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A review by cryptogay
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I really enjoyed reading this book. Its a fun ghost story/mystery that focuses on women, and that's right up my alley.
However. Having now read two books by St. James, she really doesn't like lesbians. In both this book and The Broken Girls, the protagonists include women who express a lack of interest in men, and in both, St. James goes out of her way to tell us "Don't worry, they're not lesbians!", and she does so in a way that is tinged with disgust. This is not an uncommon attitude when straight women write about close relationships between women, but it still sucks. It was minor enough in this not to take away from most of my enjoyment of the book, but I really don't feel like giving it a higher rating as a result.
However. Having now read two books by St. James, she really doesn't like lesbians. In both this book and The Broken Girls, the protagonists include women who express a lack of interest in men, and in both, St. James goes out of her way to tell us "Don't worry, they're not lesbians!", and she does so in a way that is tinged with disgust. This is not an uncommon attitude when straight women write about close relationships between women, but it still sucks. It was minor enough in this not to take away from most of my enjoyment of the book, but I really don't feel like giving it a higher rating as a result.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence