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A Proper Young Lady
M/I/F Sweet Romance-
A woman with the complete form of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome might never discover that she has testes in her abdomen rather than ovaries and uterus. Danièle knows, and she grieves that she can never have her own children. She has a partial form of AIS that left her with ambiguous genitals, a steady stream of doctors and psychologists, and parents determined to see her happy as a girl.
After Melanie agrees to have a baby for her, Danièle learns that the clinic can extract sperm from her own gonadal biopsies, and she becomes the biological father herself.
Ethan adores the graceful young woman named Danièle, while Melanie imagines a life with the father of her children.
Danièle? She’s happy with her intersex body—somewhere between princess and little boy.
But in a black and white world, she must choose—once and for all—who she will be. And whom she will love.
A woman with the complete form of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome might never discover that she has testes in her abdomen rather than ovaries and uterus. Danièle knows, and she grieves that she can never have her own children. She has a partial form of AIS that left her with ambiguous genitals, a steady stream of doctors and psychologists, and parents determined to see her happy as a girl.
After Melanie agrees to have a baby for her, Danièle learns that the clinic can extract sperm from her own gonadal biopsies, and she becomes the biological father herself.
Ethan adores the graceful young woman named Danièle, while Melanie imagines a life with the father of her children.
Danièle? She’s happy with her intersex body—somewhere between princess and little boy.
But in a black and white world, she must choose—once and for all—who she will be. And whom she will love.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2015
5 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Lianne Simon
11 books171 followersLianne Simon’s father was a dairy farmer and an engineer, her mother a nurse. She grew up in a home filled with love and good books.
Tiny and frail, Lianne struggled physically, but excelled at her studies. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Miami, from which she graduated in 1973. Fond memories of her time there remain with her.
Some years later, after living in several states, and spending time abroad, Lianne settled in to the suburbs north of Atlanta, where she now lives with her husband and their cat.
While seeking answers to her own genetic anomalies, Lianne met a family whose daughter was born with one testis and one ovary. As a result of that encounter, she spent more than a decade answering inquiries on behalf of a support group for the parents of such children.
Lianne hopes that writing this book will, in some small way, contribute to the welfare of children born between the sexes.
Tiny and frail, Lianne struggled physically, but excelled at her studies. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Miami, from which she graduated in 1973. Fond memories of her time there remain with her.
Some years later, after living in several states, and spending time abroad, Lianne settled in to the suburbs north of Atlanta, where she now lives with her husband and their cat.
While seeking answers to her own genetic anomalies, Lianne met a family whose daughter was born with one testis and one ovary. As a result of that encounter, she spent more than a decade answering inquiries on behalf of a support group for the parents of such children.
Lianne hopes that writing this book will, in some small way, contribute to the welfare of children born between the sexes.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 19, 2015
A Proper Young Lady, Lianne Simon
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: New Adult Romance.
Well, I found this a really curious, odd story and the least odd thing about it was Daniele’s intersex. That I could and did accept happily, it was other parts of the story I found difficult to believe...
So we meet Daniele and Melanie. Their mums have been long time friends, and the girls grew up close to each other. Melanie spent some time living with Danièle and her family when her mum was very ill. They were then in their early teens and Danièle was still deciding who she was, and had decided to be Dani, a boy who Melanie fell in love with. Then something happens and the two are kept apart for the next five years.
Now they’re 19 and Daniele is engaged to Ethan and staying with Melanie and her family prior to some genital surgery to make her look more “female”. Its pretty major, removing her oversize clitoris/post and means she won’t have any feelings there – a huge loss...but she wants to feel “normal” for Ethan. Now they’re back together Melanie still loves Dani the boy that was, but accepts Danièle as who she is with all her extras. Seems she’s the only one though. Her parents ostensibly want her to choose, to be happy, but seem to see it has to be male or female, she can’t just be how she is and Daniele adores them and can feel her mum is happier when she’s a Proper Young Lady. That kind of pressure is insidious and all to real, doing what someone else wants just to please them.
We don’t see much of Ethan but I don’t like him, they met when she was in UK for a year at Uni, have only know each that long and somehow he’s become her fiancé, and he’s kind of bull dozing his way into her family. That's how it feels to me, he seems more interested in what can move his career forward than what's best for Daniele...He wants them to have a family and so Melanie agrees to be a surrogate for them – and there’s some hiccups in store there.
That’s where it kind of goes wrong for me. Its all happening at once, no long discussions, no real checking on family and histories and intentions. No legal meetings and checking they understand exactly what will happen. How could Melanie's mum be so happy about what was going on? Her daughter was getting broken hearted again and again and this would simply lead to more for her. What ethical Doctors or Psychologists would agree to IVF and surrogacy when the girls are still young – 19/20 ish, and there’s so much mixed history. They’ve not seen each other for five years and then, wham, all this?
Then later when more things happen – and I can’t explain without spoilers, but I just couldn’t see it being real. Its a shame because its an interesting potential story, and covered some really valuable points about sexuality, people who aren’t strongly male or female and perceptions of what is “normal”. Add on the subtle pressure from those who love you and should want what’s best, who can – even unwittingly – exert undue influence on a decision then its a real tragedy how some people have to live.
Stars:Three, its got a nice ending but all that happens to get to that point is just too much to believe in, not credible given the legalities and I just couldn’t take the story.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers
If you enjoyed my review I'd love it if you would please click “Like” and if you didn't I'd love to know why, so I can make future reviews more helpful.
November 30, 2015
I was given this book for an honest review.
This book was amazing. I fell in love with Dani and Melanie. This book educated and enlighten me. I am so proud of Dani to figure out who to be and what to do with life! Great choices made by all parties except maybe Dani’s mom.
I laughed and cried and was amazed with this story. Such strong characters with amazing strength. I cannot wait to read more from Lianne Simon.
This book is awesome! It should be read by everyone to help people understand the “real” struggles people have every day!
This book was amazing. I fell in love with Dani and Melanie. This book educated and enlighten me. I am so proud of Dani to figure out who to be and what to do with life! Great choices made by all parties except maybe Dani’s mom.
I laughed and cried and was amazed with this story. Such strong characters with amazing strength. I cannot wait to read more from Lianne Simon.
This book is awesome! It should be read by everyone to help people understand the “real” struggles people have every day!
August 23, 2020
I'm sure this was a very hard to book to write knowing what the content was about a lady born with both sexes. The struggle of being a woman or a man in this story follows a path of heartbreak and learning what's the most important thing in life. I found the journey incredible, knowing that their are really people out there that have to make this decision every day. I really found it a fascinating read.
February 7, 2019
It's shockingly queerphobic and the writing is awful. Would rate 0 stars if possible.
If you can recommend me a good book with an intersex MC, please do. Because this wasn't it.
If you can recommend me a good book with an intersex MC, please do. Because this wasn't it.
November 7, 2025
One of the most unromantic romances I've read in a while. Even by the end, I do not see an HEA let alone or two main characters in love. Instead, it's a weird, co-dependent bond between two people who cannot make up their minds and main and side characters who are oddly insensitive towards queer identities despite the male-female dichotomy being a major theme of the book. Like yes, it's clear some of their opinions are meant to be viewed as not-okay, but Danièle also spouts off some insensitive things and Melanie's entire hangup is just Danièle's gender (presentation).
Eliot was also such an off addition because while he's a bit douchey, there was more romantic potential there than Danièle had with Melanie. In my opinion, he says more correct things about Danièle's options than anyone else.
If this had not been marketed as a romance but as a contemporary, or, honestly, maybe even a horror book, my rating would be a little higher. It does have an interesting main character and lots of toxic relationships to explore. But it's not.
Eliot was also such an off addition because while he's a bit douchey, there was more romantic potential there than Danièle had with Melanie. In my opinion, he says more correct things about Danièle's options than anyone else.
If this had not been marketed as a romance but as a contemporary, or, honestly, maybe even a horror book, my rating would be a little higher. It does have an interesting main character and lots of toxic relationships to explore. But it's not.
November 11, 2019
Illuminating the complexities of gender identity
A eye opening reveal that shows the complications, conflicts, condemnations & consequences of existing in the constricted either/or gender classified society with an identity that doesn't conform to either category.
Thru the main perspectives of an intersex character with a forever friend struggling to decide & define who they are & want to be, we see that even the most love & awareness doesn't presu understanding, acceptance, accurately &/or fully reflects reality.
A eye opening reveal that shows the complications, conflicts, condemnations & consequences of existing in the constricted either/or gender classified society with an identity that doesn't conform to either category.
Thru the main perspectives of an intersex character with a forever friend struggling to decide & define who they are & want to be, we see that even the most love & awareness doesn't presu understanding, acceptance, accurately &/or fully reflects reality.
November 14, 2022
2.5 stars
March 10, 2016
3.5 stars
It seems rather apt given the difficult time the characters, more so Danièle experienced, that this is a difficult review to write. I don’t even really know where to start, but here goes.
While this isn’t the first story I’ve read with an intersex character, it is the first I’ve read that has gone so deeply into what exactly Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is. The author either has intimate knowledge about such things and/or did a mammoth amount of research. There are pages upon pages explaining it all. In fact, for a while I thought I’d picked up a medical journal. Which is to say, the story is very informative on that front.
I liked the addition of motorcycle riding, but as a bike rider found the amount of page time given on how to operate a clutch, throttle, brakes, gearshift, a little trite. Anyone wondering how those damn things work will love the detail! It was spot on. Likewise, those who like to know what the weather is doing on any given day will appreciate the many references to the sky, clouds and trees throughout.
