What do you think?
Rate this book
Knitting Needles
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.
316 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2026
About the author
Ezra Wren
5 books21 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 10, 2026
I received a free copy of this book from the author. My review is honest and my own opinion.
This was a very cute, almost cozy book to read. I liked both main characters and I felt that their story was a good one.
I also felt that about 15% of the book was pointless. The middle half of the book had no drive or purpose, so it was hard to push through and finish it.
Overall, I thought it was good. We need more trans books, and this is a good addition.
This was a very cute, almost cozy book to read. I liked both main characters and I felt that their story was a good one.
I also felt that about 15% of the book was pointless. The middle half of the book had no drive or purpose, so it was hard to push through and finish it.
Overall, I thought it was good. We need more trans books, and this is a good addition.
June 1, 2026
✨ ARC review ✨
🧶 Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren 🧶
“For the first time in his life, Oscar believed that people could be happy. That Oscar could be.”
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! what a perfect way to kick off Pride month 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
this T4T book is absolutely perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth. between the cookies, gummies, pancakes, and sweet kisses, you will more than get your fill 🤍 Knitting Needles also has a super cozy vibe mixed in with moments that had me ugly laughing 🤣 AND i loved that the epilogue was a lil comic!! ahhh so cute
the book begins with the prologue, ‘Sewing Scissors’, and at the end, Oscar meets Aaron in a gender clinic, both about to undergo top surgery. they talk a bit and one of them agrees to leave their number with the receptionist for the other, but this part gets a bit mixed up, resulting in some miscommunication 😓 don’t worry though, it doesn’t take TOO long before they find each other again 🤭
the family issues portrayed in this book are so real, and while it broke my heart, im glad that Oscar and Aaron had each other (and their found family!) to help get through some things.
while Oscar and Aaron are our cinnamon roll MC’s, i absolutely adored the side characters too!! special shout out to Luigi hehe 🐈⬛🤍 and Papa of course, he definitely would’ve approved 🥹
all in all this was an amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!!
‼️ please check content warnings before reading‼️
some tidbits:
🧶 T4T 🏳️⚧️
🧶 amazing friend group!!
🧶 hurt/comfort, healing ❤️🩹
🧶 Oscar being unserious (sooo relatable)
🧶 sweet intimate moments 🤍
🧶 mental health rep
🧶 SCHITTS CREEK MENTIONED 🤩
🧶 Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren 🧶
“For the first time in his life, Oscar believed that people could be happy. That Oscar could be.”
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! what a perfect way to kick off Pride month 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
this T4T book is absolutely perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth. between the cookies, gummies, pancakes, and sweet kisses, you will more than get your fill 🤍 Knitting Needles also has a super cozy vibe mixed in with moments that had me ugly laughing 🤣 AND i loved that the epilogue was a lil comic!! ahhh so cute
the book begins with the prologue, ‘Sewing Scissors’, and at the end, Oscar meets Aaron in a gender clinic, both about to undergo top surgery. they talk a bit and one of them agrees to leave their number with the receptionist for the other, but this part gets a bit mixed up, resulting in some miscommunication 😓 don’t worry though, it doesn’t take TOO long before they find each other again 🤭
the family issues portrayed in this book are so real, and while it broke my heart, im glad that Oscar and Aaron had each other (and their found family!) to help get through some things.
while Oscar and Aaron are our cinnamon roll MC’s, i absolutely adored the side characters too!! special shout out to Luigi hehe 🐈⬛🤍 and Papa of course, he definitely would’ve approved 🥹
all in all this was an amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!!
‼️ please check content warnings before reading‼️
some tidbits:
🧶 T4T 🏳️⚧️
🧶 amazing friend group!!
🧶 hurt/comfort, healing ❤️🩹
🧶 Oscar being unserious (sooo relatable)
🧶 sweet intimate moments 🤍
🧶 mental health rep
🧶 SCHITTS CREEK MENTIONED 🤩
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.
June 25, 2026
3 Stars ⭐️
Thank you to the author for this ARC! 🤍
Oscar and Aaron were adorably awkward main characters. This story contained absolutely beautiful representation in a variety of different ways, and it's so important to have it out there! It made me emotional to the point where I even cried at one point. In my own way, I related to having family members who are unsupportive of the LGBTQ community. It hit close to home at times.
What led to the slightly lower rating was that the timeline felt sort of jumpy at times, which made the plot feel sort of all over the place. Yes, this was a fast-paced novel, but it made comprehension a tad difficult at times. Also, I feel like Oscar and Aaron had more they needed to properly work through before committing how they did. 🤷♀️ Overall, I may just be knit picking this though, lol. I did enjoy it, and I would recommend it!
Thank you to the author for this ARC! 🤍
Oscar and Aaron were adorably awkward main characters. This story contained absolutely beautiful representation in a variety of different ways, and it's so important to have it out there! It made me emotional to the point where I even cried at one point. In my own way, I related to having family members who are unsupportive of the LGBTQ community. It hit close to home at times.
