The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend Is My Girlfriend

I’ve followed Maddy on Instagram for a couple of years and was excited to see this book pop up on NetGalley.

In a book version of her zine series, the author answers questions from Queer women and non-binary people on love, life and different facets of moving through the world as an LGBT+ person. Her advice is heartfelt and clear, drawing on her own personal experiences. I appreciated the use of guest contributors to cover areas that they had more personal knowledge of, real effort has been made here to be intersectional and not to speak over the voices of different groups.

Colourful illustrations throughout add to the collection and make it a real pleasure to read. I’d recommend this book to Queer women and non-binary people, especially those who are either feeling stuck in a rut or who are closeted/ newly out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I feel like this book wasn’t for ME, exactly... I was intrigued by advice that was given. I have recently come out as biromantic and I’m trying to find my footing there. I found that this was based more on the sexuality of the queer community, not the romantic side, but it was an interesting read and I can see how this would help someone who genuinely needed the advice. A great read and some awesome advice.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Are you LGBTQ+ and wanted to ask Ms. Manners a question? This is the book for you. Do you feel all alone or wonder if others have the same question as you or you just need some advice? This is the book for you. You are not alone. This book is a resource you can use and there will be more just like it. Many of the questions are relatable and the answers can provide clarity for you. A one sitting read with amazing art.

After reading another review that said this was LGBTQ+ version of Ms. Manners, I was hooked. And, they were right! I loved the short stories, the advice, the amazing graphics. All of it is simply impeccable. It is something that I will keep as a reference and hand out as a recommendation.
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers of #TheExGirlfriendofMyExGirlfriendIsMyGirlfriend for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

As a queer woman, I really felt this book ahaha. I think this could be a fun and entertaining read for all types of people however!

This was a cute book that helps give advise for sapphics in terms of dating from sapphics who are still in the closet to sapphics that have had well developed relationships.

This‌ ‌book‌ ‌was‌ ‌very‌ ‌informative,‌ ‌Maddy‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌very‌ ‌talented‌ ‌writer.‌ ‌All‌ ‌the‌ ‌
questions‌ ‌asked‌ ‌and‌ ‌answered‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌book‌ ‌feel‌ ‌very‌ ‌personal‌ ‌and‌ ‌
real.‌ ‌I‌ ‌don't‌ ‌think‌ ‌it‌ ‌matters‌ ‌what‌ ‌your‌ ‌sexuality‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌while‌ ‌reading‌ ‌
this,‌ ‌the‌ ‌advice‌ ‌given‌ ‌could‌ ‌relate‌ ‌to‌ ‌anyone‌ ‌and‌ ‌also‌ ‌help‌ ‌people‌ ‌
understand‌ ‌the‌ ‌wide‌ ‌world‌ ‌of‌ ‌Lgbtqia+.‌ ‌It‌ ‌is‌ ‌very‌ ‌heartfelt‌ ‌with‌ ‌beautiful‌ ‌
illustrations‌ ‌throughout.‌ ‌At‌ ‌times‌ ‌it‌ ‌was‌ ‌amusing,‌ ‌funny‌ ‌and‌ ‌definitely‌ ‌
enjoyable‌ ‌the‌ ‌way‌ ‌Maddy‌ ‌and‌ ‌guest’s‌ ‌give‌ ‌advice.‌ ‌But‌ ‌still‌ ‌a‌ ‌very‌ ‌
serious‌ ‌read‌ ‌that‌ ‌had‌ ‌me‌ ‌gripped.‌ ‌

I love this book! i would put this in the hands of every wlw! the advice is so en pointe. the illustrations are eye catching. it’s a book that you will not be able to put down and you will read it in one sitting.

I'm a huge fan of Kelsey Wroten's illustrations, so as soon as I heard that a queer advice book was coming out with them included, I had to pick it up. first off, this book is so well designed, and the color palette is absolutely gorgeous. The questions inside are nuanced and real and the answers so well considered. I loved the inclusion of guest responders with experiences specific to the identities of the question-askers. The advice inside is heartwarming and hits home in many aspects. There are definitely phrases that I'll be saving and going back to at later times.

Mega-inclusive, meaningfully instructive and sympathetic where it matters, a mostly sapphic-specific solution-issuing mission that could surely stretch out into multiple installments. A wide batch of bright-eyed and blunt advice/warnings/words to the wise that a bunch of us will find bookmark-worthy, adorned with bubblegum-hued artwork to boot.

As a queer woman, I needed this book earlier.
Told in such a casual way, this book feels like talking to your queer older sister. It's informative, uplifting, inspiring, honest, and overall just wonderfully done. The topics range from the queer dating scene, to heartbreak, to coming out, to balancing finances with your partner, and everything in between. It's told in the style of an advice column, and all of the responses are well thought out, honest, and well written.

I cannot recommend this book enough if you are a queer femme person, nonbinary lesbian, or just looking to educate yourself.

Not to mention the art is just beautiful.

I can see myself coming back to the advice in this book for years and years to come.

A fun, snarky, and heartfelt book of advice columns for Lesbians. I'm not the target audience for this book, but besides the fact that it has one of the best titles of any book I've read this year, it works for two reasons. First, it is fascinating to learn more about the social norms, stages, fears, hopes, in jokes, and expectations of a group of people that's different form me. And second, it's a great reminder for everyone that people who are different from you aren't that different from you. We are all human and love is love.

The title is all too real.

This book is like reading one of those magazine advice columns, except everyone who writes in to ask for advice is gay and the advice column writers are also gay and give advice that is both heartwarming and keeps it real.

As a non-binary lesbian, I found this title really affirming and a great resource for queer women and non-binary people. The LGBTQ community is so cis gay male-focused, and this book is a great divergence from that norm that uplifts the unique struggles queer women face—and gives some great advice in return.

In addition to the author Maddy Court, there are also several guest contributors who add a bit of variety to the writing and shows the author's commitment to intersectionality and not speaking over or for groups she does not belong to. Additionally, Kelsey Wroten has beautiful illustrations throughout the book that really adds something to the aesthetic.

I genuinely think this book is a great resource for all ages. As someone in my early twenties and out for over a third of my life, the section about coming out was not as helpful to me, but the sections on dating and heartbreak felt very poignant. This would particularly make a great gift for a young queer person, as I think this is a book someone could keep coming back to as their struggles and questions shift over time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Chronicle Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ex-Girlfriend of my Ex-Girlfriend is my Girlfriend is a book borne out of a queer zine that focuses on advice for LGBTQ+ folks. Organized in different chapters based on general themes with multiple Q&As in each section, this book reads like a compilation of advice columns on romance, identity, sex and friendship.

Reading this made me appreciate being queer in all of its messy, complex, weird and beautiful ways. It also reminded me of all the ways we as queer and trans people have things so much harder than our cishet counterparts. At the same time, it provided me with hope and pride for all the ways in which we re-write the social scripts to find our forms of happiness.

I appreciated how different questions were answered by different people, depending on their identity and levels of experience/expertise. While many heavy themes were explored throughout, the book remained light and hopeful!

Wow, this book truly blew away my expectations. When I read the synopsis I knew I was intrigued and expected a kind, funny and accessible collection of answers to questions that many of us ask ourselves. And it definitely was that but it was so much more at the same time, it was earnest and nuanced, the book very clearly takes great care in its readers and offers them with the warm embrace of an older sister.

A new and fresh insight into what wlw relationships are nowadays as well as the advice needed to navigate them. One of a kind that will surely inspire a new wave of "growing up" books for the LGBTQIA+ community, you won't be able to put it down and once you finish it you'll feel like you were just in a sleepover with your friends.

Definitely the non-judgemental advice that is sorely needed by many.

There is a line from the author that I think sums up the purpose of this book perfectly: "even if you don't share someone's exact experiences, maybe you'll see your own life and feelings reflected back at you."
Reading through this collection of letters from readers, and the intelligent, sympathetic and warmhearted advice from the author and guest experts, it is clear that it doesn't matter who you are or what your life is like - other people recognise your feelings of love, heartbreak and confusion.
Reading this book is like having a D&M with a friend who will give you sensible advice, a warm hug, and a pep talk before sending you back into the world.

a great read for baby gays (and confirmed ones) in need of guidance. reminds me of the teen magazines i used to buy but ten times more inclusive. i loved the guest writers there to takeover some of the more sensitive questions, and the vibrant illustrations. the emphasis on queer community was especially heartwarming, can't wait for the gay bars to reopen <3

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

What first attracted me to this book was the humorous (to me at least) title. The book conveys exactly what the author promises: advice on queer dating.

It's divided on six chapters that cover many topics that are usually on everyone's minds like crushes, coming out, heartbreak, family and friends and so on.

A great choice on the author's part was to admit her shortcomings on specific subjects, recurring to guest experts to enrich and fulfil these knowledge gaps for a more complete and informed reading experience. The idea that what is described is based on many people's experiences makes it all more relatable and personable.

The illustrations were very cute and wholesome and the writing was clear and straightforward.

However, despite this book valiant efforts, it falls short in my eyes in a deeply important aspect: Diversity. Don't get me wrong there was a lot of diverse stories, diverse backgrounds, diverse ages, but then again not enough. One or two stories about bisexual women and even so, one wasn't about a bisexual person per se; one story about a disabled woman, maybe three stories about non-binary, gender non confirming people, one or two with trans women, etc. I didn't catch any reference to stories that came from queer women of colour for example. Even if there were too few examples of diversity in my opinion their stories were there and for that I'm very pleased since it shows how diverse LGBT people are and even with shared experiences some struggles are more prominent within a specific group.

Overall was a great experience and I look forward to it's publication and to more books about diverse queer women!

I’m glad this book exists for a number of reasons. It is hard to know what to do in situations where you feel like you’re the only one struggling and that there is nobody who can relate to what you’re going through. This book proves that is not true and there are people out there who have not only been through similar situations, but who want to be there for anyone who is currently struggling. This book deals with complex emotions and sensitive subjects, and it’s the kind of book that I think every queer new adult should have the chance to read. This is a book that I want to have around to reference, and that I will recommend to my friends, since the advice given in it is thoughtful and comes from people with diverse experience.

