Take a photo of a barcode or cover
Graphic: Deadnaming, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Vomit, Abortion, Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing
I checked out the audiobook on a whim, expecting to listen to half one day and the rest the next. Instead, I couldn’t stop. Narratively, it’s propulsive without being showy. I found myself quickly absorbed by the central relationship between Erica, a closeted trans high school teacher, and Abigail, a politically outspoken teenage girl who has been navigating the world as visibly trans for much longer than she should have had to. Their dynamic is layered with power reversals, emotional risk, and unexpected grace. There’s a real tenderness in the way St. James allows them to influence and challenge one another without ever veering into sentimentality or melodrama.
As the novel progresses, there’s a reveal that launches the story into a somewhat chaotic finale—a kind of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink twist that I normally might find frustrating. But here, it didn’t dampen my connection to the characters or their arcs. The emotional groundwork laid throughout the novel kept it grounded, even as the pace accelerated.
The book also makes some bold formal choices in its audio production: the use of static to signal deadnaming is inventive, if inconsistently applied. That inconsistency is worth noting, especially for listeners for whom those moments are emotionally charged. Deadnaming happens within the text itself, so content warnings may be necessary for some readers.
That said, the book feels remarkably generous. Woodworking doesn’t promise a neatly resolved ending or a world free of cruelty. But it does offer a space for possibility. It’s a story where mentorship can come from a teenager, where healing might involve someone from your past, and where chosen family isn’t always separate from blood. It also gently acknowledges the real-life complications of being trans in public, particularly for those who work in schools or conservative spaces. Erica’s fears around visibility reminded me of the same fear I carried when I worked in a Catholic school and knew that being open about my identity could cost me everything.
Abigail, though, is the heart of the novel. Fierce, reluctant, emotionally intelligent, and startlingly funny—she reminded me of Maeve from Sex Education in the best possible way. The book shines brightest when we see the world through her eyes.
Woodworking made my heart race, melt, and ache. It reminded me of my own formative friendships and the people who helped me see myself more clearly. It’s not a fairy tale, but it’s full of hope. For anyone who has lived through the loneliness of not being seen—and for those who have finally found someone who sees them—this book is a gift.
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide attempt, Outing
I liked the different perspectives of various ways and conflicting experiences of being trans. I also loved the unlikely friendships within this story
Highly recommend!
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Minor: Sexual content
Graphic: Deadnaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Outing
Minor: Self harm, Blood, Abortion, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Outing
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal death, Deadnaming, Blood, Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Car accident, Sexual harassment