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Look Past

Eric Devine (Goodreads Author)

3.67 · Rating details · 213 ratings · 56 reviews

Someone brutally murdered Mary Mathison, daughter of a prominent and very conservative local pastor. Whoever it was is now taunting Avery, a transgender boy, with disturbing messages, claiming that Mary’s murder was revenge for her relationship with Avery. The killer’s demands are simple and horrific: Avery must repent for changing his gender identity, or he will be the ne ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published October 4th 2016 by Running Press Kids

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Lists with This Book

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New YA Releases October 2016

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Average rating 3.67 ·

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· 213 ratings · 56 reviews

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Sep 24, 2016 karen rated it liked it

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, from-publisher-or-author, bossy-book-titles

wow, that was fast - we went from having very few books about transgender teens available on the market to having a bunch all at once, and we've already reached the point where we can have a book with a trans protagonist where the main focus of the book is not on his trans status, but on the murder of a girl he once loved.

even more important is the fact that he's pretty unlikeable. it's a big "win" for representation when the "outsider" character is not some saint written to make bigots sympathe ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Chiara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, lgbtqia-trans, lgbtqia, e-arcs

A copy of this novel was provided by Running Press for review via Net Galley.

Disclaimer: I’m cis, and the main character in this book is trans. I encourage you to find reviews from trans readers in addition to reading my review of this title.

I have … complicated thoughts on Look Past. On the one hand, the fact that it’s a queer mystery/thriller YA is incredibly exciting. On the other, I wasn’t the biggest fan of quite a few aspects – some of which were just passing things, and some of which were ...more

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May 02, 2016 Laura Hernandez (TheVoluptuousBkDiva/YABkDivas) rated it really liked it

This read had me feeling a range of emotions; from heartache to anger to pride. Avery was born in the wrong body and has always identified as a male. That in itself is already hard to deal with as people and his peers are constantly giving him grief and calling him all sorts of things from freak to queer but now he also has to deal with an unforeseen tragedy that has everyone reeling.

This author's gripping tale of lost love, tragedy, bigotry and acceptance captured me from the very beginning wit ...more

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Mar 30, 2017 Trisha rated it really liked it

"There's a difference between tolerance and acceptance. "

This is a 3 star mystery wrapped in a well-done portrayal of a transgender kid in high school. This book gets an extra star just for doing such a good job of encompassing the awful side of high school.

I love that Avery is a fiery, fierce, reckless kid. That the murder fills him with horror and fear of the but the texts make him want to protect and provoke everyone. I hate what he goes through, I hate how much it broke my heart but I love ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 - ̗̀ jess ̖́- rated it really liked it

Shelves: standalones, contemporary, diverse-books, thriller, young-adult

So a disclaimer before I start this review: I am not trans, so please take my opinions on this book with a grain of salt. I don't know if trans reviewers have reviewed this, but definitely check out their opinions over mine.

I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think So a disclaimer before I start this review: I am not trans, so please take my opinions on this book with a grain of salt. I don't know if trans reviewers have reviewed this, but definitely check out their opinions over mine.

I do think this book was quite good, though. While Avery being trans was undoubtedly a large part of the story, the whole plot could have been done with another issue in place. Because this isn't a book about being trans. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, and I think it was written rather well. I was on the edge of my seat reading and after reading this and Gone Girl, I really want to pick up more thrillers. Because this was tense and so atmospheric - it had the small, suffocating town feeling and as the novel went on and the stakes got higher it really felt like the entire town was closing in on Avery and his family.

Another positive: Avery's character. His voice was incredibly well-written and unique. He was also very fleshed out. Avery's incredibly caring towards a select amount of close family and friends. He wants to protect them. He has a lot of anger and he can be violent at times, even to the people he cares about - it's understandable, though, because Avery gets a lot of shit thrown at him both before and during the events of the story. Another thing I appreciated: he's not a saint or a mouthpiece for trans people and this book isn't didactic at all, which is a nice change from "issue novels" about trans teenagers. Avery's written on the antihero side of main characters.

I feel like Devine did his research with trans teenage boys, because I don't think that he used harmful language. Avery is comfortable and supported in his transition by his family and friends, and he's as comfortable with himself as he can be. The one part I feel that Devine could have done without that might be uncomfortable is (view spoiler)

All in all: quite good and made me excited about thrillers. ...more

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Apr 16, 2016 Max rated it it was amazing

Shelves: i-reviewed, read-as-an-arc, read-in-a-day, lgbtqia

This is a really, really, really good book. Like, guys you don't even know exactly how good this book is until you finish it and you just have to sit and stare at a wall for a few minutes to let everything digest. This book is essentially a sucker punch of emotions from heartbreak to anger to loss to fear. I'm seriously impressed with Look Past and I'm pretty sure I don't posses the language skills to fully express my love of this book.

I think what everyone should know before getting into this b This is a really, really, really good book. Like, guys you don't even know exactly how good this book is until you finish it and you just have to sit and stare at a wall for a few minutes to let everything digest. This book is essentially a sucker punch of emotions from heartbreak to anger to loss to fear. I'm seriously impressed with Look Past and I'm pretty sure I don't posses the language skills to fully express my love of this book.

I think what everyone should know before getting into this book is that this isn't an easy book to read. This is some dark, messed up shit and, for me, I thought it was great. This is just the kind of book that's right up my alley. There are graphic depictions of mutilation that are defiantly unsettling, but for me the most disturbing thing in this book is all the hate. So many people just hated Avery because he's transgender, and Devine makes a point in explaining that it's not just religious people who hate it, it's regular people who hate because of hate and I think that's absolutely terrifying.

I also think Devin did an excellent job at crafting an environment that wasn't overtly terrifying. Avery lived in a world where people not only didn't understand what he is, but couldn't, or wouldn't, allow themselves to understand it. Devine managed to craft the cliched transphobic religious nuts into a group of people who were not only genuinely terrifying, but sad as well. These people in Devine's book could look past Avery's tansgendered-ness to see anything else. They were so blinded by what they believed, they couldn't see how much he truly loved Mary or she loved him.

Avery's narration was great. He's voice was one of the best things about this book along with him inner dialogue. He felt for Mary, he grieved for her and you could feel how much her death affected him. He loved her and Devine managed to build there relationship into something so sweet and caring, it made me tear up.

Guy, you need to read this book. It's violent and hopeful and just so, so good. I'm not kidding. Read it. ...more

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Sep 26, 2016 La La rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: diverse-or-issue-related, review-arcs-netgalley, on-my-kindle

2.5 on the blog.

I loved Devine's book Press Play. I believe I gave it 5 stars. Therefore, I was ready for this story to hit it out of the ballpark, too, and the first half of the book was doing just that.

At 49% the ineptness of the police was ridiculous. People with no law enforcement training would have done a better job. Plus a lot of improbable events and situations started happening at the MC's home and school. The author also had a disconnect when it came to Protestant religion. He had them ...more

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Aug 23, 2019 Lee rated it liked it

Did not like this as much as many of my friends. I think I had a bit of problem with intended audience. It is listed as young adult, but was a bit gruesome, plus the message needs to be addressed to older adults, most teens already accept transgender people

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Aug 25, 2019 Donna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-bitten, contemporary, issues, young-adult, thriller

This was another surprise book that snuck up on me. Another in the pile of me trying to find comp titles for my own book for query (this one wasn’t a fit), I started reading it and wasn’t that into it, but eventually I found myself devouring it. The voice was less of a draw than what was actually going on in the plot and it was the plot that really kept driving me forward. I wanted to know what happened.

I think LOOK PAST might be the first book I’ve read from a transgendered individual’s POV and This was another surprise book that snuck up on me. Another in the pile of me trying to find comp titles for my own book for query (this one wasn’t a fit), I started reading it and wasn’t that into it, but eventually I found myself devouring it. The voice was less of a draw than what was actually going on in the plot and it was the plot that really kept driving me forward. I wanted to know what happened.

