My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection by Julia Kaye

My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection Reviews

• 
  Ray Flores

  Have you ever been so lucky to find yourself a new favorite author? I feel like 2020 is just filled with amazing gems that I’m utterly grateful.
  
  This is the second graphic novel I read by the author and I totally love the way she draws her daily life, since I think we all can relate to funny, wholehearted moments with friends, as well as the loss and grief of someone loved, perhaps you don’t know what are you doing with your life, but that’s OK. The beauty of life is that nobody really knows what the future would hold and pretending to have it all figured it all is more painful than not. We have both good and bad moments, and we should cherish them all. Life should not be taken for granted and we all should make the effort to live the way we really want to.
  
  Anyway, Julia takes us into her private life and she show us her doubts and struggles with dating, or the exciting feeling of meeting new people. She lets us know she has the best friends as well as the important moments of solitude: those we need to heal from past relationships and maybe, even learn how to take care and forgive oneself.
  
  I seriously loved every single page and it made me chuckle the same way it made me realize that perhaps we don’t see big changes from day to day life, but after six months, a year or more, we surely change –hopefully into someone better, kinder.
  
  I received a copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
  
  PREVIOUS REVIEWS:
  
  Super late bloomer: my early days in transition
• 
  Alicia Bayer

  This is a wonderful and honest comic strip depicting 6 months in the life of the author/artist, a trans woman. It will be relatable for those who have transitioned or are thinking of it, but it's also relatable just as a human dealing with insecurities, breakups, grief, toxic family members, friendships, etc. It is not a funny comic strip but it's an ultimately hopeful, poignant, interesting and impactful one. Highly recommended.
  
  I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley for review.
• 
  Anniek

  I haven't read Super Late Bloomer, so this was my first time reading Julia Kaye's comics. But this book can be easily read as a standalone, and I really enjoyed it.
  
  One of my favourite comics in this collection was the one where a little kid completely accepts and validates Julia as a woman. It just radiated joy. Overall, I liked how balanced this collection was - there's so much trans joy, but also difficult issues, like the comic about her grandmother who she's not out to. As someone who's not out to their grandparents either, that one really hit home. Another comic that really spoke to me was about how after coming out as trans, you start to change as a person because you can finally be honest about who you are.
  
  Overall, I think it's so impressive how Julia Kaye was able to convey so many of the joys and complexities of being trans in three-panel comics.
  
  CWs: sexual assault (groping in a club), gender dysphoria, mentions of misgendering, estrangement from parents/family
• 
  Rod Brown

  A nice follow-up visit with a fascinating and charming woman. I hope a third book will be forthcoming.
• 
  iam

  My Life in Transition is a collection of short biographical comics strips, with three panels covering each day over the course of roughly half a year.
  Julia Kaye chronicles the way she feels each day, mostly in relation to her experiences as a trans woman who started transition three years ago.
  Topics feature dating and relationships, family, transition, dysphoria, as well as healing, grief and forgiveness.
  The art style is simple and effective. I have not read any of the author's other works, and I sometimes struggled with the context of the comics and who was who, as characters generally weren't really introduced (which makes sense, as these seem to have sprung from a sort of diary in comic form.) Since the style was so simple, a lot of the characters also looked very similar, which additionally made me mix them up. This was however not detrimental to getting the point each comic was trying to get across.
  
  I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
• 
  Laura

  Julie Kaye is doing something very hard, baring her soul for all to see, as she goes through transitioning to a new life, losing a love, trying to date new people.
  
  Like all sequential art memoirs, there are a lot of sad things, things that one wouldn't want to talk about, and yet she bares all.
  
  It is hard to bare your soul every time you draw a comic strip. This continues her story, past the coming out, and getting estrogen To being misgendered, and standing up to people to let them know that.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
• 
  ashes ➷

  (Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.)
  
  Julia Kaye is such a gift.
  
  For those who wondered where she went after Super Late Bloomer, Kaye has returned to show us! There is something so refreshing and so joyful about a trans woman documenting the real ups-and-downs of her life when she has already begun to pass. Kaye writes about strangers generally recognizing her as a woman, and her LGBT friends, and tons of romance; and also about the aspects of her transition she still hopes to complete, her struggles with transphobic family, and days that seem impossible to get through.
  
  For many trans people, it's hard to imagine what it will be like to live happily as yourself. I have a vision of who I want to be, but they often seem completely out of reach. Kaye happily proves that, while you may change during your transition, the other side isn't so mysterious after all. You're still you, and you still have your good and bad days. A lot of your trans-related problems dissolve just slightly with transitioning. It could not possibly be overstated how important an accessible, good-hearted, honest autobiographical comic from a trans woman can be, and this one delivers on every front.
  
