My Life in Transition

Thank you to Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC copy of “My Life in Transition” in exchange for an honest review.

I first found Julia Kaye’s diary comics through her instagram @ upandoutcomic a few years ago and appreciated getting a glimpse into her life in the middle of transitioning. The graphic novel “My Life in Transition” is a beautiful update on her life now, and it’s so wonderful to see Julia’s growth into a more confident woman. Her honesty with the discrimination she faces is balenced with her gratitude for her circle of strong friendships around her. It warmed me reading these comics after reading the ones on her instagram page. I highly recommend diving into the comics that she has on there before you read this book, as well as reading her previous graphic novel “Super Late Bloomer”.

All in all, Julia’s story fills you with hope as you read. It makes you grateful for the people that you have in your life that are always there to lean into when you need it, and are there to make you smile at the end of a hard day. I am not a transgendered person, but while I couldn’t relate to Julia’s struggles it was a reminder to be there for the people in my life that are, and to be an active ally for them in a time of need. I highly recommend Julia Kayes work for all older readers (there’s mentions of sex and dating which is the only reason I wouldn’t recommend to younger readers). However, be aware that there are triggers of: transphobia, gender dysphoria, unsupportive family, discrimination.

I received this comic collection from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

The second A Super Late Bloomer collection and I was hyped to see Julia's comics combined into a book once again. I will definitely be adding this book to my physical collection when it is out! I am writing a short review for this book as I feel I have addressed most of the big things in the review for the first book (which I also ABSOLUTELY loved). We continue reading about Julia's transition, heartbreak, relationships, struggles with how people address her, daily life, and more. It details the years late-2018 to mid 2019. Most of the comics I already know as I try to keep an eye on Julia's twitter. But since I am following so many people and twitter only shows a couple, it hasn't be easy. But I don't mind. That way I get some new things to read. I really loved reading this one. I love seeing Julia's art get even prettier! I loved the written parts at the beginning/the end. All in all, recommended to everyone!

I was unfamiliar with this author/illustrator and their previous work, Super Late Bloomer. Prior familiarity was not, however, necessary to appreciate this collection of comics exploring life after transition. The story is autobiographical and focuses heavily on experiences of misgendering, family estrangement, and a series of relationships (romantic and otherwise) from a specific period in the author's life. The closing material, written rather than drawn, provides useful reflection as well.

I'm a big fan of Julia Kaye's other book, Super Late Bloomer, so I absolutely had to grab this one when it became available on NetGalley. I really enjoy the way Kaye speaks about her life and how she portrays very real emotion through seemingly-simple drawings. It's a tough thing to talk about your truest and most raw emotions and put it out there for everyone to see, but I'm glad she has done it.

This collection spans six months and highlights a time in her life where she's becoming more comfortable with herself. Kaye experiences dysphoria, heartbreak, and loss, but sees eventually that she is finally able to really love life more than she ever has before. The exploration of both good and negative emotions I think is really great here- it makes her story so much more realistic and relatable.

I think my favorite part of this book though is the afterward. Kaye talks about coming to terms with her former self pre-transition, and how she has come to love and appreciate her, even through the intense hardship she faced in the past. It's so honest and heartwrenching.

Books like this are incredibly important for many reasons, the most important being that they can hopefully help bring peace and solace to other people struggling with similar battles. As a cis person I cannot speak for trans people, but I hope that they would be able to read this book and think, "it does get better, I'm not alone."

Julie Kaye is doing something very hard, baring her soul for all to see, as she goes through transitioning to a new life, losing a love, trying to date new people.

Like all sequential art memoirs, there are a lot of sad things, things that one wouldn't want to talk about, and yet she bares all.

It is hard to bare your soul every time you draw a comic strip. This continues her story, past the coming out, and getting estrogen To being misgendered, and standing up to people to let them know that.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A very nice follow-up to Super Late Bloomer as Julia grows more into herself as a trans woman and tries out the world of dating, which is horrible no matter what your preference is. Dating SUUUUCKS! It sucks suck sucks!

As I always say in cases like this I am not own voices so please seek out own voices reviews first!
Okay so I did not read the first graphic novel by Kaye but that is only because I had no idea that it existed. I really liked this as a little look into what it is like after coming out and after transitioning. This book was not all happy or all sad it was very much what a slice of life should be like.
This is one of those books I would suggest all book stores and libraries should carry. This is a book that would and will help so many young or just early trans people. This is simply one of those books every should at least know about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishingm for the digital galley of this book.

