Cleavage

Men, Women, and the Space Between Us

De: Jennifer Finney Boylan

Narrado por: Gabra Zackman, Jennifer Finney Boylan

What is the difference between men and women? Jennifer Finney Boylan, bestselling author of She’s Not There and co-author of Mad Honey with Jodi Picoult, examines the divisions—as well as the common ground—between the genders, and reflects on her own experiences, both difficult and joyful, as a transgender American.

Jennifer Finney Boylan’s She’s Not There was the first bestselling work written by a transgender American. Since its publication twenty years ago, she has become the go-to person for insight into the impact of gender on our lives, from the food we eat to the dreams we dream, both for ourselves and for our children. But Cleavage is more than a deep dive into gender identity; it’s also a look at the difference between coming out as trans in 2000—when many people reacted to Boylan’s transition with love—and the present era of blowback and fear.

How does gender affect our sense of self? Our body image? The passage of time? The friends we lose—and keep? Boylan considers her womanhood, reflects on the boys and men who shaped her, and reconceives of herself as a writer, activist, parent, and spouse. With heart-wrenching honesty, she illustrates the feeling of liminality that followed her to adulthood, but demonstrates the redemptive power of love through it all.

With Boylan’s trademark humor and poignancy, Cleavage is a sharp, witty, and captivating look at the triumphs and losses of a life lived in two genders. Cleavage provides hope for a future in which we all have the freedom to live joyfully as men, as women, and in the space between us.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books.

©2025 Jennifer Finney Boylan (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Jenny's honest, intense lived experience gives us a compassionate prism through which to see this changing world."—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Boylan writes with great humor, wisdom, and warmth about what it means to be human—at different ages, and in different genders—in this confounding world. Compulsively readable and often outright hilarious, this book is a treasure.”—Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great Believers and I Have Some Questions for You

“For those who have never felt at home at home—and that’s a lot of us these days—Jenny Finney Boylan’s story is a story of faith, hope, and, above all, love.”—Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street

Author's honesty

I follow Jennifer Finney Boylan and love all her books. Today I pray for her and all trans people in pur world. Peace to all.

The poetry of Jenny’s prose. And the poignancy.

I’m an upper middle-class east-coast white 67 year old Transwoman. What’s not to like?

Incredible Writing and Narration

Just so good. I’m grateful that Jenny has the courage to put her truth on the page. It helps dispel the damaging narrative circulating in our society right now. It helps remind—maybe all of us—that our unique journey is just that…our journey. And of course, Gabra Zackman absolutely knocks this audiobook out of the park. Once again.

Someday there may be no gender

what a treasure this whole experience was to enjoy and what a privilege to be looking at the world through Jennifer's eyes.

Beautiful listen

I hope that soon Society will move past lies and fear and embrace each other for who each Person is. Cleavage is beautifully written and narrated.We are all Human Beings. ❤️

Good story, then preachy and tedious

It started out well but by the end I was so sick of being preached at and told how to feel within a narrow narrow range. Started to devolve at TERF. So holy. Name calling achieves nothing.

Engaging Memoir

I thought the prose was engaging I enjoyed catching up with the author and hearing of her experiences, following her transition.

A good follow-up to "She's Not There"

Jennifer Finney Boylan continues sharing her life's journey and fills in some of the background we've not heard before. Where "She's Not There " ends with the author’s life having become "Maddy" to her young sons, this book beings with those children grown and embarking on their own paths. Ms Boylan discusses aging as a trans- woman as well as what it means for women to age. Where the first book was written in the era of society's exploration and educational period on transgender issues, this one has been released during a time of backlash and insane new rules and laws that only serve to humiliate folks the MAGA right doesn't even try to understand. Ms Boylan confronts these difficult times head on and without apparent fear. - I had a little trouble with the seemingly chapters as essays format and there is some repetition her editor should have corrected for, but generally a solid 4 Stars from me and an important book if you really want to learn and understand. Education is the key to unlocking the box the fearful right cling to so fiercely. Why in the name of Cleavage do they care more about what is between one's legs than what is in one's heart and mind?

A marvelous kaleidoscope

I was a regular reader of Ms Boylan’s columns in the Times, so I was already well-acquainted with her prose and many of her points of view. What I didn’t know until I listened to this book was that she and I were raised as virtual neighbors at near opposite ends of Philadelphia’s Main Line (albeit a few years apart), and that as youngster she attended the Haverford School, my alma mater's CHIEF Inter-Ac League rival.

That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed and attempted to empathize with her emotional roller coaster of a ride through a life that, as a hopelessly straight old male WASP, I could only marvel at and loudly applaud without fully understanding.

What finally I came away with, though, was the utter conviction that her book should be required reading for all those self-proclaimed Christian/conservative legislators who think that the complexities of human sexuality can be so reduced to some binary certainty that they cannot countenance and must denigrate and deny anyone who sees it any other way. How could anyone fail to appreciate the emotional and intellectual honesty and richness of a life so well, thoroughly, and thoughtfully lived?

A journey to finding one’s true self

The narration was confusing. In true form, a man would read the male part of the story once the transition from man to woman took place, then a female voice would be warranted. The story “Cleavage” was misleading. If the author decides to reproduce the book (including the Audible), it is recommended to title the book, a journey to finding one’s self, or transitioning to trans.