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landofkait's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my second literary fiction work and while I’m still not sold on the genre, I think this book is nothing short of great. I was not expecting to find this gem hidden away on a shelf in the library, but lo and behold, there it was just for me.
The story follows Dawn, a genderqueer individual, in a post-9/11 NYC as they search for their artistic voice. She is stuck—in their art, in her love life, in their gender identity. Her boyfriend, Lukas, is distant and only seems to be interested in her when she’s more masculine-presenting, their best friend Jae is slowly changing into someone she doesn’t know, and she’s constantly caught between feeling like her outward appearance doesn’t match who they are on the inside. At work, as a bookbinder, she finds a mysterious letter bound into the endpapers of a book—a love letter from a woman to another from the 1950s. It sets her on a journey to discover herself and the author of this letter.
I found the bookbinding fascinating. Savran Kelly is also a bookbinder and they made it very accessible. I also loved the mystery of the letter. It sent me down a rabbit hole of lesbian pulp novels and the Lavender Scare, and I learned a lot! I mourned the experiences of the love letter’s author. I disliked Lukas, full stop. Dawn was clearly struggling the whole novel, and a supportive partner he was not.
I read this pretty quickly, consumed by the story’s plot and pace. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in lit fic, sapphic romance, figuring out your sense of self, street art, and a mystery surrounding books.
**TW: Homophobia and Islamaphobia is rampant in post-9/11 NYC. The Lavender Scare in the 1950s was also homophobia. There are some instances of hate crimes in this novel. Please be advised.**
The story follows Dawn, a genderqueer individual, in a post-9/11 NYC as they search for their artistic voice. She is stuck—in their art, in her love life, in their gender identity. Her boyfriend, Lukas, is distant and only seems to be interested in her when she’s more masculine-presenting, their best friend Jae is slowly changing into someone she doesn’t know, and she’s constantly caught between feeling like her outward appearance doesn’t match who they are on the inside. At work, as a bookbinder, she finds a mysterious letter bound into the endpapers of a book—a love letter from a woman to another from the 1950s. It sets her on a journey to discover herself and the author of this letter.
I found the bookbinding fascinating. Savran Kelly is also a bookbinder and they made it very accessible. I also loved the mystery of the letter. It sent me down a rabbit hole of lesbian pulp novels and the Lavender Scare, and I learned a lot! I mourned the experiences of the love letter’s author. I disliked Lukas, full stop. Dawn was clearly struggling the whole novel, and a supportive partner he was not.
I read this pretty quickly, consumed by the story’s plot and pace. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re interested in lit fic, sapphic romance, figuring out your sense of self, street art, and a mystery surrounding books.
**TW: Homophobia and Islamaphobia is rampant in post-9/11 NYC. The Lavender Scare in the 1950s was also homophobia. There are some instances of hate crimes in this novel. Please be advised.**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Islamophobia
Minor: Violence
carrieemoran's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The writing in the first couple chapters felt hard to get into, and almost kept me from finishing this fantastic book! As a former librarian, I loved the book binding / restoration running plot, and I appreciated the wide range of queerness and queer experience represented. A great read for queers, book nerds, and especially queer book nerds.
bisexualbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Endpapers by Jennifer Savran Kelly is an introspective novel that follows Dawn, an artist and bookbinder, as she navigates the complexities of gender identity, bisexuality, and artist’s block. Set against the backdrop of post-9/11 Manhattan, Dawn's internal journey mirrors her external exploration of the city's streets and its queer history. Kelly weaves these threads together with a quiet, lyrical style, rich in emotional depth and philosophical musings.
Dawn's struggle with her gender is the heart of the story. Unsure of what it means to be a woman—or if she is one at all—Dawn often speaks of "the boy inside" of her, a metaphor for her fluctuating sense of self. Kelly captures the frustration and fear of not fitting neatly into society's binary categories, painting a deeply personal portrait of someone yearning to be understood for their gender fluidity, even as they are unsure of how to express it.
The plot is propelled forward when Dawn stumbles upon a hidden piece of queer history: a lesbian pulp novel cover sewn into the binding of another book, inscribed with a lesbian love letter. This discovery leads Dawn to investigate the lives of Gertrude and Marta, the women behind the letter, ultimately drawing a powerful parallel between the intergenerational queer experiences of hidden love, gender nonconformity, and survival. This quest, coupled with her exploration of her own identity, forms the core of Endpapers.
Dawn's relationships with her bisexual boyfriend Lukas and best friend Jae add layers to the story, allowing her to explore masculinity and intimacy in various forms. The dynamics between Dawn and Lukas, in particular, are fraught with tension, as Dawn feels boxed in by Lukas’s preference for her masculine side. Though their relationship provides fertile ground for Dawn's gender exploration, it’s clear from the beginning that their connection has become toxic. Unfortunately, Kelly doesn’t offer much insight into the positive foundation of their relationship, which made it hard to connect with or understand why Dawn continues to stay.
One of the novel’s standout features is its bisexual representation. Both Dawn and Lukas’s fluid sexualities are presented with nuance, and the exploration of biphobia within the queer community is handled with care. Dawn’s feelings of exclusion from both the straight and LGBTQ+ communities due to her gender nonconformity and bisexuality are poignant and relatable, underscoring a broader theme of belonging and the cost of hiding one’s true self.
However, the novel’s pacing can be uneven. The stream-of-consciousness narrative in the first half, while thematically aligned with Dawn’s inner turmoil, at times felt meandering and made it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, a subplot involving an attack on Dawn, Lukas, and Jae, who is straight, by homophobic men, and Jae’s subsequent injuries, felt somewhat disconnected from the main narrative and left me questioning its place in the larger story.
Despite these criticisms, Endpapers is a thoughtful exploration of gender, identity, and the queer experience, offering readers a tender glimpse into one woman’s journey toward self-acceptance. With its rich themes and evocative prose, the novel is a testament to the power of queer solidarity across generations, even when the path to self-understanding feels elusive.
📖 Recommended For: Readers who enjoy introspective and evocative prose, those interested in exploring gender fluidity and bisexuality, lovers of character-driven stories set against historical backdrops, fans of Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club.
🔑 Key Themes: Gender Fluidity, Bisexual Identity, Creative Block and Self-Discovery, Queer History and Intergenerational Solidarity, Belonging and Isolation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Minor: Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
door's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ellefanning's review against another edition
1.25
overall just really disappointing! one of the most self obsessed main characters ever
samgray's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
oliviabell's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jsrogers123's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it! This is one of the first books I've read that just feels authentically, messily queer and that was very cool
40 pages in I realized that it's a period piece because it's set in 2003 and that did make me want to vomit a little!
40 pages in I realized that it's a period piece because it's set in 2003 and that did make me want to vomit a little!
paperbookslove's review against another edition
5.0
Oh a book about a gender queer book conservator exploring their gender and solving a mystery? Is someone reading my mind and bringing the stories I want to read to life?
mnmeg's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.5