by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan 

A Contemporary, 2022 by Ballantine, 464 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• Content Warning: spousal abuse, discussions of and attempts at su*c*de
• Sometimes the talk about honey and bees is a little much. It slows down the story and gives you a lot of information. 
• The time jumps make it hard to keep track of what happened in what order. Not with Lily vs Liv, those are given a benchmark. But sometimes Lily’s can be confusing because she’s told backwards.
• The resolution felt rushed because, quite frankly, the book didn’t need all the answers. That will be an unpopular opinion, especially from the crowd that needs answers. 

What I Did Like:

• The opening chapter definitely grabs your attention. The characters are introduced and you hit the ground running. 
• The gender identity comparison from the doctor is beautiful. Questions are answered in a simple and logical way. The handedness comparison is especially wonderful. 
• Jodi Picoult has a gift for taking a buzz worthy topic, investigating it, and then writing a beautiful book that brings important issues to the forefront of the reader’s minds. I appreciate that, in this case, she went a step further, writing with a co-writer who is already an expert. The result is a book that soars. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Contemporary fans. You’re likely already familiar with Jodi Picoult’s work. This is not one to skip. The discussions around trans people are necessary and well written.

My Rating: 4 Stars

• Don’t skip the notes from the authors at the conclusion of the book!