Peyton Thomas is an author and journalist. His debut novel Both Sides Now won the 2022 International Literacy Association Award for Young Adult Fiction. The New York Times called Both Sides Now a young adult book to watch for. The Globe and Mail named Both Sides Now one of the best young adult books of 2021 and the CBC named it one of the best Canadian young adult books of 2021.

Peyton is at work on a contemporary interpretation of Little Women for adults. You can read more about this forthcoming book in the New York Times and Oprah Daily. Peyton also hosts Jo's Boys, a podcast about Little Women and the novel's unsung queer and trans legacy.

Peyton's non-fiction has appeared in the New York Times and Vanity Fair, among other publications. He was a 2016 Lambda Literary Fellow and a 2014 recipient of the Norma Epstein Foundation Award in Creative Writing. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 2015, majoring in political science and sexual diversity studies. He is currently a candidate for the degree of Master of Liberal Arts in extension studies in the field of creative writing and literature at Harvard University. He is a proud member of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the International David Foster Wallace Society, and the Beyhive.

Praise for Both Sides Now


"Queer issues are given center stage, evoking the lived experiences of many in a sensitive and sympathetic way... Emotionally charged and politically relevant, this is a must read."

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)


"A young adult book to watch for."

New York Times


"The thing I like about it - what makes it feel like a true novel and not just written for the sake of representation - it feels like someone who wrote a novel trying to answer a question they found interesting. Not someone trying to just give you a character to relate to."

—Newbery honoree Kyle Lukoff in the Washington Post


"Thomas's book is lively, funny and puts the reader - and this great central character - into necessarily uncomfortable places."

Globe and Mail


"One of the best Canadian YA books of the year."

CBC


"A heady, heartfelt whirlwind of smarts, soul, and contemporary queer coming-of-age adventure."

—Kai Cheng Thom, author of Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl's Confabulous Memoir


"Thomas' debut is achingly vulnerable... There's no debate: Both Sides Now is a compelling, heartfelt must-read."

—Booklist (starred review)


"Thomas's nerdy, funny, ambitious queer teens stun me with how realistically they love and fear each other... Bright, funny, savvy, and wholehearted."

—Hal Schrieve, author of Out of Salem


"Debut author Thomas's conversational writing style is highly engaging and should draw readers in with a compelling story of self-realization and a bit of youthful romance."

The Horn Book


"A delightful YA read."

—The Advocate


"This coming-of-age romance poignantly depicts self-discovery and finding your place in the world."

BuzzFeed


"I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more! There's no debating it, this is a hilarious and heartfelt story about love and accepting yourself."

—Mason Deaver, author of I Wish You All the Best and The Ghosts We Keep


"In this sharp and emotional first novel... Thomas doesn't pull any punches on difficult topics and never once reduces his characters to objects of pity. Instead, he depicts teenagers who are working hard to find their places in a world that has thrown obstacle after obstacle in their paths. The novel balances serious political conversations and scenes of moving emotional hardship with moments of comedy and a spirit of true camaraderie."

Bookpage


"Peyton Thomas's debut novel is a wonderfully nuanced exploration of what it means to be a transgender teen... Both Sides Now is an impressive debut that focuses on fully realized trans and queer characters, with a high-stakes plot that will keep readers invested until the very end."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials


"Deeply moral without sacrificing complexity, and with a beautiful slow-burn romance at its core, this is a book no queer teen will want to miss."

—Naomi Kanakia, author of We Are Totally Normal and Enter Title Here


"A sharp, witty narrative... full of cerebral teens with big plans and snark to spare."

School Library Journal


"Thomas writes with effortless ease; his convincing characters have notably diverse traits and he's clear that what they are doesn't necessarily define who they are."

Shelf Awareness


"[Thomas] offers a heartfelt, witty debut novel in this compelling coming-of-age tale of a trans teen coming into his own."

Buffalo News


"An excellent, engaging read. And I just can't help but feel a particular affection for a kid who dreams of egging Mitch McConnell's house."

Pride Source



Bylines


Music

Album Reviews for Pitchfork

Charli XCX's "Speed Drive" for Pitchfork's Best Songs of 2023

Jens Lekman Explains How Streaming Culture, and Joni Mitchell, Inspired Him While Re-Recording Two Beloved Albums for Billboard (2022)

Girlpool Burst Through Their Confines on Their Fourth Studio Album, "Forgiveness" for Uproxx (2022)

U2's "Zooropa" for Pitchfork's Sunday Review (2020)

Still Tears Left to Cry: How Ariana Grande is Defying Pop-Star Conventions About Showing Pain and Sadness for Billboard (2018)

Beyonce's "Cuff It" and Mitski's Laurel Hell for the 2022 Uproxx Music Critics Poll

MUNA's "What I Want" for Pitchfork's Best Songs of 2022

Elliott Smith's "Say Yes" and Daniel Johnston's "Some Things Last A Long Time" for Pitchfork's Best Songs of the 90s

Jonathan Richman's I, Jonathan for Pitchfork's Best Albums of the 90s

Rostam's "4Runner" for Pitchfork's Best Songs of 2021

Soccer Mommy's color theory for Pitchfork's Best Albums of 2020

Denzel Curry's ZUU for Pitchfork's Best Albums of 2019

Sleater-Kinney's "Hurry on Home" for Pitchfork's Best Songs of 2019


Television

Netflix's I Am Not Okay With This Turns 1980s Pop Anthems Into Lesbian Love Songs for Pitchfork (2020)

Stars, Stripes, and "Salaam, RuPaul Joon!": A Niche Interview with Jackie Cox for the Niche (2020)


Film

"What Will It Take to Get a Gay Character in Star Wars?" for Vanity Fair (2017)


Culture

Did the Mother of Young Adult Literature Identify as a Man? for the New York Times (2022)

American Girl is all about equality. So why did it partner with JK Rowling? for LGBTQ Nation (2022)

The Radical Acceptance Behind Little Women for Oprah Daily (2022)

If You'd Like to Be A Vase, Julio Torres Supports That for Vanity Fair (2022)

Little Women Author Louisa May Alcott Was A Transgender Man for LGBTQ Nation (2022)

How this Trans Author Came to Terms with His Acne for the Advocate (2021)

How to Find a Rabbit: A Niche Interview with John Paul Brammer for the Niche (2021)

"Ordinary Person, Wild Radical" for the Atavist (2018)


Video Games

"Bachelorette Party" and "Platinum" for Choices


Press

Interview with Matt Bucher and Dave Laird on Concavity Show (2022)

Discussing Both Sides Now at the Archer School for Girls (2022)

Discussing Both Sides Now at the Orangeville Public Library (2022)

Discussing Both Sides Now in Frolic (2021)

Discussing Both Sides Now at the Toronto Public Library (2021)

Launching Both Sides Now at Glad Day Bookshop with Anthony Oliveira (2021)

Talking Both Sides Now with Tundra Books (2021)

Interview with Geoffrey Moss at Wine Anorak (2021)

Dear Prudence with Daniel M. Lavery (2019)

The Askbox with Allegra Rosenberg (2019)


Greatest Hits for the Niche:

American Girl Dolls Ranked in Order of Gayness

The 100 Most Popular Ships on AO3, Ranked

All 293 Sufjan Stevens Songs, Ranked

What is "The Dynamic," Anyway?

I Went Ahead and Wrote a Spider-Man Movie Where Peter Parker is Bisexual Because Life is Short and God Knows Nobody Else Was Going to Do It

Contact

Literary Agent: Bonnie Nadell at Hill Nadell

Film and Television: Mary Pender at WME

Publicity: Samantha Devotta in Canada and Ellen Cormier in the United States

Follow Peyton on Instagram and last.fm!