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Original poster

Author’s latest book shoehorns trans identified male into women’s friendship group.

144 replies

mylittlekomododragon · 07/04/2025 17:25

I have the latest audio book by an author whose books I usually enjoy, but am struggling because a trans identified male has been shoe horned into a women’s friendship group, a menopause group no less, and is welcomed with open arms by simpering handmaidens, apart from one big bad terf who is painted as an out of touch bigot. The character goes on to discuss menopause symptoms, saying they understand, but it felt so jarring. So disappointing, as in a previous book this author had made a comment that made me think she was gender critical, but the pandering to this trans character is staggering. The whole character arc felt contrived, and coming from a 60 year old woman, was almost as disappointing as Margaret Atwood!

OP posts:
Ddakji · 07/04/2025 23:48

DuesToTheDirt · 07/04/2025 23:42

I was watching a TV series recently with a trans character who seemed "shoehorned" in. I don't have any objection to a show having a trans character per se, but this trans woman was close friends with a female character, and it just didn't work - the trans woman was all make up and heels, and came across as very fakey, while the female character was more natural. A bit like having a female lecturer with no interest in fashion, with a close friend who is all fake tan and nails, they're just different tribes.

There was a TIM in the second season of Squid Game, who I felt was shoehorned in to please the western audience (not sure a Korea is really on board with/cares much about trans) , but in fact although everyone treated the character as a woman there were a couple of scenes that really drive home that he was and always would be male.

DuesToTheDirt · 07/04/2025 23:42

I was watching a TV series recently with a trans character who seemed "shoehorned" in. I don't have any objection to a show having a trans character per se, but this trans woman was close friends with a female character, and it just didn't work - the trans woman was all make up and heels, and came across as very fakey, while the female character was more natural. A bit like having a female lecturer with no interest in fashion, with a close friend who is all fake tan and nails, they're just different tribes.

TennesseeStella · 07/04/2025 23:00

I googled to see if Milly Johnson was a pen name, and apparently it is, for the writer Sue Moorcroft. So you may want to avoid Sue's books too. Who knows how many aliases she has?!

WaterThyme · 07/04/2025 22:56

Irvine Welsh wrote about using a “sensitivity reader” for one of his recent books involving a trans character.

Has anyone ever heard of an author using a sensitivity reader for a book involving a woman?

Ddakji · 07/04/2025 22:42

Lisbeth50 · 07/04/2025 22:15

Which character is this? I've read all the books and can't recall this character??

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Janet someone. Appears in maybe 2 or 3 books.

Zitouna · 07/04/2025 22:32

@misscockerspaniel another recommendation for the Maeve Kerrigan series by Jane Casey. It was recommended to me by someone on here as I was looking to fill the Strike void after the last book - and I’m now completely hooked (we’ve got our own thread 😁)

Lisbeth50 · 07/04/2025 22:15

Ddakji · 07/04/2025 22:00

The Ruth Galloway books do feature a TIM character. A bit part and the trans side feels irrelevant to the actual character, but I was a bit disappointed that a flipping forensic archaeologist who absolutely knows the difference between male and female would mindlessly accept this character as a woman.

Which character is this? I've read all the books and can't recall this character??

Original poster
mylittlekomododragon · 07/04/2025 22:05

Thank you all for the book recommendations!

OP posts:
RobinStrike · 07/04/2025 22:04

MW Craven -Washington Poe books are good, as are the Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie series.

Ddakji · 07/04/2025 22:00

The Ruth Galloway books do feature a TIM character. A bit part and the trans side feels irrelevant to the actual character, but I was a bit disappointed that a flipping forensic archaeologist who absolutely knows the difference between male and female would mindlessly accept this character as a woman.

PremiumD · 07/04/2025 21:58

Jane Casey’s Maeve Kerrigan series!

BunfightBetty · 07/04/2025 21:51

Theeyeballsinthesky · 07/04/2025 21:40

if it’s detective fiction you like, Elly Griffiths dr Ruth Galloway series is very good 😊

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I second this recommendation! I also like her Brighton series too. That took me longer to get into, but very satisfying once I was in the swing of them. She also has a smaller series around Harbinder Kaur which I also enjoy.

ThatsNotMyTeen · 07/04/2025 21:50

I like Milly Johnson too, that’s disappointing

tobee · 07/04/2025 21:47

Am I being naive to say stick with anything written before, say, 2015?

Theeyeballsinthesky · 07/04/2025 21:40

misscockerspaniel · 07/04/2025 20:55

If you are looking for something to read, I have just finished the Comoran Strike series on Kindle and am now feeling bereft. (And yes, I do know she is a hallowed MNetter, but if you can recommend anything to fill the void, I would be grateful 😪)

if it’s detective fiction you like, Elly Griffiths dr Ruth Galloway series is very good 😊

Portakalkedi · 07/04/2025 21:40

Will make sure to avoid. I find most of the 'popular' female writers are crap anyway, with poor writing and incorrect grammar.

Datun · 07/04/2025 21:24

OverpricedCupcake · 07/04/2025 20:16

In my actual local town the menopause group advertise themselves as being for, "all ages and genders".
I told them I won't be going and why.
It's a small Scottish town ffs.

Ffs. Is prostate cancer for all ages and all genders?

Original poster
mylittlekomododragon · 07/04/2025 21:18

I worked with a TIM volunteer who wittered on about periods and weaseled his way into an International Women’s Day poetry event droning on about how he bled from his entire being. I couldn’t be in the same room as him.

OP posts:
OverpricedCupcake · 07/04/2025 21:14

mylittlekomododragon · 07/04/2025 20:26

@OverpricedCupcakeIt’s such a betrayal of women.

Yes, I'd have liked to meet other menopausal women but no way, as if it's advertised like that it's probably full of , "be kind", types with blue haired kids.
I'm honestly only interested in hanging out with Terfs, I go to as many Women's Rights things as I can partly for that reason.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 07/04/2025 21:13

misscockerspaniel · 07/04/2025 20:55

If you are looking for something to read, I have just finished the Comoran Strike series on Kindle and am now feeling bereft. (And yes, I do know she is a hallowed MNetter, but if you can recommend anything to fill the void, I would be grateful 😪)

Only about 6 months to wait until the next Strike novel!

For anyone who likes funny romance, I recommend Mhairi Macfarlane. No idea whether she thinks TWAW or not but it hasn't come up in any of her books so far, which are very enjoyable.

justasking111 · 07/04/2025 21:05

I gave up on Milly in 2019. Prior to that really enjoyed her books. The kindle edition of this one is £12 hardback £9. Yet all glowing reviews. Mmm . She's churning out rubbish now. What a shame.

misscockerspaniel · 07/04/2025 20:55

If you are looking for something to read, I have just finished the Comoran Strike series on Kindle and am now feeling bereft. (And yes, I do know she is a hallowed MNetter, but if you can recommend anything to fill the void, I would be grateful 😪)

Signalbox · 07/04/2025 20:41

SlipperyLizard · 07/04/2025 20:08

We watched season 1 of Irvine Welsh’s “Crime” on ITV, it was quite good so started to watch season 2. Not one but two trans characters, and one “terf”. Had to stop watching as the acting was so awful. I was sure Irvine Welsh is terfy on Twitter, so it surprised me.

It was so bad wasn’t it? I really enjoyed the first series but had to turn off half way through the first episode of series 2. Nothing like feeling judged by the thing that is meant to entertain you.

Chersfrozenface · 07/04/2025 20:34

And the hardback is now pretty much half price on Amazon, having only been published on 27 February.

Original poster
mylittlekomododragon · 07/04/2025 20:26

@OverpricedCupcakeIt’s such a betrayal of women.

OP posts: