If you know your queer history, this book is both familiar and new. As the epidemic of HIV/AIDS begins to decline in the mid-90s, the ravages still echo across San Francisco, even though it's also a haven for outsiders and those wanting to live as they are. This is the world film buff and mopey introvert Walter comes into, out and trying to find his life's purpose.

Two important things happen which change his direction forever: Walter meets Cary and Sasha - a queer couple with an open and interesting life that teach him everything about love, people who share his feelings for art, and Cary specifically a love of noir and older films, and pushes him in the direction of creation. Second, he delivers meals to Lawrence, and older man with HIV who lost his beloved partner, who was a filmmaker and has experiences and enthusiasm to share.

Walter is a great lens through which to view this story because at some point we've all been Walter - sad and lost, impacted by people in ways we cannot articulate, and entirely unable to make sense of love.

Cary was a bit frustrating of a character, but that's clearly intentional. One of those people who is magnetic but potentially toxic, and their energy and demands would drive someone like me absolutely crazy - but they are the kick in the pants that Walter needs.

Melancholic, meditative, frenetic, and bittersweet.

I liked this. I really enjoyed how Tradowsky explored gender and sexuality here as well as non-monogamy

My biggest complaint was how overwritten it was. To the point it became distracting and at times irritating. This also could have been 100 pages less and I think I would have adored it.

My Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

A journey through the San Francisco of the 1990s. Walter is 22 when he arrives in the city and he's looking for his place there and in the world at large. He meets Carey by chance and then Carey's partner Sasha and this changes his world and his expectations. What changes things more is the AIDS crisis, which looms over everything. This is very much about coming of age and found family. It's also very much about the city of San Francisco itself. Know that it meanders at times and that it does feel overwritten but that it's thoughtful and thought provoking. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

Thank you Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️


Walter Simmering….♥️💔
I knew him from the first page💔. That mix of wide-eyed hope and quiet loneliness, the way he stumbles into San Francisco desperate for connection but not quite sure how to ask for it. Haven’t we all been there? That first rush of freedom after leaving home, when every stranger feels like they might hold the key to your real life? When he meets Cary and Sasha—glittering, untouchable, effortlessly cool—I wanted to shake him and hug him at the same time. *Don’t fall so fast,* I thought. *But also—how could you not?* 🥲😫
Their world is intoxicating. The late-night film debates, the way they drape themselves over bar stools like old Hollywood stars, the careless way they touch each other—it’s all so alive you can almost smell the cigarette smoke and cheap perfume. For a while, you forget that this is 1993. That outside their little bubble, people are dying. That the city is changing. That love stories like this one don’t always get happy endings. 💔
And then there’s Lawrence. God, Lawrence wrecked me. The way he carries his illness with such wry, tired grace. The film project he and Walter start—half-joke, half-desperate prayer—felt so real I found myself rooting for it like it was my own doomed dream. There’s a scene where they’re editing footage at 3 a.m., laughing at their own pretentiousness, and it’s so tender and stupid and human I had to put the book down and take a breath. 😔
This isn’t just a book about the past. It’s about that moment in your twenties when you realize nothing lasts—not the cities you love, not the people, not even the version of yourself you’re so desperately trying to become. It’s about laughing too loud in a diner at midnight because if you stop, you might cry. It’s about how friendship can feel like romance and romance can feel like salvation and how, sometimes, the most beautiful things are already halfway gone when you find them.
If you’ve ever loved too hard, trusted the wrong people, or clung to a moment knowing it wouldn’t last—read this. ♥️

2.5⭐
I mean, it's alright...

"Midnight at the Cinema Palace" centers on the experiences of Walter - a recent transplant to San Francisco from the Midwest - as he navigates a new and burgeoning queer world, meeting a cast of colorful characters who are all trying to do their best.

Reading this novel, I felt a sincere resonance of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" mixed with a little bit of Beat Generation ideology. While that makes for an interesting combination, I don't know if it was executed in the best way. I'm not the biggest fan of Beat Generation/counterculture writing, so this book felt more like aimless wandering and experiences with very little forward-propelled plot. I don't think there needs to be action or extreme mobility, but understanding what Walter's motivations are, his dreams, would have made him so much more interesting. And where "Tales" has a cast of unique characters that interact and engage with a protagonist, Mary Ann Singleton is a far deeper character with drive and determination that makes her relatable; Walter, I fear, lacks that depth or pathos.

On another tangent, it's clear this author loves San Francisco and especially the noir of what the city represents. However, as a Bay Area local, I can't help but roll my eyes a bit at the landmarks and tourism of the whole story. Yes, there are some iconic and important landmarks that are definitely worth visiting, just don't act like a travel ad.

This book does carry with it some interesting points, particularly in the realm of gender and sexuality, but the method in which they are addressed is rather clunky or difficult to digest. For example, when Walter meets with Jeff, a "computer nerd" who is engaging with the early phases of the internet, Jeff makes the bold statement of saying how the internet will change the queer landscape (in regards to cruising/hook up culture) forever, much to Walter's disbelief. Jeff's phrasing seems almost clairvoyant within the context of the novel, yet I felt like conversations like this that ham-handedly serve up thinking points take the whole story down to a trite experience. What I'm trying to say is, rather than positing these ideas and comparisons so forcefully in a conversation, perhaps just let the characters engage in an everyday conversation, allowing the reader to ponder how this experience differs from their own in the contemporary.

Overall, I think there is a lot of promise with this author, and the idea for the novel was there. Sadly, the execution was not to my taste. I do hope to be able to see the trajectory of this author in his future works.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

3.5/5. Liked the writing, liked the dynamics between the three main characters. The setting also felt like a character. I didn't really feel like it was the 90s though. This story could have happened today with a couple of adjustments. It was also a little long, with scenes dragging out sometimes.

Set in San Francisco in the mid 1990's, the novel's theme is nostalgia--for a time before cellphones, for being 22 in a city where one can be anything--gay, lesbian, bi or "ambivalent." Where one is happy sharing tiny apartments and lives for the constant party in the streets and clubs of a city ravaged by the AIDS virus but still dancing. A time of life when everything seems possible--writing a successful screenplay about an era one only knows from movies, forming a throuple with one's two best friends, and allowing one's imagination to be consumed by the noir films of the early 50s. This bildungsroman has at its center the young and innocent refugee from Ohio, Walter Simmering (apt choice of last name). Walter works in various temporary and lowly-paid jobs but lives for his friends and the nightlife of the Castro. In addition to his partners, Cary and Sasha, Walter befriends Lawrence, an older man living with AIDS, who was an experimental filmmaker with ties to the Hollywood of the 50's.

As in most books of this type, the young man ends up sadder but wiser as a result of his adventures and finds his direction in life which necessitates his leaving San Francisco and his life there. Even though the novel is not written as a flashback, it has that feel.

First off, the writing is excellent. The author captures the hedonism of many twenty-somethings. He includes atmospheric descriptions of San Francisco in the 1990s--both the cityscape and the insides of its bars and restaurants. I did tire of the constant partying and the characters facing yet another hangover. Also he overdoes the some of the detail (San Simeon and the Madonna Hotel). It would help a reader to be familiar with San Francisco in the 90s and with film noir. The details too often slow the narrative pace to a crawl and the story lacks momentum. The characters of Cary and Sasha never really develop and the inevitable ending drags on. I think that the book could have been more effective if it had been about 25% shorter. I had trouble feeling empathy for any of the characters other than Lawrence. Less detail and quirkiness and more heart.

That said--some of the best writing since Michael Cunningham and Alan Hollinghurst. This book will appeal to fans of those authors.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a well written and sad literary fiction novel. I liked the prose and the two main characters. I also enjoy novels set in the ‘90s. Some heavy themes are discussed throughout this book like the AIDS epidemic. Even though I didn’t love this book as much as I thought I would, it’s still an important and thought provoking read,

Set in 1990s, this novel follows Walter, a young gay man adrift after he moved to San Francisco where an ex lover now lives. Isolated and searching for connection, he becomes captivated by a mysterious and striking figure he dubs “the gamine.” His quiet obsession leads him to an unexpected encounter with Carey, a charismatic stranger who takes him in one chaotic Halloween night. There, Walter finally meets Sasha—his elusive “gamine”—who, as it turns out, is Carey’s lover. What follows is a whirlwind friendship and romance among the three.

San Francisco itself feels like a fourth character with its rich descriptions of nightlife in the Castro. The author draws heavily on film noir themes, which may go over the heads of readers less familiar with the genre, but his lyrical prose and sharp emotional insight make up for the slower, sometimes overextended sections.

This book winds its way through a sparse plot with richly written characters and lyrical reflections on life and love. It is an intensely character driven book. At times this book felt slow, to the point I almost put it down, but I am very glad that I persevered. The ending of this book is bittersweet but feels like the only possible conclusion. This book examines love and loss through the celluloid coated lens of nostalgia.

Tradowsky is terribly gifted at creating these beautiful illusions and then shattering them. A lot of this novel felt rather anecdotal, I wasn’t quite what it was building toward, but by the end everything had sort of come together to create this lovely and quietly moving story. Midnight at the Cinema Palace is a love letter to San Francisco, an ode to classic film noir, and an absolute treasure trove of lust and laughter. Walter, Cary, and Sasha will certainly occupy a corner of my mind for some time to come.

An introspective coming of age in bustling San Francisco. This was a weary, tender read with not much plot and a whole lot of character.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an ARC of this in exchange for a review! This was not on my radar at all, but I'm a sucker for books about the city I call home and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. The pace is slower than I'm used to, but the writing and characters so beautifully captures San Francisco before the tech companies came defined the city I know today. It's full of queer creative oddities that are part of why I love living here, and it was so cool to see all that through Walter's eyes.

I thought this was a fantastic concept for the genre and was hooked from the first page, it was everything that I was looking for in a coming of age story. Walter was a strong character and was written in a realistic way and was invested in what was going on. I really enjoyed the entire characters in this story and was glad they were so well written and worked overall. Christopher Tradowsky has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

Christopher Tradowsky’s “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a deeply immersive journey, but whether it’s a “box office smash” or a “sleeper” will depend on how much of yourself you’re willing to invest in its story. At its core, it’s a tale of Walter, a somewhat solitary figure finding his way in San Francisco, a city of reinvention and refuge amidst the AIDS crisis. The city itself becomes more than a backdrop—it takes on the role of a character, shaping Walter’s journey in profound ways. His discovery of a captivating stranger during a routine lunch sets off a quest that propels us through the vibrant streets of this storied city.

For me, Walter’s experience of finding himself in a city that both challenges and welcomes him resonated deeply. It reminded me of my own experience of moving to San Francisco in 2016—two decades later, yet with the same yearning for connection in a sprawling, sometimes impersonal metropolis. Like Walter, I stumbled through attempts to find community and, eventually, discovered my people. Tradowsky’s writing makes this San Francisco feel vivid, almost like an old friend, and it’s a testament to his dedication and affection for the city that it never feels anything less than authentic.

The book’s structure, however, evolves as Walter does, shifting from a rich, historical narrative into something more introspective and literary. In the first third, I was completely hooked by the vivid portrayal of 90s San Francisco—the late nights, the raw beauty of the city in flux. But as the narrative pivots toward a focus on Walter’s evolving friendships with Cary and Sasha, the pacing starts to slow. The story becomes more episodic, with moments of brilliance occasionally interrupted by stretches of monotony. As the trio of queer characters tries to navigate their complex relationships, the book loses some of the spark it initially had, sometimes morphing into a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive story. While these vignettes can be poignant and tender, they sometimes lack the momentum and emotional clarity that gripped me early on.

One of the book's strengths, though, is its ability to breathe life into Walter and his friends. Tradowsky excels at crafting characters who feel fully realized—complex, flawed, and achingly human. That said, some of the supporting characters fade in and out of the narrative without much resolution, which left me longing for more closure, though that may very well be an intentional reflection of life’s fleeting connections.

Ultimately, “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a love letter to San Francisco, film, and chosen family. How much you connect with these themes will likely determine how deeply you engage with the book. For readers who value richly drawn settings and character-driven stories, there’s much to appreciate. While it’s not without its pacing issues, Tradowsky’s affection for his characters and the city is undeniable—and that is what will stick with me long after the final page. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I tried actually about three different times to really get into this book upon receiving the ARC and couldn't seem to get things rolling. Maybe it is a timing thing, as the book isn't inherently bad in any way. It was simply a bit too boring for me right now. Unfortunately, I had to DNF, but will most likely pick it back up when the time comes because the writing was done well and I did somewhat like the characters, as well as the concept of it. I noticed this book isn't the first that this has happened with, in an effort to become the next Great American Novel it seemed to put the voice and character--things we find so important in books--to the wayside in order to focus on the story it is looking to tell.

Super affecting tale of the aids crisis and it devasting legacy. This was not an easy read, but a truly relevant tale of humanity's failings and its inherent beauty. Thoroughly enjoyed the emotional storm this story invoked.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Okay, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. It just was not for me at all. There is not really anything happening. The description of the book sounds way more interesting than what takes place - there are no 'adventures' across the city and the film project was not hilarious at all. I did enjoy that this was set in SF and the mention of lots of Bay Area locations (Livermore mention!!). Also, it's supposed to be 1993, but the entire book gave 50s vibes, which threw me off when email and VHS were mentioned. The writing style was good, the characters were well rounded, it just truly did not interest me at all.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was really intrigued by the cover and was really interested in reading this book. I'm glad I was able to get an arc through Netgalley. Thank you so much.

I struggled with this book. I have to say the best part was the first paragraph. The rest was not my cup of tea. It wasn’t very interesting to be honest. I tried and got through most of it but it wasn’t very exciting.