What do you think?
Rate this book
Reverse Tomboy
Naomi Soloveitchik has taken the first steps towards medical transition and with them, the womanhood she hopes to embody. However, she does not really understand what that means for her relationships, both to friends and lovers, but also to her own body. She wrestles with the more masculinized forms of womanhood she had admired and aspired to all her life, asking herself if it is possible for a trans woman to be that kind of woman. As she attempts to find her body and her body’s place in this new, exciting, and at points terrifying world she encounters a cast of characters both from her immediate past, who haunt her and leave her wondering what their roles served to do to her, and new ones who she must learn if she can trust enough to love.
In addition to the central story, also included are a small collection of poems and a brief essay on trans femme butch identity.
Praise for Reverse Tomboy
“Sweet, poignant, and achingly honest, Reverse Tomboy is a gorgeously-sketched portrait of trans loneliness and pleasure.”
- Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt, Cuckoo, and Black Flame
“Reverse Tomboy opens with a moment of ekphrasis, in the whelming domestic soundscape of a laundromat, in a perfectly mundane and usual scene of dissociation and the impossibility of reading another sentence when there's so much stuff to process right in front of you; Naomi's thoughts travel, as she lovingly side-eyes rituals of youth, of second puberty, of too-small dating scenes, and undergoes less a journey of 'transition' than a journey of 'ease,' to learn leisure. An extremely personable writing voice, with moments of various joy — overwhelming joy, a stopping joy, a we-must-sit-in-this-joy — cut against usual romantic woes and the sense a fuller life, a social life, can lead to total ease, the opportunity to be newly still. Allusive and sweet and insightful with no caricature bogeymen or manufactured hand-wringing necessary, as AA brings an incredible millesimal fineness to bear on the Bildungsroman to fill out its every nook and cranny instead. In turns light as Hemingway and as funny and sharp as Torrey Peters, Reverse Tomboy is a remarkably brisk and exacting novel of small and sure steps toward grace in the garden of untamed harmony that is made by trans people alive and well in the public sphere.”
- Benjamin C. Dugdale, author of The After Saint Pol Roux
“Reverse Tomboy offers an intimate exploration of the lives of trans people today. Following in the footsteps of Leslie Feinberg's Stone Butch Blues and Imogen Binnie's Nevada, Autogyniphiles Anonymous shares a semi-autobiographical narrative of how one becomes oneself. Wedged in the intersection of trans literature and philosophy, readers won't be able to put down the hilariously scathing — and satisfying — critique of the gender roles our society still clings to.”
- Eli Erlick, author of Before Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850-1950
In addition to the central story, also included are a small collection of poems and a brief essay on trans femme butch identity.
Praise for Reverse Tomboy
“Sweet, poignant, and achingly honest, Reverse Tomboy is a gorgeously-sketched portrait of trans loneliness and pleasure.”
- Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt, Cuckoo, and Black Flame
“Reverse Tomboy opens with a moment of ekphrasis, in the whelming domestic soundscape of a laundromat, in a perfectly mundane and usual scene of dissociation and the impossibility of reading another sentence when there's so much stuff to process right in front of you; Naomi's thoughts travel, as she lovingly side-eyes rituals of youth, of second puberty, of too-small dating scenes, and undergoes less a journey of 'transition' than a journey of 'ease,' to learn leisure. An extremely personable writing voice, with moments of various joy — overwhelming joy, a stopping joy, a we-must-sit-in-this-joy — cut against usual romantic woes and the sense a fuller life, a social life, can lead to total ease, the opportunity to be newly still. Allusive and sweet and insightful with no caricature bogeymen or manufactured hand-wringing necessary, as AA brings an incredible millesimal fineness to bear on the Bildungsroman to fill out its every nook and cranny instead. In turns light as Hemingway and as funny and sharp as Torrey Peters, Reverse Tomboy is a remarkably brisk and exacting novel of small and sure steps toward grace in the garden of untamed harmony that is made by trans people alive and well in the public sphere.”
- Benjamin C. Dugdale, author of The After Saint Pol Roux
“Reverse Tomboy offers an intimate exploration of the lives of trans people today. Following in the footsteps of Leslie Feinberg's Stone Butch Blues and Imogen Binnie's Nevada, Autogyniphiles Anonymous shares a semi-autobiographical narrative of how one becomes oneself. Wedged in the intersection of trans literature and philosophy, readers won't be able to put down the hilariously scathing — and satisfying — critique of the gender roles our society still clings to.”
- Eli Erlick, author of Before Lost Stories from Trans History, 1850-1950
118 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2025
7 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Read
September 9, 2025auto anon is one of my favorite accounts of all time + the essay featured is an encapsulation of her incredible nuance and writing. that being said reverse tomboy wasn't my cup of tea. it reminded me of Nevada in many ways which is to say very insightful and sparce. im glad i read this novel but it wasn't for me.
September 30, 2025
never bought a just-released book this quick. beautiful prose, stylish poems and an insightful essay with so many good points. also new trivia knowledge about hemingway, gotta read some of her books now
August 13, 2025
Finally, some longform work from one of the best memesmiths around! Quick-witted, direct, real, had me vacillating from feeling seen to feeling attacked (in the best way). There's a lot to love about this short text, but for me, seeing a transfem person successfully negotiating a meaningful, loving relationship with her dad was especially moving. More please!
September 17, 2025
A short and intense novel, poetry to ruminate over, and a compelling essay to finish it off.
Naomi was an eerily relatable protagonist, and I loved the experience of reading this book.
Naomi was an eerily relatable protagonist, and I loved the experience of reading this book.
November 11, 2025
3.5 stars
What a delightful book to read about the masculinity of trans femininity. Anon’s semi autobiographical novel takes you through the journey many trans women (including me) go through of being told to embrace femininity when masculinity, being a tomboy for Naomi and a butch for myself, has always rested inside the soul. While the length was shorter than I would have liked, I cannot deny that this book was gripping and a peak into trans femininity that many authors have refused to discuss.
What a delightful book to read about the masculinity of trans femininity. Anon’s semi autobiographical novel takes you through the journey many trans women (including me) go through of being told to embrace femininity when masculinity, being a tomboy for Naomi and a butch for myself, has always rested inside the soul. While the length was shorter than I would have liked, I cannot deny that this book was gripping and a peak into trans femininity that many authors have refused to discuss.
August 24, 2025
I find it rare to sincerely relate to fictional characters. Reverse Tomboy is a reminder that stories are meant to connect to human souls. Naomi touched my heart in a way no other character has before. Her navigation of the social gendering encounter alongside reconciliation with her own preferences in expression cut me deep. The blue collar farmgirl, interested in a career in arbory, 2010s corporate male emo fashion lover in me feels seen by this novel. thx!!! <3
July 18, 2025
Very modernist prose, feels like it was written in the 1960s at times but in a good way. Managed to be deeply honest and gut wrenching about what transition is like. Only real complaint is that it's too short. I wanted more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews