4.5/5

Astrid, a controversial LA author attempts to revive her career by going back to her roots - attending the Zoom writer’s group she cofounded, Sapphic Scribes. After a bad publicity incident leaves her slightly canceled, she throws herself into the group - but more importantly into a few sexy distractions. Ivy, a grad student who’s a writer in Sapphic Scribes and researching 1950s lesbian pulp, urges Astrid into questionable situations and vices. And Penelope, her new neighbor who’s a painter living off Urban Outfitters settlement money immediately ingratiates herself in Astrid’s life. A satirical novel filled with lesbian melodrama, Southern California sultriness, and an insight into our internet and celebrity-obsessed world.

“Suddenly and without warning, I want to tell her I love her. This always happens to me. I have an intense urge to declare my love far before it’s appropriate. A lot of lesbians feel this way, and maybe there is an alchemical explanation, too much estrogen or something. Sometimes I can’t tell if I love someone or if I just want to up the stakes of the relationship or if there is a difference.”

This was such a fun and very binge-worthy read. Once I started it, Astrid’s character and Anna Dorn’s writing really sucked me in. I couldn’t get enough of Astrid’s relateability, but also her utter absurdity. This book is unapologetically feminine, hilarious, and rabid in terms of situations and relationships that the main character throws herself into. The humor was reminiscent of Big Swiss, and the messy relationships mixed with social commentary made me recall I’m a Fan. This is character-heavy with no big plot, so if that’s your vibe, then I would definitely recommend this for your next summer read. The character development in Astrid surprised me (in a good way) and added some depth to the story. She’s kind of an annoying narrator when you get started, but that just adds to her appeal, and towards the end, Astrid grows on you. Great book!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This book was so very much fun. Definitely an entry into the canon of “woman vs. the void” literature, it follows its protagonist as she deals with messy relationships and her rocky writing career after an interview gone awry.

The main character is an absolute disaster, but her journey is compelling and funny and inspires sympathy from the audience even when she is being terribly unlikable (which is most of the time). I read this while hunting down queer books set in LA that I already had copies of, and its sense of place was really delightful.

One star off because the main character sometimes felt like so much of a disaster that I couldn’t quite sympathize with or entirely understand her decisions and motivations, but a really good and startlingly sincere read overall.

"Perfume and Pain" has to be one of my favorite reads of this year. Anna Dorn did an extraordinary job crafting a character who, despite being deeply flawed and often unlikeable, felt so real and authentic that I couldn't help but love her. This novel is a masterclass in character development, capturing the complexities and contradictions that make us human.

The story is a rollercoaster of emotions—fun, crazy, and sad all at once. Dorn weaves an intricate narrative that seamlessly blends moments of dark humor with poignant reflections on pain and healing. Between Astrid's relationships with others and her career as a "cancelled" author, Astrid's journey through personal and professional turmoil is both heartbreaking, funny, and inspiring, making for a read that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

Astrid's relationship with Ivy, a wildly unpredictable and unstable student, is depicted with a mix of dark humor and stark realism. Ivy's erratic behavior and the chaos it brings into Astrid's life are both disturbing and oddly captivating, reflecting the complexities of toxic relationships. Dorn's portrayal of Ivy is unflinchingly honest, shedding light on the challenges and heartbreak of loving someone who is truly troubled.

The narrative takes a poignant turn when Astrid meets her neighbor, Penelope. Penelope's calm presence contrasts sharply with Ivy's instability, and as Astrid begins to know both of them she becomes more sporadic and becomes like her "old self" again.

Overall, this story was highly entertaining and still consisted of such deep thought and emotion towards what being lesbian and "cancelled" and in love really is like.

What makes Perfume and Pain so tough to get through is how aggressively unlikeable Astrid is. Without spoiling anything, there is some redemption, but to get there you have to suffer through bad decisions, hyper-current pop culture references, and gatekept queerness. Astrid isn't always wrong, but she is an asshole.

Sad sapphic girl did at its best. I don't know what else to say except I wish this book came with its own perfume sampler

Too much fun, perfect beach read. Pays homage to lesbian pulp while also doing its own unique thing. Feels relevant and online without ever getting cringe and weird (such an achievement). Flew through this by the pool in a few hours.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Perfume and Pain" by Anna Dorn is a gripping and evocative exploration of desire, obsession, and the intricacies of human connection.

Reading this felt messy and fun in the best way!!! I’m new to this author but I really enjoyed the witty writing style & ambiguous characters carefully planted along the narrative! Thank you, Netgalley, for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 ⭐️

An author whose career is struggling finds love in this novel.

I wanted to like this more but I really struggled with Astrid’s voice. I just found her kind of annoying, which made it harder to enjoy.

If Ottessa Moshfegh's My Year of Rest and Relaxation was about a lesbian, it would be this novel. Depressing, disheartening, offputting, and super bingeable.

