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Half-Drawn Boy
Gregor is neurodivergent and doesn’t speak. He’s also pretty sure he has synaesthesia, given the unpleasant physical sensations he experiences when writing words. He interacts with the world through his drawings and pictures. This makes school hard. A lot of the time he feels more like a half-drawn boy than a real human being.
He lives with his much older nonbinary/ace/panromantic brother and their boyfriend. He knows he’s also probably a letter in LGBTQIA. But thinking about which one makes him want to run away and hide.
He has two best friends and an adorable cat called Ginger, and even though, a lot of the time, he feels half-drawn and not-real, he’s happy.
But then Noah, with his pastel galaxy rainbow hair and his bruises, tears through the neatly drawn pages of Gregor’s life, and Gregor isn’t sure how he feels anymore, except really, really confused. Plus a few other feelings he’s too scared to identify.
He talks to Noah via text for months and it feels safe, even if he is worried about Noah’s bruises. Being near Noah in real life is intense and terrifying and something Gregor avoids. But as the months pass, texting starts to feel not enough, and Gregor realises he has to try to work out if he wants something real and not just half-drawn with Noah. And if he does, he’s going to have to figure out exactly what it is that’s making him so scared about being close.
He lives with his much older nonbinary/ace/panromantic brother and their boyfriend. He knows he’s also probably a letter in LGBTQIA. But thinking about which one makes him want to run away and hide.
He has two best friends and an adorable cat called Ginger, and even though, a lot of the time, he feels half-drawn and not-real, he’s happy.
But then Noah, with his pastel galaxy rainbow hair and his bruises, tears through the neatly drawn pages of Gregor’s life, and Gregor isn’t sure how he feels anymore, except really, really confused. Plus a few other feelings he’s too scared to identify.
He talks to Noah via text for months and it feels safe, even if he is worried about Noah’s bruises. Being near Noah in real life is intense and terrifying and something Gregor avoids. But as the months pass, texting starts to feel not enough, and Gregor realises he has to try to work out if he wants something real and not just half-drawn with Noah. And if he does, he’s going to have to figure out exactly what it is that’s making him so scared about being close.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2024
40 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Suki Fleet
33 books682 followersAbout the author:
Suki Fleet is an award winning author, a prolific Reader (though less prolific than they'd like), and a lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.
They write lyrical stories about memorable characters and believe everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.
Their first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards. Their novel Foxes won Best Gay Young Adult in the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
If you’d like to offer your support and buy Suki Fleet a coffee you can do that here: https://ko-fi.com/sukifleet
If you would like info on upcoming releases and the occasional free story, please sign up to Suki’s newsletter: https://sukifleet.wordpress.com/newsl...
If you’re interested in reading first drafts of Suki’s new stories, or reading stories that are no longer available or cuts that can’t be published on Amazon, and other extras, please consider signing up to Suki’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sukifleet
Suki Fleet is an award winning author, a prolific Reader (though less prolific than they'd like), and a lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.
They write lyrical stories about memorable characters and believe everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.
Their first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards. Their novel Foxes won Best Gay Young Adult in the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
If you’d like to offer your support and buy Suki Fleet a coffee you can do that here: https://ko-fi.com/sukifleet
If you would like info on upcoming releases and the occasional free story, please sign up to Suki’s newsletter: https://sukifleet.wordpress.com/newsl...
If you’re interested in reading first drafts of Suki’s new stories, or reading stories that are no longer available or cuts that can’t be published on Amazon, and other extras, please consider signing up to Suki’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sukifleet
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 4, 2024
"Everything is always changing. And one day soon things are going to be better than this."
I loved this. And while I can say it a million times a day, all day, I’m worried that the true extent of my feelings still won’t come across just right, just the way I need it to. This is serious business! It's a special book, and I think it's important to do it justice. The thing is, my problem is that the emotions inside me are always more vibrant than the way I’m able to express them outwardly. Sometimes I wish all my sincere emotions would burst out of my chest like the Alien chest bursters so that when I say something, the people will know that I said it with a feeling! Then everyone would be able to see exactly where I stand. Let me take a step back for a moment though. You know how I’m always calling myself a hater as if it were a title to be earned or whatever? Yeah well, when I've actually taken a look at the evidence (my reviews, mostly), the truth is that I like most the things I read. Hey, pretty cool! But because I’m always going on and on about how great and wonderful each and every one of the books I read are, I’m a little worried that I’ll start to be seen as the guy who’ll read and love and sing praises over anything. I need to be careful because I never want to accidentally dilute the phrase "I loved this book." I mean, it’s nice that I’m finding so many winners, but there’s no doubt that sometimes phrases similar to “This book is the best of the best of the best, sir!” and “This is the single greatest thing I've ever read!” start to sound more like hyperbolic rhetoric than the heartfelt feelings I’m hoping comes across every time I say them. So, here’s what I’ll do; I’ll list a bunch of things I hate so that when I finally get to saying “I loved this!” a again, instead of the guy in my head I’m arguing against being like, “Wow, the guy who likes everything likes another book. Groundbreaking.” he’ll be like, “Woah, this book must be really good if Mr. Hater over here loved it!” It’s a foolproof plan, really. Okay, it’s listing time! Here I go: I hate Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. I hate how at the end of family parties you’re expected to hug every person when saying goodbye, no matter how distant said family member actually is. I hate how I can’t block books here on Goodreads so whenever I’m scrolling down on my feed, there’s always a small chance I might come across gross books like that one written by a certain creep who may or may not have bought Twitter. I hate how I can watch one video on YouTube and the algorithm will think that that's now my entire personality. Like, apparently I'm now the world's biggest Friends fan! Ugh. Oh, and finally, I hate how weapons in Breath of the Wild have a durability meter, always breaking whenever I’m dueling goblins and shit. Anyway, now that I’ve regained “Hater Status: 100%,” I can finally say with my whole heart, whole-heartedly; I loved Half-Drawn Boy! Can you believe it? The guy who hates everything likes something! I don’t know, so many of my experiences with contemporary fiction are defined by me being like, “Yeah whatever, it's close enough.” and then slapping a four star rating on the bad boy and calling it a day, so it’s actually really nice to read a book that I can say without a hint of irony or sarcasm that I absolutely adored it. I’ll tell you one thing, there’s nothing half-drawn about my love for this book!
This book is interesting because I remember reading This Is Not a Love Story by this author, Suki Fleet, a while ago and feeling emotions so big and powerful that it felt like a chest burster from Alien was about to… wait, I said that already. Um, I also loved that book, but because I read the whole thing in one sitting, it was almost too much for me, too real, to the point where I actually had to take a break from reading their books for awhile. Is that weird? Because I don't mean that as a dig or anything. It's a personal preference thing, because sometimes a book can be full of beautiful sentiment but also overload me with a bad time feeling and aching pains over the characters that I knew I’d need regular breaks for my own sake. Maybe it's not that serious, but sometimes I get affected a little too much by the stories I read. Too in my head. And I knew for a fact that I’d need to be in the right mindset whenever I’d set out to read another one. I guess now is a good time as any to say that even though Half-Drawn Boy took me a little bit to finish, it was so gorgeous and impactful that all I can do is sit here in awe. Gregor and Noah's (hey, I have a similar name!) story has a tender center lovingly wrapped in a dream-like prose and I was pretty much at risk of crying after every couple paragraphs! This novel feels both like something that’s never been done before while also having a lovely classical appeal. It’s like a perfect blend of The Outsiders and Felix Ever After (oh, and maybe with a sprinkling of I Wish You All the Best) without ever feeling like it’s doing too much or doing too little. It’s up there with the greats, is what I’m trying to say. And none of this should have come as a surprise to me... but it really did. I'm gobsmacked! Look, I’m not always super jazzed about reading something solely about a specific identity (because they can sometimes feel a little condescending), and I’ll admit that I had a small worry that this book would be one of those ones that'd end up infantilizing its autistic characters. It didn’t, thankfully, but I can't help but remember this lady’s TikTok (that I saw on twitter) where her whole profile is full of videos of her filming and cheering whenever her autistic brother accomplished literally any task. Like, the way you’d congratulate a child whenever they do something the first time… and I’ve got to say, the whole thing felt incredibly patronizing, exploitative, and gross. I mean, if those videos help people (though I don’t see how they could?) then good on them, but if I were her brother, I'd be distraught. Distraught, I tell you! The worst thing I can imagine is thinking I have a someone who loves and accepts me for who I am, only for them to then turn around and use me for content. Yuck. Selling out your loved ones for precious clout, likes, and digital hugs? Couldn't be me. Yeah well, my fears were alleviated pretty quickly (in maybe the first three pages), because Half-Drawn Boy isn’t doesn't just portray a respectful representation of autism, but also everything else it sets out to represent. It’s beautiful, really. Everything from queer identities to mental health, this is a novel that shines a light on those who fall through the cracks.
See, what I enjoyed the most about Half-Drawn Boy is that it takes characters that would normally be delegated to “the friend” character and makes them the heroes of their own stories. It can often feel like people like us, the ones who don't have the luxury of being able to mask as "normal," only exist to orbit around heteronormative stories, and that we’re only there to offer sage advice and maybe get a handout love-interest in the end (cough cough… Tiny from Will Grayson, Will Grayson), so whenever a book like this comes along, I make sure to cherish it. This really is “One in a Million” by Aaliyah! Speaking of identity, I also liked how a lot of this book deals with the classic YA trope of the character’s struggle in finding the right and perfect label for themselves, only to then flip it and say that finding the right word for yourself actually isn’t the most important thing in one’s journey for self-discovery. What’s actually most helpful is finding what works for you at this point in time, understanding that a sense of self is fluid and labels can change and evolve, and what feels right, right now might become something wa~ay different later down the line. And you know what? That it’s totally okay if or when that does happen. Cool, even. The message of this book isn’t that Gregor needs to find the right label for himself, it’s saying that the people around him that love him and he loves back will always be there regardless. It’s a sweet thing to put in a story, and I can see this book being instrumental in helping a lot of young people (or anybody, really) who happen to stumble across it. Another thing I enjoyed was that while there's a positive and nice portrayal of QSA meetings (Queer/Straight Alliance) here, it also showed how, through Gregor, those meetings aren’t for everyone. Like… not to make this about me, but they were never really my thing either, you know? In my experience, there was always that person who was there who would “innocently” ask invasive and overly argumentative debate questions. And other than the fact that a person’s right to exist isn’t a topic up for debate, it’s also important to know that I’ve literally never been interested in having a debate with anyone over anything at any time. "It's just a debate bro, why don't you back up your argument, bro?" Nah man, argue with the wall. Besides, there’s no such thing as a good faith argument with a bigot, their goal is to rile you up and it’s always a waste of time. Anyway, what I was trying to get at is that most, if not all, YA books portray the QSA as some kind of bastion of welcoming acceptance, when that’s not always the case. And even if it were, sometimes sitting around talking about the identity you... identify as only ever accomplishes making people feel uncomfortable rather than safe. Like with Gregor in this book, and like with me in real life. Otherwise, it’s always a nice surprise to come across a book that makes you feel so seen that you come away feeling scrubbed clean and raw. "Feel the rain on your skin"-and all that. Because I think this may be Suki Fleet’s specialty; literature for those who are in desperate need of something achingly sincere. So me, basically. Alright, with that sentiment expressed properly, I think I’ve said all there is that I'm here to say! In short, yep, I loved this! Now can someone please queue up the Frank Ocean lyrics!?