What led to the slightly lower rating was that the timeline felt sort of jumpy at times, which made the plot feel sort of all over the place. Yes, this was a fast-paced novel, but it made comprehension a tad difficult at times. Also, I feel like Oscar and Aaron had more they needed to properly work through before committing how they did. 🤷♀️ Overall, I may just be knit picking this though, lol. I did enjoy it, and I would recommend it!
August 11, 2026
this immediately made it's way on my list of my favourite books of all time.
it's such an adorable and sweet love story that also deals with some heavy topics.
the quotes in this are soo beautiful.
i ordered this from the authors website as a signed copy with stickers and artprints and bookmarks. i turned it into my new favourite spread into my reading journal immediately after finishing the book.
i will think about this book for a long time and can't wait to reread it one day after i have my top surgery.
it's such an adorable and sweet love story that also deals with some heavy topics.
the quotes in this are soo beautiful.
i ordered this from the authors website as a signed copy with stickers and artprints and bookmarks. i turned it into my new favourite spread into my reading journal immediately after finishing the book.
i will think about this book for a long time and can't wait to reread it one day after i have my top surgery.
June 10, 2026
Emotional and Heartwarming
This was such a emotional book. It had me tearing up a few times and smiling even more. To me this was a beautiful story and fantastic trans representation. Thank you for writing this.
This was such a emotional book. It had me tearing up a few times and smiling even more. To me this was a beautiful story and fantastic trans representation. Thank you for writing this.
June 14, 2026
This book is pretty much perfect. It has all the elements of a good, cozy romance; cinnamon roll MCs, found family, tears. But it does such a wonderful job of showing that even though there is darkness in the world, you can find joy with the people you choose to love.
June 1, 2026
(5 stars, but infinite stars in my heart)
ARC copy received in exchange for an honest review, as a member of the author's Street Team (which doesn't sway my rating in any way, I promise — I am nothing but an honest man first and foremost.)
Peak book. Peak trans joy. Peak angst. Peak romance. Peak balance of everything for everyone to enjoy. Cozy stuff isn't generally my jam, nor heavily romance focused books, but reading "Knitting Needles" felt like being given a nice blanket to warm myself with during a chilly night. "Strawberries in the spring, slush in the summer, hot chocolate in the autumn." (if you know, you KNOW.)
"To kiss him was to live, and Oscar felt immortal."
It's the sort of book one may not realise they need until they dive into it, and I got invested into these characters and their story from the very first pages. Said investment dragged me through a roller-coaster of feelings that occasionally made me forget I was reading a fictional story instead of existing in the same universe as Oscar and Aaron. Ezra Wren's prose tends to do that — it's so immersive that it pulls you into the book's universe and doesn't let go, with a mix of poetry, irony, and catharsis that I found extremely compelling, yet grounded at the same time (I have so many highlighted quotes that my e-reader would side-eye me and shake its head if it could).
"Aaron laughed like the shape of the word home, the sound rising and falling and rounding. Warm."
Both leads are fleshed out, with their joys and their pains and their conflicts (the good, the bad, and the ugly, so to speak), so their connection blossoms in such a sweet, yet realistic way. Oscar has officially joined my collection of favourite protagonists and "literally me" characters: I won't get into detail here, but reading about him felt like looking in a mirror more often than I'd like to admit. But I'm not ashamed — he's transition goals and, dare I say, absolutely hilarious.
"But if he didn’t joke about it, Oscar would explode, because it wasn’t fair he’d had to pay so much and hurt so much and hate himself so much to finally be the person that he was."
Other than that, the side cast is diverse and fun as well (a motley crew if you know what I mean) AND, if all I've mentioned until now hasn't convinced you yet, there's a cat too! If you're a cat lover (which I most definitely am), I can assure you this book will be even more fun due to Luigi's presence (trans flag knitted hat for the cat!!!).
"Aaron tilted his head back, eyeing him, but Oscar gestured for him to watch TV, so Aaron lay down on his side, still covered by the blanket, the kebab foil wrap scrunched up on the coffee table, his chilled soda empty. Luigi snuggled by his side, head resting on his shoulder while he purred. And Oscar knew this was the true meaning of family. Of home. Of love."
On an ending note, I want to mention that, as a trans man currently in the throes of the process of transitioning medically, "Knitting Needles" felt like hope. Like a reminder of not being alone in this world. Like being seen, being heard, being understood, being allowed to envision a bright future, despite all the obstacles in the way. This is why queer books are so important: these characters matter, these stories matter, WE matter. We deserve to be ourselves and love and be loved for it, and in such uncertain times, this is a crucial reminder.
"May we be seen, may we be loved, may we be honored."
P.S. You know a book is going to be a special experience when the dedication page already makes your heart swell.
ARC copy received in exchange for an honest review, as a member of the author's Street Team (which doesn't sway my rating in any way, I promise — I am nothing but an honest man first and foremost.)
Peak book. Peak trans joy. Peak angst. Peak romance. Peak balance of everything for everyone to enjoy. Cozy stuff isn't generally my jam, nor heavily romance focused books, but reading "Knitting Needles" felt like being given a nice blanket to warm myself with during a chilly night. "Strawberries in the spring, slush in the summer, hot chocolate in the autumn." (if you know, you KNOW.)
"To kiss him was to live, and Oscar felt immortal."
It's the sort of book one may not realise they need until they dive into it, and I got invested into these characters and their story from the very first pages. Said investment dragged me through a roller-coaster of feelings that occasionally made me forget I was reading a fictional story instead of existing in the same universe as Oscar and Aaron. Ezra Wren's prose tends to do that — it's so immersive that it pulls you into the book's universe and doesn't let go, with a mix of poetry, irony, and catharsis that I found extremely compelling, yet grounded at the same time (I have so many highlighted quotes that my e-reader would side-eye me and shake its head if it could).
"Aaron laughed like the shape of the word home, the sound rising and falling and rounding. Warm."
Both leads are fleshed out, with their joys and their pains and their conflicts (the good, the bad, and the ugly, so to speak), so their connection blossoms in such a sweet, yet realistic way. Oscar has officially joined my collection of favourite protagonists and "literally me" characters: I won't get into detail here, but reading about him felt like looking in a mirror more often than I'd like to admit. But I'm not ashamed — he's transition goals and, dare I say, absolutely hilarious.
"But if he didn’t joke about it, Oscar would explode, because it wasn’t fair he’d had to pay so much and hurt so much and hate himself so much to finally be the person that he was."
Other than that, the side cast is diverse and fun as well (a motley crew if you know what I mean) AND, if all I've mentioned until now hasn't convinced you yet, there's a cat too! If you're a cat lover (which I most definitely am), I can assure you this book will be even more fun due to Luigi's presence (trans flag knitted hat for the cat!!!).
"Aaron tilted his head back, eyeing him, but Oscar gestured for him to watch TV, so Aaron lay down on his side, still covered by the blanket, the kebab foil wrap scrunched up on the coffee table, his chilled soda empty. Luigi snuggled by his side, head resting on his shoulder while he purred. And Oscar knew this was the true meaning of family. Of home. Of love."
On an ending note, I want to mention that, as a trans man currently in the throes of the process of transitioning medically, "Knitting Needles" felt like hope. Like a reminder of not being alone in this world. Like being seen, being heard, being understood, being allowed to envision a bright future, despite all the obstacles in the way. This is why queer books are so important: these characters matter, these stories matter, WE matter. We deserve to be ourselves and love and be loved for it, and in such uncertain times, this is a crucial reminder.
"May we be seen, may we be loved, may we be honored."
P.S. You know a book is going to be a special experience when the dedication page already makes your heart swell.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Life had grown increasingly sweet and not only because of the insane amount of candy and sugar Oscar consumed whenever he spent time with Aaron and his friends.”
I was honored to be chosen as an ARC reader. It was such a perfect and wholesome story. It was like a warm cup of cocoa. I do like to read romance, it’s one of my main genres. But I’m not one to read books with sex scenes so I was skeptical. I never EVER read books with spice. It’s not my thing, I’m VERY asexual 😂 But this book was intriguing so I thought what the hell. I loved the representation, I loved the relationship, I loved the whole thing.
“A moment later they were kissing again. And for all the moments after that.”
Their relationship is such a wholesome mess. I adore every inch of it. They fit with each other like they’re the first two pieces of a puzzle and you’ve been trying to find those pieces for two hours. It’s adorable. Like I said before I don’t read books with smut. It was hard for me to read those scene but that’s purely because of MY mindset. These aren’t pointless scenes. They add to the plot, they add to the relationship, and they add to the characters. That’s why I like it. It’s not icky, it’s sweet. They are sweet.
“I’m glad now that I could be with him, that he was looking at me when he went.”
“Mom was always the brightest person in every room. Sunflowers. She was a sunflower. ”
I know grief. I’ve felt it for a very long time after losing my Mamma. My grandma. Best person in the universe and I miss her dearly. I see her in everything and she’s with me all the time. Reading my feelings on other peoples pages made me feel very seen. Along with that, other people deal with feelings differently, and it’s wonderful to see the differences in these two characters. Their grief is very similar but so very different and I love seeing that portrayed on the page.
Overall, it was a wonderful book by an amazing author. I would 100% recommend. The only reason its gets a 4/5 is cause of how long it took me to get into. But that is just me lol. It was such a great book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Trigger warnings for Knitting Needles include: sex & physical intimacy; language (cursing); dead & sick parents; estranged family members. There's also discussions around gender dysphoria, mental health, suicidal ideation & self harm; transphobia, body shaming, dementia, discussions around financial difficulties; alcohol consumption, and bodily fluids (vomit, urine, and blood).
☆
☆
"He was bad at voice calls. Not just awkward and floundering, but bad. The thought of someone listening to his voice without looking at his face drove him crazy, painting ugly pictures of people misgendering him, wondering whether they'd called Oscar or someone who couldn't possibly have a name like that." This was the first of many times this book said something that was just a little bit too real, a little bit too accurate to my own circumstances. I'm sure this experience isn't unique to me, or just trans people either. But this is the first time I've seen it written down so plainly.
