I could not get into this memoir and I don't really know what the issue was other than the writing felt subpar....I wish it had worked better for me as a reader but it is a hard one to recommend now too.

My Name Is Philippa Ryder is the warm and honest retelling of Philippa Ryder’s journey through her transition which shows her many struggles, her ferocious tenacity and above all how with the constant love and support she flourished into the amazing woman she is today.

Philippa’s story within these pages is an absolute education in the most enlightening sense of the word. With open arms Philippa welcomed the reader into every nook and cranny of her life regardless of whether it shone a good reflection or not.

I truly believe Philippa’s honesty is where the success of this book and indeed her story lies. At no point does she portray the road she went down as the easy, pretty or indeed flawless choice. She discusses the many failings within the system (or lack thereof), the rollercoaster of a process involved in transitioning and indeed some personal moments which others might shirk at, with integrity and veracity.

She continues this education while discussing her experience of the Gender Recognition Act and Marriage Equality Referendum. Her own lived experience of both of these momentous occasions within Irish history truly is worth a thousand news articles and headlines.

Philippa offers the reader a spectrum of emotion throughout the book and lets us see into those confusing moments she experienced as a child right through to the disgust and frustration she experienced during situations as an adult. However, the overwhelming emotions bubbling through these pages are that of love and relentless hope.

While there are aspects of this book which are heavy there is a warmth pervading each page and an overwhelming sense of fun fizzing throughout that will keep you hooked and enamoured right until the very last page.

Thanks to @deirdrerobertsbooks and @mercierpressbooks for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review and apologies for sleeping on the review. The ones I enjoy most often take me the longest to write!

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I read memoirs for perspective and wow what in incredible perspective. This story is both challenging and full of love. The story is powerful and I think it offers quite a lot to someone who may not have considered all that transitioning could entail both physically and emotionally. Jackie Meloche is a good narrator and fills the words with heart. I think my only complaint is that I do wish a tiny bit that the narrator had been Irish. Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and Mercier Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.