Breakdown: Alexander becomes Zandra

by Adrienne Nash

Breakdown. Alexander's parents have died in a mysterious car crash in the Alps. Alex, already in a poor psychological state, repressed, and self-harming has had a breakdown. What makes things worse is that his father was on the verge of bankruptcy and leaves no estate. Alex is left penniless. He has left university where he studies fashion and stays with his eccentric aunt and uncle. He realises that he needs to resume his education and be with younger people and his old friend Gemma offers him a room in the house she shares with two other girls. Alex meets the perceptive, rich and exciting Jacqueline and his life will never be the same again. Jacqueline sees right through him and soon Alex has become Zandra but not everyone can cope with the change.

Genres: Transgender

314 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2015

Reviews

[Amy Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT because I'm talking about the last part of the book.

I'd actually give this 4.5 stars because this story was rocking and had me all the way in until the last 20% or so, when the focus shifted a bit, largely losing one of the main characters and the person who was the center of the start of the story.

As a woman of trans experience, the trans stuff feels pretty spot on. But the story is presented in the frame of the relationship between the two main characters. One kind of disappears in the end—and that left me feeling flat. The events felt true enough though.

[John delamore]

Zandra and Jacqueline

A brilliant storyline and a great transgender novel,the main characters are well portrayed and even the lesser characters are very well explained and portrayed. The main story of Alex transformation to Zandra the girl he should be is very interesting and has many aspects of a real transsexual journey include abuse and ignorance of others. Her relationship with Jacqueline and her family is really wonderful and so emotional. A great read and one I would definitely read again.

[David Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Brill

Adrienne Nash writes wonderful and loving books this is another one. Alex a depressed boy is asked to join three girls in an apartment. One of the girls is Jacqueline rich and taking drama. She quickly takes Alex and creates Zandra a transgendered new girl. Zandra finds new ideas for her fashion class and a job as a waitress. The story let's us follow her troubles and how she grows as a girl. There is happiness, joy, and sadness so read and love this story.

[Jennifer Reaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. I have grown to like the author as her writing has gotten better.

[Anne Mouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well written and enjoyable story. When we first meet Alex he is pretty much at the bottom of a pit of despair. He is staying with his Aunt after his parents were killed in a car accident and then it was found that, having seemed very rich, his father had been less than honest and there was basically nothing left.
Alex accepted an off from his former school friend to move in with her and two other female students. When he arrives and meets Jacqueline his life is turned upside down and it turns out his dream of being a woman is maybe not so far away. Of course the way Alex is living as Zandra in a week is pretty far-fetched, but that's all right as it is largely a very happy story that made me smile a lot of the time and ensures I will be reading more of this author's stories very soon.