Handsome
Stories of an Awkward Girl Boy Human
by Holly Lorka
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Pub Date 20 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 15 Oct 2020
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Description
The problem was, it was the 1970s, so there were no answers yet.
Here, Lorka tells the story—by turns hilarious and poignant—of her romp through the first fifty years of her life searching for sex, love, acceptance, and answers to her questions. With a sharp wit, endearing innocence, and indelible sense of optimism, she struggles through the awkward years (spoiler: that’s all of them) and discovers that what she thought were mistakes are actually powerful tools to launch her into a magical—and ridiculous—life.
Oh, and she discovers that she can buy a penis at the store, too.
Advance Praise
"Lorka's ability to balance life's harshness alongside its ridiculousness and to poke fun at herself make for a read that's never disingenuous or boring. . . . A delightful remembrance that's brimming with honesty and wit."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Handsome is a breathtaking collection of essays that perfectly combines humor, poignancy, keen observation and sharp self-reflection. Holly Lorka has a gift of remembering and delivering memories of her youth as if she were still there in those moments. There is an immediacy to her stories that drops the reader directly into them, a fly-on-the-wall trip where we see up-close the travails and triumphs of a girl/young woman human slowly growing into her true self. Amidst the joy, pain, confusion and self-discovery contained in the pages we discover a deeply compassionate, boldly honest and often hilarious being who walks through the world eyes wide open and reports back on her adventures in love, life and death with astonishing clarity."
—Spike Gillespie, author of The Tao of Bob and Sit. Stay. Heal.
“Handsome made me laugh my ass off. It engaged my heart, my mind, and my vagina in the best of ways. Lorka’s storytelling is magic and she has finally blessed us with a book of her wonders.”
—Mo Daviau, author of Every Anxious Wave
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781631527838 |
| PRICE | US$16.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 250 |
Featured Reviews
Bailey G, Reviewer
"I'd shown these strangers all the scary and shameful parts of me, and they loved me for it."
This book is honest and funny. Holly explains what it's like to grow up in a body that doesn't feel right, and the journey to accepting that body. This book is raw and explains Holly's vulnerability, while also including life experiences that are funny and relatable.
This book made me laugh and cry, which is rare in a book. This book is so important for all people to read and to help them understand others. It is a true glimpse into gender, and so timely in the world we live in.
Kate G, Reviewer
First off, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this book. While I’m not a part of the LGBTQ community I am an ally, and I love reading books by authors who are. This is no exception, to read the story of Holly, a women trapped in the wrong body and how her life was, the relationship with herself, with her mother and with George Michael. Many won’t understand what it’s like to know you’re in the wrong body the human in you will undoubtedly how compassion for Holly. If you enjoy reading books that might be out of your comfort zone, books by strong, funny LGBTQ authors I definitely reconnect.
Odette L, Reviewer
Without a doubt one of the best books I have read this year. Thank you so much for the advanced copy.
Such a beautifully written and honest book. Laughed a lot and read this in one sitting. Will definitely purchase this and have highly recommended it to others.
Reviewer 695077
Wow I read this book in a day and its one of the best books I have read this Year , I have recommended this book to everyone I know to read.
I loved all the following in this book, 1. The dedication to George Michael this dedication on its own made me laugh.
2. All the amazing topics this book covers including , The Description of dry humping the Hamburger pillow, I won't be able to look at a Hamburger pillow again without thinking of dry humping lol
coming out as a Lesbian , the amazing stories of Holly life
The Book made me howl with laughter and also cry with the stories in it as its amazing
I would like to thank NetGalley & She Writes Press for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest review
Jessica F, Reviewer
This book is utterly hilarious. Some stories I found myself telling to my LGBTQ friends as we laughed in commiseration. The story of Holly's life, not understanding exactly how she was different from others and then eventually trying to live her truth, is both humorous and deep. This one gets you with laughter and tears, and Lorka's dry wit and sarcasm draw you in to her incredible writing. This is an important and valuable memoir in the vein of Sissy and Fun Home. A wonderful addition to the LGBTQ literature shelf.
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