Book Review: Gender Theory

Over pride month we have delved into multiple LGBTQ+ stories and Gender Theory has been one of them. A novel written by Madeleine Docherty is about a girl. A girl who is facing lots of troubles and obstacles growing up: womanhood, friendships, relationships and most of all identity. She has a best friend, Ella, who is always there. There before she even knows she needs to be there. From hospital trips to breakups. But there becomes a line that has to be drawn and it becomes blurred. Will everything be at risk and can it be stopped?

This isn’t a huge book, around 180 pages, which is nice if you need a good binge read. It is a story of friendship and self-discovery. These are a crucial part throughout. Everything leads back to these two points. I thought it was a beautiful story of friendship between the main character (who is unnamed) and Ella. A representation of evolving with each other and never giving up on each other despite how chaotic life is. 

It is a very messy story which involves a lot of self-destruction in some lights, which leads into a story of self discovery. We have all been messy and complicated and even though I hadn't gone through all of what the main character did, it felt relatable and real. Her story navigating her sexuality was up and down and very honest. It could get complicated at times and I think it could have gone in more depth about her experiences and story within sexuality and how that tied in with her confusion and evolvement over time. Which was refreshing to read but amongst everything else it was all equally important. 

Definitely check the trigger warnings. They are a must before reading. 

Writing style wise it was very Sally Rooney coded. It had a conversational flow and was written in second person. I am not fussed by this but it made sense for it to be a smaller book. If it was anything bigger I think it would have put me off. 

One thing I loved the most was the ending. As the story moved on you lost faith with their friendship that it was going to end. And it did for some part but it looped back to the end with the two finding a way to blend back into each other's life in a healthy way. 

Overall I would rate this 3 stars.