Uncovering Ray (Ellery College #1) by Edie Danford

I recently received a copy of Uncovering Ray from Samhain Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  I was intrigued by the blurb and cover but found it to be well worth the read.  Here's the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

When the right love uncovers the wrong secrets...

Hey, man--you a chick or a dude? Dealing with the same old boring question is a downer for college drop-out Ray Fayette, especially when it's asked by the low-tipping, over-privileged students at the Ellery Diner.

When six-foot-five, muscle-bound straight arrow Wyatt Kelly publicly smacks down a fellow frat bother for caveman behavior, Ray's interest is sparked. Wyatt's not-so-subtle attraction sparks a few other things too.

But getting to know Wyatt proves dangerous. His sexy smiles and smart questions slide under even Ray’s prickliest defenses. Worse, his academic mentor happens to be Ray’s ex-stepfather, the dictatorial jerk who just kicked Ray out of his house. Again.

Wyatt suggests a housing arrangement that has surprising appeal—there’s space available at his frat house—but he’s unaware just how complicated Ray’s “identity issues” are. Ellery College kicked out Ray for a reason—a reason that could deep-six Wyatt’s academic career and Ray’s newly hopeful heart.

I found this story to be both emotional and sweet. The reader does not know what biological gender Ray is or what gender they identify with. Wyatt is not totally savvy when it comes to gender and identities but he is terribly sweet. He is a good person who wants to make things better for others and is hopeful that he can change the world. Ray doesn't really believe in trusting others or family or making the world a better place. I think that Ray needed Wyatt in their life to be able to get moving again after their life had stalled. Ray lives a life that a number of trans folks that I have known live. They are professional couch surfers and are used to the world treating them as other. It makes me so sad that so many families drop the ball when it comes to being there for their trans kids. I loved that in the end, Ray did have things work out for them. It wasn't an easy happily ever after but it was happily moving forward with the family that they had chosen. I found the ending to be incredibly hopeful.

Click here to add Uncovering Ray to your Goodreads. You can find author Edie Danford on her website and on Twitter. I give Uncovering Ray 3 Fairies for a great story about love, family and making the right choices in life.