Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer by Dylan Mulvaney-266 pages
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When Dylan Mulvaney came out as a woman online, she was a viral sensation almost overnight, emerging as a trailblazing voice on social media. Dylan’s personal coming-out story blossomed into a platform for advocacy and empowerment for trans people all over the world. Through her “Days of Girlhood” series, she connected with followers by exploring what it means to be a girl, from experimenting with makeup to story times to spilling the tea about laser hair removal, while never shying away from discussing the transphobia she faced online. Nevertheless, she was determined to be a beacon of positivity.
But shortly after she celebrated day 365 of being a girl, it all came screeching to a halt when an innocuous post sparked a media firestorm and right-wing backlash she couldn’t have expected. Despite the vitriolic press and relentless paparazzi, Dylan was determined to remain loud and proud.
In Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer, Dylan pulls back the curtain of her “It Girl” lifestyle with a witty and intimate reflection of her life pre- and post-transition. She covers everything from her first big break in theater to the first time her dad recognized her as a girl to how she handled scandals, cancellations, and . . . tucking. It’s both laugh-out-loud funny and powerfully honest—and is a love letter to everyone who stands up for queer joy.
Thoughts: I picked this up not realizing Mulvaney was the one in the Bud Light commercial/ad that conservative media (and Kid Rock among others) went berserk over. This is an insightful look into one person's experience as a transgender woman and coming out to her family. She documented her experience for a year on Tiktok and became pretty famous. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I enjoyed Mulvaney's humor. I like to read books from people's perspectives/experiences that are different from mine. I am an LGBTQ+ ally, but not a member of the community and I am still learning.
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