If I Was Your Girl

by Meredith Russo

Selected as the launch title for the Zoella Book Club. Amanda Hardy is the new girl at school. Like everyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is holding back. Even from Grant, the guy she's falling in love with. Amanda has a secret. At her old school, she used to be called Andrew. And secrets always have a way of getting out...

• ISBN10: 1250078407
• ISBN13: 9781250078407
• Publish Date: 3 May 2016
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Flatiron Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[layawaydragon]

Content Warning: Severe Bullying, Suicide, Sexual Assault, Bigotry

Quick easy read that flew by. Couldn't put it down.

I love the alternating between past and present. The last two scenes juxtapositioned were perfect. I love the ending. It's just right. It's not about the boy or the relationship. It's about Amanda.

Some of the present chapters didn't flow as smoothly with the time jumps and I kept wondering what happened in between time. This and not finding out the deal with certain things about Grant's past were the only drawbacks.

It does work as a introductory primer for learning about trans girls and women in general. The author's note does address both cis and trans* readers with common misconceptions.

But even if you don't need that part, it's a great coming of age story. It's got small town secrets and twists, divorced parents building a better relationship, and girls banding together.

If I Was Your Girl is an easily recommendable. It's cute and hopeful. Not "fluffy" exactly with all harmful triggering content but buoyant.

I really look forward to reading more of Russo's work.