I’d give this ten stars if I could. A hundred stars. A million. 

I loved both of the characters with my whole heart. Matts showed up earlier in the series and was just beginning his journey of growth, and it was SO GOOD to see him continue on that journey in this book. He starts out as an imperfect ally trying his best, awkward and unsure. Watching him learn and challenge his inner beliefs and the beliefs of those around him was so rewarding, I was so proud of him. And the (probable - undiagnosed but acknowledged) autism rep was so well done. I so deeply connected to many of his lived experiences— especially the way he felt like he was missing a guidebook on social interactions that everyone else got, and how he compensates (or used to, mainly) for that by basically being a mirror for those around him.  His social struggles are a constant presence in the book, really capturing how it feels. 

And Sydney! What a wonderful pistol of a character with a soft vulnerable underbelly that she guards so carefully!! Watching her open up to Matts and slowly start to feel more and more comfortable was great. Really excellent trans rep. A great balance of trans angst and joy. 

The side characters were great too! The whole band was amazing (especially Sydney and her relationship with her brother Devo). And of course it was wonderful to see all the characters from books past!