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axmed's review
challenging
dark
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
inkyteacups's review against another edition
4.0
A very well written and beautiful book. But also sad.
wildeflower's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I listened to this book on Audible, and found it fairly enjoyable. There is a huge cast of characters with a wide range of LGBTQIAP+ identities being represented. The story takes place in San Francisco in 1951, and it definitely feels like you're watching a black and white noir mystery film because the narration is spot-on, and Gilmartin has clearly done a lot of research about what life was like during that time period. A few things that I didn't like (and this can probably be contributed to the fact that I was listening to the book instead of reading it) were that that sometimes I would get confused during a flashback, and felt that it didn't relate too well to the plot. Other times, I would also get characters mixed up, or it felt like they didn't really contribute to the plot. However, I would ultimately recommend reading this book because it's enjoyable, and because it tells a kind of queer story that one does not get to see very often.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Stalking, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexism, and Suicide
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
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