LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE 2025 “Big-hearted and hilarious an
ode to authenticity and a must-read in our current times.” —Shelby Van Pelt New York Times
bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures “Writing a funny book is hard. Writing a
convincing takedown of one of America’s most popular prejudices is harder still. Writing a
funny novel in which complex imperfect characters make a compelling case for one of our
culture’s most maligned groups—that takes smarts and heart. Fortunately for her readers St.
James is in full possession of both.” —Meredith Maran Washington Post One of Vox's Best
Books of the Year • One of Book Riot’s and The Mary Sue ’s 15 Most Anticipated Queer Books of
2025 • One of The Millions ’ Kirkus ’s The AV Club’s Them ’s LGBTQ Reads and NBC's
Most Anticipated Books of 2025 • One of Vol. 1 Brooklyn’s Autostraddle’s LA Times ’s and
BookBrowse’s Most Anticipated Reads of March 2025 • One of Bustle ’s Best Books of Spring 2025
• Matty Maggiacomo’s March Book Club Pick An unforgettable and heartwarming book-club debut
following a trans high school teacher from a small town in South Dakota who befriends the only
other trans woman she knows: one of her students. Erica Skyberg is thirty-five years old
recently divorced—and trans. Not that she's told anyone yet. Mitchell South Dakota isn't
exactly bursting with other trans women. Instead she keeps to herself teaching by day and
directing community theater by night. That is until Abigail Hawkes enters her orbit. Abigail
is seventeen Mitchell High’s resident political dissident and Only Trans Girl. It’s a role she
plays faultlessly albeit a little reluctantly. She's also annoyed by the idea of spending her
senior year secretly guiding her English teacher through her transition. But Abigail remembers
the uncertainty—and loneliness—that comes with it. Besides Erica isn’t the only one struggling
to shed the weight of others’ expectations. As their unlikely friendship evolves it comes
under the scrutiny of their community. And soon both women—and those closest to them—are
forced to ask: Who are we if we choose to hide ourselves? What happens once we disappear into
the woodwork? Detransition Baby meets Fleishman is in Trouble in this remarkable debut
novel from an incisive contemporary voice. A story about the awkwardness of growing up and the
greatest love story of all that between us and our friends Woodworking is a tonic for the
moment and a celebration of womanhood in all its multifaceted joy. “A testament to the power
of intergenerational trans stories . . . dazzling.” — VOGUE
