Change Your Game: Lewis Hughes Reviews 'I Wish You All the Best' by Mason Deaver

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver is a Young Adult contemporary novel that follows Ben after they are kicked out of their home and forced to live with their sister after coming out as Non-Binary to their parents. The story tracks Ben’s growing comfort with their own identity and their journey as they start a new school. A compelling sub-plot adored by many readers is the relationship they form with Nathan, a charming boy who takes Ben under his wing at school.

I Wish You All the Best is equal parts heart-warming, with Ben and Nathan's romance being one of the most compelling I've read in a long while, and heart-breaking, with Ben's strained relationship with their transphobic parents being the emotional backbone of the novel. Both of these aspects of the story balance each other perfectly to form a story that acknowledges trauma, hurt and recovery while also highlighting the joy in life which is especially important when centering Queer, Trans and otherwise diverse voices.

Deaver’s writing is accessible and fits the usual expectations for Young Adult fiction while also being unique in its voice. This mirrors how Ben’s experience is their own while also being an encapsulation of the unfortunate experiences of real Non-Binary teens who are forced from their homes due to rejection of their true self from their loved ones. This makes I Wish You All the Best so important for all readers as it doesn’t just tell an isolated story but rather captures an individual’s story – both trauma and joy – and can act as a microcosm for a wider group.

Each of the characters that Deaver crafts play their roles well and are very likeable. Ben is a sympathetic and interesting protagonist with interests (art) and relationship dynamics (estranged siblings) not typically seen in Young Adult novels. Their role-model Miriam is a delightful addition to the story and provides the Queer Youth who may read I Wish You All the Best with their own role model as they realise they can thrive in their own identity even when it doesn’t conform to cisgender heteronormative ideals. Ben’s sister, Hannah, and her husband Thomas also provide wonderful scenes within the story as their estrangement from Ben (yet also immediate acceptance of Ben’s gender) make them very likeable. The standout character for many readers, myself included, however, is Nathan Allen. Nathan is Ben’s love interest and the boy who shows Ben around their new school, taking them under their wing and supporting them without question at every turn. In every way that Ben is uncertain and takes their time to adjust, Nathan is confident and outgoing; he’s always by Ben’s side with a smile and a supportive word. Nathan is truly a standout character not just in this novel but in Young Adult literature as a whole.

Deaver’s depiction of on-page therapy and a journey towards recovery after enduring trauma is revolutionary in its progressiveness and openness. The more Young Adult books – and all books, for that matter – embrace this kind of open discussion about mental health, the more comfortable real teens (particularly queer and gender-diverse teens) will be in seeking help regarding their own mental health. Ben’s story ends happily with them comfortable with their identity and the people they surround themselves with; Non-Binary teens – and readers of all ages – seeing such representation is essential in ensuring they know that happiness is possible for them too.

I Wish You All the Best is a fantastic novel, equal parts devastatingly intense and wondrously joyous. The representation of gender identity, Queerness and many other forms of diverse characters was impeccably crafted to make this a story any reader can pick up and feel invested in.

Words by Lewis Hughes