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Show Girl
Alex is a young man in the employ of James McCain, founder of McCain Applied Computing and old family friend. But when their trade show models fall ill just days before the event that could make or break the company, someone has to step in and fill their shoes... and their dresses.
A romance, and a journey of self-discovery.
A romance, and a journey of self-discovery.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2023
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July 26, 2023This is really delightful. The story of Alex, a rather insecure AMAB 19yo at a tech startup who is asked by the (gorgeous) boss to pose as a booth babe because there's no models in the whole of London or Birmingham, look it's a romance, roll with the plot okay.
Alex's journey towards recognising she's trans, dealing with dysphoria, making girl and gay friends, and falling in love with James is beautifully detailed. It's probably like 65% trans awakening to 35% romance, but it's also a pretty long book so you won't feel short changed on the romance side, and the UST and sex scenes are marvellous.
It's absolutely Pygmalion/Cinderella. We see Alex's fears and uncertainty and there's acknowledgement of the dangers and indignities trans women face and the potential for people being awful in many ways, but while those are fully recognised as threats, they don't happen: no trauma here. James is immensely rich, which makes everything a lot easier, and Alex is surrounded by a cast of people who are loving, supportive, and open-minded. Basically, it's tough enough for Alex coming out to herself and also managing to get her romantically idiot self into a relationship with equally romantically idiotic James; no other conflict is required.
And none wanted: it's immensely readable and compels your attention. The style is assured and Alex's voice is wry, funny, and terrifically likeable, grounding the fairytale with detail and sarcasm. I'm cis but the details feel immensely real and are conveyed very well (the author is a trans woman)
I will say the opening has...like, a gnat's-squeak feel of forced feminisation briefly, but that's not at all how the story develops. And for me the epilogue was perhaps a touch unnecessary, though I do see the urge to put in a scene witth all the parents and it wouldn't have fit in the main narrative. But this is just quibbling. This is one of the most enjoyable romances I've read in ages and a lovely feelgood trans fairytale to boot.
Alex's journey towards recognising she's trans, dealing with dysphoria, making girl and gay friends, and falling in love with James is beautifully detailed. It's probably like 65% trans awakening to 35% romance, but it's also a pretty long book so you won't feel short changed on the romance side, and the UST and sex scenes are marvellous.
It's absolutely Pygmalion/Cinderella. We see Alex's fears and uncertainty and there's acknowledgement of the dangers and indignities trans women face and the potential for people being awful in many ways, but while those are fully recognised as threats, they don't happen: no trauma here. James is immensely rich, which makes everything a lot easier, and Alex is surrounded by a cast of people who are loving, supportive, and open-minded. Basically, it's tough enough for Alex coming out to herself and also managing to get her romantically idiot self into a relationship with equally romantically idiotic James; no other conflict is required.
And none wanted: it's immensely readable and compels your attention. The style is assured and Alex's voice is wry, funny, and terrifically likeable, grounding the fairytale with detail and sarcasm. I'm cis but the details feel immensely real and are conveyed very well (the author is a trans woman)
I will say the opening has...like, a gnat's-squeak feel of forced feminisation briefly, but that's not at all how the story develops. And for me the epilogue was perhaps a touch unnecessary, though I do see the urge to put in a scene witth all the parents and it wouldn't have fit in the main narrative. But this is just quibbling. This is one of the most enjoyable romances I've read in ages and a lovely feelgood trans fairytale to boot.
August 4, 2023
Hi, hello, do you have a minute to discuss our light and radiance, Show Girl by Alyson Greaves? I promise, it is WAY MORE WONDERFUL than what I sort of ripped that phrase off.
Do you want a book about queer joy? Read this.
Do you want a book about a journey of identity spookily relatable in its realness, awkwardness, and elation? Read this.
Do you want a book about a trans woman getting all the love and support and community she deserves? Read this.
I'm not trans, but on a personal note I connected deeply with Alex's "aren't I supposed to have KNOWN??" confusion. For me, it was about my sexuality, but Alex's story touches on so many things about queerness and figuring out who you are that no one can fail to see themselves or someone they love in her. There is a bit of a fantasy element in that Alex has a community that is unquestionably accepting (fantasy to me, someone living in Texas in 2023); but it's the kind of fantasy that his hopeful and healing and made me about as emotional as the Schitt's Creek "Meet the Parents" episode.
All this babbling to say: if you haven't read this book yet, WHY TF NOT?!?!
Overall rating: 4.75
Hannah Angst Scale: tough one, but I'll go with a 2. it's emotional but in a joyous way
Content notes: gender dysphoria, transphobia (challenged), misgendering and deadnaming (challenged, for example ), sexism, anxiety and panic attacks, discussion of transition-related medical care and body modification (i.e. HRT, top and bottom surgery), alcohol use and intoxication, estranged abusive parent (Alex's cheated on her mom, they got divorced, he continues to manipulate money out of her mom, and drinks heavily), open door sex scenes, discussion of using a surrogate/adopting to have children
Do you want a book about queer joy? Read this.
Do you want a book about a journey of identity spookily relatable in its realness, awkwardness, and elation? Read this.
Do you want a book about a trans woman getting all the love and support and community she deserves? Read this.
I'm not trans, but on a personal note I connected deeply with Alex's "aren't I supposed to have KNOWN??" confusion. For me, it was about my sexuality, but Alex's story touches on so many things about queerness and figuring out who you are that no one can fail to see themselves or someone they love in her. There is a bit of a fantasy element in that Alex has a community that is unquestionably accepting (fantasy to me, someone living in Texas in 2023); but it's the kind of fantasy that his hopeful and healing and made me about as emotional as the Schitt's Creek "Meet the Parents" episode.
All this babbling to say: if you haven't read this book yet, WHY TF NOT?!?!
Overall rating: 4.75
Hannah Angst Scale: tough one, but I'll go with a 2. it's emotional but in a joyous way
Content notes: gender dysphoria, transphobia (challenged), misgendering and deadnaming (challenged, for example ), sexism, anxiety and panic attacks, discussion of transition-related medical care and body modification (i.e. HRT, top and bottom surgery), alcohol use and intoxication, estranged abusive parent (Alex's cheated on her mom, they got divorced, he continues to manipulate money out of her mom, and drinks heavily), open door sex scenes, discussion of using a surrogate/adopting to have children
March 29, 2024
Not the audience,
but fantasy isn't fun
when it's so sexist.
I struggled with this book--liked the voice and Alex but the more she transitioned the more she uncritically embraced stereotypical female roles that shut down her agency. I was enraged by the heteronormativity by the end. But it's not my book nor my experience, so I'm leaving it at 3 stars and recognizing my own biases and values.
but fantasy isn't fun
when it's so sexist.
I struggled with this book--liked the voice and Alex but the more she transitioned the more she uncritically embraced stereotypical female roles that shut down her agency. I was enraged by the heteronormativity by the end. But it's not my book nor my experience, so I'm leaving it at 3 stars and recognizing my own biases and values.
August 7, 2023
If my friends Charlotte and Hannah both recommend a book, which is also then recommended by KJ Charles and Felicia Davin, then I have to read it. I believe it’s the actual law.
And Show Girl by Alyson Greaves 100% delivers on the promises they made me. Here is a joyful, affirming and powerful fairytale about a trans woman discovering herself in the most unlikely and extraordinary way; finding queer community and sisterhood; and realising that she was in love with her best friend all along. It’s a story full of exuberant joy - and Alex, who narrates her story in a dry witty style that reminds me of Alexis Hall’s Ardy, is a delight to spend the pages with. Being along for the ride as she navigates her identity feels like a privilege.
If that makes the book sound like a lot of fun, it is. But this isn’t a frothy story - it’s also an honest and sometimes painful exploration of what it means to come out as trans in your late teens/early 20s (even in the unusual situation Alex finds herself in). We’re with Alex as she experiences doubt, uncertainty, disbelief, fear; as she tests out different ways of thinking about herself, and experiences the highs of gender euphoria and the low lows of dysphoria. Although the story holds Alex safe in a queer-friendly space, there are moments when Alyson Greaves lets transphobia and sexual harassment break through. Ultimately the circle of safety reseals around Alex, but there is definitely enough raw honesty to trouble the fairytale. There is also a lot of interesting stuff here about gendered behaviour and performance, as we see Alex learn how to look, act and respond to others as a woman. Her relationship with James, her boss and best friend, is fascinating - his behaviour skirts so close to problematic, so many times, and yet still feels real and earnest.
This feels like the kind of trans romance novel we need - written by a trans woman author; joyful but open about the limitations of joy (and the times when it’s impossible); practical and realistic but also fantastical; and quietly pushing boundaries. I’m really grateful to have read it.
And Show Girl by Alyson Greaves 100% delivers on the promises they made me. Here is a joyful, affirming and powerful fairytale about a trans woman discovering herself in the most unlikely and extraordinary way; finding queer community and sisterhood; and realising that she was in love with her best friend all along. It’s a story full of exuberant joy - and Alex, who narrates her story in a dry witty style that reminds me of Alexis Hall’s Ardy, is a delight to spend the pages with. Being along for the ride as she navigates her identity feels like a privilege.
If that makes the book sound like a lot of fun, it is. But this isn’t a frothy story - it’s also an honest and sometimes painful exploration of what it means to come out as trans in your late teens/early 20s (even in the unusual situation Alex finds herself in). We’re with Alex as she experiences doubt, uncertainty, disbelief, fear; as she tests out different ways of thinking about herself, and experiences the highs of gender euphoria and the low lows of dysphoria. Although the story holds Alex safe in a queer-friendly space, there are moments when Alyson Greaves lets transphobia and sexual harassment break through. Ultimately the circle of safety reseals around Alex, but there is definitely enough raw honesty to trouble the fairytale. There is also a lot of interesting stuff here about gendered behaviour and performance, as we see Alex learn how to look, act and respond to others as a woman. Her relationship with James, her boss and best friend, is fascinating - his behaviour skirts so close to problematic, so many times, and yet still feels real and earnest.
This feels like the kind of trans romance novel we need - written by a trans woman author; joyful but open about the limitations of joy (and the times when it’s impossible); practical and realistic but also fantastical; and quietly pushing boundaries. I’m really grateful to have read it.
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June 14, 2023Here is a story of someone coming out to herself as trans—and eventually, everyone else—suddenly and unexpectedly, and it is adorable and so readable that I was sneaking a couple of pages while brushing my teeth and in between stretches. Alex works with “his” close friend James, the boss at their tiny computing company. When they lose their contracted trade-show models to an illness only days before the big expo, James suggests that Alex—who is young and slender and pretty—put on a dress and do it. Alex panics, but doesn’t object, because it turns out she really likes wearing a dress. And then it turns out maybe what she really likes is being a woman. But Alex knows about trans people (in the vague, distant way of someone who has been pointedly not learning more) and can’t possibly be one because if she were, she would already know, wouldn’t she? Trans people all know from birth, don’t they? Her journey is bumpy and endearing, especially because she’s a very funny narrator (“The lurking waitress startled us both. Just our luck to end up at the only Pizza Express where the waitstaff were trained for stealth combat operations.”) Alex’s self-discovery is also complicated by the way James keeps gaping at her and telling her how beautiful she is. Being a woman throws their friendship into a new light and makes both of them realize their feelings, which they then have to navigate while also working at the expo. The yearning is palpable. But also Alex feels happy and can imagine the future for the first time ever, and she makes friends with the other trade-show models and meets tons of other queer people, and it’s just so satisfying to watch her blossom.
March 24, 2024
Book 3 for me for the 2024 Trans Rights Readathon. This year, I'll be making a donation to LGBT Youthline.
3.5 stars
Overall I liked a lot about this book. It felt to me like fix-it fic for someone's life and I was down with that. In fact, I could relate to the desire to fictionalize a sort of idealized alternate reality. I found Alex endearing and appreciated being on her journey and it felt like I was getting an intimate education on the experience of uncovering one's identity and starting to transition. The author does a great job of portraying the sense of whiplash Alex is experiencing - between doubts and urgency, anger and euphoria. As well as a very realistic portrayal of Alex, and her confidantes, figuring things out as they go along (and the mistakes and misunderstandings that go with it.)
Normally, I don't like to read sooo much interiority but it mostly made sense for this book. That said, the execution did not always work for me. It was quite long, and especially toward the end, some of the details and pacing felt tedious. Also, the narrative leans really hard on the idea and importance of passing and while that is subtly challenged a couple of times, I think it was a missed opportunity to not be more explicitly addressed (especially considering all the "experts" Alex had at her disposal.) Also, James' racial identity is pretty vague until the epilogue and I'd classify both his and Ben's rep as neutral at best. But honestly, there was more than enough going on for Alex that I can live with neutral rep.
I'm very happy to have read this book and would definitely recommend it.
3.5 stars
Overall I liked a lot about this book. It felt to me like fix-it fic for someone's life and I was down with that. In fact, I could relate to the desire to fictionalize a sort of idealized alternate reality. I found Alex endearing and appreciated being on her journey and it felt like I was getting an intimate education on the experience of uncovering one's identity and starting to transition. The author does a great job of portraying the sense of whiplash Alex is experiencing - between doubts and urgency, anger and euphoria. As well as a very realistic portrayal of Alex, and her confidantes, figuring things out as they go along (and the mistakes and misunderstandings that go with it.)
Normally, I don't like to read sooo much interiority but it mostly made sense for this book. That said, the execution did not always work for me. It was quite long, and especially toward the end, some of the details and pacing felt tedious. Also, the narrative leans really hard on the idea and importance of passing and while that is subtly challenged a couple of times, I think it was a missed opportunity to not be more explicitly addressed (especially considering all the "experts" Alex had at her disposal.) Also, James' racial identity is pretty vague until the epilogue and I'd classify both his and Ben's rep as neutral at best. But honestly, there was more than enough going on for Alex that I can live with neutral rep.
I'm very happy to have read this book and would definitely recommend it.
March 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this romance, which is essentially a Cinderella-like story about Alex as she discovers her own transness and falls in love with her long-time boss and friend James.
The story largely focuses on Alex’s journey. The basic set up is that the tech start up she works for needs a replacement female model for a trade show, and for Reasons she ends up filling that role. Dressing up fully as a very femme woman (with the help of James’ drag queen friend Ben as the fairy godmother) for the first time is a transformative experience for Alex, who feels fully seen by others, and fully comfortable in her own skin for the first time. Alex’s inner thoughts are at times joyful and at other times very turbulent and troubled as she comes to terms with things.
I liked the romance a lot, though James is not my fave MMC. Mostly, I was thrilled to read a book where a trans character gets the full, girly, fairytale mf romcom journey. Lots to think about in terms of gender and femininity in this book.
Read for the trans rights readathon with funds going to the Trans Legal Defense Fund.
The story largely focuses on Alex’s journey. The basic set up is that the tech start up she works for needs a replacement female model for a trade show, and for Reasons she ends up filling that role. Dressing up fully as a very femme woman (with the help of James’ drag queen friend Ben as the fairy godmother) for the first time is a transformative experience for Alex, who feels fully seen by others, and fully comfortable in her own skin for the first time. Alex’s inner thoughts are at times joyful and at other times very turbulent and troubled as she comes to terms with things.
I liked the romance a lot, though James is not my fave MMC. Mostly, I was thrilled to read a book where a trans character gets the full, girly, fairytale mf romcom journey. Lots to think about in terms of gender and femininity in this book.
Read for the trans rights readathon with funds going to the Trans Legal Defense Fund.
