melissagopp's reviews
237 reviews

Blurbs by Kiese Laymon and Jeannine Ouellette landed this book on my list of most anticipated memoirs of fall. That should have been my tip-off to expect an intense read. For those who are easily triggered, please proceed with caution. This memoir contains few places to rest between events and confronts a strong cocktail of trauma—sexual abuse, addiction, poverty, racism, and religious extremism. With that being said, Means has constructed a work of art from her life. There are admirable literary nuggets throughout. I absolutely adore the closing scene. I suspect her story will help many others feel seen and less alone in their recovery. For readers who haven’t experienced this magnitude of trauma, Means’ memoir is an important window into the invisible pasts so many people carry with them on a daily basis. Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Books for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Alicia Roth Weigel was told she’d been born with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome. She grew up hiding the fact that she didn’t menstruate and would never have a biological child. Not until her twenties, when she saw a story in Vogue magazine, did she discover the word intersex—the missing piece of her identity. While Inverse Cowgirl centers her experiences around being a woman who is intersex, it also conveys her life as a staunch advocate for human rights and the gifts and challenges that come with a bipolar diagnosis. 

Just when I thought I was getting lost in the narrative of her early nomadic years, she landed in Texas where her true vocation took root. You’d think she wouldn’t last in a conservative state that actively tries to pass legislation denying her existence. Instead, she owns the work of her new frontier, bridging the gap between male and female, her conservative family and liberal comrades, and even between opposing sides of the Texas State Legislature. As she so aptly points out, y’all is the perfect gender neutral word. This is an absolute must-read for anyone looking to understand why the I in LGBTQIA+ matters.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.