Pretty

“Pretty is one of the most brilliantly constructed memoirs I’ve read. There is not one wasted paragraph or scene here. The language cradles but never ever coddles. Some art just makes you thankful. I am so thankful.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

“Every page of Pretty speaks to KB Brookins’ longings and their willingness to be vulnerable in a world that threatens and erases. At the same time, a luminous thread of resistance runs through this fearless and engrossing narrative of becoming. A timely, essential, and beautiful addition to the canon of queer, trans, and nonbinary literature.” —Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

“The world is better because of KB Brookins. Pretty is a soulful, daring, and unflinchingly honest coming-of-age memoir. So good, I lost count of how many times I whispered ‘damn’ while reading. From vibing to Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, to praise dancing as a kid in church, and their stunning and gorgeously-rendered path to embracing their nonbinary identity, Brookins stories will have you shedding a tear one second and holding your breath the next.” —Edgar Gomez, author of Alligator Tears

“This book blew me away. Seamlessly transitioning between poetry and prose, Pretty is as fearless, incisive, and brilliant as they come. It’s a gorgeous memoir that, despite pain and rejection, insists on hope, forgiveness, and Black trans joy. ‘You see gender, spinning and fusing into something freer?’ Brookins asks. Thanks to their life-changing book, I do, I really do. There’s no doubt about it: Brookins is the real deal.” —Marisa Crane, author of I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself

“[Pretty] mixes poetry into the tenderly and skillfully narrated story of Brookins’s life. There are joyful anecdotes, musings on pop culture, and reckonings with familial and sexual trauma in the book, but at its heart is a carefully sketched-out—and often devastating—portrait of what it means to be Black and transmasculine in Texas, a state that continues to criminalize both of those identities.” —Vogue

“[A] powerful reminder of the undeniable force and importance of Black queer stories. . . . A moving and vulnerable foray into what it means to navigate and embody desirability/desire, tenderness, softness, love, and masculinity as a queer and trans person, Brookins’ Pretty radiates honesty and authenticity. . . . Readers become intimately familiar with Brookins’ journey to self-love and acceptance, driven towards understanding through words that underline a shared humanity that everyone can relate to, regardless of your gender identity or sexual orientation. . . . [Pretty] is a ramifying reminder of the strength of hope, and an indicator of the revolutionary power that exists in our stories, the possibilities that open up when Black, queer, trans stories like Brookins’ and memoirs like Pretty make their way into the hands of our community.” —GLAAD.org

“Brookins’s writing thrives on well-observed juxtapositions. . . . Linguistically, Brookins pulls equally from playful internet slang and queer theory, often joining both syntaxes in the poems that punctuate each chapter. . . . Dazzling. . . . Brookins is a writer to watch.” —Publishers Weekly

“This book, above all, offers a potent narrative of learning to live authentically, no matter the circumstances and challenges. Brookins relays their experiences and opinions with candor. . . . The most compelling threads of the text relate the author’s journey of self-actualization, from questioning ideas of gender to shedding shame. ‘My life’s work is to make Black people, queer people, and masculine people fall in love with who they are and shed the daily violence of betraying themselves and others,’ they write. This book is a powerful testament to that. An inspiring and deeply human work.” —Kirkus Reviews

“KB Brookins’ debut memoir arrives when we need it most. . . . Striking. . . . Pretty offers far more than just pretty words—Brookins tells their side of the story as an act of resistance against those who would silence them.” —BookPage