The Ex-Girlfriend of My Ex-Girlfriend is My Girlfriend by Maddy Court is an advice book for LGBTQ+ individuals. The book is broken down into chapters based on topics. Each chapter has multiple Q&A sections around topics which are answered by different individuals. #TheExGirlfriendofMyExGirlfriendIsMyGirlfriend #NetGalley

I like that the author wanted to team up with a pal and I do like the illustrations however I think the appeal of this book was its upstart as a zine/series of zines and I think it was a mistake to remove that element. I still think that this book could be useful to a large audience but it was just significantly less interesting in this format. Also, the cover hurts. This could have been really good!

Since I have been a follower of Maddy and her Instagram account for a long time, I really enjoyed the compilation in this book. I felt the subsections were wonderfully selected, and hit hot topics concerning lesbians and gender nonconforming people. I found it quippy, eager, and full of knowledge. I do wish there was a bit more of an essay style throughout because I find Maddy so knowledgeable. It would be great for more of her voice in the book. The illustrations are absolutely incredible, and I enjoyed the coloring so much. I will say one of my favorite parts was the outside voices featured! It made the book more robust and lovely.

A must-read, particularly for queer women and non-binary people!
This book talks for itself - advice columns about love, life and queer existence. The inclusion of "guest speakers" is a great addition for inclusivity and allowed for the best advice-giving possible!
If it won't help you personally (although, it probably will), it will at least give you a better insight to some problems other people may have, and think about how you could better interact with them.

I really wish I could have reviewed this book, but I could not make the app work on my phone. I'll be looking to buy it when it releases, and if it's as good as I hope it is, will recommend it to friends.

What a fun, easy read! This is such a darn good title for an advice book on queer dating, friendship, and love, I cannot even stand it.

The writing is thoughtful, funny, and self-aware in a way that makes the reader feel both like they're talking to a trusted friend and a wise mentor. The advice skews to a younger audience (late teens, early twenties), and encompasses a wide range of topics and identities. The author even brings in guest experts to give advice on topics she doesn't feel fully equipped to speak on and these guest experts added fresh tone and spark.

Kelsey Wroten's illustrations are unique and delightful and all-together empowering.

All-around a wonderful read for any queer looking to feel a sense of community in the beautiful chaos of life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this one. Most of the advice in it is heartfelt and sensitive, and the addition of guest experts to cover the more intersectional parts of the queer experience was an excellent idea (although some of the guest experts did seem a little more interested in self-promotion or, in one case, being quite unkind to the person who asked for advice; I would have liked a bit more editing in a few of those.) The range of topics covered was pretty enormous, considering the relatively small size of this book, and I think most queer women or people of marginalised genders will probably recognise at least one of their own dating experiences in this one. Absolutely recommend this one for any queer woman or femme who's ever wondered if they're the outlier for sharing 8 ex girlfriends with their housemate, or who just wants to feel Seen (TM).

this book is so interactive ! It’s a q/a type of story about sexuality, fears, complicated and simple things you have to deal when you’re in a relationship. I loved the illustrations in this book especially the last one. This book is full of advice for lesbians from a lesbian. It’s an own voice and maybe that’s why this book seems more personal and beautiful. It’s like a Ms.Manners but in a LGBTQIA+ type of way.
Thanks to #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book that covered a variety of topics. Kelsey Wroten's illustrations were beautiful and complemented the text well. Maddy Court's voice shone through as she balanced humor with more sensitive topics and was never condescending.

It was an enjoyable read and is a good resource for anyone interested in queer relationships.

8/10

A really insightful adorable book I’d recommend everyone to read. Not just queer people.

Some of these questions are really random but most are very relatable and my younger self would’ve been very happy to find help within this book. I did overcome some of these problems one way or another by myself but I have a feeling not many people are lucky enough. These problems are very real and Maddie among 7 guest experts (and, of course, Kelsey as an illustrator) try their best to help as much as they can (through their own experience or not). Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s funny but it always is kind and helpful.

Now that I don’t have similar problems anymore and couldn’t relate to them in this moment, I read this with happiness knowing what I did was right. And even if it wasn’t - nobody’s perfect, ey. The book made me especially grateful for having an amazing girlfriend (ily bb)* with whom I can talk about everything and anything. I think this book will got some people seriously thinking so, as I said in the beginning, I recommend it to everyone.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

* yes, you, jess. don’t cringe too hard pls <3

The title is really what hooked me on this one because it is SO TRUE! In the queer dating world, everyone knows everyone and that is just how it goes!

This was a well-done, short, self-help picture book on dating in queer spaces.

Each chapter has a topic, and Maddy (and guest experts) answer questions from Maddy's followers.

The questions have a large range: dealing with homophobic parents, combating lesbian death bed, making queer friends, confronting biphobic friends, making queer spaces more accessible to trans women, etc. There is something in the book for everyone, but I would highly recommend it for "gay babies" or anyone trying to find themselves in their queer or lesbian identity!

Thank you for this content, Maddy! Also, the illustrations are so amazing, Kelsey!
And thank you to #NetGalley and #ChronicleBooks for the eARC of this book!