Reviews with content warning for Abortion - Transition, Baby: A Novel

Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Transition, Baby: A Novel by Torrey Peters

420 reviews

cindmaki's review against another edition

2.5

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

jeffceauxt's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I thought this was a beautiful story of self reflection and realization among a trio of flawed but lovable characters

Content Warnings

phoenixinfloralia's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I enjoyed the book even when it felt dragging sometimes. It’s very informative to the life of trans women and thought provoking about motherhood and personal choices.

The main characters all have flaws but you can’t bring yourself to hate them.

I like the open ending. I think it’s the best considering their situation. Whatever they choose, it would be an emotional choice filled with challenges.

Content Warnings

scarecrow's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was an enjoyable, if frustrating, read. Just like the cover promised, it really did make me both laugh and cry, in public, on the bus. I didn't think it would be for me (and I know I'm not the target audience) but I really genuinely enjoyed it, and my problems feel like nitpicking, but what are book reviews for, if not to nitpick?

This is a character-driven book about how motherhood and pregnancy interact with transfemininity. The characters are compelling and frustrating in the ways they almost see the totality of their flaws and yet refuse to change - but that's part of what makes them compelling. In other words, they act like real people and are annoying in the way real people are - they're well-written. The timeline skips around from chapter to chapter, but it's not difficult to follow. The author wrote her characters to have personality and not to be Positive Trans Representation or aspirational, which is a breath of fresh air. Characters who are allowed the space to be messy or think nasty thoughts just feel more real.

It has an easily fixable problem - a transmasculinity-shaped blindspot. Trans men exist in the story, but for a book about "transness and pregnancy", no one seeks their perspective on the central issue. There IS a conversation with a trans man, but it's set in the past and it's about Reese's behaviour. Ames could have spoken to him again during the detransition/pregnancy/triad situation; even if it didn't change the outcome, it would have added to the story.

But other than that, it was a fun read! I'm glad my book club picked this, because I would never have read it of my own accord.

Content Warnings

meowmeow580's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gripping and enlightening and masterfully written and leaving me wanting more

Content Warnings

macncheese_pdf's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

livs_getting_bookish's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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: No

Content Warnings

shlymiller's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

cynthf's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional funny reflective 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: Complicated

I really liked this. I can't give it a 5 just because personally there are themes where I get less out of them, particularly relating to motherhood and age. Maybe I'm too young, maybe I'm too autistic, and maybe I don't live in New York. They don't feel like bad conclusions at all, they just don't resonate with me. However, the other things are great. The way the characters talk to each other, the intensity of the ups and downs. This book is hilarious, depressing, hot, euphoric and analytical in equal measures. It doesn't shy away from aspects of the queer experience and talks frankly about in-community issues.

Highly recommend.

Content Warnings

withemilyrose's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective tense 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

Content Warnings

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