Objectively, this is compelling enough as a novel… for me, though… so many things didn’t hit.

I don’t want to bash the book. I know it will be loved by many, and I can see why. This is lesbian pulpy goodness. It gets under your skin! But, I didn’t like the mc. It was a chore to get into her headspace.

The relationships and the encounters she has are either just terrible luck or a type she has, which she needs to reformat what that looks like because it does her ZERO favors… Penelope though, she is this older woman who burrows under her surface.

I enjoyed the relationship progression with the mc and her brother. There were really silly parts in this book and some really wild parts. Ultimately, the mc’s darker personality was daunting to me.

Overall I need to give this book credit because it did keep me reading until the very end, so it was entertaining enough. It was pretty trainwreck-y, so you can’t help but see what happens next. I thought that it fell a little flat in the end.

Obsessed with the main character. Loved the need to think in this book and how it wasn't overwhelming as some similar books in this vein are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster* for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved every second of this!! Astrid is the messiest character I’ve met in a long time. She is a tornado of booze, drugs, sex, and transactional relationships that leaves a path of destruction 100 miles wide in her wake. And yet, you can’t help but root for her the whole novel and want to see her do better and make better choices.

Dorn’s prose is brash, unflinching, honest, and compulsively readable. At times, it feels like you’re reading someone’s journal or secret Tumblr account. I also got major Ava from ‘Hacks’ vibes (just less funny) from Astrid, which I enjoyed. I liked how Dorn wrote the side characters and how the reader gets to watch their relationships to Astrid evolve over the course of the novel.

There was one point towards the middle of the novel where Astrid’s cyclical shenanigans got a bit old for me, but that feeling quickly went away as the story progressed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and will be reading the rest of Anna Dorm’s catalogue immediately!! Perfume and Pain is for anyone who likes to watch mess and drama from a safe distance, until you inevitably get swept up in it in some way.

“Being a writer means being rejected constantly, and that's probably why I like it. Because I'm a masochist. It's probably why I date women too. Hurts so good!”

I went back and forth between loving and disliking this one. It’s funny and deeply sapphic, but it’s also really white and sometimes hard to draw the line between what’s satire and what’s out of touch. I get we need imperfect, flawed main characters etc, but I vote that we make them less annoying!!

I feel like it dragged in the middle and Kate’s character + anything to do with the internet always made me cringe. Also why was Astrid being Swedish so central to her inner monologue??

Unfortunately I did love the lesbian melodrama of it all!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a wild and fun ride. Perfume and Pain is a satirical, literary fiction novel about obsession and lesbian culture in LA. Astrid is a 35-year-old novelist who is sort of getting canceled after a problematic remark she made during an interview. She is trying to stop using drugs and alcohol to get healthy and clean up her image. She has one other obsession she can't seem to overcome, though - women. The story follows her as she dates a walking red flag, Ivy, while bickering with her attractive, older neighbor, Penelope, all the while getting to know a celebrity, Kat Gold, who is adapting one of Astrid's novels into a television show. Astrid is intelligent and witty, but also doesn't have much of a filter on her (often controversial) viewpoints. When you add all of this together, what results is a hilarious story that is just as messy as it is entertaining.

I had so much fun reading this! I think this is a novel that many sapphic millennials will appreciate. You do need to go into it expecting a chaotic, cringey adventure though. Astrid comes from a privileged background, and while she does face some difficult challenges, she also is continuously making bad choices (and is very self-aware of her decisions). She also has some bad takes at times. So, she's definitely the type of main character that you love to hate. Reading this book is like listening to your most unhinged friend tell you all of their wild stories. It's so amusing, but it may not be for everyone. I found myself immediately drawn into Astrid's world and waiting to see what would happen next (almost like watching reality TV), but others may find her to be too much.

