oh i adored this so much!! listening to dylan's story in her own words was such a poignant & moving experience. i have so much respect for her! it was also fabulous discovering we both love musical theater, sour candy & the color pink. 💫🩷🩷 thank you dylan mulvaney, netgalley & the publisher for the ALC! 💫🎧🩷📚

I’m personally no longer in my days of girlhood – they’re behind me and quite frankly good riddance to them. But I have loved Dylan’s TikTok series for years (not to brag, but I was an early investor at day 1). There’s something so special about trans joy and Dylan Mulvaney brings that in abundance. However, she’s always had a kind of Disney princess energy; incredible levels of positivity that sometimes come across as naivety. This book, cataloguing her days of girlhood through a combination of diary entries made in that first year and retrospective essays shows a whole new side of Dylan, a woman who worries and desperately wants to be liked by people. It’s incredibly humanising, stripping back the façade of social media, and a must read for anyone who has ever found themselves on the wrong side of the Internet.

Days of Girlhood was (is?) a TikTok series where trans creator Dylan Mulvaney tracked her first experiences of being publicly out as a trans woman. In the series, she talks about learning how to dress in a way that makes her feel confident, going shopping with her friends, undergoing procedures like facial feminisation surgery and laser hair removal, and so much more. From day 1, the comments were mixed, with some people cheering her on and others saying they were personally offended to see someone ‘appropriating womanhood’. Dylan handled all of this with grace and positivity, but I always considered how it was affecting her behind the scenes.

This book is such a touching insight into the different personas a person can present. Behind the pink, bouncy, musical woman who took everything in her stride was a girl desperately trying to be accepted by the community she had just entered into: girlhood. In her journal entries, Dylan signs off with her signature ‘Love ya!’ and, paired with the often existential and emotional passages, the cheery phrase I’d always seen as an affection to her audience seemed to become a mantra to herself – ‘I love you, and that’s what matters’.

It’s hard to read how difficult Dylan’s experience was, but this book is by no means a negative one. Alongside all of the challenges is a monumental helping of trans joy. From living out childhood dreams to meeting other trans women, Dylan shares the ups as well as the downs. One day, she shares her first day going back to church since coming out, and talks about her dream to run a summer camp for queer folks to reclaim that part of their childhood. She writes,
“I bet I would feel God somewhere like that.”

On her first birthday out as a woman, Dylan is recovering from her nose cast off after surgery, so her entry details memories of past birthdays, including:
- Seeing Wicked in LA aged 12 (and getting to sit in the front seat of the car for the first time)
- Seeing Next to Normal aged 14
- Getting gelato and crying in a stretch limo because her mom wouldn’t let her get her cartilage pierced aged 16

These moments of silent religious reflection or memories of silly childhood antics really remind the reader something that is easy to forget when a person comes out as an adult: they lived a life before. Dylan exploded into success overnight (despite being a musical theatre star in her own right beforehand) and this book helps in reclaiming her personhood rather than just being a persona who exists in one minute TikTok videos, a microcosm of a life.

I will say, the ARC I received (and I’m very grateful for!) was an audiobook, and I do feel like this book is probably best experienced in print. Though hearing Dylan narrate her own book is glorious and feels like having a chat at a sleepover, there are elements that I feel like I missed out on by not having the physical book. I requested an audio ARC specifically because I like to hear a memoir from the person’s own voice, but also because I’m an advocate for accessibility in publishing and I think it’s important for reviewers to acknowledge that not everyone reads a book physically, some prefer to listen. So I try to accept a balance of print, digital, and audio versions of books. This is one of those times where I think a book maybe suffers in an audio format.

Occasionally, in her narration, Dylan will reference a drawing or a particular way a page is laid out that, obviously, a reader who is listening can’t see. I think this is unfortunately just a result of it not being scripted quite right from print to audio, which is a shame. Many of the details feel like they could have been omitted without losing anything in the audiobook, and that mentioning them only highlighted that this book was intended for a particular format. However, I do appreciate the image descriptions because not only does it let listeners understand the context of certain sections, it really sets the bar for other narrators and publishing teams to consider visual accessibility as a matter of importance in their translations.

Overall, this book is just a really lovely insight into the life of an overnight celebrity, a unique examination of coming out in a really turbulent time for trans people with real-time reflections, and a hopeful sign for the future. However, I would recommend getting it in print if you’re able to – both to experience it fully, and because that pink cover is SOOO Elle Woods.
Love ya!

A refreshing account of a trans celebrities life. As a trans person I found a lot of comfort in reading Dylan talk about her different stages of transition, her discovery of her trans identity and how that discovery shaped her future. Being transgender is not smooth sailing and its refreshing to see a light hearted account of how transgender lives are affected by society. A very important novel and Im thankful to Dylan for sharing her story with a world that is often not receptive.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Dylan has been on the periphery of the trans/nb public sphere for some time now, but I kind of avoided actively engaging in her content because I didn't expect much nuance or intersectionality in her trans journey. But it was a refreshing surprise to listen to the audiobook and discover her utterly sincere and funny voice that can cover everything from recognizing that it's a journey of learning, and that her path is one of relative privilege. With that fundamental humility, all her escapades, whether silly or profound, all just end up making you root for her and grateful for her existence in the public eye, as tentative as that position is. I might check out the print copy because I understand there were accompanyi illustrations for some of these anecdotes.

This book is the perfect example of why baby gays are a stereotype.

Dylan is just a girl. The most basic white girl. And that’s okay. I’m just not sure how I feel about Dylan verbally recognizing her wealthy white thin conventionally attractive privilege but seemingly not doing the work to protect those who don’t have her privilege.

This book frequently felt out of touch because Dylan has always been rich and had absolutely no reason to even think about anything political until it affected her directly. She didn’t know the Biden had a dog when she interviewed him in 2022 even though the biting incidents made national news for several weeks straight in 2021. Her journal entry for the day of the interview said “It was like looking under the bed for monsters and seeing there weren’t any there. I’m sure there were a few skeletons locked in the linen closet but dare I say it I was proud to be an American.” All that because he said he supports trans people. Mind you the book itself was written post Oct 7, 2023 and we now know the skeletons are genocide and had done absolutely nothing to codify protections for trans people or any women at all.

Dylan truly is living in her own world full of (mostly white) queer celebrities. In fact, there were so many name drops that my head was spinning and several of them were problematic (ahem Ellen and Chelsea Handler and the Kardashians).

I know I’m being critical but I truly cannot stand to see someone with such a massive platform and access to so many influential people do so little for their community

I remember coming across Dylan’s Days of Girlhood TikToks on my FYP, and her enthusiasm and positivity were infectious. So, when I saw she had a book, I had to listen.

Paper Doll is a Dylan Mulvaney’s honest, witty, and deeply personal reflection on her journey through girlhood. Shares the highs and the lows throughout her journey, Dylan's positivity continues to shine through in this love letter to queer joy and resilience. Hearing Dylan narrate this herself made it all the more engaging. It’s a book that’s just as full of light as it is raw honesty, and I loved getting to hear her side of things.

Thanks to RBMedia and NetGalley for the ARC!

One of my favorite ways to read memoirs is when the author is also the narrator for their audiobook. This book was no different! I have loved Dylan since she originally started posting on TikTok for her Day ___ of Being a Girl series. I have learned so much from her, even being a cisgender girl. She is so comforting and I have been wanting her to write a tell-all book for several years. Dylan talks about anything and everything in her book, and it was so raw and real. This is a fantastic read for girls all over, trans and cis.

This was delightful! Dylan tackles a ton of topics with humor and kindness. I highly recommend the audio version because she narrates it. Every chapter ends with “love ya!” and that just made me smile.

The only “downside” is there are illustrations in the book that she describes, which of course can’t be seen on audio. So I’ll have to pick up a physical copy to check them out!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced audio copy!

If you frequent TikTok, it's almost guaranteed you've come across Dylan Mulvaney. Her series "Day ___ of being a girl" has elicited a reaction from all kinds of people, and to be honest, I've personally always found Dylan's videos a little abrasive and over the top, occasionally watching but usually quickly scrolling on, However, after listening to Paper Doll, Dylan's memoir narrated by the Queen herself, her personality makes total sense.

Mulvaney covers her first forays into influencer fame, as well as what it was like growing up, trying to discover who she was. I felt for Dylan when she was confused and going through life trying to understand who she was meant to be. I was saddened by the realization of the constant fear Dylan had to experience as her platform grew larger and larger. A theatre kid at heart, Dylan is truly striving to help those of her community be accepted and feel loved in the way they should be. I am very sad that Dylan's mother couldn't make that same acceptance.

My only concern is that at points, it feels as if Dylan forgets how much opportunity her platform has garnered her, and while she tries to check herself, I personally hope she continues to do so. Also, Dylan, you did sing quite a bit for an audio book. (haha.)

3.75 out of five stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced audio copy in an exchange for my honest review.

I want to begin by thanking NetGalley, Abrams Books, and Dylan Mulvaney for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

To begin, Paper Doll is a look at Dylan’s life both before and after transition. Each chapter is a letter from the author to herself. I found this book to not only be heartwarming at times but also deeply emotionally as a woman. As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I found Dylan’s journey through her novel to be one many LGBTQIA+ individuals go through from issues with family to other’s perception of you as an individual.

Dylan does not cite that she knows everything regarding girlhood/womanhood but instead frames the book as her experience of girlhood/womanhood through the strong women and role models in her life. She is deeply connected to her community, and she express her love for those in her life, even in hard times or disagreements.

I found Dylan’s view of success, especially remaining authentic and standing on your personal values, to resonate with my own view of success. Dylan recognizes her mistakes she has made and takes steps to correct them, especially regarding the Beergate scandal.

I found Dylan’s struggle with mental health and wanting to please others to resonate with my own life. Dylan encompasses her struggle with her identity through her early days of her life through the current day with strong examples and memories written in each letter to herself. Her authentic approach to working through her mental health — especially her interjections in her various therapy and life coach sessions — made me as a reader see her steps to becoming the best version of herself.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to find community in Dylan’s story and to resonate with experiences of womanhood/girlhood. This book is one I believe any individual could read and find pieces of wisdom in Dylan’s story.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy*

I absolutely loved this. I followed Dylan back when she started Days of Girlhood and the way that she let us into her thoughts during specific times was amazing. Dylan presented herself as one person on the internet, and someone else in her private thoughts we got to experience.

Dylan is also an amazing narrator, and I think they would be an amazing fiction narrator! I want more books narrated by Dylan!

Because a journey of girlhood isn’t just about afternoon tea, facials and fun. In this book TikTok sensation Dylan Mulvaney lets us in to the reality of her gender journey, from her fairy tuck mother, to her yearning for validation, to “Beergate”, to the constant coming out again and again with strangers (divulge the bulge) to struggling with the pressure of representing a community. If you do follow Dylan on TikTok you may think you know everything but I feel she went above and beyond in spilling the tea. As she says she has had to hold back on TikTok as she felt she owed her fans everything. Being famous and being transgender is a one in a million and she thanks her lucky stars she’s made it, but she knows how quickly it can be taken away.

I know this is a stretch to make it into my read Irish March, but with a surname like Mulvaney, (and a possible Irish father/grandfather) she’s definitely one of our own and with the thread of Catholic guilt she is.

Dylan is an inspiring person all around but this look into her life beyond her content is thoughtful, informative, and lovely. I appreciate her honesty and openness in sharing her story and struggles, especially when recalling her less than proud moments. Regardless, I am proud to follow her content and read this memoir recounting her first year of girlhood and beyond. Dylan does not hold back in letting us in on her highs and lows, she teaches as much as she learns.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook of "Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer" by Dylan Mulvaney, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget: it felt like sitting down with a friend. And hearing Dylan narrate her own story added an incredible layer of authenticity and emotion to the memoir. What stood out most was her ability to blend serious reflections with light-hearted moments.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Dylan Mulvaney for the ARC!

