Trans life past, present and future is explored in this kaleidoscopic follow-up to the Women's Prize-nominated bestseller Detransition, Baby

'Adventurous, mind-expanding and provocative' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 'Unlike anything I'd ever read' YAEL VAN DER WOUDEN, Women's Prize-winning author of The Safekeep 'Innovative, insightful, funny and confronting' INDEPENDENT, Best Books to Look Out for in 2025 'A shining talent' STYLIST Best Books of 2025 Deep in the forest, a band of lumberjacks on an illegal logging operation plan a winter dance that some will volunteer to attend as women. In other times and places, the gender apocalypse is brought about by an unstable ex-girlfriend; a boarding-school romance surfaces intrigue and cruelty; and a Las Vegas weekender turns dark, as a young crossdresser is forced to choose between sexual frisson or unglamorous sisterhood. Acidly funny, provocative and inspired, this quartet of tales displays Torrey Peters' keen eye for the rough edges of desire.

"A great Torrey Peters story feels like punching yourself in the face, laughing at the bleeding bitch in the mirror and then shamefacedly realizing you're aroused by the blood on your lips. Stag Dance will leave you bruised, broken and wanting more" - New York Times

"The pieces are meticulously crafted; especially Stag Dance, with its deft pacing and almost operatic denouement ... Peters seems to delight in complicating liberal identity politics, refusing ever to sanitise her work or narrow her focus, and glorying in some truly rollicking prose" - Guardian

"Moves nimbly with vivid characters ever-exploring gender and connection" - Rupert Everett

"The highly anticipated new book from the bestselling author of Detransition, Baby is finally here and fans will not be disappointed. These diverse tales are all united in their nuanced exploration of trans identity and the author's distinctive, razor-sharp prose. Intense, funny and thought-provoking" - Diva

"Electrifying ... The funny yet heart-wrenching title novella, set sometime during the primacy of steam engines and written in the style of a tall tale, may be Peters' best work yet ... Peters explores her characters' conundrums with striking honesty, revealing how they're bound by indecision and insecurities from finding happiness, and she exhibits spectacular flexibility with language and form. It's a marvel" - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Peters' fizzy prose throughout is both insightful and cuttingly funny" - Crack magazine

"The follow up to Peters' 2021 megahit novel Detransition, Baby comes with high expectation - and delivers" - i Paper

"Original and utterly compelling ... A testament to Peter's writing and, although the narratives are a world away from Detransition, Baby, it's evident that her writing and talents have been building since her debut, which is an absolute pleasure to read." - nb magazine

"Peters' writing truly defies pigeonholing ... A moving portrait of different aspects of trans culture" - Skinny

"Blending sharp wit with emotional depth ... It is provocative, educational and entertaining all at once. I highly recommend it" - Irish Independent

"Peters's characterization shines" - Frieze

"Peters shows us what questioning your gender can mean , and the possible range of attendant emotions: shame, lust, solidarity, jealousy. Above all, she writes with flair about how all these feelings can coexist, and how quickly one can flow into another" - Literary Review

"Precise, original, funny and fearless ... everything in Stag Dance feels genuinely fresh" - Shortlist, Must-Read Books for Spring

"Deliciously filthy ... Peters unravels the glorious, aching euphoria of giving in to yourself" - Big Issue