Books › Symptoms of Being Human
Symptoms of Being Human
352 pages
A tense, big-hearted exploration of identity, anxiety, and the terrifying leap from internet anonymity to real-world vulnerability.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping directly into the hyper-vigilant, racing mind of a teenager trying to navigate a world obsessed with binaries. The narrative moves at a brisk, sometimes breathless pace, driven by the ever-present hum of anxiety and the ticking clock of a threatened outing. It balances a claustrophobic, tense atmosphere with moments of profound empathy and wry humor, making the emotional stakes feel incredibly immediate. The prose is conversational and deeply internal, perfectly capturing the messy, terrifying, and ultimately beautiful process of figuring out who you are. It will deeply resonate with anyone who has ever hidden behind a screen to speak their truth, offering a vulnerable yet fiercely hopeful journey toward authentic self-acceptance.
- Mood
- tense
- empathetic
- hopeful
- claustrophobic
- Tone
- earnest
- vulnerable
- wry
- anxious
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- navigating gender identity · the weight of secrets · internet anonymity and community · living with anxiety · finding authentic connection
- The writing
- Conversational, immediate, and deeply internal, capturing the frantic, hyper-vigilant cadence of a teenager living with severe anxiety.
- The arc
- Moves from a place of isolated, anxiety-ridden concealment to a vulnerable but empowering embrace of authentic selfhood.
- Who it's for
- Readers looking for a heartfelt, character-driven exploration of gender fluidity and the terrifying thrill of being truly seen.
Content notes
- transphobia
- homophobia
- bullying
- panic attacks
- threat of outing
- assault
About the book
Riley is a gender fluid teen living with anxiety. They're at a new school just trying to fit in when they start a blog under the name Alix. They write about what their gender means to them and the blog quickly gains popularity. However, everything starts crashing down on Riley when someone starts sending them anonymous messages threatening to out their true identity.
Description from Open Library.
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