I Wish You All the Best
Written by Mason Deaver
Narrated by MW Cartozian Wilson
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, Mason Deaver's STUNNING debut will rip your heart out before showing you how to heal from tragedy and celebrate life in the process.
When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.
But Ben's attempts to survive the last half of senior year unnoticed are thwarted when Nathan Allan, a funny and charismatic student, decides to take Ben under his wing. As Ben and Nathan's friendship grows, their feelings for each other begin to change, and what started as a disastrous turn of events looks like it might just be a chance to start a happier new life.
At turns heartbreaking and joyous, I Wish You All the Best is both a celebration of life, friendship, and love, and a shining example of hope in the face of adversity.
Editor's Note
Word of the year 2019…
Merriam-Webster named “they” as 2019’s “Word of the Year,” citing a 313% increase in searches for the gender-neutral pronoun. Nonbinary author Mason Deaver’s swoonworthy novel tackles the adversity Ben faces when they come out as nonbinary — and captures the sparks that fly when they meet a charming new friend.
Mason Deaver
Born and raised in a small town in North Carolina, Mason Deaver is an award-nominated, bestselling author and designer living in Charlotte. Their debut novel, I Wish You All the Best, was named a Junior Library Guild Selection and an NPR Concierge Book. Besides writing, they're an active fan of horror movies and video games.
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Reviews for I Wish You All the Best
380 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5BEST NON BINARY YOUNG ADULT BOOK EVER! My heart aches and in a good way ?
3 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The book is an ambitious and personal exploration into a person dealing with many important issues, including gender identity, anxiety, depression, coming out, and nonbinary definition. It’s a lot to take on in one book and while at times I felt the narrative was stilted, I respect and appreciate the ambition of such an undertaking.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Really enjoyed this book. A lot of heavy subject matter packed within it, and not all of it is talked about in depth. However, overall this book was a really nice listen. I enjoyed it and the characters very much.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It is for sure an important book! As a queer person, it hit close to home. For anyone who is or has been unsure about their gender identity it is a welcome mirror to the ups and downs of self-discovery. The anxiety and trauma related to coming out and being non-binary feels accurate. The story, characters and writing is however mediocre and uninteresting. I wouldn’t read a second book if there is one. Ben, the protagonist, is selfish and ungrateful and just unlikable. Most of the other characters are one dimensional. Nothing in it offends me, it is just not that good of a book (apart from the much needed queer representation).
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!! I relate to Ben so much omg I love them
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THIS BOOK. The love story is sweet as hell. Ben’s characterization is so flawless and wonderful. Deaver does such a brilliant job of exploring the nuances of living with an anxiety disorder. All the secondary characters and relationships are complex and great. And of course, the sweetest nb bean of a protagonist. Read it read it read it
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Made my little queer heart sing, laugh and cry. Wonderful.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was so good! Ben's story was such a heartwarming story. Heartbreaking at first, but I'm so glad this was a happy ending. I also loved the nonbinary rep, of coourse! So good to read/listen to a story that celebrates nonbinary people.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/54.5
This story was an emotional journey that was so beautiful. I was tearing up in the start of the story and so nervous but I was so happy for Ben by the end. They got ending they deserved - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is such an amazing audiobook I love it so much! It really helped me understand some of the things that non binary people go through on a day to day basis. And besides that it is also a beautiful live story!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This story grips you from the very first chapter. The plot line, the complex feelings of the main character, the wrestling with your own life and emotions and changes while trying to connect with other good people in your life... truly magic
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A really beautiful book that focuses more on healing, personal growth, and building healthy relationships instead of just the romance. I really enjoyed this one
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love all their characters! (Besides Ben's parents)
Ben's relationship with their sister (and her husband) is so heartwarming.
She took them and tries every way that she knew how to help them. Ben and Nathan's relationship is so cute, from tour guide thru their friendship. I cannot wait until I can read their Christmas Novella.
I look forward to reading more of Masons books, I would of never of guessed that this was their first story.
I really enjoyed the Audio also - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great coming out story and finding your own voice. It was sweet and heartbreaking at times. This is a great read for anyone in the Lgbtq+ community especially non-binary folk as that’s the main thing presented here. Some great insight on being non-binary with the story as well.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was such a beautiful story! I couldn't believe it took me so long to start listening to this one, but it was worth every second.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the story I needed when I was a teenager. And it's the story I needed when I read it too.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It introduced me to ideas that I have only heard secondhand in a very interesting way.