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Perfume and Pain
Perfume and Pain: A Novel | Anna Dorn
5 posts | 4 read | 3 to read
A controversial LA author attempts to revive her career and finally find true love in this hilarious nod to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. Having recently moved both herself and her formidable perfume bottle collection into a tiny bungalow in Los Angeles, mid-list author Astrid Dahl finds herself back in the Zoom writers group she cofounded, Sapphic Scribes, after an incident that leaves her and her career lightly canceled. But she temporarily forgets all that by throwing herself into a few sexy distractionslike Ivy, a grad student researching 1950s lesbian pulp who smells like metallic orchids, or her new neighbor, Penelope, who smells like patchouli. Penelope, a painter living off Urban Outfitters settlement money, immediately ingratiates herself in Astrids life, bonding with her best friends and family, just as Astrid and Ivy begin to date in person. Astrid feels judged and threatened by Penelope, a responsible older vegan, but also finds her irresistibly sexy. When Astrid receives an unexpected call from her agent with the news that actress and influencer Kat Gold wants to adapt her previous novel for TV, Astrid finally has a chance to resurrect her waning career. But the pressure causes Astrids worst vice to rear its headthe Patricia Highsmith, a blend of Adderall, alcohol, and cigarettesand results in blackouts and a disturbing series of events. Unapologetically feminine yet ribald, steamy yet hilarious, Anna Dorn has crafted an exquisite homage to the lesbian pulp of yore, reclaiming it for our internet and celebrity-obsessed world. With notes of Southern California citrus and sultry smokiness, Perfume and Pain is a satirical romp through Hollywood and lesbian melodrama.
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Amor4Libros
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Pickpick

I read this one in 2 days because I couldn‘t put it down! Everyone is super messy and sometimes I just wanted to shake the MC because she kept getting into situations that anyone could see miles away that were going to be extremely bad and toxic.

Did I love this? Absolutely!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

45 likes1 stack add
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Amor4Libros
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I have already giggled about 3 times with this book and I‘m only on chapter 2…Let‘s hope it stays this way!

45 likes1 stack add
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CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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Bailedbailed

This ode to lesbian pulp novels, starring a contemporary lightly cancelled lesbian writer in LA, is successful at what it's trying to do: a character study of a messy, fucked-up dyke with "controversial opinions" aka rampant biphobia etc experiencing a steep downward spiral while trying to stay sober and find love. I am just not enjoying it. I can't tolerate the protagonist‘s "opinions" even if they're not condoned. Also, not my style of humour.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

Give me all the pulp and lesbian drama!! So fun!!

Writer Astrid cannot get her life together. She regularly blacks out on a drug cocktail she calls the “Patricia Highsmith” and dates all the wrong women. The book follows her as she falls for a walking 🚩, obsesses over a neighbor, and tries not to get dropped by her book agent after running her mouth one too many times.

JamieArc Ooh! Moving this up my list! 5mo
Megabooks @JamieArc it was such a great darkly funny book! @AardvarkBookClub hit it out of the park! 5mo
charl08 Great plant / book combo 😍 5mo
See All 12 Comments
Megabooks @charl08 thanks!! 5mo
squirrelbrain Love your lilies! 5mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 5mo
Megabooks @squirrelbrain thanks! I‘d let you cut a bouquet if you lived here! 5mo
squirrelbrain 💓 5mo
AardvarkBookClub 😍💕 5mo
Centique Oooh that cover matches the flowers so well! I have never seen such pink lilies growing in a garden - only at the florist 😍 5mo
70 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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Megabooks
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I am so excited for these @AardvarkBookClub picks!! Both are running about 4.25⭐️ on the storygraph, which is phenomenal. Can‘t wait for my box!! #aardvark

vlwelser Those both look excellent. 6mo
Avanders Yay!! 🎉 6mo
AardvarkBookClub We can‘t wait for you to read these!! 💞🫶 6mo
Centique Oh wow that cover with the eyeball!! 6mo
69 likes5 comments