So back to the story of Danièle and Melanie. The two are forced apart as young girls when Danièle’s parents and the doctors thought it would be best, as Danièle use to play the part of Daniel with Melanie when they acted out childhood dreams of marrying, which didn’t fit with Dani being raised as a girl.
The story progresses to her being flown out to have surgery so she can marry her male lover. The girls reconnect and Melanie discovers everyone has decided she should carry a baby for Danièle. This is where I had major issues with the story. There’s a lot of deception, with the garnering of sperm, people being led to believe one person had fathered the baby when in fact another had. While I appreciate this is fiction, on top of all the moral aspects, I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around any doctor agreeing to assist a young single female with IVF and surrogacy.
I never felt a true connection between the two main characters. Again everything seemed to be driven by manipulation. Melanie professed she didn’t care what sex Dani was but also declared she’d never marry a girl, not even her (Dani). The way she often referred to her as ‘the girl’ in dialogue added to my feeling of disconnect.
There’s the side story of Melanie’s mother and her battle with breast cancer, which I’m sure will pull at a few heartstrings.
The conclusion was a little odd to me, but I won’t get into that as what didn’t work for me is bound to resonate with others.
In summary, this is a fantastic story for anyone interested in learning more about AIS, and the plight someone with the condition has to go through to reach acceptance, not only within society but learning to be at peace within their own skin.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
It seems rather apt given the difficult time the characters, more so Danièle experienced, that this is a difficult review to write. I don’t even really know where to start, but here goes.
While this isn’t the first story I’ve read with an intersex character, it is the first I’ve read that has gone so deeply into what exactly Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) is. The author either has intimate knowledge about such things and/or did a mammoth amount of research. There are pages upon pages explaining it all. In fact, for a while I thought I’d picked up a medical journal. Which is to say, the story is very informative on that front.
I liked the addition of motorcycle riding, but as a bike rider found the amount of page time given on how to operate a clutch, throttle, brakes, gearshift, a little trite. Anyone wondering how those damn things work will love the detail! It was spot on. Likewise, those who like to know what the weather is doing on any given day will appreciate the many references to the sky, clouds and trees throughout.
So back to the story of Danièle and Melanie. The two are forced apart as young girls when Danièle’s parents and the doctors thought it would be best, as Danièle use to play the part of Daniel with Melanie when they acted out childhood dreams of marrying, which didn’t fit with Dani being raised as a girl.
The story progresses to her being flown out to have surgery so she can marry her male lover. The girls reconnect and Melanie discovers everyone has decided she should carry a baby for Danièle. This is where I had major issues with the story. There’s a lot of deception, with the garnering of sperm, people being led to believe one person had fathered the baby when in fact another had. While I appreciate this is fiction, on top of all the moral aspects, I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around any doctor agreeing to assist a young single female with IVF and surrogacy.
I never felt a true connection between the two main characters. Again everything seemed to be driven by manipulation. Melanie professed she didn’t care what sex Dani was but also declared she’d never marry a girl, not even her (Dani). The way she often referred to her as ‘the girl’ in dialogue added to my feeling of disconnect.
There’s the side story of Melanie’s mother and her battle with breast cancer, which I’m sure will pull at a few heartstrings.
The conclusion was a little odd to me, but I won’t get into that as what didn’t work for me is bound to resonate with others.
In summary, this is a fantastic story for anyone interested in learning more about AIS, and the plight someone with the condition has to go through to reach acceptance, not only within society but learning to be at peace within their own skin.
Copy provided in exchange for an honest review
March 10, 2016
*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
"Some important choices you only get to make one time, and they're done."
Danielle is an intersex person, she feels comfortable with what she is , has a normal life, a boyfriend with that she plans to marry in a few months, but everything starts to fall apart when she comes back to her old life to have a surgery for her female sex, besides her boyfriend starts to talk about having childrens so she proposes to talk with an old friend and ask her for help in that.
Melanie is an introvert girl and Danielle is one of her only friends, so when she comes back and ask Melanie for be the surrogate mother, she accepts it , but she doesn't know that Danielle is only telling one part of the truth about the fertilization
So when the boyfriend of Danielle knows the truth about the baby, he ends all the type of relationship with her, and Melanie runs away scared because she doesn't know who is the father of the baby if is not danielle's boyfriend.
So when Danielle explains all to Melanie everything starts to fall in his place, Danielle starts to feel that she needs to come back to be who she was in the past with Melanie to protect her and their baby... and Melanie realize that she never stopped to wait for Dani even if right now he is a woman and not the boy who made her all the promises.
But Danielle needs a paper that declares her a man, so in all the research of the truth she finds a birth certificate where she has the name of Danaidh, so with that she proves that she can marry Melanie and protect their child, despite the opinion of her family, and everyone, and after all… Danielle realizes that the only person who always love her with or not a surgery was Melanie... because Melanie always love her for the person who she was and not for her gender
The book is a bit slowly in the beginning but it gets better as it progresses , the book focus a lot in the difference in the sex and the gender of the people and how the society affect in that, and how the people receive a lot of pressure in decide what they want to be in their lives when they only need to be comfortable with who they are. it's a really good book, it deserves the chance to be read and i suppose that a little more in the end could have been good
"Some important choices you only get to make one time, and they're done."
Danielle is an intersex person, she feels comfortable with what she is , has a normal life, a boyfriend with that she plans to marry in a few months, but everything starts to fall apart when she comes back to her old life to have a surgery for her female sex, besides her boyfriend starts to talk about having childrens so she proposes to talk with an old friend and ask her for help in that.
Melanie is an introvert girl and Danielle is one of her only friends, so when she comes back and ask Melanie for be the surrogate mother, she accepts it , but she doesn't know that Danielle is only telling one part of the truth about the fertilization
So when the boyfriend of Danielle knows the truth about the baby, he ends all the type of relationship with her, and Melanie runs away scared because she doesn't know who is the father of the baby if is not danielle's boyfriend.
So when Danielle explains all to Melanie everything starts to fall in his place, Danielle starts to feel that she needs to come back to be who she was in the past with Melanie to protect her and their baby... and Melanie realize that she never stopped to wait for Dani even if right now he is a woman and not the boy who made her all the promises.
But Danielle needs a paper that declares her a man, so in all the research of the truth she finds a birth certificate where she has the name of Danaidh, so with that she proves that she can marry Melanie and protect their child, despite the opinion of her family, and everyone, and after all… Danielle realizes that the only person who always love her with or not a surgery was Melanie... because Melanie always love her for the person who she was and not for her gender
The book is a bit slowly in the beginning but it gets better as it progresses , the book focus a lot in the difference in the sex and the gender of the people and how the society affect in that, and how the people receive a lot of pressure in decide what they want to be in their lives when they only need to be comfortable with who they are. it's a really good book, it deserves the chance to be read and i suppose that a little more in the end could have been good
February 18, 2016
I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing I came to know about A Proper Young Lady was that it dealt with intersexuality, which I personally only saw (badly?) portrayed in MTV’s Faking It.(“Badly” as in "they put it out there but never developed that subplot", it’s an MTV show after all).
I was afraid, going into this book, that being intersex would be used as a label for the character in the same way that eating disorders or depression are used by some authors nowadays.
I must say, though, that I was pleasantly surprised by Lianne Simon in that she doesn’t hold back on details. She chose, instead, to accompany the reader through the journey Daniele is facing. And to develop the book switching POVs between Daniele’s and Melanie’s, so that the reader gets to experience the events fully.
In my opinion, this is a book about understanding that you can’t always live up to people’s expectations and ultimately about love, whether it’s about loving yourself for who you are or loving who you’re destinied to be with. It's about understanding that you don’t have to change to suit anyone’s expectations. And, although it’s not explicitly said using this term, it’s about genderfluidity.
All of these characters were problematic in one way or another (except for Cooper, he was just overall nice) and I didn’t particularly care for any of them , they never ask for you to like them though, they're supposed to be imperfect and to make mistakes, that's what makes the story interesting.
In conclusion, I feel like I have to tell you that, even though the book is labelled as a new adult, which is a genre I absolutely seem to dislike, it doesn't really feel like one. The main focus isn't "when are the two main characters gonna end up in bed" or anything like that. As I said, it is really just a book about intersexuality, love and understanding you don't need to conform to what society is telling you.
3.75/5
Would recommend.
The first thing I came to know about A Proper Young Lady was that it dealt with intersexuality, which I personally only saw (badly?) portrayed in MTV’s Faking It.
I was afraid, going into this book, that being intersex would be used as a label for the character in the same way that eating disorders or depression are used by some authors nowadays.
I must say, though, that I was pleasantly surprised by Lianne Simon in that she doesn’t hold back on details. She chose, instead, to accompany the reader through the journey Daniele is facing. And to develop the book switching POVs between Daniele’s and Melanie’s, so that the reader gets to experience the events fully.
In my opinion, this is a book about understanding that you can’t always live up to people’s expectations and ultimately about love, whether it’s about loving yourself for who you are or loving who you’re destinied to be with. It's about understanding that you don’t have to change to suit anyone’s expectations. And, although it’s not explicitly said using this term, it’s about genderfluidity.
All of these characters were problematic in one way or another (except for Cooper, he was just overall nice) and I didn’t particularly care for any of them , they never ask for you to like them though, they're supposed to be imperfect and to make mistakes, that's what makes the story interesting.
