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Victory Lap
Josh doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, which is exactly why he’s taking a fifth year of high school while his girlfriend goes to university. (Well, that and the fact that his best friend basically forced him into it.) The only thing he’s sure about is the love of his life—who promptly breaks up with him.
High school senior, Kiki, quietly presented as her true gender over the summer to an audience of herself, her best friend, and her vaguely unsupportive parents. Now she has to deal with coming to her school as a new person, and when she’s partnered with Josh in Writer’s Craft, she finds herself developing maybe a little bit of an enormous crush.
Everyone just wants to make it out of high school in one piece, but Josh and Kiki’s last year might not be so simple.
Victory Lap is an own voices novel about taking the time to find yourself, even when the rest of the world screams for you to get a move on.
High school senior, Kiki, quietly presented as her true gender over the summer to an audience of herself, her best friend, and her vaguely unsupportive parents. Now she has to deal with coming to her school as a new person, and when she’s partnered with Josh in Writer’s Craft, she finds herself developing maybe a little bit of an enormous crush.
Everyone just wants to make it out of high school in one piece, but Josh and Kiki’s last year might not be so simple.
Victory Lap is an own voices novel about taking the time to find yourself, even when the rest of the world screams for you to get a move on.
- GenresYoung Adult
373 pages, Hardcover
Published December 22, 2020
1 person is currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Mielke
17 books31 followersK.A. Mielke (he/they) is the co-author of Victory Lap with Riley Alexis Wood, and the sole author of Losing Hit Points and Lonely in Happy Town (under the name Kristopher Mielke). They love drinking too much coffee, watching long video essays about philosophy and cartoons, and writing about queer heroes and hungry monsters. They live in Southern Ontario with entirely too many people and pets to list.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 11, 2021
10/10, would write this book again.
June 1, 2022
This book read like a modernized, queer-friendly version of a John Hughes film, or a Nick Hornby book. The relationships in this are messy and imperfect, but in the way that relationships are messy and imperfect. With some extra grace for each other, in the end. WHICH, speaking of the end, turned out a lot more emotionally-healthy than I was expecting for a good portion of the book. This is not a book about love conquering all, this is a book about making mistakes and then picking yourself up—with help from friends. Maybe more help than you deserve, depending on the mistakes. I'm a leeetle biased because I know Kris, but only a little because he wrote this before we met.
January 11, 2021
Co-authored by one of my Write Club friends, this novel was heart-wrenching and compelling. Sometimes I forget how good my writing friends are at writing when I'm used to reading early drafts, lol!
This is the kind of novel I wish had existed when I was a teenager. It is raw and real and doesn't pull punches. I felt a lot of kinship with Josh and Kiki. It definitely would have helped me feel less alone (and validated all my angst, lol).
Reading as an adult, it was a bit depressing being brought back into the dark side of the high school mindset. But as with all good YA, the themes of self-discovery and self-improvement and self-love are applicable to every age.
Josh's depression is very real, but his constant self-flagellation got a little overwhelming at times. Kiki's chapters balanced Josh out really well. Her perkiness and upbeat attitude make her pretty lovable even in her dark moments. I wish she had gotten one more chapter in the end to serve as an epilogue to her arc like Josh did.
One of my issues with contemporary novels is the high amount of drama packed into such a short time period. It felt a bit like Josh and Kiki were ticking off as many teen tropes as possible without the situations being as personal or unique as they could have been, and the conversations and personal insights they had sometimes came across as didactic from an adult mindset. But I think that's kind of the point of a novel like this: show all the common real life crap that happens but give readers a healthy way to interpret it from the viewpoint of someone who's made it through the worst of the darkness.
Overall, I think this novel does a great job of representing the real, raw, dark side of high school and has a fantastically written cast of diverse characters. This is a great novel to help anyone understand the trans experience better. All the LGBTQ+ elements read very honest and well-researched.
Be sure to have your comfort food/drink/place/pet/person on hand and curl up to read this novel!
This is the kind of novel I wish had existed when I was a teenager. It is raw and real and doesn't pull punches. I felt a lot of kinship with Josh and Kiki. It definitely would have helped me feel less alone (and validated all my angst, lol).
Reading as an adult, it was a bit depressing being brought back into the dark side of the high school mindset. But as with all good YA, the themes of self-discovery and self-improvement and self-love are applicable to every age.
Josh's depression is very real, but his constant self-flagellation got a little overwhelming at times. Kiki's chapters balanced Josh out really well. Her perkiness and upbeat attitude make her pretty lovable even in her dark moments. I wish she had gotten one more chapter in the end to serve as an epilogue to her arc like Josh did.
One of my issues with contemporary novels is the high amount of drama packed into such a short time period. It felt a bit like Josh and Kiki were ticking off as many teen tropes as possible without the situations being as personal or unique as they could have been, and the conversations and personal insights they had sometimes came across as didactic from an adult mindset. But I think that's kind of the point of a novel like this: show all the common real life crap that happens but give readers a healthy way to interpret it from the viewpoint of someone who's made it through the worst of the darkness.
Overall, I think this novel does a great job of representing the real, raw, dark side of high school and has a fantastically written cast of diverse characters. This is a great novel to help anyone understand the trans experience better. All the LGBTQ+ elements read very honest and well-researched.
Be sure to have your comfort food/drink/place/pet/person on hand and curl up to read this novel!
August 20, 2023
An amazing and resilient story. I'll treasure these characters and this story for years to come.
August 6, 2022
I really loved this book! It hit all the good spots, and hit me in my big ol' queer feels. I found myself genuinely laughing out loud multiple times throughout the story. I especially loved Kiki, her character was written in a way that felt like a real trans experience, it's refreshing to read a book with a trans character that doesn't feel super cliche. It's really important to have YA books like this for youth, I wish I got to read this when I was an adolescent, would have helped me a lot.
March 13, 2021
I received a free ebook copy of ‘Victory Lap’ from one of the authors in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not sure where this review is going to go, so I want to start off on the right foot by saying: I loved this book and I’m so glad I read it!
Victory Lap is a YA Contemporary novel featuring dual-protagonists Kiki and Josh. Kiki is a trans girl in her last year of high school, which also happens to be her first year “out”, and Josh is a boy taking a fifth year of high school because he doesn’t know what to do with his life.
This has got to be one of the most inclusive YA novels I’ve ever read, and it was so lovely. If you long for LGBT+ rep in your YA fiction, grab this book ASAP.
The writing flows well and yet the characters’ voices are very distinctive, which I assume is a facet of having two authors, but is very nice to see in a dual-POV novel. In fact, I would say all the characters are very distinctive and feel very real. They also feel very much like people I wish I knew (except for one….they know who they are).
The best part is, this book is so hard to put down once you pick it up! It’s so hard to find a book one just devours eagerly, but this is definitely one.
There are some difficult subjects dealt with that I should mention: There’s some crappy sex with iffy consent and references to self-harm, and obviously the inescapable homophobia and transphobia that is a sad aspect of this reality, and your average teen exposure to drugs and alcohol use. But nothing outside the norm for a YA novel.
Normally I try to end these reviews with a recommendation for who I think should read this book, but honestly in this case I just want everyone to read it. I’ve already bought my own physical copy and I can’t wait to reread this book! Seriously, even if you don’t always read YA, just go read this book.
Thanks to K.A. Mielke for reaching out and putting this excellent book on my radar!
Learn more about Victory Lap at KAMielke.com! There’s even a couple free chapters on the site to see if you like the writing! Victory Lap is available for purchase in eBook, paperback, and hardcover.
I also have a Booktube Channel and a Book Blog :)
I’m not sure where this review is going to go, so I want to start off on the right foot by saying: I loved this book and I’m so glad I read it!
Victory Lap is a YA Contemporary novel featuring dual-protagonists Kiki and Josh. Kiki is a trans girl in her last year of high school, which also happens to be her first year “out”, and Josh is a boy taking a fifth year of high school because he doesn’t know what to do with his life.
This has got to be one of the most inclusive YA novels I’ve ever read, and it was so lovely. If you long for LGBT+ rep in your YA fiction, grab this book ASAP.
