There's a lot to appreciate in Emily St. James' debut novel, *True Selves*. It ambitiously tackles voice and perspective, and for the most part, I found the structure compelling. I especially connected with the characters and how the book portrays the intricate and nuanced realities of trans-femme lives. My main critique is that *True Selves* feels too long, and the plot sometimes bogs down the narrative, leading to a somewhat uneven pace. However, overall, it's a remarkably strong debut. If you...

Emily St. James's *True Selves* was a book club pick, and wow, did it ever blow me away. This is a novel about visibility, becoming, and the cost of survival. The title refers to trans people passing as cis and “disappearing into the woodwork” of society, gaining safety through invisibility, but not everyone can pass, or is willing to pay the steep price to start over from scratch, and the book is deeply aware of the envy, grief, and sadness that reality can produce. We follow a woman in her th...

I really appreciated the spirit of "True Selves" and how it captured the complexities of the trans experience, particularly the sense of solidarity among trans women. That being said, some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural, and the plot seemed more focused on delivering a message (which I happened to agree with) than on subtle or nuanced character development. The characters themselves were well-developed overall, though. While the prose wasn't my personal favorite, I'm still glad "True Se...

3.5/5Yesterday, the US Supreme Court ruled against the federal rights of trans children, while keeping in place the surgeries, hormone treatments, and other gendered medical procedures, affirming or otherwise, allotted to (prospective) 'cis' children at cis parents' discretion. It's no surprise, and the fact that the NY Times is trumpeting that this case will 'set the movement back a generation' says more about how that paper would love nothing more than to see me and my kind wiped out than any ...

My heart is so full right now. And I love every trans woman alive. Don't let the bastards get you down; they're not going to win. They can't. Trans and queer people are going to exist forever.

How beautiful. Emily St. James's *True Selves* is a testament to that enduring beauty. If you're looking for heartfelt trans literature, read *True Selves*. It's a must-read.

Okay, so this is *probably* closer to a four-star read, and maybe I'll bump it up eventually, but it completely wrecked something I genuinely loved. It pissed me off enough to stop reading for a bit, and that? That's not a four-star experience. So, three stars it is.I didn't particularly *like* Erica or Abigail, but I kept reading mostly because it was funny. Also, I thought the author's choice to have Abigail, who's embracing her true self, narrate in the first person, while Erica, who hasn't s...

This is very likely my favorite book of the year. "True Selves" was everything I want a book to be: a deep dive into characters, a story with real emotional heft, and a narrative brimming with plot. I never wanted to stop reading it. I cried a few times and missed these characters when it was over. A++ It's funny because I know I've written a lot of reviews where I say things like, "We don't really need more queer coming-out narratives," and sometimes I approach books about coming out with skep...

I know it's only February, but I'll be shocked if this isn't my favorite book of the year because it's already tied with Dayspring as my favorite book of all time. Honestly, I think "True Selves" by Emily St. James might just be the best book I read all year. If you're looking for excellent book reviews, keep reading. "True Selves" is about a high school English teacher (Erica Skyberg) accepting she's trans at 35. She lives in Mitchell, South Dakota. The year the novel takes place is 2016. It's...

So. Fucking. Good! I'm pissed I can't tell everyone to read **True Selves** right now because it's not out for six months. What a scam (jk, more time for me to shout about it from the mountaintops). Looking for the best **book reviews**? Look no further!**True Selves** follows Erica Skyberg, a recently divorced English teacher who is coming to terms with the fact that she is trans. This realization is ushered in by the presence of Abigail Hawkes, a spitfire 17-year-old trans girl who has come ou...

I wrote this book! I'm incredibly proud of it! Every time I returned to work on it, I felt a little happier knowing I'd get to spend a few weeks/months with Erica and Abigail. I hope you feel the same when you settle in to hang out with them, but if you don't, that's perfectly okay too. Not every book resonates with everyone. Most importantly: I read *True Selves* in 2024, and therefore, it counts toward my 2024 READING CHALLENGE. Victory!ETA: I listened to the audiobook version in mid-2025! Rea...