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My Name is Philippa
Within these pages Philippa offers answers to many questions, genuinely, to understand what it means to be transgender. She describes the physical as well as the emotional process of transition.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2021
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36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 7, 2026
This memoir is a moving and honest account of the experience of a transgender woman in Ireland, written with warmth, courage, and clarity. The author captures the complexities of identity, family, and belonging with a voice that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Grounded in everyday Irish life, the story educates without preaching and resonates long after the final page. A powerful and essential read.
July 10, 2022
This is a touching and beautifully-written book.
At times harrowing to read it tells the story of a close family dealing with major change, coming out the other side like a butterfly from a chrysalis.
At times harrowing to read it tells the story of a close family dealing with major change, coming out the other side like a butterfly from a chrysalis.
December 29, 2021
A very emotional book, I recognized myself in parts of it, and bawled my eyes out at others, can only highly appreciated it
November 29, 2021
A very frank and honest account of Philippa's transition to the gender she was meant to be. It doesn't shy away from some very challenging issues and will, in my opinion, provide much comfort and guidance to others who find themselves on the same or similar journey. It is also, essentially, a love story, and one I found deeply moving, the more so as I know the people concerned.
August 4, 2022
I could not recommend this book enough. Philippa is an amazing woman who does so much for the LGBTQ+ community. This is the first book I've read that gives such an in depth, fly on the wall view of a family and an individual dealing with transitioning. I finished the book with tears in my eyes. Buy the book, you won't regret it.
December 22, 2023
My Name Is Philippa Ryder is the warm and honest retelling of Philippa Ryder’s journey through her transition which shows her many struggles, her ferocious tenacity and above all how with the constant love and support she flourished into the amazing woman she is today.
Philippa’s story within these pages is an absolute education in the most enlightening sense of the word. With open arms Philippa welcomed the reader into every nook and cranny of her life regardless of whether it shone a good reflection or not.
I truly believe Philippa’s honesty is where the success of this book and indeed her story lies. At no point does she portray the road she went down as the easy, pretty or indeed flawless choice. She discusses the many failings within the system (or lack thereof), the rollercoaster of a process involved in transitioning and indeed some personal moments which others might shirk at, with integrity and veracity.
She continues this education while discussing her experience of the Gender Recognition Act and Marriage Equality Referendum. Her own lived experience of both of these momentous occasions within Irish history truly is worth a thousand news articles and headlines.
Philippa offers the reader a spectrum of emotion throughout the book and lets us see into those confusing moments she experienced as a child right through to the disgust and frustration she experienced during situations as an adult. However, the overwhelming emotions bubbling through these pages are that of love and relentless hope.
While there are aspects of this book which are heavy there is a warmth pervading each page and an overwhelming sense of fun fizzing throughout that will keep you hooked and enamoured right until the very last page.
Thanks to @deirdrerobertsbooks and @mercierpressbooks for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review and apologies for sleeping on the review. The ones I enjoy most often take me the longest to write!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
Philippa’s story within these pages is an absolute education in the most enlightening sense of the word. With open arms Philippa welcomed the reader into every nook and cranny of her life regardless of whether it shone a good reflection or not.
I truly believe Philippa’s honesty is where the success of this book and indeed her story lies. At no point does she portray the road she went down as the easy, pretty or indeed flawless choice. She discusses the many failings within the system (or lack thereof), the rollercoaster of a process involved in transitioning and indeed some personal moments which others might shirk at, with integrity and veracity.
She continues this education while discussing her experience of the Gender Recognition Act and Marriage Equality Referendum. Her own lived experience of both of these momentous occasions within Irish history truly is worth a thousand news articles and headlines.
Philippa offers the reader a spectrum of emotion throughout the book and lets us see into those confusing moments she experienced as a child right through to the disgust and frustration she experienced during situations as an adult. However, the overwhelming emotions bubbling through these pages are that of love and relentless hope.
While there are aspects of this book which are heavy there is a warmth pervading each page and an overwhelming sense of fun fizzing throughout that will keep you hooked and enamoured right until the very last page.
Thanks to @deirdrerobertsbooks and @mercierpressbooks for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review and apologies for sleeping on the review. The ones I enjoy most often take me the longest to write!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
December 21, 2021
A very compelling read. When it arrived I picked it up to skim the first few pages before doing some work. Four hours later I put it down. Engaging writing style and an open and very sensitively told tale of love. Well worth your time.
July 18, 2022
An incredible story and a must read. It's rare to come across a book so refreshingly honest and personal. I laughed and cried along with it. You cannot help but be moved as Philippa brings you along with her journey in such an open and honest manner. I would highly recommend that everyone read this book and no doubt it will give hope to many in similar situations.
November 19, 2021
Blurb: "My Name is Philippa is a remarkable memoir, and above all, a story about love, understanding and a family who stuck together despite huge challenges as Philippa moved from being a husband and father to being a wife and mother".
Well, this is probably the most open account of a transgender transition journey that I have ever read. In the pages of her memoir, Philippa takes us from intimate childhood moments of curiosity and shame to adult moments of fear, courage, and eventually, freedom. It wasn't until in her 30s when Philippa realised that what she had been feeling most of her life was not as abnormal as she thought.
I really commend Philippa for her honesty in this book. There were a few moments which did not show the author in the best light but they really helped to paint the bigger picture of how the transition journey has an impact on all of the people in the transgender person's life. The story of Philippa's marriage to her wife Helen was so intimate and beautiful to read as it developed over the years, and the word 'soulmate' comes to mind when I reflect on what I read of their relationship, as it went through all of the ups and downs over the years.
I always love reading books that are set in Dublin, and Philippa brought the streets of Dublin to life when describing some of her adventures over the years when exploring her identity. It was also refreshing to hear about the acceptance of her colleagues in the Civil Service as she went through her transition, which is not something that all trans people get the privilege of having.
Finally, I appreciated how honest Philippa was in detailing the male-to-female transition operation. This is something I have NEVER seen shared in any media I've seen about transitioning, and as a cis person, it opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn't thought about before.
I really think this is one of those books that you can pass on to anyone in your life, and is one I'll definitely be recommending to friends and family.
Thanks to @deirdrerobertsbooks for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Well, this is probably the most open account of a transgender transition journey that I have ever read. In the pages of her memoir, Philippa takes us from intimate childhood moments of curiosity and shame to adult moments of fear, courage, and eventually, freedom. It wasn't until in her 30s when Philippa realised that what she had been feeling most of her life was not as abnormal as she thought.
I really commend Philippa for her honesty in this book. There were a few moments which did not show the author in the best light but they really helped to paint the bigger picture of how the transition journey has an impact on all of the people in the transgender person's life. The story of Philippa's marriage to her wife Helen was so intimate and beautiful to read as it developed over the years, and the word 'soulmate' comes to mind when I reflect on what I read of their relationship, as it went through all of the ups and downs over the years.
I always love reading books that are set in Dublin, and Philippa brought the streets of Dublin to life when describing some of her adventures over the years when exploring her identity. It was also refreshing to hear about the acceptance of her colleagues in the Civil Service as she went through her transition, which is not something that all trans people get the privilege of having.
Finally, I appreciated how honest Philippa was in detailing the male-to-female transition operation. This is something I have NEVER seen shared in any media I've seen about transitioning, and as a cis person, it opened my eyes to a lot of things I hadn't thought about before.
I really think this is one of those books that you can pass on to anyone in your life, and is one I'll definitely be recommending to friends and family.
Thanks to @deirdrerobertsbooks for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2021
Full disclosure. I have known the author for many years. We have been great friends for most of our lives and I am very honoured to have had a minor part in her amazing story.
This is the very opposite of a heavy read. It doesn’t bombard you with terminology or lecture you in any way. It is just a gentle and deeply human story of one father in a loving family slowly discovering who they are, propelling both them and their family on a very difficult journey. At times it seems like an impossible situation as Phillippa is trying desperately to be true to both her family and herself at the same time. It's a story of love and frustration, of hope and perseverance, of denial and strife and ultimately of acceptance.
It is not overly graphic but it is very honest - even on occasion portraying the author in a less than favourable light. Depending on how deeply you get involved, you might shed a tear at times but there is more fun than sadness in these pages. For Phillippa tackles every challenge with zest and good humour, only rarely becoming downhearted and this makes for a compelling journey for the reader as well.
And in the background of Phillippa's story is the bigger story of a very traditional and conservative Ireland slowly becoming more open minded and diverse and frankly more interesting, with a nudge or two from the author along the way.
I suspect that for those on their own voyage of transition, this tale will bring hope that despite all the turbulence, there is a good chance of safe harbour ahead.
But if you, like me, have a conventional gender identity and you don’t have a trans person in your life, I think you will still find this a very compelling read. It will get you beyond caricature and rhetoric to get some feel for what it might be like to be trans from the inside; to feel like you were born into the wrong body. The amount that Phillppa and others like her have to endure in order to be true to themselves certainly puts the lie to this being merely a “life-style choice”.
Both the author and I have been great fans of Star Trek, so it seems right to give Spock the last word: “fascinating”.
This is the very opposite of a heavy read. It doesn’t bombard you with terminology or lecture you in any way. It is just a gentle and deeply human story of one father in a loving family slowly discovering who they are, propelling both them and their family on a very difficult journey. At times it seems like an impossible situation as Phillippa is trying desperately to be true to both her family and herself at the same time. It's a story of love and frustration, of hope and perseverance, of denial and strife and ultimately of acceptance.
It is not overly graphic but it is very honest - even on occasion portraying the author in a less than favourable light. Depending on how deeply you get involved, you might shed a tear at times but there is more fun than sadness in these pages. For Phillippa tackles every challenge with zest and good humour, only rarely becoming downhearted and this makes for a compelling journey for the reader as well.
And in the background of Phillippa's story is the bigger story of a very traditional and conservative Ireland slowly becoming more open minded and diverse and frankly more interesting, with a nudge or two from the author along the way.
I suspect that for those on their own voyage of transition, this tale will bring hope that despite all the turbulence, there is a good chance of safe harbour ahead.
But if you, like me, have a conventional gender identity and you don’t have a trans person in your life, I think you will still find this a very compelling read. It will get you beyond caricature and rhetoric to get some feel for what it might be like to be trans from the inside; to feel like you were born into the wrong body. The amount that Phillppa and others like her have to endure in order to be true to themselves certainly puts the lie to this being merely a “life-style choice”.
Both the author and I have been great fans of Star Trek, so it seems right to give Spock the last word: “fascinating”.
October 21, 2021
“My Name is Philippa” is a beautiful story of ‘becoming’, told from the heart of a very special lady. This is a story of love, life, truth and optimism. The memoir is a joy to read, very engaging, sometimes poignant, and deeply honest, as Philippa draws the reader in to her extremely personal and private experience.
This book tells a wonderful story which will lift the spirits of the many who will read it. It will give hope and encouragement to those who may be on a similar pathway. Philippa moved very slowly and patiently, over several years, through transition, in an attempt to bring all those in her quality world with her along the journey. She is an inspiration and it is a pleasure and privilege to be her friend.
The elegance with which she tells her story evoked within me a deeply emotional response. This is a book for everyone. It may be the memoir of a transgender woman but everyone who reads it will feel a sense of connection because at some point in their own lives, they will have felt the same emotions as, or thought similar thoughts to, Philippa.
“My Name is Philippa” is a perfect length but it will leave you wanting to read more, knowing there is more to learn about this trail-blazing woman. The world needs more books written by people living their ordinary lives but who go through so much to become their whole and true self.
The words, “Mná na hÉireann”, spoken by our former president, Mary Robinson, come to mind when I think of the strength of Philippa’s character and the unwavering determination that brought her through this incredible story which she has shared with us so vividly in “My Name is Philippa”.
This book tells a wonderful story which will lift the spirits of the many who will read it. It will give hope and encouragement to those who may be on a similar pathway. Philippa moved very slowly and patiently, over several years, through transition, in an attempt to bring all those in her quality world with her along the journey. She is an inspiration and it is a pleasure and privilege to be her friend.
The elegance with which she tells her story evoked within me a deeply emotional response. This is a book for everyone. It may be the memoir of a transgender woman but everyone who reads it will feel a sense of connection because at some point in their own lives, they will have felt the same emotions as, or thought similar thoughts to, Philippa.
“My Name is Philippa” is a perfect length but it will leave you wanting to read more, knowing there is more to learn about this trail-blazing woman. The world needs more books written by people living their ordinary lives but who go through so much to become their whole and true self.
The words, “Mná na hÉireann”, spoken by our former president, Mary Robinson, come to mind when I think of the strength of Philippa’s character and the unwavering determination that brought her through this incredible story which she has shared with us so vividly in “My Name is Philippa”.
August 23, 2022
what a wonderful book! a deep look inside a difficult, but wonderful life, I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in 3 sittings!
reading through the pages brought back many episodes and struggles of my own life. I'm fortunate to have met Philippa at that first TGEU meeting, and, being the same age, we lived through more or less the same experiences. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a little insight on a transgender person's life. like Philippa said many times throughout the book, all we want is to be free to live our life.
reading through the pages brought back many episodes and struggles of my own life. I'm fortunate to have met Philippa at that first TGEU meeting, and, being the same age, we lived through more or less the same experiences. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a little insight on a transgender person's life. like Philippa said many times throughout the book, all we want is to be free to live our life.
October 19, 2021
'We felt alive, energised and optimistic, so totally in love and looking forward to the future, together.'
An honest telling of a life lived to the absolute fullest! A romance that has stood the test of time! And a journey that is as fun as it is inspirational!
An honest telling of a life lived to the absolute fullest! A romance that has stood the test of time! And a journey that is as fun as it is inspirational!
December 31, 2022
A deeply moving and honest memoir that brought me to tears a few times. How far a little bit of acceptance can go and help... The final words are staying in my mind and heart as well.
November 13, 2023
I read memoirs for perspective and wow what in incredible perspective. This story is both challenging and full of love. The story is powerful and I think it offers quite a lot to someone who may not have considered all that transitioning could entail both physically and emotionally. Jackie Meloche is a good narrator and fills the words with heart. I think my only complaint is that I do wish a tiny bit that the narrator had been Irish. Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and Mercier Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2025
A beautiful piece of history, present and hopefully the future
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews