A review by bloomed
Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn

funny hopeful reflective fast-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

4.25

more books about messy, weird, off-putting lesbians, please!

this book seemed like it’d be a total delight, and it really, really was. it was sharp and funny from the very first chapter, and i genuinely laughed the entire way through—something that kind of surprised me. usually, i think books that make loads of references to Contemporary Culture veer into being (sorry!) kind of cringey, but it worked well here! it reminded me of something mona awad might write, if she decided to take the leap into super gay fiction. the way it tackles writing, being queer, etc, was super on-the-nose in, i think, a really fun way, too; astrid isn’t always a likable main character (but who among us is?), but a lot of the things that came out of her mouth felt like something you might hear a funny-slash-outrageous friend say, and the way she grows and comes into herself was satisfying to read!

thanks to netgalley for the e-arc!
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