"Girls Girls Girls" by Shoshana von Blanckensee is a coming-of-age novel set between San Francisco and New York. The story follows two best friends who begin a romantic relationship and flee to California after graduating.

Hannah, the protagonist, seeks freedom after growing up in an Orthodox Jewish family. Along with her girlfriend Sam, she navigates life in the Bay Area, finding solace in the local queer community while trying to make ends meet.

This book ultimately explores the concept of family—both the families we are born into and the ones we choose for ourselves as adults. It delves into the themes of finding a home, discovering oneself and one’s strength, and experiencing love in various forms, whether with a grandmother (bubbe), a girlfriend, a sister, or a best friend.

I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel. The depth of sentiment, love, and compassion truly caught me off guard. The book's description doesn’t do the story justice. As a queer person around the same age as the protagonist, I expected a nostalgic and somewhat downbeat narrative. Instead, it turned out to be more than just a tale of a messy narrator; it is bright and full of love.

I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of Michelle Tea's work, who will appreciate its nostalgic reflections. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.