What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Truths And A Guy
High school is hard enough. Imagine having to keep a secret that can change your twin’s life.
Sixteen-year-old twins, Stella and Peter, move cross-country with their parents to start fresh and leave their former life behind. Will the past determine their future, or will they finally get their happy ending?
-------------------------
Peter and Stella may be twins, but individually their struggles are one of a kind. From the outside, they seem like two kids just trying to find their way at a new school, but behind closed doors they deal with the emotional baggage from the past they've yet to unpack. Beauty queen Mom counts Stella’s every calorie rather than deal with Peter's transition. And even though Dad supports Peter’s true self, he’s blind to seeing Stella for who she really is. She just wants to be a teenage girl known for anything other than her sibling. Meanwhile, with a skin-tight binder around his chest, and eagerness to fit in with his classmates, Peter feels like he’s suffocating. All this, just to have his outside match his inside––and simply be. If anyone learns their secret, the family’s sacrifice of moving to California will have been for nothing.
Brimming with a rollercoaster of emotion and unwavering hope, Two Truths And A Guy is a heartfelt coming of age story that touches us with the power of loyalty, the need for acceptance, and the importance of living our truth.
Sixteen-year-old twins, Stella and Peter, move cross-country with their parents to start fresh and leave their former life behind. Will the past determine their future, or will they finally get their happy ending?
-------------------------
Peter and Stella may be twins, but individually their struggles are one of a kind. From the outside, they seem like two kids just trying to find their way at a new school, but behind closed doors they deal with the emotional baggage from the past they've yet to unpack. Beauty queen Mom counts Stella’s every calorie rather than deal with Peter's transition. And even though Dad supports Peter’s true self, he’s blind to seeing Stella for who she really is. She just wants to be a teenage girl known for anything other than her sibling. Meanwhile, with a skin-tight binder around his chest, and eagerness to fit in with his classmates, Peter feels like he’s suffocating. All this, just to have his outside match his inside––and simply be. If anyone learns their secret, the family’s sacrifice of moving to California will have been for nothing.
Brimming with a rollercoaster of emotion and unwavering hope, Two Truths And A Guy is a heartfelt coming of age story that touches us with the power of loyalty, the need for acceptance, and the importance of living our truth.
- GenresYoung Adult
323 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 30, 2021
This synopsis is so transphobic, I want to throw up. Stop deadnaming trans characters! And stop writing books about how "hard" it is for cis people to have trans people in their lives! We are not burdens or dirty little secrets, and we are more than our transness!
October 11, 2021
Reading this book was hard but I wanted to give an honest review for all the trans kids out there who want to read it. If I can say one thing, just DON'T!!
This entire book is a pity party for the sister, Stella. Even in Peter's parts it's about how her life has been negatively affected by everything that has happened since Peter's coming out.
There is a lot of dead naming Peter (I counted 27 times on the first 100 pages alone), a trans side character also gets dead named, Peter gets misgendered a couple of times as well. Both Peter and Stella blame Peter for all the stuff Stella is going through completely ignoring what Peter has been through and is still going through and there is some mild homophobia.
I cringed the entire time. The side characters felt like cliche teenagers and are totally unlikeable and just over the top. The mom is so annoying and horrible and honestly the dad isn't that much better either.
I am sure there are other and way better books out there if you are looking for trans representation, because this book sure ain't it.
This entire book is a pity party for the sister, Stella. Even in Peter's parts it's about how her life has been negatively affected by everything that has happened since Peter's coming out.
There is a lot of dead naming Peter (I counted 27 times on the first 100 pages alone), a trans side character also gets dead named, Peter gets misgendered a couple of times as well. Both Peter and Stella blame Peter for all the stuff Stella is going through completely ignoring what Peter has been through and is still going through and there is some mild homophobia.
I cringed the entire time. The side characters felt like cliche teenagers and are totally unlikeable and just over the top. The mom is so annoying and horrible and honestly the dad isn't that much better either.
I am sure there are other and way better books out there if you are looking for trans representation, because this book sure ain't it.
November 20, 2021
This book was very tough to get through. The synopsis online has changed and had changed before I first skimmed the synopsis, but the physical copy has what appears to be the original synopsis on it. If I had known what was in this book, I never would have entered the giveaway or requested a copy. The synopsis on the physical book includes dead naming and misgendering one of the main characters. During my reading of this book, I counted over 100 instances in which Peter was dead named or misgendered. There are also several uses of homophobic and transphobic slurs. Homophobia, transphobia, and ableism are all present within this book.
This entire book is essentially a sob story about how hard it is for cis people to have trans people in their lives. No matter whose point of view we were in, the story is framed as if Stella has it incredibly tough because her brother is trans. She actively thinks about him as if he were dead and that she lost a sibling. In the book, she demands that people think about how she feels about Peter being trans and how hard it’s been on her that he’s trans. Peter’s pov constantly acts like he is being too hard on her, even after she says transphobic stuff to his face. At one point in the book, after Peter has been outed to the entire school, Stella yells at him, calling him by his dead name multiple times, yells about how she can’t misgender or dead name him, and tells him that he stole her sister from her. When somebody stops this tirade, she has the audacity to say that Peter was the one making the scene. Stella does and says things throughout this book that are unforgivable and yet she describes herself as a good sister. At no point in this book was I shown that she was a good sister. She was self-absorbed, selfish, and mean.
On the other hand, Peter barely responded to the transphobia that came from his family and only responded within the last section of the book. He even calls himself a transphobe in this book. When talking to another trans character, they agree that it could be worse. His mother is dead naming and misgendering him behind his back and acts as if this is just a phase. They even go as far as saying, “Well as least you aren’t dead name anymore.” There is also a scene in the book, where Peter tells Nate to come out as gay to his dad, despite knowing that Nate’s dad is very homophobic, which is very dangerous advice. Yes, it can be good to come out, but people need to be allowed to come out, when it is safe and when they want to. Nate is not in a position where he feels he is safe to come out and he has stated multiple times that he is not ready.
None of the characters actually face any repercussions for their actions. Peter just forgives Stella without any actual talking to her or working through any of the stuff she said to him. Kyle and Nate basically just get a slap on the wrist. They still get to be on the basketball team despite outing Peter and only receive boos from the crowd. It’s completely forgotten that their mother body shames Stella all the time and counts Stella’s calories, not allowing her to eat anything that is remotely unhealthy and their father forces Stella to play a sport despite her not liking sports. By the end of the book, they are shown as they only care about their children and would do no harm to them, despite doing the opposite throughout the rest of the book.
This book was incredibly tough to read. This book was hateful while claiming that it is a fantastic book for educating young, cis readers about trans people. This book was written by a cis author and is targeted at a cis audience, while claiming that it is a trans book. Peter does not talk about himself like a trans person would, but instead how cis people think trans people do. The entire focus of this book is on how hard it is for Stella to have a trans brother, even in Peter’s pov.
I received a copy through a Goodreads giveaway, and I would like to thank Fire and Ice for providing with a copy.
This entire book is essentially a sob story about how hard it is for cis people to have trans people in their lives. No matter whose point of view we were in, the story is framed as if Stella has it incredibly tough because her brother is trans. She actively thinks about him as if he were dead and that she lost a sibling. In the book, she demands that people think about how she feels about Peter being trans and how hard it’s been on her that he’s trans. Peter’s pov constantly acts like he is being too hard on her, even after she says transphobic stuff to his face. At one point in the book, after Peter has been outed to the entire school, Stella yells at him, calling him by his dead name multiple times, yells about how she can’t misgender or dead name him, and tells him that he stole her sister from her. When somebody stops this tirade, she has the audacity to say that Peter was the one making the scene. Stella does and says things throughout this book that are unforgivable and yet she describes herself as a good sister. At no point in this book was I shown that she was a good sister. She was self-absorbed, selfish, and mean.
On the other hand, Peter barely responded to the transphobia that came from his family and only responded within the last section of the book. He even calls himself a transphobe in this book. When talking to another trans character, they agree that it could be worse. His mother is dead naming and misgendering him behind his back and acts as if this is just a phase. They even go as far as saying, “Well as least you aren’t dead name anymore.” There is also a scene in the book, where Peter tells Nate to come out as gay to his dad, despite knowing that Nate’s dad is very homophobic, which is very dangerous advice. Yes, it can be good to come out, but people need to be allowed to come out, when it is safe and when they want to. Nate is not in a position where he feels he is safe to come out and he has stated multiple times that he is not ready.
None of the characters actually face any repercussions for their actions. Peter just forgives Stella without any actual talking to her or working through any of the stuff she said to him. Kyle and Nate basically just get a slap on the wrist. They still get to be on the basketball team despite outing Peter and only receive boos from the crowd. It’s completely forgotten that their mother body shames Stella all the time and counts Stella’s calories, not allowing her to eat anything that is remotely unhealthy and their father forces Stella to play a sport despite her not liking sports. By the end of the book, they are shown as they only care about their children and would do no harm to them, despite doing the opposite throughout the rest of the book.
This book was incredibly tough to read. This book was hateful while claiming that it is a fantastic book for educating young, cis readers about trans people. This book was written by a cis author and is targeted at a cis audience, while claiming that it is a trans book. Peter does not talk about himself like a trans person would, but instead how cis people think trans people do. The entire focus of this book is on how hard it is for Stella to have a trans brother, even in Peter’s pov.
I received a copy through a Goodreads giveaway, and I would like to thank Fire and Ice for providing with a copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
This book was really good for teens. As a teen myself I read learning the perspective of a trans male going through his everyday life just like I do. He struggles with many things and learns how to be himself in the end. I also enjoyed seeing the sister’s perspective as you never know what’s really happening behind the scenes. Overall a great book with many unexpected twists and turns and an exciting ending.
September 27, 2021
I loved reading this book, it was so good with such a good message. I would 100 percent recommend this book. There is a very important message for teenagers and adults, and the author did a great job of getting this message across and teaching the reader about the struggles of teens and the LGBTQ+ community. I HIGHLY recommend.
November 29, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Two Truths and A Guy
Author: Jeannine Henvey
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: trans MC
Recommended For...: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publication Date: October 21, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: DNFed, can’t recommend but there is a lot of deadnaming, misgendering, and homophobia in the book. There’s also some disordered eating in the book that is shown.
Explanation of CWs: see above
Publisher: Fire & Ice Young Adult Books
Pages: 323
Synopsis: (not including due to issues with the synopsis including deadnaming and misgendering).
Review: DNFed at 13% and skimmed through the rest. So I got the book for early review, but after seeing all of the issues surrounding the book, including dead-naming and misgendering a trans character, I do not feel inclined to read this one any further. I do see where the author has replaced the synopsis, but the issues remain. The book focuses on Stella and it’s almost just a whole book devoted to her and her pity party about her twin. There’s a ton of homophobia in the book, a lot of misgendering, and deadnaming. The book has been triggering for many trans own voice readers and I urge you to look into their reviews. There is also disordered eating shown in the book, which was triggering for me.
Verdict: No.
Book: Two Truths and A Guy
Author: Jeannine Henvey
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: trans MC
Recommended For...: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publication Date: October 21, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: DNFed, can’t recommend but there is a lot of deadnaming, misgendering, and homophobia in the book. There’s also some disordered eating in the book that is shown.
Explanation of CWs: see above
Publisher: Fire & Ice Young Adult Books
Pages: 323
Synopsis: (not including due to issues with the synopsis including deadnaming and misgendering).
Review: DNFed at 13% and skimmed through the rest. So I got the book for early review, but after seeing all of the issues surrounding the book, including dead-naming and misgendering a trans character, I do not feel inclined to read this one any further. I do see where the author has replaced the synopsis, but the issues remain. The book focuses on Stella and it’s almost just a whole book devoted to her and her pity party about her twin. There’s a ton of homophobia in the book, a lot of misgendering, and deadnaming. The book has been triggering for many trans own voice readers and I urge you to look into their reviews. There is also disordered eating shown in the book, which was triggering for me.
Verdict: No.
October 1, 2021
This book is exactly what I needed - and what so many others need too.
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while, after seeing it all over Bookstagram. I was grateful to be gifted a copy for review.
I've been looking for a great new book with LGBTQ+ representation for a while - and this is it! It will be such a great resource for teens who need help accepting themselves, seeing themselves represented in books, or for any allies who want to know more!
The plot was great, the narrative flowed perfectly, and it would make a great show (if you're reading this, Netflix - do it!)
The author skilfully combines humour with an important message.
Definitely recommend and will be buying!
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while, after seeing it all over Bookstagram. I was grateful to be gifted a copy for review.
I've been looking for a great new book with LGBTQ+ representation for a while - and this is it! It will be such a great resource for teens who need help accepting themselves, seeing themselves represented in books, or for any allies who want to know more!
The plot was great, the narrative flowed perfectly, and it would make a great show (if you're reading this, Netflix - do it!)
The author skilfully combines humour with an important message.
Definitely recommend and will be buying!
September 30, 2021
I loved this book so much! I am a sixteen yr old girl with a twin brother which is one of the reasons that i felt so connected to this book. The whole time, I kept picturing my brother going through what Peter was going through. My heart hurt for Peter the whole book. Even though I am not in the same situation as Stella, I felt for her and her resistance to being defined by her twin.
It is easy to get wrapped up in drama and my own life, so I completely understand having a hard time worrying about your siblings. I learned so much and feel a bit more educated in respecting strangers, because we have no idea what anyone has been through.
It is easy to get wrapped up in drama and my own life, so I completely understand having a hard time worrying about your siblings. I learned so much and feel a bit more educated in respecting strangers, because we have no idea what anyone has been through.
September 30, 2021
This story is from every perspective. It’s not what you think. Stella, the popular sister. She’s a typical, narcissistic teen. “What about me?” Her twin bother Peter who just transitioned. He’s sensitive, smart, and unfortunately is hiding his “secret”. A look into both of their lives, is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Acceptance in teenage youth is important,
I hope this book helps to educate the teen youth of today that people are people, and just want to be accepted for who they are.
I hope this book helps to educate the teen youth of today that people are people, and just want to be accepted for who they are.
September 30, 2021
This book was really good and an enjoyable read, especially as a teen. Social media already puts such high expectations on young girls. i cant imagine feeling belittled by my own mom and felt for Stella trying to live up to standards.
Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin. This book allowed me to get a feel for what so many people go through and i recommend to everyone- even those who’s “outsides match their insides.”
Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin. This book allowed me to get a feel for what so many people go through and i recommend to everyone- even those who’s “outsides match their insides.”
September 30, 2021
I absolutely loved reading this book. I love how the author educated us on topics that are not normalized. This book should be required for high school students because it may open minds by teaching empathy towards those who are just trying to be themselves.
Read this book if you’re young, if you're old, if you’re cis-gender, trans, and everything in between.
Read this book if you’re young, if you're old, if you’re cis-gender, trans, and everything in between.
September 27, 2021
This is such an important book about the struggles we all face trying to be true to ourselves while also navigating the world around us. The characters are all so real and I genuinely cared about each of them. I loved this book – it’s a page turner and while it tackles serious issues it was also fun to read! Very interesting hearing the story from two different perspectives. I recommend this book to anyone - It sends a powerful message about the power of family, friendship and looking out for one another.
September 30, 2021
I thought this was a very thoughtful book. I just bought a copy for my daughter and my mother. I think it fosters empathy and compassion.
September 30, 2021
I am in love with this book and it’s message.
September 30, 2021
loved this book!!!! it was perfect for teens!
November 7, 2021
I loved this sweet story of family, the complexities of sibling relationships, acceptance, and not passing judgment; because what you see is not always the true reality. As a parent this book was an eye opening reminder of supporting my children and loving and fully accepting them for who they are, even if it doesn’t line up with the expectations I have in mind. Although it’s categorized as YA I find this to be a must read for parents.
September 25, 2021
Such a great read for any teen, whether LBGT or not. Written with humor and authenticity it’s a wonderful coming of age story told with originality and sensitivity. You can tell the author really did her research and cares deeply about her subject matter. Highly recommend.
September 24, 2021
A beautifully written story about acceptance, empathy, and courage. Jeannine creatively tells the story about an important and relevant topic that is simultaneously relatable and enlightening. Highly recommended!
September 24, 2021
I LOVED this book. I devoured it in just a few seatings - couldn’t put it down. It was heartwarming, funny, sad and joyous. Jeannine Henvey did a wonderful job of opening my eyes to the real struggles of teens, both cis- and transgender. This is a must read for both adults and teens!
September 23, 2021
A beautifully written coming of age story...with a twist. Just the right amount of humor threaded throughout this poignant and important story that is relatable to teens as well as adults.
Finished this book feeling inspired. LOVED it!
Finished this book feeling inspired. LOVED it!
September 24, 2021
This book was an amazing read. It is relevant to the young reader, and eye-opening for an older reader like myself. The story and characters captured my heart. I would recommend.
April 8, 2022
I was gifted this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Two Truths and a Guy is like a trip back in time for anyone who struggled with being “different” in high school. At times it’s hard to read the things that the main characters have to deal with because you remember how mean kids can be! But importantly, it is beautiful to see the network of supporters they have. The world is slowly changing for the better, and you can see that within these pages.
I was frustrated sometimes at differences between how Stella sees her brother Peter on her chapters vs how Peter sees himself in his own chapters, but then I realized that was a masterful way to show that we never see ourselves the way others see us. Stella’s pride for her brother doesn’t match his hesitancy to be himself, which is honestly how perceptions often work in reality. I think the author did a great job displaying this.
As a trigger warning, the book contains homophobia and transphobia including the F and T slurs. It’s important that the author did not shy away from this because it honestly reflects how queer teens are treated by their peers. I appreciated in the author’s note that she mentioned how she connected to the story, and what research she did to understand a trans person’s perspective.
I hope readers come away from this book realizing the power of love and how it can positively impact young queer people. Thank you to Jeannine for allowing me to enter the lives of Peter and Stella!
Two Truths and a Guy is like a trip back in time for anyone who struggled with being “different” in high school. At times it’s hard to read the things that the main characters have to deal with because you remember how mean kids can be! But importantly, it is beautiful to see the network of supporters they have. The world is slowly changing for the better, and you can see that within these pages.
I was frustrated sometimes at differences between how Stella sees her brother Peter on her chapters vs how Peter sees himself in his own chapters, but then I realized that was a masterful way to show that we never see ourselves the way others see us. Stella’s pride for her brother doesn’t match his hesitancy to be himself, which is honestly how perceptions often work in reality. I think the author did a great job displaying this.
As a trigger warning, the book contains homophobia and transphobia including the F and T slurs. It’s important that the author did not shy away from this because it honestly reflects how queer teens are treated by their peers. I appreciated in the author’s note that she mentioned how she connected to the story, and what research she did to understand a trans person’s perspective.
I hope readers come away from this book realizing the power of love and how it can positively impact young queer people. Thank you to Jeannine for allowing me to enter the lives of Peter and Stella!
September 25, 2021
I'll put it out there now, I'm not usually a fan of contemporary novels, but I made an exception for this one. This book has such an important message about accepting people for who they are, rather than discriminating them based on their body or sexuality, and it really opens up to the reader by showing them what happens behind closed doors when you're born into a body that doesn't fit who you are inside.
Speaking honestly, this book wasn't what I was expecting to read, and it was very strong and could be a bit intense at times due to some of the themes and actions of the characters. Every character had a distinct voice and personality, so I knew who I was following as I read, but some of the characters had more secrets than I was expecting from them, which changed up the plot of the book. Especially during the second half, when things began to spice up a bit more. These characters weren't written in first person either, so I saw everything through the eyes of characters who didn't know until the climax of the book.
Some of these characters I liked. Others I thought I would but ended up very much not. For whether you should read this book, I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a novel whose topic is current and relevant, but you should approach it knowing that it is completely honest, and you should be prepared to gain a new understanding if what it's like hiding your gender or sexuality as gay or transgender, if you don't identify as either of those yourself.
Speaking honestly, this book wasn't what I was expecting to read, and it was very strong and could be a bit intense at times due to some of the themes and actions of the characters. Every character had a distinct voice and personality, so I knew who I was following as I read, but some of the characters had more secrets than I was expecting from them, which changed up the plot of the book. Especially during the second half, when things began to spice up a bit more. These characters weren't written in first person either, so I saw everything through the eyes of characters who didn't know until the climax of the book.
Some of these characters I liked. Others I thought I would but ended up very much not. For whether you should read this book, I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a novel whose topic is current and relevant, but you should approach it knowing that it is completely honest, and you should be prepared to gain a new understanding if what it's like hiding your gender or sexuality as gay or transgender, if you don't identify as either of those yourself.
Read
September 27, 2021Such a great read with a really important message. The characters are endearing and believable. I felt invested in them after just a few chapters. Wish it was a Netflix show!
September 23, 2021
This was a wonderfully heart-warming, absolutely delightful read. Well-drawn characters and poignant moments abound! Highly recommend.
September 23, 2021
Amazing read! Extremely poignant, witty and an all around great book. Such an important topic that is under represented in novels today.
October 3, 2021
I read about ninety pages of this in the google books preview to see if the book was going to be as transphobic as the synopsis, and to be honest, it's even worse. This is one of the most transphobic things I have read in a while. And it's sad because I know the author meant well, but well intention doesn't negate harm. And this book is chock full of things that will harm trans people. I mean, we can start with the cover and the title, the former of which already dead names the trans character. The title is an awful pun on Two Truths and Lie that implies that the trans character being a guy is a lie.
And then we get to the actual book, which delivers on everything the synopsis promised. The story focuses on the hardship of Peter's transition and the sacrifices his family had to make for him to live as his authentic self. Peter is deadnamed and misgendered continuously throughout the book when characters talk about him in the past, including when he talks about himself. Here are a few choice quotes from Peter's point of view which are honestly quite sickening to read (content warning for deadnaming, misgendering, and transphobia):
This quote is said to Peter by another trans character: "We knew this wasn't easy. Things could be worse. You could still be [dead name]." Peter says things like this to himself a lot as well. Things like, when I was a girl, when I was [dead name], etc. Trans people do not become a new gender when they transition. Peter has always been a boy, he has never been [dead name] and it's really horrible to read him saying these kinds of things about himself or to read other trans characters saying it to him. Dead names are really private and most trans people want to put as much distance between themselves and their dead names as possible. There's no excuse to dead name and misgender a trans character as much as this book does.
And then there's this quote. "I woke up this morning and realized I was my problem. The biggest transphobic of all actually lived inside of me." This quote is from Peter's point of view. A cis author actually had her trans character say that he is the biggest transphobe of all. Like I can't even wrap my head around why she thought that was okay to write. Yes, sometimes trans people have internalized transphobia, but Peter's internalized shame is by no means more transphobic than many of the other characters in the book, especially Peter's sister who spends the book mourning the loss of "the person Peter used to be." And honestly, Jeannine you are the biggest transphobe of all if you think it was okay to profit off of trans people's pain in the guise of helping them.
The sister's point of view is just as horrible to read as Peter's. She's constantly saying things like "when Peter was my sister," when Peter was "dead name." She carries a lot of resentment toward Peter for making the family move across the country and having to leave her friends behind. I know the author was trying to show her journey of learning to accept her brother, but it honestly made me sick to read. We don't need stories from the point of view of transphobic family members. Trans people are already traumatized enough from their own transphobic families. And I don't think the storyline was necessary to educate cis readers about this topic. That could have been accomplished just as easily if not better by the point of view of an accepting and supportive sister.
It's interesting to see all the cis reviewers praising this book and the trans reviewers upset by it. By interesting, I mean that it proves who the book is really targeted to: cis people who want to give themselves a pat on the back for reading an "important" and "educational" book. I feel sorry for all the trans teens who will come across this book marketed as a trans book and have to be subjected to the horrible transphobia inside it.
I'm not going to read more of this book when it comes out. I don't care if the narrative turns around at the end and the characters learn their lesson not to be transphobic. The harm was already done at the beginning of the book. Please buy and read books by trans authors instead of this one. There are so many amazing ones out there, I'm happy to give recommendations if anyone needs them.
And then we get to the actual book, which delivers on everything the synopsis promised. The story focuses on the hardship of Peter's transition and the sacrifices his family had to make for him to live as his authentic self. Peter is deadnamed and misgendered continuously throughout the book when characters talk about him in the past, including when he talks about himself. Here are a few choice quotes from Peter's point of view which are honestly quite sickening to read (content warning for deadnaming, misgendering, and transphobia):
This quote is said to Peter by another trans character: "We knew this wasn't easy. Things could be worse. You could still be [dead name]." Peter says things like this to himself a lot as well. Things like, when I was a girl, when I was [dead name], etc. Trans people do not become a new gender when they transition. Peter has always been a boy, he has never been [dead name] and it's really horrible to read him saying these kinds of things about himself or to read other trans characters saying it to him. Dead names are really private and most trans people want to put as much distance between themselves and their dead names as possible. There's no excuse to dead name and misgender a trans character as much as this book does.
And then there's this quote. "I woke up this morning and realized I was my problem. The biggest transphobic of all actually lived inside of me." This quote is from Peter's point of view. A cis author actually had her trans character say that he is the biggest transphobe of all. Like I can't even wrap my head around why she thought that was okay to write. Yes, sometimes trans people have internalized transphobia, but Peter's internalized shame is by no means more transphobic than many of the other characters in the book, especially Peter's sister who spends the book mourning the loss of "the person Peter used to be." And honestly, Jeannine you are the biggest transphobe of all if you think it was okay to profit off of trans people's pain in the guise of helping them.
The sister's point of view is just as horrible to read as Peter's. She's constantly saying things like "when Peter was my sister," when Peter was "dead name." She carries a lot of resentment toward Peter for making the family move across the country and having to leave her friends behind. I know the author was trying to show her journey of learning to accept her brother, but it honestly made me sick to read. We don't need stories from the point of view of transphobic family members. Trans people are already traumatized enough from their own transphobic families. And I don't think the storyline was necessary to educate cis readers about this topic. That could have been accomplished just as easily if not better by the point of view of an accepting and supportive sister.
It's interesting to see all the cis reviewers praising this book and the trans reviewers upset by it. By interesting, I mean that it proves who the book is really targeted to: cis people who want to give themselves a pat on the back for reading an "important" and "educational" book. I feel sorry for all the trans teens who will come across this book marketed as a trans book and have to be subjected to the horrible transphobia inside it.
I'm not going to read more of this book when it comes out. I don't care if the narrative turns around at the end and the characters learn their lesson not to be transphobic. The harm was already done at the beginning of the book. Please buy and read books by trans authors instead of this one. There are so many amazing ones out there, I'm happy to give recommendations if anyone needs them.
November 27, 2022
This YA novel alternates between two main characters point of views. Stella and Peter are twins who have recently moved to California from their less progressive home state (I believe it was Pennsylvania). As a family they have decided to have a fresh start and so the twins will be attending a new school in their new state. Both twins are eager to leave their past behind, but also are nervous that Peter's secret may come out at any time, outing him as transgender, and potentially bringing the past traumas the family experienced in their former home town to their new community. While the primary focus of the story is Peter and the difficulties he faces as a teenager navigating a world where he is rarely seen for who he truly is, there are also storylines related to the challenges family members of transgender people face, and other important issues such as sibling death, grief, homophobia, discrimination, eating disorders/body image issues, and mental heath. Peter and Stella quickly learn that when you are hiding a part of yourself or your past, it doesn't matter where you move, those problems still follow you. That being said, the move was probably a good thing considering some of the vast differences in medical policy and law when it comes to transgender youth in different states. Either way, the lesson the twins learn is that being your authentic self is important and hiding who you are to protect others can be dangerous and impact your own health and safety.
I really liked the way Henvey was able to weave in so many ideas related to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in this story. She included things like: washrooms and change rooms, gendered sports teams, parents accepting and not accepting children who come out to them, clothing and binders, discrimination and harassment, medical treatment during and after transition, suicide and mental health concerns, being outed by people you thought were friends and so many others. I also liked that there were lots of regular YA topics such as: dating/kissing/crushes (nothing more than PG lol), dances and school clubs, bullying and peer pressure, sibling and parent issues and social media. I would be comfortable recommending this YA to teen readers, but would warn them about some of the discriminatory language. I also think that they many YA readers would enjoy the story and potentially learn a bit more about the challenges other people face. Thanks so much to Katie and Brey PA and the author for introducing me to this book and giving me the opportunity to read and review it. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what Henvey comes out with in the future!
I just want to end with a quick disclaimer. I am not Transgender and do not see myself as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The author of this book is also not Transgender, however in her author's note at the end of the book she does discuss her interviews with and connections to the community. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the depictions of Trans characters, but I can comment on the messages portrayed through the story and share my own personal views of those messages. In reading posts on Goodreads and through other communications made by other readers of this book, I can see that there were mixed reviews about this story. Whether or not the readers and reviewers were stating their opinions as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is not always known. It is my personal belief that the best case scenario is when an author writes from an own voices perspective, but sometimes authors can share an important story and message without being part of the community being written about. A reviewer who is also not from that community cannot necessarily give an accurate critique of the issues faced by a community. I did really enjoy this book and it gave me an opportunity to think about issues that I may not have thought about before, so the following review is positive and I appreciate having been able to read this story.
I really liked the way Henvey was able to weave in so many ideas related to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in this story. She included things like: washrooms and change rooms, gendered sports teams, parents accepting and not accepting children who come out to them, clothing and binders, discrimination and harassment, medical treatment during and after transition, suicide and mental health concerns, being outed by people you thought were friends and so many others. I also liked that there were lots of regular YA topics such as: dating/kissing/crushes (nothing more than PG lol), dances and school clubs, bullying and peer pressure, sibling and parent issues and social media. I would be comfortable recommending this YA to teen readers, but would warn them about some of the discriminatory language. I also think that they many YA readers would enjoy the story and potentially learn a bit more about the challenges other people face. Thanks so much to Katie and Brey PA and the author for introducing me to this book and giving me the opportunity to read and review it. I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what Henvey comes out with in the future!
I just want to end with a quick disclaimer. I am not Transgender and do not see myself as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The author of this book is also not Transgender, however in her author's note at the end of the book she does discuss her interviews with and connections to the community. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the depictions of Trans characters, but I can comment on the messages portrayed through the story and share my own personal views of those messages. In reading posts on Goodreads and through other communications made by other readers of this book, I can see that there were mixed reviews about this story. Whether or not the readers and reviewers were stating their opinions as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is not always known. It is my personal belief that the best case scenario is when an author writes from an own voices perspective, but sometimes authors can share an important story and message without being part of the community being written about. A reviewer who is also not from that community cannot necessarily give an accurate critique of the issues faced by a community. I did really enjoy this book and it gave me an opportunity to think about issues that I may not have thought about before, so the following review is positive and I appreciate having been able to read this story.
February 13, 2022
Title- Two Truths and and A Guy
Author- Jeannine Henvey
My Rating- 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5 (4.5/5)
Hlo friends.... I'm back with another book review and the book Name is 'Two Truths and a Guy'by Jeannine Henvey.
What's about this???
~SUMMARY~
Peter and Stella are twins,but their struggles are very different. There was a time when Peter wasn't Peter. Stella, on the other hand, misses who he used to be: her sister Petra. They appear to be two kids trying to make their way at a new school from the outside, but behind closed doors, they are dealing with emotional baggage from the past that they have yet to unload. Rather than dealing with Peter's transformation, Stella's mother, the beauty queen, counts every calorie she consumes.
Meanwhile, Peter is suffocating, with a skin-tight binder over his chest and a desperate desire to be one of the men. All of this for the simple purpose of having his outside match his inside—and to simply be. If their secret is discovered, the family's relocation to California will have been for naught. Stella and Peter, sixteen-year-old twins, migrate across the nation with their parents to start over and leave their old lives behind.
Will the past determine their future?
Will they finally get their happy ending?
💟Two Truths and a Guy is a moving coming-of-age narrative that affects us with the force of loyalty, the need for acceptance, and the significance of living our truth.
💟The author of this book wishes for teenagers to be more welcoming of others. The author wishes to communicate the concept that other people's perceptions of you or the way you conduct your life cannot define you.
💟This memoir opened my eyes in a big way. It's easy to lose sight of how delicate the path to self-delivery is, especially when so many perspectives and voices are overlooked.
💟This was a good read for me. The story was well-written and fast-paced. This novel featured a broad cast of protagonists, which I thought was a great feature of the book.
💟The plot moved quickly, the characters were engaging, and the message was inspiring. Overall, I found it to be a good read.
Thankyou 😊
Author- Jeannine Henvey
My Rating- 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5 (4.5/5)
Hlo friends.... I'm back with another book review and the book Name is 'Two Truths and a Guy'by Jeannine Henvey.
What's about this???
~SUMMARY~
Peter and Stella are twins,but their struggles are very different. There was a time when Peter wasn't Peter. Stella, on the other hand, misses who he used to be: her sister Petra. They appear to be two kids trying to make their way at a new school from the outside, but behind closed doors, they are dealing with emotional baggage from the past that they have yet to unload. Rather than dealing with Peter's transformation, Stella's mother, the beauty queen, counts every calorie she consumes.
Meanwhile, Peter is suffocating, with a skin-tight binder over his chest and a desperate desire to be one of the men. All of this for the simple purpose of having his outside match his inside—and to simply be. If their secret is discovered, the family's relocation to California will have been for naught. Stella and Peter, sixteen-year-old twins, migrate across the nation with their parents to start over and leave their old lives behind.
Will the past determine their future?
Will they finally get their happy ending?
💟Two Truths and a Guy is a moving coming-of-age narrative that affects us with the force of loyalty, the need for acceptance, and the significance of living our truth.
💟The author of this book wishes for teenagers to be more welcoming of others. The author wishes to communicate the concept that other people's perceptions of you or the way you conduct your life cannot define you.
💟This memoir opened my eyes in a big way. It's easy to lose sight of how delicate the path to self-delivery is, especially when so many perspectives and voices are overlooked.
💟This was a good read for me. The story was well-written and fast-paced. This novel featured a broad cast of protagonists, which I thought was a great feature of the book.
💟The plot moved quickly, the characters were engaging, and the message was inspiring. Overall, I found it to be a good read.
Thankyou 😊
November 30, 2022
“Don’t take it personal. Prejudice isn’t about you. The issue lies within the hater. Maybe it was what they were taught. Maybe they’re misinformed. Ignorance is their problem. Don’t make it yours."
"The sounds outside may have been blocked off by the music inside, but whether in or out, everyone seemed to be moving to the same beat— joy. And for once, I felt it too."
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
"I was my problem. The biggest transphobic of all actually lived inside of me."
The book is raw and honest and brutal....but something we all need to read. This book gave me an understanding of all the emotional roller coasters families to thru when someone comes out as trans, I absolutely adored the father as he defended his son and stood by him in his transition. The mom drove me crazy! Not only because she wasn't as supportive but she kept calling him a her behind his back which felt absolutely gross. I really loved Stella and Peter (deadname: Petra) Stella had a bit of a pity me attitude (what teenager doesn't?) about her brother, but she really loved him and had his back. I enjoyed reading the different thoughts between the twins and the struggles they were enduring, and seeing them learn that they can conquer them together. I loved that the family moved to California for a fresh start, because that state is very forward thinking, but no matter what there are always going to be bullies in the crowd, and I really think the author did a great job of relaying so many emotions in this book! I think this was an important read!
I give Two Truths and a Guy by Jeannine Henvey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The sounds outside may have been blocked off by the music inside, but whether in or out, everyone seemed to be moving to the same beat— joy. And for once, I felt it too."
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be."
"I was my problem. The biggest transphobic of all actually lived inside of me."
The book is raw and honest and brutal....but something we all need to read. This book gave me an understanding of all the emotional roller coasters families to thru when someone comes out as trans, I absolutely adored the father as he defended his son and stood by him in his transition. The mom drove me crazy! Not only because she wasn't as supportive but she kept calling him a her behind his back which felt absolutely gross. I really loved Stella and Peter (deadname: Petra) Stella had a bit of a pity me attitude (what teenager doesn't?) about her brother, but she really loved him and had his back. I enjoyed reading the different thoughts between the twins and the struggles they were enduring, and seeing them learn that they can conquer them together. I loved that the family moved to California for a fresh start, because that state is very forward thinking, but no matter what there are always going to be bullies in the crowd, and I really think the author did a great job of relaying so many emotions in this book! I think this was an important read!
I give Two Truths and a Guy by Jeannine Henvey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews