Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
#gifted
Our protagonist, Ruth (aka Baby, aka Miss Sunday), lives in San Francisco, a city perpetually “misty, bookish and debased.” Ruth is a stripper and fledgling dominatrix—she goes from her shift at the dungeon to her shift at the club, weaving through a crepuscular world of private dances and kinky encounters, all of which she deals with in almost anthropological detachment.
The money she claims is great so why the need to keep herself so busy? In short, she is lonely because her eccentricly endearing ketamine dealer ex-boyfriend Dino has vanished, and so she keeps herself busy facilitating the various fantasies of the Bay Area’s many unfulfilled men.
Ruth narrates her life in a soporific stream of consciousness that feels aimless but not entirely random; there’s a kind of reflective quality on the hows and whys of her quotidian lot but perhaps most tellingly on how Dino remains the emotional centre of her universe and how when he is missing, she unspools dramatically.
Newell writes about sex work, drugs, and people on the so-called fringe of society without judgy, moralising, or reducing her characters to grim stereotypes. Even reading Ruth’s thoughts on her desires, loves, childhood trauma and her clearly apparent aching sadness felt utterly voyeuristic.
Soft Core is a great piece of messy, sad girl literary fiction, but be warned, this is the kind of book where it’s more vibes than plot - a slow-burning, melancholic yet gritty, and immersive read that won’t be for everyone, but I loved it.
Many 4th Estate Books for kindly sending me a proof copy; as always, this is an honest review.
Our protagonist, Ruth (aka Baby, aka Miss Sunday), lives in San Francisco, a city perpetually “misty, bookish and debased.” Ruth is a stripper and fledgling dominatrix—she goes from her shift at the dungeon to her shift at the club, weaving through a crepuscular world of private dances and kinky encounters, all of which she deals with in almost anthropological detachment.
The money she claims is great so why the need to keep herself so busy? In short, she is lonely because her eccentricly endearing ketamine dealer ex-boyfriend Dino has vanished, and so she keeps herself busy facilitating the various fantasies of the Bay Area’s many unfulfilled men.
Ruth narrates her life in a soporific stream of consciousness that feels aimless but not entirely random; there’s a kind of reflective quality on the hows and whys of her quotidian lot but perhaps most tellingly on how Dino remains the emotional centre of her universe and how when he is missing, she unspools dramatically.
Newell writes about sex work, drugs, and people on the so-called fringe of society without judgy, moralising, or reducing her characters to grim stereotypes. Even reading Ruth’s thoughts on her desires, loves, childhood trauma and her clearly apparent aching sadness felt utterly voyeuristic.
Soft Core is a great piece of messy, sad girl literary fiction, but be warned, this is the kind of book where it’s more vibes than plot - a slow-burning, melancholic yet gritty, and immersive read that won’t be for everyone, but I loved it.
Many 4th Estate Books for kindly sending me a proof copy; as always, this is an honest review.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was sweet and sad and scary and not really smutty, despite what the cover and synopsis would lead you to believe. By the end, I really loved Ruth and wanted her to be okay.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very much a book where the vibes are the plot. You get ultimately a melancholic and hazy merging of days, whilst Baby/Ruth is unraveling.
It was quite nice to see the authenticity and even mundanity of sex work.
Overall I did enjoy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher
4/5 ⭐️
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes