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A review by lesbianbarista
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The time period was a little hard for me to grasp, for most of it I thought it was in the Old West, a timepiece, but then it seemed it was in a dystopian future. A future where books are restricted and the librarians travel from town to town handing out "approved" materials, which is mostly propaganda supporting the War. But what kind of war, we're never told. But the librarians are rebels, handing out unapproved literature that expands people's world view. It's a dangerous job and we're following a character who wants to join them.
Esther is a Good Girl who turns out to be some level of sapphic, and I only say that because the book absolutely refused to say the word lesbian... even though we were surrounded by them. And Esther stowed away with the Librarians without their approval and now needs to prove herself to them, despite their distrust, and despite their cold attitude. She gains exposure to change her worldview, but fights it with every turn because she's been told she deserves the pain and suffering she has endured.
This book waaaas... okay! I did enjoy the Old West themes and the frontier and the descriptions given. It was fun to follow a character slowly coming to terms with her sexuality after a harrowing experience, and I really did enjoy a lot of the cast! Actually all of the cast, it was a solid and fun lineup and mostly women!
I did like seeing someone realize that their sexuality isn't an affliction (oof) and allow themselves to find joy and freedom, but I feel like we didn't get too much of that. Esther's journey was as quick as the book but not as satisfying as it was tied to a romance I couldn't much care about. Cye was very, very cool but I just didn't feel that charisma between the two of them that gets me excited about most romances.
By the end of the book I really just wanted more. This was an interesting set up into what seems to be a very interesting world. I only got to see a fraction of it.
Esther is a Good Girl who turns out to be some level of sapphic, and I only say that because the book absolutely refused to say the word lesbian... even though we were surrounded by them. And Esther stowed away with the Librarians without their approval and now needs to prove herself to them, despite their distrust, and despite their cold attitude. She gains exposure to change her worldview, but fights it with every turn because she's been told she deserves the pain and suffering she has endured.
This book waaaas... okay! I did enjoy the Old West themes and the frontier and the descriptions given. It was fun to follow a character slowly coming to terms with her sexuality after a harrowing experience, and I really did enjoy a lot of the cast! Actually all of the cast, it was a solid and fun lineup and mostly women!
I did like seeing someone realize that their sexuality isn't an affliction (oof) and allow themselves to find joy and freedom, but I feel like we didn't get too much of that. Esther's journey was as quick as the book but not as satisfying as it was tied to a romance I couldn't much care about. Cye was very, very cool but I just didn't feel that charisma between the two of them that gets me excited about most romances.
By the end of the book I really just wanted more. This was an interesting set up into what seems to be a very interesting world. I only got to see a fraction of it.