~
I think putting my thoughts and feelings about this book into words might be a significant challenge if I'm being honest. There was so much love, and pain, and hurt contained within these pages. It was a very easy 5⭐ story, I'll say that much.
~
The friendships and relationships were so real. Obviously Oscar and Aaron, but Joe and Anna as well. And the friendships and the way they merge together so well was effortless.
~
I think I'd be remiss not to talk about the difficulties that both Oscar and Aaron experience with their families. In different ways but with the same kind of result. Oscar losing his father, and biggest supporter the way he did. And Aaron losing his mother in a different sense. With both of them having limited contact with their other parental figures, and in Aaron's situation, no contact with his siblings as well. With that history, the line "It's not up to you whether I stick around or not. I've made that choice." hit a little differently.
•
Thank you to author Ezra Wren for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
☆
☆
"He was bad at voice calls. Not just awkward and floundering, but bad. The thought of someone listening to his voice without looking at his face drove him crazy, painting ugly pictures of people misgendering him, wondering whether they'd called Oscar or someone who couldn't possibly have a name like that." This was the first of many times this book said something that was just a little bit too real, a little bit too accurate to my own circumstances. I'm sure this experience isn't unique to me, or just trans people either. But this is the first time I've seen it written down so plainly.
~
I think putting my thoughts and feelings about this book into words might be a significant challenge if I'm being honest. There was so much love, and pain, and hurt contained within these pages. It was a very easy 5⭐ story, I'll say that much.
~
The friendships and relationships were so real. Obviously Oscar and Aaron, but Joe and Anna as well. And the friendships and the way they merge together so well was effortless.
~
I think I'd be remiss not to talk about the difficulties that both Oscar and Aaron experience with their families. In different ways but with the same kind of result. Oscar losing his father, and biggest supporter the way he did. And Aaron losing his mother in a different sense. With both of them having limited contact with their other parental figures, and in Aaron's situation, no contact with his siblings as well. With that history, the line "It's not up to you whether I stick around or not. I've made that choice." hit a little differently.
•
Thank you to author Ezra Wren for sending me an ARC copy of this book.
June 2, 2026
3.75⭐️
This was a very cute but also deeply emotional and moving love story. It dealt with a lot of pretty heavy subjects (grief, transphobia, and dementia, to name a few), and while I don’t feel like I’m well versed on some of them enough to really know how good of a portrayal it was, to me it felt like the author handled them with an appropriate amount of delicacy and nuance.
Both MMCs were great, well-written characters - as was much of the supporting cast. Oscar’s struggles with anxiety were particularly relatable to me, as someone who also tends to have a lot of anxious thoughts (especially when it comes to social situations). I liked that he and Aaron (the other MMC) both were allowed to be imperfect and struggle with their respective issues, and that even though it caused conflict between them they always came back to support one another. They had great chemistry together, and the romance felt very natural (which is always my number one requirement in a contemporary romance book).
The pacing of the book felt a bit wonky at times. It took a while for the plot to feel like it was really going anywhere. It is a more character-focused book than plot-focused, but even still it seemed to drag a bit more than I would have liked in places.
The writing style was overall pretty good, though it did feel a bit repetitive at times. I think it did a good job of helping me understand how the POV MMC thought and felt about the world, but it also made it a bit harder to get to know some of the other characters or understand the story’s setting as well as I would’ve liked to.
TL;DR: A very sweet, emotional love story that tackles some hard topics. I’d definitely recommend looking up the trigger warnings before diving in. The plot was a little slow for my tastes, but the romance and happily ever after still make it worth the read imo.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required to receive the eARC, and I’m leaving mine of my own volition. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
This was a very cute but also deeply emotional and moving love story. It dealt with a lot of pretty heavy subjects (grief, transphobia, and dementia, to name a few), and while I don’t feel like I’m well versed on some of them enough to really know how good of a portrayal it was, to me it felt like the author handled them with an appropriate amount of delicacy and nuance.
Both MMCs were great, well-written characters - as was much of the supporting cast. Oscar’s struggles with anxiety were particularly relatable to me, as someone who also tends to have a lot of anxious thoughts (especially when it comes to social situations). I liked that he and Aaron (the other MMC) both were allowed to be imperfect and struggle with their respective issues, and that even though it caused conflict between them they always came back to support one another. They had great chemistry together, and the romance felt very natural (which is always my number one requirement in a contemporary romance book).
The pacing of the book felt a bit wonky at times. It took a while for the plot to feel like it was really going anywhere. It is a more character-focused book than plot-focused, but even still it seemed to drag a bit more than I would have liked in places.
The writing style was overall pretty good, though it did feel a bit repetitive at times. I think it did a good job of helping me understand how the POV MMC thought and felt about the world, but it also made it a bit harder to get to know some of the other characters or understand the story’s setting as well as I would’ve liked to.
TL;DR: A very sweet, emotional love story that tackles some hard topics. I’d definitely recommend looking up the trigger warnings before diving in. The plot was a little slow for my tastes, but the romance and happily ever after still make it worth the read imo.
Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book. No review was required to receive the eARC, and I’m leaving mine of my own volition. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.
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.
June 1, 2026
To kiss him was to live, and Oscar felt immortal.
The story of Knitting Needles is so many things. It has elements of coming of age, found family, mental health, and yearning. Yearning for connection, for family, to love and be loved.
The book is narrated by Oscar who has been shattered by the sudden death of his Papa when he was young—the only adult in his home to encourage this young trans man to follow his own path to living with authentic joy. Years later, Oscar has an open wound that hasn’t closed, searching everywhere for the love and wisdom his father gifted him with.
Then he meets Aaron in the clinic just before his top surgery appointment, and their lives are both changed forever. Aaron has his own struggles, pains, and fears too, and the two help each other both heal and find the family they’ve both been longing for. Ezra does such a beautiful job with the full cast of characters. The supporting queer family—who are both lovely, funny people I’d gladly spend a day watching movies with, but who definitely have flaws and struggles of their own—is such a boon for these two. This book absolutely highlights how amidst such pain and struggle as queer and trans people often face, we have to stick together.
This book, while full of such sweetness and gentle humor, never shies away from taking a hard, unflinching look at the hardships of life for trans people. In stark contrast to the sunshine glow of their found family, Oscar and Aaron’s lives have been full of struggle and pain, often stemming from blatant cruelty and unacceptance from the people who were supposed to love them. I absolutely adore this aspect. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I applaud Ezra for painting a portrait of life in ALL its highs and lows both.
When I hit the final chapters, I couldn’t stop crying. It was so beautiful and heartfelt and without spoiling, when I reached the words “That’s why I have arms, so I can pick you up” I was done for.
The story of Knitting Needles is so many things. It has elements of coming of age, found family, mental health, and yearning. Yearning for connection, for family, to love and be loved.
The book is narrated by Oscar who has been shattered by the sudden death of his Papa when he was young—the only adult in his home to encourage this young trans man to follow his own path to living with authentic joy. Years later, Oscar has an open wound that hasn’t closed, searching everywhere for the love and wisdom his father gifted him with.
Then he meets Aaron in the clinic just before his top surgery appointment, and their lives are both changed forever. Aaron has his own struggles, pains, and fears too, and the two help each other both heal and find the family they’ve both been longing for. Ezra does such a beautiful job with the full cast of characters. The supporting queer family—who are both lovely, funny people I’d gladly spend a day watching movies with, but who definitely have flaws and struggles of their own—is such a boon for these two. This book absolutely highlights how amidst such pain and struggle as queer and trans people often face, we have to stick together.
This book, while full of such sweetness and gentle humor, never shies away from taking a hard, unflinching look at the hardships of life for trans people. In stark contrast to the sunshine glow of their found family, Oscar and Aaron’s lives have been full of struggle and pain, often stemming from blatant cruelty and unacceptance from the people who were supposed to love them. I absolutely adore this aspect. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I applaud Ezra for painting a portrait of life in ALL its highs and lows both.
When I hit the final chapters, I couldn’t stop crying. It was so beautiful and heartfelt and without spoiling, when I reached the words “That’s why I have arms, so I can pick you up” I was done for.
June 25, 2026
Heartfelt, emotional, and so incredibly important – portrayals of trans joy are so deeply necessary in our world, and I will always recommend this book, especially to those who need a reminder that they belong and they are loved.
The theme of allowing yourself to grieve and to love, and honouring those you’ve lost by continuing to live on, is woven so beautifully through this book. Grief stays with us forever, just like the love we carry for those we’ve lost.
Wren paints such a heartrending portrayal of what it can be like growing up transgender. That, coupled with the raw display of Oscar’s grief, made for a story that is all too relatable. And in it, beneath the pain of becoming who you truly are, is an abundance of love, joy, acceptance, and humour. It’s so incredibly important to have people in your corner, because that kind of love can make a world of difference for people like Aaron and Oscar. The found family aspect of this story was really lovely, and I found myself wanting more scenes of them all together, just enjoying each other’s company.
The t4t relationship between Aaron and Oscar felt so real and so honest, a sunbeam in a grey sky. The love and care that has been put into these two characters is evident, and overflows from every page. Trans love and trans joy are needed right now, so their soft, sweet relationship was such a refreshing read that I think many romance readers will appreciate.
All that said, I really enjoyed the prose. Wren has a way of describing emotion in such a vibrant way, and making even what many would view as mundane seem wondrous. (The definition of ‘if they write it, I’ll read it.)
Though heart wrenching at times, Knitting Needles is a joyous and romantic read about not only the love story between two men, but of living through grief, learning to be true to yourself, cherishing your time with the people you love, and overcoming trauma.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The theme of allowing yourself to grieve and to love, and honouring those you’ve lost by continuing to live on, is woven so beautifully through this book. Grief stays with us forever, just like the love we carry for those we’ve lost.
Wren paints such a heartrending portrayal of what it can be like growing up transgender. That, coupled with the raw display of Oscar’s grief, made for a story that is all too relatable. And in it, beneath the pain of becoming who you truly are, is an abundance of love, joy, acceptance, and humour. It’s so incredibly important to have people in your corner, because that kind of love can make a world of difference for people like Aaron and Oscar. The found family aspect of this story was really lovely, and I found myself wanting more scenes of them all together, just enjoying each other’s company.
The t4t relationship between Aaron and Oscar felt so real and so honest, a sunbeam in a grey sky. The love and care that has been put into these two characters is evident, and overflows from every page. Trans love and trans joy are needed right now, so their soft, sweet relationship was such a refreshing read that I think many romance readers will appreciate.
All that said, I really enjoyed the prose. Wren has a way of describing emotion in such a vibrant way, and making even what many would view as mundane seem wondrous. (The definition of ‘if they write it, I’ll read it.)
Though heart wrenching at times, Knitting Needles is a joyous and romantic read about not only the love story between two men, but of living through grief, learning to be true to yourself, cherishing your time with the people you love, and overcoming trauma.
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2026
In Knitting Needles we follow Oscars and Aarons journey. They meet in a gender clinic on a special day for both of them because they are about to get top surgery. They immediately click and feel a connection between them. Because of that they want to stay in touch after their appointments but it takes them a little while to connect again but the chemistry is still there and as intense as that day in the clinic. What follows is a beautiful and tender lovestory. But also a story about finding your group of people when truly being yourself for the first time, learning to navigate life with all its ups and downs and figuring out what you actually want to do with your life and what is important.
This story isn't always an easy one and there are triggers for sure so make sure to read the content warnings before actually diving into this gorgeous book. Both Aaron and Oscar deal with heavier topics throughout the story. Some of these topics include death of a parent, illness of a parent (dementia) and transphobia.
I loved the writing style, there were so many quotes I wanted to highlight. This one probably is my favorite:
"I have never been more desperate to live than I am now. I would steal every second left on the clock of the universe if it meant I could spend them all with you."
I loved Oscars cat Luigi and when Aaron knitted a small hat for Luigi to wear I melted a little on the inside. And I also loved the different formats in the book. For example the text messages the characters send each other via their phones are shown in actual text bubbles and I love that while reading a book. The epilogue was a very nice surprise and I don't think I ever read a book like that before. I loved this change of format and the art is stunning.
If you are looking for a tender read for this years pride month (pride is every day of the year but the release date is fitting) and look for stories to complete your tbr of the month you might want to add Knitting Needles to your list.
This story isn't always an easy one and there are triggers for sure so make sure to read the content warnings before actually diving into this gorgeous book. Both Aaron and Oscar deal with heavier topics throughout the story. Some of these topics include death of a parent, illness of a parent (dementia) and transphobia.
I loved the writing style, there were so many quotes I wanted to highlight. This one probably is my favorite:
"I have never been more desperate to live than I am now. I would steal every second left on the clock of the universe if it meant I could spend them all with you."
I loved Oscars cat Luigi and when Aaron knitted a small hat for Luigi to wear I melted a little on the inside. And I also loved the different formats in the book. For example the text messages the characters send each other via their phones are shown in actual text bubbles and I love that while reading a book. The epilogue was a very nice surprise and I don't think I ever read a book like that before. I loved this change of format and the art is stunning.
If you are looking for a tender read for this years pride month (pride is every day of the year but the release date is fitting) and look for stories to complete your tbr of the month you might want to add Knitting Needles to your list.
June 1, 2026
This book will forever be on my re-read list. I was drawn to the book because of the adorable cover (sorry ya'll first impressions do matter) and the idea of a meet cute in a top surgeon's waiting room was one I HAD to know more about.
I was met with one of the most cozy, wholesome, relatable and emotional books about t4t love I have yet to experience. I preordered it before I was even done reading it and I am so excited to have it on my shelf.
The author writes about the trans experience so well. The heartbreak of family rejection that is all too common for us balanced with the indescribable joy of found family. The torment that is body dysmorphia with the joy of finally feeling at home in one's own body and embracing and accepting yourself despite the odds.
There's also something so very special about t4t love. The understanding, the heartbreak, the commonalities and differences in experience even with identity. This book portrays it all so well. As a trans person in a t4t relationship myself I felt so seen by so much of this book.
Aaron and Oscar will forever hold a special place in my heart.
And if you need more convincing here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"Aaron laughed like the shape of the word home, the sound rising and falling and rounding. Warm."
"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 it takes all the air from my lungs."
"To kiss him was to live, and Oscar felt immortal."
"But if he didn’t joke about it, Oscar would explode, because it wasn’t fair he’d had to pay so much and hurt so much and hate himself so much to finally be the person that he was."
Thank you to the author Ezra Wren for allowing me the honor of being a part of their ARC reader team for this book.
