Perfect for fans of David Levithan, Becky Albertalli, and Jenny Han. A good read for queer youth and a great read for YA contemporary fans looking for a more realistic rom-com, Tobly McSmith’s debut is, like Pony, a stealthy fighter with plenty of heart.Debut author Tobly McSmith delivers a coming-of-age teen love story about a transgender boy who’s going stealth at his new Texas high school and a cisgender girl who is drawn to him, even as she’s counting down the days until graduation. Although it rarely broached deep topics, the story had enough weight to tug on my heartstrings. Overall, Stay Gold is a fresh and comforting read that left me smiling and satisfied. Other than some of her more dramatic moments, I found Georgia to be a fairly bland but nonetheless entertaining heroine, her side of the story almost as captivating as Pony’s. However, McSmith delicately wrote these scenes in a way that I hope will enable readers to realize when Georgia has crossed the line. Georgia was less likable in my opinion, many of her actions towards Pony hurtful. “This proves that McSmith’s writing was on point, perfectly conveying complicated feelings about identity and expression, many of which I shared.” It also proves how important Own Voices literature is (McSmith is trans), as I’ve read books with trans characters written by cis authors that have been disturbingly inaccurate. This proves that McSmith’s writing was on point, perfectly conveying complicated feelings about identity and expression, many of which I shared. I could relate to his struggles with queerness, but other than that we didn’t have much in common. The ending felt somewhat rushed but was, of course, wrapped up in a satisfactory, albeit cheesy, way.Īs far as reliability goes, I was drawn more to Pony than anyone else. Pony and Georgia’s objectives and personalities are clear, perfectly weaved into the dual-perspective writing. The story is neat and tidy, with a clean arc and just the right amount of unique side-characters. Tobly McSmith is a debut author and his first stab at YA was certainly successful. What follows is Stay Gold, a novel that is honest, hilarious, and a hell-of-a wild ride. They’re both keeping secrets to fit in, and it’s keeping them from a sparking romance. He’s observant, funny, and quietly transgender. She’s peppy, beautiful, and an undercover journalism nerd. Georgia is one of the head cheerleaders at Hillcrest High. I couldn’t spend another day stuck because I was worried about what people thought of me.” – Tobly McSmith Review by Ivy “We only get one chance at life.
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