A Woman Like Me Review by lfm1223

Reviewed by:

lfm1223

3 out of 4 stars

Francine Rodriguez has written a very compelling novel about one woman’s journey through her largely difficult life. A Woman Like Me follows Genie, a transgender woman, as she tells her troubling life story full of hardships. The story starts with a boy growing up in Thailand and ends with a woman on the run in L.A. What life choices have taken her thousands of miles from home, and what is she running from? Francine has answered these questions seamlessly in a story so gripping, you’ll want more.

What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it flowed from beginning to end. It wasn’t all over the place with flashbacks or memories that left you confused. It stayed on track and didn’t jump around. Questions that popped up were all answered and left no cliffhangers. It was really well-written. I also appreciated the way it made you realize a person’s upbringing can really dictate the way they might develop into as an adult. You can understand and sympathize with them. This does not mean I excused her behavior because “she didn’t know better”.

What I disliked most was the tug-of-war Genie had with herself wanting to be a good person and actually doing good things. I get that that is the crux of the matter. We all want to be good people, but we don’t always do good things. She was constantly contradicting herself. I felt Genie only did the right thing when it pertained to certain injustices. For instance, she was quick to intervene when a gay person, children, and most women were wrongfully treated. Undeniably, these are things she should stand up for, but for her to turn around and steal from and lie about other people to get what she wanted, it diminished her moral stance on these issues.

This story is definitely not for all readers. There is a handful of graphic sections, some profanity, and many triggering scenes. That being said, if you’re not easily swayed by these things, do consider reading this book. It shed light on issues that are all around us and affect humans from around the world. has answered these questions seamlessly in a story so gripping, you’ll want more.

What I enjoyed most about this book was how well it flowed from beginning to end. It wasn’t all over the place with flashbacks or memories that left you confused. It stayed on track and didn’t jump around. Questions that popped up were all answered and left no cliffhangers. It was really well-written. I also appreciated the way it made you realize a person’s upbringing can really dictate the way they might develop into as an adult. You can understand and sympathize with them. This does not mean I excused her behavior because “she didn’t know better”.

What I disliked most was the tug-of-war Genie had with herself wanting to be a good person and actually doing good things. I get that that is the crux of the matter. We all want to be good people, but we don’t always do good things. She was constantly contradicting herself. I felt Genie only did the right thing when it pertained to certain injustices. For instance, she was quick to intervene when a gay person, children, and most women were wrongfully treated. Undeniably, these are things she should stand up for, but for her to turn around and steal from and lie about other people to get what she wanted, it diminished her moral stance on these issues.

This story is definitely not for all readers. There is a handful of graphic sections, some profanity, and many triggering scenes. That being said, if you’re not easily swayed by these things, do consider reading this book. It shed light on issues that are all around us and affect humans from around the world