DAT reviewed If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
Review of 'If I Was Your Girl' on 'GoodReads'
3 stars
I really tried to like this book. In the end it's kinda ok, but sadly nothing more.
I thought reading about the life of a trans-teenager would be far enough out of my area of experience to make for an interesting read. But on itself it isn't. Yeah, I'm staight white male - probably had an "easy" youth without huge problems whatsoever.
What's too far from me to relate to is this stereotypic over-the-top american stuff. (i'm german)
And then there are just so many parts of this book that just read like any other standard "ugly-duckling-meets-prince-charming"-teeny-flick, sometimes interrupted of chapters where we learn about how got to the point where the book starts.
Make her born a poor girl, with ugly glasses and you get like every second crappy movie of that genre out there. And even all the people act like it. Most of them completely irrational, but …
I really tried to like this book. In the end it's kinda ok, but sadly nothing more.
I thought reading about the life of a trans-teenager would be far enough out of my area of experience to make for an interesting read. But on itself it isn't. Yeah, I'm staight white male - probably had an "easy" youth without huge problems whatsoever.
What's too far from me to relate to is this stereotypic over-the-top american stuff. (i'm german)
And then there are just so many parts of this book that just read like any other standard "ugly-duckling-meets-prince-charming"-teeny-flick, sometimes interrupted of chapters where we learn about how got to the point where the book starts.
Make her born a poor girl, with ugly glasses and you get like every second crappy movie of that genre out there. And even all the people act like it. Most of them completely irrational, but just right to fit the story of such a movie.
So no, this isn't a good book. An interesting read... yes.
Might be helpful to trans people? maybe - that's something i couln't possible say
But well written and with a good story? no.
Oh, and btw. it's kinda really short for the price.