This made me feel so warm and happy. When Adam paid for everyone's meal and when they set up the care chain during covid I was just seriously impressed.
These young people today are making huge changes to the world and I am loving it.
Thank you for the ARC. I will be buying copies of this book for my young trans folks when it is published.

More books like this are needed. It is so difficult to watch the trans folks in my life struggle with the terrible fear, shame, and anxiety that often come with the process of figuring out their identities and transitioning in a world that is openly hostile and dangerous. Collections like this serve to remind us all that there is joy to be found in each other and in the little things in life. Hopefully, stories and books like this will become more common as time goes on, but for now this is a singularly important work for trans individuals young and old.

'Trans joy is so often forgotten . It exists despite systems that seek to destroy us.'

This is just the book I needed today, and will be the book that others need too.

Trans joy is so important. There are so many books about trans pain and we need so many more about joy.

This is a beautiful book full of trans people and trans joy. About trans support and the trans community. About found family and amazing friends.

This was a book full of joy, hope and positivity. I read a few books about being transgender and they are normally aimed at cis people who want to learn about being transgender or they are aimed at new trans people. There’s nothing wrong with either of them, of course, but I thought it was refreshing that, although this book absolutely can be used for both of those, it seemed to be more aimed at giving a light to trans people in a world that really wants to quench that. I feel a lot of fear for the safety of my partner, and this gave me hope that things aren’t going to be all doom and gloom. There is always a light in the dark.

One of the most joyous books I’ve ever read. I found myself smiling and laughing at loud at some of the moments of everyday joy the author shares, as though I was recollecting a precious memory with them. They described these small moments with such warmth that it was impossible not to feel the radiance of their joy.

I’m not trans, so I can’t pretend to recognise the specifically trans experience of joy and its opposite within myself, but from being part of queer communities I related to some of those experiences of found family.

I want to put this book in the hands of so many people: my trans friends who didn’t have this kind of book when they were young, but also my relatives who only see trans people through the divisive lens of the media.

In summary, this is beautiful and truly joyous writing that will stick with me. I’m inspired to view the world more through the author’s lens of everyday joys, such as with the happy book they keep over the years. Genuinely think this book is groundbreaking in terms of the books available on trans experience, and made even more so by its simplicity and pure expression of joy!

This was incredibly powerful, moving, and raw. Clearly, the author invested a lot of emotion and intimacy into this work, and it came through on the page. I was especially moved by the section that discussed the ocean and swimming. I am not transgender, so I never considered just how many limitations there are on day-to-day life, and how things that I take for granted are so sacred to people with different identities or backgrounds than me.

Another story that really resonated with me was the story of the paper boat. I thought that was a beautiful reflection on hope, not just in the author’s life, but also in mankind as a whole.

Finally, I loved reading about their relationship with Seren! My favorite aspect of that arc was the art gallery scene. It had me smiling so big!

I really enjoyed the small illustrations that broke up some of the pages. They really added to the atmosphere of the stories, and they were cute and visually appealing!

The only thing I would tweak is the ending of the Sam Smith story. I think I understood what the author was trying to say, but the wording was a little confusing so I’m still not 100% sure what was going on.

The undertones of this entire work were very hopeful, which I loved. This book tackles very heavy and sensitive issues, so it has the potential to be dark and gloomy. However, instead, the author chose to observe the positive in all of these situations, which was an angle I enjoyed reading.

A beautiful memoir about the power of trans joy. I loved every story in this book, each person Tash talked about and each event that happened was another slice of joy - the kind of joy that comes from being part of a community that cares so deeply for one another. I only wish I had the kind of friendships that I read about here. The mutual aid, the support, the love; it is so vital and heartwarming. This book is proof that we can have all the things they said we couldn't have.