July 15, 2026
I wanted to love this book. I really did. Two trans men fall in love, what could go wrong?
The basic storyline was okay, but it was hard to follow the timeline of the story. There was so much jumping back and forth between past and present. This book was also full of purple prose. Metaphor after metaphor and they weren’t all beautiful. I highlighted approx. 70 of them and there were plenty I didn’t highlight. For example: “The tote bag was still clutched in his grip, arms stretched out to the Aaron-less gap in front of him, frozen, Medusaed by his anxiety, which revved up in his chest like the motor engine of Grandpa’s 1992 truck on its highest gear, speeding speeding speeding with nowhere else to go, nowhere more to climb.” and “Oscar wanted to wrap him up like a burrito, to squeeze him so hard the sauce and oil dripped out and stained their world in orange.” The author also made several pop culture references but they were written in a way that expected the reader to have watched or read the referenced media.
There were some sweet moments, and certain times the metaphors *did* work in portraying their love, but the story just fell flat for me. Aaron didn’t really have a personality other than *anxious* and which is a trait he shares with Oscar, making it hard to distinguish between the two voices at times. They felt like echoes of the same person, and both seemed very immature a lot of the time. I ultimately found myself annoyed with the characters.
The basic storyline was okay, but it was hard to follow the timeline of the story. There was so much jumping back and forth between past and present. This book was also full of purple prose. Metaphor after metaphor and they weren’t all beautiful. I highlighted approx. 70 of them and there were plenty I didn’t highlight. For example: “The tote bag was still clutched in his grip, arms stretched out to the Aaron-less gap in front of him, frozen, Medusaed by his anxiety, which revved up in his chest like the motor engine of Grandpa’s 1992 truck on its highest gear, speeding speeding speeding with nowhere else to go, nowhere more to climb.” and “Oscar wanted to wrap him up like a burrito, to squeeze him so hard the sauce and oil dripped out and stained their world in orange.” The author also made several pop culture references but they were written in a way that expected the reader to have watched or read the referenced media.
There were some sweet moments, and certain times the metaphors *did* work in portraying their love, but the story just fell flat for me. Aaron didn’t really have a personality other than *anxious* and which is a trait he shares with Oscar, making it hard to distinguish between the two voices at times. They felt like echoes of the same person, and both seemed very immature a lot of the time. I ultimately found myself annoyed with the characters.
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
4.5/ 5 ✨
Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren felt like wrapping yourself in a blanket with a hot drink in hand while rain taps on the window.
It’s such a tender, deeply emotional romance between Aaron and Oscar, two trans men who first meet at a gender clinic on the day of their top surgeries, and from there the connection builds so naturally.
Coffee dates, lot of texting, quiet moments, learning each other little by little… it all felt so real and soft, like I could actually feel them slowly finding comfort in each other without even trying too hard. Nothing felt rushed or staged, just two people quietly becoming home for each other in the gentlest way.
What really stayed with me was how beautifully Ezra Wren wrote both the heavier and lighter moments. Aaron and Oscar are both carrying pain from family in very different ways, and the story handled that with so much care. Oscar grieving his father while still holding onto the love he gave him, and Aaron carrying the hurt of losing his mother. The writing was so immersive. There were so many little moments and memories described in a way that genuinely hit me in the chest. Even the intimate scenes felt emotional first. I was completely locked into this story.
This was such a comforting and heartfelt read and one I already know I’ll think about for a while. Cozy and emotional while still touching on grief, healing and recovery in such a beautiful way. If you love good T4T romance, slow burn, found family, queer joy, emotional healing, coffee dates and soft domestic vibes, definitely pick this up. Truly the kind of book that makes you want to curl up in your reading chair with a blanket and stay there for hours.
Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren felt like wrapping yourself in a blanket with a hot drink in hand while rain taps on the window.
It’s such a tender, deeply emotional romance between Aaron and Oscar, two trans men who first meet at a gender clinic on the day of their top surgeries, and from there the connection builds so naturally.
Coffee dates, lot of texting, quiet moments, learning each other little by little… it all felt so real and soft, like I could actually feel them slowly finding comfort in each other without even trying too hard. Nothing felt rushed or staged, just two people quietly becoming home for each other in the gentlest way.
What really stayed with me was how beautifully Ezra Wren wrote both the heavier and lighter moments. Aaron and Oscar are both carrying pain from family in very different ways, and the story handled that with so much care. Oscar grieving his father while still holding onto the love he gave him, and Aaron carrying the hurt of losing his mother. The writing was so immersive. There were so many little moments and memories described in a way that genuinely hit me in the chest. Even the intimate scenes felt emotional first. I was completely locked into this story.
This was such a comforting and heartfelt read and one I already know I’ll think about for a while. Cozy and emotional while still touching on grief, healing and recovery in such a beautiful way. If you love good T4T romance, slow burn, found family, queer joy, emotional healing, coffee dates and soft domestic vibes, definitely pick this up. Truly the kind of book that makes you want to curl up in your reading chair with a blanket and stay there for hours.