I think LOOK PAST might be the first book I’ve read from a transgendered individual’s POV and it definitely provides a different perspective on life, that’s for sure. Not being well-versed in this area, I can’t tell you how authentic the voice is, or how authentic it is against someone who’s writing #ownvoices, which this book is not. It felt authentic. I felt Avery’s emotions and how he struggled, how something as seemingly small as his uncle calling him his nephew is so big to him. I just didn’t quite grasp why putting on a dress was so monumentally triggering for him, and that’s on me. It didn’t take me out of the story at all, but I kept searching for reasons within the text to help me understand why this was such an issue. I think it has to do with the heinous amount of pressure that’s put on Avery to be “normal” and to be a girl when he’s not. He’s doing everything in his power to take control of his identity and move it away from what everyone else wants him to be. He gets support in all the right places, but there’s a far greater lack of it outside of that close circle. So to effectively undo the strides he’s taken to claim his true identity, to succumb to the will of an irate mob that wants him to fit into a particular mold and will still think him a freak anyway, to force him to be truly uncomfortable in his skin and in his life, that makes sense to me as to why the simple act of putting on a dress wasn’t so simple.

I can see how some people would read this book and think it’s too extreme or that things like this don’t happen, but it felt painfully realistic to me and it feels like sects of these non-denominational bible churches keep growing (or I’m more aware of them because they’re not that common in New England but they are everywhere else). They’re more concerned with being CHRISTIAN than being Christ-like and the extent they’ll go to force their will on others is abhorrent. Not to mention the statistics on violence against transgendered people, especially transgendered people of color, simply for being who they are. LOOK PAST did not feel so fictionalized as to be completely out of reach. Unfortunately it felt all too real and I think that’s one of the reasons why this book really hit home for me. This is a ripped from the headlines type of book.

The ending both provided a lot of closure and had me going meh. I think the book needed the type of ending it provided just to provide some light at the end of the tunnel. Otherwise it would have been dark as hell. Although, I’m more inclined to think that, in reality, it would not have ended the way it did. Don’t get me wrong, death can open people’s eyes. But it can also shut them tighter too.

Overall LOOK PAST is a good, engaging read. It was hard to put down and I basically swallowed it in maybe three days. A compelling thriller and a brutal, gut-wrenching look into the life of someone I don’t think enough of us get exposure to.

4.5 ...more

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Jun 06, 2016 Kiersten rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lgbt, 2016-read

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

It's tough finding books about transgender or LBGT kids that isn't focused entirely on their gender identity or sexual orientation. That is most likely because it is hard to find a good balance of plot and plot device. We are so much more than our private parts and who we love, so much more than what is most important to those who can't see past us. What I probably enjoyed most was that the whole of this plot focused on the ...more

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Oct 03, 2018 Alice Lemon rated it it was ok

Shelves: topic-wgs-trans, category-fiction, topic-fic-ya

I feel a bit bad for not liking this book: I think the author did legitimately try. And, for a cis author, he did a pretty good job of presenting some of what it's like to be trans. That's not my issue with the book.

My issue with the book, honestly, is that it just isn't very good. It is at best a mediocre young adult novel, one that is written from the point of view that good writing isn't important to kids. The characters are flat, and the plot...just doesn't seem at all realistic. The murdere ...more

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Jul 23, 2016 Amber Garabrandt rated it really liked it

I want to thank Netgalley and Running Press. I fear I lost the email for this one and don't know if I am supposed to wait on the review. If I step on any toes doing it now I am sorry and will be more careful in the future. I will start by saving the instructions that come with my link!

That said, let's get started. Mary, a beloved daughter of the town reverend and friend to all, has been missing for a week. No one knows anything and it is eating the town alive. Things like this, they just don't I want to thank Netgalley and Running Press. I fear I lost the email for this one and don't know if I am supposed to wait on the review. If I step on any toes doing it now I am sorry and will be more careful in the future. I will start by saving the instructions that come with my link!

That said, let's get started. Mary, a beloved daughter of the town reverend and friend to all, has been missing for a week. No one knows anything and it is eating the town alive. Things like this, they just don't happen here- especially not to good Christians. Avery and his girlfriend Beth have joined a search of the woods with his best friend Charlie. Before we go any further there is something you should know. Avery is transgender-meaning he was born a girl, but connects with the world as a man- this is how I see Avery and how I will be doing this review.

Now, Avery and Mary have a past. She was the first to be nice to him and accept him. She loved him, and he loved her back. Loosing Mary hurts deeply, especially since his family and two friends are now the only ones that understand him and accept him for how he is.

When they find Mary, she is dead and has been mutilated. Eyes, ears and lips are gone and there is a bible passage in her mouth about sinners repenting. That same night an unknown number texts Avery, tormenting and threatening him that he will be next. As evidence keeps being brought to the reverend's doorstep (literally), Avery is getting more and more threats from this unknown person. Repent or you are next. This murderer sees Avery as an abomination and affront to God. Become as God made "her" and she may be spared. The demands are ridiculous and sometimes juvenile. Dress like a girl for school, pray for forgiveness. As Avery and his uncle Tom (a cop) puts the clues together along with his friends he has to decide how far he can go to bring the killer out, what he can endure.

This book was seriously twisted to me. I loved the characters- Charlie and Beth especially. Knowing a transgender individual and knowing what he had to endure in his life, I know it isn't easy. There will always be those that do not understand. Those that cannot accept. Those that hate. I did, though, take issue that it seemed in this book to be the entire church community. It casts the religious people in this book in a very unflattering light that, while true for some, is not the norm. I felt like they typecast the church goers a bit, and Avery really. He is strong, opinionated and doesn't always think his actions through; but he has a large heart. Sadly there is also a large chip on those shoulders. Even with these issues, though, I still loved the book and highly recommend it- just be ready for the stereotypes. Four Stars

As far as the Adult Content Scale goes, there is a lot of language, violence and bigotry that may be hard for a younger reader to handle.... I mean, it was seriously hard for me to handle at times and I am an adult. I would recommend it for teens, but only if the parent understands the topics and approves. The hate is hard to stomach.
...more

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May 14, 2016 Alicia rated it liked it

Shelves: action, male, religion, family, glbt, mystery-thriller

Switching it up and adding more mystery, Devine packs a thriller with contemporary topics like religion and beliefs alongside living transgender in a community that isn't accepting. Avery has received numerous threats during his transition, yet there have been constants with some of his friends. These relationships sustain him, yet it's rocked to the core when at the start, they are searching the woods around their community for one of Avery's friends, Mary. Soon readers learn that Mary's body h ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 Alana rated it did not like it

Shelves: jri, 2017-reads, rainbow

This book could be used in a class to teach how a book can be bad without being noticeably bad. The characters are flatter than boards and act and react due to plotonium, not themselves. We are told Charlie is "odd" over and over again, but I could not give one example of it. Not one. Avery makes incredibly bad decisions while also lauding characters for saying vague things like they were deep. Ughhh. Meanwhile, what denomination are the churchgoers? They have a Reverend, but kneel during servic ...more

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Apr 14, 2016 Elizabeth marked it as to-read

On the one hand I am always "!!!!" about LGBTQ+ genre fiction but on the other hand this could end up being so horrible and trope-y so... yeah. :/ I'll just have to wait and see, I guess. ...more

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Nov 11, 2016 Rachel Kass rated it really liked it

Please see full review at: http://basicbookblog.com/look-past-by...

This book tells the difficult story of love, loss, grief, and the trauma of being sought out by a deranged killer. ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Mark Syron rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbt-fiction

Avey is trans and that the reason why he is being targeted through the murder of someone he loved, Mary Matthison, is for the reason he needs to repent from his transgender condition. He needs to live as a girl again to prevent any more harm. It's graphic, gripping, and leaves you guessing to see which religious nut has committed the ultimate sin: murder (but do the flock think that's the case?)

What I liked about the book is that the main focus wasn't completely on the fact that Avery is trans. ...more

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May 26, 2020 Sherry rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 11, 2018 Jennifer rated it it was ok

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Sep 23, 2019 Tracie Gutknecht rated it it was ok

Shelves: owned

General Fiction - Mystery

I just did not like this book.

Avery is a transitioning teen. Her first love is killed and there are indications that she/he may be next if he doesn't see the error of his ways and repent - meaning start acting like a girl, dressing like a girl, etc. Avery's uncle is the lead officer on the case and she and her friend Charlie take forensics, which is the reason they think they should be allowed to be involved in the case. This made me feel like I was reading a Nancy Drew ...more

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Mar 19, 2018 Jadyn Heinz rated it liked it

Look Past by Eric Devine is about a girl named Mary, who was murdered. Her friend Avery is devastated and he is determined to find out who her killer is. Because Avery is transgender, the murderer comes after Avery and starts to threaten him. The murdered also threatens Avery’s friends and family. Because of that he is not allowed to see his friends anymore, to keep them safe, which makes it a lot harder for Avery to get through everything and keep motivation to find who killed Mary. His life is ...more

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May 24, 2017 Christina rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016, netgalley, suspense-thriller

This book is about Avery, a transgender boy that is singled out for his choices. Mary, the murdered girl that Avery had a relationship with, was the daughter of a pastor. The killer wants Avery to repent for his change in gender and threatens his life. Avery is tasked with being true to himself or denying who he is to avoid threats from the killer. Avery realized early on in life that he was a boy and was supported by his family in his choices regarding his gender. Everyone is not on Avery’s sid ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Haley rated it really liked it

This book was so much better than I thought it was going to be. I was reading it because of the mystery aspect but this book is so much more than that. It deals with religion, gender, sexuality, and mystery. I never thought I would enjoy a book like this but I thoroughly did. It was well written and just shows the great lengths people will go to for love. No matter what peoples gender, sexuality, or religion is the most important thing is LOVE, and this book is all about it.

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May 19, 2017 Audrey rated it it was ok

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

I don't know... this one had potential and it started off with a really interesting premise but it just all went downhill. Felt too dramatic and not real enough, and all of the characters were just miserable and awful to read about.

I wanted to like this more, but I just didn't. ...more

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Apr 12, 2021 Rachel Ste.Croix rated it it was amazing

This book was a great quick read. Detailed murderous bits, and constant changes that left me on the edge of my seat. It honestly was a book that was hard to put down.
This book was full of emotion. It dove into the world of a trans teen without making it about their transition and focusing on the murder mystery which I loved.

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Jul 05, 2018 Rob rated it did not like it

I picked this up not knowing the main character was trans. This book went against everything I believe morally and ethically, also it bashes religion and conservative values. I find it strange and disturbing that a "straight" man felt compelled to write this. ...more

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Mar 31, 2019 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-highly-recommend

This book held my attention so much that I didn't want to put it down. I would read it whenever I had spare time. If you like murder mysteries, this is a great book to read. If you have a great dislike to transgenders, it may not be for you. Great book and easy to follow the storyline!! ...more

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Apr 19, 2019 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, fdr

Avery is a transgender boy whose close friend, Mary, has been murdered. Avery and his girlfriend try to uncover the details of the crime and become ensnared in solving it. Stiff dialogue and overwrought emotions give this a forced feel. Teenagers don't talk like this. ...more

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Nov 20, 2019 Diya rated it it was amazing

The narration of the beginning was a a bit confusing because we didn't get to know who the character was or anything for a few pages, but once it got cleared up, the book got sooo good. Full of suspense and well written. ...more

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