A Sapphic Satire Drenched in Perfume and Chaos

Anna Dorn’s Perfume and Pain is a wickedly sharp, compulsively readable novel that pays homage to 1950s lesbian pulp while reveling in the messy, modern world of internet infamy, literary ambition, and hedonistic indulgence.

At its heart is Astrid Dahl—an author whose career is in free fall after a "light cancellation" and whose vices include Adderall, alcohol, and an ill-advised attraction to the wrong women. As she navigates a tumultuous love triangle between an academic researching lesbian pulp and a seductive, enigmatic neighbor, she also gets an unexpected career revival in the form of a potential TV adaptation. But with her success comes the return of old, destructive habits, and Dorn gleefully drags us along for every questionable decision and deliciously chaotic spiral.

Dorn’s writing is both razor-sharp and absurdly funny, balancing satire and sincerity in a way that feels like a love letter to both old Hollywood melodrama and the beautiful disasters of contemporary queer life. Astrid is frustrating, impulsive, and impossible to look away from—a protagonist who embraces the worst parts of herself even as she struggles to grow beyond them.

With a scent of nostalgia, a splash of sapphic longing, and a whole lot of biting humor, Perfume and Pain is a wild, intoxicating ride through the highs and lows of literary ambition, self-sabotage, and desire. Fans of messy, flawed protagonists and darkly comic storytelling will eat this up.

I know that character development requires the character to start somewhere different than where they end but I will admit I’m getting a little tired of riding the hot mess express. Destructive cycles of bad decisions and drugs are especially exhausting, and for that reason I struggled through the a good portion of this book, but the writing was strong enough to carry the story (or at least my attention). May a girl like Ivy never find me.

However, there are lots of books that I think feel similar to this, which was part of its original appeal, and I think the majority of readers who are not burnt out on this specific subgenre will be totally pleased with this pick. Readers of In Tongues, Worry, and Really Good, Actually would all likely find a happy home between these pages.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review!

Anna Dorn is so funny. The dry wit in the narration had me hooked from the beginning. The self destructive main character and her self righteous belief about the path she's on through the journey kept me glued to this book. As a writer living in LA, I picked up this book thinking oh maybe I'll relate to this main character, and while this didn't end up being the case at all it was so much fun to live in the mind of someone whose thought process I can't follow at all, and yet made me laugh out loud as she continued to follow through on all of her worst ideas. Can't wait to read the upcoming book which is being credited as being written by the main character of this one!

Loved the narrative of a disgraced lesbian author trying to make it out of her place of exile, all the while being an awful person that you find yourself rooting for to become better. So desperately and satisfyingly unsatisfying in the beginning, watching someone on paper make poor decision after poor decision, but I don't think we read books about people who do the right thing every time, we read books who make mistakes and learn from them and are, most of all, human. Desperately makes me want to learn the history of lesbian pulp fiction. Recommending to all of my liberal arts women's college friends!

Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn has some really great writing. The descriptions, especially of perfumes and obsession, are detailed and vivid. The author does a great job of creating an atmosphere that feels rich and sensory.

That said, I had a hard time connecting with the main character. She was difficult to understand at times, and her actions made parts of the book feel slow and frustrating. While I get that Astrid is meant to be complex and relatable at times, I found her more off-putting than intriguing, which made it tough to stay engaged with the story.

Despite the strong writing, the main character held me back from fully enjoying the book. If you don’t mind a difficult protagonist and appreciate good prose, you might like this one. But if connecting with the main character is important to you, it might not be the best fit.

Astrid is snarky and cynical and inconsiderate and toxic and yet somehow I was still rooting for her the whole time! Which points strongly to the authors skill for creating a lovable, messy character we can all see pieces of ourselves in - even if we don’t happen to be 30 something writers going through substance use issues and obsessive dating patterns.

Oh another dysfunctional and dysregulated woman ruining her own life through unprompted actions — my favorite.

I had a great time reading this, like watching a train wreck - or a train plowing through a retirement home and daycare. Yes, that’s how messy this book is. I am unapologetically obsessed. <Perfume and Pain> firmly falls in the category of morbid entertainment, of living vicariously through someone’s chaotic life. Because no way is this going to be my life. Right? Right?! (sometimes I wonder if consuming too many dysfunctional women books says something about myself).

Beyond the surface level of filthy fun, Anna Dorn models and dissects themes of trauma, interpersonal relationships, and navigating self and healing in a society that has dissonant expectations and interpretations of identity and success. The prose brought Astrid’s story to life. Reading the words, tone, and cadence, conferred a secondhand mania onto myself. Enthralling, hilarious, obsessive.

Astrid is far from a likable character or a reliable narrator, but she voices her story with a whole lot of heart, and that makes her an empathetic character. She had me rolling in toxicity, getting whiplash from taking sides despite the singular perspective, and ricocheting between realities. The integration of scent is stylistically interesting, as it sets this story apart from some other “sad girl chaos” books I’ve read in its introspection. Though interweaving the olfactory sense into the prose could have benefited from better execution. It’s descriptive prowess - top notch; its connection to Astrid - superficial. Unique nonetheless.

An enthralling homage to lesbian pulp.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

I can see why this appeals to so many readers. The writing is sharp and witty, the characters unlikable but so interesting. I can see how this would be compulsively readable to so many. I enjoyed it but as much as I expected, though I think it was my own fault for having different expectations.

(3.75/5 stars)

Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn is a contemporary and satirical nod to 1950s lesbian pulp fiction.

Astrid is a disaster lesbian novelist who is in a bit of a slump. After an incident where she's called out on something she said, she struggles with sobriety and the allure of two women--a manic pixie dream girl of a PhD student studying lesbian pulp fiction and a more mature and settled vegan artist living off an Urban Outfitters settlement.

Astrid is, at times, a polarizing and unlikeable main character. She leans into mania and her favorite intoxication routine, which she's named The Patricia Highsmith: a blend of alcohol, weed, amphetamine, and cigarettes. But I did always find myself rooting for her.

If you're a fan of trainwrecks, downfalls, and the climb back up, you should absolutely pick this up, especially if you are a sapphic.

CW: alcohol use, drug use, addiction, toxic relationships, gaslighting, stalking

Perfume and Pain delivers a chaotic, satirical dive into the life of a deeply flawed protagonist. Astrid’s self-destructive tendencies, messy relationships, and dark humor create a whirlwind of drama and hilarity. While her toxicity makes her hard to root for, Anna Dorn’s sharp cultural observations and witty writing keep the narrative compelling. A modern twist on lesbian pulp fiction, this is a bold, entertaining read for those who love messy characters with a dash of redemption.

Interesting story following writer Astrid living in LA, and facing some issues in her privileged life: being "cancelled" and choosing between two women. The writing was very witty and gave lots of commentary on living as a gay woman in LA. I do like my main character to be more likable, and Astrid is not very likable! I don't think I was the target audience-straight, married female, so I might not be the best judge!

Perfume & Pain wins the award for my most highlighted book of the year. I started laughing and highlighting on the first page, and continued doing so for the remainder of the book. It’s modern, fresh, and smart – a hilarious “sad girl” story with fun lesbian pulp vibes.

Perfume & Pain covers a period in twenty-something writer Astrid Dahl’s life when she’s trying to get her shit together: to recover from her alcohol and love addictions, deal with her uncomfortable feelings, and finally make progress on a new book. Astrid is the author of three novels, and she was recently semi-cancelled after a provocative soundbite in an interview. At the beginning of the book, she’s rejoined the Zoom lesbian writer’s group she cofounded, where she meets Ivy. Ivy smells like metallic flowers and is a grad student studying lesbian pulp fiction, and she is an immediate distraction for Astrid, no matter how toxic she may be. And then there’s Penelope, Astrid’s neighbor, a vegan artist who smells like patchouli. She distracts Astrid too, but in a much more complicated way; Astrid’s feelings about Penelope veer from inferiority to aggravation to attraction to outright obsession. Will Astrid be able to overcome her self-destructive tendencies and find her way into a productive life? And even more importantly, will she finally discover her signature scent after years of perfume samples?

On the surface, Perfume & Pain seems like a book where not a lot actually happens, plot-wise; it’s just giving us a glimpse into someone’s life. But it’s a lot more complex than that underneath; it’s about feminism, sexuality, millennial ennui, addiction, the nature of celebrity, modern life and love, internet culture, art, artifice, and vulnerability. Astrid’s experiences are so far outside of my own, but I vibed with her nonetheless. I could totally relate to her hunt for the perfect fragrance as my own hunt for a signature scent only recently ended in success (at a much older age than Astrid’s). Being inside her head and reading her observations was never boring, and I empathized with her and rooted for her in spite of and because of her numerous flaws and self-destructive behaviors. I even liked her when she was being mean or judgy, so kudos to Anna Dorn for creating such a complicated, flawed and yet lovable main character.

Perfume & Pain is cynical, it’s satirical, it’s hysterical – a millennial sad girl novel that stands apart from the rest due to its wit, wisdom, and irresistible Californianess. This one was a gem!

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on November 18th, 2024. Links provided.

In Perfume and Pain, mid-tier author Astrid Dahl moves to a small LA bungalow to recover from a career setback and finds herself diving into steamy distractions. As she navigates new relationships with Ivy, a grad student researching 1950s lesbian pulp fiction, and Penelope, a sensual yet grounded artist, Astrid is thrust back into the spotlight when a famous actress wants to adapt her novel for TV. As the pressure mounts, Astrid’s destructive habits resurface, threatening both her career and her newfound (albeit very messy) love life. An homage to lesbian pulp fiction, this book attempts to blend wit, romance, and Hollywood chaos.

I have to be completely honest and say this book was not for me. I really struggled to get through it because I found Astrid to be so unlikeable (I know this was the point but it made it difficult for me to want to get into the story). Astrid is a messy, self-destructive character who’s constantly surrounded by chaos and toxic relationships. I understand the satirical intent, but it just didn’t land for me. The whole book felt mostly like a parade of cliches and unrelatable moments. Astrid is impossible to empathize with - she’s annoying, constantly makes bad decisions, and blames everyone but herself for the chaos in her life. Her addiction problems are brushed off too easily, and her entire arc feels hollow. All of her love interests/exes are written as caricatures of “crazy” women. I know there will be readers out there who will absolutely love this book and all of its pop culture references, but sadly I am not one of them.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Perfume and Pain in return for my honest review.

Ahhhh, complloved this story. The lesbian representation was great. I loved the discussion of other lesbian artists. The story was realistic yet completely insane at the same time.

I liked this book, especially near the end; but I have just read one too many messy narcissistic queer femme main characters this year.... I love that this genre is popular right now- it's always a fun a romp, but now I need there to be more than just that same premise over and over with very little plot outside messy characters being messy, and having a minor redemption arc towards the end.

Howeverrrrr if I had read this one first I think I would have been more into it. I do love a messy character, and it's an interesting and realistic modernization of a lesbian pulp novel, complete with a love-bombing, toxic, u-haul, LA romance.

Read if you enjoyed Dykette, Eileen, and Milkfed (but wanted fewer wtf moments).

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Astrid Dahl is a Los-Angeles based author who is on the verge of being cancelled after some remarks she made during an interview. In an attempt to get back in the publishing world’s good graces, and save the chances of her novel being turned into a series, she goes back to the drawing board in the form of rejoining the Zoom witting group she co-founded - Sapphic Scribes. Here she finds Ivy, a PhD student writing her thesis on lesbian pulp fiction. She’s instantly attracted to Ivy despite numerous red flags. At the same time she’s getting to know Ivy, she’s also meeting her new neighbor Penelope, and the famous actor Kat Gold who is developing her book into the series. Astrid uses a variety of recreational drugs to help her get through all these new situations, and they start to take a toll, with all aspects of her life spiraling. We go through this journey with Astrid, and come out better people on the other side.

I have no idea what the LA lesbian community is like, so I really have no point of reference to say whether what the author described is accurate or not. But what I can say is that it was entertaining. I found myself laughing at Astrid’s inner dialogue on multiple occasions. There is a plot to the book but in my opinion it’s more of a character driven story and the characters can be unlikeable to an extent. But I was still super invested in what was going to happen and to me - that’s the sign of a good read!

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of "Perfume & Pain" by Anna Dorn.

There are not nearly enough novels written with sapphic main characters, which is part of what initially drew me to this book. It wasn't the best thing I've ever read, but I did enjoy parts of it. It's strange, however, to be both bored at times and wildly entertained at others. That type of inconsistency in a novel tends to throw me off. I'm also, personally anyway, not interested into characters who are messy for the sake of being messy. Astrid is not a realistic messy that most humans are; her messiness feels contrived.

As another reviewer mentioned (and I agree it's important to do so), "content warnings for biphobia, ableism, drinking and driving, homophobic slurs, heavy drug and alcohol use (to the point of blackouts), among others."

(Actual: 4.25⭐, rounded up) This book was such a trip and oddly reminded me of the show "BoJack Horseman" in a lot of weird, random ways lol, but I think that's what made it such a great read for me! Not so much because* of the show comparison of course, but genuinely due to the ~vibes~ of it all. When I saw the blurb stating that this book would be a homage to 1950s'-60s' [lesbian] pulp fiction, I knew somewhat of what to expect but, even so, I found myself still being just.... blown away by how unapologetically unhinged, dramatic, and raunchy this story was 😝 Astrid was so perfectly (& equal parts) unlikeable and endearing as our FMC; a complete mess & oxymoron of a person, if you will, tbh haha.... and yet I still found myself rooting for her in the end, no matter how long it took for her to get there (and trust me.... it took *awhile* from my perspective as a reader, though not necessarily to the book's detriment). In the end, I loved this trainwreck of a book— P&P is an ambitious novel that WORKS because even when it aims to really hit us where it hurts during its more poignant & moving moments, it also still reminds its readers to not take things too seriously. A unique read for anyone looking for something that may be more outside of their comfort zone!

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!

Okay, so I’m thinking maybe I need to stop reading books with self-proclaimed “messy” characters. I know a lot of folks live for imperfect protagonists who are pieces of shit and profoundly unlikeable; I am not one of them. As boring as it makes me, I want to root for my heroes and heroines, and I struggle to get through books, much less enjoy them, when I want to punch the main character in the face. Repeatedly.

For the first 75-85% of this book, that was how I felt about Astrid. She was messy to the point of unhinged and almost suicidal. Miserable, a drug and alcohol addict, emotionally stunted and self-obsessed, careless to her loved ones and self-destructive to a fault, not to mention the literal plot point that she’s a privileged white lesbian who resents the progression of the LGBTQ community beyond what it was when she entered it. I didn’t want to root for her for the majority of the novel. When bad things happened to her, I just thought, “GOOD.” I thought, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” But it kept happening over and over again.

I got to a point where I reframed how I was reading the novel. Because if I took the book at face value, I loathed every second of it. If I took it as satire, demonstrating the chaos of aging, being out of pace with everyone around you, and the struggles of grounding/healing yourself… well, then the book is a brilliant piece of work. And, ya know, that’s probably the point. I appreciated how it was clearly written for queer folks, and the humor felt classic to the gay sensibility (it reminded me of so many conversations I’ve had with my other gay besties). I also found the last 10-15% of the book particularly strong, and I was in fact rooting for Astrid by the end of the novel. On the whole, through the ups and downs, I give this 3⭐!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*