I read this in November of 2022, but I am amplifying it now for the #transrightsreadathon 2023.

"I'm excellent at faking being okay with things, even when inside my brain there is a tiny screaming gnome who is definitely not okay."

Angel Rahini is a teenager obsessed with The Ark, a popular boy band. Jimmy Kaga-Ricci is the trans frontman of the Ark. When a fan meet-and-greet goes wrong, Angel and Jimmy are thrown together, embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

Alice Oseman has a way of creating well-rounded, nuanced characters that show growth within a very short novella. Angel learns about true friendships, trusting others, and following her own path. Alice also skillfully addresses mental health, in this case anxiety, as Jimmy comes to terms with loving the music-making but not the crowds and attention that comes with megastar status.

I'm a sucker for books written from multiple perspectives, and IWBFT sweetly bounces back and forth between Angel and Jimmy.

Alice Oseman is one of those authors whose work I'll buy without a second thought. I Was Born For This didn't disappoint!