This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel follows the Walsh-Adams family as they navigate their youngest son's gender transition. Born Claude, he identifies as a girl and becomes Poppy. The family moves to Seattle for a more accepting environment, choosing to keep Poppy’s past a secret. As Poppy grows, they face challenges and learn to embrace her identity while addressing safety, acceptance, and gender fluidity. The book contains mentions of violence against transgender individuals.

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel is widely praised for its poignant exploration of a family’s journey with a transgender child, offering readers heartfelt characters and a narrative full of empathy and warmth. While the novel's compassionate portrayal of complex themes garners admiration, some critics find its resolution overly simplistic.

A reader who enjoys This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel is likely interested in heartfelt family dramas that tackle contemporary social issues with empathy and humor. Fans of books like Miriam Toews's All My Puny Sorrows and Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere would appreciate Frankel's nuanced exploration of gender identity and family dynamics.

Heartwarming / Emotional / Challenging / Inspirational / Contemplative

- This Is How It Always Is is inspired by Laurie Frankel's personal experiences as the mother of a transgender child, although the story is fictional and not a memoir.
- The book has been praised for its honest and sensitive portrayal of gender identity and the complexities of family life in dealing with change and acceptance.
- Laurie Frankel's novel was chosen as the August 2017 pick for Reese Witherspoon's Book Club, which helped increase its popularity and reach a wider audience.

**Rosie Walsh**  
A pragmatic ER doctor and devoted mother, Rosie balances her demanding medical career with raising five children, driven by her past family experiences.

**Penn Adams**  
An idealistic novelist, Penn embraces domestic life to support his family, providing a nurturing environment for Poppy's personal journey.

**Poppy Walsh-Adams**  
A tender-hearted and intelligent child, Poppy navigates her gender identity with the support of her family, seeking to fully express herself.

**Aggie Granderson**  
Poppy's best friend and neighbor who challenges traditional gender roles; her friendship with Poppy undergoes trials but ultimately endures.

**Roo Walsh-Adams**  
Poppy’s eldest brother who struggles with the family's focus on Poppy, leading him to seek understanding and expression through writing.

**Mr. Tongo**  
An unconventional child psychologist whose unique methods and humor help guide Rosie and Penn through Poppy's developmental transitions.

**Carmelo Walsh**  
Rosie's mother and Poppy's strong advocate, who supports Poppy’s individuality and provides wisdom and guidance to Rosie about family dynamics.

Laurie Frankel

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Teaching Guide

Before You Read

Explore This Is How It Always Is reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read This Is How It Always Is | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore This Is How It Always Is and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

This Is How It Always Is Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-8

This Is How It Always Is Part 1, Chapters 1-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 9-14

This Is How It Always Is Part 1, Chapters 9-14 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 15-22

This Is How It Always Is Part 2, Chapters 15-22 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 23-30

This Is How It Always Is Part 2, Chapters 23-30 Summary & Analysis

Part 3, Chapters 31-35

This Is How It Always Is Part 3, Chapters 31-35 Summary & Analysis

Parts 3-4, Chapters 36-41

This Is How It Always Is Parts 3-4, Chapters 36-41 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

This Is How It Always Is Character Analysis

theme

Themes

This Is How It Always Is Themes

Symbols & Motifs

This Is How It Always Is Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

This Is How It Always Is Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

This Is How It Always Is Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

This Is How It Always Is Book Club Questions

Introduction

This Is How It Always Is Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

This Is How It Always Is Before Reading

During Reading

This Is How It Always Is During Reading

After Reading

This Is How It Always Is After Reading

This Is How It Always Is

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read This Is How It Always Is?

Reading Age

Book Details