Praise

Brianne's Skating Out of the Vault is exactly what the world needs right now—honest, raw, and powerfully human. With courage and clarity, Brianne opens the door to every question you’ve ever wondered but were too afraid to ask a trans person. Her voice is not only brave, it’s deeply compassionate, weaving personal truth with practical guidance. This isn’t just a memoir—it’s a bridge. A bridge to understanding, empathy, and genuine allyship. Brianne doesn’t just tell her story; she invites readers into a conversation and equips them with real tools to show up better for others. The result is a book that informs, challenges, and ultimately uplifts. Timely, necessary, and full of heart—Brianne's Unflinching Authenticity is a must-read for everyone.

Prepare to be moved. Brianne Brinker’s Skating Out of the Vault is one of those rare memoirs that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. This isn't just a book; it's a profound and deeply human story about the courage it takes to dismantle a life built to please others in order to build one that is true. For decades, Brinker lived a life that many would envy, excelling in the hyper-masculine arena of Division I men's hockey as a player and coach, loving husband to a wife and devoted dad to a child, but beneath the surface of this success was a painful and isolating secret. With stunning vulnerability, Brinker reveals the immense weight of that hidden truth. She masterfully articulates the profound internal cost of this external performance, writing, "these betrayals were a shadow to the deeper sense of self denial, a turning away from ones own inner life of purpose, dreams and true ambition." What makes this memoir so powerful is its universal resonance. While it is a story of a late-in-life gender transition, it’s also about the suffocating pressure to conform that so many of us experience. It’s a compelling exploration of identity, resilience, and what it truly means to win—not just on the ice, but in life. This book will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a testament to the enduring hope of finding what Brinker calls that sacred space: "It was my special place. The place where I could be myself." This is essential reading—a story of bravery that will leave you both heartbroken and hopeful, and ultimately, inspired.

An astonishing account of a life well lived and loved, but wait! Brianne courageously listens to her inner voice and comes out as a transgender woman in her 50’s. This gives going through the “change” a whole new meaning. This book was so carefully crafted and beautifully written. I was crying at page 27 when she describes being in a vault, solid and unyielding versus a closet which could be easily opened. This book is as much about being human as it is about being trans. My hope is that it will reach hearts and minds everywhere so that intelligent conversations can be had and true lasting change can occur. Not only for transgender humans but for marginalized people everywhere. This book will be shelved next to all the great on my bookshelf.