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thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC of Bad Habit by Alana S. Portero, translated from the Spanish by Mara Faye Lethem. I bloody loved this book, it was messy and devastating and beautiful and hopeful. It embodies the powerful bonds forged between women, and trans women in particular. Álex, the main character, recounts her life and the women who have helped shaped it. Hers is not an easy life, growing up a trans girl in a working class neighbourhood which both scorns and reveres its women. The theme of neighbourliness is not one I come across often in fiction, which I definitely think is reflective of how isolated we are now as a society. But the women who live in close proximity to Álex, both trans and cis, look out for one another, doing the best they can amid violence inflicted by men. A flawless translation, a love letter to solidarity, just gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence
lotte_898's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse and Drug use
antidietleah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
tidyhippie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Violence
laurenexploresbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bad Habit is a nuanced, beautiful, and ultimately hopeful narrative about self-realization. This work features a trans female protagonist who is trying to navigate how to be herself in a world that often meets transgender women with scorn and violence. This work highlights love, community, suppressing yourself to fit a narrative, and what does it mean when being yourself is both liberating and terrifying. I was riveted in my reading and found myself cheering on the main character, and thankful for the beautiful community of trans women that encourage her and love her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
memydogandbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book emotionally destroyed me!!
[AD: kinda because my friend got an ARC from the publisher and she passed it on to me! Publisher is 4th Estate]
SYNOPSIS:
A coming-of-age story about a transgender woman in working-class Madrid. The protagonist navigates her identity and the harsh realities of her surroundings, finding solace in a vibrant downtown community but facing violence and difficult choices.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Elegantly written and translated
- Poignant, heartbreaking and hopefully
- Beautiful exploration of identity, belonging and sisterhood
- Devasting but there is hope, I promise
- This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster and will sit with me for a long time after reading!
- A must-read, PLEASE pre-order, add it to your TBR or request if from you library.
[AD: kinda because my friend got an ARC from the publisher and she passed it on to me! Publisher is 4th Estate]
SYNOPSIS:
A coming-of-age story about a transgender woman in working-class Madrid. The protagonist navigates her identity and the harsh realities of her surroundings, finding solace in a vibrant downtown community but facing violence and difficult choices.
MY THOUGHTS:
- Elegantly written and translated
- Poignant, heartbreaking and hopefully
- Beautiful exploration of identity, belonging and sisterhood
- Devasting but there is hope, I promise
- This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster and will sit with me for a long time after reading!
- A must-read, PLEASE pre-order, add it to your TBR or request if from you library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Transphobia, and Violence
ramreadsagain's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Before you get the chance to define yourself, others trace your outline with their prejudices and their aggressions.
Thank you to the publisher for this advance review copy via NetGalley.
This is an incredibly emotional and moving coming of age story of a young trans girl growing up in a working class area of Madrid in the 80's and 90's, with the rippling effects of Franco's dictatorship still felt in the culture and attitudes of the population.
The translation is phenomenal, while still feeling so Spanish. I grew up in Spain and seeing depictions of the culture I'm familiar with was weirdly comforting in a way that I often don't get from books set in the UK.
The book is truly beautiful, a love letter to women, queer family and community, but also a book with a lot of pain and anger within it. I really loved it and will think about it often.
Read during the 2024 Trans Rights Readathon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
ramonapelusi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Marvelous, breathetaking, tender, painful and glorious... Simply the BEST book that I have read in a long long time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, and Child abuse