this is the perfect book for ya and teen readers. Aj is so passionate about lgbtq+ and her own experiences. this book is wonderful for those that may be finding it hard to be there true self and this book opens up to a whole new world

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.

I follow AJ on tiktok so when I found this book, I was so excited to read it. This book is full of Aj's personality and truly tells an interesting story. This is both a self-help book and a memoir and it does feature some hard hitting subjects like self-harm but Aj somehow manages to keep it uplifted in a way that keeps you reading.

Very informative, felt very strong and came from personal experience , very important read that I would recommend to everyone especially the younger generations

Sebbene lo stile di scrittura sia un po' acerbo, è sempre bello poter mettersi in gioco leggendo della vita altrui e soprattutto delle loro paure, dei loro dolori e dei loro successi. Forse l'Italia non è pronta per questo libro, ma sicuramente servirebbe nelle nostre librerie.

A very informative book. It feels deeply poignant and personal.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's good to have different people from different generations talking about issues around gender and trans people in particular - this will appeal to a different audience than some books, and all the better for it. Personal stories work well when linked with tips on supporting your trans friends and community and being a good ally.

This book gives great insight into what it’s like to be transgender. My understanding of the community has increased and I’ve got a lot more knowledge about what gender dysphoria can be like, as well as the struggles of transitioning.

I really like how triggers and helplines were included in the book for those who need them.

Thank you to NetGalley, AJ Clementine and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

An incredibly informative and educational read on what it's like to be a trans woman. AJ's stories are a perfect mix of her funny and emotive experiences. I also liked the parts where she added facts and statistics in, and how aesthetically beautiful the design of the book is.

Wow! I was blown away by this book. It was totally nothing like what I was expecting! From the cover it looks frothy, frilly and fairly light in content. It is full of beautiful photos that feel 'insta' ready to promote and celebrate the stunning AJ.

I requested it to understand more about what being Trans really means and entails. This book is so well written! It is not sensational, but an honest, open account of AJ's life and experiences. It is thoughtful and inspiring, provoking and affirming. I learnt so much, about the process of gender-affirming surgery, of which I knew very little. I have teenage children who know more about this than I do, and I did expect this book to be aimed at them. However, it educated me and impressed me over and over.

AJ seems confident and strong now that she knows who she is and has the body she deserves - I genuinely felt that as I read on. This is not preachy but I know will help lots of people understand their own struggles or the struggles of those around them. I cannot recommend this book enough. It was so much more than I expected it to be!

Many thanks to the publisher, Murdoch Books, for the ARC received via NetGalley.
This was suggested to me under the Self-help category, whereas I felt it was more of a memoir, especially the initial chapters about AJ's childhood ("Once Upon A Time"). However, the later chapters about dating, relationships and dealing with life's curveballs had more to offer in terms of self-help/advice (even to a cis-woman a generation older than AJ i.e. me!).
This memoir vs self-help book is understandable and AJ was really careful to emphasise that there is no "one-size-fits-all" trans experience. Reading AJ's experience was a delight as she has such an uplifting point-of-view and her default to see things in a positive light is infectious. But, as AJ says herself, she hasn't sugar-coated things. She's very real and matter-of-fact about what she's been through and the difficulties trans people encounter globally. There's plenty here to chew on for those who wish to be allies for trans and gender-diverse people.

I loved the glossy-mag aesthetic for the book (which I read on my phone on the NetGalley app - understandably not available on Kindle, which would kill the vibe, IMO!) and it seems very on-brand. I hadn't heard of AJ prior to seeing this book on NetGalley and now I just so excited for her future success in her career and happiness in her relationships.
Publication date: 8 February 2022

This is a memoir about the life of young Australian TikTok star AJ Clementine. Being a TikTok and Instagram creator, AJ Clementine is known for supporting and advocating for the LGBTQI+ community, her sense of humor and her princess fashion content. It's simply fantastic to follow her on these platforms. AJ is passionate about sharing her own transgender experiences and assisting the next generation in being confident and empowered in their journey.
This book captures explores her life growing up as a mixed race and trans youth, combined with self-images and with people she adores.

The design of this book is perfect for readers who love colorful, eye-appealing visual designs. The narrative is comprehensible and reassuring, yet the struggles Clementine has experienced throughout her life are not overlooked. This is a fantastic book for teens, whether they want to feel seen, loved and understood, or just want to learn and connect with others.

I've always admired AJ ever since discovering her on TikTok, she is a beautiful soul and this also exuded throughout the book. AJ takes us through her journey of discovering herself and battling the hateful and spiteful people that can come with transitioning and being yourself. She provides educational tips throughout that will hopefully encourage more people to become allies, or already being an ally myself, she has helped me discover how I can be an even better one. Girl, Transcending felt like I was having a conversation with my best friend, I felt comfortable, I felt informed, I felt anger and disappointment hearing about the painful experiences - it was an overwhelming rollercoaster and I come out from reading this now wanting to give AJ the biggest hug I can and tell her all the ways I'm so proud of her. I now have a deeper understanding of how I can support the transgender community in every way possible and believe this book will carry it's way through many hearts.

I've been following AJ on TikTok for just over a year now and was excited to hear about the release of her book. I will admit, being a fan of hers, I might have some bias in this review. But this was a personal, thought-out and well-written glimpse into AJ's life. She carefully weaves personal experiences with education and tips on how to be a better ally, or a better person. The entire theme of the book is hopeful and optimistic, her voice really shines from the first page to the last. I appreciate her honesty in recounting some of the more painful memories - especially the story about losing a childhood friendship, which I'm sure a lot of readers will resonate with. I also commend her for including relevant trigger warnings before certain chapters. It reads like a friend telling you their life story, comforting and warm. All in all, a book that I think will leave a lasting impression, as a cisgender woman I feel more educated having read this. Thank you AJ, for sharing your story.

I loved how the book was written; it felt very personal, as if aj and i were having a private conversation. it covered very important topics that everyone must be aware of am glad to say I'm a little more educated on the subject now.

This book has given me a deeper understanding of what my transgender friends may or may not be going through as well as helped me to understand my sexual identity and who I am as a person.
This book follows AJ and her journey of discovering her own gender identity throughout her years and also contains a lot of facts about transgender people, this provides us with an understanding of what transgender people go through as well as AJ and what she has become.
There is a trigger warning of self-harm for less than two pages of the book. This occurs in a discussion of what AJ went through surrounding her anxiety.