Anna Dorn captures queer culture wonderfully. My favorite part of reading this novel was watching Astrid's interactions with all of her friends and love interests. The characters come to life beautifully. I adored all of Astrid's friends - Zev, Otto, and Sophie are equally delightful. Readers are a bit limited, because Astrid is so self-centered that she doesn't tell us too much information about her friends, but the side characters are still written so well that you can pick up on their traits throughout the scenes in which they're present. I also found both love interests intriguing in different ways. Penelope is mysterious and captivating, while Ivy is fascinating because you have no clue what outrageous thing she'll do next. I thought the toxicities in each of their relationships with Astrid were realistic, and I just had to know how it was all going to shake out. Astrid herself is unlikable, but she slowly becomes more sympathetic throughout the book. Even though I wasn't always rooting for her, I was so entertained by her story that I didn't mind being in her head for the entire novel. Anna Dorn wrote such an effective morally grey, unreliable main character.

The writing is sharp and witty - some lines made me chuckle aloud, while others stopped me in my tracks because of how astute Astrid's observations were. I loved all of the references to queer media. I'm right in between the millennial and Gen Z generations, so I didn't understand all of the references, but the ones I did get were fantastic. This book is a love letter to lesbian pulp fiction. I haven't read much of that genre, but now I'm eager to pick up a couple of the books referenced throughout this novel. I also really enjoyed the details about various perfumes, as well as the commentary on Hollywood and the publishing industry. The author did a fantastic job of picking out a handful of themes for her novel and then giving them each a good amount of time and attention.

I also appreciated the pacing. It's very quick, with different characters coming and going and various conflicts arising at a rapid pace. I read this book in a few sittings, and the pages flew by. When I reached the end, it didn't feel like I had just read 350 pages; I wanted 200 more!

While I truly enjoyed Perfume and Pain, I do have two critiques. First, it was sometimes hard to distinguish what was satire from what was an actual problematic opinion that Astrid had. I don't mind reading about characters with opinions I disagree with, and this book focuses a lot on cancel culture, so it makes sense that Astrid is controversial. However, Astrid is rarely challenged enough on her problematic viewpoints - particularly if those viewpoints are not present for the sake of being satirical. She evolves some throughout the novel, but it would have been good to see her learn more about why people were offended by her words so that she could have grown to be more understanding (maybe her interactions with Kat Gold and her production team could have been expanded more to touch on this). Additionally, while I love the fast pacing, the ending wraps up a little too quickly. I like how it ends, but it felt like there could have been more chapters about what happened between the 80% mark and the very end of the novel. Astrid suddenly undergoes a lot of character development, but I would have liked to learn more about her thoughts and struggles as she made such big life changes.

Overall, this is a deliciously thrilling and funny novel! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a messy read about lesbian obsessions in LA. However, if you are looking for a serious literary fiction novel with a lot of emotional growth or if you really hate unlikable main characters, you may not find this book as fun as I did. I haven't read anything else by Anna Dorn before, but I'm going to go add her other novels to my to-read list now.

4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is like a version of The L Word meets lesbian Bojack Horseman that seems vaguely autobiographical (I have not read the author's other books so maybe, maybe not). I appreciate a messy, unlikeable protagonist and Astrid is that and more (narcissistic, dense, an unreliable narrator). She's fleshed out enough that it's easy to hate her but then see yourself in her too. She reminded me so much of my ex at times that I wanted to throw this book across the room 🥴

I loved how unapologetic lesbian this book is. It's a bit cringey in moments - the first 100 pages or so are hard to get into - but it does ramp up. Living in the sapphic messiness was a fun ride. I do wish that the supporting characters were a bit more fleshed out though.

How I love an unlikeable main character, and Astrid is a very unique and self-aware unlikeable MC. Some of her opinions even made me uncomfortable, which I didn't think was possible in a book about a queer (sorry, lesbian) writer who lives in LA. This book started out unhinged and funny and anxiety-inducing and ended up somewhere else entirely, as all the best books should. I feel so lucky to have gotten an ARC of this and can't believe it was my introduction to Anna Dorn! Can't wait to devour her other books like I did this one.

