Imagine being in high school and getting cast as the lead in the school play. That would, of course, be cause for some nerves. Now imagine instead that you’re coming to terms with your gender and also you’re cast as the gender you *know* you are but that’s not the one everyone assumes.

In Between Perfect and Real, this is what happens to Dean, a high school senior cast as Romeo in a production of Romeo and Juliet. Everyone assumes the director of the show is doing some risky gender-swapped role since at the start of the book, they all know Dean to be a lesbian. Little do they know that every day, Dean is becoming more and more confident of the fact that he is a trans guy.

This book is so open and honest from start to finish, especially with the nuances of coming out on your own terms mixed with having that taken away because of factors you can’t control. Stoeve balances family drama and friend drama incredibly well, navigating through an especially difficult high school experience. Add on college applications, bullying, and senior year angst to the mix and this becomes more than your average coming-of-age or coming out novel. This becomes a lifeline to any questioning or queer teen who needs to see themselves in these pages.

Dean finds his footing through the role of Romeo, through the costumes, through the lines. I hope that this book does the same for its future readers, they they are able to find their footing through Dean’s experiences and know that they’re worthy of being themselves.

5 Stars

3.5 stars

I honestly don’t have a lot to say about this book. It was a quick read with short chapters that kept me engaged, but the content fell flat. I had trouble connecting with Dean until the climax 75% of the way into the book. This book has great themes surrounding coming out and have to readjust when life doesn’t go as planned, but I don’t think it will stick with me long term.

My favourite thing about Between Perfect and Real, and of all my favourite queer coming-of-age stories was the idea of a 'chosen family'. Along with his (fabulous) friends from school, Dean finds a sense of belonging with a group of transgender folks in his town. Dean learns from all of the vibrant, unique people in this group that being transgender looks different and means something different for everyone there, and that's awesome! This powerful alliance of trans youth gives Dean the hope, comfort and support he needs to accept and be who he is.

It took me a good few chapters to adjust to the writing style, but once I did I found it really effective. The short sentences, lack of flowery language and the fact that this book is very dialogue-heavy definitely propel the book forward, and give you a great sense of Dean's way of thinking.

Dean's tone changes throughout the book to reflect his mental state, his voice and perspective shifting and warping ever so slightly. It makes reading heartbreaking at times as Dean is clearly suppressing his naturally enigmatic and colourful character, in favour of switching off and letting 'Robot Dean' take the wheel. These subtle changes in tone throughout the novel make Dean's character all the more relatable and tangible.

The pace of this book definitely reflects the sense of urgency Dean feels in discovering/coming to terms with his gender identity. Thoughts are racing in Dean's head from the get-go as he is cast as Romeo and we never lose momentum from there. This sense of urgency makes the book impossible to put down. It also makes the emotional blows Dean experiences all the more impactful. As Dean occasionally slows down and allows his grief and sadness to settle, it is nothing short of heartbreaking to know there's nothing he can do but wait it out.

I think Dean's story would be perfect for slightly younger teens as an introduction to some of the LGBTQIA+ terms and ideas that they may not yet fully understand. Between Perfect and Real tackles the ideas of identity and belonging in such an accessible and sensitive way, and I hope it will encourage more conversations around the transgender experience in younger folks. While not shying away from the darker aspects of Dean's story, this book commits to leaving the reader with a sense of hope and determination.

Thank you so so much to Amulet Books for the e-arc of this wonderful book!



PLEASE seek out and read reviews of this book written by transgender folks and people who can speak from experience on the topics explored in Dean's story like gender dysphoria, transphobia and the trans experience in general.

TWs: transphobia, bullying (including physical intimidation, name calling and one scene of physical attack on MC), brief mention of suicide (character not explored in book, suicide not on-page or in any way explicit), some slurs aimed at queer side characters, in-depth discussions on gender dysphoria.

4.5/5 stars.

I flew through this book in the space of a day. The writing is easy to follow, and really gets you into Dean's shoes as he deals with the internal struggles he feels while he grapples with his gender identity. I loved the emphasis of his love for theatre and performing, which I think really encapsulated his feelings about his gender as well. On several occasions, Dean expresses the feeling of putting on a role and not being yourself, to be able to put on a persona and not be confined to the perceptions other people have of you. I loved that acting gave him the escape he needed and the space to express who he really is. I loved every bit of the book, from how supportive his friends are, to how acting was used as a vehicle to show gender euphoria and dysphoria, to the inclusion of support groups that discussed such important topics about being trans.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot. I think it discussed a lot of important topics, containing moments that were both tough and heartfelt, and is a book that would a lot to people in the same boat as Dean.

content warnings: references to transphobia, misgendering, homophobia (mentioned), dead naming (name not mentioned), outing, mention of body dysmorphia, unsafe binding (combated), suicide (mentioned), bullying

This is an own stories book about a boy coming out as trans. I really liked Dean as a character. I feel like this would be great for a middle grade or younger YA audience. Although the situations the protagonist finds themselves in is tough. The story ends on a hopeful note.