I'm sure we're taller in another dimension, you say we're small and not worth the mention / You’re tired of movin', your body's achin’ / we could vacay, there's places to go, clearly, this isn't all that there is (White Ferrari – Frank Ocean).
I loved this. And while I can say it a million times a day, all day, I’m worried that the true extent of my feelings still won’t come across just right, just the way I need it to. This is serious business! It's a special book, and I think it's important to do it justice. The thing is, my problem is that the emotions inside me are always more vibrant than the way I’m able to express them outwardly. Sometimes I wish all my sincere emotions would burst out of my chest like the Alien chest bursters so that when I say something, the people will know that I said it with a feeling! Then everyone would be able to see exactly where I stand. Let me take a step back for a moment though. You know how I’m always calling myself a hater as if it were a title to be earned or whatever? Yeah well, when I've actually taken a look at the evidence (my reviews, mostly), the truth is that I like most the things I read. Hey, pretty cool! But because I’m always going on and on about how great and wonderful each and every one of the books I read are, I’m a little worried that I’ll start to be seen as the guy who’ll read and love and sing praises over anything. I need to be careful because I never want to accidentally dilute the phrase "I loved this book." I mean, it’s nice that I’m finding so many winners, but there’s no doubt that sometimes phrases similar to “This book is the best of the best of the best, sir!” and “This is the single greatest thing I've ever read!” start to sound more like hyperbolic rhetoric than the heartfelt feelings I’m hoping comes across every time I say them. So, here’s what I’ll do; I’ll list a bunch of things I hate so that when I finally get to saying “I loved this!” a again, instead of the guy in my head I’m arguing against being like, “Wow, the guy who likes everything likes another book. Groundbreaking.” he’ll be like, “Woah, this book must be really good if Mr. Hater over here loved it!” It’s a foolproof plan, really. Okay, it’s listing time! Here I go: I hate Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel. I hate how at the end of family parties you’re expected to hug every person when saying goodbye, no matter how distant said family member actually is. I hate how I can’t block books here on Goodreads so whenever I’m scrolling down on my feed, there’s always a small chance I might come across gross books like that one written by a certain creep who may or may not have bought Twitter. I hate how I can watch one video on YouTube and the algorithm will think that that's now my entire personality. Like, apparently I'm now the world's biggest Friends fan! Ugh. Oh, and finally, I hate how weapons in Breath of the Wild have a durability meter, always breaking whenever I’m dueling goblins and shit. Anyway, now that I’ve regained “Hater Status: 100%,” I can finally say with my whole heart, whole-heartedly; I loved Half-Drawn Boy! Can you believe it? The guy who hates everything likes something! I don’t know, so many of my experiences with contemporary fiction are defined by me being like, “Yeah whatever, it's close enough.” and then slapping a four star rating on the bad boy and calling it a day, so it’s actually really nice to read a book that I can say without a hint of irony or sarcasm that I absolutely adored it. I’ll tell you one thing, there’s nothing half-drawn about my love for this book!
This book is interesting because I remember reading This Is Not a Love Story by this author, Suki Fleet, a while ago and feeling emotions so big and powerful that it felt like a chest burster from Alien was about to… wait, I said that already. Um, I also loved that book, but because I read the whole thing in one sitting, it was almost too much for me, too real, to the point where I actually had to take a break from reading their books for awhile. Is that weird? Because I don't mean that as a dig or anything. It's a personal preference thing, because sometimes a book can be full of beautiful sentiment but also overload me with a bad time feeling and aching pains over the characters that I knew I’d need regular breaks for my own sake. Maybe it's not that serious, but sometimes I get affected a little too much by the stories I read. Too in my head. And I knew for a fact that I’d need to be in the right mindset whenever I’d set out to read another one. I guess now is a good time as any to say that even though Half-Drawn Boy took me a little bit to finish, it was so gorgeous and impactful that all I can do is sit here in awe. Gregor and Noah's (hey, I have a similar name!) story has a tender center lovingly wrapped in a dream-like prose and I was pretty much at risk of crying after every couple paragraphs! This novel feels both like something that’s never been done before while also having a lovely classical appeal. It’s like a perfect blend of The Outsiders and Felix Ever After (oh, and maybe with a sprinkling of I Wish You All the Best) without ever feeling like it’s doing too much or doing too little. It’s up there with the greats, is what I’m trying to say. And none of this should have come as a surprise to me... but it really did. I'm gobsmacked! Look, I’m not always super jazzed about reading something solely about a specific identity (because they can sometimes feel a little condescending), and I’ll admit that I had a small worry that this book would be one of those ones that'd end up infantilizing its autistic characters. It didn’t, thankfully, but I can't help but remember this lady’s TikTok (that I saw on twitter) where her whole profile is full of videos of her filming and cheering whenever her autistic brother accomplished literally any task. Like, the way you’d congratulate a child whenever they do something the first time… and I’ve got to say, the whole thing felt incredibly patronizing, exploitative, and gross. I mean, if those videos help people (though I don’t see how they could?) then good on them, but if I were her brother, I'd be distraught. Distraught, I tell you! The worst thing I can imagine is thinking I have a someone who loves and accepts me for who I am, only for them to then turn around and use me for content. Yuck. Selling out your loved ones for precious clout, likes, and digital hugs? Couldn't be me. Yeah well, my fears were alleviated pretty quickly (in maybe the first three pages), because Half-Drawn Boy isn’t doesn't just portray a respectful representation of autism, but also everything else it sets out to represent. It’s beautiful, really. Everything from queer identities to mental health, this is a novel that shines a light on those who fall through the cracks.
See, what I enjoyed the most about Half-Drawn Boy is that it takes characters that would normally be delegated to “the friend” character and makes them the heroes of their own stories. It can often feel like people like us, the ones who don't have the luxury of being able to mask as "normal," only exist to orbit around heteronormative stories, and that we’re only there to offer sage advice and maybe get a handout love-interest in the end (cough cough… Tiny from Will Grayson, Will Grayson), so whenever a book like this comes along, I make sure to cherish it. This really is “One in a Million” by Aaliyah! Speaking of identity, I also liked how a lot of this book deals with the classic YA trope of the character’s struggle in finding the right and perfect label for themselves, only to then flip it and say that finding the right word for yourself actually isn’t the most important thing in one’s journey for self-discovery. What’s actually most helpful is finding what works for you at this point in time, understanding that a sense of self is fluid and labels can change and evolve, and what feels right, right now might become something wa~ay different later down the line. And you know what? That it’s totally okay if or when that does happen. Cool, even. The message of this book isn’t that Gregor needs to find the right label for himself, it’s saying that the people around him that love him and he loves back will always be there regardless. It’s a sweet thing to put in a story, and I can see this book being instrumental in helping a lot of young people (or anybody, really) who happen to stumble across it. Another thing I enjoyed was that while there's a positive and nice portrayal of QSA meetings (Queer/Straight Alliance) here, it also showed how, through Gregor, those meetings aren’t for everyone. Like… not to make this about me, but they were never really my thing either, you know? In my experience, there was always that person who was there who would “innocently” ask invasive and overly argumentative debate questions. And other than the fact that a person’s right to exist isn’t a topic up for debate, it’s also important to know that I’ve literally never been interested in having a debate with anyone over anything at any time. "It's just a debate bro, why don't you back up your argument, bro?" Nah man, argue with the wall. Besides, there’s no such thing as a good faith argument with a bigot, their goal is to rile you up and it’s always a waste of time. Anyway, what I was trying to get at is that most, if not all, YA books portray the QSA as some kind of bastion of welcoming acceptance, when that’s not always the case. And even if it were, sometimes sitting around talking about the identity you... identify as only ever accomplishes making people feel uncomfortable rather than safe. Like with Gregor in this book, and like with me in real life. Otherwise, it’s always a nice surprise to come across a book that makes you feel so seen that you come away feeling scrubbed clean and raw. "Feel the rain on your skin"-and all that. Because I think this may be Suki Fleet’s specialty; literature for those who are in desperate need of something achingly sincere. So me, basically. Alright, with that sentiment expressed properly, I think I’ve said all there is that I'm here to say! In short, yep, I loved this! Now can someone please queue up the Frank Ocean lyrics!?
I'm sure we're taller in another dimension, you say we're small and not worth the mention / You’re tired of movin', your body's achin’ / we could vacay, there's places to go, clearly, this isn't all that there is (White Ferrari – Frank Ocean).
September 1, 2024
I loved Gregor and Noah!
I had high hopes for Half-Drawn Boy. I know Suki Fleet writes wonderful, harsh, and stories full of love, and I looked forward to a mute autistic MC (Gregor) and a tough-on-the-outside but troubled-on-the-inside love interest (and second MC).
Sometimes, it feels like there’s just me and this ocean, and there is no way I can ever reach the people I love. I don’t even know where they are really.
Half-Drawn Boy didn’t disappoint, even though I thought beforehand that this would be an easy five-star read. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved it, therefore my four-star rating, but somehow, I expected to drown myself in this story, and I simply didn’t.
I think I loved Noah’s chapters the most, and I wanted more of them to balance the book. I loved Gregor with my whole heart, but he was a lot, sometimes a bit too much for me. But maybe that’s what Suki tried to accomplish because being different can be a lot. He felt very young to me, though, more like a ten-year-old than a fifteen-year-old.
”We’re all hard to know until we let someone know us.”
I adored the side characters. Alexei and Bruno were just wonderful, and I had a soft spot for Toby (even though I didn’t understand why we suddenly had his POV at the end of the book). But next to Gregor, Noah was the star of the story. I would protect him at any cost. He was such a sweet and caring boy, and I wanted to hug him so many times and scream at him when he got hurt again.
Be aware this story can be triggering, so please check out the trigger warnings!
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I had high hopes for Half-Drawn Boy. I know Suki Fleet writes wonderful, harsh, and stories full of love, and I looked forward to a mute autistic MC (Gregor) and a tough-on-the-outside but troubled-on-the-inside love interest (and second MC).
Sometimes, it feels like there’s just me and this ocean, and there is no way I can ever reach the people I love. I don’t even know where they are really.
Half-Drawn Boy didn’t disappoint, even though I thought beforehand that this would be an easy five-star read. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved it, therefore my four-star rating, but somehow, I expected to drown myself in this story, and I simply didn’t.
I think I loved Noah’s chapters the most, and I wanted more of them to balance the book. I loved Gregor with my whole heart, but he was a lot, sometimes a bit too much for me. But maybe that’s what Suki tried to accomplish because being different can be a lot. He felt very young to me, though, more like a ten-year-old than a fifteen-year-old.
”We’re all hard to know until we let someone know us.”
I adored the side characters. Alexei and Bruno were just wonderful, and I had a soft spot for Toby (even though I didn’t understand why we suddenly had his POV at the end of the book). But next to Gregor, Noah was the star of the story. I would protect him at any cost. He was such a sweet and caring boy, and I wanted to hug him so many times and scream at him when he got hurt again.
Be aware this story can be triggering, so please check out the trigger warnings!
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November 4, 2024
Most of the time I find writing reviews challenging, I’m not good at putting my feelings into words and often struggle to pin down what I feel and why and express it in a coherent way. This is especially true for my absolute favorite stories, when my love for them is so big that I know I’ll never find the words to do the book justice and know nothing I write will truly express the depth of my emotion or what’s in my heart. It’s one of the weird and frustrating ways my neurospicy brain works. And I’m pretty sure that that part of my brain is why I love Suki Fleet’s stories so much, why they always resonate so deeply: Fleet writes neurodiverse characters with an incredible depth of emotion, compassion, authenticity and beauty.
Fleet opens the book with an author’s note:
It was sometime during the writing of The Happiness Project that I realised I was autistic. After going through autism diagnoses with two kiddos, it became pretty obvious. Before that, I think my views of what autism could be were a lot narrower, which is probably why I didn’t consider that I was-I thought I was dyslexic with a few auditory processing issues.
Maybe because of this realisation I felt drawn (lol) to writing Gregor’s story.
It does seem quite funny to me now that I didn’t realise I was autistic earlier as, like Gregor, I didn’t speak when I was young (for similarish, really not wanting to reasons--though I did eventually start and Gregor doesn’t). My parents even told me at some point when I was as an adult that they thought I was autistic when I was little, but back then autism wasn’t something you easily got a diagnosis for, and as I was fairly happy in my own little world and they were pretty unconventional and non-conforming (we lived and travelled around in an old fishing boat and, for a while, we even lived in a tent on a tiny island off the coast of France), my idiosyncrasies didn’t seem to really pose any challenges for me or them (I also think they quite liked that I seemed a bit different).
And I supposed my point here is, one person’s experience of autism is just that. One person’s.
I've always liked reading about experiences that echo with my own, and I do seek out neurodivergent characters more than any other, and I love stories that don’t put those characters in a box and give them the same cookie cutter traits (and recently I have read some fantastic ones). So whether you're neurodivergent or not, I hope you enjoy this story, and that it maybe shows you something different <3
With love,
Suki^^
And right there, in the author’s note, is a huge part of why I love their stories so much! I too have always loved reading about experiences that echo with my own and seek out neurodivergent characters and gravitate to the books and stories that exude authenticity, the ones that you can ~feel~ the author’s lived experience rather than their research of neurodiversity or trauma or whatever. Fleet’s writing comes from their life experience and it shows. At least it does to me. It has always felt so authentic to me.
Another part of why I love Fleet’s writing so much is because they write characters whose gentle hearts and beautiful souls fill my heart and soul with warm fuzzies, gentle feelings and hope. They help remind me in this harsh world that beauty exists, blooming like flowers from between the cracks in the asphalt.
Pardon the ramble.
As for Half Drawn Boy, I loved it. LOVED it! It’s one of my favorite stories ever for all the reasons I love Fleet’s writing in general. More specifically though, I fell madly in love with little Gregor in The Happiness Project and I was thrilled when he got his own story as a teen! As far as I’m concerned, Half Drawn Boy is a perfect YA story. It beautifully expresses the confusion of adolescence, the frustration of feeling out of the mainstream and different from your peers (which I did and still do), of feeling like an alien (which I didn’t as an adolescent but only because I didn’t realize at the time how different I was from my peers but totally do as an adult!), of knowing you don’t fit in and accepting that you don’t really care or want to (which I did and still do). While the ways I’m neurodivergent are different than Gregor and Sian, I felt seen in ways that are incredibly rare outside of Fleet’s stories.
But as Fleet also says in the author’s note:
This isn’t a story about being neurodivergent or autistic, this is a story about Gregor figuring out his feelings and falling in love with the rainbow-haired boy in the year above him at school. A boy who shares his love of drawing. Gregor just happens to be neurodivergent.
Gregor and Noah’s relationship evolution from friends to more was beautifully portrayed. Gregor such a scowly boy and Noah such a gentle soul. Watching them grow individually and as a couple was lovely, and even though this was the second time I’d read the story, I constantly had this soft, happy grin on my face and a warm fuzzy cotton candy stomach. It made my heart so full.
I loved how Fleet wrote friendship: Gregor’s easy friendship with gentle Toby as well as Gregor’s more challenging friendship with Sian. The way Gregor and Sian approached conflict, the way they fought and reflected on each other and themselves and then made up was really beautiful.
I loved how Fleet addressed consent and boundaries, and not just in terms of Gregor and Noah’s relationship but in general.
And of course it was wonderful seeing how Gregor’s family, Alexei, Bruno and Yulia, had grown and their unwavering support of each other.
Half Drawn Boy is a story I would have loved to have read as a teen. It’s a book I would have comfortably shared with my kids when they were teens (they’re going on 31 and 35 this summer). It’s a book I clearly love as an adult.
5 heartfelt stars
Edited to add November 4, 2024:
If you haven’t read this one yet or have only read it on KU and want to buy, it’s on sale for $1.99 today though I’m not sure how long the sale lasts.
Fleet opens the book with an author’s note:
It was sometime during the writing of The Happiness Project that I realised I was autistic. After going through autism diagnoses with two kiddos, it became pretty obvious. Before that, I think my views of what autism could be were a lot narrower, which is probably why I didn’t consider that I was-I thought I was dyslexic with a few auditory processing issues.
Maybe because of this realisation I felt drawn (lol) to writing Gregor’s story.
It does seem quite funny to me now that I didn’t realise I was autistic earlier as, like Gregor, I didn’t speak when I was young (for similarish, really not wanting to reasons--though I did eventually start and Gregor doesn’t). My parents even told me at some point when I was as an adult that they thought I was autistic when I was little, but back then autism wasn’t something you easily got a diagnosis for, and as I was fairly happy in my own little world and they were pretty unconventional and non-conforming (we lived and travelled around in an old fishing boat and, for a while, we even lived in a tent on a tiny island off the coast of France), my idiosyncrasies didn’t seem to really pose any challenges for me or them (I also think they quite liked that I seemed a bit different).
And I supposed my point here is, one person’s experience of autism is just that. One person’s.
I've always liked reading about experiences that echo with my own, and I do seek out neurodivergent characters more than any other, and I love stories that don’t put those characters in a box and give them the same cookie cutter traits (and recently I have read some fantastic ones). So whether you're neurodivergent or not, I hope you enjoy this story, and that it maybe shows you something different <3
With love,
Suki^^
And right there, in the author’s note, is a huge part of why I love their stories so much! I too have always loved reading about experiences that echo with my own and seek out neurodivergent characters and gravitate to the books and stories that exude authenticity, the ones that you can ~feel~ the author’s lived experience rather than their research of neurodiversity or trauma or whatever. Fleet’s writing comes from their life experience and it shows. At least it does to me. It has always felt so authentic to me.
Another part of why I love Fleet’s writing so much is because they write characters whose gentle hearts and beautiful souls fill my heart and soul with warm fuzzies, gentle feelings and hope. They help remind me in this harsh world that beauty exists, blooming like flowers from between the cracks in the asphalt.
Pardon the ramble.
As for Half Drawn Boy, I loved it. LOVED it! It’s one of my favorite stories ever for all the reasons I love Fleet’s writing in general. More specifically though, I fell madly in love with little Gregor in The Happiness Project and I was thrilled when he got his own story as a teen! As far as I’m concerned, Half Drawn Boy is a perfect YA story. It beautifully expresses the confusion of adolescence, the frustration of feeling out of the mainstream and different from your peers (which I did and still do), of feeling like an alien (which I didn’t as an adolescent but only because I didn’t realize at the time how different I was from my peers but totally do as an adult!), of knowing you don’t fit in and accepting that you don’t really care or want to (which I did and still do). While the ways I’m neurodivergent are different than Gregor and Sian, I felt seen in ways that are incredibly rare outside of Fleet’s stories.
But as Fleet also says in the author’s note:
This isn’t a story about being neurodivergent or autistic, this is a story about Gregor figuring out his feelings and falling in love with the rainbow-haired boy in the year above him at school. A boy who shares his love of drawing. Gregor just happens to be neurodivergent.
Gregor and Noah’s relationship evolution from friends to more was beautifully portrayed. Gregor such a scowly boy and Noah such a gentle soul. Watching them grow individually and as a couple was lovely, and even though this was the second time I’d read the story, I constantly had this soft, happy grin on my face and a warm fuzzy cotton candy stomach. It made my heart so full.
I loved how Fleet wrote friendship: Gregor’s easy friendship with gentle Toby as well as Gregor’s more challenging friendship with Sian. The way Gregor and Sian approached conflict, the way they fought and reflected on each other and themselves and then made up was really beautiful.
I loved how Fleet addressed consent and boundaries, and not just in terms of Gregor and Noah’s relationship but in general.
And of course it was wonderful seeing how Gregor’s family, Alexei, Bruno and Yulia, had grown and their unwavering support of each other.
Half Drawn Boy is a story I would have loved to have read as a teen. It’s a book I would have comfortably shared with my kids when they were teens (they’re going on 31 and 35 this summer). It’s a book I clearly love as an adult.
5 heartfelt stars
Edited to add November 4, 2024:
If you haven’t read this one yet or have only read it on KU and want to buy, it’s on sale for $1.99 today though I’m not sure how long the sale lasts.
July 28, 2024
5.0 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ...
WOW!
Read 'Happiness Project'
(The Happiness Project)
first ...
then RUN, don't walk
to read this sequel!!! 🥴🥰😊
WOW!
Read 'Happiness Project'
(The Happiness Project)
first ...
then RUN, don't walk
to read this sequel!!! 🥴🥰😊
Read
June 14, 2024This isn’t a story about being neurodivergent or autistic, this is a story about Gregor figuring out his feelings and falling in love with the rainbow-haired boy in the year above him at school.🌈 A boy who shares his love of drawing. Gregor just happens to be neurodivergent.
It was sometime during the writing of The Happiness Project that I realised I was autistic. After going through autism diagnoses with two kiddos, it became pretty obvious. Before that, I think my views of what autism could be, were a lot narrower, which is probably why I didn’t consider that I was-I thought I was dyslexic with a few auditory processing issues. Maybe because of this realisation I felt drawn (lol) to writing Gregor’s story.
It does seem quite funny to me now that I didn’t realise I was autistic earlier as, like Gregor, I didn’t speak when I was young (for similarish, really not wanting to, reasons--though I did eventually start to talk and Gregor doesn’t). My parents even told me at some point when I was as an adult that they thought I was autistic when I was little, but back then autism wasn’t something you easily got a diagnosis for, and as I was fairly happy in my own little world and they were pretty unconventional and non-conforming (we lived and traveled around in an old fishing boat), my idiosyncrasies didn't seem to pose many challenges for me or them (I also think they quite liked that I seemed a bit different).
And I supposed my point here is, one person’s experience of autism is just that. One person’s.
I've always liked reading about experiences that echo with my own, and I do seek out neurodivergent characters more than any other, and I love stories that don’t put those characters in a box and give them the same cookie cutter traits (and recently I have read some fantastic ones). So whether you're neurodivergent or not, I hope you enjoy this story, and that it maybe shows you something different <3
With love,
Suki^^
It was sometime during the writing of The Happiness Project that I realised I was autistic. After going through autism diagnoses with two kiddos, it became pretty obvious. Before that, I think my views of what autism could be, were a lot narrower, which is probably why I didn’t consider that I was-I thought I was dyslexic with a few auditory processing issues. Maybe because of this realisation I felt drawn (lol) to writing Gregor’s story.
It does seem quite funny to me now that I didn’t realise I was autistic earlier as, like Gregor, I didn’t speak when I was young (for similarish, really not wanting to, reasons--though I did eventually start to talk and Gregor doesn’t). My parents even told me at some point when I was as an adult that they thought I was autistic when I was little, but back then autism wasn’t something you easily got a diagnosis for, and as I was fairly happy in my own little world and they were pretty unconventional and non-conforming (we lived and traveled around in an old fishing boat), my idiosyncrasies didn't seem to pose many challenges for me or them (I also think they quite liked that I seemed a bit different).
And I supposed my point here is, one person’s experience of autism is just that. One person’s.
I've always liked reading about experiences that echo with my own, and I do seek out neurodivergent characters more than any other, and I love stories that don’t put those characters in a box and give them the same cookie cutter traits (and recently I have read some fantastic ones). So whether you're neurodivergent or not, I hope you enjoy this story, and that it maybe shows you something different <3
With love,
Suki^^
October 15, 2024
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“We’re all hard to know until we let someone know us.”
I struggled a bit with Half-Drawn Boy. It was just so emotionally exhausting and mentally taxing being in Gregor's mind all the time. It was draining just to imagine how much he has to keep bottled up inside & how much is actually being processed in his head that he just keeps bottled up inside and has to make such an effort to have his thoughts and emotions conveyed. 🥺
And then I thought if it was that difficult for me to experience, just in words, alone - 'the too muchness of it' - then I can't even begin to imagine how it must be for those who live it.
So for that feeling alone, the writing left an impression on me; it draws you into Gregor's mind entirely and makes you feel every emotion - 'I can’t make sense of it at all. All I can do is feel it and feel it and feel it.' 😔
“What I mean is, if I could be half-drawn with you, I would choose it. And maybe we could live for a while in a world we drew for ourselves...”
And we do feel it. Through the lens of what is an introspective analysis of a neurodivergent fifteen-year-old who communicates only through written texts or gesture, we literally feel the intensity of his emotions, with how detailed his own thoughts are at conveying them and understanding them. 😟 'Life can feel beautiful, if you let it.' How he falls in love with the boy with rainbow hair and wants to be able to be there for him - to help him through his pains and struggles, to share with him his own happiness and joys - to wanting to just have someone who could accept him for who he was. There is such an onslaught of this heavy weight of thought that exists in the only form of communication that perhaps is why it was a bit hard for me to grasp it entirely, even though I could see the makings of a beautiful story. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
It was sweet to see the gentle way in which Gregor and Noah became close. Noah's life is with hardships of his own - painful ones that anger and upset Noah at his own incapability of helping him. Noah's struggles with his overbearing anguish and his violent breakdowns - his own mental stress levels and the emotional onslaught of his own life was heartbreaking, as it was, how careful and considerate he was of Gregor. 😢 The caring hugs and soft consideration he extended to him, is what drew Gregor even closer to him. 'I want to keep trying. I don’t care how long it takes. It doesn’t matter. I…I really like being with you.' 🥹 How he felt their connection, too, but was hesitant, if not careful about overstepping in any way. The author showed that you don't always need to say words aloud to express how you feel. The events that unfold, leading up to that point of understanding, the way it all comes together is what really shined for me. The ending, especially - where we see the two of them finally connect - intimately - physically and emotionally - it overwhelmed me - in a good way! 🥰
“Maybe love is the complete safety to be yourself.”
There was this warmth in my chest at how even when there is doubt of acceptance and a cloud of judgment, there are those who will never push for more or expect you to change. 'Loving people gets easier the more you do it' - and with those around him who care for him, slowly Gregor starts to realize how much that makes sense and is something that he wants to have. 🤧 Even if it feels impossible or out of reach, something he feels he can never attain, because of who he is, it is someone like Noah - the only friend he feels like this about too in a kind of weird strong way - who reaches in to pull him out. To remind him - to show him that he is not alone - ever.
The supporting cast was an endearing part of the story, with their own strengths and positive reassurances that anchored the two young souls into finding and treasuring the beauty that existed in their lives - 'we all need people, not just a single person' I just don't know how I feel about those epilogues, though. While I do like that we get to see the future of certain characters, especially those who appeared in The Happiness Project, I wish it could just be treated in a different manner. But, I suppose every author has their own way of doing things, so it is not fair for me to complain. 🤷🏻♀️
“We’re all hard to know until we let someone know us.”
I struggled a bit with Half-Drawn Boy. It was just so emotionally exhausting and mentally taxing being in Gregor's mind all the time. It was draining just to imagine how much he has to keep bottled up inside & how much is actually being processed in his head that he just keeps bottled up inside and has to make such an effort to have his thoughts and emotions conveyed. 🥺
And then I thought if it was that difficult for me to experience, just in words, alone - 'the too muchness of it' - then I can't even begin to imagine how it must be for those who live it.
So for that feeling alone, the writing left an impression on me; it draws you into Gregor's mind entirely and makes you feel every emotion - 'I can’t make sense of it at all. All I can do is feel it and feel it and feel it.' 😔
“What I mean is, if I could be half-drawn with you, I would choose it. And maybe we could live for a while in a world we drew for ourselves...”
And we do feel it. Through the lens of what is an introspective analysis of a neurodivergent fifteen-year-old who communicates only through written texts or gesture, we literally feel the intensity of his emotions, with how detailed his own thoughts are at conveying them and understanding them. 😟 'Life can feel beautiful, if you let it.' How he falls in love with the boy with rainbow hair and wants to be able to be there for him - to help him through his pains and struggles, to share with him his own happiness and joys - to wanting to just have someone who could accept him for who he was. There is such an onslaught of this heavy weight of thought that exists in the only form of communication that perhaps is why it was a bit hard for me to grasp it entirely, even though I could see the makings of a beautiful story. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
It was sweet to see the gentle way in which Gregor and Noah became close. Noah's life is with hardships of his own - painful ones that anger and upset Noah at his own incapability of helping him. Noah's struggles with his overbearing anguish and his violent breakdowns - his own mental stress levels and the emotional onslaught of his own life was heartbreaking, as it was, how careful and considerate he was of Gregor. 😢 The caring hugs and soft consideration he extended to him, is what drew Gregor even closer to him. 'I want to keep trying. I don’t care how long it takes. It doesn’t matter. I…I really like being with you.' 🥹 How he felt their connection, too, but was hesitant, if not careful about overstepping in any way. The author showed that you don't always need to say words aloud to express how you feel. The events that unfold, leading up to that point of understanding, the way it all comes together is what really shined for me. The ending, especially - where we see the two of them finally connect - intimately - physically and emotionally - it overwhelmed me - in a good way! 🥰
“Maybe love is the complete safety to be yourself.”
There was this warmth in my chest at how even when there is doubt of acceptance and a cloud of judgment, there are those who will never push for more or expect you to change. 'Loving people gets easier the more you do it' - and with those around him who care for him, slowly Gregor starts to realize how much that makes sense and is something that he wants to have. 🤧 Even if it feels impossible or out of reach, something he feels he can never attain, because of who he is, it is someone like Noah - the only friend he feels like this about too in a kind of weird strong way - who reaches in to pull him out. To remind him - to show him that he is not alone - ever.
The supporting cast was an endearing part of the story, with their own strengths and positive reassurances that anchored the two young souls into finding and treasuring the beauty that existed in their lives - 'we all need people, not just a single person' I just don't know how I feel about those epilogues, though. While I do like that we get to see the future of certain characters, especially those who appeared in The Happiness Project, I wish it could just be treated in a different manner. But, I suppose every author has their own way of doing things, so it is not fair for me to complain. 🤷🏻♀️
July 18, 2024
I need to sit and think about my rating for a moment.
I decided on 4 stars, but with a side note that it feels more like a 3,5. The writing wasn’t the point, because it’s Suki Fleet and their lyrical writing always works for me.
It was Gregory’s character that made it so difficult to decide on my rating.
I’m not sure if I will be able to explain properly what bothered me, because I don’t want to sound judgmental or anything. Like, at all.
I have been diagnosed with autism myself and Suki pointed out perfectly that no neurodivergent persons are the same. And I agree with that wholeheartedly. It’s a spectrum and that should be all the explanation it needs. I’m also aware that autism differs greatly from whether the person who’s diagnosed is male or female, since the coping mechanisms are often very different.
In their foreword they also mention that this book is not about autism, it’s about Gregory figuring himself out. And that’s probably why we, as a reader, spend so much time in his head, hearing his inner dialogue, his fears, his coping skills, the way he acts in certain situations. But it’s still a fact that Gregory has been diagnosed with autism, it’s not something you can forget about while reading this book. It’s a very important part of who he is and it dictates his behaviour all the time. You can’t ignore the autism aspect in this story.
Though I do see some familiarities when reading Gregory’s character, it was impossible for me to get a good sense of his age, to feel if he behaved according to the teenager he was. He sounded way younger than his 15 years and that made it exhausting to be in his head for so long. I was looking forward to Noah’s pov most of the time because he gave me the break I really needed. And maybe that’s my own autism standing in the way of being able to fully empathise with Gregory as a character, I’m just guessing here, but most of the time his inner voice was just too much.
But I did love their building relationship and how both were able to open up to each other and let the other one in. I liked the side characters and the premise of the story too, just not the amount of time I had to spend inside Gregory’s mind.
I kindly received an arc from the author and this is my honest, unbiased opinion
I decided on 4 stars, but with a side note that it feels more like a 3,5. The writing wasn’t the point, because it’s Suki Fleet and their lyrical writing always works for me.
It was Gregory’s character that made it so difficult to decide on my rating.
I’m not sure if I will be able to explain properly what bothered me, because I don’t want to sound judgmental or anything. Like, at all.
I have been diagnosed with autism myself and Suki pointed out perfectly that no neurodivergent persons are the same. And I agree with that wholeheartedly. It’s a spectrum and that should be all the explanation it needs. I’m also aware that autism differs greatly from whether the person who’s diagnosed is male or female, since the coping mechanisms are often very different.
In their foreword they also mention that this book is not about autism, it’s about Gregory figuring himself out. And that’s probably why we, as a reader, spend so much time in his head, hearing his inner dialogue, his fears, his coping skills, the way he acts in certain situations. But it’s still a fact that Gregory has been diagnosed with autism, it’s not something you can forget about while reading this book. It’s a very important part of who he is and it dictates his behaviour all the time. You can’t ignore the autism aspect in this story.
Though I do see some familiarities when reading Gregory’s character, it was impossible for me to get a good sense of his age, to feel if he behaved according to the teenager he was. He sounded way younger than his 15 years and that made it exhausting to be in his head for so long. I was looking forward to Noah’s pov most of the time because he gave me the break I really needed. And maybe that’s my own autism standing in the way of being able to fully empathise with Gregory as a character, I’m just guessing here, but most of the time his inner voice was just too much.
But I did love their building relationship and how both were able to open up to each other and let the other one in. I liked the side characters and the premise of the story too, just not the amount of time I had to spend inside Gregory’s mind.
I kindly received an arc from the author and this is my honest, unbiased opinion
July 8, 2025
Review to come.
June 20, 2024
I love Suki’s writing so much, and the depth and richness of their characters are one of the things I love most. When reading The Happiness Project, Gregor was one of the characters I adored, and I was so glad to read his story.
Gregor has Autism and doesn’t speak, but he finds his way to get his point across. His favorite way is through his art, and those who know him best know how to turn his drawings into words. Then he meets Noah, a beautiful boy with hair like a galaxy. Gregor is intrigued, but he doesn’t know how to get his words across with someone new. But Noah is intrigued too, and so willing to take the time to get to know Gregor, to understand him. Noah has his own struggles, and his home life is difficult, too much for a teenager. He finds solace in Gregor, and in his own way, he gets what Gregor is going through.
This story really makes you understand what it feels like to be neurodivergent; how you feel as though you’re not like anyone else and no one can understand you, as well as the joy of someone actually getting it.
These two are gorgeous together. Gregor has to push himself so much to be able to get to know Noah, but he does because Noah is worth it. Noah is so patient and supportive, and tries everything he can to understand him. Neither of them wants the other to change, and they find their own ways to fit together.
Their story is emotional, funny, sad…I felt so many things and laughed and cried through the whole thing. Very few authors make me feel as much as Suki does 💙💙💙
Gregor has Autism and doesn’t speak, but he finds his way to get his point across. His favorite way is through his art, and those who know him best know how to turn his drawings into words. Then he meets Noah, a beautiful boy with hair like a galaxy. Gregor is intrigued, but he doesn’t know how to get his words across with someone new. But Noah is intrigued too, and so willing to take the time to get to know Gregor, to understand him. Noah has his own struggles, and his home life is difficult, too much for a teenager. He finds solace in Gregor, and in his own way, he gets what Gregor is going through.
This story really makes you understand what it feels like to be neurodivergent; how you feel as though you’re not like anyone else and no one can understand you, as well as the joy of someone actually getting it.
These two are gorgeous together. Gregor has to push himself so much to be able to get to know Noah, but he does because Noah is worth it. Noah is so patient and supportive, and tries everything he can to understand him. Neither of them wants the other to change, and they find their own ways to fit together.
Their story is emotional, funny, sad…I felt so many things and laughed and cried through the whole thing. Very few authors make me feel as much as Suki does 💙💙💙
July 19, 2024
I've never read this author before, so I don't know how typical this is, but... wow? I don't wanna say "melodrama" because I don't mean it in a bad way, but damn, she just set all the dials to 11 and let loose.
No well-adjusted heterosexuals in this book. Like drag queen Oprah up there passin' out backstories from the bucket o' queer, and YOU get a letter, and YOU get a letter, and YOU get a letter... Not to mention the autism, and anxiety, trauma, and idek if there's a label for whatever Noah's got going on. It's awesome. :)
Point of view is mostly from our fifteen year old, nonspeaking autistic MC Gregor, with occasional sections from the love interest who's got a whole other set of baggage, and the odd segment from the supporting cast. And while I don't really know much of anything about the nonspeaking autistic experience, and it's been longer than I want to think about since I was fifteen, so I can't really judge the authenticity of the portrayal, it certainly worked for me, and was more than sufficiently relatable, even if the level of issues™ everybody was dealing with bordered on manipulative.
I enjoyed this a lot more than expected. I basically neglected everything I should have been doing today and plowed through it. I'll definitely pick up more from this author, likely starting with the book about Gregor's brother and his partner.
No well-adjusted heterosexuals in this book. Like drag queen Oprah up there passin' out backstories from the bucket o' queer, and YOU get a letter, and YOU get a letter, and YOU get a letter... Not to mention the autism, and anxiety, trauma, and idek if there's a label for whatever Noah's got going on. It's awesome. :)
Point of view is mostly from our fifteen year old, nonspeaking autistic MC Gregor, with occasional sections from the love interest who's got a whole other set of baggage, and the odd segment from the supporting cast. And while I don't really know much of anything about the nonspeaking autistic experience, and it's been longer than I want to think about since I was fifteen, so I can't really judge the authenticity of the portrayal, it certainly worked for me, and was more than sufficiently relatable, even if the level of issues™ everybody was dealing with bordered on manipulative.
I enjoyed this a lot more than expected. I basically neglected everything I should have been doing today and plowed through it. I'll definitely pick up more from this author, likely starting with the book about Gregor's brother and his partner.
June 21, 2024
I loved this story! Another beautifully written book by Suki Fleet, which deals with real people, their trials and tribulations, and their search, against the odds, for a happily ever after.
I loved the way in which the author shared Gregor’s story and showed readers not only how his neuro divergency affected him, but also how others can perceive. It was a pleasure to read his inner thoughts and monologue, as the facts, and his understanding of things and situations were unveiled. I adored witnessing Gregor's interactions with Noah. I wish more people were like Noah, taking the time to understand and focus on the good, rather than the inconvenience and then be patient and adapt. It was lovely how Gregor, who's always struggled interacting with people, grew closer to poor bruised and abused Noah. His difficulties had always made it so hard, Noah's so different to anyone he'd ever come across, he sees Gregor. It's clear that he understands him, and loves him. The book isn't about people being autistic, it's ultimately a beautifully written love story. Initially, it was hard to see how these two would come together, but it worked wonderfully well. The epilogue is everything ❤️🩹
"What I want doesn’t need words, or other people or anything at all, but us. The feelings we give one another when we have sex are not things I could ever describe, or even remember clearly when they’re not happening. And I don’t even want to. It’s just connection. Everything is just about connection. And the connection me and Noah have is ours alone, and that’s all it needs to be. That’s all I ever need it to be."
I loved the way in which the author shared Gregor’s story and showed readers not only how his neuro divergency affected him, but also how others can perceive. It was a pleasure to read his inner thoughts and monologue, as the facts, and his understanding of things and situations were unveiled. I adored witnessing Gregor's interactions with Noah. I wish more people were like Noah, taking the time to understand and focus on the good, rather than the inconvenience and then be patient and adapt. It was lovely how Gregor, who's always struggled interacting with people, grew closer to poor bruised and abused Noah. His difficulties had always made it so hard, Noah's so different to anyone he'd ever come across, he sees Gregor. It's clear that he understands him, and loves him. The book isn't about people being autistic, it's ultimately a beautifully written love story. Initially, it was hard to see how these two would come together, but it worked wonderfully well. The epilogue is everything ❤️🩹
"What I want doesn’t need words, or other people or anything at all, but us. The feelings we give one another when we have sex are not things I could ever describe, or even remember clearly when they’re not happening. And I don’t even want to. It’s just connection. Everything is just about connection. And the connection me and Noah have is ours alone, and that’s all it needs to be. That’s all I ever need it to be."
June 20, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Gregor is an intricate and devastating character who must have been intense to write. He’s autistic and vulnerable and knows he sees the world as only he can.
It’s fascinating, as well as difficult at times, to be inside Gregor’s mind. Fleet’s writing is evocative and stunning and being with Gregor and all of the characters here is a lovely way to spend some time. This family will stay with me for a long time.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Gregor is an intricate and devastating character who must have been intense to write. He’s autistic and vulnerable and knows he sees the world as only he can.
It’s fascinating, as well as difficult at times, to be inside Gregor’s mind. Fleet’s writing is evocative and stunning and being with Gregor and all of the characters here is a lovely way to spend some time. This family will stay with me for a long time.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
December 12, 2024
it was tooo slow man 😭
June 20, 2024
wonderful story
Full disclosure: I’m already a huge Suki Fleet fan. I’m also neurodivergent and love reading about neurodivergent characters and always love a good coming-of-age story so this book was right up my alley. I absolutely loved Gregor and Noah. Such a sweet story.
The story is related to her book The Happiness Project but works as a stand-alone as well. The Happiness Project is great too though so check them both out!
Full disclosure: I’m already a huge Suki Fleet fan. I’m also neurodivergent and love reading about neurodivergent characters and always love a good coming-of-age story so this book was right up my alley. I absolutely loved Gregor and Noah. Such a sweet story.
The story is related to her book The Happiness Project but works as a stand-alone as well. The Happiness Project is great too though so check them both out!
October 5, 2024
3.5 Stars
July 14, 2024
ARC review
Ever since I read This Is Not a Love Story I've been in love with Suki Fleet's stories. The characters are always diverse, often not neurotypical and totally perfect.
At the start of this book the author is honest about their own neurodiversity and how this story is close to their heart. It shows in the most beautiful way. This is not a book to speed-read, it is one to savour, understand and enjoy.
Gregor is autistic, non-verbal and communicates mostly in pictures. He finds writing words physically painful but will do it.
Noah is in foster care and takes a lot of responsibility for his foster siblings. The foster parents are pretty much out of the picture.
Both boys have difficulties to face and both have a great support network. This is more obvious with Gregor whose brother and his partner will fight for Gregor to the end.
Noah's character broke my heart. The weight of responsibility on the young man's shoulders, and the extra burden he placed on himself to keep everyone safe was enormous.
Somehow, in a way uniquely Suki Fleet, these two found their way to each other and fell in love. It is beautiful. So utterly beautiful.
If you've never read books by this author, I highly recommend them. If you want to read about neurodiversity in a way that isn't done and done again, read this author. This book was perfect from start to finish.
Ever since I read This Is Not a Love Story I've been in love with Suki Fleet's stories. The characters are always diverse, often not neurotypical and totally perfect.
At the start of this book the author is honest about their own neurodiversity and how this story is close to their heart. It shows in the most beautiful way. This is not a book to speed-read, it is one to savour, understand and enjoy.
Gregor is autistic, non-verbal and communicates mostly in pictures. He finds writing words physically painful but will do it.
Noah is in foster care and takes a lot of responsibility for his foster siblings. The foster parents are pretty much out of the picture.
Both boys have difficulties to face and both have a great support network. This is more obvious with Gregor whose brother and his partner will fight for Gregor to the end.
Noah's character broke my heart. The weight of responsibility on the young man's shoulders, and the extra burden he placed on himself to keep everyone safe was enormous.
Somehow, in a way uniquely Suki Fleet, these two found their way to each other and fell in love. It is beautiful. So utterly beautiful.
If you've never read books by this author, I highly recommend them. If you want to read about neurodiversity in a way that isn't done and done again, read this author. This book was perfect from start to finish.
June 21, 2025
Half-Drawn Boy by Suki Fleet is one of the most interesting books I've read. It looks like a simple romance, but it slowly develops into a long, complex, and unique adventure that talks about so many things. I don't want to spoil things too much, but I'll give a general overview.
We meet Gregor, a paranoid boy who has a hard time processing the world around him. He meets a mysterious boy named Noah, and the two of them slowly become friends, though Gregor's mind doesn't seem to think that.
One thing this book excels at is the sheer atmosphere. A lot of characters are simply kept in the dark about their origins, and it works wonders for making the world feel a lot more detailed and realistic. For example, there's the character of Eddy, who seems to exist more in Gregor's mind than in real life. There's a sense of saudade or nostalgia present throughout the book. It made me feel... empty and distant in a good way, if that kinda makes sense.
Half-Drawn Boy is long, but it uses that time incredibly well to slowly develop the character of Gregor and the people he loves. The prose is exceptionally detailed, showing Gregor's thoughts and feelings in spectacular faction. For example, when that boy Noah doesn't text him for days, he throws away his phone. At first I didn't realize why he did that, but when I reread it, I realized that Gregor was so scared of Noah ghosting him that he would rather throw away his phone then figure out the reasons. This escapism carries over to his personality as a whole, as Gregor frequently tries to repress his thoughts rather than confront the truth.
As his fears continue to mount, we get a sudden shift, and this is where the book truly shines. I don't want to spoil these parts, but it is haunting. Since I didn't look at the table of contents beforehand, I was blindsided by this shift. But let me just say: these chapters are bleak, depressing, and near-traumatic. The earlier chapters showed a boy who was troubled, but still ultimately had love and a supportive network to help him on his quest for self-discovery. But these chapters have a very different mood.
The extended sea analogies! Look at these! I love how Gregor uses the sea as a metaphor for his own mental troubles, and I especially love the coming-of-age themes going on. And it ends perfectly on page 342 with a profound message of found family and a satisfying conclusion...
Wait, what do you mean there's 50 more pages??
After page 343 is where the book really changes for the worse. I’m appalled at how much this book changes from this point on, and I don’t like what it does.
Well, we get a weeks-long time skip. That alone is a bit surprising (I would've liked a more natural ending where they slowly ended things on a positive, wholesome, but still uncertain note), but then, we get to the most shockingly forced and pointless sex scene of all time!
The truth is, sex scenes are not inherently bad. They're a writing trope that can be used to great effect if properly incorporated. Yet that's the caveat- properly incorporated. Maybe if there's rising sexual tension or something like that, then the author could use that. But it does not need to be necessary for every book! And it's ridiculous that Suki Fleet decided to force one in this book! Do you know where Half-Drawn Boy would benefit from a sex scene?? Spoiler alert: none!! Every single one of Gregor's challenges have been romantic or emotional in nature. They haven't even kissed at this point, and the secret cabal of booktokers who I'm sure had to have some influence here go like "yeah, we just really NEED to put the sex scene here, it's like mandatory and stuff". It's especially insulting to Gregor's character becuse he's an especially sensitive, emotional, and anxious boy who's prone to being overwhelmed. Why, after all this characterization, does he just waltz into sex without complaints?! And of course, the descriptive prose is turned on its head as we learn about two minors having sex in excruciating detail. If you removed the sex scene, literally nothing of value would be lost. They don't advance the characters emotionally or affect the plot in any way. The book kinda fizzles out after that.
But at the end... it really only turned the book from a 10/10 to a 9/10 for me. Still extremely good, and you can mostly ignore that one bad bit. In general, it's important to look at how the media makes you feel as a whole rather than zero in on the few bad parts. For example, I didn't really care about the later episodes of Death Note, but the first 12 are so good that the show is still really good. Or Korra, which has many parts that are equal to or surpass ATLA. Even with that scene in the end, Half-Drawn Boy is truly transformative and it's absolutely worth reading.
I am like the sea and you are like the sky and our not-real selves can meet together on a little boat in the middle of everything.
We meet Gregor, a paranoid boy who has a hard time processing the world around him. He meets a mysterious boy named Noah, and the two of them slowly become friends, though Gregor's mind doesn't seem to think that.
One thing this book excels at is the sheer atmosphere. A lot of characters are simply kept in the dark about their origins, and it works wonders for making the world feel a lot more detailed and realistic. For example, there's the character of Eddy, who seems to exist more in Gregor's mind than in real life. There's a sense of saudade or nostalgia present throughout the book. It made me feel... empty and distant in a good way, if that kinda makes sense.
I want my feelings about Noah to be like my feelings about my other friends. But they’re not.
Half-Drawn Boy is long, but it uses that time incredibly well to slowly develop the character of Gregor and the people he loves. The prose is exceptionally detailed, showing Gregor's thoughts and feelings in spectacular faction. For example, when that boy Noah doesn't text him for days, he throws away his phone. At first I didn't realize why he did that, but when I reread it, I realized that Gregor was so scared of Noah ghosting him that he would rather throw away his phone then figure out the reasons. This escapism carries over to his personality as a whole, as Gregor frequently tries to repress his thoughts rather than confront the truth.
My brain whispers that it knows exactly why excitement is sprinting chaotically around inside me, but right now, I just don’t want to admit that reason to myself. Because if I don’t admit it, I can carry on ignoring the fact that very soon what I’m going to get is hurt. Really, really hurt.
As his fears continue to mount, we get a sudden shift, and this is where the book truly shines. I don't want to spoil these parts, but it is haunting. Since I didn't look at the table of contents beforehand, I was blindsided by this shift. But let me just say: these chapters are bleak, depressing, and near-traumatic. The earlier chapters showed a boy who was troubled, but still ultimately had love and a supportive network to help him on his quest for self-discovery. But these chapters have a very different mood.
I start to feel like I can hardly keep my head above the surface of the sea inside me, and every time I tip my head back to try to catch a glimpse of my inner sky, I start to sink deeper into the water. And I’m getting tired, so, so tired of fighting to stay afloat, maybe because this time, I can’t see any boats sailing across the horizon to save me.
The sea inside me isn’t a normal real sea, because if it was, I would definitely be able to float. Real me is brilliant at floating. So, it’s not fair. It’s not fair for the sea inside me to make it hard for me on purpose, everything is already hard enough, it’s like it’s cheating. So I decide I’m going to start cheating too, or at least start fighting back and making my own rules. Not-real me starts gathering all the bits of imaginary driftwood and seaweed I find lying around on the ocean floor inside me. I bring them all to the surface of my imaginary, not normal sea, and I start to build my own boat.
The extended sea analogies! Look at these! I love how Gregor uses the sea as a metaphor for his own mental troubles, and I especially love the coming-of-age themes going on. And it ends perfectly on page 342 with a profound message of found family and a satisfying conclusion...
Wait, what do you mean there's 50 more pages??
After page 343 is where the book really changes for the worse. I’m appalled at how much this book changes from this point on, and I don’t like what it does.
Well, we get a weeks-long time skip. That alone is a bit surprising (I would've liked a more natural ending where they slowly ended things on a positive, wholesome, but still uncertain note), but then, we get to the most shockingly forced and pointless sex scene of all time!
The truth is, sex scenes are not inherently bad. They're a writing trope that can be used to great effect if properly incorporated. Yet that's the caveat- properly incorporated. Maybe if there's rising sexual tension or something like that, then the author could use that. But it does not need to be necessary for every book! And it's ridiculous that Suki Fleet decided to force one in this book! Do you know where Half-Drawn Boy would benefit from a sex scene?? Spoiler alert: none!! Every single one of Gregor's challenges have been romantic or emotional in nature. They haven't even kissed at this point, and the secret cabal of booktokers who I'm sure had to have some influence here go like "yeah, we just really NEED to put the sex scene here, it's like mandatory and stuff". It's especially insulting to Gregor's character becuse he's an especially sensitive, emotional, and anxious boy who's prone to being overwhelmed. Why, after all this characterization, does he just waltz into sex without complaints?! And of course, the descriptive prose is turned on its head as we learn about two minors having sex in excruciating detail. If you removed the sex scene, literally nothing of value would be lost. They don't advance the characters emotionally or affect the plot in any way. The book kinda fizzles out after that.
But at the end... it really only turned the book from a 10/10 to a 9/10 for me. Still extremely good, and you can mostly ignore that one bad bit. In general, it's important to look at how the media makes you feel as a whole rather than zero in on the few bad parts. For example, I didn't really care about the later episodes of Death Note, but the first 12 are so good that the show is still really good. Or Korra, which has many parts that are equal to or surpass ATLA. Even with that scene in the end, Half-Drawn Boy is truly transformative and it's absolutely worth reading.
September 20, 2024
I absolutely loved this 📖. It was a beautiful, and heartwarming story of how confusing and 😰 it can be to fall in ❤️.
The story is mainly told from Gregor’s perspective, an autistic boy who is voluntarily mute and communicates largely through his drawings and emojis. Although Gregor is autistic, and the author does an incredible job of outlining the thoughts, feelings and coping mechanisms of a young autistic person, because of their own lived experience, he constantly reminds us that not everyone with autism is the same. His challenges and feelings are unique to him, and the way he navigates meeting and falling in love with Noah is beautiful 🥹.
Noah is also an amazing character. We get bits of his perspective throughout the book, which highlights just how confused and worried he is about friendship and love too. He’s such a sweet soul though, never once doubting that he wanted to there for Gregor in any way possible. Hearing his backstory and relationship with his foster siblings had me wishing he got the happy ending, both with Gregor and his own forever family, he deserved.
The side characters all add such richness to the story, from Aunt Yulia, Alexei and Bruno to Tash and Mishi. It was great to see their interactions, support and the impact they had on the lives of Gregor and Noah.
Although there are some heavy themes and scenes throughout, of abuse, self-harm, and abandonment, the main themes for me were resilience, acceptance and love. It was a heartwarming story that’s left a positive imprint.
Ultimately, this isn’t a story about a boy with autism, but about a boy who falls in love and all the challenges that come with it. It was really well written, made me smile, made me think and made me cry.
👦🏻📱🌈👦🏼✍🏻🤗
💙💙💙💙💙💙
The story is mainly told from Gregor’s perspective, an autistic boy who is voluntarily mute and communicates largely through his drawings and emojis. Although Gregor is autistic, and the author does an incredible job of outlining the thoughts, feelings and coping mechanisms of a young autistic person, because of their own lived experience, he constantly reminds us that not everyone with autism is the same. His challenges and feelings are unique to him, and the way he navigates meeting and falling in love with Noah is beautiful 🥹.
Noah is also an amazing character. We get bits of his perspective throughout the book, which highlights just how confused and worried he is about friendship and love too. He’s such a sweet soul though, never once doubting that he wanted to there for Gregor in any way possible. Hearing his backstory and relationship with his foster siblings had me wishing he got the happy ending, both with Gregor and his own forever family, he deserved.
The side characters all add such richness to the story, from Aunt Yulia, Alexei and Bruno to Tash and Mishi. It was great to see their interactions, support and the impact they had on the lives of Gregor and Noah.
Although there are some heavy themes and scenes throughout, of abuse, self-harm, and abandonment, the main themes for me were resilience, acceptance and love. It was a heartwarming story that’s left a positive imprint.
Ultimately, this isn’t a story about a boy with autism, but about a boy who falls in love and all the challenges that come with it. It was really well written, made me smile, made me think and made me cry.
👦🏻📱🌈👦🏼✍🏻🤗
💙💙💙💙💙💙
July 3, 2024
Stunning book.
April 2, 2025
Holy cow I PROMISE it did not take me a year to read this I just haven't been active🙏😧
The book was scrumptious from my what my memory bank entails, recommend🎉
The book was scrumptious from my what my memory bank entails, recommend🎉
August 7, 2024
"I could be half-drawn with you, I would choose it. And maybe we could live for a while in a world we drew for ourselves, which I think we could make pretty amazing, and we could stop everything whenever we wanted and be ourselves without worrying".
This book did make me cry a bit because I just felt so seen and so represented in this. I loved how queer this book is. How so many different kinds of people were represented. I loved how diverse this book was too. it was a delight to see. I also loved how the different ways autism affects and is shown on different people, since autism is a spectrum.
I absolutely loved Gregor. I loved him as a narrator, and saw so much of him that I resonated with because I am the same way. I loved his diffetent relationships and his support system. I definitely loved him and Noah. I think the very sensitive and important topics and conflicts within the story was handled with love and care and were very realistic too. I definitely wanted a bit more but overall I absolutely loved this book
Links to all my socials
June 18, 2024
4.75 stars
This book is a follow up to Fleet’s book, The Happiness Project. Alexei is Gregor’s older brother and he is the MC from The Happiness Project. That’s where Alexei meets Bruno and Gregor is introduced. It is also where the side character, Eddy, is introduced, and it would certainly make this a richer reading experience to have all of the backstory.
Gregor is an intricate and devastating character who must have been intense to write. He’s autistic and vulnerable and knows he sees the world as only he can. His favorite place is at home with Alexei and Bruno, surrounded by all of the things he loves, and school is a difficult place for him to be because it’s loud, it’s constantly changing, and Gregor knows the other kids talk about him. He does have two close friends but Gregor has to navigate life on his terms at all times.
Noah lives with a foster family and he has a foster brother and sister. They are both younger than Noah and almost all of the child care responsibility falls on Noah. He shops, he cooks, he makes sure everyone get home from school, and Noah is overly stressed that he’s not doing everything well enough. He also has PTSD from trauma that has never been addressed as does his foster brother who lets that out in violent ways. Noah is drawn to Gregor and respects his boundaries and while their relationship is difficult to form at the start, they develop a lovely friendship that turns into everlasting love. Eddy, from The Happiness Project, is seen here, and while I knew why he was there from that book, which gave that story a paranormal angle, his presence isn’t explained here, and from my perspective, he didn’t fit into this story.
It’s fascinating, as well as difficult at times, to be inside Gregor’s mind. Fleet’s writing is evocative and stunning and being with Gregor and all of the characters here is a lovely way to spend some time and this family will stay with me for a long time.
This book is a follow up to Fleet’s book, The Happiness Project. Alexei is Gregor’s older brother and he is the MC from The Happiness Project. That’s where Alexei meets Bruno and Gregor is introduced. It is also where the side character, Eddy, is introduced, and it would certainly make this a richer reading experience to have all of the backstory.
Gregor is an intricate and devastating character who must have been intense to write. He’s autistic and vulnerable and knows he sees the world as only he can. His favorite place is at home with Alexei and Bruno, surrounded by all of the things he loves, and school is a difficult place for him to be because it’s loud, it’s constantly changing, and Gregor knows the other kids talk about him. He does have two close friends but Gregor has to navigate life on his terms at all times.
Noah lives with a foster family and he has a foster brother and sister. They are both younger than Noah and almost all of the child care responsibility falls on Noah. He shops, he cooks, he makes sure everyone get home from school, and Noah is overly stressed that he’s not doing everything well enough. He also has PTSD from trauma that has never been addressed as does his foster brother who lets that out in violent ways. Noah is drawn to Gregor and respects his boundaries and while their relationship is difficult to form at the start, they develop a lovely friendship that turns into everlasting love. Eddy, from The Happiness Project, is seen here, and while I knew why he was there from that book, which gave that story a paranormal angle, his presence isn’t explained here, and from my perspective, he didn’t fit into this story.
It’s fascinating, as well as difficult at times, to be inside Gregor’s mind. Fleet’s writing is evocative and stunning and being with Gregor and all of the characters here is a lovely way to spend some time and this family will stay with me for a long time.
April 30, 2025
5 stars for the idea, 4 stars for the cute as fuck story, but 2 stars for the execution
July 16, 2024
This is a gorgeous story mainly from the POV of an autistic teen with some degree of synesthesia. Gregor lives with his older brother Alexei and his brother's boyfriend Bruno, who provide a warm, accepting, nutruring foundation for Gregor to be himself. With that support, Gregor is with some difficulty navigating school and friendships. He has a hard time communicating because he's nonverbal and even in writing, words feel prickly and sharp and uncomfortable to him most of the time. So he uses photos, memes and drawings, symbols and single words on his phone to get his meaning across. He's also an artist, and in his art he creates the most complete access to the things he wants to convey.
Gregor has sometimes wished he was asexual and aromantic, because he imagines not having to deal with the depth of sexual and romantic feelings would be easier. (Although he has folks around him (like his brother/sibling who is nonbinary and asexual) to show him that every orientation has its complexity.) But he's been watching a boy named Noah at school. Noah sometimes works with the LGBTQIA group and while at first, Gregor doesn't know much about him or even know if he identifies as other than het, there's a connection between them that pulls them together.
Noah is dealing with his own issues. He's in foster care with two younger foster siblings for whom he feels responsible. The foster parents are disengaged and careless, and Noah's afraid that if something goes wrong, they will send him or a sibling away and break up the little family he's created. So he drives himself hard to keep his siblings safe, even at his own cost. Seeing Gregor, slowly getting to know him, is the sweet warmth of Noah's days in a world of stress, hypervigilance, and responsibility.
Both boys are fortunate in their friends, having someone close enough that they can rely on for support. Not perfectly - these are also teens who make mistakes - but with confidence that they are cared for. This underlying support keeps the book from becoming dark, even when both boys are struggling with coping skills.
The romance is sweet. The boys feel a little older than they are to me - perhaps because this is a UK setting so the older boy, Noah, about to graduate high school, is sixteen, and the younger with one year left is fifteen. In the US in those situations they would be seventeen and eighteen. There is a little underage sex, which IMO is appropriate and realistic between two teens in that situation. At their ages, there is always the question of whether love will last, but the way they come to understand each other is deep and solid as a basis for a lifetime.
The beauty of the book is how well the author takes you inside Gregor's (and occasionally, Noah's) head and makes the reality of being neurodivergent or a traumatized teen in a difficult situation clear with a degree of inner consistency and logic and joys as well as struggles. Beautifully done.
Gregor has sometimes wished he was asexual and aromantic, because he imagines not having to deal with the depth of sexual and romantic feelings would be easier. (Although he has folks around him (like his brother/sibling who is nonbinary and asexual) to show him that every orientation has its complexity.) But he's been watching a boy named Noah at school. Noah sometimes works with the LGBTQIA group and while at first, Gregor doesn't know much about him or even know if he identifies as other than het, there's a connection between them that pulls them together.
Noah is dealing with his own issues. He's in foster care with two younger foster siblings for whom he feels responsible. The foster parents are disengaged and careless, and Noah's afraid that if something goes wrong, they will send him or a sibling away and break up the little family he's created. So he drives himself hard to keep his siblings safe, even at his own cost. Seeing Gregor, slowly getting to know him, is the sweet warmth of Noah's days in a world of stress, hypervigilance, and responsibility.
Both boys are fortunate in their friends, having someone close enough that they can rely on for support. Not perfectly - these are also teens who make mistakes - but with confidence that they are cared for. This underlying support keeps the book from becoming dark, even when both boys are struggling with coping skills.
The romance is sweet. The boys feel a little older than they are to me - perhaps because this is a UK setting so the older boy, Noah, about to graduate high school, is sixteen, and the younger with one year left is fifteen. In the US in those situations they would be seventeen and eighteen. There is a little underage sex, which IMO is appropriate and realistic between two teens in that situation. At their ages, there is always the question of whether love will last, but the way they come to understand each other is deep and solid as a basis for a lifetime.
The beauty of the book is how well the author takes you inside Gregor's (and occasionally, Noah's) head and makes the reality of being neurodivergent or a traumatized teen in a difficult situation clear with a degree of inner consistency and logic and joys as well as struggles. Beautifully done.
March 25, 2025
𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙛-𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙪𝙠𝙞 𝙁𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙩
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️🫑 1.5/5
📖𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥
OMG this book was absolutely incredible. I know not every neurodivergent person experiences the same things, but this allowed me a glimpse into what it could be like living with autism.
Gregor is a character I immediately felt protective over. He doesn’t like to use words often because they feel wrong but he likes to communicate through pictures and writing. Even though he’s not always sure of himself, he’s a protective friend, and looks out for them. I adore his friends Toby and Sian, because it gives up examples of how no two people experience a disability the same.
Noah, I’m not sure where to start with him. He will forever hold a place in my heart. He has more obstacles than most teenagers, taking care of his foster siblings. He always wants to do the right thing for all the people he cares about. Seeing him continually put himself in situations he isn’t necessarily comfortable with for others, made my heart smile. I loved watching as Gregor and Noah navigated being in a relationship together. Seeing his love comes in all different forms. This will be one I think about forever.
𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙋𝙀𝙎:
- YA MM romance
- Neurodivergent characters (multiple, including both MMC)
- Pansexual rep
- Filled with lots of longing
- Friends to lovers
- Little angsty
- Demisexual rep
- Synesthesia
- Steamy
- HEA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🌶️🫑 1.5/5
📖𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥
OMG this book was absolutely incredible. I know not every neurodivergent person experiences the same things, but this allowed me a glimpse into what it could be like living with autism.
Gregor is a character I immediately felt protective over. He doesn’t like to use words often because they feel wrong but he likes to communicate through pictures and writing. Even though he’s not always sure of himself, he’s a protective friend, and looks out for them. I adore his friends Toby and Sian, because it gives up examples of how no two people experience a disability the same.
Noah, I’m not sure where to start with him. He will forever hold a place in my heart. He has more obstacles than most teenagers, taking care of his foster siblings. He always wants to do the right thing for all the people he cares about. Seeing him continually put himself in situations he isn’t necessarily comfortable with for others, made my heart smile. I loved watching as Gregor and Noah navigated being in a relationship together. Seeing his love comes in all different forms. This will be one I think about forever.
𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙋𝙀𝙎:
- YA MM romance
- Neurodivergent characters (multiple, including both MMC)
- Pansexual rep
- Filled with lots of longing
- Friends to lovers
- Little angsty
- Demisexual rep
- Synesthesia
- Steamy
- HEA
June 18, 2024
It was a joy to return to the world of The Happiness Project for Gregor and Noah's story.
Gregor, who we met as a small boy in the first story, is now a teenager, living with his brother Alexei and their partner Bruno in a secure and loving family unit. Gregor isn't comfortable with language and communicates by images and his talented drawings.
It was a privilege to be allowed into Gregor's incredibly rich inner life which he shares only with his family and two best friends. His world view is challenged when he realises he likes Noah, a fellow student at school.
Unlike Gregor, Noah outwardly fits in at school, but beneath that facade is an overwhelming burden of fear and over-responsibility. The way these two gradually fathom a way to be together and open up to each other is a wonderfully described learning curve, tender, funny and moving. This is a tale of young love, found family, testing perceived limits and finding your tribe.
I love the way that Suki Fleet turns expectations of normality and social conformity upside down and their characters are authentically and triumphantly themselves. A beautiful story, exquisitely told.
Gregor, who we met as a small boy in the first story, is now a teenager, living with his brother Alexei and their partner Bruno in a secure and loving family unit. Gregor isn't comfortable with language and communicates by images and his talented drawings.
It was a privilege to be allowed into Gregor's incredibly rich inner life which he shares only with his family and two best friends. His world view is challenged when he realises he likes Noah, a fellow student at school.
Unlike Gregor, Noah outwardly fits in at school, but beneath that facade is an overwhelming burden of fear and over-responsibility. The way these two gradually fathom a way to be together and open up to each other is a wonderfully described learning curve, tender, funny and moving. This is a tale of young love, found family, testing perceived limits and finding your tribe.
I love the way that Suki Fleet turns expectations of normality and social conformity upside down and their characters are authentically and triumphantly themselves. A beautiful story, exquisitely told.
August 10, 2024
I wish i could love this book, its cover is beautiful and reading about a autistic boy falling in love, perhaps not too different from me, sounded like a match made in heaven. It's just this book plot is too heavy, i best described as the plot being to dark and sinister. Gregor is just way over the top. He doesn't sound like a realistic person in the way he acts. He just seems to have way to much going on with him, barely surviving, to have a love life, and he doesn't even grow from it, which is why i read the whole book, thinking that maybe he'd grow. Noah does make a good character, he does seem believable and i feel for him and his meltdowns. I know the purpose of the book is to be a love story but i just can't help but feel distracted and disgruntled by the characters. I do find the side characters complimented and were well written. This book has emotionally charged scenes, that made me uncomfortable. There is a sex scene at the end which really added nothing and didn't makes sense to me, in my opinion these characters barely have a grip on their lives, throwing it in seems forced to me.
June 24, 2024
Half-Drawn Boy - Love Unique
‘…love is like a rainbow flooding outwards from us all the time.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who loves as openly and as obviously Gregor does. Maybe people who don’t know him won’t see it, I don’t know. But it makes me think about how underneath all the colours a rainbow is just light, and underneath all the layers and stories we tell ourselves, love is always there inside us, waiting to shine out.’
Suki Fleet has created the ultimate story of love - Love of others and love of self.
In a world where individuals are either applauded or ostracized for their originality, finding the people to support you can be harrowing. Suki has given us a warm and openly heartfelt look into the world of several individuals who have found a way to be unconventionally happy living in the world which is their own.
I am always excited to read Suki, but Half-Drawn Boy is a beautiful work of art, sharing the soul of the author and their characters.
‘…love is like a rainbow flooding outwards from us all the time.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who loves as openly and as obviously Gregor does. Maybe people who don’t know him won’t see it, I don’t know. But it makes me think about how underneath all the colours a rainbow is just light, and underneath all the layers and stories we tell ourselves, love is always there inside us, waiting to shine out.’
Suki Fleet has created the ultimate story of love - Love of others and love of self.
In a world where individuals are either applauded or ostracized for their originality, finding the people to support you can be harrowing. Suki has given us a warm and openly heartfelt look into the world of several individuals who have found a way to be unconventionally happy living in the world which is their own.
I am always excited to read Suki, but Half-Drawn Boy is a beautiful work of art, sharing the soul of the author and their characters.
January 1, 2025
CW: Mental health, self-harm
"Being in your body shows your brain it's okay to feel things, that you're safe and don't need to try and run from those feelings. They're just feelings, they don't last." (Fleet, p. 271)
Wow- this was amazing! This was a beautiful look into a young non-verbal and aro/ace child's life. This is a very heavy book, you will definitely need the tissues and Prozac. The two leads were so sweet together and I loved seeing their relationship grow throughout the book. There are some scenes that are disturbing and could be too much for readers, but everything felt real and not forced at all. Overall, good stuff here, makes me want to check out Suki Fleet's other works. This was recommended to me from another GR user, thanks, I loved the book!
"Being in your body shows your brain it's okay to feel things, that you're safe and don't need to try and run from those feelings. They're just feelings, they don't last." (Fleet, p. 271)
Wow- this was amazing! This was a beautiful look into a young non-verbal and aro/ace child's life. This is a very heavy book, you will definitely need the tissues and Prozac. The two leads were so sweet together and I loved seeing their relationship grow throughout the book. There are some scenes that are disturbing and could be too much for readers, but everything felt real and not forced at all. Overall, good stuff here, makes me want to check out Suki Fleet's other works. This was recommended to me from another GR user, thanks, I loved the book!
August 3, 2024
To travel through the prevarications, the perambulations, the sensory confusions of an autistic boy of 15 as he falls in awareness, in like, and finally in love with another boy on the spectrum is quite the journey. Gregor and Noah's support network of mostly found family is amazing to witness as is their gradual learning to trust one’s self and another enough to feel, to hug, to rub, to kiss, to know . . . to love.
If you've ever wondered what it may be like to experience the world through the heart of a person on the spectrum, Suki Fleet comes about as close as anyone to opening the window.
If you've ever wondered what it may be like to experience the world through the heart of a person on the spectrum, Suki Fleet comes about as close as anyone to opening the window.
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