The Bride was a Boy - Book Review

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The Bride was a Boy is an autobiographical manga that tells the true-life story of a Japanese woman named Chii, who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman. This cheerful graphic memoir follows Chii through several important phases in her life, from questioning her gender as a child, to realising she is transgender, her emotional journey to figuring out what that means, her decision to transition, choosing a new name for herself, coming out to her friends and family, learning how to live life as a woman, finding a new place for herself in Japanese society and her relationship with the man who would later become her husband.

The Bride was a Boy was written and illustrated by Chii who goes by the nickname Bride-chan in the book. It was released in English on 8 May 2019 by Seven Seas Entertainment. It is 158 pages long and retails for between $19.99 and $26.99. The illustrations in this book are hyper exaggerated, childlike and cute looking, and work really well with Bride-chan's positive narration of her life.

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who doesn't know that much about what it means to be transgender, I found the book really interesting and eye-opening. Bride-Chan is such a loveable, kind and adorable main character. She is apologetically feminine in every way, and that makes her really endearing. When she reacts with girlish excitement over something, it is hard not to smile. Bride-Chan is open about and honest about her experiences growing up transgender, talks about her dream of becoming a bride someday, and about what it means to be transgender.

I really liked the parts when Bride-Chan explains some misconceptions about trans people, like how not all trans people get surgery, she also talks about her gender-affirmation surgery, gender terminology, and more.

This was such an endearing book. I really loved the man that Bride-chan wants to marry. He is called Husband-kun in the book. Husband-kun loves Bride-chan so much and is so devoted to her. When she comes out to him as transgender, he isn't fazed. He supports her. When she hesitates about using a female restroom, he encourages her to be brave and to go in and use it. When she decides to get gender-affirmation surgery, he supports her decision. When she agrees to marry him, he is so happy he jumps up and down in excitement. The love story between Bride-chan and Husband-kun is so heart-warming you will fall in love with these characters and wish them nothing but happiness.

One thing that struck me when reading this book was just how brave Bride-chan is. Her description of her experiences transitioning from male to female make me think just how terrifying it must be to make that change. I have so much respect for her and for other people like her who find the courage to be themselves. Bride-Chan's story is an important one. It was so heartfelt, raw and real. I bet she made a beautiful bride.

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