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Knitting Needles
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jun 26
Two men walk into a gender clinic...and the rest...is history.
OSCAR PETERS HAS NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO WHAT HIS FOREVER MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
When Oscar meets Aaron at the gender clinic on the morning of their top surgeries, it feels like a stroke of fate, but weeks later, Oscar still hasn’t heard from the stranger and he hasn’t stopped thinking about him.
In a twist of luck, Aaron tracks Oscar down on a gaming server and they start texting back and forth, day and night, leaving Oscar irrevocably hooked.
Several pancakes, coffee dates and dinners later, Oscar and Aaron still can’t get enough of each other, and Oscar can just about picture a happy life full of farmers’ markets, sweet treats and lazy afternoons. More than this, a life full of Aaron.
But life is always cooking up one storm or another, and when hardship comes knocking on their door, Oscar must decide whether he’s in this for the long haul; in sickness and in health.
A Queer T4T Contemporary Romance that will stay with you long after you've closed the cover on the final page. Knitting Needles is a heartwarming romance set to a backdrop of found family, identity and the one cardinal truth–that whatever life may throw at you, love always wins.
OSCAR PETERS HAS NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO WHAT HIS FOREVER MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
When Oscar meets Aaron at the gender clinic on the morning of their top surgeries, it feels like a stroke of fate, but weeks later, Oscar still hasn’t heard from the stranger and he hasn’t stopped thinking about him.
In a twist of luck, Aaron tracks Oscar down on a gaming server and they start texting back and forth, day and night, leaving Oscar irrevocably hooked.
Several pancakes, coffee dates and dinners later, Oscar and Aaron still can’t get enough of each other, and Oscar can just about picture a happy life full of farmers’ markets, sweet treats and lazy afternoons. More than this, a life full of Aaron.
But life is always cooking up one storm or another, and when hardship comes knocking on their door, Oscar must decide whether he’s in this for the long haul; in sickness and in health.
A Queer T4T Contemporary Romance that will stay with you long after you've closed the cover on the final page. Knitting Needles is a heartwarming romance set to a backdrop of found family, identity and the one cardinal truth–that whatever life may throw at you, love always wins.
- GenresContemporaryQueerAdult
316 pages, ebook
Expected publication June 1, 2026
About the author
Ezra Wren
4 books12 followersEzra Wren (they/them) is a queer fiction writer who identifies as non-binary, pan, and demi. Wren is a lover of all things literature, music, and art. Their favourite thing to do when they’re not writing is read, watch anime and suspenseful series, and sit by the water. Wren lives in Norway with their husband; their German Shepherd, Groot; and their cats, Benny and Nebula. They’re partial to cake, sunshine, and Highland Cows, in exactly that order.
Ezra Wren also writes dark fantasy under the pen name J. M. Rose and is independently publishing their Lorcanverse body of work. The first two books in their Children of Lorcan series, Usurper and Impostor, were published in 2025.
Ezra Wren also writes dark fantasy under the pen name J. M. Rose and is independently publishing their Lorcanverse body of work. The first two books in their Children of Lorcan series, Usurper and Impostor, were published in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 30, 2026
I received an advance copy of this book as part of the author’s street team. Many thanks to Ezra Wren for the ARC!
KNITTING NEEDLES is an absolute delight. Readers who have described it as a big warm hug are absolutely right; this book is full of joy, validation, affirmation, and warmth. It’s not without its tough emotional hurdles as the characters navigate past trauma, anxieties, and the growing pains you’d expect from a new relationship. All of this bundles together into a story that feels very real. The queer joy and community is just beautiful, and of course the blossoming love between Oscar and Aaron is as sweet as it is swoon-worthy. I loved watching these two fall in love and work through their struggles together.
Ezra Wren has crafted a beautiful love story here, not to be missed if you need a dose of queer joy.
KNITTING NEEDLES is an absolute delight. Readers who have described it as a big warm hug are absolutely right; this book is full of joy, validation, affirmation, and warmth. It’s not without its tough emotional hurdles as the characters navigate past trauma, anxieties, and the growing pains you’d expect from a new relationship. All of this bundles together into a story that feels very real. The queer joy and community is just beautiful, and of course the blossoming love between Oscar and Aaron is as sweet as it is swoon-worthy. I loved watching these two fall in love and work through their struggles together.
Ezra Wren has crafted a beautiful love story here, not to be missed if you need a dose of queer joy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an e-arc from the author, and my God, I devoured this in a day and a half.
I already knew Ezra Wren could write, having read both their short stories and their Lorcanverse novels under their other pen name J.M. Rose, but KNITTING NEEDLES is a gorgeous debut for this pen name.
The novel picks up seven weeks after where we left off in the short story SEWING SCISSORS, and from the first page, the prose was rich and electric, the characters nuanced and alive, and the romance was built up so sweetly. The relationship between Oscar and Aaron was realistic, with arguments and upsets and such tender love. Their backstories, trauma, and trans identities shaped the relationship just as much as their love did, but I particularly loved how Oscar and Aaron worked on their difficulties, both by themselves, through talking to their friends, and going to therapy, showing that love and relationships take work, but it's worth it, that just because something has ups and downs doesn't mean it isn't healthy or full of love. (This is by no means the same thing as those toxic cishet romances. Stay back 🤺)
The sex scenes were IMMACULATE. I wouldn't call it smut, because it was by no means explicit, but it was on page. It was not particularly described physically, but emotionally. The prose was elegant and poetic, especially during the sex scenes, and the way Oscar and Aaron's transness was represented and explored was beautiful. They were allowed to exist not only as trans men, but also as lovers, as people first and foremost, which a lot of other authors miss. Wren portrayed trans men--and specifically bigger bodied trans men--as sexy and hot and attractive just as much as beautiful and strong and worthy of being loved, not just romantically, but also platonically. Most of the representation we see of trans men is fetishised and unnuanced, where transness is treated as a tool for sexualisation and fetishisation during smut, but here, Wren writes a T4T love story that feels timeless, that feels like an ode to T4T relationships and trans identity.
This novel is so so so important for the trans community, and I hope so many trans people will see themselves in this book and feel seen. I know I do; I feel like this was written just for me. I was kicking my feet and giggling reading this, because Wren strikes the perfect balance between a light, sappy romance and much heavier themes of mental health, transphobia, and family dynamics. My younger self needed this book, and I'm so glad I have it now, especially during a time of rising transphobia where trans people are being taught we're hated and ugly.
If nothing else, KNITTING NEEDLES reminds trans people how beautiful and wanted we are.
I already knew Ezra Wren could write, having read both their short stories and their Lorcanverse novels under their other pen name J.M. Rose, but KNITTING NEEDLES is a gorgeous debut for this pen name.
The novel picks up seven weeks after where we left off in the short story SEWING SCISSORS, and from the first page, the prose was rich and electric, the characters nuanced and alive, and the romance was built up so sweetly. The relationship between Oscar and Aaron was realistic, with arguments and upsets and such tender love. Their backstories, trauma, and trans identities shaped the relationship just as much as their love did, but I particularly loved how Oscar and Aaron worked on their difficulties, both by themselves, through talking to their friends, and going to therapy, showing that love and relationships take work, but it's worth it, that just because something has ups and downs doesn't mean it isn't healthy or full of love. (This is by no means the same thing as those toxic cishet romances. Stay back 🤺)
The sex scenes were IMMACULATE. I wouldn't call it smut, because it was by no means explicit, but it was on page. It was not particularly described physically, but emotionally. The prose was elegant and poetic, especially during the sex scenes, and the way Oscar and Aaron's transness was represented and explored was beautiful. They were allowed to exist not only as trans men, but also as lovers, as people first and foremost, which a lot of other authors miss. Wren portrayed trans men--and specifically bigger bodied trans men--as sexy and hot and attractive just as much as beautiful and strong and worthy of being loved, not just romantically, but also platonically. Most of the representation we see of trans men is fetishised and unnuanced, where transness is treated as a tool for sexualisation and fetishisation during smut, but here, Wren writes a T4T love story that feels timeless, that feels like an ode to T4T relationships and trans identity.
This novel is so so so important for the trans community, and I hope so many trans people will see themselves in this book and feel seen. I know I do; I feel like this was written just for me. I was kicking my feet and giggling reading this, because Wren strikes the perfect balance between a light, sappy romance and much heavier themes of mental health, transphobia, and family dynamics. My younger self needed this book, and I'm so glad I have it now, especially during a time of rising transphobia where trans people are being taught we're hated and ugly.
If nothing else, KNITTING NEEDLES reminds trans people how beautiful and wanted we are.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📕cozy romance
📗Great Trans rep
📘Real life, including the tough stuff
📙Wonderful supporting characters (author's forte)
When I began this book, I wasn’t sure what direction the author was going to take. I must say that author Ezra Wren found a lovely path in between the serious realities of life for a trans soul and the blush of a new romance.
When Oscar and Aaron meet at a gender clinic on the day of their top surgeries, lightning strikes. They understand one another. Their past journeys may have been very different, but they “get it”. There’s something very remarkable about meeting someone who understands you because they have some shared experiences with you. It’s special and it’s something that creates a bond faster than you may expect.
By opening this novel with the scenes within the walls of the gender clinic, Wren establishes this world clearly and firmly and great with care. This is a world in which trans people are living and thriving. They are healing. There are moments of joy, moments of pain, and it’s a journey.
These two take a minute to get reacquainted once their bodies have healed because their hearts and minds are healing from far different wounds. It's not surprising really; both of them are living in a world that has taught them to guard who they are.
There are some speed bumps... both Oscar and Aaron have a lot of love to give, but their experience of family has been challenging. Their relationship grows in coffee dates, texting, and online messages. About halfway through this story, I found myself describing it as a warm cuddle because that was exactly how Wren’s words felt. Even during the most trying times for the characters, there was hope and forward movement.
Knitting Needles is a romance that builds slowly and realistically. There are mistakes, there are wins, there are challenges, and there is trauma and ultimately there’s recovery. It’s remarkable to find an author who can so fully capture such a journey for two such relatable characters.
Oscar’s story touched my heart. Oscar reminded me of a friend I had a long time ago, someone who was shaped by hurtful interactions with their family. This friend of mine, somehow, managed to dig through grief and pain and find hope and joy. Oscar has the same talent. It's subtle, but Wren has written a character it is remarkably easy to fall in love with.
This is a beautiful, timely story. It healed a little bit of my heart and brought me so much joy. I’m going to get a physical copy of this one because I know that I’ll be reading it when I need some light in the darker moments of my life.
