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littlewaffle 's review for:

Woodworking by Emily St. James
5.0

Absolutely devoured this. 

A prime example of why I love character-driven stories. This was such a beautiful and painful examination of womanhood, trans-ness, identity, community, and the dangers of isolation. I loved the small town setting and how suffocating it felt…but also how there’s glimmers of hope and community in the people who live there. 

I really admire how the author avoided the typical villain character which would’ve been really easy to do for some of these people honestly. Everyone felt like living, breathing people full of nuance, hopes, and flaws. I also particularly loved the narrative structure and how beautifully it came together into the first person. 

One of my favorite reads of the year and one that will stay with me for a long time.