I had the pleasure of reading the book Shae by Mesha Maren and I absolutely loved it. It’s a profound book that is so well written. It’s such a vital read for any human being who is longing to understand someone else’s struggles and what makes them human. The deeply flawed. The struggles we don’t see on the outside. I loved it. Thank you.

Shae, by Mesha Maren, is an intense and upsetting story, told through a journal that Shae writes years after the events. It’s not formatted like a journal, but this style creates an intriguing separation between Shae making the choices and Shae recounting her actions later.

When teenage Shae meets a transfer student called Cam, she thinks she’s found someone who understands her. They connect quickly, then become more than friends, and Shae ends up pregnant in high school. Although both of them were interested in romance and experimentation, it’s really only Shae who faces consequences — she’s home sick on the couch while Cam is going to classes and playing in a band. Around this time, Cam begins to transition to female. The novel is told by Shae after Cam has transitioned, so there are confusing moments where Cam, living as a boy, is described as she. It works well as foreshadowing, both of Cam’s transition and of the older Shae writing a journal.

While Shae tries her best to be supportive of the person she loves finding happiness, she’s facing teen pregnancy while Cam enjoys the fashions of teen girls. Cam is playing music and trying on new clothes, while Shae is suffering through the isolation and sickness of a difficult pregnancy.

There’s something unpleasantly relatable in Shae’s horrible birth experiences. Many women have seen the doctor only to be told it’s just stress or that their intense pain is perfectly normal for periods/pregnancy/childbirth/menopause. I think this familiar situation helped make the rest of her experiences more readable and relatable. Her very real pain and injuries lead to painkiller prescription, which leads to exactly what readers worry will happen to a struggling teenager in a poor town in rural West Virginia. There’s dispassionate distance to Shae’s recounting of her addiction, and what she was willing to do to her next fix. The book is told in first person, and the ending explains how she came to write this journal, but there’s still a distance in the telling, and I found myself rereading — surely she didn’t just steal her friend’s strip club tips? Did I misread that? Surely she didn’t just factually recount how she left the baby unattended for ages? It makes for a fascinating read, even if not a particularly cheerful one.

Shae is both an intriguing character study and a look at life in a poverty-stricken part of West Virginia. The systems around Shae, starting with high school and then the maternity ward, keep failing her and leaving her out. The story manages to avoid both gritty poverty-porn descriptions and an obvious redemption arc for the character we come to care about, creating a realistic feel for unfamiliar experiences.

There is so much to grapple with while reading and after finishing Shae. So many emotions that author Mesha Maren permits throughout the prose-filled storytelling.

Going into Shae, I knew a bit about what to expect but did not fully prepare myself for what was served. This is a sad, sad story. There are moments of light, but as quick as they are to come, they are taken away just as fast. What starts out melancholy turns deeply depressing and continues on an even lower path.

I loved the characterization in this book, as it allowed me to connect with and learn about the characters and each of their struggling points, and what made them, essentially, them. At many points, it was so well-done I was furious. Furious at their actions, furious at their treatment of each other. Shae begins as a 16-year-old who meets Cam, and they start an unlabeled relationship that leads to Shae becoming pregnant. One thing I took mental note of throughout the book was how these characters do not communicate with each other in a way that they can properly but thought to word and get any withholdings out. Cam frustrated me so much because yes, she did start a relationship with someone else without ever speaking to Shae about what they were, even at the start before the pregnancy. I could easily see how Shae also felt unheard, especially within her battle against the pain and trauma as a result of her c-section delivery. But, where I feel sorrow and empathy for these aspects, I also feel frustration and anger for putting not only herself but her child in risk and danger. And I feel empathy for Cam struggling with being seen as who she truly is throughout her transition and in the fear for her child's safety and upbringing.

In terms of the story's progression from not great, to bad, to worse, it was easy to be filled with the urge to tug at one's hair. At so many points I wanted to reach through the screen and stamp my feet, as if to say, "I know where this is going, please don't fall down this route, "even though you know it's inevitable. Maren, like stated earlier, uses a lot of prose within the storytelling and writing, and I believe that is what makes this story unique and appealing in it's call to say, "look at this. It's not pretty, but you cannot shy away from it."

This book is perfectly unperfect in so many ways, and it evokes a lot of harder emotions that are often shied away from. It left me with a lot to ponder, a lot of feelings even to sift through as a result. I will be thinking about this one for time to come, and for that, I give it a starred rating. I highly urge other readers to pick this title up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin for the eARC!

"Shae" by Mesha Maren is a poignant exploration of the intersection of poverty, teen pregnancy, medical trauma, and opioid addiction, set against the evocative backdrop of the American Rural South. Mesha Maren's novel follows the tumultuous life of Shae, a 16-year-old girl who becomes fixated on Cam, a fellow outcast. As Shae navigates her feelings for Cam, a transfemme teen, the narrative unfolds into a raw and compelling journey of love, struggle, and survival.

Shae and Cam’s relationship is the heart of the novel, marked by an intense connection and Shae’s compassionate yet confused adaptation to Cam’s transition. Maren’s portrayal of their bond is deeply moving, capturing the essence of youthful love complicated by the harsh realities of their lives. Shae’s acceptance of Cam is beautifully rendered, highlighting her deep-seated need for love and security, despite the overwhelming obstacles they face.

One of the most striking elements of "Shae" is its unflinching depiction of poverty and its ramifications. Maren paints a vivid picture of the relentless challenges faced by those living in poverty, particularly focusing on the neglect and exploitation experienced by low-wage workers. The novel delves into the chaos of parenting in such conditions, especially poignant as Shae herself is still a child grappling with the responsibilities of motherhood. Her love for her daughter Eva is palpable, yet overshadowed by the haze of her addiction, a tragic consequence of the pervasive opioid epidemic.

Maren’s writing shines in its atmospheric evocation of the Rural South. The descriptions of pine trees, dirt roads, and cicadas immerse the reader in Shae’s world, enhancing the narrative’s authenticity. However, as Shae’s addiction deepens, the narrative begins to lose focus, mirroring her descent into self-destruction. This narrative choice underscores the devastating grip of substance abuse, illustrating how it can spiral out of control, particularly in the absence of financial resources and adequate support systems. Maren’s portrayal of Shae’s addiction is both compassionate and harrowing, providing a sobering look at the impact of the opioid crisis.

The novel is not without its flaws. The ending, while powerful, leaves the reader with a sense of unresolved tension as Shae’s life continues to unravel. Despite this, Shae’s strength and her unwavering sense of self shine through, making her a memorable and compelling protagonist. Her journey, marked by moments of love, despair, and resilience, is a testament to the human capacity to endure, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

"Shae" is a vital read, offering a deeply human perspective on issues that are often marginalized or misunderstood. It is a story of love and survival, of the desperate lengths people go to for a semblance of security and the devastating consequences of systemic neglect. Maren’s novel is a heart-wrenching yet essential exploration of the complexities of life in poverty, particularly through the lens of those most vulnerable. For readers interested in stories that highlight political liberation themes and diverse representation, "Shae" is a compelling and necessary addition to your reading list.

📖 Recommended For: Readers drawn to stories of resilience in the face of adversity, fans of gritty portrayals of poverty and addiction, supporters of LGBTQ+ narratives, enthusiasts of contemporary Southern fiction, and those interested in the impact of the opioid crisis on marginalized communities.

🔑 Key Themes: Intersection of Poverty and Teen Pregnancy, Medical Trauma and Opioid Addiction, LGBTQ+ Identity and Transfemme Experiences, The Harsh Realities of Low-Wage Labor, The Struggles of Young Motherhood.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Homophobia (minor), bullying (minor), death of a parent (minor), medical trauma (severe), transphobia (moderate), animal death (minor), substance abuse (severe), abandonment (minor), infidelity (minor), child abuse (minor), overdose death (severe), self harm (minor), burglary (minor), incarceration (minor).

See full review on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website:

Duke University professor Mesha Maren’s third novel “Shae” is an aching Appalachian coming-of-age story about a relationship between two teenagers who navigate a raw and courageous journey through the crossroads of identity and addiction. As much an homage to her home state of West Virginia as a nod to those who have struggled to survive small-town limitations, Maren delivers a profoundly intimate study on alienation and how the catastrophic impact of pain and dependency ripples through communities...

https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/appalachian-teens-navigate-identity-and-addiction-in-shae/BZSZQ4WDB5CVNAUF4VPKVTHCNM/

𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘦 is a heartbreaking book about first love, addiction, sexuality and motherhood. It is the first book I’ve read in one sitting in a while. It’s a painful, raw and beautifully-written portrait of life in Appalachia and about how the decisions we make when we’re young and the place we come from can shape our whole life.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣I loved this book, even though it is devastating.

Plus, I met Mesha in person at an author event for the release of her first book, Sugar Run, where she talked about how growing up in Appalachia shaped her writing!

Shae is about a girl navigating life after teenage pregnancy, drug addiction, and longing for someone she’s not destined to be with.
This book feels like something I would’ve read in AP Lit. If you’re looking for a book with the vibes of Giovanni’s Room (gay pining, unstable characters, be gay do crime), Shae feels like a modern version of that.
The writing was amazing, and Shae’s character always shone through in every word—a deeply flawed character who I still found interesting . I'm truly in awe of the way Maren makes the narration feel so perfectly unreliable.
This is very much a no-plot, just-vibes book. I would refrain from reading the synopsis because, while simple, it tells you pretty much everything that happens in the book.
Altogether, this isn’t a book I’ll probably think about in the future, but it’s a book that I had a good time with and I’m glad I read.

CW: pregnancy, childbirth (& medical trauma), sex work, drug addiction, homophobia/transphobia

SHAE by Mesha Maren is honest and heartbreaking, a tragic story masterfully told. What happens to Shae is completely outside my lived experience, but I felt connected to her from start to end and rooted for her at every turn.

I had intended to pace myself and only read a set amount of this novel each evening, but the more I read, the more I wanted to keep reading. I read most of it over the course of one day. The pace speeds up as the book progresses and the situation changes for Shae. Through it all, I felt like I was right there with Shae, pulled forward with her by the momentum of the choices she makes. I would love to dissect this book and figure out exactly how the author achieved this effect. Whatever techniques Mesha Maren used were baked into the novel, everything working together perfectly. As a reader, I was never aware of what the author was doing to make me feel so invested in this story and the characters.

I was already a fan of Mesha Maren's writing, and this is my favorite novel of hers to date. I recommend this book 100%.

4.5 Stars

Set in a small town in West Virginia, Shae is sixteen when she first notices Cam, who is new in town. They quickly become friends, and eventually, more than friends, which results in a pregnancy. Not long after, Cam begins wearing Shae’s clothes, and begins their own transition as a female.

When Eva, their daughter, is born following an agonizingly painful C-section, it changes everything as Shae is given opioids to manage her pain, and as time passes, she needs more to manage the pain, and becomes addicted, which just escalates as time passes. Meanwhile, her life is falling apart in other ways, as Cam begins to keep a distance between them, and eventually that distance grows even more.

This is a story about family, home, loss and pain. Physical pain as well as emotional pain, and the cost of losing the life they had planned.



Pub Date: 21 May 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Algonquin Books

This book was heavy with issues that hit close to home for me.
Great writing and emotion put into the book.

Thanks for the opportunity .

Engaging and immersive. This is a recommended purchase for collections where queer litfic is popular.

This book took my breath away. I read it cover to cover on a transatlantic red eye flight, unable to sleep for a moment. Even two weeks later as I write this, I think of the characters every day. Devastating and beautiful.