Travel Book Club: Nevada: A Novel Discussion (June 2025)

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It’s time for the next discussion in our 2025 Travel Book Club! In June we read Nevada: A Novel by Imogen Binnie and I’ve compiled some questions below to get the discussion started! Share your thoughts, then check out what we’re reading next month!

My Year Abroad

Author: Nevada: A Novel
Pages: 290
Published: 2022

Nevada by Imogen Binnie is a raw, introspective novel following Maria, a trans woman navigating personal crisis and self-understanding. Set against a backdrop of punk culture and road-trip wanderings, the story explores identity, disconnection, and the complexities of gender with sharp wit, emotional honesty, and a deeply human perspective.

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Caution: Spoilers Ahead!

Okay, so Nevada is not your typical coming-of-age novel — it’s messy, raw, funny, and kind of heartbreaking in the most honest way. The story follows Maria, a snarky, deeply cynical, and fiercely intelligent trans woman living in Brooklyn. She works at a bookstore, smokes too much, and has this almost punk-rock attitude toward life. She’s not exactly thriving, but she’s surviving — until she isn’t.

After a breakup with her girlfriend and a major personal spiral, Maria impulsively steals her ex’s car and heads west — literally and figuratively running away from everything. Her journey takes her to small-town Nevada, where she meets James, a young person who is also clearly struggling with their gender identity, though they haven’t named it yet. Maria sees some of her younger self in James and decides — maybe not totally wisely — to “help.”

But this isn’t your standard redemption arc or tidy hero’s journey. What’s really cool and different about Nevada is that it doesn’t try to wrap everything up neatly. Maria doesn’t magically solve her problems, and she definitely doesn’t have all the answers for James. Instead, the book gives you this honest, sometimes angry, sometimes hilarious look at what it means to live in a world that doesn’t really know what to do with you — especially if you’re trans and trying to figure out your identity beyond the clichés and expectations.

The voice is super distinctive — full of inner monologue, cultural references, dark humor, and unfiltered emotion. Maria can be both wildly insightful and totally self-sabotaging, which makes her feel real and complicated. The book isn’t trying to educate people about trans experiences in a neat, palatable way — it’s written for trans people, and that gives it a very authentic, lived-in feel. But even if you’re not trans, there’s so much here about disconnection, identity, and the search for meaning that feels universal.

What was your first impression of Maria, and how did that change as the story went on?
How did you respond to Maria’s voice and internal monologue — did it feel authentic, overwhelming, or something else?
The novel doesn’t follow a traditional narrative arc. Did that structure work for you?
Maria runs away from her problems instead of facing them — do you think that was necessary for her growth, or just avoidance?
What did you think about the dynamic between Maria and James? Did Maria overstep, or was she trying to help in her own way?
The book doesn’t offer a neat conclusion. Was that frustrating, or did it feel more real?
How does Nevada challenge or complicate the typical “transition” narrative we often see in media?
Were there moments that made you uncomfortable or challenged your thinking?
How do you interpret Maria’s relationship with her body, and how is that explored in the novel?
What role does anger play in Maria’s story — and how does it serve her or hurt her?
How does the novel portray isolation and community, especially in queer spaces?
Did you feel empathy for James, and how do you think their story will unfold beyond the book?
What are some moments of humor or levity that stood out to you?
How do you think this book would read differently if it were written for a cisgender audience?
Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?