A review by jadziadax
What We Left Behind by Robin Talley

Did not finish book.
Me earlier today: "Okay so far I'm enjoying this but I just skimmed through the reviews and yikes I am super concerned (and disappointed, I was expecting better after Lies We Tell Ourselves, which was so good). Should I even bother reading it if the representation is so flawed?"

Me now: I can't do this, it's a disaster honestly. I can not finish this book. I ended up skimming it to see what happened, but yeah...

First of all I want to say while I am not straight in my sexuality, I am cis and have not experienced what T has. But the reviews all seem to be having the same tone, so I am guessing I'm correct in thinking that this is terrible genderqueer representation. Yes, I am sure there are people that use genderqueer and then decide they are ftm or mtm. But the books acts like that is the case for EVERYONE. It acts like genderqueer is not a real identity.
This book has...I dunno know it some redeeming qualities I guess. Maybe.
Oh and I am pretty sure there is a teacher interested in T but I am not 100% sure. If so; ugh stop this.
Lines I hated:
ex "welcome to the formely genderqueer party!' (paraphrasing slightly) said via T's friends
lots of stuff Carroll said (if my friend said those things about my SO I would ditch that friend so fast but no Gretchen does not)
and that part many have pointed out where 'if you post pics of yourself in a bikini you are not a feminist'. WTF.

I'm incredibly disappointed by this. I loved Lies We Tell Ourselves, but this book...no.