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I Was a Teenage Death God
Seventeen-year-old Charlie can’t touch anyone without stealing bits of their life away, which would be enough of a curse without Lou—a ghost—forcing them to steal that life for her own use.
Lou has kept Charlie in line for years by threatening to take life directly from their twin sister, Sam. But when Lou goes after their friend and secret crush Ravi, Charlie refuses, and Lou makes good on her threat.
As Sam’s health rapidly declines, Ravi discovers that Charlie may not be the only person born with their unusual power. The trio embark on a weekend road trip to meet a pair of self-proclaimed “Death Gods” who may be the key to saving Sam and understanding Charlie’s abilities . . . . But with all roads leading back to Lou, Charlie is forced to face a dark legacy—one that calls their humanity into question.
Lou has kept Charlie in line for years by threatening to take life directly from their twin sister, Sam. But when Lou goes after their friend and secret crush Ravi, Charlie refuses, and Lou makes good on her threat.
As Sam’s health rapidly declines, Ravi discovers that Charlie may not be the only person born with their unusual power. The trio embark on a weekend road trip to meet a pair of self-proclaimed “Death Gods” who may be the key to saving Sam and understanding Charlie’s abilities . . . . But with all roads leading back to Lou, Charlie is forced to face a dark legacy—one that calls their humanity into question.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2026
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3378 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.2/5!
This felt so different and unique! The seeing ghosts thing has been done a lot obviously, but this book brought a lot of fresh and new elements to the table: stealing moments of life from people when they are touched, ghost trying to go after people through the MC, etc.
If you are looking for a fun read that is VERY queer and trans friendly, I think you will really like this one. There is lovely romance, lots of longing, and other characters that you will absolutely despise, which I think all books need, honestly!
There were plenty of twists and turns and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Page Street YA and Netgalley for the early copy!
This felt so different and unique! The seeing ghosts thing has been done a lot obviously, but this book brought a lot of fresh and new elements to the table: stealing moments of life from people when they are touched, ghost trying to go after people through the MC, etc.
If you are looking for a fun read that is VERY queer and trans friendly, I think you will really like this one. There is lovely romance, lots of longing, and other characters that you will absolutely despise, which I think all books need, honestly!
There were plenty of twists and turns and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Page Street YA and Netgalley for the early copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So many twists and turns in this one, but such an engaging story. At times I was as confused as Charlie with some of the terminology that was being thrown around towards the end but I really liked where the story ended up. Feels like there’s still a lot of lore to unpack, perhaps room for a sequel?
The way the transness of Charlie and Ravi was handled was really sweet and I loved them both having that understanding of each other that other people may not automatically have. Watching their relationship struggle and grow was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times.
I did feel that Sam didn’t get quite as much development as I hoped considering she was one of the main characters, she would often get bulldozed a bit by Charlie and Ravi. I wish we got a little more from her.
Overall this is a fantastic book that I will definitely be recommending and you should preorder it! now!
Thank you Page Street and NetGalley for the ARC
The way the transness of Charlie and Ravi was handled was really sweet and I loved them both having that understanding of each other that other people may not automatically have. Watching their relationship struggle and grow was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times.
I did feel that Sam didn’t get quite as much development as I hoped considering she was one of the main characters, she would often get bulldozed a bit by Charlie and Ravi. I wish we got a little more from her.
Overall this is a fantastic book that I will definitely be recommending and you should preorder it! now!
Thank you Page Street and NetGalley for the ARC
December 7, 2025
You all NEED to pick this up when it comes out.
You will not guess a single plot twist. The longing and tension between the two love interests will have you squealing and kicking your feet. The representation? YES. The hate you'll feel for certain characters? Palpable.
Pick. This. Up! You will not regret it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC! This E-ARC was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
You will not guess a single plot twist. The longing and tension between the two love interests will have you squealing and kicking your feet. The representation? YES. The hate you'll feel for certain characters? Palpable.
Pick. This. Up! You will not regret it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC! This E-ARC was sent to me in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hmm, I don't know guys. This just didn't land for me and I feel like I still have a lot of questions.
High school is hard enough even if you aren't being constantly bullied by a ghost to drain the life-force of your classmates and especially your best friend. Unfortunately, Charlie cannot touch anyone without stealing seconds off their life, a secret they keep from everyone including the aforementioned best friend and crush, Ravi, and their twin sister, Sam. When Lou, the ever-present spirit, becomes increasingly erratic and Charlie refuses to do as she asks, Charlie ends up on a journey to discover the source of their power and find a way to live when they're surrounded by death.
There's nothing wildly wrong or bad about this book, but it just didn't really hit the mark for me in any area, so I'm rating mostly based on my enjoyment as well as the plot holes/loose threads which I'll get to in a minute. The writing was alright, pretty standard for younger YA although I was hoping this would be upper YA based on the premise so it does lean a little juvenile. I didn't have an issue with the romance either, it was fine but I wasn't really engaging by it and didn't find myself rooting for Charlie and Ravi as a couple. I think that was a result of the characters generally feeling a little flat. Sam in particular despite being one of the main characters doesn't have a sense of agency. At points I outright disliked Charlie, but at best I was ambivalent. Ravi seems fine and at least feels like he has both a personality and agency, but there are some aspects of him (in particular, the large number of relationships he's had) that don't cohere super well with what we know about him. Honestly, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about Jessie and Jill at all, and maybe Lou to a lesser extent. They're very unpleasant on page but I feel like narratively I'm supposed to be on their side. The plot again feels a little YA/middle-grade, in that it involves going from one place to the next with a vague goal and not a lot of tangible character motivation or conflict behind it. Most of the review also mention being shocked by the twist, and to be frank if they're talking about what I think they are, I guessed it about 20% of the way into the book.
I mentioned plot holes and loose threads, so here is a list of questions and things I was confused on (be aware, this is spoiler territory!):
Believe it or not, that is not a fully extensive list. I didn't keep notes of all the questions I had, these are only the ones occurring to me as I write this review. Some of these are probably on me just not catching some detail, but at least half of them are just unanswered questions or plot holes.
Again, I don't think this is a bad book but it was in some ways not to my taste and in other ways I think just poorly constructed. If you like younger YA and don't really care about the details, it's still kind of an interesting premise so maybe give it a shot, but I can't recommend it.
Thank you to M. J. Beasi and Page Street YA for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
High school is hard enough even if you aren't being constantly bullied by a ghost to drain the life-force of your classmates and especially your best friend. Unfortunately, Charlie cannot touch anyone without stealing seconds off their life, a secret they keep from everyone including the aforementioned best friend and crush, Ravi, and their twin sister, Sam. When Lou, the ever-present spirit, becomes increasingly erratic and Charlie refuses to do as she asks, Charlie ends up on a journey to discover the source of their power and find a way to live when they're surrounded by death.
There's nothing wildly wrong or bad about this book, but it just didn't really hit the mark for me in any area, so I'm rating mostly based on my enjoyment as well as the plot holes/loose threads which I'll get to in a minute. The writing was alright, pretty standard for younger YA although I was hoping this would be upper YA based on the premise so it does lean a little juvenile. I didn't have an issue with the romance either, it was fine but I wasn't really engaging by it and didn't find myself rooting for Charlie and Ravi as a couple. I think that was a result of the characters generally feeling a little flat. Sam in particular despite being one of the main characters doesn't have a sense of agency. At points I outright disliked Charlie, but at best I was ambivalent. Ravi seems fine and at least feels like he has both a personality and agency, but there are some aspects of him (in particular, the large number of relationships he's had) that don't cohere super well with what we know about him. Honestly, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about Jessie and Jill at all, and maybe Lou to a lesser extent. They're very unpleasant on page but I feel like narratively I'm supposed to be on their side. The plot again feels a little YA/middle-grade, in that it involves going from one place to the next with a vague goal and not a lot of tangible character motivation or conflict behind it. Most of the review also mention being shocked by the twist, and to be frank if they're talking about what I think they are, I guessed it about 20% of the way into the book.
I mentioned plot holes and loose threads, so here is a list of questions and things I was confused on (be aware, this is spoiler territory!):
Believe it or not, that is not a fully extensive list. I didn't keep notes of all the questions I had, these are only the ones occurring to me as I write this review. Some of these are probably on me just not catching some detail, but at least half of them are just unanswered questions or plot holes.
Again, I don't think this is a bad book but it was in some ways not to my taste and in other ways I think just poorly constructed. If you like younger YA and don't really care about the details, it's still kind of an interesting premise so maybe give it a shot, but I can't recommend it.
Thank you to M. J. Beasi and Page Street YA for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
February 18, 2026
Actual rating: 3.5 stars ✨
This is a difficult one to rate because I LOVED it in the beginning. And then I didn’t like it very much? But I still kinda did?
What I liked:
- The first 30% of the book
- Queer rep. It was included and talked about without any fanfare; it was just a normal part of these characters’ lives and that was that. Refreshing to read about queer MCs whose queer journeys AREN’T the center of the plot.
- Writing and pacing. Well written, dialogue that flowed and made me laugh, and a plot that didn’t drag or rush.
- Twin lore though generations
- Death god lore. The whole Shepherd and Wolf mechanics were super unique and interesting.
- Charlie. They were relatable and funny and sometimes exasperating but in a good way.
- I truly couldn’t guess what was gonna happen next or where the story was going so it kept me reading faster than I normally would.
What I didn’t like:
- The remaining 70% of the book, with occasional decent parts.
- JILL AND JESSIE. I’m so sorry but making them part of the plot and our MCs journey was a horrible idea because these two blabbermouth bitches were fucking insufferable. Also kinda useless because how are you going to berate and mock Charlie ENDLESSLY about not knowing how the Shepherd/Wolf dynamic works WHEN THEY CONTINUOUSLY REFUSED TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING AT ALL TO CHARLIE AND SAM??????? To get info out of them was like pulling teeth and then they both acted like assholes to Charlie every single time they had dialogue. Like actually every single time. Insufferable, thy name is DaRosa.
- Ravi and Charlie’s romance. Half the time, I was like okay they’re cute. But then the other half I was annoyed. Ravi actually started to get on my nerves because it felt like he was just making up shit for why Charlie was so reluctant to establish a romantic relationship….but then somehow making himself the victim when Charlie kept trying to TELL HIM WHY it wouldn’t work. Like Charlie’s fears were 100% reasonable, so why did Ravi act like accidentally having his life drained out of him while making out or simply holding hands with Charlie wasn’t a real concern?????
- No one really addressing the fact that Eleanor was right in saying the Wolf’s life fucking SUCKS ASS?? Charlie can’t ever casually touch people. They are responsible for keeping their Wolf alive. They have to be the one to do the work to feed their ghosts. They basically might have to fucking kill themselves in the event Sam dies before them….or else they’ll go insane???? Also they somehow have to be okay with the fact that their own mother feels absolutely nothing but complete contempt for them and honestly, truly wishes they were dead. Uh. And Charlie’s just supposed to be like well ok then 🤷🏻♀️ I feel like the story did not reassure me that Charlie was mentally stable in the end because they actually seemed to be in a really bad place after learning their life is meaningless. The story kinda bypasses providing any of those reassurances…..
- Lou. Just didn’t sit right with me that we were obviously supposed to feel empathetic for her when no actually she was a real shitty person too??? Like sure, she did indeed have a really tragic life story and everything, but we’re supposed to forgive the way she tormented Charlie from age four to seventeen????? Just like with Jessie and Jill, I’m very much not about rooting for Lou or any of these awful people when they don’t deserve it.
This is a difficult one to rate because I LOVED it in the beginning. And then I didn’t like it very much? But I still kinda did?
What I liked:
- The first 30% of the book
- Queer rep. It was included and talked about without any fanfare; it was just a normal part of these characters’ lives and that was that. Refreshing to read about queer MCs whose queer journeys AREN’T the center of the plot.
