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megkoz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
One of the more entertaining and down to earth trans memoirs I’ve read, and one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Misogyny, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Abortion, Religious bigotry, Grief, Colonisation, Bullying, Racism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Chronic illness and Suicidal thoughts
parenthesis_enjoyer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Body shaming, Death, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Outing, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, and Homophobia
Minor: Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
bisexualbookshelf's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
"Horse Barbie" is a profoundly impactful memoir by Geena Rocero, a trans Filipina pageant star, offering a poignant exploration of femininity, identity, and resilience in the face of oppression. Rocero's narrative is a powerful testament to the challenges and triumphs of navigating the intersections of gender, race, and colonial history.
Throughout the memoir, Rocero fearlessly delves into the complexities of feminization, shedding light on the relentless pressure to conform to narrow standards of beauty and gender expression. Her candid reflections on the fear of being "clocked" are extremely poignant, offering insight into the lived experiences of trans individuals, particularly transfemmes, in society.
Against the backdrop of the American modeling industry, Rocero unveils the insidious forces of white supremacy, beauty standards, colorism, and transphobia, illuminating the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. Her unwavering commitment to anticolonial and decolonial themes underscores the importance of reclaiming and celebrating trans Filipina heritage.
Central to Rocero's narrative is the theme of chosen family and solidarity within the trans community, highlighting the transformative power of support and collective action. Her portrayal of trans joy and resilience amidst adversity serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for readers grappling with their own identities and struggles.
Rocero's voice is both intimate and inviting, infused with moments of humor and levity that balance the weight of the narrative. Her journey as an immigrant navigating the complexities of identity and assimilation in America offers a nuanced perspective on the intersectionality of gender and migration.
"Horse Barbie" is not merely a memoir; it is a manifesto of trans empowerment and liberation, challenging societal norms and reclaiming agency over one's identity. Rocero's unwavering commitment to self-love and acceptance serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and beauty inherent in trans existence.
As Rocero eloquently states, "trans joy can never be fully extinguished," and "Horse Barbie" is a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and determination within the trans community. Through her courageous storytelling, Rocero invites readers to reimagine their own histories and embrace their authentic selves with pride and confidence. "Horse Barbie" is a transformative and essential read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of gender, identity, and the power of self-affirmation. Geena Rocero's memoir is a triumph of trans resilience and joy, and I hope you’ll pick up a copy today.
📖 Recommended For: Advocates of Trans Liberation, Critics of Gender Norms & Roles, Supporters of Intersectional Feminism, Advocates of Decolonialism.
🔑 Key Themes: Trans Empowerment, Decolonization of Beauty Standards, Chosen Family and Community Support, Immigrant Experience and Identity, Resilience and Self-Love, Intersectionality and Solidarity, Reclaiming Trans Joy and Agency.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Transphobia, and Bullying
Minor: Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Mental illness
courtofsmutandstuff's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this, and highly recommend it, especially for people who like memoir.
I wasn't familiar with Rocero before her book, and it works well without prior knowledge of the author. She tells her whole life story, with a lot of focus on her professional experience (beauty pagents, modeling, and activism), but there is a lot of focus on her time as a stealth model, and the mental and emotional duress she experiences by staying in the closet. There are absolutely moments of joy and I love how she spends time talking about her friendships (and later in the book her most important relationships). She also does an excellent job reading the audiobook, and I liked the moments where there were sound effects (primarily camera shutters).
I wasn't familiar with Rocero before her book, and it works well without prior knowledge of the author. She tells her whole life story, with a lot of focus on her professional experience (beauty pagents, modeling, and activism), but there is a lot of focus on her time as a stealth model, and the mental and emotional duress she experiences by staying in the closet. There are absolutely moments of joy and I love how she spends time talking about her friendships (and later in the book her most important relationships). She also does an excellent job reading the audiobook, and I liked the moments where there were sound effects (primarily camera shutters).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Death of parent
chainingbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual content, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse and Alcoholism
siobhanward's review
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
One nice thing about adding books to your TBR and then not reading them for a while is being totally surprised when you finally pick them up. I had no idea what this was about and was immediately sucked in by Rocero's writing style and ability to weave stories with love and humour. It was honestly really nice to read a book about a trans person whose family was loving and supportive. I liked that as Geena started to lean more towards femininity, her family just accepted her and continued on with their lives.
I only wish that the later part of Geena's life (after she came out as trans) was more fleshed out. The beginning of her story leading up to there was detailed and in-depth, but it felt like the end just got rushed and didn't have the same attention as the rest. However, that was really the only downside. I loved the narrative style, it felt like a friend telling a story.
I only wish that the later part of Geena's life (after she came out as trans) was more fleshed out. The beginning of her story leading up to there was detailed and in-depth, but it felt like the end just got rushed and didn't have the same attention as the rest. However, that was really the only downside. I loved the narrative style, it felt like a friend telling a story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Death of parent
lanid's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, Sexual content, Medical content, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, Misogyny, Alcohol, Sexism, Vomit, Body shaming, Racism, and Lesbophobia
ohyeah_karyn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Transphobia, Homophobia, Outing, Alcohol, Colonisation, Abortion, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
This memoir is short and reads as conversational but so well written & I loved Geena’s voice 🩷
Beyond the layered representation we get of Geena’s trans, Filipino & immigrant identities, she also graciously dives into so much more!
Geena touches on religion, colonization, sexuality & orgasms post-surgery, the modeling industry, her body’s response to the suppression she was putting it through, colourism, pageantry, acceptance & affirmation from her parents, and more! I especially enjoyed the way she ruminated on her religion, & sought information on pre-colonial Filipino spirituality. Geena presented the information with curiosity, enthusiasm, & reverence.
I adored this memoir -which is told in a mostly linear fashion, which makes sense for her story- and I thank Geena for her transparency and generosity in sharing this story with us. She describes so many instances of anxiety, stress, & dread as she spent nine years “in the closet” as a trans woman in America during her modeling career. She saw the way past trans models’ careers tanked after they were outed, & she was terrified that at any point, it could be her turn. Yet, she also dissociated by thinking, “it won’t happen to me” or at least, “not yet.” Her body had other plans, which led her to an epiphany of “I must honor my _______” (not trying to spoil it for you haha). I was so proud of the journey that led her to her TED Talk in March 2014.
Another thing I was intrigued by were the ways she discussed the differences in American societal attitudes in 2005, compared to 2014, contrasted with today’s climate. I recognize it’s a dark time in America with book bans, policy continually taking away rights from trans folks, or actively perpetuating harm towards the trans community. However, during these times especially, I think we need to center trans joy too, to show it’s possible, and to remind people that their stories are still being written, and they deserve to be told!
Geena gave us a nuanced memoir full of her own internalized biases, beautiful childhood memories, & so much gratitude & hope.
This memoir is short and reads as conversational but so well written & I loved Geena’s voice 🩷
Beyond the layered representation we get of Geena’s trans, Filipino & immigrant identities, she also graciously dives into so much more!
Geena touches on religion, colonization, sexuality & orgasms post-surgery, the modeling industry, her body’s response to the suppression she was putting it through, colourism, pageantry, acceptance & affirmation from her parents, and more! I especially enjoyed the way she ruminated on her religion, & sought information on pre-colonial Filipino spirituality. Geena presented the information with curiosity, enthusiasm, & reverence.
I adored this memoir -which is told in a mostly linear fashion, which makes sense for her story- and I thank Geena for her transparency and generosity in sharing this story with us. She describes so many instances of anxiety, stress, & dread as she spent nine years “in the closet” as a trans woman in America during her modeling career. She saw the way past trans models’ careers tanked after they were outed, & she was terrified that at any point, it could be her turn. Yet, she also dissociated by thinking, “it won’t happen to me” or at least, “not yet.” Her body had other plans, which led her to an epiphany of “I must honor my _______” (not trying to spoil it for you haha). I was so proud of the journey that led her to her TED Talk in March 2014.
Another thing I was intrigued by were the ways she discussed the differences in American societal attitudes in 2005, compared to 2014, contrasted with today’s climate. I recognize it’s a dark time in America with book bans, policy continually taking away rights from trans folks, or actively perpetuating harm towards the trans community. However, during these times especially, I think we need to center trans joy too, to show it’s possible, and to remind people that their stories are still being written, and they deserve to be told!
Geena gave us a nuanced memoir full of her own internalized biases, beautiful childhood memories, & so much gratitude & hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Bullying
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Sexual content, and Drug use