Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

23 reviews

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is probably the most unique book I've read in awhile. It tells the story of Reese, Amy, and Katrina - Amy's new girlfriend. Reese and Amy are both transgender women and spent many years in a relationship, during which they lived together and planned to have a family. Things went astray when Amy made the decision to detransition and become Ames, living as a man instead. Things get even crazier when Ames gets his girlfriend pregnant unexpectedly and crazier still when he suggests Reese co-parent with him and Katrina. A lot of messiness ensues! 

I thought this book was overall, impressive. It is whip smart, funny, and often heartbreaking. It offers a window into a situation unlike anything I've ever read. The characters are complex and have diverse points of view and the dynamics between characters are incredibly interesting. The writing is beautiful and extremely smart - often a little too smart for me. 

The issues I have with it don't necessarily have to do with the quality of the book itself and more with me. I thought that the book was going to be faster paced, and that we were going to see more of the interesting throuple-but-not dynamic than we actually got to see. There is a lot of backstory, which was excellent and told me a lot about Reese and Amy/Ames as people, but not a lot of plot to work with in the present day, which became frustrating for me toward the end. Ultimately, I think that this book is great, and reads quickly despite the slower pacing. 
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jordanrisa's review against another edition

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

3.0

I have mixed feelings about this book — I thought I would enjoy it a lot more than I did based on the great reviews, even though I may not necessarily be the target audience. 

On one hand, it was entertaining and easy to read — got through it in just a few days — and gave me insight into trans relationships and queer parenthood that I had never considered before. 

On the other hand, I found the main character, Reese, to be wholly unlikeable and self-sabotaging, which is always a deal breaker for me in books. I was disappointed in how dismissive the tone was in matters of race and trans women of color and pretty shocked at how casual both Ames and Reese treated Katrina and her body — as an object to be used as a means to their end — as well as their decision to bring a whole human being into the world without any consideration or reflection if they themselves are actually suitable and ready in being responsibly and emotionally available parents. 

While I know Reese is a flawed character, I can’t get past her narrow views of what womanhood is and her reasons for being a mother. 

And then to go through all that mess for a non-ending…. That was pretty disappointing. The ending felt rushed and incomplete. 
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anniereads221's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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