Torrey Peters released her whipsmart debut novel – Detransition, Baby – in 2021 that earned immense critical acclaim. The novel revolves around three women – Reese, Amy and Katrina – grappling with impending motherhood. Reese nearly had it all in her loving relationship with Amy, but the only thing missing was a child. Then everything fell apart and three years on Reese is still in self-destruct mode, avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men. When Reese calls to ask if she wants to be a mother to his unplanned child, Reese finds herself intrigued. After being attacked in the street, Amy de-transitioned to become Ames, changed jobs and, thinking he was infertile, started an affair with his boss Katrina. Now Katrina’s pregnant. The three of them decide to form an unconventional family and raise the baby together. The novel centres around the complexity of these relationships, particularly how these manifest in discussions of gender.

Detransition, Baby is an immensely charming novel – funny, smart and messy. Above all, it is full of emotion, showcasing the complexity of these kinds of relationships but it is not contrived. Peters delivers the novel with immense tenderness. More than anything, the novel will broaden public understanding of transness without “teaching”. The novel is filled with wonderful and joyful characters and it is overall an immensely enjoyable and delightful book.

Pick up a copy here.

The post REVIEW: Detransition, Baby – Torrey Peters appeared first on off the record.

Red, White & Royal Blue was a stunningly charming debut, released in 2019. Since then, the novel has fast become a cult classic, beloved by legions of fans. This year, Casey McQuiston has released her hotly-anticipated sophomore novel – One Last Stop. The novel has already taken over bookstagram and faced a lot of attention.

The novel tells the story of a twenty-three year old girl called August, who has moved to New York City, having moved from state to state. Her whole life, her mother has expected her to help her locate what happened to her uncle, who disappeared back in the 1970s. She moves in with three roommates – Niko, Myla and Wes – who are all perfectly formed and distinct characters. McQuiston has a phenomenal ability to create characters who feel completely familiar yet utterly unique and distinct, and perfectly sum up the idea of a ‘family’ you create. On August’s first commute to school, she takes the Q train, where she meets a girl. Day after day, the pair manage to somehow find themselves on the exact same subway and train car. Jane, or ‘Subway Girl’, is a Chinese lesbian displaced from the 1970s who has managed to remain ‘stuck’ in the present day, due to some kind of magical time slip. August seems to root her more so than ever in the present day. Between the two of them, they try and piece together what has happened to Jane and exactly who Jane is.

Above all the supernatural trappings, at its heart, One Last Stop is a devastatingly raw and real love story between two perfectly-formed and authentic characters, giving a nod to the history of the LGBTQ community and creating a hopeful space for the future. It’s immensely charming and displays yet again McQuiston’s ability to create engaging and real characters.

The post REVIEW: One Last Stop – Casey McQuiston appeared first on off the record.