I wanted to love this book so badly! Dylan fascinates me but I didn’t like how it was narrated. At first, I thought it was fun but it felt like an overly long TikTok or a podcast. After a while, I just stopped paying attention and caught myself losing interest. I feel like if the writing style was slightly different, I would have loved this!

Dylan Mulvaney is a brave, passionate soul, and she is quite amazing. Paper Doll is an exploration into girlhood, which bounces back and forth between her first 365 days immediately after coming out as a girl, told through journal-like entries, and her life during what she refers to as “post-beergate”, a reference to the wildly public, months long, right-wing backlash to her Bud Light partnership on TikTok. Dylan prefaces the book with the note that she writes how she talks, and while I appreciate the candor, I think the style in which she’s written this book felt stilted and, at times, a bit inauthentic. I don’t want to be misunderstood here – Dylan does delve into a lot of personal and intimate topics on an authentic level, but the delivery leaves something to be desired. Paper Dolls reads less like how someone’s talking to you as a friend, and more like how someone might be talking in a viral video which became a bit of a challenge. Paper Dolls offers and important insight into Dylan, into coming out, and into the perception of girlhood. It was fun and enjoyable to witness the joy Dylan cultivates in her life.

Paper Doll, Notes From a Late Bloomer
By Dylan Mulvaney

First off, a huge thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for giving me my copy of this fabulous audiobook.

I think hearing Dylan tell her own story was so impactful and fun. I laughed and cried my way through this audio. Listening to Dylan talk about all her joys and struggles was like having our own slumber party or catching up over brunch. I felt like we were besties, and I was privileged to be hearing her stories.

Dylan talks about her "Days of Girlhood" series and what that was like to share her transition so publicly every day. She talks about "BeerGate" and all the awful transphobia she received afterward and the effect it had on her mental health.
She also has a witty and honest way she explains all the details of her transition. Her surgeries, laser hair removal, and tucking are all discussed. But in a way that feels less invasive because she's telling you herself.
I really appreciated her candor and her determination to keep being a beacon of positively. She's a beautiful soul! And if you are looking for a first-hand story of trans joy and resistance, this is it.

to people review bombing this just to spew transphobic rhetoric... get a life. what a fun romp of a memoir! i listened to this on audio, so i didn't get to see all the illustrations and design of the book, but that COVER is to die for. it reminds me a lot of mccurdy's "i'm glad my mom died". one thing about me: i love girly, feminine, pink covers!

i've followed along mulvaney's "days of girlhood" journey over the years, though i kept up with her most frequently all the way back in 2022. she is such a vibrant, lively lady-- her joy is contagious. "paper doll" didn't offer too much of what we didn't already know, but it was a really entertaining memoir nonetheless. getting to hear dylan herself narrate this made it even better. she even sings all the lyrics she references in the book. the memoir honestly reads like a gossip session with a girlfriend. listening to it on audio makes it feel like you're on a call with your best friend, debriefing her wild escapades.

in her memoir, dylan brings up an important conversation about recognizing privilege, specifically in her experience transitioning. not everyone has easy access to gender-affirming care and procedures the way that she did, and she recognized that. dylan dives into her experience getting FFS, laser hair removal, etc, and as a cisgender woman, it was really interesting getting to hear all about it.

the ayahuasca tangent was a little strange, i won't lie. i hadn't taken dylan to be the "woo woo" type (as she described herself). it gives me pause whenever i hear the mention of this drug, because it makes me think about that youtuber that went on an ayahuasca retreat and ended up in a cult.

thank you to netgalley, dylan mulvaney, and abrams publishing for the audio ARC. all opinions are my own. <3

Paper Doll is less a memoir and more a memoir of a very specific period of time interspersed with background/backstory and snippets of how we got where we are today. And that's cool! I usually have the notion of "oh honey you're too young to write a memoir" with certain other books but for this one, it really worked. This is Dylan Mulvaney's memoir of having "been" a boy (rather, someone designated male at birth) and her memoir of becoming a woman through the ~2ish years of transition (and exploding into social media virality) covered here. It's part narrated diary entries and part musings on events in a way that flips around via time in a way that can sometimes be confusion in its non-linear fashion, but comes together as a whole in a trans speedrun, openly acknowledging the white and influencer-privilege she has despite things that have happened (as she says, Google "trans beer girl") to try and bring her down. She's living her best life, and being someone so young still, is definitely still on the road to maturation. I'd love to listen to a memoir from her in another 20 years to see the person she's grown into. (I also don't have TikTok and have never watched one of her videos, only heard about her here and there via cultural osmosis.)

