Mild spoiler alert only! I would recommend this to someone who is trying to learn about what it might be like to be trans. I don't think I would recommend it to someone who actually was trans. It was a good story with believable and interesting characters, and the author managed to convey a lot of information without it being too much of a 101 disguised as a novel (unlike "Juliet takes a Breath," for example).
Content warning: violence ( )

The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone is an emotionally powerful story of a family in crisis from Charity Norman.

A respected solicitor and beloved husband, father and grandfather, Luke Livingston seems to have it all, but he has a secret with the potential to destroy it all.

With thought provoking insight and sensitivity, Norman tells the story from four different points of view - Luke's, his wife's Eilish's, and their children's Simon's and Kate's.

I couldn't help but admire Luke for his courage in finally following his heart. His despair and heartbreak is very affecting as he struggles with the realities of his situation. I rejoiced in each tentative step he took towards reconciling with his own truth.

"Because I've come to the end of the road, Eilish. The very end. I can't go on, I was facing a choice last night: to end my life, or to accept what I've always really been."

I sympathised with Eilish's shock and feelings of betrayal, and the initial reactions of Luke's adult children, Kate and Simon, when Luke's secret is revealed. Norman portrays their confusion, anger and grief with believability as their comfortable world is turned upside down. I was furious with Simon's extreme reaction, tempered only slightly when Norman revealed the awful memories Luke's announcement stirred in him.

"Perhaps we never really understand our families at all, any of us. Perhaps those we love the most are really a bunch of strangers, with secret thoughts and inner lives."

I was hugely angered by the bigotry displayed by many of the characters. It appalls me that such a level of ignorance and hatred still exists in today's society. The author does a wonderful job of educating the reader about gender and sexual identity without lecturing.

The novel is well written, drawing the reader into the characters lives, but I did feel as if the story stalled somewhat in the middle and its progression was somewhat predictable.

A sensitive and thought-provoking story The Secret Life of Luke Livingstone is a wonderful novel and deserves to be read widely. ( )

After nearly 30 years of marriage to Eilish, Luke admits to his family that he is a man trapped in a woman's body. This story follows their grief, denial and acceptance of his actions and how Luke moves forward. Very good read which makes you think about the ones closest to you. ( )