Book Review For Between By Gemma & Leo Thelford

I want to thank Andrea Marchiano, Managing Editor at Trigger Publishing for sharing the book Between for review. The release date is February 4th, 2025. Between is a memoir of gender transition by a mother and her son. The book helps us learn the challenges they both faced and their mission is to break down the stigma and educate those who have questions about Transgender. 

My Thoughts

Gemma and Leo Thelford are brutally honest in sharing their story, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s important to remember that Leo comes from a loving family that supports him. His father has a difficult time during the transition due to a lack of knowledge and his own stigma. His younger sibling had a difficult time wrapping his head around it. The journey was difficult but the family worked through it together. 

For the purpose of this book, it’s the story between Leo and his mother. Gemma and Leo write their own chapters and it really helped the dialogue sink in because you have both of their thoughts on a subject.

What do you say when your 11-year-old daughter says she’s a boy? Between is a complex story of a daughter explaining to her mother that she doesn’t feel like a girl. With honest conversations and research Gemma began to understand the road her daughter may be facing and took an active role in each step of the way. 

Their story warms my heart because they had the love and trust to make this huge change in their life. 

Between is one of the most interesting books I’ve read and it answered many of my questions. 

I have worked with Andrea for years and have learned from every book I’ve read.

About Trigger Publishing

Our mission

At Trigger Publishing, our mission is to empower individuals on their mental health journey through the power of lived experience. We are dedicated to publishing real stories by real people, showing our readers that they are not alone and that recovery is possible. Our books and digital solutions, available through our parent brand Trigger Hub, provide hope, support, and practical tools for mental wellness.

Melinda