"Thank you, Bean," I said.

"For what?" he asked.

"For creating a world where I can do this," I told him. He smiled and squeezed my hand.

Want to cry? I have the book for you! There are many moments in this book in which you’ll be moved to weep. Sad tears, happy tears, mixes of both, this book has them all. McBride narrates this herself, and does so very well, and tells her story honestly, humbly and inspiringly. She explains how change happens, individually and structurally, in a way that makes the reader/listener ready to join or further help society achieve LGBTQ equality.

Read Harder: Read an LGBTQ+ history book - not sure this one is “history” per se but it’s recent history and alludes to what came before.

Ooooof this one hurt. This was a hope sandwich. It started with hope and ended with hope, and in the middle was UTTER DEVASTATION. I ugly sobbed and hugged my partner and there was snot everywhere and it was a whole thing. The parts about Trump triumphing over Hillary felt even more prevalent since this past election. It’s a great memoir, but fair warning- the middle will stomp on your heart, so plan your reading accordingly.

This is easily the most moving book I've ever read. Sarah is a phenomenal writer and story teller.

I read this book because it was on so many “queer and trans must read” book lists. Though after getting through the first chapter or two, the excitement I initially felt began to wear off.

This feels like a book for allies who need an inspirational story to rally behind. It’s simplistic, though I don’t say that to be negative. Sarah McBride takes the time to explain important terminology in simple terms that made it clear that this was an entry level queer and trans read. I want to give this to straight, cisgender friends and family who would benefit from reading about trans hardship, loss and victory all mixed into one. For allies, it has the beautiful, inspirational ending that not all trans stories have.

I don’t regret reading it and I certainly could have stopped along the way. The internal struggles Sarah faced paired with the loss of her husband gave me space to be introspective. I connected and grieved with her at times. The book has it’s difficult moments, but at the end of the day, there are many privileges McBride experienced in her coming out journey that aren’t afforded to most. She does a great job at acknowledging these things but it didn’t always seem like enough.

TLDR: If you’re reading this because you’re also part of the LGBTQIA+ community, expect an elementary read. For a greater impact, give it to an ally who’s looking for resources and stories of queer and trans individuals.

Very powerful story. The author has done so much for the transgender community and continues to work for the betterment of the LBGTQ community as a whole. It was interesting to see behind the scenes in the policy and political process.

I enjoyed reading about her story and she had some powerful insights into what it is like to live in this world with a heavy secret. I wish I would’ve picked a different book though.