- Writing and pacing. Well written, dialogue that flowed and made me laugh, and a plot that didn’t drag or rush.
- Twin lore though generations
- Death god lore. The whole Shepherd and Wolf mechanics were super unique and interesting.
- Charlie. They were relatable and funny and sometimes exasperating but in a good way.
- I truly couldn’t guess what was gonna happen next or where the story was going so it kept me reading faster than I normally would.
What I didn’t like:
- The remaining 70% of the book, with occasional decent parts.
- JILL AND JESSIE. I’m so sorry but making them part of the plot and our MCs journey was a horrible idea because these two blabbermouth bitches were fucking insufferable. Also kinda useless because how are you going to berate and mock Charlie ENDLESSLY about not knowing how the Shepherd/Wolf dynamic works WHEN THEY CONTINUOUSLY REFUSED TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING AT ALL TO CHARLIE AND SAM??????? To get info out of them was like pulling teeth and then they both acted like assholes to Charlie every single time they had dialogue. Like actually every single time. Insufferable, thy name is DaRosa.
- Ravi and Charlie’s romance. Half the time, I was like okay they’re cute. But then the other half I was annoyed. Ravi actually started to get on my nerves because it felt like he was just making up shit for why Charlie was so reluctant to establish a romantic relationship….but then somehow making himself the victim when Charlie kept trying to TELL HIM WHY it wouldn’t work. Like Charlie’s fears were 100% reasonable, so why did Ravi act like accidentally having his life drained out of him while making out or simply holding hands with Charlie wasn’t a real concern?????
- No one really addressing the fact that Eleanor was right in saying the Wolf’s life fucking SUCKS ASS?? Charlie can’t ever casually touch people. They are responsible for keeping their Wolf alive. They have to be the one to do the work to feed their ghosts. They basically might have to fucking kill themselves in the event Sam dies before them….or else they’ll go insane???? Also they somehow have to be okay with the fact that their own mother feels absolutely nothing but complete contempt for them and honestly, truly wishes they were dead. Uh. And Charlie’s just supposed to be like well ok then 🤷🏻♀️ I feel like the story did not reassure me that Charlie was mentally stable in the end because they actually seemed to be in a really bad place after learning their life is meaningless. The story kinda bypasses providing any of those reassurances…..
- Lou. Just didn’t sit right with me that we were obviously supposed to feel empathetic for her when no actually she was a real shitty person too??? Like sure, she did indeed have a really tragic life story and everything, but we’re supposed to forgive the way she tormented Charlie from age four to seventeen????? Just like with Jessie and Jill, I’m very much not about rooting for Lou or any of these awful people when they don’t deserve it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2026
Representation: LGBTQIA+, transmasc main characters x 2
This contemporary fantasy follows Charlie, a teen who has spent most of their life dealing with a very inconvenient supernatural problem: every touch steals a little bit of someone’s lifespan. That ability would already be difficult enough to navigate in everyday life, but Charlie also has a pushy ghost constantly demanding that stolen time for her own mysterious purposes. When things escalate and the people Charlie cares about are put in danger, they set off on a road trip in search of answers, only to discover that their strange ability might be part of something much bigger than they ever imagined.
One of the things that immediately charmed me about this book is that the author consulted H. E. Edgmon while writing it (see author's note at the end). If you’re familiar with Edgmon’s work, you’ll recognize the vaguely similar premise of teenagers dealing with godlike death powers, but the vibe here is very different. Where Edgmon’s stories tend to lean darker and heavier, this one feels a lot more campy and playful while still exploring some pretty dark concepts. It’s still a darker story in a lot of ways, but the tone keeps it from ever feeling bleak.
Charlie and Ravi’s relationship has this really sweet tension because Charlie’s powers make physical contact dangerous. It immediately reminded me of Rogue from Marvel; that same mix of longing and restraint. There’s something nostalgic for me about that kind of dynamic (I loved the X-men comics as a kid), and it adds to the emotional layer to an already sweet romance arc.
This book absolutely kept me on my toes. There are a lot of twists and turns that genuinely surprised me, and I appreciated that the story wasn’t afraid to keep expanding the scope of its mystery. What starts as a fairly personal problem for Charlie slowly grows into something much, MUCH larger, and the reveals along the way kept the momentum going.
I also really loved the representation. The strong LGBTQ+ presence (especially the trans representation) feels woven naturally into the story. At its heart, this still very much reads like a coming-of-age story, just one that happens to involve ghosts, strange powers, and some pretty big questions about identity and life. By the end of the book it honestly feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of how this world works, which makes me very curious to see where the next installment goes. I do wish Sam had been developed a bit more. As Charlie’s twin, they’re obviously an important presence in the story, but there were moments where I wanted just a little more depth to their arc. Perhaps we'll get more in the next.
Overall, this was a really fun and surprisingly twisty start to a duology. It balances humor, heart, and darker themes in a way that feels accessible while still tackling some big ideas. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the next book expands this strange, fascinating world.
Thanks so much to Page Street YA, the author, and Toppling Stacks Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This contemporary fantasy follows Charlie, a teen who has spent most of their life dealing with a very inconvenient supernatural problem: every touch steals a little bit of someone’s lifespan. That ability would already be difficult enough to navigate in everyday life, but Charlie also has a pushy ghost constantly demanding that stolen time for her own mysterious purposes. When things escalate and the people Charlie cares about are put in danger, they set off on a road trip in search of answers, only to discover that their strange ability might be part of something much bigger than they ever imagined.
One of the things that immediately charmed me about this book is that the author consulted H. E. Edgmon while writing it (see author's note at the end). If you’re familiar with Edgmon’s work, you’ll recognize the vaguely similar premise of teenagers dealing with godlike death powers, but the vibe here is very different. Where Edgmon’s stories tend to lean darker and heavier, this one feels a lot more campy and playful while still exploring some pretty dark concepts. It’s still a darker story in a lot of ways, but the tone keeps it from ever feeling bleak.
Charlie and Ravi’s relationship has this really sweet tension because Charlie’s powers make physical contact dangerous. It immediately reminded me of Rogue from Marvel; that same mix of longing and restraint. There’s something nostalgic for me about that kind of dynamic (I loved the X-men comics as a kid), and it adds to the emotional layer to an already sweet romance arc.
This book absolutely kept me on my toes. There are a lot of twists and turns that genuinely surprised me, and I appreciated that the story wasn’t afraid to keep expanding the scope of its mystery. What starts as a fairly personal problem for Charlie slowly grows into something much, MUCH larger, and the reveals along the way kept the momentum going.
I also really loved the representation. The strong LGBTQ+ presence (especially the trans representation) feels woven naturally into the story. At its heart, this still very much reads like a coming-of-age story, just one that happens to involve ghosts, strange powers, and some pretty big questions about identity and life. By the end of the book it honestly feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of how this world works, which makes me very curious to see where the next installment goes. I do wish Sam had been developed a bit more. As Charlie’s twin, they’re obviously an important presence in the story, but there were moments where I wanted just a little more depth to their arc. Perhaps we'll get more in the next.
Overall, this was a really fun and surprisingly twisty start to a duology. It balances humor, heart, and darker themes in a way that feels accessible while still tackling some big ideas. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the next book expands this strange, fascinating world.
Thanks so much to Page Street YA, the author, and Toppling Stacks Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
I Was a Teenage Death God by M.J. Beasi is an original and promising Young Adult fantasy that offers a compelling premise and genuinely refreshing LGBTQIA+ (trans & non-binary) representation, but whose execution ultimately falls short of its potential.
The story centres on seventeen-year-old Charlie, who possesses the curse-like ability to drain life energy from others with a single touch, a power exploited by a companion ghost named Lou. When Lou threatens Charlie’s twin sister, Sam, and their crush, Ravi, the trio embarks on a high-stakes road trip to find the self-proclaimed "Death Gods" who might hold the key to saving Sam and understanding Charlie's dark legacy.
The brightest aspect of the book is its core concept, a person who can steal life energy and interact with ghosts, and the realistic representation of non-binary and trans characters, whose identities are woven into the story naturally, without defining their entire personality. I also enjoyed the cute, though sometimes misplaced, romantic elements between Charlie and Ravi. Their romantic dynamic was a great opportunity to add an in-depth comment on ace-spec relationships, but the author completely missed it. However, the execution struggled to match the strength of the concept, with the uneven pacing; some scenes felt rushed and underdeveloped, while others dragged for too long, and the significant amount of build-up that never fully paid off, leaving a sour aftertaste to the reader.
Furthermore, the story sometimes reads as a younger Young Adult or even Middle Grade novel, instead of a standard YA when tackling darker, more complex themes. In addition, the majority of the characters, especially Sam and Ravi, felt two-dimensional compared to the well-rounded protagonist, Charlie and despite their critical to the story. The other twins, Jill and Jessie, served their purpose as the unlikable antagonists, but besides some bits of crucial information, they offered nothing else to the story. Also, the plot twists of the book are easily predicted if you pay close attention to the details, making it feel a bit anticlimactic, while the too many plot holes (like the easily-solved glove issue, the mention of the name Angeli) and unanswered questions regarding the twin powers' dynamic and their world, leave the reader unsatisfied.
Overall, I Was a Teenage Death God is a unique and promising debut that readers in the YA target group will likely enjoy for its representation and imaginative core, but I wish the final execution had delivered more depth to fully live up to its ambitious start.
Many thanks to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
The story centres on seventeen-year-old Charlie, who possesses the curse-like ability to drain life energy from others with a single touch, a power exploited by a companion ghost named Lou. When Lou threatens Charlie’s twin sister, Sam, and their crush, Ravi, the trio embarks on a high-stakes road trip to find the self-proclaimed "Death Gods" who might hold the key to saving Sam and understanding Charlie's dark legacy.
The brightest aspect of the book is its core concept, a person who can steal life energy and interact with ghosts, and the realistic representation of non-binary and trans characters, whose identities are woven into the story naturally, without defining their entire personality. I also enjoyed the cute, though sometimes misplaced, romantic elements between Charlie and Ravi. Their romantic dynamic was a great opportunity to add an in-depth comment on ace-spec relationships, but the author completely missed it. However, the execution struggled to match the strength of the concept, with the uneven pacing; some scenes felt rushed and underdeveloped, while others dragged for too long, and the significant amount of build-up that never fully paid off, leaving a sour aftertaste to the reader.
Furthermore, the story sometimes reads as a younger Young Adult or even Middle Grade novel, instead of a standard YA when tackling darker, more complex themes. In addition, the majority of the characters, especially Sam and Ravi, felt two-dimensional compared to the well-rounded protagonist, Charlie and despite their critical to the story. The other twins, Jill and Jessie, served their purpose as the unlikable antagonists, but besides some bits of crucial information, they offered nothing else to the story. Also, the plot twists of the book are easily predicted if you pay close attention to the details, making it feel a bit anticlimactic, while the too many plot holes (like the easily-solved glove issue, the mention of the name Angeli) and unanswered questions regarding the twin powers' dynamic and their world, leave the reader unsatisfied.
Overall, I Was a Teenage Death God is a unique and promising debut that readers in the YA target group will likely enjoy for its representation and imaginative core, but I wish the final execution had delivered more depth to fully live up to its ambitious start.
Many thanks to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours for the ARC of I Was a Teenage Death God by M.J. Beasi. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I Was a Teenage Death God is a solid YA read with strong LGBTQ+ and trans representation and a premise that puts a fresh spin on the classic “I see ghosts” type of story.
The story follows Charlie, who has the unfortunate ability to drain life from anyone they touch. That would already be enough to deal with, but the ghost Lou has been forcing Charlie to steal life for her own purposes for years. When Charlie finally refuses, especially when Lou targets someone they care about, the consequences are devastating, and the story quickly spirals into a journey filled with strange revelations, possible answers, and honestly even more questions.
This book definitely leans toward the lower end of YA rather than upper YA, but it’s very readable and engaging. I moved through it quickly, and the constant twists kept me turning the pages. There were moments where the plot became a little confusing because the story shifts direction so often, but most of the time those turns were surprising in a good way.
I enjoyed the cast of characters overall. Charlie is an interesting main character, although there are moments where their lack of agency makes it a bit harder to fully root for them. Ravi was a highlight for me, and I really enjoyed the romance between Ravi and Charlie. Lou is a particularly complicated character whose role in Charlie’s life adds a lot of tension, and Sam (along with side characters like Jesse and Jill) help to round out the story.
The representation stood out to me as thoughtful and meaningful without feeling forced. It’s very present in the story, but it’s woven naturally into the characters and their relationships.
What I appreciated most was how unpredictable the story felt. Every time I thought I understood where things were going, something shifted or twisted again. At times, I even felt like I was experiencing the confusion alongside Charlie, which made the reading experience surprisingly immersive.
Overall, this was a good read with a really cool central concept and plenty of room left for the story to expand in future books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was a teenage death god ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
[ARC]
This book had so many twists and turns, and somehow still managed to stay incredibly engaging. I flew through it in a few days because every time I thought I understood what was going on, something shifted again. Toward the end I was honestly just as confused as Charlie with some of the terminology being thrown around, but in a way that made sense for the story. And I really liked where it ended up. It definitely feels like there’s more lore to unpack, so yes, I would absolutely read a sequel
One of my favourite parts was how the transness of Charlie and Ravi was handled
It felt soft, natural and genuinely sweet.
There’s this quiet understanding between them that other people don’t automatically have and watching their relationship struggle, grow and deepen was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. The longing and tension? Very real!! I was kicking my feet more than once
That said, I did wish Sam had gotten a bit more development. Considering she’s one of the main characters, she sometimes felt overshadowed by Charlie and Ravi and I would’ve loved to see more of her inner world.
The writing pulled me in from the first page, the premise was thought-provoking and the characters felt real and layered. The LGBTQIA+ representation is a huge highlight : meaningful, visible and well done. Also: the rage you’ll feel toward certain characters? It’ll be Extremely justified.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and an easy 4⭐️ for me. I’ll definitely be recommending it, and yes, you should preorder it. You won’t guess the twists and you won’t regret picking it up.
Thank you to Page Street and NetGalley for the ARC 🤍
[ARC]
This book had so many twists and turns, and somehow still managed to stay incredibly engaging. I flew through it in a few days because every time I thought I understood what was going on, something shifted again. Toward the end I was honestly just as confused as Charlie with some of the terminology being thrown around, but in a way that made sense for the story. And I really liked where it ended up. It definitely feels like there’s more lore to unpack, so yes, I would absolutely read a sequel
One of my favourite parts was how the transness of Charlie and Ravi was handled
It felt soft, natural and genuinely sweet.
There’s this quiet understanding between them that other people don’t automatically have and watching their relationship struggle, grow and deepen was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. The longing and tension? Very real!! I was kicking my feet more than once
That said, I did wish Sam had gotten a bit more development. Considering she’s one of the main characters, she sometimes felt overshadowed by Charlie and Ravi and I would’ve loved to see more of her inner world.
The writing pulled me in from the first page, the premise was thought-provoking and the characters felt real and layered. The LGBTQIA+ representation is a huge highlight : meaningful, visible and well done. Also: the rage you’ll feel toward certain characters? It’ll be Extremely justified.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and an easy 4⭐️ for me. I’ll definitely be recommending it, and yes, you should preorder it. You won’t guess the twists and you won’t regret picking it up.
Thank you to Page Street and NetGalley for the ARC 🤍
February 2, 2026
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!
This book was unfortunately a letdown for me. The concept was very cool, yet I found the overall result dull. Each time I thought the plot was progressing to something new and exciting, it was just nothing.
Simply put, it felt like a lot of build-up for little execution.
Each character was interesting, yet I felt the attention was spread too evenly. I wanted my depth from Charlie, especially when it came to their relationships. Yes we know they love their sister and Ravi, but at times I couldn’t differentiate their love.
It felt like the characters were just constantly moving from location to location with no concerns for time or money or getting back to reality. And the twins felt so flat.
Loved the sprinkled in queer aspects, but they were just that. They didn’t add much to the narrative or came out at random points. Especially the queer aspect of sharing life/physical touch (which could be such an in depth comment on ace-spec relationships.
Overall rating: mid and forgettable :(
This book was unfortunately a letdown for me. The concept was very cool, yet I found the overall result dull. Each time I thought the plot was progressing to something new and exciting, it was just nothing.
Simply put, it felt like a lot of build-up for little execution.
Each character was interesting, yet I felt the attention was spread too evenly. I wanted my depth from Charlie, especially when it came to their relationships. Yes we know they love their sister and Ravi, but at times I couldn’t differentiate their love.
It felt like the characters were just constantly moving from location to location with no concerns for time or money or getting back to reality. And the twins felt so flat.
Loved the sprinkled in queer aspects, but they were just that. They didn’t add much to the narrative or came out at random points. Especially the queer aspect of sharing life/physical touch (which could be such an in depth comment on ace-spec relationships.
Overall rating: mid and forgettable :(
March 18, 2026
This book is full of really fresh ideas that I loved. The story centers on Charlie, a non-binary teen who attends an art-centric high school. They have a secret that nobody, not even their sister or best friend, can ever know. So of course the secret comes out - Charlie can’t touch anyone because when they do, they steal bits of peoples lives.
The chain of events that this secret unleashes spurs the action in the rest of the book and you are in for a wild ride so hang on. Secrets are revealed, buried family histories come to light, and ghosts can lead the way.
What a delightful adventure these students lead us on!
The chain of events that this secret unleashes spurs the action in the rest of the book and you are in for a wild ride so hang on. Secrets are revealed, buried family histories come to light, and ghosts can lead the way.
What a delightful adventure these students lead us on!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Got an arc from the publisher!
So I know how long this author has been trying to get this book out into the world, and I’m so happy to see it come to fruition! It’s fun, a little bit Pushing Daisies for a YA crowd, and a whole lot of gender feelings going on. I am confident this will have an audience of weird trans kids (affectionate) who will eat this up, and that’s who it’s written for so that’s what counts. Some inconsistencies with the tone and pacing at times but it’s a debut and a labor of love at that, so I cannot wait to see what else Beasi has in store!
So I know how long this author has been trying to get this book out into the world, and I’m so happy to see it come to fruition! It’s fun, a little bit Pushing Daisies for a YA crowd, and a whole lot of gender feelings going on. I am confident this will have an audience of weird trans kids (affectionate) who will eat this up, and that’s who it’s written for so that’s what counts. Some inconsistencies with the tone and pacing at times but it’s a debut and a labor of love at that, so I cannot wait to see what else Beasi has in store!
March 1, 2026
This was such a fun twist ya novel! I loved the transgender representation we get in this book with both MCs being trans! I also enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this book, it was interesting seeing this MCs powers unfold.
If you are looking for a book with a coming of age story, a twisty mystery and angsty romance you’re going to enjoy I Was a Teenage Death God.
If you are looking for a book with a coming of age story, a twisty mystery and angsty romance you’re going to enjoy I Was a Teenage Death God.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was Teenage Death God has snark, action, family, betrayals, secret crushes, and lots and lots of ghosts. The characters are great and make you want to root for them (even the “bad” ones). I had a great time and I can’t wait for the second book in this duology to come out.
“Thank you, Page Street YA, for providing this book for review consideration via Toppling Stacks Tours and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
“Thank you, Page Street YA, for providing this book for review consideration via Toppling Stacks Tours and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Darkly funny, heartfelt, and haunting, “I Was a Teenage Death God” is a coming-of-age story with cosmic consequences. This novel grabs you by the soul and refuses to let go, proving that death has never been so funny — or so human!
May 8, 2025
Y'all are not ready for this book. Seriously. It's incredible.
May 8, 2025
So. Damn. Good.
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