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
I loved this love story so much!! I received an eARC of this book from the author. These are my honest thoughts. 4.5⭐️ (slight spoilers ahead):
This book was sweet like butterflies and candy but also full of hardships and vulnerable life moments (see content warnings). The romance was full of warmth and unconditional love that melted my heart and made me so happy. The found family aspect was a joy to read. I loved Oscar’s sense of humor and found his inner monologue so relatable. Oscar’s relationship and core memories with his papa was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The prose was poetry. On multiple occasions, I found myself setting the book down and taking a moment to sit with how beautiful and poignant some of these lines were. I liked the careful balance between rose-colored moments of pure joy and love and then life coming in and testing Oscar and Aaron’s relationship. Oscar’s character development was excellent. I would have liked if some of the scenes in the latter half had lasted a little longer so I could get to know Aaron just the tiniest bit more, but that’s really minor and overall this is a new favorite of mine that I highly recommend!!💖💖
This book was sweet like butterflies and candy but also full of hardships and vulnerable life moments (see content warnings). The romance was full of warmth and unconditional love that melted my heart and made me so happy. The found family aspect was a joy to read. I loved Oscar’s sense of humor and found his inner monologue so relatable. Oscar’s relationship and core memories with his papa was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The prose was poetry. On multiple occasions, I found myself setting the book down and taking a moment to sit with how beautiful and poignant some of these lines were. I liked the careful balance between rose-colored moments of pure joy and love and then life coming in and testing Oscar and Aaron’s relationship. Oscar’s character development was excellent. I would have liked if some of the scenes in the latter half had lasted a little longer so I could get to know Aaron just the tiniest bit more, but that’s really minor and overall this is a new favorite of mine that I highly recommend!!💖💖
June 7, 2026
Oscar- just wants to be himself, goes for top surgery to become himself. Meets a man while at the clinic and they exchange numbers, but then he gets ghosted??? Oscar carries a litany of trauma regarding family and not being accepted. I have never felt more seen by trauma responses as Oscar and his many sarcastic jokes and comments.
Aaron- also got surgery done, and ghosted Oscar…..loves to knit, but why did he ghost, and is it truly acceptable? Read and you will see why Aaron vanished for so long, because even Oscar has to choose if he’s in this for the long haul.
Facing everything together is how this world should rotate. With coffee, video games and pancakes. The sheer about of boob flesh sacrifice jokes is perfectly acceptable.
I found myself swept away by the memories of my own past, which both of these young men have experienced, from dresses and fancy hair to alcoholic trauma. That is always a cathartic reminder that nothing stays the same forever.
Aaron- also got surgery done, and ghosted Oscar…..loves to knit, but why did he ghost, and is it truly acceptable? Read and you will see why Aaron vanished for so long, because even Oscar has to choose if he’s in this for the long haul.
Facing everything together is how this world should rotate. With coffee, video games and pancakes. The sheer about of boob flesh sacrifice jokes is perfectly acceptable.
I found myself swept away by the memories of my own past, which both of these young men have experienced, from dresses and fancy hair to alcoholic trauma. That is always a cathartic reminder that nothing stays the same forever.
June 25, 2026
Me ha parecido un libro muy bonito y emotivo.
La historia se centra en Oscar y Aaron, dos personajes trans que se conocen en el día de su operación (mastectomia). El interés que sienten ambos es inmediato, pero no es hasta varias semanas después que retoman el contacto. A partir de ahí, su relación es gradual y profunda. Tal vez un pelín rápida para mi gusto, todo hay que decirlo, aunque igualmente bien construida. Además, el resto de personajes que los rodean (y apoyan), aportan mucho a sus vidas.
Confieso que he derramado varias lágrimas a lo largo del libro. Porque, a pesar de que sus sentimientos se vuelven muy fuertes en poco tiempo, su relación también se siente real y honesta. Y eso, al final, te emociona con los sucesos que se van dando.
Para terminar, quiero resaltar el arte que venía junto al libro (me pillé el pack que venía en la web de le autore). El arte es PRECIOSO y la calidad del libro muy buena. Se nota que hay mucho amor puesto en esta historia.
La historia se centra en Oscar y Aaron, dos personajes trans que se conocen en el día de su operación (mastectomia). El interés que sienten ambos es inmediato, pero no es hasta varias semanas después que retoman el contacto. A partir de ahí, su relación es gradual y profunda. Tal vez un pelín rápida para mi gusto, todo hay que decirlo, aunque igualmente bien construida. Además, el resto de personajes que los rodean (y apoyan), aportan mucho a sus vidas.
Confieso que he derramado varias lágrimas a lo largo del libro. Porque, a pesar de que sus sentimientos se vuelven muy fuertes en poco tiempo, su relación también se siente real y honesta. Y eso, al final, te emociona con los sucesos que se van dando.
Para terminar, quiero resaltar el arte que venía junto al libro (me pillé el pack que venía en la web de le autore). El arte es PRECIOSO y la calidad del libro muy buena. Se nota que hay mucho amor puesto en esta historia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews