Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - If I Was Your Girl

Nope.
Nope.
Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope.

For the first quarter or so I thought this book was underwhelming representation in a YA novel. God, I wish I'd quit still thinking that.

This book is nothing short of irresponsible publishing.

For a book marketed as a light and sweet YA romance, this book is nothing, and I truly mean nothing, other than protracted queer trauma. The main character is trans - not only does this book make her ONLY identifiable 'personality' the idea that she is pretty and trans, it perpetuates harmful misunderstandings of the trans community from the singular need for top and bottom surgery, through the lack of ongoing therapy to the young and apparently extremely quick uptake of accessible surgery.

So in some ways, this book manages to completely gloss over the very real fight transgender people go through to live as themselves in western society, thereby failing to reflect on the ways in which the main character has had to be traumatised at a young age.

What it does instead is focus entirely on the trauma she experiences socially. Her dad continually deadnames and misgenders her. There is a long scene depicting her suicide attempt not from an explanation of how often she has learned her trans friends have succeeded. There is depictions of religious prejudice and societal homophobia/transphobia that culminate in a girl offering to be her friend even though "I think it's a sin"...and the main character THANKS HER. A bi character is shown telling people that all homophones are secretly gay, a disturbing thing to be telling kids in a book, only to progress to publically outing everyone she can think of when turned down by the straight main character. The love interests mum calls the main character a slur, he makes horrendous comments about her gender and genitalia and then offers to stick by her anyway...for which she is endlessly grateful. Her parents allow her to return to a school that has failed to protect her in a community that has harmed her.

I'm so angry. None of this is OK, particularly when none of it is then dealt with. There's no emotional arc or growth or character development here. No one learns anything or meaningfully changes their behaviour, exception only the main characters dad. There is no reflection on the trauma being unacceptable, on the need for change or the need for support and protection of rights. The book just uses trans and queer pain as plot points and acts as though that is acceptable.

And then, in this anger, I looked up the author after finishing the book and I just cannot believe any publisher is allowing this person to speak about their community with a book that includes sexual assault. Horrendous.

Content Warnings

lilikamasha's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

kmccann3's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I could NOT put this book down. Definitely a simplified story of transitioning (on purpose though-great authors note in the back) but beautifully written and very heartfelt.

Content Warnings