The most striking thing about Felix Ever After is that Felix Love is kind of a mess. In a landscape of YA novels that often feel like they’re trying to present the "perfect" marginalized protagonist to win over a skeptical audience, Kacen Callender does something much more interesting. They give us a kid who is hurt, impulsive, and occasionally makes terrible decisions.
The "Messy" Protagonist
The plot kicks off with a catfishing scheme. When an anonymous bully posts Felix’s deadname and pre-transition photos in the school lobby, Felix doesn't just report it and wait for justice. He decides to catfish the person he suspects is the culprit to get revenge. It’s a move that is objectively bad, and the book doesn't let him off the hook for it.
If your teen is used to "cinnamon roll" characters who never do anything wrong, Felix might be a shock. But for kids who feel the pressure to be a perfect representative for their community, seeing a Black, queer, trans protagonist who is allowed to be flawed is a massive relief. It makes the story feel like a real life rather than a lesson plan. This is a great entry point for Books About Gender Expression and Identity: A Parent's Guide because it treats identity as a lived experience rather than a debate topic.
The Parent Dynamic
We need to talk about Felix’s dad. He isn't a cartoon villain, but he isn't exactly a hero either. He paid for Felix’s top surgery and clearly loves him, yet he still struggles with the correct name and pronouns. It’s a portrait of "conditional" or "clumsy" support that many teens will find painfully relatable.
For a parent reading along, these scenes are a mirror. They show the gap between providing for a child and truly seeing them. The friction between Felix and his father provides a lot of the book’s emotional weight, and it’s a good reminder that "trying your best" can still leave a kid feeling isolated if the effort doesn't involve listening.
Beyond the Trauma
While the transphobic bullying is the catalyst for the plot, the book spends just as much time on Felix’s art and his desire for a "happily ever after." He struggles with the idea that he might be "too much" to be loved—too Black, too trans, too queer. Watching him dismantle that internal lie is where the book finds its heart.
It also handles the physical reality of being a teen in a way that feels honest. Felix’s relationship with his body is complicated, tied up in his art and his transition. If you’ve been looking for Books About Body Image: Building Confidence Through Stories, this offers a specific, necessary perspective on how body image intersects with gender dysphoria.
Who is this for?
If your kid has graduated from the sugary-sweet world of Heartstopper and wants something with more weight, this is the move. It’s for the teen who likes contemporary stories with an edge—think the emotional intensity of The Hate U Give but centered on queer identity.
Don't expect a neat, tidy ending where every problem is solved with a bow. Expect a story about a kid who realizes that the most important person to forgive—and to love—is himself. It’s a loud, proud, and occasionally uncomfortable read that earns its place on the shelf.
