It’s smart, it’s funny, and absolutely devastating, and was a joy to read.
I’ve looked at a lot of books that supposedly handle the troubling and sensitive topics of transgenderism and mental illness, and there’s a lot of personal statements of identity that ultimately have very little to say while handling their subject matter too preciously.
This is a book that goes to the very height of madness, shows Brio breaking down, being an asshole, hurting everyone he cares about, romanticizing suicide, and despite it all is brimming with love for its protagonist. Beneath all the ugliness and confusion, there is a sweetness and sincerity to it.
The adult literary world indeed has room for a coming-of-age tale as unique as this, and boy, does it have something to say.
This just might be quite a timely and uniquely special novel.
Books very rarely make me cry – I think the last time was when I read American Psycho and the spiritual sequel, Lunar Park in a single marathon sprint, but The Making of Brio McPride certainly did. I also found many moments of pitch-black comedy that made me laugh, and isn’t that what we want from novels? To actually feel something? That’s just my personal opinion and experience! I admit, I am a little weird.