Sharp and character-driven, PERFUME AND PAIN tells the story of Astrid, a controversial Los Angeles author who's trying to revive her career after being "canceled," taking readers through her misadventures in life and love, with a heavy dose of self-sabotage along the way. Astrid is chaos personified, often unlikable, sometimes unreliable, but to me, that just made her all the more fun to read about! I wanted to keep following her journey, and practically flew through the book, I was that hooked. Her character arc is so well-done, and the overall pacing is great, save for, maybe, the ending, which I did feel like was a little bit rushed. I wasn't super familiar with lesbian pulp fiction or Anna Dorn's work before picking up this book, but PERFUME AND PAIN was definitely an entertaining introduction to both! Dorn's writing is smart and just compulsively readable. I'd recommend her latest for fans of literary fiction with messy, complex characters and plenty of fun pop culture references to spot. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

"Perfume & Pain" by Anna Dorn stuck with me long after I finished it. Astrid, the main character, is complex and unapologetic, yet strangely likable. Despite her flaws, you can't help but root for her as she navigates her messy life. Dorn's writing captures the rawness of self-destruction with a touch of humor, making Astrid's journey both relatable and shocking. If you're craving a queer and chaotic read, "Perfume & Pain" delivers. Anna Dorn proves once again why she's a rising star in literature.

This had everything that I was looking for from a tribute to the lesbian pulp fiction genre. I was invested in what was going on and enjoyed the overall feel of the story. I enjoyed the idea of a LA author going through what was going on. Anna Dorn has a great writing style and thought everything worked in this world. I loved the cover and was so glad I was able to read this.

The Mona Awad and Ottessa Mosfegh girlies are going to eat this up.

This novel follows our protagonist Astrid, who is a 35 year old writer living in L. A. and her misadventures in life and dating.

Astrid is a character you don’t want to root for. She is vain, egocentric, crass: a complete train wreck, but I loved her. Her flaws are what made her the best kind of character (and honestly, shoutout to The Patricia Highsmith, who was a character in of itself).

This book was hilarious. I found myself kicking up my heels in delight numerous times. I can tell already that this will be a favorite of the entire year and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy.

his book was a wild ride! Going in blind, I was immediately drawn to its queer vibe. Astrid, though not always likable, won me over with her snark and relatable quirks. Dorn skillfully explores queer culture with humor and insight, making me feel both seen and entertained. Packed with pop culture references, it's a fast-paced, edgy read that's a blast from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book! Surprisingly I found that the author had such a unique way of writing. I really enjoyed that the most. I felt like it was almost poetic in a way.
The characters are all fun and lovely and I truly enjoyed it!

Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn is the story about a controversial LA lesbian author and her attempts to revive her career after being lightly cancelled. This is a witty, funny, and slightly wacky novel that is the perfect follow up to Exalted. Astrid is deeply unlikeable and at the same time, someone you end up rooting for. The cast of supporting characters includes crazy exes, judgmental writing group members, and college best friends. As Astrid tries to break herself out of a self-destructive pattern of behavior, she must contend with how she has been treating other people and how she has been treating herself. Dorn wrote an excellent homage to the lesbian pulp drama and I absolutely devoured it.

Ever since I swore off of personal drama in my early 20’s, I’ve sought to get my drama fix via books. And boy, did this one deliver. It was juicy and unhinged but also very literary and engaging. I loved all of the literary references- from lesbian pulp to Donna Tartt. It fully quenched my thirst for stories about messy, intelligent women, and had an edginess about it that didn’t feel heavy-handed, but actually had something to say. I enjoyed it very much.

WOW i loved every minute of this book and it had me on the edge of my seat. This one is definitely for the girlies who love unhinged characters. This book is a lesbian pulp fiction and an adaptation of the original Perfume & Pain (published in 1962 by Kimberly Kemp). An LA author navigates life post controversial behaviors in an attempt to save her writing career. She engages in self-destructive behavior (e.g., alcohol & drugs) and distracts herself with love, sex, and relationships to cope with her insecurities and dissatisfaction in her life.

