She's Not There

A Life in Two Genders

By: Jennifer Finney Boylan, Deirdre Finney Boylan, Richard Russo

Narrated by: Jennifer Finney Boylan, Deirdre Finney Boylan

Narrated by the author with two afterwords: one written and read by Deirdre Finney Boylan, and one written and read by Richard Russo


The provocative bestseller She’s Not There is the winning, utterly surprising story of a person changing genders. By turns hilarious and deeply moving, Jennifer Finney Boylan explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of family. Told in Boylan’s fresh voice, She’s Not There is about a person bearing and finally revealing a complex secret. Through her clear eyes, She’s Not There provides a new window on the confounding process of accepting our true selves.


“Probably no book I’ve read in recent years has made me so question my basic assumptions about both the centrality and the permeability of gender, and made me recognize myself in a situation I’ve never known and have never faced . . . The universality of the astonishingly uncommon: that’s the trick of She’s Not There. And with laughs, too. What a good book.” —Anna Quindlen, from the Introduction to the Book-of-the-Month-Club edition.

Critic reviews

“She’s Not There, the Running with Scissors of sex-change stories, brings irreverence and a merrily outrageous sense of humor to this potentially serious business.” —Janet Maslin, New York Times


“Beautifully crafted, fearless, painfully honest, inspiring, and extremely witty. Jennifer Finney Boylan is an exquisite writer with a fascinating story, and this combination has resulted in one of the most remarkable, moving, and unforgettable memoirs in recent history.” —Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors and Dry

Outstanding

Jennifer Finney Boylan is just a force to recon with. I admire her courage to be true to herself. I admire Deidre’s love and willingness to adapt. When we love someone, we change because of our love. I’m a mother of 2 transgender children and I too have had a relatable journey with Deidre of changing because of love. Thank you Jenny for sharing your experience and stories. It’s a gift to us!!!

Author is a Great Storyteller!

I found this book delightful. Thank you for sharing your journey! Quite a sense of humor!

One word - gratitude!

Jennifer Finney Boylan, in sharing her story, has shed light and understanding on transexuality and both the joys and challenges she encountered throughout her life. Thank you for sharing your journey, Jennifer, so we can better see the humanity in every individual and the value of love that we can offer to others.

a transgender ladies story of emerging from her wg

This story documents one ladies journey from the early moments of emerging from her egg (I prefer chrysalis) and showing the world the beautiful person (I think more of a butterfly spreading her wings in the midday sun) that was hidden inside.

“She’s Not There”

A great memoir! An inside look at the life, struggle and ultimate courage to live in the truth of one’s life. Hooray for Jenny!!

Loved the commentary at the end where Grace and Rick Russo shared a little. A great book!

I had read Mad Honey - an awesome novel!! (recommended in my bookclub) - then saw the co-author Jennifer Finney Boylan’s memoir mentioned. So, as I love Audible, I listened to her tell her own story in this, “She’s Not There” (also a great song!!) memoir.

Both Jennifer and Rick Russo have inspired me to pull together my own lifelong journals, letters, and notes and tell my own family’s story and write again - especially about my maternal grandmother - an affluent artist and cross-dresser (and most likely a closet gay) in the 1950’s, She died way too early (age 62 in 1972 ) for me to fully understand her. And, the impact it had on my mother, her only daughter, who followed her in death the following year (1973, at age 35).
So, thank you Jenny Finney Boylan, and thank you Audible!