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March 13, 2024sad to report that this didn't work for me
maybe I would have liked this more had I not already read welcome to dorley hall, which gave me the inside scoop on certain patterns in this author's writing
there's certainly a market out there for "forced/For-Reasons 'crossdressing' elicits gender feelings" narratives; trans women should certainly get to stake their claim on it should they so please!! and a number of them do please, as I gather from the work of greaves and other authors who pop up in the 'readers also enjoyed...' section. it is (legitimately, not sarcastically!) interesting to see this sort of...emergence of "oblivious trans woman" (I am aware of the existence of the term 'egg' but that feels like something that should remain in-group language) as a genre given that the afab counterpart usually features such Reasons as "to fight in the war," "to become a pirate," "to make a fuckload of money and shame my sexist uncle and cousins," and so on; here, alex's Reason for beginning (initially presumably temporarily) to present as a woman is "to save my cute boss's company because the world's well of trade show models has tragically run dry." which is quite funny. empires have been built and razed on far less.
happy for this book and this author! I just don't love her actual writing, more's the pity. it is on occasion quite charming and funny—
—but those occasions did not come often enough to keep me engaged through the rest of it. it looks like there's a whole host of chuffed readers out there for whom the content of this one weighed more heavily than the telling of the story, and that's perfect—this cinderella story is for them, not me, and that's great. :)
withholding a star rating for reasons of peace on earth good will to all because a) my honest subjective rating is 2 stars but b) it's not the book's fault I wasn't a good match for it and therefore skimmed for much of the middle third
maybe I would have liked this more had I not already read welcome to dorley hall, which gave me the inside scoop on certain patterns in this author's writing
there's certainly a market out there for "forced/For-Reasons 'crossdressing' elicits gender feelings" narratives; trans women should certainly get to stake their claim on it should they so please!! and a number of them do please, as I gather from the work of greaves and other authors who pop up in the 'readers also enjoyed...' section. it is (legitimately, not sarcastically!) interesting to see this sort of...emergence of "oblivious trans woman" (I am aware of the existence of the term 'egg' but that feels like something that should remain in-group language) as a genre given that the afab counterpart usually features such Reasons as "to fight in the war," "to become a pirate," "to make a fuckload of money and shame my sexist uncle and cousins," and so on; here, alex's Reason for beginning (initially presumably temporarily) to present as a woman is "to save my cute boss's company because the world's well of trade show models has tragically run dry." which is quite funny. empires have been built and razed on far less.
happy for this book and this author! I just don't love her actual writing, more's the pity. it is on occasion quite charming and funny—
the phrase miss brewer was my father jumped into my head before I could stop it, and I turned the grin into a welcoming smile.
—but those occasions did not come often enough to keep me engaged through the rest of it. it looks like there's a whole host of chuffed readers out there for whom the content of this one weighed more heavily than the telling of the story, and that's perfect—this cinderella story is for them, not me, and that's great. :)
withholding a star rating for reasons of peace on earth good will to all because a) my honest subjective rating is 2 stars but b) it's not the book's fault I wasn't a good match for it and therefore skimmed for much of the middle third
June 10, 2023
Show Girl is trans girl my fair lady where Alex comes into her identity after accepting to dress up for a show and ends up falling for her boss and best friend.
If you were interested in this author's Dorley series but you were afraid it would be too dark for you I suggest this contemporary trans My Fair Lady romance with more than a dash of gender feelings.
If there is one thing you'll find in Greaves' books it's always a deep care for the reality and materiality of transfeminine transition. Alex is very honest about tucking, makeup, hair, passing and the danger of being a trans woman in public.
There are a lot of honest discussions about gender as Alex is a newbie to the subject which is good for a general audience but also will resonate with trans people, especially people still questioning some aspects of their transition.
One part that really struck me was how Alex' feelings and attraction to James started developing once she started presenting, feeling like herself. That most her relationships had been ruined by dysphoria and that once she started living as herself she felt free to explore love and desire.
I find this book very trans-attentive, trans-caring ...? I am making up words here. What I mean is that once Alex' egg has cracked there is a care for how the story handles her, her relationships and even how other characters interact with her. James is straight and this is reaffirmed in relation to her identity. Her friends wants what's best for her in their own clumsy ways. Also she gets a rich boyfriend that will pay for her hormones and private medical transition because the NHS sucks which is very cool for her. Go girl
If you were interested in this author's Dorley series but you were afraid it would be too dark for you I suggest this contemporary trans My Fair Lady romance with more than a dash of gender feelings.
If there is one thing you'll find in Greaves' books it's always a deep care for the reality and materiality of transfeminine transition. Alex is very honest about tucking, makeup, hair, passing and the danger of being a trans woman in public.
There are a lot of honest discussions about gender as Alex is a newbie to the subject which is good for a general audience but also will resonate with trans people, especially people still questioning some aspects of their transition.
One part that really struck me was how Alex' feelings and attraction to James started developing once she started presenting, feeling like herself. That most her relationships had been ruined by dysphoria and that once she started living as herself she felt free to explore love and desire.
I find this book very trans-attentive, trans-caring ...? I am making up words here. What I mean is that once Alex' egg has cracked there is a care for how the story handles her, her relationships and even how other characters interact with her. James is straight and this is reaffirmed in relation to her identity. Her friends wants what's best for her in their own clumsy ways. Also she gets a rich boyfriend that will pay for her hormones and private medical transition because the NHS sucks which is very cool for her. Go girl
February 28, 2024
A generous three stars. This is a book that makes you want to be generous to it -- Alex is a winning and sympathetic character, endearing on her journey to discover herself -- but my god, the pacing is bonkers and the characters have so many deeply therapized conversations. Would love to read a version of this where a full half of the plot does not take place in the epilogue and in which things -- especially character development -- are shown instead of just talked about endlessly.
March 28, 2024
Alex is the sort of character who drifts through life, each day looking the same as the one that came before it. When two of the trade show models drop out last minute, Alex’s boss James suggests Alex be one of the models. One problem: Alex is AMAB and not a woman or so Alex thinks. With the help of James’s drag queen best friend Ben, Alex is transformed and slowly starts to realize she’s a trans woman. It’s a different kind of trans awakening story, filled with gender euphoria, and it was delightful to read.
Alex is the reason to read this. She starts out anxious and unsure and grows in confidence as she embraces her identity. Her romance with James is intertwined with her trans awakening but that was less compelling to me. I loved watching Alex’s glee over makeup and clothes and how the external makeover led to inward transformation. This is who she always was and it was beautiful to watch.
Readers should be aware that the story emphasizes Alex 100% passing. She’s hyper-feminine, some of which might be explained by her figuring out who she is and countering her body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria. Even though she passes, it doesn't automatically erase her feelings about her body or gender, nor does it mitigate safety concerns. Alex doesn’t know anyone who is trans and this has a big impact on her understanding of the community and what coming out might look like. There's a lot she's going to learn in the coming years.
I wish Alex’s romance with James worked better for me. However, there's a a massive power imbalance that they never really addressed. Not only is James her boss and the one who has the idea for Alex to be a trade show model in the first place, Alex feels like she can’t say no to James. It’s not clear that that’s changed by the book’s end. They’re both very young and can come across as immature as a result, James more than Alex, notably. James even makes sex jokes in front of Emily and Ben, completely unprofessional. Some of his actions made it hard to root for him.
Alex and James will probably be okay in the end but I was extremely worried by Additionally, I hated almost every plot choice in the epilogue, especially I really hope Alex starts therapy after this.
Note: at the very end of the book, we learn James is mixed race. I have no idea how this wasn’t made clear earlier on or addressed in some way because he’s surely experienced workplace racism at a minimum, no matter how much money his white father has. That could have been a touchpoint for him and Alex. At the very least, something for James to make sure Alex has thought through.
Characters: Alex is a 19 year old white trans personal assistant. James is a 23 year old mixed race software company founder. This is set in London and Birmingham, England.
Content notes: sexual harassment at business convention, forced outing , transphobia, deadnaming, cross-dressing (leads to realization of being trans), gender dysphoria, misgendering, body dysmorphia, discussion of HRT and possible gender affirming surgery, fatphobia, misogynist slur by MMC (called out and he apologizes), panic attack, nightmare, sexism (trade show models), forgetting to eat, past parental divorce (dad cheated and was abusive), FMC is estranged from her abusive alcoholic father, on page confrontation with estranged parent, financial coercion (FMC’s father to her mom), parental pressure for grandchildren (including suggestion of using a surrogate), past infidelity (FMC’s ex), past bullying, classism, on page sex, erotic dream, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, diet culture, casual ableism, small penis joke (not about FMC), gendered pejoratives, ableist language
*Thanks to Charlotte for the recommendation!
Alex is the reason to read this. She starts out anxious and unsure and grows in confidence as she embraces her identity. Her romance with James is intertwined with her trans awakening but that was less compelling to me. I loved watching Alex’s glee over makeup and clothes and how the external makeover led to inward transformation. This is who she always was and it was beautiful to watch.
Readers should be aware that the story emphasizes Alex 100% passing. She’s hyper-feminine, some of which might be explained by her figuring out who she is and countering her body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria. Even though she passes, it doesn't automatically erase her feelings about her body or gender, nor does it mitigate safety concerns. Alex doesn’t know anyone who is trans and this has a big impact on her understanding of the community and what coming out might look like. There's a lot she's going to learn in the coming years.
I wish Alex’s romance with James worked better for me. However, there's a a massive power imbalance that they never really addressed. Not only is James her boss and the one who has the idea for Alex to be a trade show model in the first place, Alex feels like she can’t say no to James. It’s not clear that that’s changed by the book’s end. They’re both very young and can come across as immature as a result, James more than Alex, notably. James even makes sex jokes in front of Emily and Ben, completely unprofessional. Some of his actions made it hard to root for him.
Alex and James will probably be okay in the end but I was extremely worried by Additionally, I hated almost every plot choice in the epilogue, especially I really hope Alex starts therapy after this.
Note: at the very end of the book, we learn James is mixed race. I have no idea how this wasn’t made clear earlier on or addressed in some way because he’s surely experienced workplace racism at a minimum, no matter how much money his white father has. That could have been a touchpoint for him and Alex. At the very least, something for James to make sure Alex has thought through.
Characters: Alex is a 19 year old white trans personal assistant. James is a 23 year old mixed race software company founder. This is set in London and Birmingham, England.
Content notes: sexual harassment at business convention, forced outing , transphobia, deadnaming, cross-dressing (leads to realization of being trans), gender dysphoria, misgendering, body dysmorphia, discussion of HRT and possible gender affirming surgery, fatphobia, misogynist slur by MMC (called out and he apologizes), panic attack, nightmare, sexism (trade show models), forgetting to eat, past parental divorce (dad cheated and was abusive), FMC is estranged from her abusive alcoholic father, on page confrontation with estranged parent, financial coercion (FMC’s father to her mom), parental pressure for grandchildren (including suggestion of using a surrogate), past infidelity (FMC’s ex), past bullying, classism, on page sex, erotic dream, masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, diet culture, casual ableism, small penis joke (not about FMC), gendered pejoratives, ableist language
*Thanks to Charlotte for the recommendation!
July 13, 2023
While this wasn’t perfect for me, it’s enjoyable and well worth reading. I’m so happy every time I see a trans woman MC in a romance. We need more!!
March 24, 2024
Read this for the Trans Rights Readathon. This was, in many ways, ridiculous, but in the way any kind of fairy tale is ridiculous. Beyond the MC’s realization of self and coming out to herself and then to everyone else, there is virtually no other conflict, & you know what, not a terrible thing! Sometimes having a conveniently wonderful rich boss/boyfriend is just the ticket when you realize you are actually trans through a crazy sequence of events. Fun quick read that does a good job of illuminating another kind of trans awareness story. & so for me it’s probably more a 3.5 bc it’s not exactly my cup of rom com tea, in terms of the plot structure.
April 10, 2025
4.5 stars
POV: first person, past tense
Alex works for James at his start up tech company. They have a big expo coming up in a few days, and the models that were supposed to be there are not coming. James has this idea that Alex can convincingly be a woman for a few days, and Alex half-heartedly agrees. However, once Alex is dressed as a woman and sounds like a woman and looks like a woman, his journey begins. Because all of a sudden, his regular look and sound just aren't right for him. Girl Alex takes over more and more, and Alex suddenly starts noticing James in a way that he never has before. (Or any man, for that matter.)
Honestly, I loved this. Following on Alex's journey to realizing that HE was actually SHE was filled with denial and think about it later and slow but unavoidable acceptance. Once Alex had the opportunity to be her true self, she wasn't letting that get away from her. And all the secondary characters were well drawn and fully realized, too. Everything about this did it for me. The journey, the romance, the family, the friendships. It was awesome to watch Alex blossom once she started being her true self from someone with basically no friends and unnoticeable and grey to someone filled with colour and vibrancy, making friends left and right. And the respective families both reacted so well (with one exception). This was just a warm, cozy hug of a book.
I don't know how people can deny that Trans exists, when it has for centuries. And how people can be threatened by it, because it has NOTHING to do with anyone but the person who is coming to that realization. Not family, not friends: ONLY that person. The ONLY thing that person needs is support and understanding. And if someone can't give it, then they should just walk away and NOT get in the way and insist that they are right and the other person is wrong.
To that end, we need books like this more than ever. Something that takes readers on a journey to understanding and empathy. I'm pretty sure that the author has personal experience in this, or is really close to someone who is Trans, because it is written with specifics and feels really personal and authentic to me. (For what it's worth, as a cis het person.)
POV: first person, past tense
Alex works for James at his start up tech company. They have a big expo coming up in a few days, and the models that were supposed to be there are not coming. James has this idea that Alex can convincingly be a woman for a few days, and Alex half-heartedly agrees. However, once Alex is dressed as a woman and sounds like a woman and looks like a woman, his journey begins. Because all of a sudden, his regular look and sound just aren't right for him. Girl Alex takes over more and more, and Alex suddenly starts noticing James in a way that he never has before. (Or any man, for that matter.)
Honestly, I loved this. Following on Alex's journey to realizing that HE was actually SHE was filled with denial and think about it later and slow but unavoidable acceptance. Once Alex had the opportunity to be her true self, she wasn't letting that get away from her. And all the secondary characters were well drawn and fully realized, too. Everything about this did it for me. The journey, the romance, the family, the friendships. It was awesome to watch Alex blossom once she started being her true self from someone with basically no friends and unnoticeable and grey to someone filled with colour and vibrancy, making friends left and right. And the respective families both reacted so well (with one exception). This was just a warm, cozy hug of a book.
I don't know how people can deny that Trans exists, when it has for centuries. And how people can be threatened by it, because it has NOTHING to do with anyone but the person who is coming to that realization. Not family, not friends: ONLY that person. The ONLY thing that person needs is support and understanding. And if someone can't give it, then they should just walk away and NOT get in the way and insist that they are right and the other person is wrong.
To that end, we need books like this more than ever. Something that takes readers on a journey to understanding and empathy. I'm pretty sure that the author has personal experience in this, or is really close to someone who is Trans, because it is written with specifics and feels really personal and authentic to me. (For what it's worth, as a cis het person.)
August 6, 2023
OMG this is so good. Best thing I've read in a while.
Read
April 25, 2024
Trigger & Content Warnings
Transphobia, misgendering & deadnaming
Forced outing
Gender dysphoria & body dysmorphia discussed
Sexual workplace harassment
Parental divorce due to infidelity and domestic abuse recounted
Estrangement from parent with alcoholism mentioned
Panic attack & nightmare
Alcohol consumption
Transphobia, misgendering & deadnaming
Forced outing
Gender dysphoria & body dysmorphia discussed
Sexual workplace harassment
Parental divorce due to infidelity and domestic abuse recounted
Estrangement from parent with alcoholism mentioned
Panic attack & nightmare
Alcohol consumption
January 1, 2024
first book of the year!!! honestly i read most of it in 2023 but i’m happy to start a new book count :) anyways!! this was really sweet and very silly and mostly lighthearted and just great! enjoyed it a lot :)
June 25, 2023
It's been a long time since I picked up a book by an author I'd never heard of before, and ended up wanting to press that book ecstatically into the hands of everyone I meet. In fact, I have been sitting in front of this review for ages trying to perfect my "elevator pitch" because it's the kind of book I'd try to make a stranger read if I was in an elevator with them. The best I can come up with is that Show Girl takes my favorite genre of narrator (catastrophically awkward, funny as hell about it) and lets her tell a story about transitioning that is unlike anything I've ever read before: a vital and joyful story that constitutes a truly welcome horizon expansion of the romance genre.
Show Girl puts a twist on a premise that will be familiar to readers under very different guises, from My Fair Lady to 1990s teen movies: the emergency makeover. Alex and James work together at a company James started and runs with his father's money. They set themselves up very early as prime candidates for the "oblivious idiots-to-lovers" trope when faced with a work dilemma: two models they're hired for a trade show have canceled at the last minute. Having exhausted all other options (save "contact any human female they know," which apparently never occurs to them) James and Alex mutually decide that the best approach is for Alex to... dress up as a girl and stand in for one of the models.
What ensues is an unexpected - as much to Alex as it is to the reader - journey of discovery. Because it turns out that Alex likes being a girl. Has, in fact, always been a girl, and just never had the vocabulary, or experience, or support system needed to realize that. What we get the privilege of as readers is seeing Alex acquire exactly that vocabulary and experience and support system, in a patently hilarious and ill-advised set of circumstances. And at the same time, we get to see what all these changes mean for a budding romance between Alex and James. There's so much here that feels new and original to me, especially in how it complicates narratives around a person having to "always know" they were trans, or how romantic attraction can play an important role in gender feelings.
I think what impresses me the most about this book is how grounded it is? I mean, the book is lighthearted, and joyful, and funny - but at no point is what Alex is going through a joke. Alex experiences moments of really understandable panic and confusion at first, as well as a creeping sense of rightness and euphoria, alongside the joy of falling in love. And the ATTENTION TO DETAIL, my goodness. Not only are there a lot of really fascinating details about the physicality of Alex's transition - things like voice training and hair extensions and various kinds of, um, tucking and padding - but there's an incredible attention to detail about what it's like to suddenly walk through the world being perceived as a woman? The way Alex's entire experience shifts was so fascinating to me. The book recognized the scary or difficult parts of that - those that are specific to trans women, especially - but also focused a lot on the joy of those changes. The way Alex immediately bonds with Emily (the other model at the male-dominated tech trade show) in a manner very specific to how women bond in a masculinized space was just so great on so many levels: not just because of how much Alex gets to enjoy a "girl bonding" experience, but also because, in a romance genre that often has a "not like other girls" problem, it was amazing to see a book lean in so hard to how women being friends with each other is great, actually!
I suspect some readers may feel that the romance between James and Alex takes a backseat to Alex's journey of self-discovery. But, for me, one of the most interesting parts of this book was how deeply the two are intertwined. The author doesn't shy away from having both characters fully confront the complications of a transition prompted by "my boss asked me to do something very difficult and emotional and I have a hard time saying no to him, and is that ok because it turns out we both liked the results?" Workplace romance - specifically boss-employee romance - is a hard "no" for some people, and if that's you, this book won't be for you. But I personally felt like this book fully tackled the complexity of that dynamic, and tied it into broader (and really fascinating) themes around the role that romance and physical attraction can play in a person's transition experience. On the whole, the book does a great job by the end of making sure that James is a supportive and affirming presence in Alex's life.
By this point it's probably clear that this book is not afraid to be complicated, and let its characters be a bit messy, and tackle some potentially problematic situations. What really makes the entire story work, in that sense, is Alex herself. Alex has, quite simply, one of the most delightful fictional brains to be in that I've ever encountered. Readers are constantly being reminded - sometimes just by the subtle cadences of the prose - that Alex is smart as heck (even when she's calling herself an idiot), and a keen observer of humanity (even when she doesn't understand some things about herself). You always get the sense that she is so in control of the narrative that it subtly counterbalances the way she - momentarily- feels out of control of her life. Also, she's just incredibly effing funny. I highlighted so, so many passages. Like how Alex self-describes before transitioning:
And after:
And how she thinks about her own brain:
And how she thinks about James:
There's just something about her anxiety that comes across so relatably in the tiny details (there's a running bit where Alex is constantly worried that whatever emotional upheaval she's quietly going through has become apparent to her Uber drivers, and she 5-stars them all out of guilt, which was so relatable and made me laugh every time).
Anyway, I really didn't mean for this review to be so long and rambly: at this point, it's less an elevator pitch, and more "why have I been stuck in an elevator for six hours with this lady who won't shut up about a book." I just... really, really want everyone who thinks they might enjoy it to give this book a try! Please do. And then come share the joy with me.
Content Notes: I'm not really a pro at giving content notes, but this book has few reviews, and I fully believe in readers coming prepared. I can't think of anything really specific? Alex does experience transphobia and fear of outing, but always in circumstances where she seems fundamentally safe and supported by those around her. She places a lot of value on "passing," usually contextualized with those being her personal feelings. There's one open-door sex scene. I'll add more as I recall any.
Show Girl puts a twist on a premise that will be familiar to readers under very different guises, from My Fair Lady to 1990s teen movies: the emergency makeover. Alex and James work together at a company James started and runs with his father's money. They set themselves up very early as prime candidates for the "oblivious idiots-to-lovers" trope when faced with a work dilemma: two models they're hired for a trade show have canceled at the last minute. Having exhausted all other options (save "contact any human female they know," which apparently never occurs to them) James and Alex mutually decide that the best approach is for Alex to... dress up as a girl and stand in for one of the models.
What ensues is an unexpected - as much to Alex as it is to the reader - journey of discovery. Because it turns out that Alex likes being a girl. Has, in fact, always been a girl, and just never had the vocabulary, or experience, or support system needed to realize that. What we get the privilege of as readers is seeing Alex acquire exactly that vocabulary and experience and support system, in a patently hilarious and ill-advised set of circumstances. And at the same time, we get to see what all these changes mean for a budding romance between Alex and James. There's so much here that feels new and original to me, especially in how it complicates narratives around a person having to "always know" they were trans, or how romantic attraction can play an important role in gender feelings.
I think what impresses me the most about this book is how grounded it is? I mean, the book is lighthearted, and joyful, and funny - but at no point is what Alex is going through a joke. Alex experiences moments of really understandable panic and confusion at first, as well as a creeping sense of rightness and euphoria, alongside the joy of falling in love. And the ATTENTION TO DETAIL, my goodness. Not only are there a lot of really fascinating details about the physicality of Alex's transition - things like voice training and hair extensions and various kinds of, um, tucking and padding - but there's an incredible attention to detail about what it's like to suddenly walk through the world being perceived as a woman? The way Alex's entire experience shifts was so fascinating to me. The book recognized the scary or difficult parts of that - those that are specific to trans women, especially - but also focused a lot on the joy of those changes. The way Alex immediately bonds with Emily (the other model at the male-dominated tech trade show) in a manner very specific to how women bond in a masculinized space was just so great on so many levels: not just because of how much Alex gets to enjoy a "girl bonding" experience, but also because, in a romance genre that often has a "not like other girls" problem, it was amazing to see a book lean in so hard to how women being friends with each other is great, actually!
I suspect some readers may feel that the romance between James and Alex takes a backseat to Alex's journey of self-discovery. But, for me, one of the most interesting parts of this book was how deeply the two are intertwined. The author doesn't shy away from having both characters fully confront the complications of a transition prompted by "my boss asked me to do something very difficult and emotional and I have a hard time saying no to him, and is that ok because it turns out we both liked the results?" Workplace romance - specifically boss-employee romance - is a hard "no" for some people, and if that's you, this book won't be for you. But I personally felt like this book fully tackled the complexity of that dynamic, and tied it into broader (and really fascinating) themes around the role that romance and physical attraction can play in a person's transition experience. On the whole, the book does a great job by the end of making sure that James is a supportive and affirming presence in Alex's life.
By this point it's probably clear that this book is not afraid to be complicated, and let its characters be a bit messy, and tackle some potentially problematic situations. What really makes the entire story work, in that sense, is Alex herself. Alex has, quite simply, one of the most delightful fictional brains to be in that I've ever encountered. Readers are constantly being reminded - sometimes just by the subtle cadences of the prose - that Alex is smart as heck (even when she's calling herself an idiot), and a keen observer of humanity (even when she doesn't understand some things about herself). You always get the sense that she is so in control of the narrative that it subtly counterbalances the way she - momentarily- feels out of control of her life. Also, she's just incredibly effing funny. I highlighted so, so many passages. Like how Alex self-describes before transitioning:
Before today, before acquiring the uncomfortable new accessories Ben loaned me, I'd been more or less a straight line up and down, like a pencil that was good with people but didn't get a lot of third dates"
And after:
"I finally knew what the hell I was going to do with my life. In general. In broad strokes. Okay, fine: I was still an idiot swept along by circumstances and doing my best to keep my head clear; I was just a girl idiot now"
And how she thinks about her own brain:
I suspected I got so good at organising other people because first I had to learn to organise myself, and in doing so overcome the greatest obstacle ever faced in the history of human efficiency: me"
And how she thinks about James:
"Naked, glistening, stepping out into a room misty with water vapour, James looked like someone out of one of those movies that make teens form violently opposed shipping factions"
There's just something about her anxiety that comes across so relatably in the tiny details (there's a running bit where Alex is constantly worried that whatever emotional upheaval she's quietly going through has become apparent to her Uber drivers, and she 5-stars them all out of guilt, which was so relatable and made me laugh every time).
Anyway, I really didn't mean for this review to be so long and rambly: at this point, it's less an elevator pitch, and more "why have I been stuck in an elevator for six hours with this lady who won't shut up about a book." I just... really, really want everyone who thinks they might enjoy it to give this book a try! Please do. And then come share the joy with me.
Content Notes: I'm not really a pro at giving content notes, but this book has few reviews, and I fully believe in readers coming prepared. I can't think of anything really specific? Alex does experience transphobia and fear of outing, but always in circumstances where she seems fundamentally safe and supported by those around her. She places a lot of value on "passing," usually contextualized with those being her personal feelings. There's one open-door sex scene. I'll add more as I recall any.
February 9, 2024
3.5 that I'm honestly rounding down because that epilogue was a bit of a hot mess. The main book is SO GOOD (a little wish-fulfillmenty, but I am SO good with that, I feel like my trans friends deserve wish-fulfillment as much as anyone!) but. Uh. There was really no need to flash forward through the next six months of Alex's life in such a weird overview fashion. The strength of the writing in the main book was how tightly the focus on Alex's inner transition made clear just how happy and fulfilled it made her, which the break-neck pace of the epilogue really undercut imo. So highly rec the book, just maybe skip the epilogue if you want to maintain the warm and happy glow from the ending for longer.
July 26, 2026
A canto máis leo desta muller máis me gusta e máis a odio. Showgirl é o que é, un libro "slop" de romance trans, unha wish-fulfillment fantasy sobre o moito que molaría que o teu amigo da infancia sexy e rico necesitase que, por casualidades da vida, tiveses que ser unha muller pra el durante uns días, e a túa transformación fose tan máxica que se namorase de ti no momento, e cando te decatases da túa disforia oculta e da túa necesidade de transicionar, fose o primeiro en apoiarte e amarte. And i get it, eu querría tamén todo iso, e alyson escribe este tipo de fantasías con moito tino, é a maestra do que eu chamo o "induced-transition", historias forcefem onde o acto da feminización impacta con Real Life Trans Women, e a disforia toma un punto central na narrativa. Peeeeeero cae sempre nas mesmas trampas de evitar todo conflicto ever, e chirría
Alex é o asistente e amigo de James, e ten como 5 anos menos, con James contratándoo con 19 sen carreira nin nada, no seu startup financiado polo seu pai millonario da nobreza británica. Tamén é quen lle pide vestir de muller para actuar de modelo nunha expo, chamando ao seu amigo drag queen pra que o feminize por completo, e escondéndolle a roupa vella "masculina" pra que se acostume a levar vestidos. E lle tira moito os tejos en todo momento. This is all very hot. This is also a bad way to start a healthy relationship. E alyson greaves o sabe, e por iso ten unha longa escena onde james ten un breakdown porque se percata de todas as cousas fucked up que lle fixo a alex, e que para sorte dos dous, anúlase un pouco pq alex era un oviño trans que precisaba romper o cascarón e explorar a súa feminidade, e que estaba tamén coladita por james. Pero neste impulso de limar as asperezas, de asegurarse que non queda ningún cabo solto (james incluso menciona o mal que a estaba tratando como empregada e o pouco que cobraba para o que fixo!!), tan só as sacas á luz: a historia pausa durante unhas páxinas pra asegurarte de que o romance do xénero erótico de moralidade dubidosa é de feito super saudable e todo o mundo está contento and nothing is wrong, e non funciona! Só podo pensar nesta pasaxe de Trans Wizard Harriet Porber And The Bad Boy Parasaurolophus:
O outro carón da moeda é o medo absoluto a escribir unha soa interacción mínimamente incómoda con outro personaxe sobre ser trans, ata o punto do absurdo. Non é que os personaxes sexan t0dos aliados e apoien a alex, é que a pamperean. Dende o cis gay drag que a feminiza (comprensible), ata a lesbiana random que coñece nun bar (razoable) ata a prima pija de james (un pouco dubidoso) ata o seu sogro canónicamente misóxino de forma cuñada (en serio? nin sequera un atisbo de dúbida??), tooodos aceptan a alex dende o primeiro momento, sen dúbida ou confusión ou reticiencia, e creo que é unha pena. Xustamente un personaxe sendo lixeiramente tránsfobo contra alex sería a oportunidade de xente como james de amosar o seu valor, o seu amor incondicional, e falta diso no libro. Hai un xuuusto ao final, co deadbeat dad de alex que todo o mundo odia que nin chega a chamala tr4nny, and it feels so limp at that point, chega un segundo a unha festa, di dous tonterías, e marcha, e é o sogro cuñao o que a defende a capa y espada comeonnnnn
Pasáballe en Dorley Hall o mesmo, a premisa é inicialmente incendiaria: unha sociedade secreta que rapta rapaces problemáticos para convertilos en mulleres amables e responsables, con medios perfectamente clasificables como tortura, e cando les un capítulo dos máis recentes seica todo o mundo está super chill e é máis ben un campamento de mulleres con poucos modais que non se saben maquillar, e ata as figuras máis traumatizadas por Dorley (Melissa, Válerie) acaban convertíndose en completas aliadas, and it takes all the edge out of it
Quero dicir, entendo por que o fai, entendo por que escribe historias celebratorias e positivistas sobre mulleres trans, porque pra ler historias negativas só fai falla ver as noticias. Pero creo que quere estar en misa e replicando, non pode ter unha historia humanizadora realista que confronta a realidade do forcefem sen aceptar que o forcefem é por definición algo tóxico. Irónicamente tivérame gustado máis se james fose peor mozo, alguén que tivese que confrotar os seus fallos porque llo dixo a súa moza e non a súa prima off-screen pra evitar nin unha soa discusión... Idk estou sendo moi bitchy con isto en parte polo moito que me gustaron outras partes, é un romance moi sexy, e cando as pezas funcionan, funcionan moi ben. É simplemente que alyson non se atreve a deixar unha imaxe con imperfeccións, unha ambigüedade moral sin aclarar, e creo que é o seu maior fallo como autora, e Show Girl é un pequeno microcosmos do que pasou con Dorley Hall, and its such a shame.....
Alex é o asistente e amigo de James, e ten como 5 anos menos, con James contratándoo con 19 sen carreira nin nada, no seu startup financiado polo seu pai millonario da nobreza británica. Tamén é quen lle pide vestir de muller para actuar de modelo nunha expo, chamando ao seu amigo drag queen pra que o feminize por completo, e escondéndolle a roupa vella "masculina" pra que se acostume a levar vestidos. E lle tira moito os tejos en todo momento. This is all very hot. This is also a bad way to start a healthy relationship. E alyson greaves o sabe, e por iso ten unha longa escena onde james ten un breakdown porque se percata de todas as cousas fucked up que lle fixo a alex, e que para sorte dos dous, anúlase un pouco pq alex era un oviño trans que precisaba romper o cascarón e explorar a súa feminidade, e que estaba tamén coladita por james. Pero neste impulso de limar as asperezas, de asegurarse que non queda ningún cabo solto (james incluso menciona o mal que a estaba tratando como empregada e o pouco que cobraba para o que fixo!!), tan só as sacas á luz: a historia pausa durante unhas páxinas pra asegurarte de que o romance do xénero erótico de moralidade dubidosa é de feito super saudable e todo o mundo está contento and nothing is wrong, e non funciona! Só podo pensar nesta pasaxe de Trans Wizard Harriet Porber And The Bad Boy Parasaurolophus:
Snabe’s eyes make their way up and down my body, checking me out.