This was a 5/5 star read for me and I look forward to reading Anna's other books in the future.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an ARC!

PERFUME AND PAIN continues Anna Dorn’s tradition of highly relatable, often times frustrating, wildly hilarious protagonists. Astrid Dahl is a deeply flawed, yet unmistakably charming woman who struggles with the affliction of “a very big mouth.”

A critique of “cancel culture” as much as it is a critique of the state of “queer” community in the modern age, PERFUME AND PAIN takes the author’s previous satirical outlook of EXALTED and applies it to the publishing industry. Reeling from her sudden “cancellation” (aka Astrid opening aforementioned Big Mouth) Astrid treads water trying to stay relevant by linking up with a social influencer as well as a new romantic interest who ultimately challenges her newfound sorta-sobriety.

At the heart of the story if Astrid’ indecision – she can’t decide if she likes her new oddball neighbor, if she likes Ivy (the romantic interest), if she can stand the influencer who is trying to give her a big break, and where she belongs in the “queer” community as a judgy curmudgeon. This level of indecision leads Astrid down a destructive path that is all too familiar.

Readers who need to like a character’s decisions and a character’s personality may struggle with Astrid – but at its core, this is a story that is for the reader who appreciates the messiness of stagnation and regression, and watching someone flailing.

The one thing I wish we’d gotten more of was the connection to Astrid’s interest in perfume. The only fragrance mentioned by name was the ubiquitous Santal 33 from Le Labo. Other fragrances get a brief description of notes and origin (a woodsy peach formed by a couple in Sweden). I appreciate the nods to r/fragrance and Fragrantica.

Altogether, Anna Dorn has done it again – if you’re open to reading about a protagonist who makes mistakes and doesn’t always learn from them.

Review to be posted on 'whatmgnreads' tiktok account.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for my free ARC of Perfume and Pain by Anna Dorn — available May 21!

Read this if you:
💎 love funny, messy books with outrageous female characters
🩷 have dated more than one I-know-this-is-a-bad-decision
✌️ ever had an annoying over-friendly neighbor

Astrid has been sort of, kind of cancelled, but doesn't that happen to every writer nowadays? She's not too worried about it, except when she is. It's tricker not to worry lately, since she's given up on her beloved concoction of drugs she calls the Patricia Highsmith. A famous actress options one of Astrid's books and plans to star as the main character, but Astrid kind of hates this idea even though she desperately needs the money it will bring in. And she also has a new hippie neighbor who keeps inserting herself into Astrid's life. Annoying. Isn't she? She's kind hot. But so is Ivy, and Ivy is crazy. Maybe too crazy?

This was a hilarious joy ride of a book — I loved every second of it. Astrid is a self-destructive lesbian writer struggling with what to do next, so she's rejoined her Zoom group of fellow queer writers, even though she kind of hates them all. But Ivy is new, and intriguing, and they start up a fling that's doomed from day one. I laughed out loud several times while reading this and was loathe to see it come to an end. Watching Astrid fumble through relationships with all the various characters in this book was so entertaining and worthwhile — definitely read this one if you're into queer litfic with hilarious characters and situations!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book felt like drinking a sultry and spicy perfume. It's been a while since I've read a book that has such a distinct feel to it, and this one delivered everything promised in the title. After moving into a new home in LA after her career takes a small nosedive, writer Astrid Dahl rejoins her old Zoom writing group. There she starts a brief fling with Ivy, a grad student researching 1950's lesbian pulp novels. She also develops a love-hate relationship with her neighbor Penelope, a Gen-X woman who always smells like patchouli. When Astrid learns that her new book will be developed into a movie starring popular actress/influencer Kat Gold, Astrid is elated that her career may be finally getting the boost it needs. But will her bad habits get in the way?

This book was emotional, sexy, and inspiring all in one, and is a must read for the literary fiction fans! I rate it 4.75 stars.