I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, there’s nothing I love more than unhinged batshit women in books. And Astrid might be my new favorite. She’s messy, self-destructive, hilarious and I adored her.

Perfume and Pain follows Astrid Dahl as she tries to stay afloat while her life spirals into chaos (usually by her own doing). She’s constantly fighting against her lack of filter and love for the Patricia Highsmith (mix of Adderall, alcohol and cigarettes). But her self awareness and general cynicism makes it so much fun to live in her brain for a little while.

I truly can’t put into words how much I loved this book. I never wanted it to end. I can’t wait to go back and read more from Anna Dorn.

This is one of those books that need a sixth ⭐️. Definitely in my top 20 of all time.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I love me a hateful woman main character and boy, this one delivered. She HATED everything and everyone. But that also led to the book being hilarious in a dark sort of way (as a hater by default, I had to wonder if this is how I come across). This is for the messy/unbothered/hater girlies.

This is going to be one of my favorite books of all time. This was funny, queer, unique, and just a good time. I loved every minute of it. More to come upon pub day

This leans into the best kind of self destructive trashfire lesbian with an addiction problem and in the middle of a writer's block who finds a new romantic fixation and an easy praise fix in her lesbian writer's group, and we get to watch everything spiral from there. Would highly recommend pairing this with a deceptively powerful drink and a night at the local lesbian bar, or at least with a pool read. You'll have a good time with this one this summer, and this comes out in a little more than a week from when I'm writing this review!

a character driven messy gross girl literature with so many pop culture references and a lot of mention of patchouli! i think this was a prophecy of what my future could be if i became an LA girly.

okay i liked this book but did not LOVE it. i went into this thinking it would change my life and as i had a lot of fun with it, i don't feel changed by this experience. i typically love an unhinged main character but really struggled to like Astrid, she felt very surface level and messy in a way that was supposed to shock instead of inspire.

suddenly inspired to listen to the audiobook of The Secret History and read more by Anna Dorn!

Thanks NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

Astrid Dahl (no relation to Roald Dahl) is an author, a lesbian, and a perfume collector, and after an incident at a Barnes and Noble, she has found herself ‘cancelled’ online. While dealing with the aftermath of this, she becomes obsessed with another woman in her sapphic writing group and is also forced to move apartments where she ends up living next door to a Gen X hippy-ish lesbian about whom everything irritates Astrid, but she can’t deny that her attraction to her new neighbour. At the same time, her novel is being adapted into a TV show by a famous actress who worms her way into Astrid’s life. Perfume and Pain follows Astrid as she juggles these women, as well as her college friends and family, and their places in her life in an ode to the lesbian pulp fiction genre of the 1950s.
This is a very easy read, funny at times, and Astrid is an interesting and compelling (if unlikeable and frustrating) character. The story was engaging, but the whole thing felt incredibly surface level. There were several interesting concepts introduced (namely being on the other side of ‘being cancelled’ and who can reclaim and use slurs in the queer community) and yet they are basically forgotten about and given the most superficial consideration. One of the first things the reader learns about Astrid is that she has been ‘cancelled’, although we don’t find out why for quite a while. While I think the overall concept of cancel culture is generally blown out of proportion (it really does not seem to have any serious long-term impacts on a person’s career when they’re cancelled), I do think it’s sort of interesting to consider what it might be like for the person who is on the receiving end of an internet pile-on in that short-term time period where it would affect their life, especially when it’s for something that is really not terrible. But this was just not explored at all. The story would have been essentially the same without that plot point just with Astrid making fewer snarky remarks about her supposed cancellation. The single time this seems to affect her publicly, the character who is addressing it to her reads as a completely one-dimensional caricature, but other than that it’s essentially irrelevant to the story.
To that end, most of the characters other than Astrid read quite one dimensionally. The character growth that Astrid experienced also happened so quickly and suddenly that it seemed to skip over the build-up. She just went from A to B overnight. Also, often Astrid felt like a mouthpiece for the author to weigh in on discourse and it really took away from the parts of the book where the opinions being expressed came out of nowhere and were just ranted about for significant lengths of time. The book is also heavily rooted in sort of niche, current pop culture, and while it was fine to read right now, I do wonder if this will be readable to people in 10 years time (or frankly even to anyone right now who is not chronically online).
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc!

picked this one up despite having no previous knowledge of lesbian pulp fiction and didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into but it was a very enjoyable ride and i wish i could live in the minds of dorn’s characters for longer

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. I loved reading Perfume and Pain. I normally don't like messy dramatic books, but I make an exception for lesbians. I really like perfume and women which was why I requested this ARC and I got a nice amount of perfume and women. This book was so fun to read, I was constantly smiling and laughing while reading. This book follows Astrid, a writer who has been "lightly cancelled" and her various distractions and coping mechanisms.. While I don't think I would be friends with Astrid in real life, I loved her character and just loved reading about her life, her writing, and her various relationships. I was even surprised to find some cute moments. This is a really fun book and I love how conversational the tone of the story felt, it was like a friend was telling me about the drama in their life. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to check out the author's other books.

4.25/5 Stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

I was recently saying to a friend that I want to experience more narratives about difficult or "unlikeable" women, particularly queer women. And boy was I glad to come across this book. The wonderful thing about Astrid Dahl, a b-list author and self declared perfume connoisseur protagonist of this story, is while she often made me frustrated or roll my eyes, she challenged the way I think about millennial Sapphics and the way they've been depicted for centuries tbh. And then to tie in the genre of lesbian pulp novels and how a lot of those stories were written by MEN (fun fact) and how they've potentially dictated a lot of cliches about sapphic culture, which leads Astrid down a spiral and ultimately, to some clarity and growth.

All in all, I really loved this book and it's made me want to read some pulp novels and find a cute femme artist with a penchant for patchouli and Cat Power.

If toxic lesbians with bad attitudes are your schtick, this is the book to read. Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn pays homage to lesbian pulp, a genre of novel popularized in the late 50’s and early 60’s. The book follows Astrid Dahl, a mildly successful novelist who is trying her best to stay under the radar after being canceled, but only a little! Honest! When one of her novels is optioned by famed actress Kat Gold, the pressure is on to remain on the straight and narrow- especially when Ivy, a lesbian pulp scholar, and Penelope, a vegan artist come into the scene.

Funny and irreverent, Perfume & Pain is one of my most entertaining reads of the year so far. Astrid’s wannabe cynical narration found me snorting out loud. If BRAVO were to make a reality show about writers, Astrid would be at the top of the list- which I’m sure she would consider a compliment of the highest order.

However, despite her penchant for making the worst decisions for herself whenever the opportunity presents itself, I couldn’t help but root for Astrid throughout.

If you’re a fan of The L Word, Real Housewives, or the original novel of the same name, I highly recommend Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn.

Oh I absolutely loved this one! It's the messy lesbian novel I've been waiting for. Pure entertainment. I ran through this one in a day; I couldn't look away from this sapphic (lol) trainwreck. I'm going to need to pick up more of Anna Dorn's works immediately.

4.75/5

Anna Dorn, you crazy woman!

This book is for the fans of campy, rompy fun. This is, in my opinion, one of the best books to kick off the summer with. Astrid Dahl is a fun and likable (???) dislikable character who is struggling with her writing, her livelihood, and also being canceled on social media.

I loved all the takes on celebrity, publishing, and just Astrid’s mind itself. She is so messy but also redeeming in her own light compared to all the other messy characters she meets. We feel her pain. We feel her fear. We feel her high. We feel the gears in her brain turning the same time she does. I enjoyed reading about Astrid’s questionable instincts, debauched desires, and finding out what would happen if you just screwed it all and did the thing you shouldn’t do!

This was funny and relatable, but also allowed the reader to be a little bit introspective themselves. Or not. Either way, I recommend this to all messy women who just want to have fun!

Purfume & Pain is a poignant, character driven drama that follows the painfully relatable Astrid as she hits a mid30s slump, and attempts to straighten herself out. Astrid is such an easy character to root for, despite (or possibly because of?) her many flaws. And surrounding her are many enjoyable side characters that help round her out and make her trainwreck of a life more palatable.

I enjoyed the commentary around women's sexuality and lesbianism that this novel provided. I felt that the story provided a very realistic look into modern queer culture (although I know Astrid would despise that I'm using the term queer) in a way that most media is afraid to do.

This novel is quite addictive, a fast fun read that I will certainly be recommending. I really fell in love with Anna Dorn's writing style and creative voice.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a free ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn – available May 21, 2024.

Perfume & Pain TL;DR:
💥 Addiction and Self-Destructive Tendencies
🏳️‍🌈 Contemporary Lesbian Culture
📝 Compelling Protagonist and Narrative

Perfume & Pain follows Astrid Dahl, a lesbian writer navigating the aftermath of a public cancellation while grappling with addiction and self-destructive tendencies. Amidst the chaos of her personal life, Astrid finds solace in writing groups, substances, and fleeting relationships. As she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, Astrid's encounters with a new neighbor and a famous actress optioning one of her books add layers of complexity to her already turbulent existence.

Dorn's writing style in Perfume & Pain is unflinchingly honest, capturing the messy realities of addiction and the challenges of navigating a world that often demands conformity. While the introspective narrative may drag for some readers, it ultimately serves to enhance the authenticity of Astrid's journey. Through Astrid's witty yet flawed character, Dorn skillfully explores themes of friendship, community, and the search for meaning, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary lesbian culture.

Perfume & Pain is a captivating and unforgettable read that leaves a lasting impression. Despite Astrid's frustrating moments, her journey of resilience and self-discovery resonates deeply, making her a compelling protagonist. Dorn's ability to blend humor with stark realism creates a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. If you're looking for a messy yet unapologetic portrayal of queer life, Perfume & Pain is an absolute must-read.

okay I cannot lie I wasn’t the biggest fan. I think the mc can be too edgelord millennial for my taste and it’s like all of the really good points made about what it’s like being a lesbian (esp one in a double femme relationship) was overshadowed by an obnoxious mc

this was pure amusement, tongue in cheek, down and dirty lesbian mess! my favorite genre.

astrid dahl is as unlikeable as they come, and yet watching her clamor through her (many) addictions, her cancellable blunders, her white-hot and chemically toxic relationships, her overt self-awareness that often devolves into delusion—you have to see her story through, you're maybe charmed by her in spite of yourself? and you're definitely reading (or rereading) the price of salt when you're finished.

as a lesbian who has scarcely read lesbian pulp (sue me?) i still reveled in the homage and pastiche (astrid said it best) of perfume and pain. i saw a lot of myself in this novel (red flag? sue me again!). anna dorn is so sharp, so brilliant, so hilarious; i laughed out loud many times while reading. giggled, even!!

many thanks to simon & schuster and netgalley for the arc!

Anna Dorn writes like your favorite pop song that gets stuck in your head. I read this book from May 1-4th. It was the only thing I can think about. It was like the end of Beyoncé’s Buckin’, “look at that horse, look at that horse!” Each moment is repeating in my mind from the Zoom to the pool to the very elusive Kay Gold. Astrid seemed grounded and about her problems but the reality of being a human.

I love a messy and feel good novel about growth and trying to be better. It takes a lot to get there.

Perfume and Pain is a refreshing homage to the pulpy paperbacks of the past while also being completely new and contemporary. The story follows Astrid, an author and perfume enthusiast living in Los Angeles. Unlike her younger peers and readers, Astrid's mindset toward culture and identity aligns more with the trailblazers and advocates of the past more than the language surrounding social justice on social media and within community today. Because of this, she has gotten in trouble with her publisher and the general public. Recovering from being canceled as well as from her benders, we follow Astrid as she slips into old patterns involving her habits, relationships, and inner dialogue.

Astrid is unlikeable but I found myself liking her even despite herself. I was rooting for her and felt like a friend who wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her awake. I found myself yearning for her to get better and to become the person the reader knows she's capable of becoming. It felt cathartic to follow her on this journey and the end result feels well earned, it feels human. It's comforting to be able to relate to to someone making bad decisions as a form of self sabotage and self harm. It's a reminder you aren't alone and it actually takes a LOT of work to fully ruin your life. Reading Perfume and Pain, you get upset at our protagonist for the same reasons her close friends are upset at her. But you also feel for her and understand that this is rock bottom so you can't help but care and cheer her on either. She's a difficult person to abandon and I think that's why I kept telling myself "just one more chapter" each time it was time to put down the book.

At times, the inception of a thinly veiled autobiographical author writing about a thinly veiled autobiographical author felt distracting. I don't really mind self-inserts but the way the other characters talked about Astrid's writing habits felt a little too much like the author trying to wink at the reader often. That being said, I was really hooked on this story and became fully invested in Astrid's journey, recovery, and self realizations. I also loved the descriptions of Los Angeles, it felt true to the city and as someone who moved away this past year, it also felt like a little piece of home that I can return to without needing a plane ticket. I will definitely be recommending this one to others!

Perfume and Pain is a captivating drama infused with satire and clever jabs at Hollywood. The intriguing characters and compelling storyline immediately drew me in from the very start. This novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a witty and entertaining take on the entertainment industry.

Astrid Dahl is a perfume collector who assiduously catalogues the scent of everything in her world. She’s a writer, and by her own account she’s toxic in any relationship. She’s not wrong about that. She’s so self-destructive that I didn’t want to like her. I really didn’t. But I loved her.

Her bravado wins me over, in spite of the drugs, the self-deceit, the elaborate posing, the destructiveness. She’s bright, full of curiosity, and most of the time full of a “magic cocktail” (alcohol, sativa, Adderall, and cigarettes) that masks her insecurities. She names it after a writer whose deceit and darkness and skill she admires: “On the Patricia Highsmith, I could do anything. I published three books, optioned two.”

This character embodies the kind of personality, the kind of femininity, that she herself says she’s drawn to: “..the type of femininity I’ve always been attracted to: fevered verbosity.” It makes her story rich, verbally exciting, a thrill ride for the ages.

Edgy and brash, she’s the ultimate unreliable narrator – both unreliable and totally aware of her own unreliability. Come for the drama, the breathtaking bravado, the deception and self-deception, and stay for the biting commentary, the arrows that hit center. This novel is filled with little observations that turn into a barely self-aware comment, and then BOOM, a comment that feels so sudden and revelatory, so unexpectedly self-revelatory and smart, that I often shouted “Yes!” as I was reading.

On her friend Zev: “We went to college together; my fag hag years, when I was afraid to be near anyone I wanted to fuck or who wanted to fuck me. Fine, I guess I’m still like that a bit. Fear is desire’s cousin.”

On her lack of confidence: “People with healthy egos don’t become writers; they become engineers.”

On finding her new home has a yard shared with the neighbor, she panics. “’Shared yard?’ I say. ‘Shared with whom?’ I really don’t like to share property, or anything else. I’ve always lived alone, always preferred to live in a shitty studio than with roommates. I don’t like witnesses.”
Her character is complex and interesting. For example, she likes Alice Coltrane. That could send you off on a deep dive checking out who Alice Coltrane is and why Astrid might like her music – and it’s a journey you’ll be glad for. The things and people (authors, musicians) this character really likes make up a smart and beguiling world. The depth of her interests promises something about her, and convinces me she’s worth it.

She’s a lesbian, but because she’s more comfortable with gay men than with gay women – and she knows some of this is just her own insecurity – she’s able to observe both those worlds with a sharp accuracy. She observes that “lesbians make everyone uncomfortable.”
“With gay men, it’s completely different. The sex act is unsettling to people, has been criminalized at various points throughout history, but their partnering is championed, met with parades and rainbow flags and pride. With lesbians, it’s the opposite. The sex act is eroticized, drives the entire porn industry (so I’ve heard!) but our partnering is unnerving to people.”

She scrutinizes her own guilt at enjoying gay male culture – “I’ve always felt close to gay male culture – uppers and camp and Azealia Banks. Like Camille Paglia said: ‘When I meet gay men anywhere in the world, there is a spontaneity and a spirit of fun and mischief that lesbians seem incapable of.’ I suppose in aligning myself with gay men, I was participating in a subconscious form of lesbian erasure.”
Astrid is in her 30s now, a little past the rush and bloom and energy of being 20-something, far enough past that she sees how her image has changed, against her will:

“There was a point at which my politics matched the zeitgeist, and maybe this is just part of aging, but lately my politics feel unfashionable. When I was twenty-eight and published my first book, being a lesbian novelist writing lesbian novels gave me edge and political relevance. Now, the publishing world simply sees me as white and cis and straight-passing, which I am, and was therefore probably unfairly granted political relevance to begin with.”

Ouch. But so true. So very true.

This book will appeal primarily to a lesbian audience, particularly one that knows the appeal of a past era’s lesbian pulp novels – seedy, smart, and thrilling. I hope that it will also make it onto the bookshelves of young women, even cis straight women, because all of its smartness and insecurities are the same ones I see in many of them. When someone comments to Astrid that she is strange, she acknowledges to herself how strange she really is, but “the comment still hurts, I suppose because I’m human. Wanting to be liked is the ickiest sensation.”

Young women everywhere – this book understands you. It has your back.

Thanks to #netgalley and #SimonBooks for the ARC.