Austin Chant

Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is.But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook--and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.

Peter Darling

Giovanni Silva

"And now what?" Peter snapped. "I lost my family. I lost James, and Tink, and Ernest, and everyone else. I don't want to be here. I don't want to be alone. What good was it to find out who I am and what I want if I had to be alone?"

Hook almost smiled. "Don't start worrying about me now, or you'll be devastated to realize how many times you've tried to kill me."

"I may have had another name once. I don't recall. Hook suits me, and I've been here long enough that before doesn't much matter. Can you imagine going back to dreariness and dread of ordinary life once you'd had the chance to make yourself anew, from scratch, the way you'd always wanted to be? Well, I suppose you have—and I used to, when I was younger. But wherever I came from, it paled in comparison to this place, so I decided to stay."

Tink said nothing, but sat there cleaning her fur. Peter had the feeling she was at a loss, and he hated it. It reminded him of something else he didn't want to remember—the feeling that the people who loved him were unable to understand him, unable to fix him, unable to help at all.

"I don't know. I don't remember. I just knew I was different somehow." Ernest's face shuttered. "I had to get away from my family. They knew something was wrong with me, and I was afraid of how they might try to fix it. In Neverland, nobody cares about that. You can be free."

Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is. But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook-and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.

Lhaís 

Lou C

I don't know if people that reviewed this book either read a different book than I did, or if this book is just meant for another audience group.

I'm going to be honest, I have very mixed feelings about this story. I think giving LGTBQ+ people recognition, someone to relate to and show the hardships Peter has to go through to get where he is now amazing, and I'm all for it. 

On the other hand, this book felt like something I have read over and over again on Wattpad or Fanfiction.net back when I was 15. The beginning draggsss on for such a short book and the ending feels too rushed to me. I did however like how familiar it felt to the original Peter Pan story and the middle part of the story in the cave was to me the best, most interesting part.

All and all, I would give this book a 2/5. I would recommend this book to mostly teens who love re-tellings of fairytale stories with hint of LGTBQ+

graves

** spoiler alert **
           **4.5 stars**

“I want a chance to adore you in the real world, whoever you are out there, if you’ll let me.”

It took me until half way through the book to really vibe with the story. The way Peter thought killing a bunch of pirates would result in no consequences for him annoyed me so much, though I can see how it was for him to grow out of his impulsive “childish” acts in his character arch. And the whole him and Hook trying to kill each other thing to extreme lengths beyond fighting made me question how this romance would be brought about without it stepping into really uncomfortable territory. I stuck it out because c’mon, a trans Peter Pan (who I’ve always been drawn to) with a m/m romance. Although I had doubts, sticking it out was SO worth it. 

The way Austin Chant wrote the trans experience throughout this book was stunning and so heartbreakingly realistic. Hook’s character and personality was so lovely... that’s the only word I can find to describe it. Plus a gay romance with a happy ending without Peter having to change himself? James not being thrown off at all upon seeing Peter in the real world? Don’t get me started on the love letter at the end. Their relationship turned out to be so sweet. This is the kind of stuff we NEED more of in LGBTQ novels. More trans men romances written by trans men. The pacing of events/development was a little weird, hence it taking time to really feel out the story and romance, but nothing to go to war about (yes, reference puns.) If you want a feel good enemies to lovers romance with a trans guy read it please (if you can handle the possible triggering flashback events where Peter is faced with heavy transphobia at home.) The conclusion gave me so much euphoria.

This was fascinating!! Peter Pan retelling except they are all grown up and neverland is not what it seems. And there’s trans rep. This is somewhat of a short read but I found myself slowing down to really enjoy this alternate fantasy world and the world building of it. There is romance (enemies to lovers) but I was more interested in the intricate world and mysterious past of Peter. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something unique but heartfelt. 

Abigail

Fantastical! I haven't read the Peter Pan book but I'd like to now. Loved all the characters and ideas. And what a lovely romance! Loved it.

Jamieson

I AM AN EMOTIONAL WRECK THIS WAS SO CUTE WTF

you know what you need in your life? A Peter Pan retelling where Peter is trans, comes back to Neverland as an adult and realises he's in love with captain hook. TRUST ME YOU NEED IT


  “I won't hurt myself, I'm the spirit of youth and joy, remember?"
"You're a grown man and a nuisance."
"I'm your nuisance,”


So I love Peter Pan and Peter Pan retellings and this one was just so cute and sweet. I honestly wish it was longer. It has the ideal romance tropes aka as, one of them is injured so there's angst, there's mutual pining, slowburn get together. One of them is serious and the other one is playful. Y'all don't know how much these tropes fuel me and PETER DARLING HAS THEM ALL AND MORE. I have strong feels

Also, the romance aside I really liked how Neverland was explored and what it was offering to each character was kind of unpacked. I really liked that everyone was queer and just overall I just ??? I loved this so much. Also, it was straight up funny

I am crossing all my fingers and toes its true there will be a sequel BECAUSE I NEED MORE OF PETER PAN AND JAMES HOOK MY SHIP HEART NEEDS TO THRIVE


  “To die," Peter began, "would be an awfully big—"
"Don't start that again," Hook said. "Surely you could have come up with something new to say after ten years.”

Alice Main

This book was a nice read, with an interesting spin on familiar characters. While no master piece by any means, I did devour the book within a couple of hours and thoroughly enjoyed myself while doing so.

As a trans reader I did really enjoy Peter and his journey, him never wanting to grow up and be a little boy forever really hit home for me. I also loved the take on Captain Hook, a man who lives for the simple pleasures of fine men and finer clothes. 

My only real issue with this book would be the age gap between Peter and James, as it is established that James was very much an adult when he first met Peter, and Peter was 10. Now it's never implied that James had any uncomfortable feelings towards a child, so don't worry about that if you plan on reading, but I feel like they maybe could have fudged the details on that a little as whenever child Peter was brought up I suddenly remembered that this wasn't an age gap of a few years, but likely a decade at least. 

Over all a really fun and easy read that I would reccomend.

A queer, transgender retelling of Peter Pan in which Pan returns to Neverland after a decade in the real world.The Lost Boys say that Peter Pan went back to England because of Wendy Darling, but Wendy is just an old life he left behind. Neverland is his real home. So when Peter returns to it after ten years in the real world, he's surprised to find a Neverland that no longer seems to need him.The only person who truly missed Peter is Captain James Hook, who is delighted to have his old rival back. But when a new war ignites between the Lost Boys and Hook's pirates, the ensuing bloodshed becomes all too real - and Peter's rivalry with Hook starts to blur into something far more complicated, sensual, and deadly.

alex wolfinger 

this was so cute who thought I'd have this much fun reading it

A quick, delightful read in which you realize Peter started out as Wendy and that he has escaped to Neverland so that he might be himself. We find out, too, that Hook, to whom Peter finds himself deeply drawn and attracted to, also has escaped to Neverland to get away from his real life. 

I really enjoyed this book but found myself wanting more. I easily could've enjoyed another 100 pages to delve into Neverland and the other sad boy who lives there and seems to be hiding from something we never really learn about. 

Overall a very fun read. And super fast to get through. 

Krys C

A quick, delightful read in which you realize Peter started out as Wendy and that he has escaped to Neverland so that he might be himself. We find out, too, that Hook, to whom Peter finds himself deeply drawn and attracted to, also has escaped to Neverland to get away from his real life. 

I really enjoyed this book but found myself wanting more. I easily could've enjoyed another 100 pages to delve into Neverland and the other sad boy who lives there and seems to be hiding from something we never really learn about. 

Overall a very fun read. And super fast to get through. 

Wow, davvero... Wow. Non saprei meglio descrivere questo libro. Non mi sarei mai aspettat* tutte le emozioni che ho provato da questo piccolo libricino... Diciamo che sono finit* in lacrime.

Brianna

What this book does well: portraying a trans character (I stan a trans Peter so hard). What this book does less well: create a believable shift from enemy to lover. 
Reads like a damn good fanfic, but if you’re looking for something more literary give it a pass.

lauren carla

this book is so underhyped!!! this was the re-imagining I never knew I needed, I loved it so much. I will definitely be re-reading this is the future. Peter & Hook’s interactions were actual perfection. I kinda of wish the subplot with ernest had been developed a little more, but nothing major. just an amazing and fast-paced read, definitely recommend.

vins

That was a nice read and the ending was great. The prose was rather dry, and the book was kinda indecisive in tone, vacillating between whimsical fairytale and Serious™. But then halfway in it started to gain footing by putting focus on Peter and Hook (because they were kinda the point so like 😭). 

It's quite a clever spin for a reimagining imo. I didn't know I needed trans gay adult Peter Pan, but I'm glad it exists!

Natalie Sypeck 

I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this books, it's one of those books that's been getting lower and lower on my Goodreads TBR and it can be easy to forget about it. (Read on Kindle)

I have to admit the first 90ish pages weren't doing much for me, it was a quick read, but it was a lot of world building. I'm personally not a huge fan of peter pan and therefore the world building wasn't too interesting to me. I also found peter annoying...as I always do lol.

