Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Pulp

LOVED the concept of this book and really enjoyed Janet's story in particular as well as the historical aspect. I could have read a whole book just about Janet.

Content Warnings

cayrivvers's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I did not expect this book to be so rooted in history, but it made sense once I realized the same author wrote Music From Another World. That one takes place in 1970s California and this book goes between the 1950s and 2017 in Washington DC. They are both queer historical fiction which combines two genres I love. And this book taught me so much I should have learned about sooner such as the Lavender Scare and about lesbian pulp fiction novels. I actually only ever heard them referenced in Fun Home (The Musical) but I never actually looked into them- and thanks to this book I am super intrigued and need to check some out. There were some storylines in the book that I felt deserved more attention or followup, not even in terms of resolution but for consistency with the pace and flow of the novel. Some things I felt like there was not enough information provided and that we were supposed to find out more before the book ended. I do want to continue reading this author though for sure.

Content Warnings

anniereads221's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

3.0

Content Warnings

lizzie04's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

I was on a rush to work in Manhattan, and in doing so had taken a different route from my usual. The first time I speed walked through, I smiled at the copious pride flags, the sign reading “gay st,” and a bar called The Stonewall Inn, figuring it was just a part of Manhattan that was randomly queer. It wasn’t until I read this book and was taking this route again that I realized I was walking through Greenwich Village, a neighborhood so significant to LGBTQ+ history. There was a bittersweet tightness in my chest and I have this book to thank for making me realize the history I was walking through offhandedly.

Ok yes, I am ashamed that as a queer person I don’t know much about LGBTQ+ history beyond some basics, but this book combined the two things I am a completely sucker for: history and gay shit. It was engrossing to go back to the 1950s from the perspective of a lesbian protagonist, and learning things I SHOULD know through her (ex: the Lavender Scare and explosive popularity in lesbian pulp fiction). I was interested in both the present and the past storylines and seeing the huge difference between the two queer characters’ world’s, only 60 years apart. Both of them were going through completely different things but felt raw in their turmoil; following Abby along in present day and trying to piece Janet’s story was also great.

This book felt like a four star, then the ending (that FUCKING ending) bumped it up to a five. Seeing two entirely different generations of queer people meet and talk to each other, especially after all we went through with them in their separate timelines only to combine in the present, made me feel like my heart was being yanked out of my chest in the best way. It goes to show the significance of representation: even during a time where queerness was hunted down, people in the community found something positive in books that were meant to shun them and warn them off (kind of like how in modern-day shitty representation on TV/books, LGBTQ+ audiences still find a way to get attached and have a positive impact made on them from the work). Anyways, fucking loved this book and I will also be reading lesbian pulp novels now.

Content Warnings