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Just Happy to Be Here
In this YA standalone perfect for fans of Tobly McSmith and Meredith Russo, the first out trans girl at an all-girls school must choose between keeping her head down or blazing a trail.
Tara just wants to be treated like any other girl at Ainsley Academy. That is, judged on her merits—not on her transness. But there’s no road map for being the first trans girl at an all-girls school. And when she tries to join the Sibyls, an old-fashioned Ainsley sisterhood complete with code names and special privileges, she’s thrust into the center of a larger argument about what girlhood means and whether the club should exist at all.
Being the figurehead of a movement isn’t something Tara’s interested in. She’d rather read old speeches and hang out with the Sibyls who are on her side—especially Felicity, a new friend she thinks could turn into something more. Then the club’s sponsor, a famous alumna, attacks her in the media and turns the selection process into a spectacle.
Tara’s always found comfort in the power of other peoples’ words. But when it comes time to fight for herself, will she be able to find her own voice?
Tara just wants to be treated like any other girl at Ainsley Academy. That is, judged on her merits—not on her transness. But there’s no road map for being the first trans girl at an all-girls school. And when she tries to join the Sibyls, an old-fashioned Ainsley sisterhood complete with code names and special privileges, she’s thrust into the center of a larger argument about what girlhood means and whether the club should exist at all.
Being the figurehead of a movement isn’t something Tara’s interested in. She’d rather read old speeches and hang out with the Sibyls who are on her side—especially Felicity, a new friend she thinks could turn into something more. Then the club’s sponsor, a famous alumna, attacks her in the media and turns the selection process into a spectacle.
Tara’s always found comfort in the power of other peoples’ words. But when it comes time to fight for herself, will she be able to find her own voice?
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2024
15 people are currently reading
3046 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 3, 2024
Eh....I'm having such a difficult time coming up with a sufficient/adequate review for this book. I'm not a part of the trans community and so my opinion of this title feels null and void. I'm leaving this as a 3 star read, but there were moments when I considered giving it two stars. Please go into this book with caution. The unchecked transphobia is difficult to read and hear. CW: transphobia, racism, misgendering, dead naming, abuse of power, internalized transphobia, internalized racism, and more.
Just Happy to Be Here is probably one of the most complicated books that I've read in a long time. The book chronicles the experiences of Tara who longs to be a part of a secret society at her all girls school. Unfortunately, while they are "happy" to have Tara as a part of the student body, that's where their grace and "understanding" ends. When it's all said and done, Tara is nothing more than political pawn to showcase the "liberal" mindsets of her teachers and fellow students. Tara faces an extreme amount of unchecked racism and transphobia that never truly sat well me as an adult. The abuse from fellow students, particular teachers, and administration as a whole is rarely if ever fully challenged until there are some light bulb moments towards the end of the story. There is also some internalized transphobia and racism exhibited in Tara as she not only says some questionable things to an acquaintance that is also trans, but glorifies White women in a way that was a little cringe worthy. This is not to say that Kanakia didn't intend to create these elements to showcase not only the deconstruction, but eventual thought processes held by the main character; however, it was tough to be present for those moments. This attempts to be a nuanced look at the shifts in a main character and a community that constantly and consistently rejects them, but struggles to find its voice in some areas specifically those associated with the Sibyls. While I understand Tara's desire to find friendship amongst girls, I never understood the appeal of this group. There was no depth or substance that made Tara's desire to be a part of their group believable. I did enjoy Kanakia's perspective on the trans experience in which the individual cannot medically transition. Tara struggles with this a lot and her thoughts and feelings are brought full circle through the author's note. There is also an underlying sapphic romance that I think quite a few readers will enjoy.
Overall, I think I'm still confused about this book and how I should process my thoughts. It's great to see more books being written by trans women of color about trans women of color for teenagers. They are few and far in between all of the other books that get published each other. Nevertheless, this does not mean that a book should not be critiqued for it's merit. As I've stated before, I'm not a part of the trans community and voice means little to the true purpose of this book; however, I thought I would attempt to share my thoughts on the book in some way.
Just Happy to Be Here is probably one of the most complicated books that I've read in a long time. The book chronicles the experiences of Tara who longs to be a part of a secret society at her all girls school. Unfortunately, while they are "happy" to have Tara as a part of the student body, that's where their grace and "understanding" ends. When it's all said and done, Tara is nothing more than political pawn to showcase the "liberal" mindsets of her teachers and fellow students. Tara faces an extreme amount of unchecked racism and transphobia that never truly sat well me as an adult. The abuse from fellow students, particular teachers, and administration as a whole is rarely if ever fully challenged until there are some light bulb moments towards the end of the story. There is also some internalized transphobia and racism exhibited in Tara as she not only says some questionable things to an acquaintance that is also trans, but glorifies White women in a way that was a little cringe worthy. This is not to say that Kanakia didn't intend to create these elements to showcase not only the deconstruction, but eventual thought processes held by the main character; however, it was tough to be present for those moments. This attempts to be a nuanced look at the shifts in a main character and a community that constantly and consistently rejects them, but struggles to find its voice in some areas specifically those associated with the Sibyls. While I understand Tara's desire to find friendship amongst girls, I never understood the appeal of this group. There was no depth or substance that made Tara's desire to be a part of their group believable. I did enjoy Kanakia's perspective on the trans experience in which the individual cannot medically transition. Tara struggles with this a lot and her thoughts and feelings are brought full circle through the author's note. There is also an underlying sapphic romance that I think quite a few readers will enjoy.
Overall, I think I'm still confused about this book and how I should process my thoughts. It's great to see more books being written by trans women of color about trans women of color for teenagers. They are few and far in between all of the other books that get published each other. Nevertheless, this does not mean that a book should not be critiqued for it's merit. As I've stated before, I'm not a part of the trans community and voice means little to the true purpose of this book; however, I thought I would attempt to share my thoughts on the book in some way.
April 2, 2024
This was our enby book club pick of the month and we all found the unchallenged Non-Binary hate and hostility towards Non-Binary teens was unnecessary. Full review and discussion can be found here: Just Happy to Be Here Live Party Enby Book Club March Discussion
https://youtube.com/live/5k5aXn49SGQ?...
https://youtube.com/live/5k5aXn49SGQ?...
January 4, 2024
What a wonderful first read of 2024!
Young adult novels featuring trans girls are such a rare occurrence I was really looking forward to this and it delivered.
Just Happy to Be Here follows Tara as she recently came out as trans and has moved to the all girls portion of her private school. She is trying to join the society called the Sybills but is facing a fair amount of opposition on the basis of her being trans. She doesn't want to make waves but just wants to fit in with the other girls, but not everyone is ok with that.
Tara was such a wonderful character to experience. I yearned for her in her wanting to just belong. She was nuanced, imperfect, and wonderful.
I really really enjoyed this book and connected with so many parts of it. I transitioned as an adult not a teenager but many of the experience Tara goes through still related hard. Especially with not always being able to tell who is really supportive of you as a trans woman compared to who gives lip service to not be called a transphobe. There are so many occurrences of that in the real world and this book nailed it.
I was also really touched by Tara's parents and how they interacted with her. They didn't react well at first, and still messed up as an adult but they were on her side. The relationship isn't perfect and rosy but it did show that nuance as well.
While I enjoyed the relationship Tara and Felicity had and how it evolved into romantic relationship, I wouldn't call this a romance novel and I did admittedly enjoy other parts of the book more.
I also like how while the book definitely felt complete, every plotline wasn't wrapped up in a little bow- it felt very true to trans life and existence for me.
I really enjoyed this book, I'm glad it exists and I hope it sets a great start for my 2024. 5/5
Young adult novels featuring trans girls are such a rare occurrence I was really looking forward to this and it delivered.
Just Happy to Be Here follows Tara as she recently came out as trans and has moved to the all girls portion of her private school. She is trying to join the society called the Sybills but is facing a fair amount of opposition on the basis of her being trans. She doesn't want to make waves but just wants to fit in with the other girls, but not everyone is ok with that.
Tara was such a wonderful character to experience. I yearned for her in her wanting to just belong. She was nuanced, imperfect, and wonderful.
I really really enjoyed this book and connected with so many parts of it. I transitioned as an adult not a teenager but many of the experience Tara goes through still related hard. Especially with not always being able to tell who is really supportive of you as a trans woman compared to who gives lip service to not be called a transphobe. There are so many occurrences of that in the real world and this book nailed it.
I was also really touched by Tara's parents and how they interacted with her. They didn't react well at first, and still messed up as an adult but they were on her side. The relationship isn't perfect and rosy but it did show that nuance as well.
While I enjoyed the relationship Tara and Felicity had and how it evolved into romantic relationship, I wouldn't call this a romance novel and I did admittedly enjoy other parts of the book more.
I also like how while the book definitely felt complete, every plotline wasn't wrapped up in a little bow- it felt very true to trans life and existence for me.
I really enjoyed this book, I'm glad it exists and I hope it sets a great start for my 2024. 5/5
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December 30, 2023This was an infuriating read. Tara is a young trans woman of color who seems to bounce between dealing with micro aggressions and macro aggressions; there's almost no one she can just be herself around. She's used as a political pawn. Even people who are theoretically accepting just see as her as "the trans girl." When she says anything that doesn't match their idea of what a trans girl should be, they immediately push back against her, even when she's just expressing her own insecurities. They seem more concerned about saying the right things than actually getting to know her.
I had to put down the book at some point because I was so full of rage on her behalf.
This was an emotionally harrowing read, full of non-stop transphobia—plus some added racism. It's one I'm glad to have read, but I'm even more glad to be done.
(P.S.: This book is sapphic! There's a sapphic romance subplot with her and Felicity, a member of the Sibyls.)
Full review at the Lesbrary.
I had to put down the book at some point because I was so full of rage on her behalf.
This was an emotionally harrowing read, full of non-stop transphobia—plus some added racism. It's one I'm glad to have read, but I'm even more glad to be done.
(P.S.: This book is sapphic! There's a sapphic romance subplot with her and Felicity, a member of the Sibyls.)
Full review at the Lesbrary.
January 8, 2024
2024 reads: 2/250
i won a digital arc in a giveaway from the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
tara wants to be treated like any other girl at ainsley academy. as the first out trans girl at this all-girls school, though, she runs into some difficulties. she wants to join the sibyls, a sisterhood group at ainsley, but there are people (including those in charge) who’s sure she’s just trying to “take” a scholarship from another girl. while she’s under attack, she has to decide whether to keep her head down or find her voice.
i really appreciated the nuanced discussions on being trans this book offered, especially when it came to the intersections of tara being trans and indian. it was nice to see that tara’s parents ultimately had her back, though they did make some mistakes and weren’t perfect by any means. i loved the relationship tara developed with some of the sibyls and it was so nice to see her have close friendships (and, later, a relationship).
i won a digital arc in a giveaway from the publisher. this did not affect my rating.
tara wants to be treated like any other girl at ainsley academy. as the first out trans girl at this all-girls school, though, she runs into some difficulties. she wants to join the sibyls, a sisterhood group at ainsley, but there are people (including those in charge) who’s sure she’s just trying to “take” a scholarship from another girl. while she’s under attack, she has to decide whether to keep her head down or find her voice.
i really appreciated the nuanced discussions on being trans this book offered, especially when it came to the intersections of tara being trans and indian. it was nice to see that tara’s parents ultimately had her back, though they did make some mistakes and weren’t perfect by any means. i loved the relationship tara developed with some of the sibyls and it was so nice to see her have close friendships (and, later, a relationship).
May 26, 2024
3,5 Sterne!
Ich lese eigentlich keine Young Adult Bücher, aber rückblickend ist "Just Happy to Be Here" auch einfach ein Jugendbuch. Es geht um das trans Mädchen Tara. Sie ist 15 Jahre alt und neu auf der "Ainsley Academy", einer Mädchenschule, die viel wert auf Griechisch und Latein legt. Taras Noten sind eher mäßig. Sie ist von der angrenzenden Jungenschule gewechselt, aber vom Schulwechsel abgesehen, wird ihr die Transition verwehrt. Medizinische Maßnahmen wie Pubertätsblocker sind in ihrem Bundesstaat quasi verboten, die Eltern, Einwander*innen aus Indien ohne permanentes Aufenthaltsrecht, fürchten Konsequenzen durch das Jugendamt, wenn sie Tara Zugang zur notwendigen Gender-affirming-Care ermöglichen.
Tara will einfach nur ein "normales Mädchen" sein. Sie will kein Aufsehen erregen und träumt davon Mitglied bei den "Sibyls" zu werden, eine exklusive Vereinigung von Schülerinnen, bei denen nicht nur fancy Spitznamen winken, sondern auch attraktive Zugänge zu Stipendien und Netzwerken.
Doch so liberal, wie sich die Privatschule zunächst gibt, ist sie dann doch nicht und Tara muss sich entscheiden, ob sie sich gegen die himmelschreiende Transfeindlichkeit und den krassen Rassismus wehrt, die ihr begegnen, oder ob sie den Kopf einzieht.
Wie häufig in Jugendbüchern ist der Plot etwas platt und die Dialoge fand ich teilweise auch etwas hölzern. Aber in Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass es noch immer kaum Bücher gibt, die trans (geschweige denn trans weibliche) Teenager in den Mittelpunkt stellen, bin ich da nicht so streng. Ich mochte Tara sehr, ich fand sie glaubwürdig in ihrer pubertären Art zu denken, zu fühlen und Entscheidungen zu treffen. Sie ist nicht perfekt. Sie hat das gleiche Recht wie alle anderen Mädchen, einfach (teilweise oberflächliche) Dinge zu wollen, wie Freundschaft, Liebe, schöne Kleider und die Aufnahme in einen elitären Kreis versnobbter (mainly) white girls. Positiv fand ich auch die Ergänzungen der Autorin am Ende ("Author's Note"), in der trans Mädchen direkt ermutigt und gestärkt werden.
Ich lese eigentlich keine Young Adult Bücher, aber rückblickend ist "Just Happy to Be Here" auch einfach ein Jugendbuch. Es geht um das trans Mädchen Tara. Sie ist 15 Jahre alt und neu auf der "Ainsley Academy", einer Mädchenschule, die viel wert auf Griechisch und Latein legt. Taras Noten sind eher mäßig. Sie ist von der angrenzenden Jungenschule gewechselt, aber vom Schulwechsel abgesehen, wird ihr die Transition verwehrt. Medizinische Maßnahmen wie Pubertätsblocker sind in ihrem Bundesstaat quasi verboten, die Eltern, Einwander*innen aus Indien ohne permanentes Aufenthaltsrecht, fürchten Konsequenzen durch das Jugendamt, wenn sie Tara Zugang zur notwendigen Gender-affirming-Care ermöglichen.
Tara will einfach nur ein "normales Mädchen" sein. Sie will kein Aufsehen erregen und träumt davon Mitglied bei den "Sibyls" zu werden, eine exklusive Vereinigung von Schülerinnen, bei denen nicht nur fancy Spitznamen winken, sondern auch attraktive Zugänge zu Stipendien und Netzwerken.
Doch so liberal, wie sich die Privatschule zunächst gibt, ist sie dann doch nicht und Tara muss sich entscheiden, ob sie sich gegen die himmelschreiende Transfeindlichkeit und den krassen Rassismus wehrt, die ihr begegnen, oder ob sie den Kopf einzieht.
Wie häufig in Jugendbüchern ist der Plot etwas platt und die Dialoge fand ich teilweise auch etwas hölzern. Aber in Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass es noch immer kaum Bücher gibt, die trans (geschweige denn trans weibliche) Teenager in den Mittelpunkt stellen, bin ich da nicht so streng. Ich mochte Tara sehr, ich fand sie glaubwürdig in ihrer pubertären Art zu denken, zu fühlen und Entscheidungen zu treffen. Sie ist nicht perfekt. Sie hat das gleiche Recht wie alle anderen Mädchen, einfach (teilweise oberflächliche) Dinge zu wollen, wie Freundschaft, Liebe, schöne Kleider und die Aufnahme in einen elitären Kreis versnobbter (mainly) white girls. Positiv fand ich auch die Ergänzungen der Autorin am Ende ("Author's Note"), in der trans Mädchen direkt ermutigt und gestärkt werden.
![Profile Image for Lee [Bibliophile Tings].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1714421530i%2F162596364._UY200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 14, 2023
Thank you so much to HarperTeen for sending me an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Two things kept me from getting into Just Happy To Be Here: Tara’s support system and the Sibyls.
Throughout the whole book, Tara has nobody 100% in her corner.
Nobody was unequivocally and unconditionally there for Tara. That's what hurt the most. Not to mention, most of the apologies were off-page. I am soft, and I need to see the apologies.
And then there's the Sibyls...
"After you join [the Sibyls], you change. You become better. More interested in the truth. And in doing what's right."
I have to be honest: I understood nothing about the Sibyls. It's an exclusive all-girl club that does what? Sits around and talks?? It didn't make sense to me.
All in all, Just Happy To Be Here wasn't as hopeful as I expected. There weren't enough good moments to balance out the bad. I was hoping for more happiness, for more trans joy than I got.
Bottom line: Too heavy for me to handle.
──✒ pre review initial thoughts
my own expectations let me down with this one
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
Two things kept me from getting into Just Happy To Be Here: Tara’s support system and the Sibyls.
Throughout the whole book, Tara has nobody 100% in her corner.
Nobody was unequivocally and unconditionally there for Tara. That's what hurt the most. Not to mention, most of the apologies were off-page. I am soft, and I need to see the apologies.
And then there's the Sibyls...
"After you join [the Sibyls], you change. You become better. More interested in the truth. And in doing what's right."
I have to be honest: I understood nothing about the Sibyls. It's an exclusive all-girl club that does what? Sits around and talks?? It didn't make sense to me.
All in all, Just Happy To Be Here wasn't as hopeful as I expected. There weren't enough good moments to balance out the bad. I was hoping for more happiness, for more trans joy than I got.
Bottom line: Too heavy for me to handle.
──✒ pre review initial thoughts
my own expectations let me down with this one
⸻ᥫ᭡
my blog!
March 30, 2024
3.5 rounded up
Tara is a South Asian American trans girl attending Ainsley Academy, a private all girls' school who ends up fighting for her right to run for and be considered to be a 'Sibyl' - the school's elite sorority - only to come up against a transphobic administrator. This was a really good book about being trans and wanting to be considered equal to one's peers as well as female friendship and queer solidarity. Great on audio too and highly recommended for fans of books like Joy to the world by Kai Shappley.
Tara is a South Asian American trans girl attending Ainsley Academy, a private all girls' school who ends up fighting for her right to run for and be considered to be a 'Sibyl' - the school's elite sorority - only to come up against a transphobic administrator. This was a really good book about being trans and wanting to be considered equal to one's peers as well as female friendship and queer solidarity. Great on audio too and highly recommended for fans of books like Joy to the world by Kai Shappley.
March 24, 2024
Yesterday I listened to Just Happy To Be Here by Naomi Kanakia on audiobook, narrated by Bilal Baig. This is a YA book about Tara, the first trans girl in an elite all girls school. The 15 year old daughter of Indian immigrants parents, Tara just wants to be treated like all the other girls. She decides to compete to be apart of a Greek, Latin, and tradition loving society within the old school which leads to complications. Not only does she face micro and macro aggressions of transmisogyny and racism toward her daily at school perpetrated by her classmates and teachers, but she also has the conservative and hateful government of her state threatening her and her family’s safety with anti-trans legislation. She worries about being taken away from her family and her mother being deported. She wants to start hormone blockers to begin her physical transition but her parents think it’s dangerous and that she should wait until she’s an adult. She says “I just want my real life to start.” Throughout the struggles, Tara does develop friendships and even a crush, but it hurts to see how no one is fully in her corner, advocating for her wants and needs. I really loved the main character Tara and reading her grow into herself and become more confident, brave, and her most authentic self. This book is a good example of why I love reading Young Adult literature, there’s something that connects us all as we endlessly are searching for our true selves and our place in the world.
January 23, 2024
I want to preface my review by stating that I am not a member of the Trans community, so my opinions on this book are from an outsider's perspective.
JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE was an intense read, both because of the clear transphobia and because of the MC's youth/naive nature about the people around her. The number of times she was cut off by those around her, or had such clear transphobic comments and actions done against her and she brushed them off was rage-inducing. I think I know why she does this--especially at the end, when it all ties up really nicely together, but in the moment, I felt immense rage towards the people around her.
Kanakia's novel touches on so much happening right now in society and how people twist narratives to fit their agendas and their means. How some people can see one person as an "object" to further their ideologies.
This book just made me feel a lot and made me so angry, but I know I am privileged in my cis-life. My heart broke for the kids who are in these situations and/or are surrounded by people who just refuse to see beyond their own biases and hatred.
I also appreciate the representation of the complex familial relationship between the MC and her parents--it may have been imperfect, but as an adult, I can see the love there for their daughter.
Between the beautiful cover, the emotionally stimulating and thought-provoking story, and the raw reality of a young character trying to figure herself out, I do recommend JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE. I do also recommend that the TWs be heeded: transphobic language, transphobia, internalized racism, transmisogyny. Read with care--but know that this is a pretty important story. Also, Kanakia has a pretty great author's note at the end!
Happy reading!
JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE was an intense read, both because of the clear transphobia and because of the MC's youth/naive nature about the people around her. The number of times she was cut off by those around her, or had such clear transphobic comments and actions done against her and she brushed them off was rage-inducing. I think I know why she does this--especially at the end, when it all ties up really nicely together, but in the moment, I felt immense rage towards the people around her.
Kanakia's novel touches on so much happening right now in society and how people twist narratives to fit their agendas and their means. How some people can see one person as an "object" to further their ideologies.
This book just made me feel a lot and made me so angry, but I know I am privileged in my cis-life. My heart broke for the kids who are in these situations and/or are surrounded by people who just refuse to see beyond their own biases and hatred.
I also appreciate the representation of the complex familial relationship between the MC and her parents--it may have been imperfect, but as an adult, I can see the love there for their daughter.
Between the beautiful cover, the emotionally stimulating and thought-provoking story, and the raw reality of a young character trying to figure herself out, I do recommend JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE. I do also recommend that the TWs be heeded: transphobic language, transphobia, internalized racism, transmisogyny. Read with care--but know that this is a pretty important story. Also, Kanakia has a pretty great author's note at the end!
Happy reading!
February 5, 2024
This is definitely a really important book and I just wish I had enjoyed it more than I did.
I want to start my review with what I really liked about the book: I love the cover. I like Tara a lot, she's a really interesting character and even though I sometimes felt frustrated with her being so completely unable to express her wishes and desires to anybody else the further I got into the story, the more sense it made. And at least thats something she managed to develop over the course of the story. She is definitely a character you can find yourself rooting for, even though your heart breaks for her constantly as she doesn't really have any real friends and even the few people she starts to form bonds with often cross boundaries or act inconsiderate, which made me feel for her a lot. I like that not everything is black and white and especially Tara tries to be comfortable in these inbetween zones even if it isn't always easy at times. This made for an interesting story. In general I enjoyed that a lot of characters existed in this tough inbetween place of being somewhat prejudiced while trying to do the right thing, but failing. Some of them managed to do better by the end and that felt really good to see. I also liked the sapphic relationship, that was cute. And finally I really enjoyed that Tara's existence as a trans girl who is unable to go on blockers or hormones is discussed. While others may doubt her gender, she knows who she is. There are also one scenes that deals with arousal causing further dysphoria and I found the frankness around that discussion refreshing. And I enjoyed that she was able to find gender euphoria in her relationship, despite being unable to eliviate it in every aspect of her life.
Now to what I did not enjoy: the writing style was stillted and awkward at times. Some dialogue especially was just weird. And the plot was choppy and so scenes that I wish had been explored more fully just weren't. The characters fell a bit flat for me due to that. And I disliked how Tara treated Liam at points. She once thinks that he could have been a really pretty girl and ignores how he must feel as the only out trans guy at an all girls school and only believes that he faces transphobia in his own family after a cis girl confirms it to her, even though he has complained about it multiple times. The first comment really shocked me and it just feels really weird for a trans character, who understands how painful it is to be misgendered by other people, to just randomly have a thought like that without ever examining it. I also disliked that the first time we are introduced to Liam she immediately decides he is overexaggerating the transphobia of his own family. Her thinking might have made sense if we had seen him overexaggerate things before (and we definitely do see him cross her boundaries repeatedly later on) and so this scene just really did not make me feel like they have any real form of friendship besides the fact that they are the only trans kids. Plus I didn't really enjoy the way the Sybils were seen as Oh So Different from the vapid normal girls, the only ones who care for truth and justice, when everything they did in the book are things that could have happened without a secret social club (shopping, reading books & picking fake names are something that doesnt have to be confined to a secret club...) and so I did not really understand their appeal and why Tara was willing to risk so much just to join them especially in the beginning of the story. I would have liked her to have some further motivation or exploration why she thinks her desire for female friendship cant be fullfilled elsewhere and in general I think this book would have profited from more depth, especially with pretty much every characters' motivations (but especially Angel, Tara & Liam) and the way the school works in general.
This unfortunately kept me from really being drawn into this book as I had hoped I would and so I can unfortunately only give it two stars, but I do enjoy that we have a book that really examines the pain and prejudice that can be caused by an unjust government, transphobia and racism and why it is important to stand against that (even if it is only through seeking joy and self-acceptance as Tara does).
I want to start my review with what I really liked about the book: I love the cover. I like Tara a lot, she's a really interesting character and even though I sometimes felt frustrated with her being so completely unable to express her wishes and desires to anybody else the further I got into the story, the more sense it made. And at least thats something she managed to develop over the course of the story. She is definitely a character you can find yourself rooting for, even though your heart breaks for her constantly as she doesn't really have any real friends and even the few people she starts to form bonds with often cross boundaries or act inconsiderate, which made me feel for her a lot. I like that not everything is black and white and especially Tara tries to be comfortable in these inbetween zones even if it isn't always easy at times. This made for an interesting story. In general I enjoyed that a lot of characters existed in this tough inbetween place of being somewhat prejudiced while trying to do the right thing, but failing. Some of them managed to do better by the end and that felt really good to see. I also liked the sapphic relationship, that was cute. And finally I really enjoyed that Tara's existence as a trans girl who is unable to go on blockers or hormones is discussed. While others may doubt her gender, she knows who she is. There are also one scenes that deals with arousal causing further dysphoria and I found the frankness around that discussion refreshing. And I enjoyed that she was able to find gender euphoria in her relationship, despite being unable to eliviate it in every aspect of her life.
Now to what I did not enjoy: the writing style was stillted and awkward at times. Some dialogue especially was just weird. And the plot was choppy and so scenes that I wish had been explored more fully just weren't. The characters fell a bit flat for me due to that. And I disliked how Tara treated Liam at points. She once thinks that he could have been a really pretty girl and ignores how he must feel as the only out trans guy at an all girls school and only believes that he faces transphobia in his own family after a cis girl confirms it to her, even though he has complained about it multiple times. The first comment really shocked me and it just feels really weird for a trans character, who understands how painful it is to be misgendered by other people, to just randomly have a thought like that without ever examining it. I also disliked that the first time we are introduced to Liam she immediately decides he is overexaggerating the transphobia of his own family. Her thinking might have made sense if we had seen him overexaggerate things before (and we definitely do see him cross her boundaries repeatedly later on) and so this scene just really did not make me feel like they have any real form of friendship besides the fact that they are the only trans kids. Plus I didn't really enjoy the way the Sybils were seen as Oh So Different from the vapid normal girls, the only ones who care for truth and justice, when everything they did in the book are things that could have happened without a secret social club (shopping, reading books & picking fake names are something that doesnt have to be confined to a secret club...) and so I did not really understand their appeal and why Tara was willing to risk so much just to join them especially in the beginning of the story. I would have liked her to have some further motivation or exploration why she thinks her desire for female friendship cant be fullfilled elsewhere and in general I think this book would have profited from more depth, especially with pretty much every characters' motivations (but especially Angel, Tara & Liam) and the way the school works in general.
This unfortunately kept me from really being drawn into this book as I had hoped I would and so I can unfortunately only give it two stars, but I do enjoy that we have a book that really examines the pain and prejudice that can be caused by an unjust government, transphobia and racism and why it is important to stand against that (even if it is only through seeking joy and self-acceptance as Tara does).
April 19, 2024
Queer trans femme books by queer trans femme authors!!!
I am always on the lookout for more books with trans girl and trans woman main characters and this book has it. This book is set in a all-girl school with a trans girl who just wants to be a girl. Everyone keeps asking her what her higher ambitions are and what she wants out of life but what she wants is to fit in and I think that's a really hard concept for cis people to get that when you're not having your basic needs met it's hard to think beyond that.
This book does have quite a handful of some internalized transphobia and misogyny and maybe it's more of a hetero and cis normativity kind of deal where the trans character is willing to put up with a lot of shit and kind of goes along with some of it because making waves is a bigger deal. Because of that it is sometimes a difficult book to get through so please take your own safety and mental health into account before starting.
I did see a couple comments that this book doesn't discuss gender non-conforming or non-binary identities enough and while I do technically agree, I think that it's possible that not everything is about everything. Could there have been some more discourse about how to handle non-binary and gender non-conforming students in gender segregated schools? Probably. Was that the purpose of this book? no and that's okay in my opinion.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to queer YA and can't wait to rec it.
QPOC Trans girl MC, sapphic.
I am always on the lookout for more books with trans girl and trans woman main characters and this book has it. This book is set in a all-girl school with a trans girl who just wants to be a girl. Everyone keeps asking her what her higher ambitions are and what she wants out of life but what she wants is to fit in and I think that's a really hard concept for cis people to get that when you're not having your basic needs met it's hard to think beyond that.
This book does have quite a handful of some internalized transphobia and misogyny and maybe it's more of a hetero and cis normativity kind of deal where the trans character is willing to put up with a lot of shit and kind of goes along with some of it because making waves is a bigger deal. Because of that it is sometimes a difficult book to get through so please take your own safety and mental health into account before starting.
I did see a couple comments that this book doesn't discuss gender non-conforming or non-binary identities enough and while I do technically agree, I think that it's possible that not everything is about everything. Could there have been some more discourse about how to handle non-binary and gender non-conforming students in gender segregated schools? Probably. Was that the purpose of this book? no and that's okay in my opinion.
Overall, I think this is a great addition to queer YA and can't wait to rec it.
QPOC Trans girl MC, sapphic.
December 30, 2023
I read this in a day! Such an important story for the current moment. Without coming off as preachy, Kanakia manages to get the reader to truly sit with and consider all the potential dangers/consequences of simply existing as a trans person in states that are making it increasingly illegal. This was fast-paced and well-written, and any teen struggling with gender identity should NOT miss the most heartfelt author’s note I’ve ever read- filled with both encouragement and practical advice that I’ve not seen elsewhere.
March 29, 2024
Yet another banger from this author. She just GETS it. Life is a hot mess and so are we. We’re contradictory. We think, say, and do things that are not perfect. We don’t always want what people think we should or what is “best” for us.
Sometimes we don’t even have the ambition to reach for that imaginary perfect ideal, too. And that was resonated most for me. Struggling with feeling like enough with what makes you happy while others tell you that you should need and want more.
Sometimes we don’t even have the ambition to reach for that imaginary perfect ideal, too. And that was resonated most for me. Struggling with feeling like enough with what makes you happy while others tell you that you should need and want more.
January 9, 2024
Beautiful, read it in one sitting
Tara's voice is incredibly compelling and vivid. The way she thinks through problems makes her an intriguing protagonist. She values truth and wisdom, and often reckons with the limits of her power, often marginalized by more powerful people and systems.
Yet, without giving too much away, she is compelling and persuasive in a way that is often overlooked - she navigates conflict and antagonism in a way that is genuinely surprising in contrast to many YA genre books.
Many of the secondary characters were also highly nuanced and vividly written. I particularly think Tara's parents are incredibly realistic and detailed. It's challenging, I think, to portray accurately parents who love their kid, yet misunderstand her or are driven in certain ways by fear.
That tension breaks in favor of support, and ultimately Tara's parents are 100% in her corner, pragmatic about being willing to take serious risks to get her what she needs.
This seems to be a recurring element in Kanakia's YA books: parents who are supportive of their kid, yet imperfect or struggling in some way. Often the kid strongly sympathizes with their parents and even wants to protect them, while still wanting their support and yearning for deeper understanding.
In "[Enter Title Here]", the protagonist's internal conflict comes to a tipping point when she decides to protect + defend her parents from a false, stereotype-based accusation - a choice that leads to a surprising, dramatic conclusion and a truly earned sense of closeness.
In "We Are Totally Normal," Nandan's mom is supportive, yet he doesn't open up to her about his struggles because he worries that she's is already dealing with too much.
In this book, that same tension is there, but Tara *does* open up to her parents and ask for help - even pushes adamantly for the care she needs. And her parents do ultimately step up for her.
I have not read any YA novelists who write nuanced, loving, complex family dynamics as compellingly as Kanakia does. On that front, "Just Happy to Be Here" may be her best novel yet.
Tara's voice is incredibly compelling and vivid. The way she thinks through problems makes her an intriguing protagonist. She values truth and wisdom, and often reckons with the limits of her power, often marginalized by more powerful people and systems.
Yet, without giving too much away, she is compelling and persuasive in a way that is often overlooked - she navigates conflict and antagonism in a way that is genuinely surprising in contrast to many YA genre books.
Many of the secondary characters were also highly nuanced and vividly written. I particularly think Tara's parents are incredibly realistic and detailed. It's challenging, I think, to portray accurately parents who love their kid, yet misunderstand her or are driven in certain ways by fear.
That tension breaks in favor of support, and ultimately Tara's parents are 100% in her corner, pragmatic about being willing to take serious risks to get her what she needs.
This seems to be a recurring element in Kanakia's YA books: parents who are supportive of their kid, yet imperfect or struggling in some way. Often the kid strongly sympathizes with their parents and even wants to protect them, while still wanting their support and yearning for deeper understanding.
In "[Enter Title Here]", the protagonist's internal conflict comes to a tipping point when she decides to protect + defend her parents from a false, stereotype-based accusation - a choice that leads to a surprising, dramatic conclusion and a truly earned sense of closeness.
In "We Are Totally Normal," Nandan's mom is supportive, yet he doesn't open up to her about his struggles because he worries that she's is already dealing with too much.
In this book, that same tension is there, but Tara *does* open up to her parents and ask for help - even pushes adamantly for the care she needs. And her parents do ultimately step up for her.
I have not read any YA novelists who write nuanced, loving, complex family dynamics as compellingly as Kanakia does. On that front, "Just Happy to Be Here" may be her best novel yet.
February 5, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
This is a ride of a book and, at the end, I was left feeling wrung out. Not in a bad way, but after all the drama, the tension, the horrible, awful, no-good people doing incredibly shitty things, I wanted and needed some giant cathartic happy ending, and didn’t get it. Because this book isn’t a fantasy novel; it’s a contemporary novel taking place in today’s world, in a red state, where the transgender child of two immigrant parents can only do so much, can only allow so much because a giant, public, political battle with thousands of people rallying in support might do more harm than good. Now, this book does have a … well, I’ll call it a happy ending. Tara ends up happy. She ends up with friends, confidence, and support. It’s an optimistic ending — or, rather, an optimistic beginning to the next step in her life which, as a 16-year old, is really just more high school. So maybe not that happy after all.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
This is a ride of a book and, at the end, I was left feeling wrung out. Not in a bad way, but after all the drama, the tension, the horrible, awful, no-good people doing incredibly shitty things, I wanted and needed some giant cathartic happy ending, and didn’t get it. Because this book isn’t a fantasy novel; it’s a contemporary novel taking place in today’s world, in a red state, where the transgender child of two immigrant parents can only do so much, can only allow so much because a giant, public, political battle with thousands of people rallying in support might do more harm than good. Now, this book does have a … well, I’ll call it a happy ending. Tara ends up happy. She ends up with friends, confidence, and support. It’s an optimistic ending — or, rather, an optimistic beginning to the next step in her life which, as a 16-year old, is really just more high school. So maybe not that happy after all.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
January 12, 2024
Round up to 4.5 stars.
January 31, 2024
4.25/5
April 17, 2024
I don’t usually write reviews but Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia is one of my favorite books of the year. The dialogue and the charcters as well as their relationships with one another are so well written. I saw that Naomi Kanakia has another book coming out in May and I look forward to reading it.
March 24, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up!
"You know what? The effort other kids put into getting into the best college or winning some championship at sports? That's the effort we have to put in just to survive.
And in the end, if you're really smart and really brave, the only reward you get is the chance to finally start being alive."
"You know what? The effort other kids put into getting into the best college or winning some championship at sports? That's the effort we have to put in just to survive.
And in the end, if you're really smart and really brave, the only reward you get is the chance to finally start being alive."
March 27, 2024
this book refuses the YA tendency to make things happy and positive for everyone, so if you go into it hoping for that you will be disappointed. what it does, though, is really explore the ways that friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other adults are so often more complex for teens than they might seem at first, or than we might want them to be. ALSO a real bonus is that it's narrated by Bilal Baig (the person who made and starred in Sort Of), so i loved that.
March 8, 2024
So this month I’m pausing my library borrows (I’m up to like 40 on hold and 40+ library reads so far this year) to catch up on ARCs. This is one of the last outstanding library books I have to turn in and I am SO GLAD I borrowed it. I loved it. It felt very gossip girl but also like, not!?
This is a YA book about a trans girl who has changed schools and wanted to be a part of an exclusive club at school. She applies but ultimately is not chosen for reasons that she accepts, even if she’s not happy about it.
Things I loved about this book:
I loved loved loved our main character Tara. Being told from Tara’s point of view was a great way to tell this story and made me feel like a fly on the wall.
Ultimately I did like Tara’s parents. I think they had good intentions even if they stumbled sometimes. They were very protective.
I loved the group of girls Tara bonded with even though she wasn’t officially chosen for the club.
Felicity! She grew during the course of the book.
Strife and her meddling. lol.
Loved Tara coming into her own, that speech at the end was so good.
I actually really loved the ending of this book too!! Tara was such a great character.
Fully recommend reading this one. The authors note is not to be missed. It was eye opening and really heartfelt.
This is a YA book about a trans girl who has changed schools and wanted to be a part of an exclusive club at school. She applies but ultimately is not chosen for reasons that she accepts, even if she’s not happy about it.
Things I loved about this book:
I loved loved loved our main character Tara. Being told from Tara’s point of view was a great way to tell this story and made me feel like a fly on the wall.
Ultimately I did like Tara’s parents. I think they had good intentions even if they stumbled sometimes. They were very protective.
I loved the group of girls Tara bonded with even though she wasn’t officially chosen for the club.
Felicity! She grew during the course of the book.
Strife and her meddling. lol.
Loved Tara coming into her own, that speech at the end was so good.
I actually really loved the ending of this book too!! Tara was such a great character.
Fully recommend reading this one. The authors note is not to be missed. It was eye opening and really heartfelt.
January 2, 2024
Thanks so much to Wunderkind for the ARC!
Just Happy To Be Here follows Tara, who's attending an all-girls school Ainsley, as the first trans girl. Moreover, she's aspiring to be apart of the elite sisterhood, The Sibyls, with fancy Greek goddess codenames and secrecy. But with that, comes a lot of challenges like transphobes and catty-mean girls who dip when things are hard.
But I also really loved Tara's love of speeches and strong women in history, as well as her family. Her family was supportive and seeing her mom say "my baby girl" just felt so good to see in this book. This is definitely something more people need to pick up.
Just Happy To Be Here follows Tara, who's attending an all-girls school Ainsley, as the first trans girl. Moreover, she's aspiring to be apart of the elite sisterhood, The Sibyls, with fancy Greek goddess codenames and secrecy. But with that, comes a lot of challenges like transphobes and catty-mean girls who dip when things are hard.
But I also really loved Tara's love of speeches and strong women in history, as well as her family. Her family was supportive and seeing her mom say "my baby girl" just felt so good to see in this book. This is definitely something more people need to pick up.
January 20, 2024
This was a 40% DNF for me.
From the author’s note, it appears the goal of this book was to depict trans stories in an effort to help those grappling with their transness; however the 40% that I read seemed to be situation after situation showing how trans is wrong, different, or undesired. The transphobic language was very harsh and I ultimately had to call it quits. :-/
From the author’s note, it appears the goal of this book was to depict trans stories in an effort to help those grappling with their transness; however the 40% that I read seemed to be situation after situation showing how trans is wrong, different, or undesired. The transphobic language was very harsh and I ultimately had to call it quits. :-/
May 10, 2024
After reading Enter Title Here by Naomi Kanakia last year (and really enjoying it), I can see a pattern emerging in her works: they're filled with nuance. Kanakia isn't afraid to address the messy realities of life, whether that's the college application system and racism, as in Enter Title Here , or the trans experience, as depicted in Just Happy To Be Here . She not only toes the line of what's considered "acceptable," by the norm, but she goes beyond that itself, pokes at the line and questions why it's even there to begin with. This makes her work, including this novel, refreshingly honest, and though this may lead into knotty, tangled, paths, it's always with the intention of getting to the heart of the matter.
In this way, the way Kanakia writes is very similar to the main character of Just Happy To Be Here , Tara, whose whole personality is about being honest. Tara is a big fan of speech and debate, particularly famous speeches, and she talks about wanting to cut to the central question of any debate, ignoring the required rebuttals and addresses required in a formal debate setting. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that I really liked the philosophical element of this book; the parts where Tara discussed her experience with transitioning and her gender, and her thoughts and outlook on her life. She's a wonderful, complicated character, and the book doesn't shy away from that complexity, in fact it leans into it.
The part I wasn't as big a fan of was the plot, which is pretty thin - most of the characters except Tara and her friends aren't fully drawn, and the Sibyls storyline was interesting enough, but mostly served as a vehicle. And I understand that they were necessary, but a lot of the scenes where Tara was mistreated were very difficult to read.
The author's note at the end, though. Some really heartfelt and wonderful stuff, and I really hope it'll find its way into the hands of the kids who need it. I found myself wishing that Kanakia would write an entire nonfiction book, because I honestly just love reading her writing without any distractions like a plot or characters, if that makes sense. Like, just put her brain down on paper and let me read it (is that too creepy? sorry!)
In this way, the way Kanakia writes is very similar to the main character of Just Happy To Be Here , Tara, whose whole personality is about being honest. Tara is a big fan of speech and debate, particularly famous speeches, and she talks about wanting to cut to the central question of any debate, ignoring the required rebuttals and addresses required in a formal debate setting. What I'm trying to say, I guess, is that I really liked the philosophical element of this book; the parts where Tara discussed her experience with transitioning and her gender, and her thoughts and outlook on her life. She's a wonderful, complicated character, and the book doesn't shy away from that complexity, in fact it leans into it.
The part I wasn't as big a fan of was the plot, which is pretty thin - most of the characters except Tara and her friends aren't fully drawn, and the Sibyls storyline was interesting enough, but mostly served as a vehicle. And I understand that they were necessary, but a lot of the scenes where Tara was mistreated were very difficult to read.
The author's note at the end, though. Some really heartfelt and wonderful stuff, and I really hope it'll find its way into the hands of the kids who need it. I found myself wishing that Kanakia would write an entire nonfiction book, because I honestly just love reading her writing without any distractions like a plot or characters, if that makes sense. Like, just put her brain down on paper and let me read it (is that too creepy? sorry!)
September 2, 2024
2.5 stars.
I felt the trans rep/message in this book was adequate. However there was also a lot of non binary phobia.
The actual story was meh for me, but that's likely due more to my age and leaning away from YA contemporary books. It felt disjointed and there were warring stories that never connected.
I felt the trans rep/message in this book was adequate. However there was also a lot of non binary phobia.
The actual story was meh for me, but that's likely due more to my age and leaning away from YA contemporary books. It felt disjointed and there were warring stories that never connected.
February 9, 2026
Took me a while to get into it. Felt a bit confused with a lot of the characters having multiple names, but Tara was a compelling character and it was really cool seeing her growth throughout the story.
April 28, 2024
Intense! Compelling! Complicated! I enjoyed this book, and it has left me thinking. Also, the Author’s Note is phenomenal.
April 17, 2025
This struck a chord with me in a way that so many other trans narratives have not. It is so much more than it first appears and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a more nuanced, deeper exploration of what it is like to be trans in today's climate.
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