18 Months: A Memoir of a Marriage Lost to Gender Identity

An important part of the conversation, but overall just a really great book

I recently had the pleasure of reading 18 Months: A Memoir of a Marriage Lost to Gender Identity by Shannon Thrace. I can confidently say that it is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the trans phenomenon and get a poignant look into how it impacts the wives of the men who pursue transition, often called “trans widows.” Shannon’s story shows why the term is such a fitting one. Even though the men in question have not passed away, their unrelenting pursuit of “the woman within” erases any semblance of who they once were and who their wives married.

18 Months starts with Shannon’s husband, Jamie, expressing an interest in crossdressing. No stranger to all kinds of sexual exploration, Shannon is initially all for it. However, as Jamie dives deeper into the world of “trans” and his personality takes a complete turn, the relationship starts to unravel. Though Shannon tries everything she can to salvage the love they once had, the book chronicles those 18 months that eventuall…