The tone is very "chatting with your girlfriends" in a way that's so accessible while also opening herself up to vulnerability and educating via "Trans 101" at times. It's a fun, quick listen.

Thank you to RBmedia / Recorded Books and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for review!

When I watch Dylan's TikToks I feel as if she is talking to her best friend, one on one. She draws you into her upbeat personality even when she is having a rough day. Listening to her narrate her own story feels like watching her TikToks.

Dylan takes us through her childhood questioning who she was and trying to find herself in her teens and young adult life. While we get to hear about these great experiences Dylan has had from walking red carpets to designer clothes, readers also see the lonely side of popularity. Before starting her story, Dylan mentions that this is her personal journey and it should not be the basis for all transgender people. She also recognizes that her popularity has given her advantages and privileges that others have to wait for or never have the opportunity to get.

It takes guts to be vulnerable and Dylan gets very personal in her story. Through Dylan's story, I have a better understanding of the struggles transgender people face through their personal journeys and in public. But I do realize I still have a lot to learn. Be kind to people.

I do think listening to the audiobook and reading the book in tandem would be a lot of fun. There are moments where Dylan says "insert a descriptive picture" and I can only imagine how that looks on the page.

Thank you RB Media and NetGalley fo the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Actress and social media darling Dylan Mulvaney shares her journey into womanhood.
👧🏼
Dylan came out online and became a viral sensation overnight. Her coming-out journey created a platform for her to showcase not only her story, but to share so many others’ stories as well. Dylan is also a strong advocate for trans people everywhere. This #memoir allows her to tell her story not just the 365 days she journaled acknowledging her girlhood, but also her acting career as well.
📱
I’ve followed Dylan for a while on TikTok, even before she was attacked viciously online and no one deserves success more than this beautiful (inside and out) woman. She is kindness personified and the true essence of queer joy. I smile every time I see one of her videos and how she fought against hate was inspiring and handled with grace. We need more people like Dylan in this world. The audiobook read by Dylan herself was like one long TikTok video and I loved every second.

CW: transphobia, homophobia, cyberbullying, drug use, religious bigotry, suicidal thoughts, alcohol, sexual assault, sexual violence, stalking, body shaming, dysphoria, bullying, domestic abuse, emesis, eating disorder, medical content

Loved Dylan's narration on the audiobook. The format made it feel more like a conversation with a friend than a memoir. Her vulnerability, performance skills, and sense of comedic timing really shine throughout.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC!

I’ve followed Dylan online since early into her transition and loved her Days of Girlhood series. I’ve always been a fan and was really excited to see that she was releasing a book.

I really enjoyed the format of this book with it being a collection of essays and journal entries. I listened to the audio version which Dylan narrated and I loved that she came across as her bubbly, fun self as usual.

Dylan touched on a lot of important topics and was really vulnerable at times, especially around her relationship with her mother and her privilege. She touched a few times on how her journey as a trans woman is very different from many others and didn’t shy away from the fact that she was able to access gender affirming care quite swiftly.

I liked the time jumps as I feel like it kept me interested throughout and was able to add light and shade to the book.

I highly recommend this if you are a fan of Dylan or want to read a memoir from a trans author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RBmedia for the Audio ARC 💕

Absolutely devoured this audiobook. Dylan had me laughing one moment and crying the next. She was born to be a storyteller. I appreciated the vulnerability and honesty. Truly happy to have read/listened along to this work.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!

do be sure to check trigger warnings before reading.

i really didn’t know much about dylan mulvaney aside from the beer commercial debacle, but listening to her recount her life with such humor and grace was an unexpected delight.

i appreciated her sharing her journey and the pain she experience from friends, family, and strangers alike. despite all of this, as well as her own internal struggles, she persevered.

mulvaney narrated the audiobook, and i think she did a wonderful job! her humor is very much similar to mine, and so i enjoyed her quirks💗

I got this as an audio arc on Netgalley and it has since come out. I loved this and that this was narrated by Dylan herself felt very important. It was honest, brutally so, while still leaning in the way Dylan has communicated all along. Open while focusing mostly on positivity.

3.5 stars

In Paper Doll, Dylan Mulvaney breaks down her experience transitioning publicly, the consequences of social media fame, and her mental health. I have followed Dylan (like many others) since her day 1 of girlhood video came across my feed, so I was very excited to learn more about her journey and the things that didn't make the social media highlight reel. I was gifted an audiobook for review which is narrated by Dylan which is a huge bonus when it comes to memoirs. Dylan's joy is infectious and that 100% translates to this audiobook.

As expected, Dylan isn't afraid to talk about the more taboo elements of transitioning that others might find uncomfortable to talk about, which is such an valuable source of information. I think memoirs like this one are more important now more than ever before, particularly for audiences in the US, and I wholeheartedly believe Dylan's warm and open discussion of the trans experience has the potential to really help others. I also love how Dylan talks about the women in her life who offered guidance and support through the highs and lows, and the she paints the queer community in general.

Mental health is one of the main focuses of Paper Doll, particularly during and following beergate. I was a little disappointed here because I felt like the discussion of mental health was very surface-level (OF COURSE the author owes the reader nothing and I'm not suggesting she should divulge more than she wishes) and not treated with the same vulnerability that we see at other points. I did find it really impressive how she was able to talk about the unintended consequences of overnight fame and dealing with overwhelming hate in your digital space. My favourite part of the book was about the early days of her girlhood series on TikTok and the ways she would try to, as a people-pleaser, appeal to the women who didn't like her, because I don't think that is something a lot of influencers would confess to.

Overall, Dylan goes into depth about really important topics, never losing her ability to entertain and tell a good story. I didn't get the 'peak-behind-the-screen' impact that was intended (because Dylan is so transparent on social media, so this isn't necessarily a criticism) but I think if you go into this book expecting an extension, rather than a new perspective, you'll enjoy it. This isn't a long book yet there were a few repetitive elements that could've been improved upon.

Eventhough I've never really followed Dylan's journey, I always loved when she popped up on my for you page. She has such an amazing signature way to talk, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I realized she narrated the audiobook herself, which made me like this audiobook a lot more. The story was very entertaining, and as a trans person myself I was able to see myself in some of her experiences, which made me quite emotional sometimes. The story wasn't boring at all, and the way she parted it into old journal entries and the present made it very interesting to listen to. There were funny and cozy parts and then there were sad and even some melancholic parts.

All in all I reall enjoyed this insight on her journey and had a great time listening to this audiobook. -1 star for a few misshaps with the audio such as sentences that were recorded twice or repeated words. Other than that, it was very entertaining.

“Paper Doll”, trans content creator Dylan Mulvaney’s story of her very public transition, is funny, exceptionally candid, and informative for readers outside the trans community.

She recounts her childhood and the time she told her mother at age four or five that she felt like God had made a mistake with her and put a girl in a boys body, all the way through to present day when she has transitioned and is one of the most well known trans women in the world with over 9 million TikTok followers.

A singer and actress, Dylan is also a great narrator and storyteller so this book is great on audio and makes you feel like you’re on the phone with a friend. The only downside to listening to this on audio is that you miss out on the cute illustrations in the book that she references, and it can be challenging to keep track of when she is reading from a diary every from her first 100 days of girlhood and when she is sharing about her earlier and later life.

I’d recommend this book to fans and followers of Dylan as well as readers who would like to learn more about the joys and struggles of trans women.

Dylan Mulvaney’s Paper Doll is a heartfelt and honest reflection on her journey of self-discovery, navigating her transition, and dealing with the spotlight that came along with it. The book gives readers an intimate look into her life—her joys, struggles, and everything in between.

What really shines in Paper Doll is Dylan’s voice. She writes with warmth, humour, and vulnerability, making it feel like you’re having a conversation with a friend who’s letting you in on her most personal moments. Her ability to share her truth so openly is both inspiring and relatable.

That said, while the book does a great job of capturing her emotions and experiences, it sometimes feels a bit surface-level when it comes to digging deeper into the bigger picture. For readers looking for a deeper dive into trans advocacy or the challenges of being a public figure in today’s world, it might leave you wanting more. There are also moments where certain stories and reflections start to feel repetitive, which slows things down a bit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Was probably the first auto-biography I've read in a bit but it definitely won't be the last! Dylan's personality really shines through and I appreciated all the references to the "Day 100 of girlhood" series that I've seen on tik toks. This book provided more perspective into the live of a transgender person and gives the reader a greater sense of compassion. Really enjoyed this book!!!

I knew I would love this audiobook and it 1000% did not disappoint! Dylan is such a fabulous storyteller. I found Dylan’s Tiktok during the single digit days of Girlhood and have been following along with the journey ever sense. This book was everything I wanted. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me binge the audiobook even though I found it after release day!!

I am absolutely in love with the audio version of this book too! I got the ARC first then and ALC and it’s so good to hear it told in Dylan’s actual voice rather than the Dylan voice I read in my head. She is a trail blazer and an icon and I’m so happy young trans people have her to look up to

First of I love love Dylan I have been following their journey from the beginning! I am so happy I got the opportunity to listen to her book it has help me as a cis woman have a better understanding of what’s goes on behind closed doors! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand more about trans people or just wanting to learn more about her story!