its even harder with her mom gone. Eric's struggling at home and in school and isn't sure how to help Morgan. Thoughtfully written in alternate perspectives with check-ins on each birthday from 13 to 18 you get to watch these two friends grow up, and into who they're meant to be. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys realistic fiction with elements of fate.

este libro es una obra de arte, todos deberían de leerla

This book was so wonderful to experience. The skill of telling a story of transition - about being a trans kid and about growing up with traumas and struggles - through one day each year was so... satisfying. Because life is made of moments, and the story Meridith Russo has crafted for readers is a story about the journey. Which is really what it’s all about. I highly recommend this book!

Maybe 3.5? I enjoyed reading this book and liked the premise of seeing each birthday, but it also felt a bit too jumpy for me. I wish I had seen some of the development in between. Morgan's mental health felt very accurately (and intensely) portrayed, and I'm just glad it had a happy ending because damn that got heavy and emotional.
Also idk it kind of feels like Eric was there for Morgan a lot more than vice versa and there was a bit of imbalance in the relationship (but it seemed fine at the end it just seemed like..5 years of that). But I was happy with the ending and I'm glad Morgan finally got to live as herself, and the writing/overall story was very good, just wished I had some more development in between the years so I could get a more complete picture.
Also...I don't know why it threw me off that Eric just was like I always thought Morgan was a girl and didn't really question or explore his sexuality. Like it felt like there could/should have been more. He just so readily accepted and thought that and it felt very rushed and sudden compared to the rest of the book.

4.5/5 -- This book was both heartbreaking and hopeful. At first I wasn't sure if I'd like the format, but in the end, I think it worked really well.

When I read "If I Was Your Girl," I was blown away that it could be a first novel for Russo. And with this second, I am equally amazed! It's a 4.5, truly, with just one little niggling sort of thing.........I am not a fan of neat, tidy endings, as they are not usually representative of life. Now, this was, perhaps, not what most people would characterize as tidy, but I'm weird.

Anyhow, I loved it and will be recommending it all over the place! ☺♥

This was a great book about figuring out who you are as a teen. I liked how you read along through the years and how their friendship grows into something bigger. But also because you skip a year every time, it feels a little rushed, especially near the end. I also read this in Dutch and I think this is almost the only trans representation in YA fiction that's available for Dutch readers.

Recommendations are welcome!