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tenderbench's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, and Stalking
readingwithgoose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The messy lesbian dream I've been waiting for. I ate this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual content
kaylurzz's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had no idea what I was in-store for when starting Perfume and Pain, as I am not very familiar with the lesbian pulp genre, but I was pleasantly surprised!
I cannot put into words how fun this read was. A perfect mix of suspense and laugh out loud moments.
I'm always a sucker for a messy and unreliable first-person narration, and our main character Astrid is just that. Cannot recommend enough if you love mess, drama, not-so likable characters, and pop-culture references!
Thank you again to the publisher for the e-arc!
I cannot put into words how fun this read was. A perfect mix of suspense and laugh out loud moments.
I'm always a sucker for a messy and unreliable first-person narration, and our main character Astrid is just that. Cannot recommend enough if you love mess, drama, not-so likable characters, and pop-culture references!
Thank you again to the publisher for the e-arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Racism
sonia_reppe's review
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
sleepingsaha's review
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was such a propulsive romp! I read this so quickly because I was eager to find out what happens to Astrid and with her professional life and with the women whom she’s romantically, professionally, and platonically involved with. Astrid is an entertaining narrator, perhaps a bit more self-aware than feels true-to-life but makes for fun storytelling. I do think that some of the book started to feel repetitive, such as when Astrid is on a “bender,” and I felt that some of the romantic storylines wrapped up a little too neatly. But overall, I’m glad I read it and I was snickering through a lot of it! Thanks to Simon Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use and Drug abuse
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