A review by sapphistoire
Girlfriends by Emily Zhou

emotional funny hopeful 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

I finally picked up this short story collection after it being highly recommended by my favourite bookshop - Category Is Books - and I am so glad that I did. For years I have said that I am not a lover of short stories, but after reading Sarahland, Her Body and Other Parties, and now Girlfriends, I think that I have found my niche. I just don't love short stories that have a million layers that are demanding to be picked apart and analysed in English classes; I much prefer something that is a little slice of life, be that fantastical or simply the mundane.

This is a collection of said slice of life stories, all of which follow trans women. Every single story was so well fleshed out, and despite wanting more when each of them ended, they all felt like they ended at the perfect spot, leaving me fully satiated.

Definitely a new favourite of mine, and I really hope that Emily Zhou releases something new soon because I am already craving more of her writing!