Paper Doll, Notes from a Late Bloomer reads like a diary. Cozy and intimate and authentic feeling. Dylan Mulvaney shares her experiences, including how she ended up creating her series of girlhood on TikTok, an unfortunate brand deal backlash, and how she dealt with her family members reactions.

I always enjoy memoirs and biographies, allowing me to either relate or learn more about other people - and this one does not disappoint. I enjoyed the easy flow of the writing, the ups and downs of a life, and the reminder that there is always more to the story than what you think you know.

It was lovely to reflect back on my own moments, as a fan of Dylan’s ‘Days of Girlhood’ series. Hearing how those early likes and comments on her videos impacted her. A reminder that we are all connected.

🎧 My brain consumed this book via my ears… so audiobook!

The book was narrated by the author, which is always so wonderful when it’s a memoir, the emotions really come through.

The speed was a bit slower than I would typically think of Dylan’s voice. I wondered if this was her natural reading voice, and maybe she speaks faster for TikTok videos due to the lack of attention span.

Either way, it all worked out. With the ability to increase the speed, I found x1.75 speed was perfect for me. I typically speed up audiobooks to x2 - FYI.

Bonus for the audiobook was hearing Dylan say her “love ya” phrase - completely adorable as always.

Note:
Thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ARC copy. Love ya! ;)

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book through Netgalley.com, however, my opinion is that of my own.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was fairly familiar with Dylan from the TikTok community and was so sad for her when the whole beer-gate situation happened. To hear all about her struggles during her transitioning and how horrible people were to her during that time, and often since, is heartbreaking. In this book, Dylan was honest and forthright, but caring and kind--I would imagine that anyone curious about transgender, and with an open mind would love this book. I also think there is a perfect audience for this book. I listened to it rather quickly and enjoyed it very much. I wish Dylan the best. I hope that she finds what she needs and wants in life.

Somewhat familiar with Dylan Mulvaney from her TikTok videos, I originally came across her when she was early in her “Days of Girlhood” series. She had just bought a pack of tampons to keep on hand, in case anyone needed one. I liked the sentiment of being there for others, and being ready to help when you can.

In Paper Doll, Dylan shares how she’s navigated her transition and some struggles, with vulnerability and humor.

Dylan Mulvaney narrates the audiobook herself, which is a treat in terms of conveying emotions and fun voice acting work! Although it does have a lot of cliche millennial theater kid sentiment, it does capture the casual feeling of meeting with a friend who is catching you up on everything. While I enjoyed this memoir, I think it would have been better if it was written a few years down the line.

Not-so-relevant detail: I loved that she mentioned Bare: A Pop Opera and Glee. So true.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As an elder millennial who’s not on tiktok, I didn’t know anything about Dylan until the Bud light scandal. I’d grown men at work sneering at Bud light cans and their childish silly reactions made me automatically like/ root for this trans influencer. So when I saw the Paper Dolls memoir on audio narrated by the author, I figured I had to listen. I love a memoir and I’m not one to judge anyone’s story.
This one is quick. It had some really dark, hard to hear moments, but Dylan mostly approaches the memoir with a campy, theater kid attitude, which made even the toughest parts palatable.
I do feel like it could be a bit premature and felt very “young” throughout, but who am I to tell someone not to capitalize on a moment in this day and age. Trans stories are important. Trans visibility matters more than ever. I’m glad I listened.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

i love dylan and was thrilled to hear about her book. i'm particularly glad i got to listen to the audiobook narrated by dylan herself, and she did such a fantastic job. her narration is full of emotions, which made me chuckle out loud then cry just a few pages later.

I loved this book about Dylan's journey through her life and all her transformations from childhood to girl hood to women hood it was heartbreaking to know that trans people still get brought down.. it was funny in places and even though I'm not trans I seen some of myself in dylan as someone who has alot of trauma and bad thoughts I hope dylan gets what she wants from life