My Life in Transition is the follow up to Kaye’s earlier collection, Super Late Bloomer, and though the art-style and tone is the same, Kaye is further along in her journey, and it’s really cool to see her grow and change. She mentions in the afterword that though she felt super out of sorts and like she didn’t know what she was doing, by drawing a comic each day, her life follows a pretty clear arc, and that is great for self-discovery, but also it makes for compelling storytelling.

This book isn’t about the transition so much as the existence of being trans in society once the hormones have done their thing. I really enjoyed being along for the ride of Kaye’s journey. It was like catching up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a year or so, and in these wild times, that is even more comforting.

This collection is out in February, and if you enjoy good things with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, check it out!
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishingm for the digital galley of this book.

My Life in Transition is the follow up to Kaye’s earlier collection, Super Late Bloomer, and though the art-style and tone is the same, Kaye is further along in her journey, and it’s really cool to see her grow and change. She mentions in the afterword that though she felt super out of sorts and like she didn’t know what she was doing, by drawing a comic each day, her life follows a pretty clear arc, and that is great for self-discovery, but also it makes for compelling storytelling.

This book isn’t about the transition so much as the existence of being trans in society once the hormones have done their thing. I really enjoyed being along for the ride of Kaye’s journey. It was like catching up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a year or so, and in these wild times, that is even more comforting.

This collection is out in February, and if you enjoy good things with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, check it out!

I liked this book and I appreciate that the publisher put out this comic because stories like these are so important for others to see and read They allow people who identify similarly and others to see themselves in the author's journey and find comfort in it as well and also to learn about a new perspective. The story is told in little comics that serve as journal entries which helps the reader see this period in the authors life, however I think for me this was a little hard to follow/enjoy at times because some things are introduced and never brought up again while other subjects are often touched upon.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this graphic novel!

Rating: 4.5 stars

I absolutely adored “Super Late Bloomer” by this author, so when I saw “My Life in Transition” to read on NetGalley I instantly hit download and read it in one sitting.

I loved the overall format, where each page is a day in the author's life over the course of 6 months.

Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for more queer and/or non-fiction comics. I can’t wait to read more by Julia Kaye!

This book is written in comic strips. It was very interesting to see the progression throughout a long period of time of someone who is transitioning. I especially liked how the relationships and way of thinking changed. The author is very brave for putting their thoughts out.

This was a great slice-of-life cartoon compilation, and I certainly appreciated how much range Julia Kaye captured in this volume, from joy to misery to more ambiguous emotions. The premise (drawing a cartoon a day for 6 months) is immediately engaging, and this is a great complement to her first volume.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley from Andrews McMeel Publishing. This 2nd volume in Julia Kaye’s journey really hit its stride. This volume focuses on a specific 6 month period of dated graphic strips of her life during transition. There are ups, downs, anxiety, romance and so much more. She does a nice foreword, epilogue and afterword, which makes joining her journey deeply personal and not just about the day to day of this time period. I thank her for putting her life so fully on the page.

A cute and genuinely fun life comic, still dealing with heavier themes of family and relationships, all in the midst of transitioning. The found family moments alleviated the heavier parts; the stress inducing aspects of dating and recent heartbreak, and the anxiety of less than accepting family. A very vulnerable comic.

This is a wonderful and honest comic strip depicting 6 months in the life of the author/artist, a trans woman. It will be relatable for those who have transitioned or are thinking of it, but it's also relatable just as a human dealing with insecurities, breakups, grief, toxic family members, friendships, etc. It is not a funny comic strip but it's an ultimately hopeful, poignant, interesting and impactful one. Highly recommended.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley for review.

There was a lot for me, as a cismale, to consider and think about in this book. It was funny and heartfelt. What I liked most about it is that the comics made clear that trans people are people. They have thoughts and emotions that are, in some ways, not so different than anyone else. They are not some scary "other." All this made without bashing the readers over the head. I enjoyed this book.

My Life in Transition
Author/Cartoonist: Julia Kaye
Genre: Collection of webtoons
Pages: 167
Publication Date: 2/16/2021

This collection is written and drawn by Julia Kaye and describes Julia’s experiences after she transitioned. It focuses on her life after the early days of her transition and covers topics such as break-ups, mental health, dating, and friendship. The collection covers a six-month period from December 2018 to June 2019.

What I liked:
*I love that this collection focuses on life after the transition. When trans people are depicted in media, the focus is often on their transition and the early days. This collection allows us to see some of Julia’s authentic experiences of what her “new normal” is going to be.
*The art style reminds me of the Sunday funnies. It is easy to read and very cute.
*I really enjoyed the chronological nature of this collection showing us small victories and setbacks for Julia.
*I liked that this comic depicted the complexity of gender after the transition. The societal influences do not disappear after someone transitions but continue to impact how they see themselves, how others see them and who they attracted to.
*The afterword was *powerful* talking about regret. As someone who came to her queerness later in life, I have grabbled with this. I really hope the author explores this theme in future comics as it is powerful!

What I didn’t like:
*The cover was very hard to read due to the lack of contrast. I had to enlarge the cover to be able to read the title and see the art. The cover also did not draw me in as I scrolled by it several times before reading the description.
*At times, I felt like the narrative did not fit the three-panel cartoon. Subsequently, some of the third panels were filler or platitudes that did not feel authentic.
*The story arc about Julia’s relationship with Liv felt abrupt. In several comics, we are shown how happy they are and then they break-up with little explanation. As the reader, I was unclear why they broke-up. Julia talks about how they just were not a good fit, but it would have been better to see that lack of a fit depicted in comics before their break-up or in flashbacks.

I would highly recommend this collection of webtoons. The artwork is cute and will remind you of the warm feelings you had reading the Sunday funnies as a kid while the narrative is powerful depiction of life after transition. It is a quick and thoughtful read.

My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection
eARC Netgalley Review

I loved this collection of comics by Julia Kaye. As a whole, it was endearing and powerful in its simplicity. Julia's story is very different from my own yet I still found myself relating to her.

Spanning over the course of six months, Julia drew a comic a day. It's a collection of moments, big and small, three years after she began her transition. Some days were devastating and others had me laughing out loud.

For anyone who enjoys reading stories told in comic form -- this is a must read. I would love to own a physical copy once published. I’m also about to go buy her first collection now too!

More than anything, I appreciate Julia Kaye for taking the time to document these parts of her life. Many people often only see the beginning stages of transition or the focus ON transition and Kaye takes the opportunity to allow people to explore life beyond just that singular detail while acknowledging that being trans is often a major part of identity and self.

The comics are short and fun to read and I feel that, even if someone is not trans, they would find themselves able to relate to many of Kaye's experiences with dating, breakups, family struggles, and more. As a queer person, the added layer of familiarity compared to my own life was a touch of homecoming, recognizing that there are others who experience similar things as I do too.

First, I want to thank NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for giving me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

In many ways, this was a quick read because each page is a 3 panel comic, but this is a book that feels like it's one the reader can return to again and again. While there are some everyday parts of her life that she depicts, there is also a huge range of deep emotions that readers are taken on as well: joy, pain, recovery, uncertainty, healing.

While there are parts of her story that I cannot fully relate to because I'm cis gendered, there were also many emotions that I could relate to in my own way. And that reminder that even though our experiences are different, we are all still so human and all feel many similar emotions throughout our lives is beautiful and powerful.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone would enjoys stories about real people going through life, but especially for anyone who is transgender to be reaffirmed that you aren't alone on your path to expressing who you are more authentically to the world.

Have you ever been so lucky to find yourself a new favorite author? I feel like 2020 is just filled with amazing gems that I’m utterly grateful.

This is the second graphic novel I read by the author and I totally love the way she draws her daily life, since I think we all can relate to funny, wholehearted moments with friends, as well as the loss and grief of someone loved, perhaps you don’t know what are you doing with your life, but that’s OK. The beauty of life is that nobody really knows what the future would hold and pretending to have it all figured it all is more painful than not. We have both good and bad moments, and we should cherish them all. Life should not be taken for granted and we all should make the effort to live the way we really want to.

Anyway, Julia takes us into her private life and she show us her doubts and struggles with dating, or the exciting feeling of meeting new people. She lets us know she has the best friends as well as the important moments of solitude: those we need to heal from past relationships and maybe, even learn how to take care and forgive oneself.

I seriously loved every single page and it made me chuckle the same way it made me realize that perhaps we don’t see big changes from day to day life, but after six months, a year or more, we surely change –hopefully into someone better, kinder.

I'm a fan of Julia online. I didn't know this was a sequel, but I didn't have any problems understanding the plot without reading the first book. I found the format a little annoying on mobile, but I'm sure that's fixed in the formal file.

A warm and heart-searching recounting of the author/artist's early years of transition. Relationships, friendships, clothing, lingering dysphoria and more are blended in storylines that shine with realism, sincerity, and the warmth of Kaye's wonderful friendships as well as her own heart.

Julia Kaye is such a gift.

For those who wondered where she went after Super Late Bloomer, Kaye has returned to show us! There is something so refreshing and so joyful about a trans woman documenting the real ups-and-downs of her life when she has already begun to pass. Kaye writes about strangers generally recognizing her as a woman, and her LGBT friends, and tons of romance; and also about the aspects of her transition she still hopes to complete, her struggles with transphobic family, and days that seem impossible to get through.

For many trans people, it's hard to imagine what it will be like to live happily as yourself. I have a vision of who I want to be, but they often seem completely out of reach. Kaye happily proves that, while you may change during your transition, the other side isn't so mysterious after all. You're still you, and you still have your good and bad days. A lot of your trans-related problems dissolve just slightly with transitioning. It could not possibly be overstated how important an accessible, good-hearted, honest autobiographical comic from a trans woman can be, and this one delivers on every front.

In terms of the comic medium, this book pleases me every time I look at it-- cute style, skilled flexibility, cohesive tone, easy to read, so so so difficult to put down. I happily took an hour out of my day just to sit down and enjoy Kaye's work. There wasn't a strip I disliked seeing, and there wasn't a moment I wanted to step away, which is not just surprising but incredibly impressive for daily comics. I hadn't even considered a second collection after SLB, but here it is, and it's just as good as the first.

In general, I really can't overstate how happy I am with this book. And the chance to read it and review it early! Fantastic. Highly recommend if any of the above-- autobiographical comics, trans memoirs, etc-- appeal to you. I'm confident both cis and trans people will enjoy it (though perhaps trans people will laugh a little harder at some very relatable moments.) Already excited to see Kaye's next collection, and going to bed smiling thinking about this one.

I received an electronic ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley.
Kaye brings readers into her continued journey to discover who she is and who she wants to be. Her artwork and humor offer a first hand look at the gamut of emotions she feels during this process. The detailed character expressions are wonderful. Readers can infer so much from the facial and body expressions. Looking forward to her next book.

*I received an advance copy from Netgalley*

I'm a little biased because I have followed Julia (the author/illustrator) for years on instagram and adore her. I really loved this collection of autobiographical comics about love, loss, healing, and transition. They feel intensely personal and relatable at the same time. She manages to capture so much emotion and nuance into these three panel comics. I was really impressed touched and want to buy a physical copy when it comes out.

I've always enjoyed seeing Julia's cartoons on the internet, so it was super cool to see them all condensed here, covering a year of her life. This collection of comics captures so many things at once. It captures a piece of Julia's life and the mundane day-to-day joys and frustrations she faces, it captures her experience as a trans woman, it captures heartbreak and the chaos of the dating scene, and it also documents her year in a way that unfurls each day upon the next. I really enjoyed getting to watch Julia evolve literally page by page, dealing with breakups and moving and so many different changes. This is a life in transition, not just regarding Julia's trans identity, but it's also quite literally capturing a year in motion for the life of a woman caught between new loves and old loves, new and old places, new and old relationships, and so on. It's a testament to queer and trans joy and a testament to change, in every way.

I haven't read Super Late Bloomer, so this was my first time reading Julia Kaye's comics. But this book can be easily read as a standalone, and I really enjoyed it.

One of my favourite comics in this collection was the one where a little kid completely accepts and validates Julia as a woman. It just radiated joy. Overall, I liked how balanced this collection was - there's so much trans joy, but also difficult issues, like the comic about her grandmother who she's not out to. As someone who's not out to their grandparents either, that one really hit home. Another comic that really spoke to me was about how after coming out as trans, you start to change as a person because you can finally be honest about who you are.

Overall, I think it's so impressive how Julia Kaye was able to convey so many of the joys and complexities of being trans in three-panel comics.

CWs: sexual assault, gender dysphoria, mentions of misgendering, estrangement from parents/family

I find it quite hard to review LGBTQ+ titles. There is this sense of belonging and there is this imposter syndrome. I am cis-gendered bi: there are always moments when dysphoria sinks in and internalised homophobia that seeps its way into my life. So, even when I could not relate to trans experiences, I still felt heard reading through this three-panelled comic strips depicting every day of Julia's life for six month's straight. The collection couldn't be anymore whole than this: it is about "the beauty and pain of love and heartbreak, struggling to find support from bio family and the importance of chosen family, moments of dysphoria and misgendering, learning to lean on friends in times of need, and finding peace in the fact that life keeps moving forward."

Brutally honest and intimate, My Life in Translation is a collection full of hope- focussing on the end of the early transition period and after. It "shows how you can be trans and simply exist in society. You can be trans and have a successful future. You can be trans and have a normal life full of ups and downs". Titles like this are super important, for all the obvious reasons. It is a quick read, that feels like a hug to everyone who is on the journey to learning to express or expressing themselves. And whether you are a part of the community or an ally, this should be one of your must-reads this year!

Rating: 4.25/5

The following is my Goodreads reviews and is oriented more towards potential readers than the publisher:

"Just as wonderful as 'Super Late Bloomer'! Picking right up where that collection left off, this covers topics such as painful breakups, newly dating as your authentic self, and the beginning of a new relationship. It also covers the difficulties of a non-supportive family, and building a chosen family. The author's way of illustrating dysphoria is excellent, and helps me understand it more as a cis ally. I look forward to reading more from this author, and will reccomend this one along with the first!"

I enjoyed Super Late Bloomer, Julia's first collection of comics about her transitioning, so I was delighted to read this ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley. Again, I love the heart in Julia's comics, the very palpable way she conveys both the lows of anxiety and self doubt but also the highs of new love and discovering self-love. How wonderful to be invited to glimpse her continuing journey.

Sometimes, it's particularly hard to judge a book because it is someone else's personal story of their journey. That is the case for me with MY LIFE IN TRANSITION by Julia Kaye. The story is not only a bout Kaye's transition but the struggles involved. I think that for someone going through the same transitions, the book would be super helpful to allow people to know they are not alone. And it's "graphic novel" form really does allow for it to appeal to even those who are not big on reading. It may also be a good book for those who love someone transitioning, to see some of the stresses that one goes through without having to actually put their loved one on the spot asking what feels like too many invasive questions.

I thought this book was a great introduction to Transition, and all the emotional and physical issues that come along with the territory.

Julia was great at explaining her thoughts and concerns throughout her everyday occurrences; from break-ups to hook-ups, moving to confronting her depression and body dysphoria days. The addition of (REDACTED BLACK LINES) was an emotional rollercoaster; though Julia could have completely omitted the character, and never spoke about them, Julia informs reader about (REDACTED) and how they did not accept her; refusing to talk to her after she came out, and showing us that even though they treated Julia badly, she still wanted to maintain a relationship with her family. Julia did a phenomenal job of visually showing us the pain of nonacceptance,

I will be definitely purchasing this, as well as Super Late Bloomer, and am excited for my library's readers to be able to access these books!

I received an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley.

After reading this comics collection, I somehow regret not having read Super Late Bloomer first. However, with the emotional foreword Julia Kaye included, I feel I managed to create the bigger and more complete picture of the story and the daily struggles and situations Julia faced and is still facing.

I've been trying to be better about vocally setting my personal boundaries lately. To address what is unacceptable behaviour and advocate for myself. To have more self-respect than to let other people walk all over me.

I've been taking time to look inward to the core of my being. I'm asking questions and starting to better understand myself. I'm so much stronger than I give myself credit for.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. One day you'll look back and it'll all make sense. But for now, just keep moving.

This is growth done right.

Honesty is a trait I value in people the most, and this collection is, by far, the most honest one I came across recently. It is very relatable with everyone going through a rough time in life, dealing with grief, loss, break up, anxiety, misunderstanding of the world, misunderstanding of themselves, acceptance or a lack of it. And above all, every time people addressed Julia wrong hit my nerve, just as it may have hit hers. Why? Why people give themselves the right to make choices and "correct the wrongs" on behalf of other adults, fully physically and mentally developed people? Live and let live! We should be able to make our own choices and decisions, and we should all be supportive of them, without any judging. Show some support and love; the world has already become an ugly place, and we don't have to add more to it.

I truly enjoyed the three-panel comic concept; it sets the daily atmosphere right and gives us a good overview of the daily happenings. Seeing Julia blossoming into an emotional young woman, experiencing happiness and sadness, joy and pain, hurting and healing, all wrapped up in one, made my heart full of same emotions. This collection reminds us that we all go through many similar feelings and struggles in life, but we fight back, and we stand tall. We are brave! We are powerful!

This comics collection is a real gem, a book that could help many young trans people, to let them know we are in this together. It radiates warmth, love, support, and understanding.

This was such a nice autobiographical comic to read as a trans person transitioning. So many of the things Julia talks about experiencing, I related to heavily, especially about her experiences with relationships. I feel like most trans memoirs focus on the big moments and feelings, so I enjoyed reading these tiny daily snapshots into what living as a trans person is like.

Love this follow-up to Super Late Bloomer! My daughter is trans and we are really close, but reading Julia's books gives me fresh insights into the internal struggles my daughter faces. You don't have to relate to the author's specific insecurities to appreciate them or enjoy the artwork. I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book, and as I did with the previous book, I'll be buying a finished copy for my daughter. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this collection in exchange for an honest review!!

I really enjoyed this collection!! I think I may have found a new comic author/artist to obsess over. This collection shows the struggles of a Trans woman learning to love herself and find happiness. It's not all butterflies and roses, it talks about some rough stuff like dysphoria and anxiety. The best part for me is that there are pieces of her story than anyone could relate to. This is funny and eye opening and a series that I would definitely enjoy seeing more of!

Super Late Bloomer was about Kaye learning and accepting and deciding to transition and now My Life in Transition is well, her life in transition. Daily comics over a 6-month period of Kaye navigating her world. There's ups and downs, ins and outs. A lot of relatable pages for anyone, transgender or otherwise. I enjoyed learning more about the daily experiences, and struggles, of being a transgender person.

A great illustrated comic filled with life!
I am trying to read more queer books this year and this book gives a perspective of a trans person who is transitioning. I love the comics and the fact that in 3 panels so much could be communicated.
I liked how the topics were not just limited to her transitioning but also her love, dating, and heartbreak! It was pure delight. I found some comics on dating to be very relatable.

I wonder why the comics were not colored, I believe it's an artistic choice but I would love to see the colored version of these. It would be so more lively, especially the self-love ones!

Thanks, Netgalley and the author for providing an advance copy for review!

I really enjoyed this Own Voices comic. The art is really sure but the subject matter is meaty. I learned a lot from reading this and getting a new perspective about life.

I LOVE Julia’s first book and this one is just as great. The illustrations are so clean and simple but evoke a lot of emotion and really reflect the writing. Very honest, heartfelt story with many moments that are relatable to anyone - trans or not - issues such as breakups, family problems, first dates, friendships, insecurities and so on.

I wish the panels were longer but there was something of a time constraint. Each three part panel was done once a day for six months. As short as the panels are though, they give a lot of information.

I hope to see more of Kaye’s soon!!

<i>Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I'm in tears at the moment from reading this beautiful comic collection.

I related a lot to Julia's struggles with moving on from a long term relationship that wasn't the healthiest, and yet still misses it... Girl, same.

It hurts.

Julia explores grief and family acceptance and transness in such a raw, emotional way. I'm thankful she has decided to share her life with us in comic form. <3

This is the first thing by Kaye that I have read and I loved it! As someone who is only out to a couple family members (and barely out to myself) this gave me immense hope that I will one day love and care for myself, I will grow into myself just as Julia has done.

These short comics are able to portray these raw emotions so wonderfully and fully, this really is a fantastic book Julia was able to show her story so well covering transness, heartbreak, family trouble and grief. i honestly applaud Julia for releasing this and telling her story.

(Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review!)

Graphic novels and comics aren't usually my cup of tea, but I couldn't resist this one, and I'm glad I didn't. I love everything about it. Julia Kaye has a really impressive way of showing nuance in a series of 3-panel cartoon strips; she doesn't even need words to make you feel things. I've not read the first one, but even without that context I really appreciated how this book covered her life after she was already several years into her transition; it showed a different side to the transition narrative we usually get, in which an individual's transition is often portrayed as the natural conclusion to their life's greatest journey, and so on and so forth. Even though her gender is a huge part of her identity, Julia's life isn't magically perfect just because she's overcome that initial hurdle and has reached a point at which she's living happily as a trans woman and is almost always gendered as female. She still has to get through breakups, men being men, work pressures, friendships, the works. It made her feel a lot more authentic and three-dimensional as a protagonist and author.

