Both Sides Now


Peyton Thomas
Both Sides Now
(Dial Books, August 2021)

 

One of CBC’s Best Canadian MG and YA books for 2021

Featured on CBC’s list of “12 books for kids and teens to read during Pride Month 2022”

One of Tundra Books‘s Top Ten Books You Need to Read This Fall
Featured on Buzzfeed‘s list of “30 of the Best YA Books to Get Your Hands on This Summer”
Featured on Buzzfeed‘s list of “28 New LGBTQ+ Young Adult Novels That’ll Add Sunshine to Your Summer”
Featured on PrideSource‘s list of “17 LGBTQ+ Must-Reads to Get You in the Pride Spirit”
Featured on LGBTQReads list of “August 2021: New Releases”
Featured on the Daily Hive Vancouver’s list of “10 essential LGBTQ2+ books to celebrate Pride”
Featured on POPSUGAR’s “A Running List of the Best Books of 2021, For All Your TBR Needs”
Featured on CBC’s list of “29 Canadian books we can’t wait to read in August”
Featured on Lambda Literary’s list of “August’s Most Anticipated LGBTQ Literature”
Featured on The Young Folk’s list of “Most Anticipated Reads of 2021”
Featured on Book Riot’s list of “12 LGBTQIA YA Audiobooks to Listen to in the 2nd Half of 2021”

A witty and warm-hearted novel about a trans teen finding his place in the world perfect for fans of  Red, White and Royal Blue

There’s only one thing standing between Finch Kelly and a full-blown case of high school senioritis: the National Speech & Debate Tournament. Taking home the gold would not only be the pinnacle of Finch’s debating career, but the perfect way to launch himself into his next chapter: college in Washington, DC, and a history-making career as the first trans congressman. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, for starters, Finch could develop a teeny tiny crush on his very attractive, very taken, and very gay debate partner, Jonah. Never mind that Finch has never considered whether he’s interested in more than just girls.

And that dream of college in DC? Finch hasn’t exactly been accepted anywhere yet, let alone received the full-ride scholarship he’ll need to make this dream a reality.

Worst of all, though, is this year’s topic for Nationals: transgender rights. If he wants to cinch the gold, and get into college, Finch might have to argue against his own humanity.

People say there are two sides to every argument. But, as Finch is about to discover, some things—like who you are and who you love—are not up for debate.

Praise for Both Sides Now

“Emotionally charged and politically relevant, this is a must-read.”
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Thomas’ debut is achingly vulnerable… There’s no debate: Both Sides Now is a compelling, heartfelt must-read.”
—Booklist

“This coming-of-age romance poignantly depicts self-discovery and finding your place in the world.” —BuzzFeed

Read Peyton Thomas’s interview on Frolic
Read Kirkus Reviews‘s starred review of BOTH SIDES NOW

Peyton Thomas is a freelance journalist with bylines in Pitchfork, Billboard, and Vanity Fair. He was a 2016 Lambda Literary Fellow, studying under Benjamin Alire Sáenz. He lives in Toronto. Both Sides Now is his debut novel.