Torrey Peters released one of the most acclaimed, clever and sharp debuts of 2021 – Detransition, Baby. Here, we catch up on this backlist book and give our thoughts on the debut novel. Pick up a copy here.
Torrey Peters released her whipsmart debut novel – Detransition, Baby – in 2021 that earned immense critical acclaim. The novel revolves around three women – Reese, Amy and Katrina – grappling with impending motherhood. Reese nearly had it all in her loving relationship with Amy, but the only thing missing was a child. Then everything fell apart and three years on Reese is still in self-destruct mode, avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men. When Reese calls to ask if she wants to be a mother to his unplanned child, Reese finds herself intrigued. After being attacked in the street, Amy de-transitioned to become Ames, changed jobs and, thinking he was infertile, started an affair with his boss Katrina. Now Katrina’s pregnant. The three of them decide to form an unconventional family and raise the baby together. The novel centres around the complexity of these relationships, particularly how these manifest in discussions of gender.
Detransition, Baby is an immensely charming novel – funny, smart and messy. Above all, it is full of emotion, showcasing the complexity of these kinds of relationships but it is not contrived. Peters delivers the novel with immense tenderness. More than anything, the novel will broaden public understanding of transness without “teaching”. The novel is filled with wonderful and joyful characters and it is overall an immensely enjoyable and delightful book.
Pick up a copy here.
