I've gotten into the Goodreads Seasonal Challenges ... the last reveal for May/June was "Rainbow Reads" so I looked over the qualifying books and, I'm always a sucker for "what if" and "alternate timeline" types of tales, so I grabbed this.

I don't really avoid LGBT reads, well, maybe a little (just not really my preferred genre), it's not something I seek out, unless it's for a challenge (like here). Ironically, I just read "The Vanishing Half" which I picked for the Centennial reads, but it ended up registering for the Rainbow Reads instead (which is okay, I have a backup title for that group). I had been thinking "my last book had a ton about transgender too!" but couldn't figure out why that hadn't registered ;)

This was written 1st person, present tense ... I'm not a huge fan of present tense, but it reads easier in 1st person than 3rd person. All from the POV of Darby. Born a girl but not feeling like a girl, crushing on a friend/Michael, not connecting with other LGBT until after leaving for college. Transitioning. Now returning home.

I liked the whole "walk into the bookstore and it's 2009, young Darby is there working" ... the idea of maybe being able to say something to your younger self that might help the future flow more smoothly (there's a Netflix movie "My Old Ass" ...) If young Darby had known that there were others out there, feeling some of the same things, being able to recognize/put a name to these feelings, would that have helped?

This did shine a light on some of the struggles of LGBT youth, that of course I feel like I realize, but it made it a bit more real to me, seeing it in a story setting. The confusion, feelings of isolation, the relief of finding others out there on the same page so one doesn't feel so alone.

On the one hand, the final chapters had a few little profound tidbits ... although they also could feel a bit "after school special" ... I liked how it resolved things in the end.

Profanity x23 ... some sex, but it was almost closed door.