The writing flows well and yet the characters’ voices are very distinctive, which I assume is a facet of having two authors, but is very nice to see in a dual-POV novel. In fact, I would say all the characters are very distinctive and feel very real. They also feel very much like people I wish I knew (except for one….they know who they are).
The best part is, this book is so hard to put down once you pick it up! It’s so hard to find a book one just devours eagerly, but this is definitely one.
There are some difficult subjects dealt with that I should mention: There’s some crappy sex with iffy consent and references to self-harm, and obviously the inescapable homophobia and transphobia that is a sad aspect of this reality, and your average teen exposure to drugs and alcohol use. But nothing outside the norm for a YA novel.
Normally I try to end these reviews with a recommendation for who I think should read this book, but honestly in this case I just want everyone to read it. I’ve already bought my own physical copy and I can’t wait to reread this book! Seriously, even if you don’t always read YA, just go read this book.
Thanks to K.A. Mielke for reaching out and putting this excellent book on my radar!
Learn more about Victory Lap at KAMielke.com! There’s even a couple free chapters on the site to see if you like the writing! Victory Lap is available for purchase in eBook, paperback, and hardcover.
I also have a Booktube Channel and a Book Blog :)
May 3, 2021
Victory Lap is a modern-day YA coming of age novel that's funny without mocking its characters and sad without being overly tragic. It shows the consequences of both the leaps that we take and the ones we don't take in our formative years, and it provides hope that you can always start over. You can read my full review here: https://laurasbooksandblogs.com/victo...
August 1, 2021
I love own voices novels as they add a layer of raw authenticity to the story, giving the characters and extra dimension which really brings them to life. In the case of Josh and Kiki, this was more than achieved and I felt connected to them in ways I rarely feel with characters in other fiction books. I'm going to struggle to let them go after having them in my life for over a month and a half (I read this book much slower than I normally would but that's made such an impact on my overall thoughts and feelings).
One thing I really love about this book was the themes. This is a YA novel that deals with stuff that young adults face. There's drugs, sex, sexual identity exploration, cheating, bullying, transphobia, fat shaming, homophobia - you name it. That might seem like an overload of themes but the fact is, it's reality, and the authors tackle each one in a real-world setting. So it might be difficult for some to accept but it's no more difficult than it would be in real life where people face the above and more on a daily basis. I appreciated how the authors didn't sugarcoat teenage life and showed us the true side of high school, relationships, experimentation, and identity. I was surprised at how much my teenage self actually related to and it was almost like I was seeing elements of my past life there in the pages. Parts may seem dramatic/overly fictionalised to evoke different emotions but I can absolutely vouch that this story could quite easily be 100% fact.
This is the first book I've read with a trans protagonist and I thought it was a refreshing perspective that explored high school in a modern-day setting. I was Kiki's biggest cheerleader from the very first page and thought she was so brave to transition while still in school, knowing that people would stare, comment, and even bully to the point where she questioned her decision just to please others. My heart genuinely ached for her and I wanted to give her that freedom to be herself, without people judging her or being absolutely ignorant to her identity. It made such an impact and for that reason, this book should be studied in schools across the world.
Not only does this book have brilliant themes, it's also written with wry humour that makes the characters even more loveable. The switching perspectives created two very unique voices which complemented one another perfectly. Overall, a brilliant YA novel that not only tells a modern-day story but also educates on the importance of being yourself, accepting others, and following your own path.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.8
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.6
Diverse themes - 4.8
Ending - 4.7
Overall - 4.7
Big thanks to K.A. Mielke for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
One thing I really love about this book was the themes. This is a YA novel that deals with stuff that young adults face. There's drugs, sex, sexual identity exploration, cheating, bullying, transphobia, fat shaming, homophobia - you name it. That might seem like an overload of themes but the fact is, it's reality, and the authors tackle each one in a real-world setting. So it might be difficult for some to accept but it's no more difficult than it would be in real life where people face the above and more on a daily basis. I appreciated how the authors didn't sugarcoat teenage life and showed us the true side of high school, relationships, experimentation, and identity. I was surprised at how much my teenage self actually related to and it was almost like I was seeing elements of my past life there in the pages. Parts may seem dramatic/overly fictionalised to evoke different emotions but I can absolutely vouch that this story could quite easily be 100% fact.
This is the first book I've read with a trans protagonist and I thought it was a refreshing perspective that explored high school in a modern-day setting. I was Kiki's biggest cheerleader from the very first page and thought she was so brave to transition while still in school, knowing that people would stare, comment, and even bully to the point where she questioned her decision just to please others. My heart genuinely ached for her and I wanted to give her that freedom to be herself, without people judging her or being absolutely ignorant to her identity. It made such an impact and for that reason, this book should be studied in schools across the world.
Not only does this book have brilliant themes, it's also written with wry humour that makes the characters even more loveable. The switching perspectives created two very unique voices which complemented one another perfectly. Overall, a brilliant YA novel that not only tells a modern-day story but also educates on the importance of being yourself, accepting others, and following your own path.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.8
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.6
Diverse themes - 4.8
Ending - 4.7
Overall - 4.7
Big thanks to K.A. Mielke for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2021
High school can be a challenging time; on the cusp of adulthood, teenagers must make important life decisions while managing the unpredictability of family, friends, and unruly hormones. Josh and Kiki are two high school students living in the small Canadian town of North Park. Taking a “victory lap,” Josh has decided to remain in high school for an extra year to determine where he wants his life to lead. Kiki, a trans girl, is in her senior year, looking forward to completing high school and leaving her small-minded home behind her. A fateful event brings these two together, igniting a story filled with heartache and hope. Complex relationships with classmates and family layer into the story, building a multifaceted framework around the two protagonists.
Told from alternating viewpoints, readers become deeply connected to both Josh and Kiki throughout the story. Their voices are unique, focusing on different aspects of the high school experience, but entwining elegantly when they come together. Several dynamic characters join Josh and Kiki, each one with their own compelling backstory and personality. Beautifully flawed, every person in this story touches readers in some way; even the unlikeable personas have an important role to play.
As a trigger warning at the beginning of the book states, this story includes profanity, sexuality, transphobic and racist remarks, and other components that may make some readers uncomfortable. Whether or not a reader’s high school experience mirrors that depicted in this story, however, readers nonetheless feel a profound connection to the characters and their individual struggles.
Powerfully written, Victory Lap portrays the gritty reality of emerging as an independent adult in a world that is not always kind. Readers will build strong relationships with the characters, holding onto them long after the final page is turned. This is a highly recommended YA novel for readers looking for a glimmer of hope in an imperfect society.
Told from alternating viewpoints, readers become deeply connected to both Josh and Kiki throughout the story. Their voices are unique, focusing on different aspects of the high school experience, but entwining elegantly when they come together. Several dynamic characters join Josh and Kiki, each one with their own compelling backstory and personality. Beautifully flawed, every person in this story touches readers in some way; even the unlikeable personas have an important role to play.
As a trigger warning at the beginning of the book states, this story includes profanity, sexuality, transphobic and racist remarks, and other components that may make some readers uncomfortable. Whether or not a reader’s high school experience mirrors that depicted in this story, however, readers nonetheless feel a profound connection to the characters and their individual struggles.
Powerfully written, Victory Lap portrays the gritty reality of emerging as an independent adult in a world that is not always kind. Readers will build strong relationships with the characters, holding onto them long after the final page is turned. This is a highly recommended YA novel for readers looking for a glimmer of hope in an imperfect society.
January 14, 2021
I don't generally prefer to read about angsty high schoolers, but this book had enough depth and solid writing to keep me engaged, especially once I got past what to me felt like a slow opening.
I liked:
- strong voice and characterization for the two POV characters.
- realistic conflict
- suspense to keep me wanting to read (after the first few chapters)
- the ending
- juxtaposition of two different high schoolers whose lives overlap at a key moment for both of them
- some great turns of phrase and metaphors, especially in the Josh chapters
I didn't like:
- most of the adults and many of the secondary characters felt a bit flat (maybe that's how the main characters experience them)
- occasional explicit moralizing, but nothing too heavy or detrimental to the plot (then again, maybe teens need things spelled out more than I do - I'm not really the target audience)
A book that every trans kid should read to find recognition and validation, or anyone who wants to understand what it might be like to be a trans girl in a Canadian high school.