Perfume & Pain 👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏽🍃🥀🌙🪐🔮💊📇📝❤️‍🩹
by Anna Dorn
4.6/5 ⭐️

What an amazingly fluid and beautiful dive into a gritty homage to lesbian pulp. Astrid was a FMC I found myself laughing out loud with more often than not. A true Aquarius, she is brutally honest and unapologetic about it (get it gurl 💅🏼). I love the acid wit she spews on everyone around her and she’s so observant about everything that’s going on. She is so relatable and incredibly compelling, and I couldn’t help but to inhale this every time I picked it up.

This was my first read by Dorn, but I will be back for more!! This was so sharp, but it begged you not to take it seriously and to have a good time. I felt like I was embraced in an L-Word (the original, you heathens) episode and I didn’t want it to end. Finding that feeling of queer camaraderie is scant anymore, so what a gift this title was - esp with our world where it is. If you enjoy manically messy and deeply intriguing lesbians that are drenched in a pulpy sepia tone, you must read Perfume & Pain!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Anna Dorn, and Simon & Schuster for gifting me an ARC of Perfume & Pain! ❤️‍🔥

Anna Dorn's "Perfume and Pain" is a provocative and intricately crafted novel that explores the intersection of desire, identity, and obsession in the world of haute couture and high-stakes perfumery.

Set in the glamorous yet cutthroat realm of Parisian fashion, the novel follows protagonist Genevieve, a talented but enigmatic perfumer whose creations captivate and seduce. As Genevieve navigates the competitive world of luxury fragrance, she becomes entangled in a complex web of ambition, manipulation, and the pursuit of artistic perfection.

Dorn's prose is lush and evocative, painting a vivid portrait of both the sensory delights and the darker undercurrents of the perfume industry. Through Genevieve's quest to create the perfect scent, the author delves deep into themes of creativity, beauty, and the sacrifices demanded by artistic genius.

At the heart of the novel is Genevieve herself—a flawed and compelling protagonist whose brilliance is matched only by her capacity for self-destruction. As she grapples with personal demons and professional rivalries, Genevieve's journey becomes a gripping exploration of passion and its consequences.

The supporting cast of characters, from ambitious fashion executives to seductive rivals, adds layers of intrigue and complexity to the narrative. Each character is meticulously crafted, their motivations and desires intertwining with Genevieve's own ambitions to create a tapestry of alliances and betrayals.

"Perfume and Pain" is not just a story of glamour and ambition; it's also a poignant meditation on the nature of art and the price of success. Dorn navigates these themes with skill and sensitivity, inviting readers to ponder the blurred boundaries between creativity and obsession.

Overall, "Perfume and Pain" is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a world of beauty, ambition, and the intoxicating allure of scent. Anna Dorn's compelling storytelling and richly textured prose make this novel a standout in contemporary fiction—a must-read for anyone fascinated by the transformative power of art.

Reminded me of Big Swiss in that the protagonist was a bit of a mess. But it was a memorable story. I was rooting for her.

Another book about being a writer. This one is set in LA, with a young lesbian author navigating through the drama of friendships, relationships, and obsessions while attempting to revive her career. Heavy on satire and celebrity worship, the storyline and main character of this novel are both messy and brilliant.

One of my Reads of 2024
I could not put it down - when I picked it up, started reading and two hours later I looked up.
I love the celebration of lesbian pulp fiction from the 1950s. An amazing love story, ode to Carol/The Price of Salt.
These characters - I would love to have dinner, hangout and be present with this group of friends.
An amazing story of chaos, recovery and love.

this book pleasantly surprised me. it's my first read by anna dorn, and i can definitely say i'll be going back to read her previous work. at the beginning, i was a little wary of all the pop culture references since sometimes that can take me out of the story, but they were so niche to me that i grew to appreciate them. the main character, astrid, is supremely unlikeable, but she did end up growing both on me and as a character. would definitely recommend this one.

I enjoyed this book so much - it is self-aware that it is a book about the most irritating woman and it’s told through her painful point of view. Painfully awkward that is - we have all made bad decisions in life but this narrator is profoundly good at making worse ones. Especially when it comes to dating, drugs, and her career. Perfect for anyone wanting a bit of unhinged, funny lesbian women fiction in their life! This hit the spot for me when I wanted unhinged with levity.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read the galley of this book!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Perfume and Pain was excellent. I recommend it for fans of pulp fiction and queer books.

I love Anna Dorn's characters. They seem awful! They are truly the worst people, but you would want to have them as your best friends because it's like having a front-row seat to a 24/7 Bravo network.

Dorn does a bang-up job of describing the romance of the east side of LA, and I even loved her descirptions of the drive between LA and SF. Shoutout to Harris Ranch!

I love the reflective nature of this book right alongside the messiness of mess right before things (hopefully) get cleaned up mostly for good.

I LOVE ANNA DORN!! This was unhinged and chaotic and the messiest most wonderfully awful story. I need it injected into my veins.