The more queer fiction I read, the more mirrors I see. It's startling. Like that startling feeling you get when you're walking down the hall and you see the image of a person flicker out of the corner of your eye. You jump and realize, "Oh, it's me. It's a mirror." With IF I WAS YOUR GIRL, I see myself and my struggles not just in big picture stuff, like Amanda's constant worrying over her own safety, but in the little things too. I struggle making sticky rice for sushi! I really love SANDMAN! I actually know someone named Amanda Hardy!? Wonderous, pal. I'm not even a trans woman, and I see. I understand.

I was so happy reading this book. Even during the tense parts, the scary parts, I was so happy I was reading. For the first time in a long while, I want to physically get into this world and give the MC a big hug and protect her from every little hurt. And for the first time in forever, I kind of can. I can be a trustworthy ally and friend to all trans people I meet and know already. I can ask for preferred pronouns. I can NOT ask about genitals, birth names, or surgeries. I can listen. I can read more. I am DEFINITELY sharing my copy with all my friends and close family and IMMEDIATELY pre-ordering Russo's next book whenever it becomes available. Like, damn. Way to write. Russo is on the ground, earthquake-listening close to Amanda's emotional journey, and the plot of books follows kissing close. The balance of interior struggle and external events is tipped in a unique fashion, with the interior taking dominance but by no means eclipsing the external. Absolutely lovely.

tl;dr: IF I WAS YOUR GIRL is a fantastic, extremely well-written book that ya'll should read right now this minute.