  In terms of the comic medium, this book pleases me every time I look at it-- cute style, skilled flexibility, cohesive tone, easy to read, so so so difficult to put down. I happily took an hour out of my day just to sit down and enjoy Kaye's work. There wasn't a strip I disliked seeing, and there wasn't a moment I wanted to step away, which is not just surprising but incredibly impressive for daily comics. I hadn't even considered a second collection after SLB, but here it is, and it's just as good as the first.
  
  In general, I really can't overstate how happy I am with this book. And the chance to read it and review it early! Fantastic. Highly recommend if any of the above-- autobiographical comics, trans memoirs, etc-- appeal to you. I'm confident both cis and trans people will enjoy it (though perhaps trans people will laugh a little harder at some very relatable moments.) Already excited to see Kaye's next collection, and going to bed smiling thinking about this one.
• 
  Mehsi

  I received this comic collection from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
  
  The second A Super Late Bloomer collection and I was hyped to see Julia's comics combined into a book once again. I will definitely be adding this book to my physical collection when it is out! I am writing a short review for this book as I feel I have addressed most of the big things in the review for the first book (which I also ABSOLUTELY loved). We continue reading about Julia's transition, heartbreak, relationships, struggles with how people address her, daily life, and more. It details the years late-2018 to mid 2019. Most of the comics I already know as I try to keep an eye on Julia's twitter. But since I am following so many people and twitter only shows a couple, it hasn't be easy. But I don't mind. That way I get some new things to read. I really loved reading this one. I love seeing Julia's art get even prettier! I loved the written parts at the beginning/the end. All in all, recommended to everyone!
• 
  Syd

  Read Early via NetGalley
  
  I was so happy to pick up a copy of Super Late Bloomer at FlameCon 2018 and My Life in Transition is an excellent follow-up. It's a very well done slice of life that makes the most of a 3 panel structure, while showing the ups and downs of not only queer life, but of coming into one's own self. There's a wonderful balance of humor and deeply touching personal moments that really resonate for me as a trans person, but also express it in a way that most readers could understand. It's very rewarding to read Julia's work because it always feels like she is challenging herself to be vulnerable, and you feel like you are getting to know the author.
• 
  Anwen Hayward

  Graphic novels and comics aren't usually my cup of tea, but I couldn't resist this one, and I'm glad I didn't. I love everything about it. Julia Kaye has a really impressive way of showing nuance in a series of 3-panel cartoon strips; she doesn't even need words to make you feel things. I've not read the first one, but even without that context I really appreciated how this book covered her life after she was already several years into her transition; it showed a different side to the transition narrative we usually get, in which an individual's transition is often portrayed as the natural conclusion to their life's greatest journey, and so on and so forth. Even though her gender is a huge part of her identity, Julia's life isn't magically perfect just because she's overcome that initial hurdle and has reached a point at which she's living happily as a trans woman and is almost always gendered as female. She still has to get through breakups, men being men, work pressures, friendships, the works. It made her feel a lot more authentic and three-dimensional as a protagonist and author.
  
  That said, she also very clearly shows how her transition will always be a tangible part of her life through the hardship of misgendering, the trauma of her own family rejecting her, the constant worries about whether she's performing femininity 'enough' or 'correctly'. I think these were my favourite panels, when Julia writes (?) about how, as a trans woman, the pressure to perform a certain type of femininity in order to almost justify being trans can be a roadblock to authenticity. She feels a constant guilt over not doing enough (her phrase, not mine) to avoid misgendering, whilst being objectively aware that it's absolutely not her fault at all, and that the general gendered aspects of the society she lives in are to blame. It was an interesting aspect that, as a cis woman, I've never had to consider; I can wear trousers or a baggy jumper without getting misgendered, for example, and it was illuminating to be forced to confront the inherent privilege of that.
  
  Literally the only thing I would nitpick over is that it only covered 6 months of her life and I would have liked to live alongside her longer. That's it. Oh, and sometimes the art style made people difficult to differentiate, particular her first girlfriend and her therapist. They looked very similar and it could be jarring. Still, there are limits to black and white cartoons, so that's really more of an issue of medium for me than anything else.
  
  Now I have to pick up the first one...
• 
  Brooke Stouffer

  Thank you to Andrew McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC copy of “My Life in Transition” in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I first found Julia Kaye’s diary comics through her instagram @ upandoutcomic a few years ago and appreciated getting a glimpse into her life in the middle of transitioning. The graphic novel “My Life in Transition” is a beautiful update on her life now, and it’s so wonderful to see Julia’s growth into a more confident woman. Her honesty with the discrimination she faces is balenced with her gratitude for her circle of strong friendships around her. It warmed me reading these comics after reading the ones on her instagram page. I highly recommend diving into the comics that she has on there before you read this book, as well as reading her previous graphic novel “Super Late Bloomer”.
  
  All in all, Julia’s story fills you with hope as you read. It makes you grateful for the people that you have in your life that are always there to lean into when you need it, and are there to make you smile at the end of a hard day. I am not a transgendered person, but while I couldn’t relate to Julia’s struggles it was a reminder to be there for the people in my life that are, and to be an active ally for them in a time of need. I highly recommend Julia Kayes work for all older readers (there’s mentions of sex and dating which is the only reason I wouldn’t recommend to younger readers). However, be aware that there are triggers of: transphobia, gender dysphoria, unsupportive family, discrimination.
• 
  Der-shing

  Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Julia for sending me an early copy of the book.
  
  Reading Julia's work is like being invited on a hike. You take part in the uphills and downhills, the plodding slogs, survey the terrain, manage fears of losing your way, weather storms. Most of all you expand your world, and take in the beauty of a new landscape with Julia as your guide. It's not often that you are invited into a stranger's life so intimately, from the daily work grind to the foibles of dating to struggles with ignorant family members, and the digestible 3-panel format is a big plus for readers of all ages. In her first book and now her second, Julia chooses not to shy away from either the mundane or the devastating, and importantly takes time to breathe and remind herself to appreciate the journey as well. This second volume also does a great job of continuing the work begun in volume one, showing readers (especially trans readers) the value of continuing to put one foot in front of the other. There's something important to be learned from every human experience, and it is a particular joy to share in the author's personal queer and trans experiences. Thanks for letting us come on this journey with you Julia!
• 
  Leslie

  
  Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishingm for the digital galley of this book.
  
  My Life in Transition is the follow up to Kaye’s earlier collection, Super Late Bloomer, and though the art-style and tone is the same, Kaye is further along in her journey, and it’s really cool to see her grow and change. She mentions in the afterword that though she felt super out of sorts and like she didn’t know what she was doing, by drawing a comic each day, her life follows a pretty clear arc, and that is great for self-discovery, but also it makes for compelling storytelling.
  
  This book isn’t about the transition so much as the existence of being trans in society once the hormones have done their thing. I really enjoyed being along for the ride of Kaye’s journey. It was like catching up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in a year or so, and in these wild times, that is even more comforting.
  
  This collection is out in February, and if you enjoy good things with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, check it out!
• 
  Jessica Haider

  My Life in Transition is the follow-up to
  Super Late Bloomer: My Early Days in Transition, which documented the author's decision to transition genders. Both pictures are a sort of diary in comics, with one comic per day, showing glimpses into Kaye's life and experiences. In My Life in Transition we get a look at 6 months in Kaye's life as she lives as a female and anxiously awaits getting bottom surgery. She stresses about being misgendered, deals with her own feelings of depression and dysmorphia, and also the everyday dilemmas of interpersonal relationships.
  
  Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
• 
  ✮Octjillery✮

  While I am maybe not the main target audience for this collection, as I am not a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I found it to be utterly relatable in so many ways. I think anyone could (and should) read this and find some aspect of Julia's life to relate to or maybe take solace in.
  
  Julia deals with a lot in the sixth months that this collection covers: the loss of a relationship, figuring out what exactly she wants in a relationship/partner in the future, trying out different types of relationships, dealing with a lack of support or acceptance from her family, realizing how much support she does have in her life to somewhat offset that, etc. Most of her struggles are simply "people" struggles--things that many people across all walks of life face, which is what makes her a relatable person. While the dysphoria that she faced is not something I have experienced, I did appreciate seeing such a raw and honest portrayal of it and how it came up in her everyday life. I can't presume to have a true understanding of what Julia has gone through in her life, especially during the early stages of her transition, but I'm thankful for the chance to read her story.
  
  One of my favorite strips was on...I think page 122. Julia visits a friend's family for Passover instead of her own family, and this granny says something along the lines of, "Julie should sit by me. She's so cute!" (I don't have the book at hand.) I just felt like that was one of the most validating strips in the whole collection, and it was really cute.
• 
  Kt

  This is the first thing by Kaye that I have read and I loved it! As someone who is only out to a couple family members (and barely out to myself) this gave me immense hope that I will one day love and care for myself, I will grow into myself just as Julia has done.
  
  These short comics are able to portray these raw emotions so wonderfully and fully, this really is a fantastic book Julia was able to show her story so well covering transness, heartbreak, family trouble and grief. i honestly applaud Julia for releasing this and telling her story.
  
  (Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review)
• 
  Laura

  This is a collection of short slice-of-life comic strips that are quiet, sweet, sad, & funny. It's a sequel of sorts to Julia's first collection, but you can definitely read it on its own.
  
  I think this book is lovely and so valuable. It shows that anxiety and dysphoria don’t just go away after early transition, but also that they can get a lot better. I think a lot of people will find it both relatable and uplifting. It's also nice that it's not just about being trans (like the first volume mostly was), but also about love, heartbreak, etc.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! It's out now.
• 
  Elizabeth

  I really enjoy Julia Kaye's comics and My Life In Transition is a great example of them. Following her life for six months, we get to experience her ups and downs, breakups and new relationships, gender euphoria and dysphoria, and everything else that comes with living as a trans woman in the years post-transition and in Kaye's unique personal experience. I found myself really connecting with a number of her experiences, and it was just a lovely little read. Some of the days shown were sad, others were uplifting, and some were just plain funny. It made for a lovely biographical slice of life comic. I would definitely recommend it.
• 
  Dallas

  Since reading Super Late Bloomer, I have come out as genderqueer. While I don't really use trans as a label for myself, I do very much identify with the struggles and the processes that come with maneuvering gender after realizing that maybe you don't identify with what you were assigned. I so appreciate artists like Julia Kaye who put their stories out there for the rest of us so we know we aren't alone in our experiences and feelings.
• 
  Meredith Ann

  ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
  
  I was so happy to see more of Julia Kaye's autobiographical comics were being published in book form. She has such a way with getting so much across in three panels. This latest collection covers 6 months of her life; we see her her growth over those months in such a poignant, heartfelt way. Highly recommended. (And I hope there's more coming!)
• 
  Laura Sackton

  I really enjoyed this. Kaye captures so many ordinary moments so effortlessly! Really loved the blend of moments of trans and queer joy as well as the moments of struggle and heartache. Felt very real.
• 
  Sandy

  I read this in one sitting. Very enjoyable daily comics about Julia's life and relationships, including her relationship with herself.
  
  Content notes: one depiction of a needle. Discussion of dysphoria and transphobia.
• 
  Bryan

  LOVED Julia's first collection SO I was delighted to see she was releasing a follow up collection. It was so nice "Catching up" with her. Highly enjoyed it!
• 
  Megan

  This book is a collection of short comics, two or three panels, snippets of Julia Kaye's life post transition. The comics are very vulnerable and bright, full of assurances that she is happy.
• 
  Angela Kaesheimer

  4.5 stars. Kaye's books just bring so much joy to my life.
• 
  Kris - My Novelesque Life

  RATING: 3.5 STARS
  
  I picked up this book from the library and am glad I did. My Life in Transition is based on Kaye's memoir-esque comic series. There is a book before this that discusses pre transitioning, and this one focuses on Kaye transition. We see her dealing with body dysmorphia, dating, and life in general. While the illustrations were not a favourite, but I did enjoy the stories.
• 
  Kat

  I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I started reading this with the wrong assumption. I don't know if it's because this is a collection of comic strips and I have certain expectations of those as compared to graphic novels broadly, but I anticipated more comedy. It's not intended to be funny; it's intended to be real. It's a strip a day of the life experiences of the author as she goes through six months of her life. Sometimes it's funny, and sometimes it's very much not. It's heartfelt and honest and important. It's a good collection, but go into it with an open mind and no expectations of performance for the benefit of others.
• 
  Jaclyn Hillis

  I really love the idea of documenting your life in a daily comic strip - so I really appreciated how to story was linear and we really get to learn the details of one's life through transition. We got to witness the highs and lows of her life, and it felt like we were on her journey with her.
  
• 
  Emma

  I enjoyed the original Super Late Bloomer book by Julia Kaye about her life when she first came out as trans, so I already knew I would like this one too. I ended up enjoying it even more than the first book. The comic strips work as a diary with snapshots of her life, both ups and downs. It's a very personal and honest look at her life through new relationships, break-ups, friendships, gender dysphoria and gender euphoria. I highly recommend reading anything by Kaye, but especially this book.
  
  [Free ARC from NetGalley]