Book Review: If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, reviewed by teen reviewer Lexi

A big-hearted novel about being seen for who you really are.

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school. Like anyone else, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. She’s determined not to get too close to anyone.

But when she meets sweet, easygoing Grant, Amanda can’t help but start to let him in. As they spend more time together, she realizes just how much she is losing by guarding her heart. She finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself–including her past. But Amanda’s terrified that once she tells him the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.

Will the truth cost Amanda her new life–and her new love?

If I Was Your Girl is a universal story about feeling different–and a love story that everyone will root for.

Review

“Being a girl in this world means being afraid. That fear’ll keep you safe. It’ll keep you alive.”

Life isn’t easy, especially for Amanda Hardy. After being assaulted for the last time, Amanda’s mother decides it is time to give her a fresh new, and hopefully safe, start. And this is where Amanda begins her story, on a bus to Lambertville, Tennessee. This is where Amanda’s life either changes or stays in the same crappy existence it’s always been. Amanda can only hope that things look up.

It is never easy to be a girl in a man’s world. It is even harder for Amanda since she is a transgender girl. Society , especially the conservative deep south, is never too kind to the people that aren’t normal. It beats you down and tries to conform you into its perfect plastic doll that it deems perfect. But for people like Amanda, for people who don’t meet these norms, being cookie cutter perfect isn’t an option. This book tells a story about the kids who aren’t normal; the kids who don’t meet the expectations of parents, of peers, of their town. This book tells the story of 19 year old Amanda Hardy who is so much more than her parents thought she was. She is brave even without knowing it. Her battle against prejudice and ignorance nearly got her killed, but still she treads on inspiring many and even the reader to be better at who they are.

I will not say that i am 100% knowledgable on being transgender nor how it feels to be in the wrong body, but as an ally I can say that these people are so influential in their struggle and are very courageous to speak up and say ‘ Hey this is me and if you don’t like it than mind your own business’. Because for so many of us out here we aren’t as brave, aren’t as forthcoming to admit that we don’t fit in. Amanda only really wanted to be normal, but there really is no normal, only what we see as normal and i feel like she finds her normal. She was always normal. She just had to realize that she was worth something. She wasn’t disposable.

The topic of suicide is very touchy. But this book not only brings to light the brutality expressed towards Transgender people and people in the lgbt community, but the effects of such cruelty they have on the the person. No person should ever have to feel so trapped that they think the only way out is to kill themselves. Bullying is not okay. This book sings this so loud. It screams the injustice of small towns with closed minds. It screams to open not only doors for the people who are different but to also open the minds of others.

If I Was Your Girl is a story about a girl who sucks at being a boy. She faces hate from people who don’t even know her and from herself as well. But she lives, because she is worth it. She matters and she is loved.

If I remember nothing from this book other than the knowledge that we matter, i would be fine with that.

However, i know i will remember far more than that. The main thing i loved though is the fact that it highlights the fact that statistically speaking, the population is suppose to be 10% lgbt. It highlights the fact that we are out here even though most books ignore our existence. We are out here and we matter.

We matter.

Publisher’s Book Description:

Amanda Hardy is the new girl in school in Lambertville, Tennessee. Like any other girl, all she wants is to make friends and fit in. But Amanda is keeping a secret. There’s a reason why she transferred schools for her senior year, and why she’s determined not to get too close to anyone.

And then she meets Grant Everett. Grant is unlike anyone she’s ever met—open, honest, kind—and Amanda can’t help but start to let him into her life. As they spend more time together, she finds herself yearning to share with Grant everything about herself…including her past. But she’s terrified that once she tells Grant the truth, he won’t be able to see past it.

Because the secret that Amanda’s been keeping? It’s that she used to be Andrew.

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