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landofkait's review
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
rainbowbookworm's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime
oceanelle's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Absolutely insufferable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
andyking's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Dysphoria
sighclopss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Dementia, and Religious bigotry
kbweis's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Antisemitism
blueberry0531's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, and Dysphoria
ameliainthelibrary's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The story was great and the writing was well done with good flow but the charterers, particularly Dawn, were so dislikable that I nearly DNFed. As a non binary queer person I was particularly excited about a story with an older character coming to terms with their identity but I just couldn’t form any relation to Dawn or her self spiraling hatred. Were it not for the writing of Gertrude’s story and my curiosity of if we’d find out what happened to Marta I would not have been able to finish this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
silverhill's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, and Medical content
Minor: Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
dustghosts's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Transphobia