Roller Girl by Vanessa North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Uplifting, sexy, and heartwarming, ROLLER GIRL is a lovely gem of a romance novel.
Tina, a trans woman, physical trainer, and former pro athlete, is recovering from a divorce, and her self-confidence is in shambles. Her marriage fell apart after she transitioned, and she didn’t know how to fix it. She felt that she was too dependent on her ex.
When Tina meets Joe, the coach of a female roller skating team, she recognizes that Joe likes to take of and help others. Though Tina is attracted to Joe, she is wary of becoming dependent on her. Tina has other worries and stress–she fears for her safety, fears being mistreated, and has anxiety about misgendered.
Joe wants to help Tina be happy. She invites Tina to join her team, the Rollergirls, and promises Tina female friendship, companionship, and teamwork–“something bigger than individual glory.” Though Joe is also attracted to Tina, she’s wary of their relationship affecting the team dynamics.
It was a pleasure to watch Tina grow and regain her self-confidence, and become a role model and an inspiration, particularly to LGBTQ youth. I was moved by how Tina faced and conquered the various obstacles in her life, especially as a trans woman, and how the people in her life respected, supported, and admired her.
I loved how this book showed the beauty, joy, and complexity of female friendships, female identity, and lesbian romance. This book also showed how the spirit of competition and cooperation can empower women. I loved how happy this book made me feel. And I very much loved its real and fine, happy ending.
*ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unquietly Me 