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Length: 64,000 words approx
Blurb
Four years and two bases later, Brad resurfaces-and announces his family is coming to Trevor's base in Spain. But a lot's changed in four years, and Trevor is stunned to find out Brad is now Shannon. Their reunion isn't quite what either of them had hoped for, but they quickly find their footing, both relieved to have each other back.
Except nothing is ever all sunshine and roses. The military is a small world, and there's no keeping Shannon's transition a secret. Parents warn their kids away from her. She can't attend school on-base for fear of harassment or worse. And although her parents try to hide it, being ostracized by their only social circle while they're thousands of miles from home is taking a toll on them too.
More and more, Shannon leans on Trevor. But she's also drawn to him, and he's drawn right back to her, feeling things he's never felt for anyone before.
Trevor's scared, though. Not of dating a trans girl. Not of damaging his chaplain father's career or reputation. After finally getting his friend back, does he dare take things further and risk losing her a second time?
Carra's Review
I usually tend to stay away from young adult stories these days because it’s too easy for the maturity level of the characters to annoy me. Thankfully, that wasn’t really an issue with this story. The majority of the time, Trevor, Shannon and their friends were down to earth, tolerant, intelligent teens which was a nice change of pace. Whether their attitudes towards Shannon being trans are true to life nowadays, I couldn’t say, but even just seeing it in this story makes me hope that this would be more the case now.
Both Trevor and Shannon are guilty of communication issues—Shannon for going silent while she was still Brad and leaving Trevor hanging; Trevor for not expressing his feelings correctly on more than one occasion—leaving Shannon to guess (incorrectly) at what he means. All of which is very much teen behavior, and the source of my only real annoyance with the story. Well, I knew I wasn’t getting out of a young adult story without something to trip my pet peeves.
The topic of Shannon’s transition is handled well I think from multiple aspects, but my favorite thing about this story is how Trevor’s father reacts, supports, and champions not just Shannon but anyone who falls along the queer spectrum. The world needs more people like him, in books and in real life.
I was surprised that for a young adult story this wasn’t as angst-filled as I’d have expected. It was more heavily concentrated on Trevor and Shannon’s relationship, and how it progresses as they become closer. And while yes, there are a few teens who don’t react well, it’s actually the adults who create more of an issue where there really isn’t one and cause the bit of drama that is present.
Having Her Back gets 4 solid stars from me, and though it is a young adult story please realize there is plenty of adult language as well. Even so, I think teens 16+ would benefit from reading this (just be aware of the language beforehand).
Author Bio
Ann Gallagher is the slightly more civilized alter ego of L.A. Witt, Lauren Gallagher, and Lori A. Witt. So she tells herself, anyway. When she isn't wreaking havoc on Spain with her husband and trusty two-headed Brahma bull, she writes romances just like her wilder counterparts, but without all the heat. She is also far too mature to get involved in the petty battle between L.A. and Lauren, but she's seriously going to get even with Lori for a certain incident that shall not be discussed publicly.
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