Reviews

Stray City by Chelsey Johnson

araines's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

michellekmartin's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book! I loved the main character, the story line, the insights in to lesbian culture in Portland in the 90's, and the commentary on straight America. The only thing that I didn't love about this book was the switch in the POV throughout the different sections. It was a bit confusing at times to go from first person to third person. I'm really looking forward to more work from Chelsey Johnson!

markeefe's review against another edition

4.0

Set in Johnson's former home of Portland in the late '90s and '00s, the author calls her debut novel a "homesick love love letter." She does an excellent job of conjuring the city's scrappier pre-gentrification era. More important, she's a gifted storyteller who's created an engaging set of characters who are so believable and companionable, you'll be very sorry to let them go. At the center of the novel is Andrea, a twenty-something starving artist and part of a group of friends who call themselves the Lesbian Mafia. Heartbroken from a recent breakup, Andrea starts secretly fooling around with a guy named Ryan--the lone male crush of her life. When she becomes pregnant, her entire world changes. Johnson writes tenderly and humorously about the heartbreak and joys of life. Readers from anywhere will enjoy the wonderful Stray City; longtime Portlanders will enjoy it even more.

kstookley's review against another edition

3.0

My friend told me to give a real review for this one, so here it goes! I had heard other reviewers describe this book as an homage to a city, to a group of friends, to a particular lifestyle that is still somehow relatable to all queer folks with a queer friend group. And... That's not really what I got. To be sure, the friends and place were still there, but they felt more like flavor than focus. The true focus of this novel was how one relationship was doomed in an extremely particular way-- yes, because of the genders of the partners, but more resolutely the two sharing similarities that lead to incompatibility (as well as some pretty stark differences). So, this book was fine, fun. But I would recommend others much more highly if you want an examination of queer place and friends (Paul Takes Form of a Mortal Girl by Andrea Lawlor immediately comes to mind).

One good quote (there were many more good ones but I didn't mark them and don't feel like hunting much):
"For the first time I understood why queer people changed their names... The name they gave you belongs to someone else, their invention of you; if you turn out not to be that person, you name yourself."

cicadalisah's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Biphobia

daniliff's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

aphyman's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

kphmitten's review against another edition

3.0

?

Wait...that was it? All the build up and setting of Andrea's life to then fly through her kid's presence. It felt like a very weird place to end.

jamiezaccaria's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this book well enough- it was certainly an original story and I loved most of all the atmosphere of Portland. I felt some of the secondary characters to be disappointing stereotypes but the main characters well fleshed-out. I like that the author didn't follow typical tropes. I did think the ending was a bit abrupt but overall, it was an interesting read.

crescent_moon22's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a witty, fun, introspective novel. I read through this so fast. It sheds light on identity, community, and family. I enjoyed the characters and wanted to meet them.