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 … 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?
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
IndieNext Top 10
One of Flavorwire’s 50 Books Every Modern Teenager Should Read
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This may be one of the most eye opening books I have ever read. It has opened my heart in ways I never thought possible. When I finished this book I cried. I cried because I was taken into Amanda’s life, world, emotions, mind, and I could never ever imagine or put myself in her shoes and know what she was going through. It is something I will never know or completely understand because I could never put myself in their shoes and trying to image it terrifies me. I thank Meredith Russo for opening my eyes and my heart to what life is like for those who are transgender, gay. lesbian, bisexual, or asexual.
This book was excellently written. I felt for Amanda through the entire book. I was shown what life for her was like and how things she went through changed the way she thought and lived her life. I was scared for her and happy all at the same time. This story is truly a treasure to read and it will stay with me forever. I just wanted her to be herself, be accepted, and loved. I was so happy there was such diversity in this book and the fact that it was set in the south. Amanda had great friends (love Layla) and she had a great mom, who was so supportive. Its one thing I loved about this book as well. This is an all around amazing book.
I highly recommend this book. I loved it so much and is now one of my favorite books ever. This book has such power and heart.
This is the first ‘serious’ LGBT themed novel that I read.
Sure I’ve read M/M romance, even the one that featured a menage. Heck, I even has shelves for them. LGBT is not something new for me, but this book is the first one that actually brought up the social issue about it, especially in the point of view of transgender.
Andrew, or we know now as Amanda, is struggling to find herself. She’s not safe in her old town that’s why she’s moving with her dad and enrolled in new school. Meeting new people even falling in love with her new identity never felt so easy. Plus, Amanda turns out to be a beautiful young woman. But still, living a life with a huge secret wighing you down is never okay. Constantly conscious of herself, Amanda’s life almost felt like a ticking time bomb that’s ready to blown. And of course, it did.
In a way, I can relate to Amanda. She’s basically thinking what eveyone’s thinking in terms of being new kid in school, trying to make friends and understanding her parents. But somehow I really think Amanda’s in in the lucky side because, well, she’s pretty. She stands out because of her beauty, plus with her shy and gentle attitude, it’s not hard for her to make new friends already. Even guys having crush on her. So yeah, that’s why this book is not that heavy and simply focused on how Amanda try to live her new life as a girl.
3.5 stars from me.