“I’m sorry,” he suddenly blurts, noticing my appalled expression. “I’m just written this way.”
“What?” I question, confused.
“It’s a trope in romance,” the dinosaur continues to explain. “The more of an asshole I am in this part of the book, the better the payoff is when you change me later on.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I reply, shaking my head from side to side.
“It’s okay,” the parasaurolophus continues. “Just as long as it’s clear this is fiction. In the real world you should probably just break up with someone who acts like this, or even quit their class.”
O outro carón da moeda é o medo absoluto a escribir unha soa interacción mínimamente incómoda con outro personaxe sobre ser trans, ata o punto do absurdo. Non é que os personaxes sexan t0dos aliados e apoien a alex, é que a pamperean. Dende o cis gay drag que a feminiza (comprensible), ata a lesbiana random que coñece nun bar (razoable) ata a prima pija de james (un pouco dubidoso) ata o seu sogro canónicamente misóxino de forma cuñada (en serio? nin sequera un atisbo de dúbida??), tooodos aceptan a alex dende o primeiro momento, sen dúbida ou confusión ou reticiencia, e creo que é unha pena. Xustamente un personaxe sendo lixeiramente tránsfobo contra alex sería a oportunidade de xente como james de amosar o seu valor, o seu amor incondicional, e falta diso no libro. Hai un xuuusto ao final, co deadbeat dad de alex que todo o mundo odia que nin chega a chamala tr4nny, and it feels so limp at that point, chega un segundo a unha festa, di dous tonterías, e marcha, e é o sogro cuñao o que a defende a capa y espada comeonnnnn
Pasáballe en Dorley Hall o mesmo, a premisa é inicialmente incendiaria: unha sociedade secreta que rapta rapaces problemáticos para convertilos en mulleres amables e responsables, con medios perfectamente clasificables como tortura, e cando les un capítulo dos máis recentes seica todo o mundo está super chill e é máis ben un campamento de mulleres con poucos modais que non se saben maquillar, e ata as figuras máis traumatizadas por Dorley (Melissa, Válerie) acaban convertíndose en completas aliadas, and it takes all the edge out of it
Quero dicir, entendo por que o fai, entendo por que escribe historias celebratorias e positivistas sobre mulleres trans, porque pra ler historias negativas só fai falla ver as noticias. Pero creo que quere estar en misa e replicando, non pode ter unha historia humanizadora realista que confronta a realidade do forcefem sen aceptar que o forcefem é por definición algo tóxico. Irónicamente tivérame gustado máis se james fose peor mozo, alguén que tivese que confrotar os seus fallos porque llo dixo a súa moza e non a súa prima off-screen pra evitar nin unha soa discusión... Idk estou sendo moi bitchy con isto en parte polo moito que me gustaron outras partes, é un romance moi sexy, e cando as pezas funcionan, funcionan moi ben. É simplemente que alyson non se atreve a deixar unha imaxe con imperfeccións, unha ambigüedade moral sin aclarar, e creo que é o seu maior fallo como autora, e Show Girl é un pequeno microcosmos do que pasou con Dorley Hall, and its such a shame.....
May 30, 2026
Show Girl has a lot of potential. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of Alyson Greaves' later works, and many of Alyson's strengths as a writer are apparent here. But in comparison to her later works, Show Girl feels distinctly amateurish.
Much of this is caused by the pacing. The majority of Show Girl takes place over five days, which are packed so tight with character development that there's almost no breathing room. To a certain extent this is necessitated by the premise—as I stated in my How to Fly review, contrivances are an inevitable consequence of setting a TF/TG story in our incredibly cisnormative world—and while not the worst offender in the genre, Show Girl lacks the deliberate pacing that I've come to expect from Alyson's other works.
This is a plot built on conveniences. Character development is speedran through via a few heavy-handed conversations, that lack the tension or emotion needed to feel super compelling. At their worst they can feel awkwardly perfunctory, and do a poor job selling the weight of the realizations and choices that Alex is making. The side characters here are likable but often feel more like plot devices than fully fledged characters (with the notable exception of Emily, who I absolutely adore.) Alex and James have a decent amount of chemistry, but their relationship—which the entire book hinges on—feels incredibly rushed.
Show Girl feels distinctly amateurish. There's a certain charm to that—especially when placed in the context of Alyson's later works—but it leaves the whole thing feeling fairly unremarkable. I can't emphasize enough just how much the entire book is marred by its' pacing. It's something that the TF/TG genre rarely gets right—the slow pace needed to alleviate the contrived premises and heavy decisions conflicts with the ways this genre is traditionally produced and consumed. There's still a lot to like in Show Girl, but I couldn't quite fall in love.
September 19, 2026
It's extraordinarily rare that, after borrowing a book and reading it, I feel compelled to actually buy the book. This is one of those books.
I am a huge fan of Alyson Greaves. As far as I'm concerned, she is the absolute best trans fiction writer in the business. This was the first book of hers that I read, and since then I've read nearly everything else she's written; I should be through her entire catalog by the end of the year.
I loved this book so much, and I related to so many of the things Alex said in her inner monologue while figuring herself out, including a hilariously unexpected Dune reference that made me stop reading for five minutes to finish laughing and collect myself (The "Litany Against Crossdressing: "I will face my dress. I will not permit it to pass over me. I will throw it in the trash and run away to watch sport with people who sweat a lot."). Incidentally, at the time of this review, Alyson Greaves is currently rewriting Show Girl as a lesbian romance (James is now Jess) and the working title "Life and the Little-Death" is also a nod to the same bit from Dune.
I've read some other reviews that said they felt like James was sexist or takes advantage of Alex, but I didn't feel like that at all. It came across to me that James genuinely cares for Alex, both before and after Alex's egg starts to crack. James is just your typically clueless guy, and while he may be a nicer guy than most, he's still a guy, and some of his behavior reflects that.
Overall, all of the main characters were well-written and likeable. I can totally picture Ben as a real person, and the relationship that emerges between Alex and Emily is really sweet. I am really going to enjoy reading it again with the sapphic spin on it, and yes, I will buy that one too.
P.S.--it was a fun surprise when Alex reappears with a (very small) bit part in Sisters of Dorley Hall. I didn't put two and two together right away, until there was some banter about Alex's boss that made it pretty obvious that Alex and this Alex are one and the same.
I am a huge fan of Alyson Greaves. As far as I'm concerned, she is the absolute best trans fiction writer in the business. This was the first book of hers that I read, and since then I've read nearly everything else she's written; I should be through her entire catalog by the end of the year.
I loved this book so much, and I related to so many of the things Alex said in her inner monologue while figuring herself out, including a hilariously unexpected Dune reference that made me stop reading for five minutes to finish laughing and collect myself (The "Litany Against Crossdressing: "I will face my dress. I will not permit it to pass over me. I will throw it in the trash and run away to watch sport with people who sweat a lot."). Incidentally, at the time of this review, Alyson Greaves is currently rewriting Show Girl as a lesbian romance (James is now Jess) and the working title "Life and the Little-Death" is also a nod to the same bit from Dune.
I've read some other reviews that said they felt like James was sexist or takes advantage of Alex, but I didn't feel like that at all. It came across to me that James genuinely cares for Alex, both before and after Alex's egg starts to crack. James is just your typically clueless guy, and while he may be a nicer guy than most, he's still a guy, and some of his behavior reflects that.
Overall, all of the main characters were well-written and likeable. I can totally picture Ben as a real person, and the relationship that emerges between Alex and Emily is really sweet. I am really going to enjoy reading it again with the sapphic spin on it, and yes, I will buy that one too.
P.S.--it was a fun surprise when Alex reappears with a (very small) bit part in Sisters of Dorley Hall. I didn't put two and two together right away, until there was some banter about Alex's boss that made it pretty obvious that Alex and this Alex are one and the same.
November 8, 2024
I had some major grievances with the beginning of this book, lack of bodily autonomy for example, but most of them were thankfully addressed later on and became important to the story, so I'm not too upset about it.
This was a ridiculous but somewhat realistic exploration of becoming a woman, building female friendships and connection. The romance is idiot best friends to lovers, which is always a good time and I loved the couple.
