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She's Not There  By  cover art

She's Not There

By: Jennifer Finney Boylan
Narrated by: Jennifer Finney Boylan
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Publisher's summary

The provocative best seller She's Not There is the winning, utterly surprising story of a person changing genders. By turns hilarious and deeply moving, Jennifer Finney Boylan explores the territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of family. Told in Boylan's fresh voice, She's Not There is about a person bearing and finally revealing a complex secret. Through her clear eyes, She's Not There provides a new window on the confounding process of accepting our true selves.

©2013 Jennifer Finney Boylan (P)2016 Random House Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

Critic reviews

"She's Not There, the

Running with Scissors of sex-change stories, brings irreverence and a merrily outrageous sense of humor to this potentially serious business." (The New York Times)

"Probably no book I've read in recent years has made me so question my basic assumptions about both the centrality and the permeability of gender, and made me recognize myself in a situation I've never known and have never faced.... The universality of the astonishingly uncommon: that's the trick of She's Not There. And with laughs, too. What a good book." (Anna Quindlen, from the introduction to the Book-of-the-Month-Club edition)
"Beautifully crafted, fearless, painfully honest, inspiring, and extremely witty. Jennifer Finney Boylan is an exquisite writer with a fascinating story, and this combination has resulted in one of the most remarkable, moving, and unforgettable memoirs in recent history." (Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors and Dry)

Featured Article: Audible Essentials—The Top 100 LGBTQIA+ Listens of All Time


While LGBTQIA+ creators have been around for millennia, it’s only recently that we’ve been hearing more diverse, more queer-authored, and more queer-performed stories about the entire spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experiences and identities. This list—just like the community it represents—is meant to be fluid. But most importantly, it’s meant to celebrate and reflect on the issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

What listeners say about She's Not There

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Author is a Great Storyteller!

I found this book delightful. Thank you for sharing your journey! Quite a sense of humor!

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Outstanding

Jennifer Finney Boylan is just a force to recon with. I admire her courage to be true to herself. I admire Deidre’s love and willingness to adapt. When we love someone, we change because of our love. I’m a mother of 2 transgender children and I too have had a relatable journey with Deidre of changing because of love. Thank you Jenny for sharing your experience and stories. It’s a gift to us!!!

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One word - gratitude!

Jennifer Finney Boylan, in sharing her story, has shed light and understanding on transexuality and both the joys and challenges she encountered throughout her life. Thank you for sharing your journey, Jennifer, so we can better see the humanity in every individual and the value of love that we can offer to others.

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a transgender ladies story of emerging from her wg

This story documents one ladies journey from the early moments of emerging from her egg (I prefer chrysalis) and showing the world the beautiful person (I think more of a butterfly spreading her wings in the midday sun) that was hidden inside.

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Amazing insights!

Jenny captured the essence of transition with the highs and lows and ultimately the peace that comes in the struggle.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great Storyteller

Informative, funny, thoughtful and smart. I learned so much. A reminder that we are connected in such important ways even when the differences of our lived experience seem so different on the surface.

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ComfortIng stories, uncomfortably read

Comforting, validating, informative, endearing stories uncomfortably read by the author. One would think that the writer would best know the meter and timber and tone to use, reading her own tales, but this is a situation in which a professional reader would have brought fuller and richer life to the telling.

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3 people found this helpful

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Essential

Thoughtful, sensitive, and humorous reading by Jenny Boylan. The afterward by Russo is just as thoughtful and helps deepen the meaning of Jenny's tale.
I'm just starting my third listening. It's that good.

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Really enjoyable and important story.

Important story to know. Many great life lessons for all. Creative, imaginatively told and emotional.

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She is not there... excellent

This book was very insightful. As a mother whose son was at first “only gay,” to now starting on the path to transition, it was helpful in understanding what he may be going through. I love and support my son with all my heart and wish only that he be happy and true to who he really is. Thank you for sharing your story.

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8 people found this helpful