Less of a memoir but like a collection of essay/manifesto/poetry! I really appreciate the author mentions not just the medical difficulty for trans people (it blows my mind that one needs to fundraise for life-affirming surgeries) but also the social adjustments.

They raise some fascinating thoughts about how one’s gender identity is influenced by social norms and how to parse out one’s identity from expectations. I wish this is discussed more in depth.

The discussions of toxic masculinity, especially within the Black (Christian) community is another focal point of the book.

While I don’t think PRETTY discusses anything new in terms of trans/queer/black experience, it’s still a book I’d recommend reading to remind ourselves of the importance of forming a truly inclusive community ❤️

The poems are very powerful and my favorite part of the book!