I Wish You All the Best

When Ben comes out as nonbinary to their parents, they are forced to move in with their estranged sister Hannah. Starting over at a new high school for their senior year, Ben decides to stay closeted to avoid drawing attention. Nathan, a charismatic student at Ben's new school, befriends them and slowly breaks through their protective walls. As Ben navigates their growing friendship with Nathan, they also work to rebuild their relationship with Hannah and process their experiences through art. While dealing with anxiety and family trauma, Ben discovers new support systems and opportunities for self-expression. Their journey involves finding community, exploring identity, and learning to trust others again. This coming-of-age story examines themes of acceptance, chosen family, and the courage required to live authentically. Through Ben's experiences, the narrative explores how relationships can both hurt and heal.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of Ben, a nonbinary teen navigating family relationships and first love. The book maintains a 4.19/5 rating on Goodreads from over 24,000 ratings. Readers appreciated: - Accurate representation of anxiety and depression - Natural progression of romantic relationship - Supportive friendship dynamics - Educational but not preachy approach to nonbinary identity - Strong sibling relationship development Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some dialogue feels stilted - Secondary characters need more depth - Romance overshadows family storyline Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (1,200+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) One reader noted: "Finally a book that shows what it's like to come out as nonbinary without making the whole story about trauma." Another mentioned: "The anxiety representation hit so close to home it was uncomfortable at times."

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🌟 Author Mason Deaver drew from their own experiences as a non-binary person to create Ben's character, making the story deeply personal and authentic. 📚 The book was one of the first traditionally published YA novels to feature a non-binary main character, helping pave the way for more diverse gender representation in teen literature. 💌 The original draft of the book was written during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), where authors attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. 🎨 The cover art features a dandelion, symbolizing both resilience and wishes - themes that run throughout the story. 🌈 Before writing I Wish You All the Best, Deaver worked in independent bookstores and was inspired by seeing young readers searching for stories that represented their identities.