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

[mylittlekomododragon]

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!

Who is the author?

I’d also be interested in the author as I listen to a lot of audio books.

It’s Milly Johnson.

I'm reading a police procedural (Louisa Scarr) in which it's been mentioned in passing that a protagonist who's a journalist has previously investigated an "anti-trans group which bribes MPs to influence policy". Ludicrous.

Projection

Funnily enough I picked up one of her books when I was visiting my parents and there was a trans woman character in it.

Maybe she has a lot of trans friends or something.

Thanks for the name OP. Well as a menopausal woman, I won’t be listening to any of her books any time soon.

It's so tedious when authors (or TV) do this. Trans characters are always introduced as a way to tell those readers or watchers, who think TWAM, off for being meanies.

@DialSquareit was frankly nauseating seeing a portrayal of a man knowledgeably discussing menopause symptoms while women lapped it up.

I bet. I’ll never understand how any woman could go along with this bullshit.

If it's the book I think it is, its current Kindle ranking is 3,495.

Desperately trying to be relevant / attract more readers? And how's that going for you, Milly?

Iirc Ayesha Hazarika was all for men in her menopause group.

I have recently abandoned 3 books with non-binary characters shoehorned in for no apparently good reason except to demonstrate the author’s right on credentials. The books were just impossible to read. Which “they” do you mean? The single person “they,” who is standing over there, or the group of people “they,” who are also, oh look, standing over there? Argh! Maybe a more talented writer could have made it understandable, but I just didn’t have the patience to work it out every time.

Write a review on Good Reads, Amazon etc, so others know about this before spending their money.

Perhaps the author(s) would accept feedback when contacted through their publisher or social media? Especially if you say that you usually like her work but it is not credible that a man would discuss menopause symptoms like they actually happen to him.

@TwoLoonsAndASprout
I agree on the "they" in books. Twice I've had nonbinary characters in books now, by authors that I read often, and though the character in question was mostly on his/her own in sentences, so I wasn't wondering how many people were meant, there were a few scenes with third persons and I wasn't sure who was doing what.
It is also difficult to read, and often sounds simply wrong and very contrived. I am only persevering as the books are part of a series and the authors are good, but the "they-ing" is tedious.

@BunfightBettyI plan to. I’m the same age as the author and I would be the big bad terf in that situation, not some pathetic handmaiden.

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.

the last Caro Fraser caper court series “a touch of silk” where one of the male barristers transitioned to much cheering on by the chambers except the obviously horrid feminist
female barrister who kept pointing out he wasn’t a woman. She was ostracised and punished to make sure she knew her place

it was enraging to read

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.

@OverpricedCupcakeIt’s such a betrayal of women.

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

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.

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 😪)

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.

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.