In conclusion, I feel like I have to tell you that, even though the book is labelled as a new adult, which is a genre I absolutely seem to dislike, it doesn't really feel like one. The main focus isn't "when are the two main characters gonna end up in bed" or anything like that. As I said, it is really just a book about intersexuality, love and understanding you don't need to conform to what society is telling you.
3.75/5
Would recommend.
April 13, 2016
Title: A Proper Young Lady
Author: Lianne Simon
Publisher: Faie Miss Press
ISBN: 978-0-9851482-2-5
Buy Link: http://www.faiemiss.com/2015/11/26/a-...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
A woman with the complete form of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome might never discover that she has testes in her abdomen rather than ovaries and uterus. Danièle knows, and she grieves that she can never have her own children. She has a partial form of AIS that left her with ambiguous genitals, a steady stream of doctors and psychologists, and parents determined to see her happy as a girl.
After Danièle's best friend and childhood crush agrees to have a baby for her, Danièle learns that the clinic can extract sperm from her own gonadal biopsies, and she becomes the father of Melanie's baby herself.
Ethan adores the graceful young woman named Danièle, while Melanie imagines a life with the father of her child. Danièle? She’s happy with her intersex body—somewhere between princess and little boy. But in a black and white world, she must choose—once and for all—who she will be. And whom she will love.
Summary:
I knew a little about Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, but this book opened my eyes about the emotional and physical difficulties that individuals who have AIS. As Danièle's story unfolded, the reader saw how others reacted to and treated Danièle's through her own eyes. It was sad how her parents and the doctors they sent her to were determined to make her into the girl they thought she should be. It wasn't until Danièle's and Melanie, a childhood friend, were reunited that Danièle knew that someone accepted her for herself. Seeing Danièle with her family and fiancé, it became obvious that they would accept her as long as she agreed to the surgical procedures to become a “real woman”. This book is important in bringing the issues that individuals with AIS deal with all their life. Allowing everyone to be who they are without forcing people into a “normative box” would be an important step towards acceptance for everyone.
Author: Lianne Simon
Publisher: Faie Miss Press
ISBN: 978-0-9851482-2-5
Buy Link: http://www.faiemiss.com/2015/11/26/a-...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
A woman with the complete form of Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome might never discover that she has testes in her abdomen rather than ovaries and uterus. Danièle knows, and she grieves that she can never have her own children. She has a partial form of AIS that left her with ambiguous genitals, a steady stream of doctors and psychologists, and parents determined to see her happy as a girl.
After Danièle's best friend and childhood crush agrees to have a baby for her, Danièle learns that the clinic can extract sperm from her own gonadal biopsies, and she becomes the father of Melanie's baby herself.
Ethan adores the graceful young woman named Danièle, while Melanie imagines a life with the father of her child. Danièle? She’s happy with her intersex body—somewhere between princess and little boy. But in a black and white world, she must choose—once and for all—who she will be. And whom she will love.
Summary:
I knew a little about Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, but this book opened my eyes about the emotional and physical difficulties that individuals who have AIS. As Danièle's story unfolded, the reader saw how others reacted to and treated Danièle's through her own eyes. It was sad how her parents and the doctors they sent her to were determined to make her into the girl they thought she should be. It wasn't until Danièle's and Melanie, a childhood friend, were reunited that Danièle knew that someone accepted her for herself. Seeing Danièle with her family and fiancé, it became obvious that they would accept her as long as she agreed to the surgical procedures to become a “real woman”. This book is important in bringing the issues that individuals with AIS deal with all their life. Allowing everyone to be who they are without forcing people into a “normative box” would be an important step towards acceptance for everyone.
December 7, 2015
Dani & Melanie's story
What say about this book??
As the blurb say Dani is a intersex girl she has AIS so she is both gender.
And she never felt complete male/female just with Melanie she acepted who she is.
But after five years apart Dani has a decision to make and prepares to her wedding with Ethan.
Also she sees her best friend and chilhood's crush again and she start to doubt about everything.
Dani has to make a cirurgy to "feel" normal like her parents and her fiancé want.
But she is a proper lady or not if she does not want to live like they wish??
What is the problem if she just want be herself and with her children and her best friend?
The major issue in this book was accepted who she really is. Besides the intersex plot
the book is more than that. Dani felt sheltered by her parents and the medies 'cause she
wants be both f/m and they believe she has to choose.
Dani give up somethings in her life but if someone or little people whom she love most
will she able to give up them??
Melanie is describe as tomboy girl and with more weight she is not beautiful but yes
she has something or sparkls that atract people to her like Dani.
Their friendship we have just climpse but they are very close. So many questions and what were
they feeling already love??
In some passages in the book Melanie was not into girls but to Danièle she accepts 'cause she
sees Dani as the boy who stole and broke her heart. Will she finally stop to run??
I really love how the author manage to touch us with some little phrases or touchs
btw them. Danièle was amazing and inomara to Melanie and her children.
this book was kind and light here we did not have rash feelings or that or leave it.
The both family of them added more charism to the story.
And some questions are made like:
Melanie's mother will see her grandchildren??
How will they live after??
Dani's family will finally accept her??
I really love this book and really touch me.
What say about this book??
As the blurb say Dani is a intersex girl she has AIS so she is both gender.
And she never felt complete male/female just with Melanie she acepted who she is.
But after five years apart Dani has a decision to make and prepares to her wedding with Ethan.
Also she sees her best friend and chilhood's crush again and she start to doubt about everything.
Dani has to make a cirurgy to "feel" normal like her parents and her fiancé want.
But she is a proper lady or not if she does not want to live like they wish??
What is the problem if she just want be herself and with her children and her best friend?
The major issue in this book was accepted who she really is. Besides the intersex plot
the book is more than that. Dani felt sheltered by her parents and the medies 'cause she
wants be both f/m and they believe she has to choose.
Dani give up somethings in her life but if someone or little people whom she love most
will she able to give up them??
Melanie is describe as tomboy girl and with more weight she is not beautiful but yes
she has something or sparkls that atract people to her like Dani.
Their friendship we have just climpse but they are very close. So many questions and what were
they feeling already love??
In some passages in the book Melanie was not into girls but to Danièle she accepts 'cause she
sees Dani as the boy who stole and broke her heart. Will she finally stop to run??
I really love how the author manage to touch us with some little phrases or touchs
btw them. Danièle was amazing and inomara to Melanie and her children.
this book was kind and light here we did not have rash feelings or that or leave it.
The both family of them added more charism to the story.
And some questions are made like:
Melanie's mother will see her grandchildren??
How will they live after??
Dani's family will finally accept her??
I really love this book and really touch me.
February 29, 2016
There’s something ridiculously charming and fun about this book.
Danièle is the main star, an intersex person initially identifying as female, but not without internal conflict. Melanie is her childhood friend, who loves her but is ambivalent about gender and sexuality. In the 90s we would call this ‘romantic friendship,’ blurring the lines of both. It’s very sweet. And it has that youthful desperation everything is Important feel that comes along with New Adult Fiction.
It’s unrealistic, plot-wise. There’s drama and lies and things happening way too fast—a sense of urgency, and like I said, Importance. If you’re not open to flights of fancy and a bit of soap in your opera, this will be trying. For me, I couldn’t put it down.
The intersex elements are medically sound, and forgive me, interesting. The novel ably confronts questions without answers—what does it mean to be a girl with testes? What does it mean to have a clitoris but not a vagina? What does it mean to be intersex? What does it mean to be heterosexual and yet love what feels like the wrong gender? The characters have good hearts, which is nice to read about. Everyone’s doing the best they can.
Ultimately, I feel Lianne could strive for greater heights in her writing. She could go so much deeper into these conflicted feelings, reveal something rawer, and be much bolder about her conclusions. What this novel lacks is relatable, human truth. She’s obviously a gifted author. I hope in future works she allows her characters to exist, without apology or justification, in the real world.
There’s something there. I want more.
Three stars
~ C. E. Case
I was provided this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated, coerced, or flattered into an opinion.
Danièle is the main star, an intersex person initially identifying as female, but not without internal conflict. Melanie is her childhood friend, who loves her but is ambivalent about gender and sexuality. In the 90s we would call this ‘romantic friendship,’ blurring the lines of both. It’s very sweet. And it has that youthful desperation everything is Important feel that comes along with New Adult Fiction.
It’s unrealistic, plot-wise. There’s drama and lies and things happening way too fast—a sense of urgency, and like I said, Importance. If you’re not open to flights of fancy and a bit of soap in your opera, this will be trying. For me, I couldn’t put it down.
The intersex elements are medically sound, and forgive me, interesting. The novel ably confronts questions without answers—what does it mean to be a girl with testes? What does it mean to have a clitoris but not a vagina? What does it mean to be intersex? What does it mean to be heterosexual and yet love what feels like the wrong gender? The characters have good hearts, which is nice to read about. Everyone’s doing the best they can.
Ultimately, I feel Lianne could strive for greater heights in her writing. She could go so much deeper into these conflicted feelings, reveal something rawer, and be much bolder about her conclusions. What this novel lacks is relatable, human truth. She’s obviously a gifted author. I hope in future works she allows her characters to exist, without apology or justification, in the real world.
There’s something there. I want more.
Three stars
~ C. E. Case
I was provided this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated, coerced, or flattered into an opinion.
November 19, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Three stars!
