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A review by jonezeemcgee
If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
3.0
3.00
Unpopular and brutally honest opinion time:
While this book and its subject matter is so very important (Transgender/Depression). The fact that it was written by a Transgender female and even the model on the cover is a transgender is even better. However, while I am so very happy that this book exists, the foundation of the story in and of itself does not make for a good story. Content, characters, plot and how the material is handled is what makes a good book. Unfortunately I felt that this book fell a little flat in that department.
** Spoilers**
Content & Plot: I wrestled with how to rate this book because of the fanciful nature of how Amanda’s (main character) world wrapped up so neatly with a nice little bow. Amanda is a transgender female who, while definitely dealing with some major bullying and hate, makes a fresh start living with her father (in the homophobic south, no less) who is still pretty accepting if only slightly wary and disappointed at the loss of his son. Amanda is beautiful, she is popular, her hormone therapy seems to have gone well and (somehow) her family was able to afford the incredibly expensive final surgery (which is not very often the case). It is almost Utopian circumstances. Amanda is even voted homecoming queens because her popularity in this new town has earned her the love and admiration of many of her classmates. In the end Amanda transcends issues by finding confidence that is bolstered by a group of people (family and friends) that are all together (almost unanimously) accepting. This is why I wrestled. I think it is amazing that this book gives a message of love and hope. The author herself recognizes in her authors note that she took liberties with this story to make it work and that it is not a true and authentic picture with the reality she knows. I can fully support this and that is why I choose to allow the almost too perfect conclusion and somewhat ideal circumstances live on, because I like to believe in the fairytale as well.
Characters: Amanda as a character is, dare I say it, a Mary Sue. The characters surrounding her are the archetypal ones you see in any YA contemporary where the main character is somehow struggling with being different. There is the Bully, the love interest, the jealous character, and the cast of friends that think the main character is nothing short of amazing. As a love interest Grant sort of fell flat. He had the potential to be rounded out and given more dimension, but the book never succeeded in making him anything more than Mr. Perfect that falls for the main character and makes her feel hopeful. In the end, after secrets are revealed he still comes off as understanding and loving.
All in all this was a quick and enjoyable read. It wasn’t all roses; there were quite a few thorns in Amanda’s world. This book is, like I said before, also an important one and the type of book I hope to see more of in the future. Because this book lacked some layers, was a little formulaic, and it really had no meat, I gave it an average rating.
Unpopular and brutally honest opinion time:
While this book and its subject matter is so very important (Transgender/Depression). The fact that it was written by a Transgender female and even the model on the cover is a transgender is even better. However, while I am so very happy that this book exists, the foundation of the story in and of itself does not make for a good story. Content, characters, plot and how the material is handled is what makes a good book. Unfortunately I felt that this book fell a little flat in that department.
** Spoilers**
Content & Plot: I wrestled with how to rate this book because of the fanciful nature of how Amanda’s (main character) world wrapped up so neatly with a nice little bow. Amanda is a transgender female who, while definitely dealing with some major bullying and hate, makes a fresh start living with her father (in the homophobic south, no less) who is still pretty accepting if only slightly wary and disappointed at the loss of his son. Amanda is beautiful, she is popular, her hormone therapy seems to have gone well and (somehow) her family was able to afford the incredibly expensive final surgery (which is not very often the case). It is almost Utopian circumstances. Amanda is even voted homecoming queens because her popularity in this new town has earned her the love and admiration of many of her classmates. In the end Amanda transcends issues by finding confidence that is bolstered by a group of people (family and friends) that are all together (almost unanimously) accepting. This is why I wrestled. I think it is amazing that this book gives a message of love and hope. The author herself recognizes in her authors note that she took liberties with this story to make it work and that it is not a true and authentic picture with the reality she knows. I can fully support this and that is why I choose to allow the almost too perfect conclusion and somewhat ideal circumstances live on, because I like to believe in the fairytale as well.
Characters: Amanda as a character is, dare I say it, a Mary Sue. The characters surrounding her are the archetypal ones you see in any YA contemporary where the main character is somehow struggling with being different. There is the Bully, the love interest, the jealous character, and the cast of friends that think the main character is nothing short of amazing. As a love interest Grant sort of fell flat. He had the potential to be rounded out and given more dimension, but the book never succeeded in making him anything more than Mr. Perfect that falls for the main character and makes her feel hopeful. In the end, after secrets are revealed he still comes off as understanding and loving.
All in all this was a quick and enjoyable read. It wasn’t all roses; there were quite a few thorns in Amanda’s world. This book is, like I said before, also an important one and the type of book I hope to see more of in the future. Because this book lacked some layers, was a little formulaic, and it really had no meat, I gave it an average rating.