Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for access to an early release copy

Erin and Max. Long time friends, once upon a time couple and two teenagers in the midst of their transitions to their true selves. Max, not receiving any support from his family, decides it’s time to leave for The open love of California and convincing Erin to come with.

Their friendship was a hard read at times- Max was jealous of the support Erin received from her mom and sister, whether financially or emotionally, and would talk her down and my heart broke for the lack of support Max wouldn’t provide her.  But from an outside perspective, it felt like the story was telling the differences in the trans experience.

The first half of the book was a slow focus on their friendship and a lot of back story. Maybe a little too much that it could feel like page filler as I was waiting for any kind of horror to begin. Instead of front loading the backstory in the beginning, I would have liked it maybe told with more flashbacks and sprinkled in throughout the story. And let the horror/monster parts start earlier than almost at the halfway point.

Once the monster is finally introduced and what it’s after, I appreciate the conversations the characters have regarding sex and gender. I would have liked a little more plot and not as much of similar conversations repeated, as some of the overly wordiness could get in its way. The whole“monster” ending fell a little flat and lackluster with loose ends.

“It’s hard to identify a skeleton, even harder to gender one” is a fantastic line, one more people need to hear.  It’s a reminder for people to be able to be their true selves in the little time we are not just bones.