But once there started to form a relationship between Hook and Peter I got really invested. Not just because of the romance, but because of how they came to realize the differences between reality and a dream and how they had to make some hard choices to move forward with their life. There was a lot of great character development in this book.

I would consider this book approaching New Adult, because there is some slight sexual conduct, and it gets rather dark at times.

This was my first time reading a book about a trans character that wasn't set in contemporary times. I thought it was really moving and was handled well (this book is own voice).

Look forward to reading more books by this author :)

TW: death, injury, transphobia

Pg. 73: Im almost halfway through the book how the heck is the endgame romance supposed to happen is THESE conditions there's NO way-
Pg. 82: ooh.... oh. 😍

I wish the book expanded at least a bit longer than the ending point. I get why it finished when it did and its okay, but I reallyyy want to know what's next. Oh well I guess I just need to dream it myself.

Pg. 73: Im almost halfway through the book how the heck is the endgame romance supposed to happen is THESE conditions there's NO way-
Pg. 82: ooh.... oh. 😍

It was a very nice read, but I wish the book was longer. I'd have loved it if it flesged out the characters more. The ending also felt like it could have been expanded to the later events. It's still very good but could have been better.

Alexia Beatrice Guglielmi

** spoiler alert **
           It took me a while to get into this book, probably because we had no indication of the age difference between Peter and Hook except for Peter being 20+, and also because a love story between these two was never something that had crossed my mind before, but I really enjoyed the second half! Especially once ‘Hook’ became ‘James’. 

Biggest criticisms are the pace in the beginning, the lack of worldbuilding, and the characterization of everyone who wasn’t Peter or Hook. But the ending was really sweet. Wish we’d gotten more of Ernest.

Sahi K

TW: Misgendering, dead name usage, suicide attempt

This is an ownvoices trans gay retelling of Peter Pan and just knowing that made me very excited to read it. To tell you all the truth, I actually know nothing much about the story of Peter Pan other than the little I watched on Once Upon A Time, so I wont be able to give any comparisons to the original.

Peter is back in Neverland again after growing up because he couldn’t keep on living a lie at his London home. His family continuously refers to him using his dead name/birth identity and never even try to understand him. He tries very hard to live the way they want, to make them happy but he is so miserable that even death feels better. But when he gets the chance to come back, he grabs the opportunity with both hands. Neverland is where he feels truly comfortable in his body.

First half of the book has a lot of skirmishes between Peter and Hook – they each just look for ways to start a fight, almost like they don’t want to be away from each other long. There is very subtle underlying attraction that we can feel but the two of them take their own sweet time to arrive at that conclusion. Almost fatal injuries and isolation in a cave force them to acknowledge their feelings – the reason they are always fighting is because it’s the only tangible feeling they have to hold on to. But once they do realise that they actually adore each other, there are some very sweet romantic moments followed by a fair amount of angst. Both of them have to decide if they are prepared to leave the dream of Neverland and step together into the real world.

At about 200 pages, this book is very short but the author does a great job developing a believable enemies-to-lovers romance without making it feel like instalove. The island of Neverland, its terrain and creatures, the faeries and Peter’s brand of magic is presented fairly well but the shorter length prevents from going into any details. I also would have loved to know more about the backstory of Ernest or even about Hook’s first love but we never get the chance to explore all these facets. However, the story is still fully realized, with well written characters and an interesting plot.

I especially fell in love with the ending of the story – it was so adorable and I just wanted to read more about Peter and James’s life together. This is a beautiful story of identity, loneliness and love and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales.

Grace O'Callaghan

CW: Deadnaming, suicide attempt, use of the wrong pronouns 

I really don’t know what I was expecting, but this didn’t live up to my expectations. I don’t know what it was about this, but it just isn’t the Neverland I know and love.

Firstly, I adored the representation in this book. Peter is trans in this retelling and I’m confident it’s an accurate representation as this is a #ownvoices novella.

The characterisation of Pan threw me off a little at first. He seemed the exact same as when he was a child and I would’ve thought he would have been a little less ruthless now that he’s had time to grow up and understand that actions have consequences. I did like his progression throughout the story and him realising how lonely he is and whilst Neverland allows him to be himself, he has no one to share that with.

The romance was pretty great. What can I say? I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers and Peter Pan and Hook’s dynamic was is just perfect for this. I kind of felt like the first part of the story didn’t have enough Hook and Pan scenes for me to believe it when they did get together, but it was ultimately a very passionate and angsty romance that I could get behind.

The parts where it was lacking for me was the rest of the characters and Neverland itself. There is sort of a reason for that but I just felt they faded into the background in comparison to Pan and Hook.

Another reason I couldn’t rate it higher was that this is a 200 page book and it took me eight days to finish it. I just never felt compelled to pick it up and it’s a story I’m pretty sure I’m going to forget. It would’ve been a 2.5 star had it not been for the romance.

All in all, a thrilling romance but a forgettable set of characters and plot. I’d recommend if you’re looking for the Pan/Hook romance, but if you’re looking for more of Neverland, don’t go for this retelling.

Jasmin 

1.75/5

Oof... I don't really get the massive hype to be honest. It's nice enough but for how widely loved it is on tiktok I'm disappointed 😕

The writing is quite simple, which allows for rather quick reading, which is nice. Almost middlegrade simple, though the story is more of a YA. The pacing was all over the place and often didn't make much sense. It kinda felt like a wattpad book or maybe something written during nanowrimo and then not gone over much besides correcting typos.

In general, I think that I would have liked the story better if it was written mostly from Hooks perspective.

For thoughts etc on the representation, please check oit own voices reviews

SPOILERS BELOW






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Besides that, for most of the time I wasn't sure of what is real and what not, whether one of Peters brothers who played Hook in the nursery games was the "real" Hook and how both Peters not-real Hook could coexist with the real Hook etc. The narrator is highly unreliable.

The main trope that was followed was definitely enemies-to-lovers with some dagger-to-the-throat so it makes sense booktok is so in love with it - for me, it was just way too quick. It felt like they hated each other one day, and three days later decided to be together. Due to the aforementioned pacing issues, I have no clue how mich time had really passed though.

All in all, I would not recommend this book.

Gabriel Noel 

The end pulled me back in, I liked that (view spoiler)[even when they returned to the real world Hook still thought of Peter as a man. (hide spoiler)]

I will say, it is a biiiiiit weird about Hook meeting him as a 10 year old and then falling in love with him as an adult and I don't think it's wrong to put some heat and criticism on that. There are many ways this could have been changed to suit the story. 

I find this hard to empathize with story because it didn't have much trans narrative when Peter was in Neverland, it was just...gender-swapping? We only got the taste of his trans identity in flashbacks. Since this is a trans retelling, I was hoping for a pan who was trans in Neverland, rather than dreaming of the "perfect male body" he wanted.

However, I did enjoy my read because of the plot and the uniqueness that Chant added to the lore of Neverland.

I loved it so much. I've always love the story of Peter Pan, so I love every of it's retellings, specially the ones who give me a new version of the story and one so complex as this one. It's a little sad the way Neverland is in this because it's one of my dream places to live. But it's also very reasonable. 

adria

the retelling i hadn't known i needed. all classics should be rewritten to include queer characters

CN: deadnaming, misgendering, transmisia, violence

That was a really interesting take on Peter Pan. I didn't like the trans rep as much as the one in Coffee Boy, but it was still a great book with a very cute ending.

Abi Baker

But a chance of getting lost, he decided, was better than the certainty of losing James.

trigger warnings: transphobia, misgendering

A fantasy m/m romance with my favourite enemies to lovers trope, between Hook and Peter Pan? NICE.

Peter Darling is both a combination of a sequel, a prequel, and a retelling of the Peter Pan story. 
Our beloved Peter is a transman in this version, and escapes once more to Neverland in an effort to be the person he really is, and not who his family think he should be (they really don't seem to be a nice bunch). There he reunites with the Lost Boys, and the adventures start all over. But, it's all a little bit stale for him. Things have changed. There's a truce between the Lost Boys and the pirates, and it's just not as fun as it was the first time around, so he decides to go and make his own fun.

He meets Hook again, and nothing makes him feel more alive, less bored, than every meeting he has with him. That's just because they're enemies and he loves the thrill of the fight, right? 
As Peter comes to realise, and as Hook realises before him, Peter just loves the thrill of Hook himself.

The adventure never stopped in this book and it was honestly really fun to read. There was danger at every turn for Hook and Peter, especially between them, beautifully demonstrated by Peter pulling a knife on him when they first kiss. It's scary and new and overwhelming, but it's the most real thing either of them have felt in years.
A little bit too real.

This book was a little too short for my liking, so the jump between them wanting to kill/hate each other, and the exact opposite was just a little too quick for me. It did feel realistic though, and I could see how they would develop feelings for each other. I liked that after they left Neverland, they tried to make a relationship work between them. It was a really sweet read and I love the slight differences Austin Chant made between this and the Pan story everyone knows.

I wish we could have seen more of Ernest and his relationship with Peter, and of the rest of the Lost Boys in general. Despite that, this is a wonderful story.

Peter Darling

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