Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
This book was amazing. It is one of the best books I have read in a long long time. I loved the raw emotion and depth of experiences of all the characters. The relationships that grew , developed, and ended with such thoughtfulness. I highly recommend this read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Outing
Minor: Eating disorder, Abortion
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-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
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
best piece of fiction i’ve read in 2025 thus far
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book filled my heart in a way I didn't know I needed. St James not only inspires bravery through her characters' actions but also through how she writes about them. I'm choked up writing this because it helped me process a lot of my own fears about being my full (trans) self openly and shame regarding my internalized transphobia. I loved these women so much and felt held in love as I experienced their stories. It's hard to write about overcoming hardship in a way that's not cheesy, overly upsetting, tokenizing, or sensationalizing. This book threaded that needle for me, opening up conversations that usually happen behind closed doors in a profoundly honest and loving way. It was also really funny! I believe this book could be a gateway for almost anyone who reads it to a more authentic relationship with themself. And I'm very grateful that this is one of those times when I don't have to translate my experience at all.
As an aside, I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend it. The readers (who included the author) brought so much life to the reading experience for me. The voices of trans people being the voices of trans characters added so much to the joy this gave me.
As an aside, I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend it. The readers (who included the author) brought so much life to the reading experience for me. The voices of trans people being the voices of trans characters added so much to the joy this gave me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt
The way the author handles each of these potentially triggering topics is graceful and considerate to the audience. There is one extended very intense description I feel is worth additional warning for those with triggers related to dissociation and violent transphobia. There is a chapter long section in which a character is dissociating from her body following a traumatic event involving a near kidnapping by her family. And there's threats of physical violence towards trans girls from their fathers a few times.
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:
Yes
it was REALLY well written and it’s successful as a book, but i hate that the narrative takes such a non-nuanced stance towards stealth trans people. at its core this book is a statement directed at trans people, saying: if you don’t make Being Trans the dominant feature of your personality, you’re doing Being Trans wrong, and it’s your fault conservatives hate us. one character is told by the narrative that part of her is dead and can’t be recovered because she didn’t tell her children that she’s trans ?
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced