Friday, May 27, 2016

If I Was Your Girl

Title: If I Was Your Girl
Author: Meredith Russo
Series: Standalone
Number of Pages: 287
Date Read: 5/27/16 
Genre: LGBT, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary


Synopsis (Found on Goodreads.com):

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.

And then she meets Grant Everett. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met—open, honest, kind—and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won't be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.


My Review: 

I enjoyed this book. It was something different than what I normally read, which for me was good. 

This book is about a girl named Amanda who moves in with her dad during her senior year of high school. The book is about her settling in the school and her new life as well as her first love. But its not all that simple. Because Amanda used to be Andrew. 

The book deals with the fear of being outed as a transgendered person and how that affects Amandas life. 

The book is told mostly in the present but some chapters flash back to some years when Amanda was still Andrew and we find out a bit about her past and how trapped she felt in her body. 

I liked Amanda and felt like she was a strong female protagonist who had to deal with her fair share of hardships. The reader can really see the progression of Amanda's character from the beginning of the book to the end. In the beginning, Amanda is fearful, always on alert and wants to be invisible. All she wants is to get through her senior year and get out of town to go to college somewhere far away like NY. By the end of the book she is comfortable in her own skin, is confident in herself and wants to be seen. She starts feeling like she doesn't have to run away to college and that she finally feel like she belongs somewhere. Amanda does go through many hardships and new experiences to become the character she is at the end. 

I also loved how Amanda found a core of three girlfriends who were there for her. They didn't know her secret for most of the book. However Amanda finally knew what it was to have friends who loved her, hung out with her and friends who just wanted to have fun together. Each girl is dealing with their own issue and Amanda learns how to become a good friend and listener to help them with their issues. 

The romance was ok. I just didn't like how insta lovey it felt. But it was cute. I like Grant. He was sweet, caring and thoughtful to Amanda. However Amanda struggles with her secret and has battles with herself on if she should be with Grant and if she should tell him her secret. 

I loved that Amanda's parents were involved in her life. Her mother is her rock and was there with her through her transitioning. Her father agreed to take her in and care for her when it wasn't safe for Amanda to live in her mom's town anymore. The book also shows how both her parents struggle(d) with their son transitioning into a girl. Her father had the hardest time accepting it but he still loved her, protected her and wanted the best for her. I love how the book showed each parent dealt in their own way but ultimately supporting their child. It was a wonderful touch to the book. 

I recommend this book to everyone whether you are transgendered or not. This book has something in it for everyone and everyone can take away something from this book. It can also teach not to judge other people before you get to know them and their life and/or struggles. 


Rating: A

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