Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson

by Tourmaline

Black transgender luminary Tourmaline brings to life the first definitive biography of the revolutionary activist Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most important and remarkable figures in LGBTQIA+ history, revealing her story, her impact, and her legacy.

“She is the preeminent and foremost scholar on Marsha P. Johnson. . . . To us, Tourmaline is the expert.”—Janet Mock, Allure

“Thank god the revolution has begun, honey.” Rumor has it that after Marsha P. Johnson threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, she picked up a shard of broken mirror to fix her makeup. Marsha, a legendary Black transgender activist, embodied both the beauty and the struggle of the early gay rights movement. Her work sparked the progress we see today, yet there has never been a definitive record of her life. Until now. 
 
Written with sparkling prose, Tourmaline’s richly researched biography Marsha finally brings this iconic figure to life, in full color. We vividly meet Marsha as both an activist and artist: She performed with RuPaul and with the internationally renowned drag troupe The Hot Peaches. She was a muse to countless artists from Andy Warhol to the band Earth, Wind & Fire. And she continues to inspire people today.
 
Marsha didn’t wait to be freed; she declared herself free and told the world to catch up. Her story promises to inspire readers to live as their most liberated, unruly, vibrant, and whole selves.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Biography, History, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

306 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Bence]

show it to me rachel please

[Sarah Schulman]

Emotional history and the unprovable past act on and transform each other to create the future in this forceful, passionate, and unique tribute to the legacy and life of Marsha P Johnson. Tourmaline makes Marsha's life come back to life and changes our collective memories with this devoted preservation of the community, the grassroots, friendship, the will of the Black transwoman individual, and a tribute to every queer who willed her self-understanding into reality. Told with love and alchemy.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so total outlier here on my feelings and review. Oh how excited I was to read a biography of Marsha Pay-It-No-Mind Johnson! But this was way too broad of a brushstroke story for me. I ended up feeling like there wasn't enough information about Marsha to complete the book and filler had to be added. This book was as much the history of the LGBTQ community, other members of the community, and the author themself as much as it was about Marsha. And, yes, I understand that some of that needed to be included, but at a certain point it feels like padding. I wanted Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! In that loss I was disappointed. But if you want a look at the early Pride movement, with a focus on one of its brightest stars, then you will appreciate this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton Tiny Reparations Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Ophelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

WARNING!!!!!! AUTHOR USED CHATGPT!!!!!!!

DNF at page 38 - I'm concerned that the author Tourmaline used ChatGPT in significant portions of this book. I was suspicious of repetitive phrasing, run-on sentences with little concrete meaning, and the overall format of some paragraphs. When checked with the internet's most trusted AI detectors, the results come back overwhelmingly positive for this sample paragraph at the bottom of page 37 and ending at the top of page 38:

"In addition to Marsha's reflections on her family, we can see how Elizabeth was not just a backdrop for her early years but a foundational stage for her actualization toward self-discovery and spirituality. The town was where she first grappled with her identity, faced familial complexities, and cultivated a longing for community and self-understanding. This exploration of identity was deeply intertwined with her familial ties, particularly with her mother. Even as Marsha ventured into the wider LGBTQIA+ community and immersed herself in its culture, the bond with her family remained a central theme in her life. This connection illustrates the delicate balance Marsha navigated between her personal identity and the relationships she cherished with her family."


SaplingAI detector: 100% AI, 0% human
undetectableAI detector: 92% AI, 8% human
Copyleaks AI detector: 100% AI, 0% human
ZeroGPT AI detector: 100% AI, 0% human

I’ve contacted the imprint Tiny Reparations about this, because as far as I know Penguin Random House has a zero AI policy, but haven’t heard back.

I was so excited that we finally have a biography of Marsha, but the author's AI usage makes it nearly unreadable for me. THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER. MARSHA DESERVES BETTER.

[Susy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
An interesting but bit repetitive and not well structured story that had my mind wandering off quite often.

Topic 9
Writing Style 6
Execution/Pace 6
Execution/Setup 5
Enjoyment/Engrossment 5
Narration 5

[Jessica I · Rating 5 out of 5]

In reading this book, I learned so much not only about the beautiful life of Marsha P. Johnson, but also more about queer history generally in the US. The author very obviously treats Marsha’s life with the respect and love she deserved, and poured this passion into the book. I was so honored to receive an ARC copy of Marsha from goodreads. The only feedback I could possibly give is that the inclusion of more dates would be helpful for context. For example, not everyone will know Marsha P. Johnson’s date of birth. Calculating her age through the book provided really helpful and insightful context about what she was doing from a young age, like being only 23 at the time of the Stonewall Uprising. I would recommend this book to everyone in the US so we can all remember just how recently it was that the gay rights movement had any success, and how much progress is still left to be made, specifically given the persecution trans people still face in America today.

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARSHA: THE JOY AND DEFIANCE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON by Tourmaline

Thank you @prhaudio for my gifted copy.💐

This compelling and comprehensive biography celebrates the remarkable life and legacy of Marsha P. Johnson — a visionary activist, devoted community leader and caregiver, beloved friend, fierce liberationist, and nurturing surrogate mother to countless trans youth.

Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Tourmaline brings Marsha P. Johnson to life with tenderness and clarity. From her role at the Stonewall uprising to her radical advocacy for Black and Brown queer communities, Marsha’s legacy matters now more than ever. With trans rights under attack across the U.S., MARSHA is the powerful reminder we need to keep pushing for trans liberation. ✊🏼

🎧 The audiobook is narrated by the author herself, which adds a deeply personal and resonate layer to Marsha's story.

📌 Available now!

[Trin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so happy this mainstream biography of Marsha P. Johnson exists. As an activist and pivotal figure both at Stonewall and in the early queer liberation movement, she absolutely deserves to be credited for her world-shaking revolutionary action and her long-reaching influence. This trans icon was often, toward the end of her life before her tragic and mysterious death in 1992, known by the nickname Saint Marsha. Unfortunately, at least for me, this book often feels more like a profile of a saint than of a full human person.

Marsha is also an icon for the disabled community, and deserves to be celebrated for that too, but I felt like this book gets a little too woo, buying into the hallucinations that were part of her mental health struggles and thereby diminishing much of what Marsha was up against. Additionally, this book suffers from a common problem with under-edited books these days -- just a lot of repetition and questionable organization. I wish Tourmaline had been given more assistance in that regard, just as I wish Marsha had been better supported by all the systems that failed her.

Ultimately, I am thrilled that this book exists and can potentially inspire a new group of people with Marsha's story, but it's not quite everything I could have wished.

[Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this biography of revolutionary Stonewall and legendary transgender rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, the luminary Tourmaline explores more than the life and death of Marsha; she reframes the narrative on the joy and defiance of Marsha. While it may seem like a minor change, I cannot begin to describe how that framework permeated throughout the book. It can be hard to make a biography come to life, but when the subject is Marsha, that livelihood was a necessity and Tourmaline absolutely nailed it. Oftentimes biographies can reduce their subjects to a singular event or singular time point, but Tourmaline so expertly folds us into the context of Marsha’s life and advocacy before Stonewall, her many other accomplishments during her life after Stonewall, and how Marsha’s legacy will continue to impact generations still come. It’s a biography with gorgeous prose, a gripping plot, and, at times, a gritty paradox.

Tourmaline's end product is a book so powerful and moving, centering Marsha’s history and hope. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Read this book if you:
🏳️‍⚧️ stand unwaveringly with trans rights
💐 want to expand your understanding of Marsha’s legacy
🌈 recognize that the first pride parade was an uprising, and Black trans women have always been at the forefront

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ. Marsha is such a pillar in Queer history, and learning more about her life and all the incredible things she did, touched me deeply. I also appreciated how Tourmaline didn’t shy away from the injustices and hardships Marsha was forced to endure because of how our government treats Trans folks. All in all, this was remarkable and I’m very glad I bought a physical copy of this book because I will treasure it forever.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marsha P. Johnson was a brilliant light filled with such joy, love, and compassion. Tourmaline approaches this biography with so much care and adoration, and paints a beautiful picture of a beloved woman with a defiant spirit.

As I’ve grown deeper roots within the queer community, I have heard Marsha’s name mentioned more frequently. Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Riots often come hand in hand. But it wasn’t until this book that I realized how much deeper her legacy and influence reaches. While the Stonewall Riots were such a pinnacle moment in history, it was not the start nor the end for Marsha.

In this book, Tourmaline splits up the different facets of Marsha’s identity into 8 chapters: The Jersey Kid, The Town Square Hustler, The Stonewall Rioter, The STAR Activist, The Downtown Performer, The AIDS Care Worker, Crossing the River Jordan, and The Legacy.

In her 46 years of life, Marsha exemplified the defiance of living authentically. She embodied the radicalism of living free in a world of censure. The radicalism of persisting in kindness and love, in championing community and mutual aid. Marsha was known as a mother and saint to those around her. She never hesitated to give her last dollar away, to gift the clothes right off her back.

“It’s crucial to understand Marsha’s material and spiritual care of her friends not merely as an act of kindness or empathy, but as a powerful form of political activism.”

She knew the importance of food stability, health equality, and housing in bringing rights to the queer community. The intersection of poverty, ableism, racism, and transphobia was incredibly obvious to her. You couldn’t fix one without the other. So to see the ways the queer community disregarded, disrespected, and disowned her was infuriating. Even though Marsha is so honored today, it is important to recognize the shames of our past and also recognize that transphobia is still prevalent in our spaces today.

I appreciated the care Tourmaline took in mentioning the lasting mental harm of Marsha’s circumstances. I never knew there was debate over whether Marsha was even at Stonewall, and I think Tourmaline did a wonderful job addressing these discrepancies:

“The illusion of coherence in history begins to break down once you start to push… it’s a fool’s errand to try to define the undefinable. .. when we look back at this moment, we must resist the urge to capture it. To tame it. To put parameters on how we do and don’t talk about it. To only reinforce what we do know, and to discredit what we cannot know.”

These debates are superfluous and counterintuitive to the point of the riots. Marsha’s neurodivergence is touched on lightly, and how she often talked about her “computer” shutting down. With everything she had been through, her mind tried to protect itself often. The fallibility of memory is not the focus. Marsha led a life of resistance and activism, and whether she threw a brick or not is not what her legacy hinges on.

I loved looking through the pictures included in this book. Marsha’s love of fashion is emphasized fairly often and the pictures prove it. She looks absolutely fabulous and fierce, and you can see how much her spirit was displayed in her clothes. The importance of florals in her spirituality and appearance was fascinating to learn about. I was also loved learning about how much effort Marsha put into her protest/parade banners. Banners have such a unique role in various decades of social change and I’m happy that some of Marsha’s are still on display.

There is something so touching about being so beloved by everyone around you that your memory thrives for decades after you’re gone. To leave such a lasting impression on everyone you encountered that your legacy continues to grow. To still be a shinning light and a friend to those who never got to meet you. Marsha is someone we should all strive to be.

I think this is a great overview of Marsha P. Johnson and a nice entry into queer history. It’s on the shorter side, and the writing is fairly basic (at times a little choppy). It did tend to jump around chronologically at times, we often looped back to reiterate things already said. Or jumped forward without appropriate context. I do wish we got a little more background on other key figures in Marsha’s life. A lot of names were thrown around that I wasn’t familiar with. However, I learned a lot and I’m eager to do some independent research to learn more about her.

[GlitterWater79 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed to receive an advance review copy of this book, an extraordinary biography of Black trans revolutionary Marsha P. Johnson is exactly rhetorical book this world needs right now, and Tourmaline delivered exactly that with such deeply researched, profound and loving insight and care. I learned so much more about Marsha P. Johnson than I ever knew, while also receiving a layer of even deeper insight into why Marsha was cherished by so many throughout her life and why she resonates so powerfully in the decades since her death among people - like myself - who never knew her and yet always felt like we have.

The writing here is elegant. The story is at times whimsical and funny, and also heartbreaking and enraging, but always honest and humane. The book is wonderfully organized into chapters that illuminate some aspect of Marsha’s life from her youth and struggles in New York, to her artistry, activism, and abundance as aesthetic.

I can’t overstate how much I love this book. If I could gift it to every person out there wondering how we are to hold space to pursue justice and freedom acknowledging our rage and the need to agitate for the world we all deserve, and at the same time not lose site of joy as revolution, I would. I hope everyone will read this book and be transformed again and again for the better by Marsha’s enduring spirit.

And to whoever designed the cover, you did a wonderful job. It is gorgeous and just made me smile and encouraged me with its cheerful power every single time I saw it, and whenever people saw me reading the book they gravitated to me. The cover is magic and it should be framed.

Thank you, Tourmaline and Tiny Reparations for this incredible book. You have done Marsha, all Black trans and queer people, and biography as a genre extremely proud.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Honey, I don’t care if I never have nothing until the day I die, all I want is my freedom.”

Massive thanks to Tiny Reparations Books, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the aARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book made me burst into tears at the end and for me that doesn’t happen often. Marsha P. Johnson is a figure I knew bits and pieces about through documentaries and other media, but this is such a definitive, stunning biography about her life.

Marsha was a force. She was an activist before she knew it, being an integral part of the Stonewall riots that forced the LGBTQ+ community to the forefront of the culture at the time. But as important as she was, transgender people were being shunned from other gay and lesbian protests and groups. She was largely erased from the history and this book does an incredible job reminding everyone of how important she was.

It’s so amazing to read about her caring nature and how she took it upon herself to care for other queens and trans people. She was honest about her life, though it was still full of trauma. There are these amazing stories about her giving others her last dollars or making sure people in her community were fed or giving them her clothes. She took care of friends with AIDS back in a time where it wasn’t acknowledged by the government and hospitals didn’t want to offer any help. She was selfless and it shines in the stories told about her.

The chapter about her death is what made me emotional. People held her in such high regard and the words that were spoken about her were truly beautiful. It’s such a testament to her memory and everything she did in her life. I hope this book makes more people familiar with her and her impact of the LGBTQ+ community that still resonates today.

Just all the stars.

[juliette · Rating 5 out of 5]

saint marsha, i owe you so much

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

In Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha's book Care Work, they write in detail about the meaning of this kind of gendered disability labor: "Far too often the emotional labor work we do as femmes or feminine people is not seen as labor—it's seen as air. It's the little thing you do on the side. Not real organizing, not real work, just talking about feelings and buying groceries. Girl stuff. Femme stuff. Disabled and sick stuff, not real activist-holding-a-big-meeting stuff....Those things are not a sideline or an afterthought to our movements. They are our movements."

Marsha P. Johnson's one of those figures/topics that I've been accruing information via Tumblr about for the last five to ten years. To finally hold in my hands an official Marsha biography put together by authoritative figures of the trans Black community and their allies, then, is somewhat of a revelation. It's a deep sense of queer fruition that tempts one to speak of 'progress', but just as only a very small part of the world is allowed to truly exist in the 21st century, this work is a brick through a window of kyriarchy, not the straw that's tumbled the whole wall down. Indeed, the strongest aspect of this writing for me was the give and take of the history, where Marsha was at the forefront of both the good that came to be and the great that could have been had the usual shils not sold out and took the money trans women hustled for with one hand and shoved them down with the other. It's an old story, but it still hurts, and to have it presented authoritatively as an ongoing project worked on by those who are the true inheritors of Marsha's grace is no small amount of hope in this fucked up time.

Unlike the transformative politics from the first Gay Pride rally in 1970, the Christopher Street Liberation organizers of the 1973 pride wanted it to be a decidedly nonpolitical event. Rather than connecting rally participants with incarcerated queer people, the organizers chose to bolster gay consumer culture by leading the march to conclude at West Village bars.

Now, Luke, you ask, why the 3.5? Well, much as I trumpet about my autodidactic leanings, I did receive an Anglo university education on the ways of longform writing, and that was as smuch of a help as a hindrance with this piece. For this work cites a great many sources and ties together many a testimony, oral and archive, and a scholarly sense of how to effectively navigate such goes a long way. However, this piece also refrains from committing to definitives, from the events of Stonewall to the cut and dry of Marsha's mental health struggles, choosing instead to unabashedly project modern day subjects and topics, terms such as 'self care' and 'trans' being some of the more overt, into timeframes in a manner that academics would call out as anachronistic. It's an effective tool for putting the holism before the single author name on the cover and not effacing the community work that it took to forma cohesive life story out of shattering trauma and corroded timelines. However, it can also lead to a great deal of repetitiveness and empty paragraphs when the quantity of fact is stretched over too many pages.

[...] Gilead Sciences [is] the only provider in the US of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—a medication highly effective in preventing HIV replication[.] On July 22, 2023, The New York Times reported that Gilead had decided in 2003 to stop pursuing a new, less toxic HIV drug for patients' kidneys and bones. Instead, the company [...] delay[ed] the new drug's release in order to maximize its profits[.]

In short, this piece is a gift, but it isn't structured in accordance to the rubric I've imbibed from various ivory halls, a critique that is most assuredly part acceptable commentary, part status quo banhammer coming out of the mealy mouth of a good little white liberal. It's a contemplation that I hope readers of this biography take as seriously as they do the text itself, for Marsha embraced freedom long before freedom knew its name in this country, and to work on personal means of growth while paying tribute to her life, love and liberty, is one of the highest honors we can do her. Vital historical figure, extraordinary queer comrade, and cited up and down as one of the most loving and supportive human beings one could ever know. All in all, here's to you, Marsha. May your cup forever runneth over.

Marjorie Hill, representing New York City major David Dinkins, read a statement from the major at the funeral. She remarked on the day's rain, noting its significance in many African agricultural societies as a positive omen, suggesting, "When it rains on the day of a funeral it is a testimony to the life that person has lived." These words were met with thunderous applause.

[Victor Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marsha P. Johnson was an inspiring figure. She has very little recognition for her activism and historical importance - my opinion of RuPaul has dropped a little since I’ve watched at least 20 seasons of Drag Race and can’t recall a single mention of Marsha (but then again, it may be only my memory).
I learned of Marsha’s existence in 2020 watching the 2017 documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson and was anxious to know more about this incredible character of contemporary history. While I did learn a lot about Marsha, Stonewall, LGBTQ+ activism and history, I felt there were two aspects of the book that hampered my experience significantly.

The first is that Tourmaline paints a very messianic portrait of Marsha, almost as if she could do no wrong. I understand the potent admiration that the powerful Marsha exerts over a black trans author, and Tourmaline herself states in Chapter 8 that “I made this research firstly for me… I needed my hero to have a story.” It is a very understandable feeling, but at the same time makes for a very unidimensional portrait. Omitting, downplaying or turning into qualities what can be described as Marsha’s defects makes her less human - almost like reading about Jesus in the Bible. For all its historical importance, the Holy Book is hardly an exemple of good writing.

Possibly stemming from the same feeling is the fact that the book suffers from what I can call very questionable editing. I understand that as an author, researcher and admirer, Tourmaline wants to vomit all the vast quantity of information she gathered about her hero. But with a storytelling as linear as Roomba on a maze and with cuts as sharp as a Michael Bay fight scene, the result is that it’s very hard to absorb, enjoy and ponder about the history being told.

(This is a good moment to disclose that I listened to the audio version of the book. Hopefully reading the words printed does not cause the same effect).


It is common that historical context, Marsha’s actions, Marsha’s opinions and other people’s stories are mixed and resumed with faint connection. It goes something like this:

Something happens to Marsha, she gives an opinion, Tourmaline goes on a tangent about how life was for trans people at that time and place, another person gives a statement about what happened, Marsha gives another opinion, some raving compliment about Marsha’s generosity, another bad thing happens to her, context about another person, person enters the story, their relationship is described, we hear an opinion from Marsha that was present in at least two separate chapters. For me, it required constant going back on Audible because 2s of distraction could mean a travel in space and time. (I’m not joking, I started cutting a bagel while Marsha was in NY, had to focus on the task for a sec next thing I know lady is in LA during the Olympics).

I feel this book needed a very experienced editor who could have better organized this ocean of information. Because I feel like, even though I can feel the impact Marsha made in the life of trans people today, I didn’t retain much about her actual life. Between repetitions, perceived exaggerations and drastic changes in subject, I feel that the actual facts about her are somewhat drowned by the author’s love for her. And while I can try to put myself in Tourmaline’s shoes, the result for the reader is - in my opinion - underselling the great woman’s legacy. I don’t think that was the intention.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t just tell Marsha’s story, it honours her impact, her joy, and her refusal to be erased. It’s a powerful reminder of how one person’s defiance and love can shape generations to come.

[Shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to move forward today with more passion, kindness and ferocity in honor of Marsha.

This book goes into depth of Marsha’s life from her childhood in NJ, to hustling in Times Square, to standing up for herself and her community at Stonewall and beyond. We learn so much not only about Marsha’s life but also of her friends who were activists/icons in their own right.

The author does a great job at delving into what it was like to be young, broke and non gender confirming in that era of extreme prejudice in NYC. In this political environment it’s more important than ever to have a record of queer history and to keep the legacy of these queer activists alive.

[Book Riot Community]

This is one of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2025:

This is a deeply researched, definitive biography of transgender activist and artist Marsha P. Johnson. Written by the brilliant multi-hyphenate Tourmaline, this beautifully written book shows Marsha as a whole person, both before and after the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. Many people have heard that Marsha threw the first brick during the Stonewall Uprising, but few people know much beyond that. She was an artist and performer who toured outside of the U.S. She was a poet and muse and a fierce friend bursting with love. This book also includes some gorgeous photographs and is told with the care and reverence that Marsha’s story deserves.

- Patricia Elzie-Tuttle

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last chapter made we WEEP. Thank god Marsha existed.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I learned in this book is that I deeply admire Marsha P Johnson. She lived unapologetically and authentically while the world tried to suppress her. She took care of others and uplifted those that were also marginalized. I love that she saw beauty in everything while also doing her best to get by.

The book format just didn’t work for me. I found it repetitive and scattered. It also talked almost as much about Silvia Rivera, which is great, but I feel like this book should have been titled trans trail blazers and had chapters or parts that were dedicated to those individuals exclusively. I found myself lost a few times with the drastic scene changes and numerous characters/people too. This book tried to read like a story but it was poorly executed.

[Emily Scholer · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much queer history that I still don’t know and so much I found out from reading this. But Marsha being called one of the staple names in the Stonewall riots and as such a monumental figure in the community is incredible from the way that she treated others and her confidence in herself. I wish that we could’ve seen all the things that she would’ve done today as well but we are so blessed to have had her even for a while and her legacy is so large it carries for generations. She is a flower that will never wilt and live for eternity.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m rating this 5⭐️ not because it was an excellent book, but because it really opened my eyes to the disparities the LGBTQIA+ community have faced for decades and helped me learn about Marsha P. Johnson and her activism and influence. I had always heard of the name but was very unaware of Marsha’s background and history. This was a great educational book. I just wish people weren’t so awful to those whose lives don’t look like their own.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading this biography of Marsha P. Johnson and getting a sense of how she became who she was. My big regret was just that there wasn't more. I'm blaming that on a limited availability of sources and not on the writer. If you're at all curious about Marsha and the trans movement, you'll want to check this title out.

I received an electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.

[Naomi]

finished this today finally!!!

really thankful to have read this. Marsha was truly a remarkable person and we have much to learn from her. of note is the care and effort Tourmaline put into this novel and writing about Marsha. I appreciated the greater context that the author included; reading about the other people in Marsha's life was interesting and helped depict the "inner" life of Marsha.

orginally, I ranked this five stars, but it appears that unfortunately the author used AI to write some of the novel, which is really disappointing, and so I removed my rating. boooo AI usage.

except the AI usage, I believe this book honors Marsha's life and legacy well, and is worth the read

[Ella]

pay it no mind!

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had watched a documentary on Netflix awhile back and was intrigued by this interesting, colorful and amazing woman - so I just had to read this book. This book is a testament to someone that despite all the crap that life threw at her (and man was it a lot) she faced it all with her amazing smile. Although the majority of her life she went without, she always found a way to help others. Marsha is the epitome of the Billy Joel song "Only the good die young." The author truly gave Marsha her voice back in a way that she will be remembered for all that she did for her community and not the suspicions that continue to surround her untimely death even today. Brava! Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kerttu · Rating 1 out of 5]

[EDIT. Ilmeisesti isossa osassa tekstiä on käytetty tekoälyä. Hajanaisuus selittyneekin tällä. Tosi iso harmi, ja laskee kyllä arvosanan kolmesta tähdestä yhteen.]

En tiennyt Marsha P. Johnsonista juuri muuta kuin Stonewall-keissin. Oli ihanaa oppia enemmän hänestä ja pride-aktivismin alkuajoista.

Teos oli lämmöllä kirjoitettu mutta harmillisen hajanainen, ja ainakin äänikirjana oli välillä vähän hankalaa pysyä perässä. Hajanaisuus ehkä johtuu osin siitä, että Marshan elämästä ei ole aiemmin tehty näin perusteellista koontia, ja kaikkea ei ilmeisesti tiedetäkään - esimerkiksi Marshan kuolinolosuhteiden yksityiskohdat ovat spekulaation varassa. Kaikkinensa kuitenkin hyvä pride-kuukauden lukukokemus!

[Tate (booktimewithtate) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic, visually rich tribute to Marsha P. Johnson, celebrating her joy, resilience, and activism. Blending history with imagination, the book reclaims Marsha’s legacy through vibrant & heartbreaking storytelling. Tourmaline captures her spirit beyond tragedy, centering her as a visionary who dreamed of liberation.

It’s a powerful reminder of Black trans joy, survival, and the importance of collective care - and lord knows we need it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

standard biography review caveat: rating is NOT for Marsha’s life (god i wish this were obvious always), just this writing about it. Marsha herself is fascinating and lived a gorgeous complicated life, and I’m glad this book exists as a tribute. it’s definitely hagiographic, but also deeply repetitive, weirdly padded, and rather disorganized - not the definitive tribute Ms Marsha ultimately deserves.