This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →
Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Barely any
No significant violence; the dangers in the novel are social and emotional
Language
Barely any
Mild language in Frankel's literary register
Sexual Content
Barely any
No sexual content; Claude's gender identity is treated with warmth and age-appropriateness
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
The emotional weight of a family navigating the world's response to their child's identity — and the question of how much protection is right — is the novel's sustained and warm subject
What this book is about
Laurie Frankel's literary novel follows Rosie and Penn Walsh as their youngest son Claude begins insisting he is a girl. The novel follows the family across years and across the country as they navigate Claude's gender identity, the world's responses, and the question of whether to be open or private about who Claude is. Frankel writes with extraordinary warmth and wisdom; the novel is the most emotionally honest portrayal of a transgender child and their family in literary fiction.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Reader Verification
Be the first to verify
this rating
Have you read This is how it always is? Submit a community rating to confirm or correct the AI estimate. Your review helps other readers make an informed choice.
Rate this book →Free · ~5 minutes · No account required
Similar reads
More Literary Fiction books from the catalog.
Think this AI estimate is off?
Flag an inaccuracy →Where to Buy
Affiliate links — BookLens earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.