Falling Back in Love with Being Human (Kai Cheng Thom)
One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. This came to me at the perfect time in my life (though I wouldn't have been mad if I'd discovered it earlier). It should be required reading for anyone who has ever felt themselves at odds with the world or who seeks to undertake a journey to know and love themselves truly
Woodworking (Emily St. James)
A lot of trans literature in my view is filled with kind of hard-to-love characters (e.g. Maria in Nevada, or Reese in Detransition, Baby). There's nothing wrong with that, of course. We are all imperfect and sharp around the edges in our own ways! This book offers a more mundane perspective of middle-age transition that I found realistic, relatable, and refreshing. I also enjoyed the way it examines the decision to live "stealth" and the stressors and isolation that can bring, even though to many trans folks that is the dream/ideal.
Detransition, Baby (Torrey Peters)
The book that changed my life for the better. Torrey often writes of characters or experiences that can give me pause (Stag Dance), and I found both Ames and Reese deeply frustrating as characters, but overall I found this a beautiful examination of the trans experience and the different shapes families can take.
The Argonauts (Maggie Nelson)
Veers a little academic at times, so it took me a while to get into it initially, but every page left me with something to think about and I found it a very smart examination of queer life, art, and family-building. It also introduced me to lots of academics, philosophers, and artists etc. I was previously unfamiliar with.
