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Heartfelt, humorous, and deeply compassionate, this novel is a celebration of authenticity and a must-have read for contemporary times, according to Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Recognized among the most anticipated queer books of 2025 by Book Riot and The Mary Sue, as well as highly awaited titles from The Millions, Kirkus, The AV Club, Them, LGBTQ Reads, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Autostraddle, LA Times, BookBrowse, and Bustle. It’s also Matty Maggiacomo’s Book Club pick for March 2025.

An uplifting and compelling book club debut, Woodworking centers around a small-town South Dakota high-school teacher as she forms an unexpected bond with the only other trans woman she knows—one of her students.

Erica Skyberg, thirty-five, recently divorced, and newly out privately as trans, hasn’t yet shared her identity openly with her community. While teaching English at Mitchell High School and directing community theater, Erica carefully navigates her transition alone—until the outspoken and politically aware Abigail Hawkes enters her classroom.

Abigail, now seventeen and known to everyone at Mitchell High as the “Only Trans Girl,” reluctantly but capably fulfills the role of resident advocate and activist. At first, Abigail bristles at the thought of secretly mentoring her English teacher through the complexities of transitioning, but she vividly remembers the isolation and anxiety of her own early experiences. Soon, the two develop an unexpected friendship that pushes them to confront lingering expectations and the truths they keep hidden.

As their bond deepens, curious and critical eyes turn toward their relationship, challenging Erica and Abigail—and those around them—to question the high cost of hiding who they truly are. Both women are drawn toward difficult yet empowering realizations about authenticity, connection, and community.

In the spirit of Fleishman is in Trouble and Detransition, Baby, this extraordinary debut novel portrays the awkward, beautiful complexity of forming your identity, offering a tribute both to intergenerational trans experiences and the transformative friendships that sustain us. Woodworking thoughtfully explores womanhood in all its messy, joyful dimensions.

Praised by Vogue as “A dazzling testament to the power of intergenerational trans narratives,” Woodworking is acclaimed for accomplishing the rare feat of tackling prejudice, crafting flawed yet deeply sympathetic characters, and offering humor and grace in equal measure. Meredith Maran of the Washington Post writes: “Writing a funny novel is hard. Writing one that convincingly dismantles a deeply entrenched prejudice is harder. But crafting a funny, insightful novel that argues passionately for a widely misunderstood group through imperfectly human, richly drawn characters—that demands remarkable intelligence and heart. St. James brings both gloriously to the page.”