Read as a requirement for my Queer Genre class.

I so wish I could give this book a 3.5 star, as I was originally planning, but I really don't think I can. Let me start off with the positives first, though. I thoroughly enjoyed the time-travel aspect of this novel. It was such a fun little rompy adventure that I could totally get behind, especially with how hectic my world is currently during finals week. I also enjoyed the majority of the characters, especially Chaz. I think he was a perfect addition to the plot, as well as Mrs. Silverthorn. She was a perfect character who had a lot of personality, and balanced out the horrific main character.

On that note, the majority of my complaints, and the removal of  .75 stars, is due to Luis. Firstly, he was an insanely selfish and self-centered character who only cared about the rights of cis gay men before his beloved nonbinary friend, Nix. His reformist views were extremely exclusive to anyone that did not match him when it came to identity. Secondly, the way he presents himself was a problematic addition, in my opinion. His use of AAVE and seemingly weird comments toward Mrs. Silverthorn (a black woman), as pointed out to me and others in my class discussion, were an odd addition with seemingly no repercussions. As this book was written for his daughter of African American descent, it felt weird to include, but maybe it is not my place to say so as a white woman. Thirdly,

the way he treated the characters within the 1985 timeline really grinds my gears. He is constantly trying to make Chaz come out and be his "fabulous" self, but as Chaz is a Black queer teen in the 80s in upstate New York, it is not a feasible thing to expect of him. It is quite literally dangerous for him to do anything outside of heteronormativity, especially at this Christian boarding school with homophobic parents.

 

I personally did not see enough change in Luis' character for me to see this novel as a critique of his character choices. I think Valdes did genuinely try to do so by

making his character at the end less important than he was in the previous timeline and, instead, giving his centered personality to Chaz's character.

I don't think was enough for me personally, though. 

The ended was to quick and easy and happy for me to truly believe a lot of change happened. That being said, I do think this story has a lot of value, but it was not for my personal tastes.