'If I Was Your Girl' by Meredith Russo follows the story of Amanda, a transgender girl who moves to a new town to start afresh. The plot revolves around Amanda's journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of being accepted by her peers while keeping her past a secret. The writing style of the book is described as emotional, impactful, and engaging, providing a thoughtful exploration of the power of secrets and the consequences of denying one's true self.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of archetypes and idealized portrayals, with Amanda at the center as both relatable and aspirational.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is relatable and engaging, with a balance of light and serious themes that attract a broad audience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Amanda, a transgender girl, as she starts fresh at a new school, grappling with her identity and fear of being outed.

Setting:

The story is set in a small Southern town, reflecting social dynamics and challenges faced by trans individuals.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast, with key plot points unfolding too quickly for the depth of development often desired.

The bus smelled of mildew, machine oil, and sweat. As the suburban Atlanta sprawl disappeared behind us, I tapped my foot on the floor and chewed a lock of my newly long hair. A nagging voice reminded...

Notes:

The book features Amanda Hardy, a transgender girl navigating high school after moving to escape bullying.

It realistically portrays the internal struggles and fears of a transgender teen.

The author, Meredith Russo, is a transgender woman herself, adding authenticity to the narrative.

The story tackles heavy themes like bullying, suicide attempts, and acceptance.

Amanda's experiences highlight the contrast between her past as Andrew and her current life.

The novel addresses the complexities of gender identity and the challenges faced by transgender individuals, particularly in the conservative South.

Amanda's relationship with Grant shows the dilemmas of dating while being transgender, including the fear of disclosing her past.

The book emphasizes the importance of friendships and support systems in overcoming adversity.

It highlights the idea that transgender individuals can have positive experiences, contrary to many negative stereotypes in media.

The author includes an important note at the end, explaining her intentions in writing Amanda's story and acknowledging the artistic liberties taken.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include bullying, violence, suicide attempts, transphobia, and sexual assault.

Has Romance?

The book contains a strong romantic plot involving the protagonist's relationship with Grant.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

The award-winning, big-hearted novel about being seen for who you really are, and a love story you can't help but root for

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret, and she's determined not to get too close to anyone.

But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can't help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself, including her past. But Amanda's terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won't be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda's been keeping? It's that at her old school, she used to be Andrew. Will the truth cost Amanda her new life, and her new love?

Meredith Russo's If I Was Your Girl has been named:

Stonewall Book Award Winner

Walter Dean Myers Honor Book for Outstanding Children's Literature

iBooks YA Novel of the Year

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

An Amazon Best Book of the Year

A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist

A Zoella Book Club Selection

A Barnes & Noble Best YA Book of the Year

A Bustle Best YA Book of the Year

An ABA IndieNext Top 10 Pick

One of Flavorwire's 50 Books Every Modern Teenager Should Read

Ratings (7)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (3)

Reader Stats (15):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (2)

What can you read after
If I Was Your Girl?

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About the Author:

MEREDITH RUSSO was born, raised, and lives in Tennessee. She started living as her true self in late 2013 and never looked back. If I Was Your Girl was partially inspired by her experiences as a trans woman. Like Amanda, Meredith is a gigantic nerd who spends a lot of her time obsessing over video games and Star Wars.

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If I Was Your Girl

Meredith Russo