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jessreeve's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rosiefpb's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it a lot but damn, it was sad. Not in a weepy way but just in an awful, cruel, aching way. Oof.
ravina_b's review against another edition
3.0
3.5? Purely because it sometimes went on and on which made it difficult to follow in parts. However, the three main characters were very well-rounded and this is one of the only books I’ve read where I liked them all despite their flaws. Plot is fantastic and I think it gives a great insight into the trans experience (though will need to read reviews from actual trans people to verify this). Also loved the ending!
cfryman434's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
accalarentia90's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the variety of points of view this book offered. The writing was expressive and the voices very strong.
I feel like the editor should have been a bit more strict on the prose, because this felt about 100 pages too long and self indulgent in places
I feel like the editor should have been a bit more strict on the prose, because this felt about 100 pages too long and self indulgent in places
louserguy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well written, dynamic characters, interesting story. However, I found the characters dislikable and the ending to be unsatisfactory
gdulecki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well, shit. This book left me feeling complicated. I can see why many people love it, it was very well written, it was raw and messy and I think it did a really good job of imagining queer possibilities. I also loved the surprise Rogers Park mention!! I think there’s some feelings coming up around immersing myself in a trans femme experience as a trans man, about my own relationship with womanhood and the ways it has evolved before and through my transition. There’s something to be said here about how I think this is the first book I’ve read with a trans woman mc and how that is a big gap in my reading. I’m glad we read this for book club because I don’t know if I would have read this myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
sarahsbooklore's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
allytron3000's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of the first times I’ve read a trans novel that is focused on trans lives rather than primarily coming out/transition. There’s a lot about trans culture, dating and sex that was good to read, I hope we’ll see more media like this. Also a valuable insight into the complexity of detransition beyond news stories. The story itself is often quite dark and none of the characters come off particularly well. I don’t know that I enjoyed it, but I wanted to see where it went.
baileydouglass's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Very interesting book with a some really interesting moments. I'm looking forward to reading future books by this author.
I'd heard so much about this book that I ended up overhyping it a little bit in my head, which might have made me a little more disappointed than I would have otherwise been. There was a lot of exposition about sexual encounters in the protoganists' pasts that grew a bit tiresome--I was very interested in the detransition and the core discussion of the main characters about what they were going to do with the pregnancy and their family unit, but some of the long interludes into the past really pulled me away from it.
Overall I'm glad I read this book and learned from it, but it wasn't all I'd expected.
I'd heard so much about this book that I ended up overhyping it a little bit in my head, which might have made me a little more disappointed than I would have otherwise been. There was a lot of exposition about sexual encounters in the protoganists' pasts that grew a bit tiresome--I was very interested in the detransition and the core discussion of the main characters about what they were going to do with the pregnancy and their family unit, but some of the long interludes into the past really pulled me away from it.
Overall I'm glad I read this book and learned from it, but it wasn't all I'd expected.