Overall, Victory Lap is well worth the read. I look forward to the next book by both these authors.
I liked:
- strong voice and characterization for the two POV characters.
- realistic conflict
- suspense to keep me wanting to read (after the first few chapters)
- the ending
- juxtaposition of two different high schoolers whose lives overlap at a key moment for both of them
- some great turns of phrase and metaphors, especially in the Josh chapters
I didn't like:
- most of the adults and many of the secondary characters felt a bit flat (maybe that's how the main characters experience them)
- occasional explicit moralizing, but nothing too heavy or detrimental to the plot (then again, maybe teens need things spelled out more than I do - I'm not really the target audience)
A book that every trans kid should read to find recognition and validation, or anyone who wants to understand what it might be like to be a trans girl in a Canadian high school.
Overall, Victory Lap is well worth the read. I look forward to the next book by both these authors.
March 20, 2021
Trying to put feelings into words is always difficult but with Victory Lap it's harder.
I love Kiki, her resilience, how she knows who she is, the beautiful soul that shines from within......I also ache for her.....becoming your true self isn't easy, especially with bullies always there. The support that a "normal" girl would get from their parents is lacking on her father's side, I hate him, his outdated ideas and his constant verbal abuse.
Josh is like a lot of people....blind to the signals of interest. I feel for him as it does cause a few issues.
He also has his own identity to look into and work out what he wants from life. So on the whole I like him but he'd definitely be the mate I sigh about the most.
It hurts knowing that this brilliant piece of fiction mirrors so many people's lives. Worse that it's the young that have to behave like adults and deal with things that adults themselves seem unable to wrap their heads around.
Regardless of who you are, where your niche is READ THIS!!
I love Kiki, her resilience, how she knows who she is, the beautiful soul that shines from within......I also ache for her.....becoming your true self isn't easy, especially with bullies always there. The support that a "normal" girl would get from their parents is lacking on her father's side, I hate him, his outdated ideas and his constant verbal abuse.
Josh is like a lot of people....blind to the signals of interest. I feel for him as it does cause a few issues.
He also has his own identity to look into and work out what he wants from life. So on the whole I like him but he'd definitely be the mate I sigh about the most.
It hurts knowing that this brilliant piece of fiction mirrors so many people's lives. Worse that it's the young that have to behave like adults and deal with things that adults themselves seem unable to wrap their heads around.
Regardless of who you are, where your niche is READ THIS!!
July 23, 2025
An absolute gem of a book. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. The diverse cast of characters feels genuine and nuanced, and I found myself relating deeply to Kiki. The story of Kiki's character is an important one, especially in the politically divisive world we live in today. Self-described as a dramedy (drama-comedy), I feel this label is perfect. The tone is light-hearted and funny, but not unserious by any means. The book does include some heavy subject matter, but in a way that is perfectly appropriate for a YA audience. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a character-driven plot, excellent queer representation, and awkward teenagers.
April 1, 2021
This book was genuinely amazing. The characters felt so unbelievably real, and I ached for everything they went through. They’re just high schoolers trying to get by in their own ways and I think that really shows. The way KiKi was written was amazing, and I adore her. The ending was bittersweet but definitely left me wanting more. Overall everyone should read this book at some point in their life, 10/10.
June 30, 2024
Yay for Canadian reads! Pride parade was today. This is a book about exploration and that was good enough for me. Liked this book and its avoidance of the easy answers. Also, no one died in this story which is always a plus. It seems its ok to flail around a little bit and see where life takes you. Kids do that.
Yet, if you want to trust 'Things will get better' being proactive will get you to that better place faster.
And that is ok too.
Yet, if you want to trust 'Things will get better' being proactive will get you to that better place faster.
And that is ok too.
February 5, 2021
I read this on the day it released, and it's probably the best book I read for all of 2020. A phenomenal set characters and a story that hit a bit too close to home.
November 2, 2025
CW: Transphobia, Homophobia, Violence, Sexual Content, Mentions of Self Harm, Drug Use, Bullying
4/5 Stars
4/5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews