Having been through a transition with a family member, I recognized many of the author's viewpoints and ultimate understanding. Well written and organized to flow well. I appreciate that the author took the time to present the feelings and thoughts as they arose but then provided current updates about his and his husband's understanding of one another.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC copy of the book. The opinions expressed above are my own.

I always wonder how the spouse not undergoing a transition feels about the situation they find themselves in. Accidentally Gay gave me an inside look.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the unconditional love that Lucky and Wolsey have for each other. This was a very uplifting read.

This book details Wolsey's transition in alternating points of view from both men, who have been together since their teens. Lucky and Wolsey never had easy lives, but they did have complete acceptance for each other--something hard to find in marriages across the board. Accidentally Gay is one of the most heart-warming shared memoirs I’ve read.

This book is about two happily married people who loved each other before, during, and after transition. The Bradleys learned that when it came to marriages where one partner was assigned female at birth and transitioned to the proper sex, they were the exception for staying together, not the norm. Straight people told Lucky how “brave” he was for staying with his partner. The transgender community distrusted him and assumed that sooner or later he'd abandon his life-partner. It was hard for Lucky, the non-transitioning husband, to find any support at all. Meanwhile, Wolsey was navigating the physical, social, and economic effects of transitioning. But one thing that shines from every page is how devoted this couple is to each other. They talked about everything, from pronouns to hand-holding in public, to what to do about old photographs. How Lucky could defend Wolsey without causing him more problems. At the center of everything is their love and consideration for each other. 

This book contains original blogs written in situ and expands them to include further reflection from both men. There is a fair amount of repetition due to this structure, however, it's worth it. The story is touching without being sickly sweet. It’s funny, deeply honest, and shows all of us what true love looks like. They are candid about Wolsey’s transition, providing details in a matter-of-fact way that never falls into salaciousness. 

I received a free copy on Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I got an ARC of this book.

So let me be perfectly honest. This cover and this title almost put me off the entire story. It is cheesy and just wasn't appealing. I asked for a copy, because I am a glutton for punishment and I have to read everything I see about gender. I just have to. 

To really understand how I feel about this book, you have to know a few things about me. I started my medical transition at 15. I was attacked, raped, abused, and other not fun words or activities. I am pretty much still convinced that no one will ever love me, partially because I am trans. I am loud, bigger than I seem (I often get remarks that people expected me to be taller), and I probably would be really good friends with Wolsey. 

The book is formatted so a post or at least part of a post from their blog is first, then an updated by Lucky, then an update by Wolsey. It really told a powerful story of love. Lucky did what so many believed was impossible, he loved his partner unconditionally. Wolsey won the love lottery. Their story is just so touching, especially for a trans guy that has seen and lived some of the worse experiences with being trans. 

The ending chapter was about their 25th wedding anniversary. I just can't even. Their love is enviable and the stuff of fairy tales. 

I did feel a lot of emotions through the book. I understood the amazing relationship they had in small flashes of my own life. I have never had a partner that wasn't also trans that understood how important my transition was to me, until my current partner. My current partner stayed by me when my T dose got jacked up because of insurance, which put me at double the dose I should be on and back on a method that caused me side effects that meant bleeding, intense anger issues, and more. He now gives me my injections so I don't have to face doing it myself. I have never trusted anyone else to inject me, though to be fair the nurses I had inject me weren't the best and consistently hit the nerve that took a leg out of commission for a week. The fact that Wolsey had that support for his whole transition just warms my heart in a way that I didn't think was possible anymore. All the horror stories have numbed me I fear.

This is the story I want younger guys to see. This is the story I want people of all genders to see. This is what should be held as a gold standard of love. I want people to believe they deserve love and commitment. I want Lucky and Wolsey to be the norm, instead of the exception. 

Lucky has created a resource for partners of trans people. That is a huge thing. Partners just don't get the support they need. They are transitioning right along with us, but they aren't seen or heard. This is an important thing to remember. The support system needs support or there is no support.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

The storyline is beautiful. True love is a fantatsic thing, BUT the writing itself isn't great. I know this likely a rough draft, but hopefully editing will provide an easier flow to the writing.

A book filled with unconditional love. A perfect reading for the gamers in the world A bit tedious to start -- yet, true love prevails. Enjoy. A complimentary copied given in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story. Liked bearing from both sides. Nice book!

Thanks to author,publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free,it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

3.5*. There's a weird innocence/naivety to this narrative. Not sure I'd call this unconditional love, sorry.

The first thing that hit me about this book is that I'm not even sure of the authors' names - well, I mean the name of the trans man. The cover says Wosley. The blurb says Wosley. The book itself says Wolsey. Which is it? Why hasn't care and attention been paid to it? Don't the publisher and the authors themselves have any interest and pride in it, to want accurate names on it, especially if the latter are celebrating the story of their love?

Moving on to what I read: I can't help but feel that both Lucky and Wolsey (on Lucky's blog, this is the name that he uses, ergo, so will I) were lonely, slightly damaged people due to their upbringing, and had a connection of sorts. I think they do love each other, and I'm not sure if it's the telling of the tale or the lack of skill of the couple as narrators of their tale, but they come across as being naive and not that educated, and not considering RL and practicalities and consequences much, though I note that both have had at least a high school level of education. The writing was naive and simplistic, and parts were very, very repetitive and could have done with some proper editing (I have some experience in this area). Lucky seemed to think that him being physically big and tall made him a strong man; as a het woman, I can tell him that it doesn't. There's much more that makes a man. I'm of an ethnic minority and an LGBT ally, and I found the so-called persecution of female-Wolsey by males and by haters of LGBT people hard to believe and to stomach. To hear repeatedly that Wolsey was hassled, was in danger, was at risk and Lucky always had to be the protector, made me wonder how much of this book was reality and how much was perceptions. Maybe I live in a country where we live and let others live, and yes, I know this tale is happening in the USA. The USA that has become a scarier and more unfriendly place for non-het people, for POC, for pretty much anyone who isn't het and Caucasian, but is it really that bad, really that bigoted? Again, perhaps it's the authors' perceptions?

What struck me was not the love the couple professes, but that it came across as if Wolsey had some sort of Svengali-like hold over Lucky and that Lucky couldn't believe his luck at being wanted, and therefore clung to Wolsey in all his incarnations. I apologise if my terminology is unintentionally offensive, but I am trying to explain how this book hit me, in general/layman's terms. Yes, I believe they do love each other, and maybe to the point of blindness about many things. Naivety is what hit me time and time again, overpoweringly so, the more I read.

I wonder if Lucky wasn't as het as he believed. I think perhaps this realisation was entirely dormant until Wolsey transitioned, and Lucky was presented with a fait accompli: if he wanted Wolsey, he'd have to have a husband, not a wife. I do think the couple was reckless with money for Wolsey's transition, especially so as they mention hardship a lot and going without food to be able to provide for Lucky's parents. I was conflicted about Lucky's parents, too: alcoholics, it seems, and drug users, but with unconditional love. Actually, yes, I saw unconditional love from both parents, especially the father, which was heartwarming. I've read Dana Pizzuti's tale of her transition, and she as a medical doctor by training, researched a lot before taking the medical steps, and even then I felt she rushed her medical transition, and yes, she had the connections and the funds. Here, to hear how quickly Wolsey managed to transition made me wonder how much he'd prepared mentally, because I think that part of transitioning is really important. I have a friend who transitioned to female and lived as a woman for five years before de-transitioning, and partly that was due to her body retaining some of its male characteristics and not tolerating hormones, and not getting enough medical support and counselling to help with body dysphoria and depression. There's brief mention that Wolsey didn't have body dysphoria, and this was really refreshing and really healthy to hear. I know another trans person whose partner I'm told is bi, which has helped with their same-sex relationship, but that didn't surface until the partner became involved with the trans person, so that may also be influencing my thoughts on this book. Still, though, Lucky jumped too quickly into making Wolsey's transitioning an actual thing in practice not just in theory and planning.

We're told that Wolsey has medically transitioned completely, with as many surgeries as perhaps a layperson can imagine a trans man having, and we're told that Lucky finds him attractive. Without Lucky elaborating on that assertion, I couldn't believe that. I believe that Lucky's need, and his husband's hold on him, didn't waver, but was this out and out love, or a form of desperation to not lose Wolsey? I may be entirely wrong, but I read Lucky as kind of desperate to belong, to want to have someone to love and call his own. Is that a form of love? After all, love has many forms, does it not?

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Riverdale Avenue Books, a review was not a requirement. a review was not a requirement.