Trust Fall: A Not-Very-Magical Fairy Tale about the F Word by Tamara Kaye Sellman
Trust Fall: A Not-Very-Magical Fairy Tale about the F Word by Tamara Kaye Sellman, including original artwork by Chelsea Baker van Drood. Weighing in at 104 pages, it releases on September 15, 2026 from Gnashing Teeth Publishing.
This is a quick-read story, though from my experience it will linger with you long after you finish reading. Though the tale is fictitious and not a memoir, the author did interject pieces of her own childhood into it to flesh out the story’s landscape, which no doubt is the reason the story felt so vibrant and alive. You might find yourself piecing together memories and moments you’ve experienced in your own life that are eerily similar to those the main character shares.
As a child of the 70s and 80s myself, I found the book to be a reflection of many historical events I witnessed and personal events I experienced. Sellman made mention in an email to prospective ARC readers that she would love to hear what thoughts the book resurrected for us, so I will share some of those at the end of this review—including the inspiration for the first cannibal story I ever wrote in elementary school! (I didn’t think reading this book would bring up that memory, but it did, and I love it!)
First off, the title is fantastic. I immediately thought of the song “Trust Fall” by P!nk (which I love). It sets the tone before you even crack the book’s spine. Also, the fairy tale format and vibe make the book easily accessible to anyone. Though it harbors big emotions and serious subject matter, it’s still easy to read and digest. Like all fairy tales, there’s a moral to the story (maybe more than one!). It also parallels parts of today’s culture, reflecting life in the 70s-80s and the familiar “history repeating itself” phenomenon.
Trust Fall is one of the most researched fairy tales I’ve ever read, complete with a bibliography and a well-documented timeline. I loved reading through the dated events, especially since I was born around and lived through many of the historical moments in the story. It was helpful since for most I was too young to recall the details when they were happening, but I do remember hearing tidbits as a child.
The story takes place from the 1960s through the 1980s in suburban Portland, OR, following a young girl’s tumultuous coming of age. The generational abuse that was so commonplace in those decades is highlighted in a variety of situations that she experiences. Not to mention, the half-truth sage advice: “You can be or do anything you want, but—” is on full display, which is a common thread in the story. Sellman also shows how over time women have fought to erase that conjunction from the sentence.
As you read, you’ll watch time pass as the young girl grows up, faces tough decisions, learns when to speak up for herself, and forges her own life. The title continues to surface throughout the story, fitting perfectly into each season of her life. The term trust fall can have various meanings: Taking a chance, opening up to someone without a guarantee of support (emotional or otherwise), vulnerability, or taking a risk without a guarantee for your own safety. Sellman delivers on all of these meanings throughout the book in subtle ways, keeping the underlying theme flowing effortlessly.
This is a great book to showcase what times used to be like, and it’s no doubt going to be a jaw-dropper for people born in the past 20 years, depending on the landscape of their own family dynamics. It’s a peek behind the curtain of a family’s life and what an outsider sees versus what’s going on behind closed doors. Again, this is a story that stands the test of time from the decades it includes to today. I know it made me think back to reactions I got from generations older than I am when I would say things or make comments. The timeline made a lot of those moments, and what those people had experienced or been trained to think in that timeframe, make much more sense.
Also, it was interesting to go through the book and figure out exactly what the F word means. I challenge you to make a guess before you read the book, then see if you are correct at the end.
As promised, here are a few things that surfaced for me as I was reading:
I have an uncle who was quite vocal about young girls and women wearing make-up or nail polish. Being an independent child, I quickly penned a story in elementary school about cannibals who captured a group of family members, including said uncle. Before stewing them all in a large cauldron, they shoved painted rocks through his ears and commented on “how cheap they made him look,” much like the phrasing I heard him spew when I was a kid. I still have the original copy of this stapled-paper story—complete with my own artwork.
Trust Fall is a quirky feminist fairy tale about a GenX girl growing up as a natural-born feminist in a decidedly ultraconservative household in the 'burbs in 1970s Portland, OR.
This was also the same uncle who laughed when I made comments about getting a science degree and was daydreaming about cool discoveries. Spoiler: I got that degree.
I had a great-grandmother who openly favored the men and boys in the family, since they were the ones she deemed capable to run the farm, which I’ve always found funny since she handled it on her own for years when my great-grandfather passed. Still, she inspired a character in my story “Hope Rekindled” in Hope Screams Eternal.
A revelation I came across while reading this book is that I have numerous stories I’ve written over time from my elementary years up until the present where I have many come-uppance moments for characters who have tried to thwart or minimize girls or women. I have an unpublished story that will be in a future publication with this theme based on things I’ve witnessed.
In eighth grade, I was the only girl who signed up for wood shop and metal shop classes. The boys in class were not kind or overly receptive to it, but I stood my ground and aced the classes despite their ribbing and ridicule. The teachers were actually both quite kind and supportive! I had a deep desire to create things physically, outside of writing. I loved making the projects we were assigned. Without it, I never would have used some of those tools, drew building diagrams and plans, or learned how to spot-weld metal. I loved it, and I loved showing those boys it could be done by a girl.
Thanks for letting me share. I do hope you’ll grab a copy of Trust Fall, enjoy your own discoveries, then share the book (and some of your memories if you’d like) with others.
The author actually included book club questions at the end of the book to inspire conversation! This would be a great selection to read if you have a book club, since it could spawn a lot of meaningful conversation. There’s also a podcast available which I plan to check out soon!
I’m so excited I got the chance to read Trust Fall. As a fan of nostalgia, it definitely scratched that itch, but you don’t need to be a Gen Xer to enjoy this book. After all, fairy tales can be enjoyed by all ages.
Need more works from Tamara Kaye Sellman?
Who is Tamara Kaye Sellman?
Locus-listed, four-time Pushcart nominee Tamara Kaye Sellman is co-author (with Clay Vermulm) of the collection, Rain Shadows (2025; BTRS Books), and is one of four co-hosts for the Beneath The Rain Shadow podcast. She is author of Cul de Sac Stories (2024; Aqueduct Press) and Intention Tremor (2021; MoonPath Press). Her most recent book, Trust Fall: A Not-Very-Magical Fairy Tale About the F Word, will be ready for pre-order in August for its September 2026 release with Gnashing Teeth Publishing.
***Taken from Tamara Kaye Sellman’s website
Get to know Gnashing Teeth Publishing:
Gnashing Teeth Publishing was conceived in the middle of the night and promptly overtook every waking hour since. often referred to as simply GTP, we love the community of Gnashers who have embraced our vision. we are unapologetically feminist and are committed to our Statement of Inclusion. we do not shy away from subjects or language, but embrace honesty, high caliber writing, non-traditional works, and the community of authors and poets. beyond traditional print books, we have online features and fun projects. we are always looking at opportunities for poets, writers, and artists to engage with us and our growing community.
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***Taken from the Gnashing Teeth Publishing website
