Similar to Dreams of a Woman, this is a story that centers a Canadian trans woman and the major obstacles in the story come from the complications of simply existing as a trans woman. There is a loose, overarching plot in which her grandparent has passed away and a family friend calls the home, she answers, turns out her grandparent might have been trans. Between meeting that friend though, most of the book happens.

This can be quite brutal in some ways. The character obviously uses alcohol to obfuscate deeper issues. She’s post-op, still can’t pass all of the time, and is harassed fairly often. Her job is in jeopardy. The mental health of one or more of her trans friends are in crisis almost from the get-go. It does also have plenty of moments of being around people that truly love and support her and want the best for her. So the tone Vacillates, to put it mildly. But it did feel like fiction that wasn’t solely about making you care about a marginalized person’s pain, and I liked that the conflicts came from her life naturally, so it organically puts the reader in situations where they hopefully will understand the additional barriers to feeling safe and financial security, and the prejudices involved.

Overall, I thought it was really strong and always believable and compelling. I do like Dream of a Woman, her short story collection, a bit more because that collection is more eclectic and has a heartfelt through line that is the strongest story I’ve read by this author so far.