That said, she also very clearly shows how her transition will always be a tangible part of her life through the hardship of misgendering, the trauma of her own family rejecting her, the constant worries about whether she's performing femininity 'enough' or 'correctly'. I think these were my favourite panels, when Julia writes (?) about how, as a trans woman, the pressure to perform a certain type of femininity in order to almost justify being trans can be a roadblock to authenticity. She feels a constant guilt over not doing enough (her phrase, not mine) to avoid misgendering, whilst being objectively aware that it's absolutely not her fault at all, and that the general gendered aspects of the society she lives in are to blame. It was an interesting aspect that, as a cis woman, I've never had to consider; I can wear trousers or a baggy jumper without getting misgendered, for example, and it was illuminating to be forced to confront the inherent privilege of that.

Literally the only thing I would nitpick over is that it only covered 6 months of her life and I would have liked to live alongside her longer. That's it. Oh, and sometimes the art style made people difficult to differentiate, particular her first girlfriend and her therapist. They looked very similar and it could be jarring. Still, there are limits to black and white cartoons, so that's really more of an issue of medium for me than anything else.

Now I have to pick up the first one...

An excellent graphic novel that explores the difficult transition that individuals go through for gender confirmation surgery. Highly recommended.

I wasn't familiar with Julia's other collection Super Late Bloomer and that context isn't needed for reading this, although I'm sure it would add. This collection of comic strips covers her life for about six months. There's an introduction that sets the story for the reader and a really nice epilogue as well.

Each comic strip is short and shows just one bit of Julia's life during that day. The reader gets to watch Julia go through a breakup, fluctuate different relationships with friends and family, and just living life as a 30 year old trans woman. The snapshot format of this book is so interesting to see one individual's life day-to-day.

I give this book a 5/5. I love this format. Although I read it all in one sitting, I think this would be a great book to just read one page (or a few pages) a day.

I enjoyed the original Super Late Bloomer book by Julia Kaye about her life when she first came out as trans, so I already knew I would like this one too. I ended up enjoying it even more than the first book. The comic strips work as a diary with snapshots of her life, both ups and downs. It's a very personal and honest look at her life through new relationships, break-ups, friendships, gender dysphoria and gender euphoria. I highly recommend reading anything by Kaye, but especially this book.

This is an incredible work. With a lot of LGBTQ+ literature, the focus is on the actual transition or coming out phase, but in this work Julia speaks candidly about what happens after a lot of the 'drama' (for lack of a better term) makes way for day to day life. By using daily comics, you walk in her shoes as she navigates the ups and downs of entering a society where just living your own truth can be fraught with unexpended landmines. I found the journey incredibly relatable, and highly recommend this work to live on your bookshelf!

My Life in Transition is the follow-up to Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition, which documented the author's decision to transition genders. Both pictures are a sort of diary in comics, with one comic per day, showing glimpses into Kaye's life and experiences. In My Life in Transition we get a look at 6 months in Kaye's life as she lives as a female and anxiously awaits getting bottom surgery. She stresses about being misgendered, deals with her own feelings of depression and dysmorphia, and also the everyday dilemmas of interpersonal relationships.

I was so happy to see more of Julia Kaye's autobiographical comics were being published in book form. She has such a way with getting so much across in three panels. This latest collection covers 6 months of her life; we see her her growth over those months in such a poignant, heartfelt way. Highly recommended. (And I hope there's more coming!)

My Life in Transition is not just about the life of a woman in transition, but a story of what her life has been after she made the hard choice to come out, to herself, her friends, her family and be her true self. This story is about all the changes her life has begun t go through above and beyond the physical. She boldly shows the struggles to fit in and try to adopt society's version of feminine beauty as she fights bouts of dysphoria and misgendering.
I hadn’t read the 1st part of her story, but this volume stands up well on its own.

I may not have a 100% understanding of her struggle but as a Lesbian, I can understand the alienation from family and friends. I have been called sir, because of the way I dress, and yes it pisses me off every time.
Regardless of how you identify, which pronouns you prefer, you can recognize yourself in Julia’s growth as a woman.

I received this uncorrected proof free from Andrew McNeil’s Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

Read more graphic novel reviews at www.graphiclibrary.org.

My Life in Transition is a second anthology of Kaye’s web comic, Up and Out, chronicling her life as a transgender woman. Kaye publishes nearly one three-panel comic a day, and this collection is roughly six months of her life. In it, Kaye explores dating as a trans woman, both men and women, and healing after a long-term relationship ends. Kaye also shows instances of people misgendering her, and the anxiety and dysmorphia that often follows. Kaye also navigates friendships and builds personal boundaries with friends, romantic partners, and work. Kaye also struggles with her bio family who is not supportive and exhibits transphobia. A friend suggests a chosen family - building a family of people who are supportive and positive influences. Kaye builds a chosen family of other trans individuals and friends who see Kate for who she is.

Kaye’s comics are honest and authentic. This collection is a stark look into the journey of a trans person, especially after surgeries and hormones have had a chance to work, and often a time we don’t see very often portrayed or discussed in media. Usually, trans stories end with the decision to have surgery or start hormone therapy, but Kaye demonstrates that the daily struggles and journey of personal growth is far from over at that point. The three-panel stories are easy to digest but can pack a punch depending on the type of day Kaye had. They are loosely connected, so this format might be jarring for readers who are used to comics as a longer format, but this style harks back to comic strips and their collection into books.

There is one strip that includes nakedness, but the portrayal is that of rebirth, not anything sexual.

Sara’s Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-Adult

This book is a lovely depiction of what Julia Kaye's life is like, and her experiences as a trans woman. Highly recommend this read!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Julia Kaye shares an intimate memoir of her life in transition in the form of a comic. She portrays her struggles in such an honest way, that even though I couldn't relate, I could surely appreciate.. I haven't read her previous work "Super Late Bloomer", but I will be checking it for sure!!

It was so nice to have a followup title to Super Late Bloomer. Julia Kaye has been doing fantastic work (I check out her Twitter occasionally) and her comics in Super Late Bloomer were eye opening. It is great that she is getting shelf space for her comics and they are much needed. My Life in Transition was a nice check-in on her journey to being her true self and what has happened since Super Late Bloomer. I enjoyed it and I hope we see more Super Late Bloomer comics or other stories by Kaye.

4.5

My Life in Transition by Julia Kaye is a beautiful autobiographical graphic novel. A series of vignettes, where we can discover - day by day (more or less) - her life.

How she discovers herself, her true soul. The fear, the pain, the doubts, the joy, the tears... all her transition is explained to us through simple vignettes and sometimes I could ever relate with her feelings. Everyday is a new moment for a discover, a moment for fight the sense of dysphoria that kept her from being "free".

I liked how, even in her darker days and nights, Julia find the courage to take back her life. All that courage warmed my heart. It give me the hint for understand myself a little bit more. We have to accept ourselves, even if it seems strange or "wrong" (and it's NEVER wrong).

I couldn't completely understand her fears but in a minimal way I've tried the sensation of being "judge" for what you are (and what/who you like).

I'd love to read more books of Julia Kaye. She made my day.

I really loved reading the comic/memoir My Life in Transition. It's one of those books that makes you think a bit, especially as it deals with everyday issues of transgender people transitioning. My Life in Transition is basically a heartwarming read about everyday life for the author.

This is a collection of short slice-of-life comic strips that are quiet, sweet, sad, & funny. It's a sequel of sorts to Julia's first collection, but you can definitely read it on its own.

I think this book is lovely and so valuable. It shows that anxiety and dysphoria don’t just go away after early transition, but also that they can get a lot better. I think a lot of people will find it both relatable and uplifting. It's also nice that it's not just about being trans (like the first volume mostly was), but also about love, heartbreak, etc.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! It's out now.

My Life in Transition is a comic that spans 6 months of the author’s life as she handles loss, heartbreak and loving herself after her transition.

I have not heard of this author before but I really enjoyed reading about her life, and I look forward to reading her previous work.

Some of the situations were relatable and inspiring. I love her friends and support system and her uncertainty about her own feelings and even being open about them. It is hard to be open about your feelings with friends and loved ones.

This shows all the things that Julie encounters including misgendering, unsupportive family, even good days and bad days.

I am glad that I read this book. I may not be transgendered but I love reading stories where the person feels more happy and love themselves more.

I look forward to reading more about her life and following her on Instagram for more updates.