Absolutely wonderful look into the trans experience within a theatre program in high school! So charming and exciting to watch Dean come out of his shell!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Trigger warnings: transphobia, dead naming, forced outing, mention of suicide & dysmorphia

I would like to emphasise that I am not an own voices reviewer and I definitely recommending reading the thoughts of those that are.

I really loved this book and the discussion of Dean, a trans boy wanting to come out to his family and friends. One thing I absolutely adored in this book was the found family between Dean and his friend Ronnie. Their friendship made my heart swoon and it was such an incredible example of being an amazing, supportive friend.

Ray Stoeve's writing style was so fast paced and so lovely to read. I was never bored and ended up flying through the story all whilst taking in every aspect. I will definitely be picking up more from them in the future!

One aspect that I didn't like, was the introduction and finalisation of the book. As a whole I thought the story ended very satisfyingly, however the ending seemed fairly rushed for no reason. In terms of the beginning, so many characters were being introduced in a very short span of time and it made it a little difficult to remember exactly who everybody was.

However, this book was a very informative read and was so important for myself and many others to learn and hear what trans people go though. I will be reading own voices reviews in order to see how the rep was for them.

- I am not an own voices reviewer -

Thank you to Netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for sending me an eArc of this book to review.

Between Perfect and Real is about Dean who knows he is trans but everyone in his high school believe he is a lesbian. So when he gets cast as Romeo in his school play he is unsure on how to play the role, as himself or the way people expect him too.

TW/ Transphobia, Dysphoria, deadnaming (name not mentioned), being outted, mention of sucide (not graphic)

What I Enjoyed//
- I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was written really well.
- I loved the relationships Dean created as his chosen family, especially Ronnie. I thought he was a great character.
- I loved the character arc of Dean from where he started to where he ended up
- It was not only a really fun and enjoyable read but for me, not being own voices, thought it was very educational and I learnt a lot and it allowed a deeper insight into the trans community and what they have to face day to day. Maybe some of the things could have been incorporated into the story better but as I didn't know too much, I found this a great book to learn more.

What I Didn't Love//
- I thought the ending was very abrupt. I wanted just a little more
- It took me about the first 30 pages to wrap my head around all the characters. Dean has a lot of friends and there are a lot of side characters involved in this book from the get go.

Overall I throughly enjoyed this book and think it will be a great resource for younger readers.

This book is going to be so important for so many people. We follow Dean in high school when he discovers and realizes he is a trans guy. Dean has a girlfriend and several close friends who all think Dean is a lesbian. Dean has been cast as Romeo in the school's play and begins attending a transgender/non-binary support group. Reading a trans support group is going to be so influential and necessary for the queer community - representation is important and trans coming out stories will help so many youth feel seen and understood!

This book just felt really authentic. You could tell that Stoeve really cared about Dean and about presenting LGBTQ+ teens in a thoughtful, realistic way, and that they probably put a lot of themself into this story.. It was definitely clear that this was a debut novel - some plot-lines felt rushed, some character traits and relationships felt like they needed more depth and exploration, but overall I enjoyed the book.

Positive trans rep is important, and Ray Stoeve's #ownvoices BETWEEN PERFECT AND REAL does an excellent job of showcasing a diverse cast of characters in a natural, REAL way. Dean is such a relatable character anyone from any background can see themselves in and root for. BETWEEN PERFECT AND REAL tackles the trouble of a "double coming out" (Dean initially came out to his parents as a cis lesbian, but later realized he was trans) and though that's not something I've ever dealt with personally, I felt his pain deeply.

Ray Stoeve is a wonderful writer and I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Such a precious story!
Lots of representation and lines/quotes I loved. The amount of times I wanted to give Dean a hug is ridiculous. I loved following his journey.
My only negative is that it felt a little rushed.

Overall a quick and important read, I’d highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and were realistic, I could see them as a real people and not just characters written on a page. I loved the use of Romeo and Juliet and how it allowed Dean to explore his identity, especially how Stoeve highlighted that R&J is not just a tragic love story but a play about finding yourself and making the right choices for you despite the consequences.

I really appreciated the inclusion of the support group that Dean attends, I find it really interesting to read multiple perspectives on topics such as gender and sexuality. It was interesting to read the different family dynamics and the different reactions that people had to characters such as Dean, Jade, Nina and Ronnie, due to their sexuality, identity or race.

This book was really enlightening and I really enjoyed reading it. It was a really quick read however this did not diminish it's impact.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I am confident that it will mean a whole lot to many young trans readers.

Dean definitely experiences transphobia at many points in the story, but the message of the book itself is full of trans positivity. One of Dean’s closest friends, Ronnie, is a really great ally and a few of his scenes with Dean were super heartwarming and made me smile so much. The trans support group Dean goes to was also one of my favourite aspects of the book - it was really nice to see the author include a variety of other trans characters in addition to the MC, and I loved the sort of found family dynamic that ends up forming between Dean and some of the people he meets there. The use of Dean’s school play as a way for him to explore gender was also really cool to read about, and probably an experience that some readers might resonate with.

I think I would’ve preferred the book to end a bit less abruptly, but that really is more of a personal preference than anything. Apart from that though, the writing was pretty good and I became invested in the story super quickly.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book & I’m really hyped for it to come out in April!

An honest and beautiful look at a trans high schooler and the love and compassion surrounding them. The characters were totally believable, and I appreciated that, in many ways, the story does the classic YAL thing of showing the life of teenagers engaged in real-world activities (in this case drama) where they learn to be true to themselves and their various identities. This story also shows the heroics of teachers who care deeply for students beyond the curriculum, and the power of friendship. What is most important, is this story featuring an LGBTQ protagonist doesn’t have a flat character where they only have one aspect of their identity. The characters are complex and grow throughout the story.

Thank you to netgalley and ABRAMS Kids for the e-arc.

This has such a consumable writing style, it was so easy to turn the page and be invested in this snapshot of Dean's life.

I enjoyed how this novel handled the nuance of these characters, from Dean himself to his friends, girlfriend, and side characters. Dean navigates his coming out with a lot of ups and downs. And starts to figure himself out in the midst of both supportive, unsupportive, and confused people. Paralleling this journey alongside his role as Romeo was well done.

I enjoyed that the main coded "popular girl" wasn't another mean girl, but someone with depth and kindness.

I enjoyed Dean's friendships, and how the author developed his relationship with his girlfriend throughout. I also enjoyed that Dean sought out other trans voices, and trans people, and that he wasn't the only trans character in this novel.

This novel had a lot of important conversations and I could see how this could potentially resonate and help trans kids/teenagers on a similar journey to Dean (though I can't speak to this personally).

A moving and marvelous novel of a (closeted) trans boy cast as Romeo in the school play. The novel also features a wonderful supporting cast of (mostly queer) friends.

I really liked the LGBTQ inclusion in “Between Perfect and Real” because of Dean, a transgender character. I thought it was really fascinating how he interacted with his peers and grew to accept his identity, especially with the help of his role as Romeo in the play. The only thing I disliked was that the book was slow-paced for me, so I would have preferred for the story to unfold faster. Nonetheless, I definitely recommend this book!

Between Perfect and Real is the story of Dean Foster, who knows he's trans, but who isn't sure how to explain it to the people in his life. He thought he would wait until college to come out, but when the opportunity arises to play Romeo in his school musical, he realizes he wants everyone to know the real him, he wants them to use his pronouns, he wants to be him, truthfully and openly.

I really enjoyed this story and how it was focused on Dean and his story more than a romance or anything else. I loved his friendship with Ronnie and how powerful and incredible that relationship was, how much it meant to Dean and how easily and readily Ronnie accepted him and how he immediately began using the correct pronouns. I was more disappointed with Zoe and how she reacted, how she wasn't honest about what she thought about being with Dean as a boy.

The idea of coming out through theater is so wonderful to me (and I've recently read like three different books with this theme, so it's very much on my mind), and I just really love how theater can be this place where you can be whoever you want, how anyone can play any kind of character. This was a really powerful, amazing story, and I loved Dean to no end <3

Love, love, loved it.

So many YA books have unrealistic dialogue and just seen like the characters are actually adults but in high school. Not in this book at all. Everything about this book rings true and really feels like it is written about teens and for teens.

Reminiscent of Alex Gino's 'George' but for a slightly older audience, this book takes you through Dean's journey of realizing he is trans and coming out to his friends, family, and school. It is emotional, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. This should be in every school library.