Detransition, Baby – Torrey Peters

Expectation: A novel that subverts the typical motherhood story with a focus on trans and found families.

Reality: More theory than fiction, Torrey Peters presents interesting ideas, but with an air of pretentiousness that can test patience.  

My Take:

de·tran·​si·​tion (verb):“when a person who has already transitioned returns to live as the gender assigned by their birth sex.”

By title alone — and let’s be honest, many people judge a book by its cover — this is a novel that could easily be misunderstood and weaponized in the debate about gender-affirming medical care. 

Of course anyone that reads it will quickly understand that “Detransition, Baby” is not a condemnation of transitioning — or detransitioning, for that matter – rather it is a blunt and deeply personal assessment of modern (white) transgender life.

It is one example of subverting expectations that ultimately helps Torrey Peters’ debut novel succeed. I doubt there are few people reading it who have ever been shown such an intimate portrayal of trans life. 

Providing much needed complexity and empathy to a subset of people that are often relegated to stock characterizations or victimization in mainstream art, “Detransition” is a bold and unapologetic examination of queer culture, tokenism and fetishization.

So, with all these positives, why am I trying to convince myself I liked it more than I did?

First, it frequently reads like theory rather than fiction. 

This is mostly a product of the MFA sensibilities in Peters’ writing (she calls this a “bourgeois domestic novel”), so the characters talk about everything ad nauseam. This is great for elucidation, but it can also grate the nerves when many conversations feel more like a queer/gender theory study rather than narrative tool.  

Second, the chapters felt disjointed. 

There are fascinating situations presented throughout “Detransition,” but each chapter is largely framed around an idea or event — using flashbacks and current events — making this more episodic than cohesive. In many ways it felt like Peters had written a collection of short stories that were reconfigured into a novel. 

Third, the core plot was convoluted. 

Are we really to believe that a group of adults with so much emotional baggage would willingly enter into a throuple parenting arrangement? Given the radical honesty Reese, Ames and Katrina have with one another, it’s amazing that it took them an entire novel to realize the idea was full of red flags. 

While this may seem like nitpicks, these three components made the novel too pretentious for its own good. While I remained intrigued — largely due to the Reese and Ames relationship flashbacks and backstories — it was a long, short novel. 

I’ll also own the fact that novels about motherhood and pregnancy, regardless of the circumstances, aren’t usually my cup of tea. If you like them, however, you’ll largely enjoy this modern take on family systems. 

Criticisms aside, this is an important novel, and I’m glad it is readily available to dissect the intersectionality of the trans community. If you read it, I highly encourage starting with the author’s notes and interview (if included in your edition) as it will make the novel more enlightening. Had I read these first, I probably wouldn’t have been as bothered by a few of my gripes.

Finally, I tackled this as a hybrid read/listen, with most of my sessions being completed via audiobook. Renata Friedman gave a solid performance with a unique voice for each main character, but I found myself picking up the eBook frequently, so I could highlight sections for further reflection. Given the complexity of the topic, I think reading is the way to go here.

Rating (story): 3/5 stars

Rating (narration): 3/5 stars

Format: Hybrid read/listen (personal library/library loan)

Dates read: February 26 – March 3, 2024

Multi-tasking: Not recommended. This is a dense and complex novel. While Peters’ writing is solid, if your mind is wandering, you’ll get lost in the characters and time jumps.