GAHHHH this book is incredible. I'm so glad Emily St. James wrote a novel! I have been a fan of her film writing for years, and is my favorite guest on the Blank Check podcast. This novel is next level though. Dare I say, epic? It taught me so much about the transgender experience, the most since Torrey Peters' DETRANSITION, BABY.

Set in chilly South Dakota in 2016 during the lead up to the election, we follow Erica and Abigail in alternating POV chapters. Erica is a high school English teacher who is recently divorced and is in the midst of transitioning, though she hasn't told anyone yet. Abigail is her student, a 16 year old trans girl who just moved to town to get away from her horrible parents and live with her sister. That is a basic level description though, the book is extremely nuanced, smart, and full of lively and well-written characters. St. James does incredible world building and I just got lost in the story. There are also some major twists I didn't see coming, warm and fuzzy feelings, and also rage inducing plot lines that will keep it hard to put the book down.

I can see this being a hit next year, especially in book club circles. There is much to talk about, and is truly eye-opening without being eye-rolling. Reading about different trans experiences from an author who is a transwoman herself was very emotional for me. I'm glad the book will exist in the world because it's an important story that is well-written, which is often hard to come by.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*

"Woodworking" is a life-affirming book about trans people. Erika, a mid 30s closeted trans English teacher befriends her trans student Abigail in small town South Dakota. Both have to navigate (family) relationships and their identities so many political forces seek to destroy. It's a celebration of womanhood (yes trans women are women) and friendship as well as found family.

However, I found some of the choices a bit weird. Even though the story never went in that direction, the 'friendship' between a teacher and a student on such a personal level made me uncomfortable. It plays into the fears and narratives of transphobic people. I also absolutely hated Erika's relationship with her pregnant ex-wife (now newly married) and also found that the story of the two of them was super problematic. This is why it is only a 3.5 star rating from me. I really didn't like Erika being so needy when it comes to Abigail & I found Erika's relationship with her ex-wife terrible. I am pro-abortion, but the entire storyline felt overly dramatic and did not convince me at all. In general, the relationships in the book could've been handled with more nuance. They were sometimes a bit extreme.

I liked how the book played with the idea of woodworking & that queer lives are not as obvious as people might think. That was sweet.

I was recommended this by one of its early readers (thanks Megan!), and my god, this is a hell of a novel. The premise is already an eye opener/a possible level of hell - what if the only other out trans person you knew about in your shitty small town was a student you're a teacher to? Throw in an absolute shitbag local politician, dealing with your ex being pregnant shortly after realizing you're trans, and the long term consequences of going deep stealth in the most unexpected ways, and you have a palpable tension throughout this story, and you can feel the walls starting to close in around you at times, especially if you have that small town experience. This comes out this spring, I highly recommend preordering it now.

A book that I imagine will have a lot of appeal to people who aren't me. It felt a little bit like watching one of those teen comedy movies with a poppy soundtrack and snarky voice overs -- which is fitting enough for Abigail, the teenage protagonist, but not so much for Erica, who is thirty five and has a job. That isn't to say that St. James doesn't tackle serious topics -- in fact, in terms of subject matter, it's one serious topic after another, and aside a few moments that didn't land quite right for me, it's all pretty deftly handled -- but there's a certain lightness to the writing itself that left me less than totally satisfied. I never had any real doubt that all would be right for our protagonists in the end, and while Erica and Abigail both experience a bingo card of "trans in 2016 South Dakota" suffering, none of it is dwelt on for more than a page or two at a time. For a lot of people, those are both desirable qualities in a book, but unfortunately for me I prefer the literary equivalent of unseasoned broccoli.

Before reading this, I was unfamiliar with the author but found the premise interesting. I am glad I requested an ARC for this! Our two main characters, both trans women, are on different paths of life. Erica is recently divorced and not yet publicly identifying as a woman. Abigail is a teenage girl, estranged from her parents and an outcast in a conservative town. Through these two characters, St. James tells a story of trans solidarity. I have to admit, I was way more interested in Abigail’s chapters than Erica ( I am closer in age to her so maybe that’s why). I don’t know what to make of the relationship between Erica and Abigail. While I recognize the importance of both women played in each other’s life, I didn’t really like how Erica (the adult) used Abigail as a therapist. At the beginning I felt the relationship between them was a bit one sided, with Erica constantly talking about her life and telling Abigail how much easier it was for her. These issues are acknowledged, thankfully, and I also understand where Erica was coming from. Still, I think this is why I enjoyed Abigail’s chapters more. That being said, I appreciate the author writing the characters as complex and messy!

I loved reading Emily St. James's debut novel, Woodworking. If this is her first novel, I can't wait to see what else she creates.

Woodworking is a story about interconnected lives in a small South Dakota town in 2016. It features multiple trans women in different stages of their lives with varying family dynamics.

Major characters include high school teacher Erika, a recent divorcee who is not entirely out, and her student, Abigail, with whom she forms an unlikely friendship. The story follows these two as they try to figure out their identities and navigate complicated relationships and a toxic political landscape. Erika also helps put on the play Our Town, and St. James does a great job connecting the characters' struggles to the premise of the play. Unlike the characters in Our Town, these characters can break free, question things, find companionship and a chosen family, and live life to the fullest before it is too late.

I loved this book and would love to see it adapted into a limited TV series or film. St. James showcases a spectrum of experiences in a gentle, vulnerable, but witty storytelling style. It's soft, tender, and absolutely amazing! The characters show the courage it takes to live authentically. This book is a lifeline. It has the power to change lives and help people feel seen. Many thanks to Zando and NetGalley for this ARC.