Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite

Shaley Howard’s Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch is an honest and often darkly funny recounting of growing up queer, navigating identity, and spiraling through addiction before clawing her way back to herself. The book traces her life from childhood, marked by family instability, gender nonconformity, and early feelings of being different. As Shaley gets older, hiding the fact that she’s a lesbian becomes something she carries with her every day. Her secret shapes how she moves through daily existence and how much of herself she shares with others. It is a heavy burden for a teen to carry. As Shaley transitions into adulting, she continues to search for a sense of belonging and meaningful relationships. Somehow, those encounters never seem to work out, and eventually she turns to substance use to fill the void. Shaley does find moments of escape that never really touch the pain underneath. A multiple-themed memoir, the author doesn’t sugarcoat the harder parts, dealing with homophobia, shame, damaging relationships, and addiction. At its heart, though, this is a survival story. Shaley’s rollercoaster of a life makes for a powerful coming-of-age revelation.

Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch by Shaley Howard is a work of profound, thought-provoking writing. She brilliantly transitions between the phases of her life, keeping the chronology intact, which lends to exceptional readability. The structure gave me a sense of progression from the worst of times to Shaley’s successful recovery. While her writing style is direct, almost blunt, and emotionally honest, it has moments of humor, allowing the reader to take a deep breath between heavy content. The result is a superbly written memoir that is accessible and deeply personal. The author has balanced a difficult subject matter with reflection and candor. Her voice will resonate worldwide with people undergoing the same struggles. No less than a standing ovation is deserved here!