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Brady Rae

Relatable

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

Thank you Quill Tree Books and NetGalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Gael lives with his mother both of them struggle with disabilities, Gael with anxiety and his mother with depression. Gael’s never really had close friends some of that having to do with not knowing where he fit when he transitioned. Especially since he hasn’t been able to have top surgery and he lives in an area that is not the most friendly towards the LGBTQIA+ community. When the one friend he does have asks him to attend a group meeting he reluctantly goes. When he’s there he see his classes mate Declan. The two begin talking and a relationship grows as does Gael’s relationship with Declan’s friend group. But when his dad comes back to down, after not speaking to him in four months, and his moms struggles get worse he has difficulty maintaining those relationships. And if there was something more with Declan would he be able to work through his own struggles to make it work? I feel Gael was very relatable, not completely in his connection to gender for me, but in his struggles with disabilities and his mothers struggles with disabilities. Michael Gray Bulla does a fantastic job of capturing the pain, loneliness, fear, and loss that can come with having disabilities! Especially untreated! I really felt for Gael and how those things and his relationships in the past impacted his ability to open up and feel connected to others! I also loved the parts where the characters were at Plus, a support group for LGBTQIA+ individuals, it would be so beneficial if those kinds of support groups were everywhere though I would have been at like like Gael was when he first started! This book is absolutely lovely full of complications, growth, understanding, compassion, and love! Highly recommend this book! I can’t wait to read it again!

Rayona lovely wilson

A very uplifting story

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023

This was a wonderful story of acceptance but also sadness about a boy Gael, trying to care for his Ill mom and trying to take care of himself … even though it was hard, even though he was lonely, even though he had his own issues. Very heartbreaking
I don’t want to spoil this for anybody but I think you should read it. Great insight that everyone is dealing with something

I appreciated the story and the characters and the relationship between them.

Kody

An impactful, reflective story

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2023

Seventeen-year-old Gael is a private individual, and though his best friend encourages him to attend a support group for LGBTQIA+ teens, he doesn't intend to reveal much about his life. Gael has a lot on his plate, including helping his mother through her depression, dealing with his estranged father, and being a transgender boy in a conservative high school. However, when he meets Declan and is welcomed into a new group of friends, Gael starts to open up. As his relationship with Declan becomes more, Gael must decide if he can trust others with his heart, despite the challenges he faces with his family.

If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla is a thoughtfully crafted coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of identity and relationships. Gael, the protagonist, is a well-rounded and relatable character whose struggles with family issues and being transgender in a conservative community are handled with care and sensitivity. While the themes of the book can be heavy at times, the author handles Gael's mother's mental health issues and Gael's own identity struggles with the utmost sensitivity and nuance. The romance between Gael and Declan is sweet and organic, and the relationships Gael forms with his new friends are heartwarming and supportive. Overall, If I Can Give You That is a poignant and uplifting read that will resonate with readers. I highly recommend it and give it four stars.

Margaret

If I Can Give You That Review

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023

This was a wonderful read. If I Can Give You That touched on some difficult topics, such as: depression/suicide, body dysmorphia, bullying, cheating, divorce, and anxiety/panic attacks. It also touched on sexuality, and Gael's journey or discovering his sexuality. I enjoyed the characters and the story, it was definitely more serious than other YA stories, but it had its sweet moments as well.

Gael is entering his senior year and is counting down the says till he turns 18 and can finally get his too surgery. Everything else in between he takes one day at a time, he can't even begin to think about after (after graduation, after he moves out, after top surgery... it's all too much to think about). Enter Declan, out and proud and one of the few African American students at Gael's school, the two become fast friends. As feelings begin to intensify, Gael starts to feel things he's never felt before, has never let himself feel before, and he has to decide whether to embrace them and risk being hurt, or to run away from them and remain alone.

If I Can Give You That was a bit of a coming of age journey/ friends-to-lovers romance/ queer awakening. It had hard moments and scary moments, but it also had soft and funny moments as well. Definitely an, overall, enjoyable read.