Reviews with content warning for Racism - Detransition, Baby

What defines a family? Ames, currently living as a man, gets his boss, Karina, a cis woman, pregnant. While a family is something he has always wanted, he doubts his ability to fulfill the masculine role of father as he still feels like a trans woman at heart. So, Ames reconnects with his former partner, Reese, a trans woman, to see if she would like to parent with them. Ames believes that Reese will be able to understand Ames and make this parenting arrangement less cisnormative. Eventually, Karina warms up to the parenting arrangement and develops a relationship with Reese. Over time, Karina develops a more nuanced understanding of gender and family structure.

This book was such an interesting read and unlike anything, I had ever read before. I loved the nuanced approach to family and was excited to see how the book played out. Peters examines the characters’ past and present to help us understand how it informs their current situation. There is also a nuanced understanding of gender, which made me realize why someone may detransition while not coming off as anti-trans. These characters are beautifully complicated, and I loved getting to know them. I also loved how it didn’t shy away from Karina’s grappling with the whole situation, and I think that was realistic to how a situation like this would play out in real life. I loved Reese and Karina getting to know each other; it was a bright spot in a heavy book.

Since I’m cisgender, I’m hesitant to list out weaknesses of this book related to the characters. Ultimately, it’s not my place to say whether or not this book was one accurate portrayal of trans people. I was disappointed in the ending because I wanted to see their decision and how their lives turned out. A time jump for the last chapter would’ve sufficed. Some metaphors and concepts were hard to follow, and I had to read them 25 times. I assume the author just got excited while writing and went hard. One thing I will say is I wondered how the trans community felt about the repeated use of the word “transexual” or Reese’s affinity for married men.

Overall, I found this book to be interesting and a great first read of 2023. I might be biased because I love character explorations and stories about families. I would recommend this book to most people, particularly those with a more advanced understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. I wouldn’t recommend this story to my mom because she may take away that trans people are unhappy once they transition and want to transition back. This book requires a nuanced understanding of gender to grasp fully.

Content Warnings

sluckyy14's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring reflective tense 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

rionstorm's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

2.75

I really wanted to like this, but it kind of just feels like watching my least favourite kind of trans people do things that make me sad on loop with no resolution or change. I don't think I liked a single character in it? There were a few moments that made me go Wow! because they hit on something very real and true about being trans, but there were more moments that just equated being trans to being exactly the miserable caricature cis people think of us as? I am sad that I didn't like it. Also please I beg, enough with the weird "transfems in opposition to transmascs" / "transmascs have it so easy" / "transmascs and transfems arent REALLY friends" narrative? So not realistic and so not helpful.

Content Warnings

michaelion's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

charlottemmeline's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative 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

5.0

This book was simultaneously one of the most beautiful, stressful and at times horrifying things I've ever read. Obsessed and am in a state of shock having finished it. Everyone should read it.

Content Warnings

More...