I thought the ending was a bit much though, and I'm not a fan of all these rich people either. There's so much money being thrown around the entire time and the supposed misogynist being open-minded all of a sudden kind of reduces a female side character's whole plot point in favor of giving the trans girl her fairytale moment.
Which she absolutely deserves, let me be clear, it just doesn't feel realistic that a misogynist would look at a "man" becoming a woman and not see that as a challenge on the believe that men = better.
It felt more like a fantasy in that way to be honest - what if all the rich people were good and accepting, actually? That way we don't ever need to examine why swimming in all that money is a problem and it made all the issues with transitioning so much easier to deal with.
Still, I liked all that talk about gender and it finally pushed me to do something medically about my own, for that I am thankful.
cw: sexual content, forced feminization (at first), misogyny, transphobia, alcohol, gender dysphoria, sexual harassment
This was a ridiculous but somewhat realistic exploration of becoming a woman, building female friendships and connection. The romance is idiot best friends to lovers, which is always a good time and I loved the couple.
I thought the ending was a bit much though, and I'm not a fan of all these rich people either. There's so much money being thrown around the entire time and the supposed misogynist being open-minded all of a sudden kind of reduces a female side character's whole plot point in favor of giving the trans girl her fairytale moment.
Which she absolutely deserves, let me be clear, it just doesn't feel realistic that a misogynist would look at a "man" becoming a woman and not see that as a challenge on the believe that men = better.
It felt more like a fantasy in that way to be honest - what if all the rich people were good and accepting, actually? That way we don't ever need to examine why swimming in all that money is a problem and it made all the issues with transitioning so much easier to deal with.
Still, I liked all that talk about gender and it finally pushed me to do something medically about my own, for that I am thankful.
cw: sexual content, forced feminization (at first), misogyny, transphobia, alcohol, gender dysphoria, sexual harassment
October 12, 2024
It's maybe 3.5 stars but I couldn't bring it up to 4 and that's sad because there's a lot to like about it but .... look, I get that it's a fairy tale and fairy tales are not realistic, but it's too close to realistic to be this much of a fairy tale, if that makes any sense. A lot of the emotions felt 100% authentic, and I didn't want it to be filled with trauma or anything, but the first glimmer of conflict that she has with anything besides her own feelings of whether she's trans and if so, what should she do about it is about four pages from the end, in the epilogue, when exactly one person she comes out to has a problem. And again, it's not like I wanted something bad to happen to her but that is just too good to be remotely true. Plus, it means that all the angst in the book is self-inflicted which got to be tiring. Also, I thought her boyfriend was way too controlling to be appealing, despite or probably because he had all the money in the world. I loved a lot of the side characters, I thought the part of the book that focused on the experience of being a trade show model was fascinating, and I thought there were a lot of good tips for people contemplating transitioning in here--as I said, lots to like. And I'm glad that I read it--I just wanted a little more realism and a better objet d'amour.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
I liked it, but I didn’t love it—it felt a bit too much like a sweet fairy tale, even though it was quite contemporary. It’s written by a trans woman, so I assume the trans representation is accurate, though some aspects felt a bit off to me. I enjoyed Alex’s journey of self-discovery, but the romance was a bit underwhelming.
Just to be fair 😊, here’s an enthusiastic review by K.J. Charles, which was the reason I bought the book, and a less enthusiastic one by Trin.
P.S. The author thanks, among others, Winterfox = RequiresHate = Benjanun Sriduangkaew. For context, see: http://laurajmixon.com/wp-content/upl...
Just to be fair 😊, here’s an enthusiastic review by K.J. Charles, which was the reason I bought the book, and a less enthusiastic one by Trin.
P.S. The author thanks, among others, Winterfox = RequiresHate = Benjanun Sriduangkaew. For context, see: http://laurajmixon.com/wp-content/upl...
May 9, 2026
One can tell this is an earlier of Alyson Greaves's works compared to The Sisters of Dorley, both in that the description of the trans experience feels less developed and, well, that it is much more contained in scope.
The story is quite enjoyable, even if it's hard to avoid feeling a bit envious of Alex's apparently minimal consequences from male puberty: being able to pass as a model without hormones and with only a couple of days of voice practice is kind of absurd, but certainly sounds nice. That said, it was also hard to avoid noticing that a significant amount of my envy was actually about her having a good job with financial stability.
As for the epilogue...it was nice that the story didn't end right at the end of Chapter 11, but the epilogue itself felt a little tacked-on, especially the scene with Alex's father.
The story is quite enjoyable, even if it's hard to avoid feeling a bit envious of Alex's apparently minimal consequences from male puberty: being able to pass as a model without hormones and with only a couple of days of voice practice is kind of absurd, but certainly sounds nice. That said, it was also hard to avoid noticing that a significant amount of my envy was actually about her having a good job with financial stability.
As for the epilogue...it was nice that the story didn't end right at the end of Chapter 11, but the epilogue itself felt a little tacked-on, especially the scene with Alex's father.
August 20, 2026
A fairy tale version of a transgender story. Everything is pretty much perfect in this story, a bit too perfect. There is barely any conflict or problem or setbacks besides the one the MC is making up for herself. I didnt mind that much during the read because the characters are just lovely and the internal struggle is in fact very well portraid and had my definitve attention. But after reading it just leaves a bit of a sour taste how smooth everything went, especially when the first real conflict happens very very late in the book and brings some form of real contrast.
What bothered me the most tho was the normalization of sexual advances and just how creepy some of the interactions between the 2 mc's were but because they were into each other it was labelled okay. Not that Alyson Greaves is a stranger to 'the end justifies the means' when her whole main project is practically based on that idea but here its too much.
What bothered me the most tho was the normalization of sexual advances and just how creepy some of the interactions between the 2 mc's were but because they were into each other it was labelled okay. Not that Alyson Greaves is a stranger to 'the end justifies the means' when her whole main project is practically based on that idea but here its too much.
July 28, 2023
I was bopping along, enjoying this slightly too-sweet little contemporary fairy tale of a trans coming of age story and romance, when I hit the acknowledgments where the author thanks Winterfox. It was like taking a swig of sour milk after a mouthful of ice cream. Bleh. So that gets its 3.5 stars rounded down rather than up.
I found the romance part of this blandly sweet like a sugar cookie: there's not much substance there. The leads were also very young; believably so, and not obnoxiously so, but Alex is just very, very 19 years old, and it wore on me. As contrived as the plot to get Alex there was though, I did find the trans awakening/coming of age to be richly and convincingly rendered, full of detail and realism and emotion. It was easy to feel for Alex and root for her, and see her POV slowly shift and change as she becomes more and more comfortable as a woman.
I found the romance part of this blandly sweet like a sugar cookie: there's not much substance there. The leads were also very young; believably so, and not obnoxiously so, but Alex is just very, very 19 years old, and it wore on me. As contrived as the plot to get Alex there was though, I did find the trans awakening/coming of age to be richly and convincingly rendered, full of detail and realism and emotion. It was easy to feel for Alex and root for her, and see her POV slowly shift and change as she becomes more and more comfortable as a woman.
August 7, 2023
Liked it, didn't love it. I think the first few chapters overshadowed my enjoyment of the rest of the story. I am turned off by men who tend to refer to women as girls - that's a me thing, but added to the booth babes refs, it felt perjorative. Also, while I don't mind a contrived set up to get a good romance, I felt getting him to dress as a woman was a bit coercive? Younger, only 19, a junior employee, plying him with alcohol he didn't recognise back at the boss's house? A bit ick. While overall I enjoyed the trans joy and general queerness of the whole novel, I read another one of these recently, about an employee dressing as a girl and it triggering an exploration of his gender, also set in London. Cloud White by Fearne Hill. A much better set up and equally joyful.
November 11, 2023
I found this to be a delightful and engaging romance. I was truly immersed in Alex’s story of trying to support her workplace and thinking about gender in a new way. I had some quibbles, it has a couple elements I don’t like such as wealth difference. That made me a little uncomfortable in this story because of the way it seemed like femininity could be a commodity, purchased at stores and salons way more high end than most of us will ever frequent. Also the focus on appearance and being stunningly attractive. I give both of these issues a pass because this is romance so that goes with the territory. It did make me think about how we all perceive our bodies and identities. Really enjoyable read.
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