4 stars 
 "For as long as I could remember, I had been apologizing for existing, for trying to be who I was, to live the life I was meant to lead." 
 If I Was Your Girl follows Amanda - a trans teen girl who is starting at a new school after having to leave her old home due to the way she has been treated because of her gender identity. The people in Amanda's new town don't know she's trans and so she's able to live her life in the way she's always wanted, where no-one knows her secret. 
 I didn't love this book but I did really, really like it and I thought it was really important - I don't even know of any other own voices trans fiction and this was done really well - we have imperfect but ultimately good characters, we have character development, we have great relationships between girls. I think the one thing that let it down for me was the lack of development of some of the side characters. I liked the characters, I just didn't really love them. 
 Throughout the book, we have lots of flash-backs to Amanda's life pre-transition and during. I liked this aspect - we got to see Amanda's life, everything that happened to get her to where she is now and everything she's been through. The whole book is wonderfully honest - it doesn't pretend that Amanda's life has been easy but it also shows how trans people can live normal, happy lives. It's hopeful and I think that's really what makes it so special. Also, the author's note is really great so be sure to read that. 
 I'm not even close to the first to say it, but this is a book everyone should read. 
 Also, if anyone has any recommendations for other own voices trans fiction, please let me know! 
 "I'm not brave," I said, smiling despite myself. "Bravery implies I had a choice. I'm just me, you know?"