Reviews tagging 'Biphobia'

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

5 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

While interesting, I really struggled to get into this book. In part, I think it was the way it was written — the back and forth between characters and time periods made the book feel choppy and disconnected. The entire time I was reading, I never fell into the story. It just felt like I was reading — not experiencing it. The insights about being trans were the highlight for me. I felt deep sorrow for the characters who wanted so deeply to be themselves in ways society or biology would not allow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, Medical content, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Transphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Homophobia, Abandonment, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Outing, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Sexism

annabulkowski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Grief, Body horror, Car accident, Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Hate crime, Suicide, Blood, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Sexism, Transphobia, Classism, Deadnaming, Gaslighting, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Pregnancy

michaelion's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I hate contemporary references in books–most readers do–but I can't exactly explain what sets this book apart from the others. With most books I think, This had the potential to be timeless, but unfortunately they made reference to [insert pop culture moment that was probably already out of date by the time the book was published]. Not here, though. In fact I argue it is a strength of the book. Something about it makes me feel like despite the references to now / pre-pandemic / mid- to late 2010s, this book will be regarded as a queertrans time capsule. It could be studied in 300 level university courses, and honestly it probably will be sooner than you think. I'm very excited to see what Miss Peters has in store next. I will be pre-ordering.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Transphobia, Pregnancy, and Self harm

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Drug use, Body shaming, Classism, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

Minor: Car accident, Deadnaming, Suicide attempt, and Biphobia

There needs to be a tag for slurs that aren't racial.

booksandabackpack's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Detransition, Baby is the debut novel from Torrey Peters and it is provocative, messy, and entirely whipsmart. 

It explores themes of gender, sexuality, motherhood, trans identity, and ultimately, the role and influence of femininity in the lives of the three main characters. Reese is a trans woman who has longed to be a mother, Katrina is a cis woman who finds herself pregnant and unsure, and Ames, the tie that binds, is a man whose past as a trans woman leaves him reluctant to fully embrace the idea of fatherhood. 

Ames is the tie that binds in that he has an affair with his boss, Katrina, and she becomes pregnant. In deciding how to proceed, he proposes a novel family dynamic and ask his ex Reese, to be a mother as well. He is offering her the thing she’s always wanted but couldn’t have on her own. Is it wacky enough to work? What follows is a story alternating between present day (after conception) and years ago, when Ames was Amy and living with Reese. Between the two timelines you learn what brought the lovers together and ultimately tore them apart. 

One of the themes throughout the story was the dynamic between men and women in traditional gender roles centered around dominance to the point of violence. Reese has a drawn out relationship with a man who clearly styles himself as an alpha and his control over her - to the point of slapping her - gives her a feeling of being a petite and fragile woman. The idea was nuanced and yet struck me as clear as day because for Reese part of being a woman is feeling frail next to a big, strong man. This performance is all part of engendered expression despite the obvious flaws. Seeing femininity through the eyes of a transgender woman character opened my eyes to aspects I’d breezily ignored as being inherently feminine. 

Peters’ writing is sharp and cutting, and she presents her characters as they truly are - deeply vulnerable with all their flaws and secrets on display. I look forward to more from this author! If you like books that are fast paced, character driven, and explore the intersection of human relationships and identity, then this book is for you.

Thanks to One World and Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content

Moderate: Biphobia, Miscarriage, Suicide, and Transphobia

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Thank you to One World Books for the free advance copy of this book.

✨MINI REVIEW✨ [ @oneworldbooks #partner ]

Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. But then her girlfriend detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby, Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family? (via Goodreads) 📚

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📚 This book is messy, beautiful and thoughtful. It's a deep exploration of the thousands of tiny things that add up to make gender, and what happens when your understanding of those building blocks shifts.

📚 It really showcases how fluid gender and sexuality are and the joy that can bring, but doesn't shy away from exactly how mentally and physically hard it can be to exist publicly as a trans person.

📚 I honestly can't think of one aspect of the idea of womanhood or the margins of queerness this book doesn't touch on - it has so much packed in and yet it remains compellingly readable.

📚 Also, it covers all this heavy, complicated stuff and is still very funny!

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📚 I am almost certain DETRANSITION, BABY will be polarizing. On the surface, before reading it, it seems to be endorsing the idea of detransitioning and that transness is a choice - much like the idea of being an ex-gay. Keep in mind that I am a cis person, but I don't think it's doing that at all. The central tension of Ames' story is that he detransitioned but can never not be trans, even if it doesn't show outwardly. Please read it if you're in a place to do so - it's a wonderfully nuanced portrait of the complexity of trans life.

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Content warnings: biphobia, body shaming, child abuse, deadnaming, death, domestic abuse, drug use, emotional abuse, grief, hate crime, homophobia, infertility, infidelity, miscarriage , misogyny, physical abuse, self harm, sexism, sexual content, sexual violence, suicidal thoughts, suicide, toxic relationship, transphobia, and violence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Violence