📗Great Trans rep
📘Real life, including the tough stuff
📙Wonderful supporting characters (author's forte)
When I began this book, I wasn’t sure what direction the author was going to take. I must say that author Ezra Wren found a lovely path in between the serious realities of life for a trans soul and the blush of a new romance.
When Oscar and Aaron meet at a gender clinic on the day of their top surgeries, lightning strikes. They understand one another. Their past journeys may have been very different, but they “get it”. There’s something very remarkable about meeting someone who understands you because they have some shared experiences with you. It’s special and it’s something that creates a bond faster than you may expect.
By opening this novel with the scenes within the walls of the gender clinic, Wren establishes this world clearly and firmly and great with care. This is a world in which trans people are living and thriving. They are healing. There are moments of joy, moments of pain, and it’s a journey.
These two take a minute to get reacquainted once their bodies have healed because their hearts and minds are healing from far different wounds. It's not surprising really; both of them are living in a world that has taught them to guard who they are.
There are some speed bumps... both Oscar and Aaron have a lot of love to give, but their experience of family has been challenging. Their relationship grows in coffee dates, texting, and online messages. About halfway through this story, I found myself describing it as a warm cuddle because that was exactly how Wren’s words felt. Even during the most trying times for the characters, there was hope and forward movement.
Knitting Needles is a romance that builds slowly and realistically. There are mistakes, there are wins, there are challenges, and there is trauma and ultimately there’s recovery. It’s remarkable to find an author who can so fully capture such a journey for two such relatable characters.
Oscar’s story touched my heart. Oscar reminded me of a friend I had a long time ago, someone who was shaped by hurtful interactions with their family. This friend of mine, somehow, managed to dig through grief and pain and find hope and joy. Oscar has the same talent. It's subtle, but Wren has written a character it is remarkably easy to fall in love with.
This is a beautiful, timely story. It healed a little bit of my heart and brought me so much joy. I’m going to get a physical copy of this one because I know that I’ll be reading it when I need some light in the darker moments of my life.
May 8, 2026
I received an eARC of this book.
I can’t express how I feel right now. Please excuse me till I can put my thoughts and feelings in order. I’ll write the review tomorrow, but just so you know it’s 4.75 stars.
Ok, now my honest review.
When I requested this arc, I did it because I was craving a good romance book with trans main characters. I don’t read a lot of romance books because I don’t usually find stories that really get my attention, but this book went beyond my expectations.
First of all, I feel like when I read romance stories, the story ends when the couple get together, or when they make it official, or they solve a communication problem. I don’t usually get to read romance stories when the majority of the story is the couple being together and their day to day life. And I’m so glad that this story got me that.
The love story between Oscar and Aaron was so beautifully crafted, beginning in a hospital waiting room for their top surgery and the moving to knowing each other’s life and sharing many moments together, healing each other emotionally, taking care of the other and learning to let the other take care of them.
Also, Oscar storyline. When the story begins, we see a young man who copes with his problems and traumas with humor, a young man who has a past that has had a great impact in who he is today. And as the story goes we see that changing. Not only did he learned to talk about his feelings and struggles without making jokes about them, but also to be more present in the moment and to not let the past affect him too much. And I’m referring mostly about his mother, his father is another story.
I want to mention the way is written. I haven’t read any previous works by the author, but from what I read from this book I feel like they planned every part and chapter of this story. There were times I was so moved by the way they described feelings and moments and memories that Oscar had. I hope I’m write saying that this was a really well thought book, because I haven’t read a romance story this good in so long.
My only teeny tiny complaint is that I felt that there was a point when Oscar was way too in love with Aaron, that it was straight idealisation. But in a way I get it, because I think everyone who have been in love has been through moments like that.
All in all, this book was a great experience, seeing Aaron and Oscar living their lives, making mistakes, arguing, getting angry and hurt, making up, healing their own past, and learning to love and be loved. I extremely recommend it to anyone who wants a beautiful love story.
I can’t express how I feel right now. Please excuse me till I can put my thoughts and feelings in order. I’ll write the review tomorrow, but just so you know it’s 4.75 stars.
Ok, now my honest review.
When I requested this arc, I did it because I was craving a good romance book with trans main characters. I don’t read a lot of romance books because I don’t usually find stories that really get my attention, but this book went beyond my expectations.
First of all, I feel like when I read romance stories, the story ends when the couple get together, or when they make it official, or they solve a communication problem. I don’t usually get to read romance stories when the majority of the story is the couple being together and their day to day life. And I’m so glad that this story got me that.
The love story between Oscar and Aaron was so beautifully crafted, beginning in a hospital waiting room for their top surgery and the moving to knowing each other’s life and sharing many moments together, healing each other emotionally, taking care of the other and learning to let the other take care of them.
Also, Oscar storyline. When the story begins, we see a young man who copes with his problems and traumas with humor, a young man who has a past that has had a great impact in who he is today. And as the story goes we see that changing. Not only did he learned to talk about his feelings and struggles without making jokes about them, but also to be more present in the moment and to not let the past affect him too much. And I’m referring mostly about his mother, his father is another story.
I want to mention the way is written. I haven’t read any previous works by the author, but from what I read from this book I feel like they planned every part and chapter of this story. There were times I was so moved by the way they described feelings and moments and memories that Oscar had. I hope I’m write saying that this was a really well thought book, because I haven’t read a romance story this good in so long.
My only teeny tiny complaint is that I felt that there was a point when Oscar was way too in love with Aaron, that it was straight idealisation. But in a way I get it, because I think everyone who have been in love has been through moments like that.
All in all, this book was a great experience, seeing Aaron and Oscar living their lives, making mistakes, arguing, getting angry and hurt, making up, healing their own past, and learning to love and be loved. I extremely recommend it to anyone who wants a beautiful love story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
My rating is more a 3.5 but we can't do half stars on goodreads. This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me, with things I enjoyed and others I struggled with.
One of the things that didn't really work for me is the intensity of Oscar's grief for his father still being pretty much all consuming after 7 years. I don't want to minimize anyone's experience of grief, and his experience was particularly traumatic, but it felt very repetitive the way that it was woven into the narrative and he seemed to be constantly thinking about his father in a way that would have made more sense to me if the death had happened closer to the present time of the narrative. I also felt like there was a lot of purple prose that was overdone for my taste. Similarly, the dialogue between all of the characters who are in their early twenties didn't sound natural at all; it sounded like they were reading off of a script.
I did like the support system that Oscar and Aaron have built for themselves and grow together, and I did love the meet cute at the gender clinic right before top surgery, I loved the cat Luigi, and the realities of trying to make ends meet and go to school when you don't have any money. I did find some of the scenes moving.
I'm actually not sure where this was set. I may have missed it at the beginning.
Something else to consider when choosing to read this book is how much trauma each character is carrying. I found it pretty difficult as a trans person myself to watch two hurt and traumatized people going through difficult things. There is a happy ending, but for my personal taste there was too much difficult stuff to get through to get there. Plenty of people enjoy books with lots of trauma and difficult topics before they get to the HEA, for me it was a little bit too close to home. Which does mean that the author did a good job portraying the difficulties that young trans people face when building their lives. Definitely read the content warnings at the beginning before deciding whether to read this.
Overall, I did not like this book as much as I had hoped that I would. I didn't like some of the stylistic and plot choices the author made, but I do think this is a worthwhile story to read and there is a hopeful message of being able to build your own supportive community/family even after you experience rejection from your biological family.
My rating is more a 3.5 but we can't do half stars on goodreads. This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me, with things I enjoyed and others I struggled with.
One of the things that didn't really work for me is the intensity of Oscar's grief for his father still being pretty much all consuming after 7 years. I don't want to minimize anyone's experience of grief, and his experience was particularly traumatic, but it felt very repetitive the way that it was woven into the narrative and he seemed to be constantly thinking about his father in a way that would have made more sense to me if the death had happened closer to the present time of the narrative. I also felt like there was a lot of purple prose that was overdone for my taste. Similarly, the dialogue between all of the characters who are in their early twenties didn't sound natural at all; it sounded like they were reading off of a script.
I did like the support system that Oscar and Aaron have built for themselves and grow together, and I did love the meet cute at the gender clinic right before top surgery, I loved the cat Luigi, and the realities of trying to make ends meet and go to school when you don't have any money. I did find some of the scenes moving.
I'm actually not sure where this was set. I may have missed it at the beginning.
Something else to consider when choosing to read this book is how much trauma each character is carrying. I found it pretty difficult as a trans person myself to watch two hurt and traumatized people going through difficult things. There is a happy ending, but for my personal taste there was too much difficult stuff to get through to get there. Plenty of people enjoy books with lots of trauma and difficult topics before they get to the HEA, for me it was a little bit too close to home. Which does mean that the author did a good job portraying the difficulties that young trans people face when building their lives. Definitely read the content warnings at the beginning before deciding whether to read this.
Overall, I did not like this book as much as I had hoped that I would. I didn't like some of the stylistic and plot choices the author made, but I do think this is a worthwhile story to read and there is a hopeful message of being able to build your own supportive community/family even after you experience rejection from your biological family.
May 10, 2026
MINOR MINOR SPOILERS
First of all I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free ARC in return for an honest review! I just found one of my new favorite books!!
As a trans* person whose hobby is, amongst many other things, knitting this was perfect for me. I do however understand how people who love hockey tend to stay away from hockey romances, because in my head there was way more knitting content (which makes no sense really cuz when you think about it knitting doesn't really give you a ton of content to base a romance book on) and the fact that he knitted multiple difficult and abstract jumpers/ hats in only one and half months means he's either knitting day and night without break and probably ends up with carpal tunnel or that I am an incredibly slow knitter(which is true regardless) Also when they were horny and made out on the knitted blankets my crafter brain was worrying about how you'd clean that before remembering washing machines have their own settings for that.
I loved the romance in this books, I loved that they started as friends and then that turned naturally into dating. I loved that Oscar basically found the embodiment of his papa to fall in love with and I love that they communicate and show their feelings. I'm not gonna lie this made me cry multiple times and I can't even tell you which parts hit so close to home. I also really liked that Oscar has been in therapy and when he had a mental
breakdown reached out to his therapist first, before deciding to turn to an unhealthy coping mechanism.
It was also really nice to see Aaron prioritizing his dream in the end, I think he'll make a wonderful nurse. I also liked that the epilogue was a comic, that's a really nice and refreshing way to do this. I can definitely see myself re-reading this!! That was a really wonderful book with a nice found family and a romance for once not based on sexual attraction but love.
First of all I'd like to thank the author for giving me a free ARC in return for an honest review! I just found one of my new favorite books!!
As a trans* person whose hobby is, amongst many other things, knitting this was perfect for me. I do however understand how people who love hockey tend to stay away from hockey romances, because in my head there was way more knitting content (which makes no sense really cuz when you think about it knitting doesn't really give you a ton of content to base a romance book on) and the fact that he knitted multiple difficult and abstract jumpers/ hats in only one and half months means he's either knitting day and night without break and probably ends up with carpal tunnel or that I am an incredibly slow knitter(which is true regardless) Also when they were horny and made out on the knitted blankets my crafter brain was worrying about how you'd clean that before remembering washing machines have their own settings for that.
I loved the romance in this books, I loved that they started as friends and then that turned naturally into dating. I loved that Oscar basically found the embodiment of his papa to fall in love with and I love that they communicate and show their feelings. I'm not gonna lie this made me cry multiple times and I can't even tell you which parts hit so close to home. I also really liked that Oscar has been in therapy and when he had a mental
breakdown reached out to his therapist first, before deciding to turn to an unhealthy coping mechanism.
It was also really nice to see Aaron prioritizing his dream in the end, I think he'll make a wonderful nurse. I also liked that the epilogue was a comic, that's a really nice and refreshing way to do this. I can definitely see myself re-reading this!! That was a really wonderful book with a nice found family and a romance for once not based on sexual attraction but love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was fortunate to be able to read this book early as an ARC reader. I usually focus on romance ARCs because it's a genre that I know I will enjoy. This book was unlike any that I have read before in that genre because both male protagonists are transgender men. Although there are some queer romance and other genres of literature out there that are focused on a trans male protagonist, this was the second that I have read featuring a transgender man protagonist, and the first had two trans men protagonists. As a transgender man myself, I very much enjoyed the representation in this book.
The two protagonists are Aaron and Oscar, two trans men in their early 20s who meet and hit it off while waiting for top surgery. After a failed attempt to exchange numbers at their doctors’ office, they do eventually get in touch and become friends and then boyfriends.
One thing I appreciated about the book is how it's relatively low-stakes. There is no big bad or overarching controversy like the NHL or NBA or anything like that that you'd have in a sports romance. The main conflict in the book is that these two very young men, both of whom lack family support due to being rejected by their families, are trying to learn how to live on their own and assemble found family from friends and the few relatives that still support them. As someone who transitioned at an older age and was fortunate enough to have family support and employment to fall back on, this is not my personal story, but I definitely know people whose story it was, and I very much appreciated seeing it represented in writing.
This was a very good read, and I will definitely be recommending it to trans masculine people and trans men looking for books about people like them.
The two protagonists are Aaron and Oscar, two trans men in their early 20s who meet and hit it off while waiting for top surgery. After a failed attempt to exchange numbers at their doctors’ office, they do eventually get in touch and become friends and then boyfriends.
One thing I appreciated about the book is how it's relatively low-stakes. There is no big bad or overarching controversy like the NHL or NBA or anything like that that you'd have in a sports romance. The main conflict in the book is that these two very young men, both of whom lack family support due to being rejected by their families, are trying to learn how to live on their own and assemble found family from friends and the few relatives that still support them. As someone who transitioned at an older age and was fortunate enough to have family support and employment to fall back on, this is not my personal story, but I definitely know people whose story it was, and I very much appreciated seeing it represented in writing.
This was a very good read, and I will definitely be recommending it to trans masculine people and trans men looking for books about people like them.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Have you ever read a warm hug that felt like a cozy blanket and made you feel all soft and warm?
Because this is what this book does to you.
Knitting Needles is such a lovely, tender and deep story that indeed will stay with me long after having closed the eARC! It is a precious book about two trans men who meet first in the short story Sewing Scissors and who we follow on their journey through bright and difficult times until the heartwarming end of the story.
Oscar and Aaron are so damn easy to love, their dynamic is adorable and the way they always find ways to be there for each other and show their love in small and big ways is serious life goals.
There's also their found family, build of their best and closest friends, and Grandma is such an amazing presence in Oscar's life, I adore her!
From all the friends they share my two favorites have to be Joe and Lucas. Joe for his teddy bear hugs and easygoing nature and Lucas... Chico, I wish I had a Lucas too 🥰 Much love for this older mentor type friend who is there when Oscar needs him, even if their close friendship is long distance.
All in all, this book moved me, I teared up at a certain point and I will cherish this story for having such a strong, positive dad influence that lingers and brightens everything.
Thank you so much for the eARC, Ezra Wren!
Because this is what this book does to you.
Knitting Needles is such a lovely, tender and deep story that indeed will stay with me long after having closed the eARC! It is a precious book about two trans men who meet first in the short story Sewing Scissors and who we follow on their journey through bright and difficult times until the heartwarming end of the story.
Oscar and Aaron are so damn easy to love, their dynamic is adorable and the way they always find ways to be there for each other and show their love in small and big ways is serious life goals.
There's also their found family, build of their best and closest friends, and Grandma is such an amazing presence in Oscar's life, I adore her!
From all the friends they share my two favorites have to be Joe and Lucas. Joe for his teddy bear hugs and easygoing nature and Lucas... Chico, I wish I had a Lucas too 🥰 Much love for this older mentor type friend who is there when Oscar needs him, even if their close friendship is long distance.
All in all, this book moved me, I teared up at a certain point and I will cherish this story for having such a strong, positive dad influence that lingers and brightens everything.
Thank you so much for the eARC, Ezra Wren!
Review of advance copy received from Author
-Advance Reader Copy Direct From Author- Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diversity: Self harm , dementia , references to alcoholism,
Queerness: TfT MCs , Trans fem Sc , non binary bc , ( basically everyone is queer)
Associated song: Belong Together by mark ambor
Content Warnings: self harm , emotional abuse from a parent , suicidal ideation , transphobia
I found this author and this book on a whim on tiktok a while ago when they were asking for arc readers and I loved the concept of tft
But I didn't expect the book to go this hard
The author writing the line " Oscar had been hurt enough to watch hos own blood turn pink beneath the running water. On this bedroom wall , there was a flag that bore this colour"
This had been GAGGED on the train . That comparison? Insane.
" Oscar had healed from worse things then loving someone" what if I screamed?
And my personal favourite " if you tell me you want a purple sky, I will get myself into a spaceship and drown the world in paint for you , even if ut takes all the air from my lungs"
This book show cases not only queer and trans trauma incrediblely well but also the very real of queer found family. The theme of finding people who love you for you runs though out this book and that is crack to me
Give me found family anyday
I will absolutely be reading more from this author!
Diversity: Self harm , dementia , references to alcoholism,
Queerness: TfT MCs , Trans fem Sc , non binary bc , ( basically everyone is queer)
Associated song: Belong Together by mark ambor
Content Warnings: self harm , emotional abuse from a parent , suicidal ideation , transphobia
I found this author and this book on a whim on tiktok a while ago when they were asking for arc readers and I loved the concept of tft
But I didn't expect the book to go this hard
The author writing the line " Oscar had been hurt enough to watch hos own blood turn pink beneath the running water. On this bedroom wall , there was a flag that bore this colour"
This had been GAGGED on the train . That comparison? Insane.
" Oscar had healed from worse things then loving someone" what if I screamed?
And my personal favourite " if you tell me you want a purple sky, I will get myself into a spaceship and drown the world in paint for you , even if ut takes all the air from my lungs"
This book show cases not only queer and trans trauma incrediblely well but also the very real of queer found family. The theme of finding people who love you for you runs though out this book and that is crack to me
Give me found family anyday
I will absolutely be reading more from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I saw Ezra Wren posting about ARCs of this book and I tried to ignore it. I'm not a romance reader. Then I saw another post, decided I'd be brave and rethink, and I asked the author if it was explicit. They told me there were some elements of spice, which I don't care for. I tried to dismiss it... and then I didn't. The T4T just had too much of a pull. And now, here we go. Romance era, I guess!
I loved this book so much. The author has mastered the craft of metaphors in the most delicious way. Their figurative language is all about nature and feelings, and it's just beautiful.
The characterisation is perfection. Every side character has personality and brings joy (unless they're specifically written not to), and I genuinely can't pick a favourite! (It's between Joe and Grandma. And Lucas. And Lina.) The queerness of the group is so realistic and lovely, and felt so comforting. I also loved the fact that trans joy was such a prominent aspect of the storyline, and that the problems were not a lack of communication or one person self-sabotaging.
I cried, or had teary eyes, for about half of the book. For the time I was reading, I was completely and fully invested in these men!
I loved this book so much. The author has mastered the craft of metaphors in the most delicious way. Their figurative language is all about nature and feelings, and it's just beautiful.
The characterisation is perfection. Every side character has personality and brings joy (unless they're specifically written not to), and I genuinely can't pick a favourite! (It's between Joe and Grandma. And Lucas. And Lina.) The queerness of the group is so realistic and lovely, and felt so comforting. I also loved the fact that trans joy was such a prominent aspect of the storyline, and that the problems were not a lack of communication or one person self-sabotaging.
I cried, or had teary eyes, for about half of the book. For the time I was reading, I was completely and fully invested in these men!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This wasn't your average contemporary romance. There was so much more than just fluffy romance. And even if I wish for all queer people to get nothing but fluff in life, it just isn't realistic most of the time.
This was a hard book for me to read. Amazing, beautiful and hard. Because even if every trans story is different, we all share the margins of the pain we go through. I had so many feeling while reading.
Oscar and Aaron have messy lives on their own and somehow collide to form something different together. I loved them, their growth and the author's attention to detail with the setting and the characters. (Dot was my favourite side character, I have a Dot in my life too)
While pain often is shared in queer communities, joy is too. To build a family and form a home, I believe no one does it better that queers with their allies, and this book is a perfect mirror to that. Queer and trans joy is something incredibly powerful and there it was on the page.
Well, by the end of this book I had had more than one cry, had healed a little and was having big emotions. I'd love to take another round of this roller coaster.
This was a hard book for me to read. Amazing, beautiful and hard. Because even if every trans story is different, we all share the margins of the pain we go through. I had so many feeling while reading.
Oscar and Aaron have messy lives on their own and somehow collide to form something different together. I loved them, their growth and the author's attention to detail with the setting and the characters. (Dot was my favourite side character, I have a Dot in my life too)
While pain often is shared in queer communities, joy is too. To build a family and form a home, I believe no one does it better that queers with their allies, and this book is a perfect mirror to that. Queer and trans joy is something incredibly powerful and there it was on the page.
Well, by the end of this book I had had more than one cry, had healed a little and was having big emotions. I'd love to take another round of this roller coaster.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Knitting Needles is the perfect story for cosy queer escapism that retains a necessary level of depth and darkness. The sweet, wholesome moments are built on a foundation of trauma and grief, which makes them feel earned and poignant. The whole book is very readable and moreish. Rich language that doesn't slow the pace, but enriches the sensory and emotional experience. It manages to be fresh, abundant and unfiltered, without feeling messy, overwritten or unedited.
Oscar and Aaron’s lives and their romance is lovely, but not glamorised, and I love that. There's a deep sense of authenticity and vulnerability in the romance, the spice, the family dynamics and the friendships. I particularly enjoyed the relationship (or lack thereof) Oscar had with his mother. I thought it was really sad, but really nuanced and well handled. Made me cry (a compliment).
Oscar and Aaron’s lives and their romance is lovely, but not glamorised, and I love that. There's a deep sense of authenticity and vulnerability in the romance, the spice, the family dynamics and the friendships. I particularly enjoyed the relationship (or lack thereof) Oscar had with his mother. I thought it was really sad, but really nuanced and well handled. Made me cry (a compliment).
Review of advance copy received from Author
Me: Oh, this book is so cozy!
DM: It’s cute that you think that. Roll for emotional damage.
Knitting Needles: *Nat 20*
I have some notes on the pacing, and there are elements of the finale that I can’t really critique in a review without giving all the spoilers, but with which I took issue. Overall, though, this was a heartfelt book centered around found family that had me in an emotional chokehold throughout. My first book by the author, but not my last! And the cover and interior design are thoughtful and charming.
I received an ARC from the author after drooling over that cover and doing a bit of groveling. 😉 Highly recommend this but I do want to add a warning for possibly triggering mental health, self harm, death of a parent, and dementia rep that may be rough on some readers. Handled with care but it’s still heavy stuff.
DM: It’s cute that you think that. Roll for emotional damage.
Knitting Needles: *Nat 20*
I have some notes on the pacing, and there are elements of the finale that I can’t really critique in a review without giving all the spoilers, but with which I took issue. Overall, though, this was a heartfelt book centered around found family that had me in an emotional chokehold throughout. My first book by the author, but not my last! And the cover and interior design are thoughtful and charming.
I received an ARC from the author after drooling over that cover and doing a bit of groveling. 😉 Highly recommend this but I do want to add a warning for possibly triggering mental health, self harm, death of a parent, and dementia rep that may be rough on some readers. Handled with care but it’s still heavy stuff.
Review of advance copy
This arc was sent to me in exchange for an honest review
Oscar and Aaron meet on the day they’re both scheduled for top surgery, what follows are many butterfly inducing texts, anxious phone calls, pancake dates, and the joy of meeting someone who gets you completely
I thoroughly enjoyed the progression of Oscar and Aaron’s relationship, and the way they’re both always there for each other is just so beautiful
I also loved the other characters (well…most of them 👀) my favourite was Oscar’s younger sister Lina. Rather than just being accepting of Oscar being trans, she was instead one of his biggest supporters
I’m so glad I sent in my application for an arc of this book, and I highly recommend reading it when it comes out on the 1st of June
Oscar and Aaron meet on the day they’re both scheduled for top surgery, what follows are many butterfly inducing texts, anxious phone calls, pancake dates, and the joy of meeting someone who gets you completely
I thoroughly enjoyed the progression of Oscar and Aaron’s relationship, and the way they’re both always there for each other is just so beautiful
I also loved the other characters (well…most of them 👀) my favourite was Oscar’s younger sister Lina. Rather than just being accepting of Oscar being trans, she was instead one of his biggest supporters
I’m so glad I sent in my application for an arc of this book, and I highly recommend reading it when it comes out on the 1st of June
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it absolutely met and exceeded my expectations.
The story developed beautifully in terms of the romance and the circumstances that surrounded the characters. It felt realistic, and the conflicts were handled very well. I loved the found family elements and the relationships the characters had outside the central romance. Oscar and Aaron's dynamic was very sweet, and I hope a love like theirs kidnaps me and never lets me go.
I will probably be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC.
The story developed beautifully in terms of the romance and the circumstances that surrounded the characters. It felt realistic, and the conflicts were handled very well. I loved the found family elements and the relationships the characters had outside the central romance. Oscar and Aaron's dynamic was very sweet, and I hope a love like theirs kidnaps me and never lets me go.
I will probably be thinking about this book for the foreseeable future.
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I wish I could give this 5 stars, because I genuinely wanted to like this more than I did.
What did I like?
- Trans representation
- Good mcs, likeable side characters and overall the vibe of the book. It was cozy and felt like a warm hug to me.
- Found family
What didn't I like?
- For some reason this felt rushed, yet slow at the same time. Something about the timing of it all felt slightly off. Then again, I did not read the authors short story, so maybe I was missing a few details?
- The bad stuff, such as arguments, was usually short. While this is to be expected, considering this is a romance book, I can't imagine solving an argument that easily without properly knowing the other.
What did I like?
- Trans representation
- Good mcs, likeable side characters and overall the vibe of the book. It was cozy and felt like a warm hug to me.
- Found family
What didn't I like?
- For some reason this felt rushed, yet slow at the same time. Something about the timing of it all felt slightly off. Then again, I did not read the authors short story, so maybe I was missing a few details?
- The bad stuff, such as arguments, was usually short. While this is to be expected, considering this is a romance book, I can't imagine solving an argument that easily without properly knowing the other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2026
A big thanks to the author for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻
This book was everything to me, it doesn’t happen a lot that the prologue of a book can already make me cry. I was emotional for most of the book and it sparked me with so much queer joy. Oscars relationship with his dad was so so beautiful and I wish every queer kid has a parent like that, even if it’s just for a little bit. I loved Oscar and Aaron’s relationship, from how they met to getting to know each other to real life struggles to their happy ever after. The whole thing was so beautiful and it made me so hopeful for all new generations of queer kids❤️
This book was everything to me, it doesn’t happen a lot that the prologue of a book can already make me cry. I was emotional for most of the book and it sparked me with so much queer joy. Oscars relationship with his dad was so so beautiful and I wish every queer kid has a parent like that, even if it’s just for a little bit. I loved Oscar and Aaron’s relationship, from how they met to getting to know each other to real life struggles to their happy ever after. The whole thing was so beautiful and it made me so hopeful for all new generations of queer kids❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 rounded 5
That was a cute book, but it was absolutely heartbreaking, too. Make sure you pack tissues nearby (I'm not thanking the author about this).
Make sure to read the trigger warnings at the beginning. If family drama/grief and bad conversations are a trigger for you, maybe do not pick it up.
The love story is very sweet and very raw and very real.
Pick it up for:
- Trans rep
- Found family
- Sweet and incredible love story
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. See you for the next one!
That was a cute book, but it was absolutely heartbreaking, too. Make sure you pack tissues nearby (I'm not thanking the author about this).
Make sure to read the trigger warnings at the beginning. If family drama/grief and bad conversations are a trigger for you, maybe do not pick it up.
The love story is very sweet and very raw and very real.
Pick it up for:
- Trans rep
- Found family
- Sweet and incredible love story
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. See you for the next one!
April 23, 2026
This was such a beautiful sweet T4T romance. Oscar and Aaron meet at a gender clinic before their top surgery. Knitting Needles follows Oscar and Aaron as they learn to love each other through their own trauma and healing. So much of their journey was very relatable. The queer and ally found family was so real and made Oscar and Aaron’s world feel very real. I laughed and cried while reading. This will be a new comfort read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I met a boy.”
“Isn’t that how all the good stories start?”
Low angst and so stinking cute. I loved all the small real life moments and emotions that we get to see from both Oscar & Aaron.
My heart was stabbed and patched up several times throughout this journey, but it was worth it.
TW: Self-Harm, Mental Health, Death of Parent/Sick Parent
“Isn’t that how all the good stories start?”
Low angst and so stinking cute. I loved all the small real life moments and emotions that we get to see from both Oscar & Aaron.
My heart was stabbed and patched up several times throughout this journey, but it was worth it.
TW: Self-Harm, Mental Health, Death of Parent/Sick Parent
April 30, 2026
This is the authors debut full length novel in queer romance.
I think it was written in a very sweet way. There are a few plot twists but has a very cute happy ending which I know would be perfect for certain readers.
I enjoyed the story very much and found it incredibly cute!
If cute, queer love stories are your thing, this book is definitely for you!
I think it was written in a very sweet way. There are a few plot twists but has a very cute happy ending which I know would be perfect for certain readers.
I enjoyed the story very much and found it incredibly cute!
If cute, queer love stories are your thing, this book is definitely for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lots of emotions, from smiling the whole first half to heartache and worry in the second half.
I absolutely adored Knitting Needles! Oscar and Aaron are such a wonderful couple, and very sweet people on their own as well. I seriously couldn't get enough of them. While they're going through some struggles, throughout the whole book, they communicate and support each other, even when there's hiccups along the way. Plus, the trans rep? Absolutely delicious! Their actions, and a lot of the time, Oscar's thoughts and worries, could've been plucked right from my mind, and it feels like that's true for a lot of trans people - once more, the perfect rep, not just throughout the steamy scenes.
I also deeply loved the friends' group (including grandma!) for the constant support and love. Having both local and long-distance friends is yet another realistic rendition of life, especially for younger, queer people.
I'm excited to read more from Ezra Wren - sign me up for anything they write!
I absolutely adored Knitting Needles! Oscar and Aaron are such a wonderful couple, and very sweet people on their own as well. I seriously couldn't get enough of them. While they're going through some struggles, throughout the whole book, they communicate and support each other, even when there's hiccups along the way. Plus, the trans rep? Absolutely delicious! Their actions, and a lot of the time, Oscar's thoughts and worries, could've been plucked right from my mind, and it feels like that's true for a lot of trans people - once more, the perfect rep, not just throughout the steamy scenes.
I also deeply loved the friends' group (including grandma!) for the constant support and love. Having both local and long-distance friends is yet another realistic rendition of life, especially for younger, queer people.
I'm excited to read more from Ezra Wren - sign me up for anything they write!
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