What if the body you fought for no longer fits the life you built before it?
When Lex finally receives a date for their chest surgery, they’re not sure if they want to go through with it. But it’s been a year since they’ve had sex with their cis partner, Ada, who believes Lex’s surgery will rekindle their kinky dynamic.
When surgery doesn’t have the outcome either expects, Lex, in the spirit of their non-monogamous relationship, tries to support Ada’s new romance with Noah, a cis man. But Lex’s jealousy spirals—Is Ada replacing them? And does she prefer cis masculinity after all?
Then Lex meets Sadie, a magnetic nonbinary coworker who awakens a new attraction. Lex thought they were only attracted to women and has never dated another trans person. Unsure about their changing sexuality, Lex hides the budding romance from Ada. As secrets build, Lex must decide what kind of love—and life—they really want.
Sharp, intimate, and tender, The Body Riddle is about queer longing, identity, and the messy beauty of reconfiguring desire on your own terms.
Available May 19, 2026 | Pre-order now
“Personal and heartfelt, gentle and raw, utterly human in all those beautiful imperfect ways, The Body Riddle is the best kind of book. I loved this story. I fell in love with each and every character, especially protagonist, Lex…This is the power of a novel. To create community by making up characters, and show the potential of the future by portraying an ultimately joyful present.” —katherena vermette, author of real ones
“The Body Riddle is a dynamic debut from one of the most compelling new voices in Canadian fiction. Sam K MacKinnon joins Casey Plett, John Elizabeth Stintzi, and Joshua Whitehead in queering the literary landscape of Winnipeg with expansive possibility and a whole lot of heart. MacKinnon’s prose unfolds like an intricate stone labyrinth, guiding both Lex and their readers through a journey of self-discovery and trans joy that we’ll not soon forget.” —K.R. Byggdin, author of Wonder World
“Sam K MacKinnon has created a protagonist who feels so raw and real— one whose search for belonging is not geographical, but instead, in the heart. Lex’s journey— emotional, physical, sexual, and more— will be a light for readers seeking peace on their own terms.” —Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio, author of Reuniting with Strangers
“The Body Riddle is a poignant, scruffy ode to queer and trans desire and kinship.” —Hazel Jane Plante, author of Any Other City