A review by mackreads324
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Detransition, Baby explores womanhood, motherhood, gender identity, relationships, and the uncommonly addressed, detransitioning. Peters introduces us to three main characters: a trans woman with a deep desire for motherhood, a de-transitioned man struggling with the idea of impending fatherhood and his own gender identity, and a divorced pregnant cis biracial woman juggling a decision on motherhood and family. 

I have to admit that this is the first book I have read where trans individuals stand in the spotlight, not just a character in the periphery. That fact put my own heteronormativity on display to myself, and make me realize I need to expose myself to more media written by and shown from the lens of trans people. This book is tense, raw, and messy. I felt like by the end of it I had an open wound. 

I went through the book cycling between hating and loving the characters, and to me, that’s often a sign that it’s a good book. Flawed characters with traumatic pasts, hurting others, tackling life decisions, facing their personal desires and identity. The book didn’t seek to make martyrs or heroes out of the characters, but let them live their chaotic, messy lives while happening to be trans. You don’t really get the “closure” you think you want at the end, but instead just characters continuing to make it through live the best they can. 
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