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A review by virgilsaeneid
Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
DNF'd at 14%
I had a lot of issues with this book. When I don't like a book, I generally try to muscle through the first 100 pages in the hope it picks up. But it's 2025 and I've decided to protect my peace.
Needless to say, this book critiques a lot of stereotypes about both lesbians and gay men, all the while writing characters that are stereotypes of them. Scenes are broken up by random tangential rants that read like the author's opinion pieces - such as the FMC mentally monologuing about how the term sapphic sounds too "tik tok-y" in the middle of a Zoom writer's call. Dorn also uses exposition more than I can palette and insta-lust, which is so far from being my cup of tea. I see why this book appeals to some audiences. I love an insufferable MC as much as the next person, but it wasn't just the MC in this case who was insufferable, it was the entire cast. The writing and events were a faux edgy commentary on cancel culture. Maybe being pissed off while reading this book was the author's intention, but I'd rather not spend 344 pages being vaguely annoyed and trapped in the FMC's head. Godspeed to anyone who decides to pick up this book, I hope you have the patience to do what I didn't (finish it).
I had a lot of issues with this book. When I don't like a book, I generally try to muscle through the first 100 pages in the hope it picks up. But it's 2025 and I've decided to protect my peace.
Needless to say, this book critiques a lot of stereotypes about both lesbians and gay men, all the while writing characters that are stereotypes of them. Scenes are broken up by random tangential rants that read like the author's opinion pieces - such as the FMC mentally monologuing about how the term sapphic sounds too "tik tok-y" in the middle of a Zoom writer's call. Dorn also uses exposition more than I can palette and insta-lust, which is so far from being my cup of tea. I see why this book appeals to some audiences. I love an insufferable MC as much as the next person, but it wasn't just the MC in this case who was insufferable, it was the entire cast. The writing and events were a faux edgy commentary on cancel culture. Maybe being pissed off while reading this book was the author's intention, but I'd rather not spend 344 pages being vaguely annoyed and trapped in the FMC's head. Godspeed to anyone who decides to pick up this book, I hope you have the patience to do what I didn't (finish it).