This story had so much potential. The overall story about Danièle’s journey with Melanie was interesting. However there just wasn’t the story development there could have been. There wasn’t much background for the characters and there were times when it would have helped. The emotions felt like they were missing and there was very little showing throughout the book. Almost completely all telling. Many times there wasn’t any logic for how the characters were acting.
I wasn’t a fan of Melanie for most of the story. She was supposed to be Dani’s best friend and champion but was constantly giving mixed signals. She accepts Dani the way she is but not really since she won’t date a girl. She’ll get physical with Dani but only wants the masculine Daniel to marry. She also came across as unfeeling for much of the book.
Dani is constantly making decisions based on what other people expect of her or her idea of what society says a woman should be. All of the things she’s told to do and be are just stereotypes and she follows along blindly without ever really saying what she wants. I loved that she finally stuck up for herself at the end and got what she ultimately wanted for her life. I did find it interesting how Dani describes the behavior of healthcare professionals and society affect those that are intersex. It was sad to read, but sadder still to realize it’s the truth for how many are still treated today.
Three stars!
This story had so much potential. The overall story about Danièle’s journey with Melanie was interesting. However there just wasn’t the story development there could have been. There wasn’t much background for the characters and there were times when it would have helped. The emotions felt like they were missing and there was very little showing throughout the book. Almost completely all telling. Many times there wasn’t any logic for how the characters were acting.
I wasn’t a fan of Melanie for most of the story. She was supposed to be Dani’s best friend and champion but was constantly giving mixed signals. She accepts Dani the way she is but not really since she won’t date a girl. She’ll get physical with Dani but only wants the masculine Daniel to marry. She also came across as unfeeling for much of the book.
Dani is constantly making decisions based on what other people expect of her or her idea of what society says a woman should be. All of the things she’s told to do and be are just stereotypes and she follows along blindly without ever really saying what she wants. I loved that she finally stuck up for herself at the end and got what she ultimately wanted for her life. I did find it interesting how Dani describes the behavior of healthcare professionals and society affect those that are intersex. It was sad to read, but sadder still to realize it’s the truth for how many are still treated today.
May 4, 2016
This story tells the romantic tale of two childhood sweethearts, the tomboyish Melanie, and her graceful, intersex lover, Danièle. (Danièle looks feminine, but produces sperm, and has no uterus to bear children herself.) Separated as teenagers, the two are reunited five years later when Danièle, now engaged to the ambitious Ethan, looks for a woman to serve as the surrogate mother for their children. After Melanie agrees to the role of surrogate, she conceives twins using in vitro. Little does she or Ethan know, however, that the sperm sample used to fertilize her eggs is not Ethan’s, but Danièle’s! When Ethan realizes the truth, he demands that the children be put up for adoption. Now, the same societal rules that originally tore Danièle and Melanie apart—rules that say people should be either male or female—threaten to rise again and compromise their happiness.
In addition to telling a very simple romance story, A Proper Young Lady also serves as a protest against the societal expectation that people classify themselves on a strict male/female basis. While the premise itself is interesting enough to drive the novel forward to a sweet, uplifting conclusion, the writing was neither rich nor compelling, which proved to be a disappointment. Readers looking for stories outside the mainstream, however, may find themselves interested. Since A Proper Young Lady belongs to the New Adult genre (meaning readers who are college-aged and a little older), I recommend it for readers ages 18 and up.
In addition to telling a very simple romance story, A Proper Young Lady also serves as a protest against the societal expectation that people classify themselves on a strict male/female basis. While the premise itself is interesting enough to drive the novel forward to a sweet, uplifting conclusion, the writing was neither rich nor compelling, which proved to be a disappointment. Readers looking for stories outside the mainstream, however, may find themselves interested. Since A Proper Young Lady belongs to the New Adult genre (meaning readers who are college-aged and a little older), I recommend it for readers ages 18 and up.
July 25, 2016
The story flowed in an easy manner I read it in about four and half hours. the story starts with two young children who promise to marry when they grow up. One child is from a wealthy family who's mother in protecting her child forces her child to sever ties. The other child is never given an explanation of the loss of a childhood friend. About five years pass and they are reunited but many changes have occurred that need explanation but on one level all appears normal. The children have grown into young adults with the wealthy young getting ready to marry her boy friend. Her friend misses their past connection but is happy for her friend. But part of the other girls body did not develop properly and since her fiance wants children which her body can not support she asks her friend to be a surrogate mother. She agrees and her friends father initiates the procedures needed to make the agreement legal. Suddenly many questions are asked but the answers only add to the complexity of the agreement, marriage, physical problems and parental concerns. The simple story is now very complex and further complexity is added by a motor accident and the missing person.
I thought the story held together very well and the ending was handled very well by the author vey well.
I thought the story held together very well and the ending was handled very well by the author vey well.
March 28, 2022
Je ne m’attendais pas à adorer ce livre, car je ne suis pas fan de romance New Adult, et si j’ai tenté l’aventure, c’est surtout par curiosité.
Le début était très troublant : le titre, l’attitude de Dani qui tient à poser correctement les couverts, porte des robes de soie, étudie les bonnes manières et s’apprête à se marier, me donnait l’impression que nous étions dans les années 1910. Mais non, il y a des portables, des motos, des avions. C’est un roman contemporain !
Le point de vue alterne entre Mélanie et Dani, deux amies d’enfance qui se retrouvent après cinq ans de séparation. Dani est intersexe, et elle demande à Mélanie de la soutenir durant l’opération pour « normaliser » son corps. Bien qu’elle-même soit tout à fait à l’aise avec son genre et son corps, elle veut faire plaisir à ses parents et son fiancé Ethan.
Ethan souhaitant avoir des enfants au plus vite, Dani demande à Mélanie de les porter, ce qu’elle accepte aussitôt. Et comme à l’époque on connait mal les personnages – on ignore, par exemple, que Mélanie a toujours rêvé d’avoir des enfants – c’était super perturbant qu’il n’y ait aucune hésitation ou discussion.
La suite de mon avis : https://elainevker.com/blog/2022/03/2...
Le début était très troublant : le titre, l’attitude de Dani qui tient à poser correctement les couverts, porte des robes de soie, étudie les bonnes manières et s’apprête à se marier, me donnait l’impression que nous étions dans les années 1910. Mais non, il y a des portables, des motos, des avions. C’est un roman contemporain !
Le point de vue alterne entre Mélanie et Dani, deux amies d’enfance qui se retrouvent après cinq ans de séparation. Dani est intersexe, et elle demande à Mélanie de la soutenir durant l’opération pour « normaliser » son corps. Bien qu’elle-même soit tout à fait à l’aise avec son genre et son corps, elle veut faire plaisir à ses parents et son fiancé Ethan.
Ethan souhaitant avoir des enfants au plus vite, Dani demande à Mélanie de les porter, ce qu’elle accepte aussitôt. Et comme à l’époque on connait mal les personnages – on ignore, par exemple, que Mélanie a toujours rêvé d’avoir des enfants – c’était super perturbant qu’il n’y ait aucune hésitation ou discussion.
La suite de mon avis : https://elainevker.com/blog/2022/03/2...
January 5, 2016
Back in November 2012 I reviewed Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite by Lianne Simon. It touched my heart. When the author asked if I would review a Proper Young Lady of course I said yes.
This book will tug at your heart strings as Danielle or Daniel as Melanie prefers to think of her are forced into lifestyles that biologically they are not truly prepared for. Separated for five years by their parents neither has forgotten the promise to marry and live happily ever after--Danielle is in a bad motorcycle accident and the fiance her parents want her to marry tries once again to win her back--A Proper Young Lady
This book will tug at your heart strings as Danielle or Daniel as Melanie prefers to think of her are forced into lifestyles that biologically they are not truly prepared for. Separated for five years by their parents neither has forgotten the promise to marry and live happily ever after--Danielle is in a bad motorcycle accident and the fiance her parents want her to marry tries once again to win her back--A Proper Young Lady
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March 29, 2016A PROPER YOUNG LADY is a touch story of the complex life of an individual with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, born intersex. Dani has so much pressure from all sides: her parents, her best friend Melanie, and her fiancé to be something they each wanted, instead of just being Dani. I felt for Dani and wanted her to have a happy ending of her own choosing. The story shows how much society doesn’t accept what it doesn’t understand. The romance between Dani and Melanie was sweet and tender, bringing peace into their lives. It’s obvious the author has completed a huge amount of research on Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome and/or has a personal connection to someone with this condition.
February 8, 2016
Although this novel deals with difficult issues, being intersex and other problems incidental to it, the story is not too heavy, so it's easy to read. However, it shows you many serious problems that could happen if you or your important person were intersex, and they make you think about them deeply.
This book is categorized as NA, but I think it should be read by adults as well. It educated me so much.
According to the author's profile, she was intersex. That's why she can write such a believable story and describe mixed feelings well.
It was fun and worth to read.
(I received this book for an honest review.)
This book is categorized as NA, but I think it should be read by adults as well. It educated me so much.
According to the author's profile, she was intersex. That's why she can write such a believable story and describe mixed feelings well.
It was fun and worth to read.
(I received this book for an honest review.)
April 15, 2016
This was a very interesting and enlightening book to read. I really liked the overall plot and idea of the story, since it's something I have never read about before and it really opened my eyes. A very unique storyline for sure! Dani and Melanie's characters were great as well. I was drawn to their characters and the story from the first page and I recommend this book to everyone. I think a lot of readers would enjoy this book a lot!
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